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That 70s Line

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Left to right: Carter, Toffoli, Pearson

That 70s Line is the nickname of the ice hockey forward line consisting of center Jeff Carter and wingers Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli that played for the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings. The line received its nickname, a reference to That '70s Show, due to the fact that all three players wore jersey numbers in the 70s. Debuting in the 2014 Western Conference final, That 70s Line combined for a total of 23 points during that series, allowing the Kings to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks and advance to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, which the Kings won. The line received credit as a critical factor in helping the Kings win their second Stanley Cup, and were noted for their chemistry and the offensive spark that they provided to the Kings' lineup.

That 70s Line led the Kings in scoring throughout the beginning of the 2014–15 NHL season; however, after Pearson broke his leg in January 2025, winger Dwight King, who wore number 74, took Pearson's place alongside Carter and Toffoli. The original lineup of Carter, Toffoli, and Pearson reunited in December 2015; they played together often until the Kings traded Pearson in 2018.

Background

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The Los Angeles Kings drafted right winger Tyler Toffoli in the 2010 NHL entry draft at 47th overall.[1] Toffoli made his debut with the Kings on March 16, 2013, against the San Jose Sharks.[2]

The Kings received center Jeff Carter in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2012, sending defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick in return.[3] The Blue Jackets selected Marko Daňo with the pick in the 2013 NHL entry draft. In his initial season with the team, Carter helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup.[4] In that year's draft, the Kings selected left winger Tanner Pearson with the 30th overall pick;[5] he debuted near the midpoint of the 2013–14 NHL season.[6]

That 70s Line

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2014 Stanley Cup playoffs

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Carter (far left) during the Kings' 2014 victory parade

The line of Pearson, Carter, and Toffoli first began playing in the 2014 Western Conference final against the Chicago Blackhawks.[6][7] During that series, the three combined for a total of 23 points, allowing the Kings to defeat the Blackhawks in seven games and advance to the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals.[6] Carter in particular led all players that series in points with 11 and goals with 5.[8] The line was not as productive during the Stanley Cup Finals, totaling four points in five games,[9] but they still played a role in helping the Kings win their second Stanley Cup in three years.[5] The line received its nickname, a reference to That '70s Show, due to the fact that all three players wore numbers in the 70s:[10][11] Carter wore number 77, Pearson wore number 70, and Toffoli wore number 73.[7] The line was noted for its chemistry and the offensive spark that it provided to the Kings' lineup, especially as the Kings struggled to score goals against the Blackhawks.[12][13] It received credit as a critical factor in helping the Kings win their second Stanley Cup,[5][6][14] and ESPN listed it as one of the Kings' best lines of the previous 30 years in 2020.[15]

2014-15 season

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That 70s Line began the 2014–15 NHL season together, totaling 7 points in the Kings' preseason opener against the Arizona Coyotes in a 5–4 loss.[12] Over the Kings' first 11 games that season, the line averaged two goals per game, and Toffoli, Pearson, and Carter all led the Kings in points scored.[11] After a productive beginning to the season, the line's performance declined until January 2025, when Pearson broke his leg in a contest against the Winnipeg Jets.[16][17] Following Pearson's injury, winger Dwight King, who wore number 74, took his place alongside Carter and Toffoli. Dubbed "That 70s Line 2.0", the line once again the Kings' most effective offensively.[16][18] Despite the line's productivity, the Kings failed to reach the playoffs that season.[19]

Post-2015 and breakup

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Due to multiple roster changes, the original line of Carter, Toffoli, and Pearson were reunited in December 2015.[20] The three often played together until the Kings traded Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Carl Hagelin in November 2018; the three had been playing on the same line when the trade occurred.[6][21] The Kings would later trade Toffoli to the Vancouver Canucks in 2020[22] and Carter to the Penguins in 2021.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "67's Tyler Toffoli Named OHL Player of the Week". Canadian Hockey League. November 15, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Zintel, Sarah (July 24, 2014). "Throwback Thursday: Tyler Toffoli the road to Lord Stanley". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Dillman, Lisa; Elliott, Helene (February 23, 2012). "Kings acquire Jeff Carter from Blue Jackets for Jack Johnson". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Lazary, Spencer (December 17, 2024). "Revisiting The Trade That Sent Jeff Carter To The Kings". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Dillman, Lisa (November 7, 2014). "Kings' trio puts it all on the line". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Stanovich, Austin (April 14, 2021). "Kings' "That 70s Line" Is Gone but Not Forgotten". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  7. ^ a b McLaughlin, Walter (October 18, 2014). "'That 70s Line' Leads the L.A. Kings to Early-Season Success". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "2014 NHL Western Conference Finals". Hockey Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final". Hockey Reference. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Duarte, Michael (November 7, 2015). "LA Kings Change 'That 70s Line' For 'That Dominant Line'". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Wilcoxen, Connor (October 20, 2014). "Is That 70's Line The Best In The NHL?". Rink Royalty. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Catching up with That 70's Line™". LA Kings Insider. September 24, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Willis, Jonathan (June 3, 2014). "Rangers vs. Kings: Line-by-Line Breakdown for 2014 Stanley Cup Final". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Morgan, Russell (August 10, 2021). "LA Kings: Top 5 Forward Lines In The Last Ten Years". Hockey Royalty. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (May 7, 2020). "The best lines of the past 30 years for all 31 NHL teams: Top overall, cult classic and current". ESPN. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Cao, Vinh (February 19, 2015). "That '70s Line 2.0 Delivering Critical Offense for Los Angeles Kings". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  17. ^ "Tanner Pearson out with broken leg". ESPN. January 11, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  18. ^ Teaford, Elliott (August 28, 2017). "That 70s Line 2.0 leads L.A. Kings on 3-game winning streak". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Lozo, Dave (April 10, 2015). "Who's to Blame for Los Angeles Kings' Failure to Reach the 2015 NHL Playoffs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "That 70's Line reunited … again". LA Kings Insider. December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  21. ^ Wyshynski, Greg (November 14, 2018). "Penguins trade Carl Hagelin to Kings for Tanner Pearson". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  22. ^ Blackburn, Pete (February 17, 2020). "Vancouver Canucks acquire Tyler Toffoli from Kings in big pre-deadline splash". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "Penguins Acquire Jeff Carter from the Kings for Conditional Draft Picks". NHL. April 12, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
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