The new first-line winger

Dustin Brown’s move to left wing has been a talker for the last couple days, but just as important — if not more — will be Wayne Simmonds’ move to the first line. Simmonds brings a much different skill set than the last few players the Kings have tried on the first line — Dwight King, Scott Parse, etc. — and Simmonds’ job will be to create space for Kopitar and Brown and perhaps see his assist total rise. Simmonds, with four goals, is on pace for 16 goals — the same total he had last season — but Simmonds has only three assists, far off last season’s pace (he finished with 24). Terry Murray was asked this morning about Simmonds’ point production…

MURRAY: “But his game has been pretty good. He’s handling the puck with a lot of confidence. He’s doing some good things with his decisions with it, making plays, cycling, holding on to the puck in the offensive zone, and that’s what I want to take advantage of here tonight, to get the puck stopped in the offensive zone and then do some good things with it.”

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