Kings’ Shepherd Has Taken on a New Face

The role of a shepherd is to tend and rear sheep. While that definition seems ambiguous for a professional hockey team, it is applicable. Every team in the National Hockey League typically has that element. It's not that an NHL group of men is being compared to a flock of sheep; in reality, assets need on-ice monitoring.

In Los Angeles, that responsibility has changed year to year. More recently, it had been put in the hands of Andreas Englund, who, despite the tremor from Kings fans, played all 87 games last year. The player knew the task and didn't attempt to be anything other than what he was.

The role has changed hands a few times within the last few years, starting with Brendan Lemieux. Upon being traded, he handed it off to Zack MacEwen, upon whose his departure, fell onto Englund's lap.

In 82 games last year, per Moneypuck, Englund had the lowest Expected Goals (1.5) of Kings blueliners who played more than 30 games. In all fairness, that was expected. His takeaway-to-giveaway ratio was poor but not as bad as one would imagine for someone in his role (8:22), and his 2.74 On-Ice Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes was respectable.

His most common partner, Jordan Spence, did the heavy lifting of the actual course of play last year. In 637:36 together, per NaturalStatTrick, they had a 53.51% Corsi while being outscored 29-26. Once separated, the actual Spence effect was evident. Without Spence, Englund carried a 48.64% Corsi while outshot 178-154, being outscored 13-8.

What about Spence away from Englund? In 239:31, he had an elite 61.14% Corsi while outshooting and outscoring opponents 136-95 and 17-8, respectively. So yes, the Kings got a shepherd on the backend, but at the cost of sinking Spence's play without sacrificing too much overall team defensive and possession metrics.

Things have drastically changed for Englund since the arrival of Tanner Jeannot. Outside of being suspended for his hit on Brock Boeser, Jeannot has been able to stay in the lineup and be reliable enough to play the system in a positive way while offering the same elements Englund provides. He carries a similar Expected Goals as a player like Alex Turcotte (4.1), his Corsi is on the right side of things (51.0%), and his On-Ice Expected Goals Against are excellent for someone with his skillset (1.76).

Jeannot will likely never be the same player who scored 24 goals in his Cinderella sophomore season in Nashville on his unsustainable 19.4 shooting percentage. That's not why he was brought in. The rugged forward is as physical as it gets while providing sound defensive play and having the ability to finish above expected for players in his role. He is a more expensive Carl Grundstrom that can act as a shepherd.

While Englund was practically attached to Spence's hip, Jeannot has been able to jump up and down the bottom nine of the lineup. Recently, the new shepherd has been playing next to Quinton Byfield and Warren Foegele. The three together have promising analytics in just 44:27 together. With 53.01% Corsi, while outscoring opponents 2-0, Jeannot has been a positive contributor while flanking and supporting Byfield, arguably the Kings' most important future asset.

Not all comparisons are the same, but it's worth mentioning the best season for Tyler Toffoli as a Los Angeles King was while playing most of the season next to Milan Lucic in 2015-16. Jeannot isn't a prime Milan Lucic, but the same principle applies: Other players have the freedom to do more with a teammate of that nature on the ice.

It's not that Englund has been superbly negative while in the lineup, as the Kings have gone 4-3-1 while he's been in games. When Jeannot is in the lineup, and even Kyle Burroughs, they provide the same services Englund offers, potentially with more overall hockey punch— pun intended.

The replacement has also given Jacob Moverare the breathing room he needs to stay in the lineup until Drew Doughty returns and Joel Edmundson's sliding down bumps him out. In 115:30 with Spence, Moverare's pairing looks solid with a 55.20% Corsi while outshooting and outscoring 135-113 and 13-10, respectively.

Englund's absence has had a trickle-down effect throughout the lineup. As much as Kings fans have burned him at the stake for being a liability, Englund has been mostly fine. But, the Kings have done well without his constant deployment, in contrast to last year. His services will be available if needed, but the Kings have flourished with alternative options as their team's shepherd.