That 70s Line

{{Short description|Los Angeles Kings line}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Multiple image | image1 = Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli (46497944484).jpg | image2 = Tanner Pearson (7525434542).jpg | width2 = 178 | footer = 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 who played for the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings. The nickname, a reference to ''That '70s Show'', comes from all three players having 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 Final, 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 2015, 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 == The Los Angeles Kings drafted right winger Tyler Toffoli in the 2010 NHL entry draft at 47th overall.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2010 |title=67's Tyler Toffoli Named OHL Player of the Week |url=https://chl.ca/ohl-67s/67-s-tyler-toffoli-named-ohl-player-of-the-week/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Canadian Hockey League}}</ref> Toffoli made his debut with the Kings on March 16, 2013, against the San Jose Sharks.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zintel |first=Sarah |date=July 24, 2014 |title=Throwback Thursday: Tyler Toffoli the road to Lord Stanley |url=https://chl.ca/ohl-67s/throwback-thuresday-tyler-toffoli-the-road-to-lord-stanley/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Canadian Hockey League}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dillman |first1=Lisa |last2=Elliott |first2=Helene |date=February 23, 2012 |title=Kings acquire Jeff Carter from Blue Jackets for Jack Johnson |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-feb-23-la-sp-kings-carter-20120224-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108200102/https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-feb-23-la-sp-kings-carter-20120224-story.html |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lazary |first=Spencer |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Revisiting The Trade That Sent Jeff Carter To The Kings |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/latest-news/revisiting-the-trade-that-sent-jeff-carter-to-the-kings |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=The Hockey News}}</ref> In that year's draft, the Kings selected left winger Tanner Pearson with the 30th overall pick;<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Dillman |first=Lisa |date=November 7, 2014 |title=Kings' trio puts it all on the line |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/kings/la-sp-kings-70s-line-20141108-story.html |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> he debuted near the midpoint of the 2013–14 NHL season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Stanovich |first=Austin |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Kings' "That 70s Line" Is Gone but Not Forgotten |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/kings-that-70s-line-gone-but-not-forgotten/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=The Hockey Writers}}</ref>

== That 70s Line ==

=== 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs === thumb|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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Walter |date=October 18, 2014 |title='That 70s Line' Leads the L.A. Kings to Early-Season Success |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/that-70s-line-kings-success/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=The Hockey Writers}}</ref> 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 Final.<ref name=":0" /> Carter in particular led all players that series in points with 11 and goals with 5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 NHL Western Conference Finals |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2014-chicago-blackhawks-vs-los-angeles-kings-western-conference-finals.html |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Hockey Reference}}</ref> The line was not as productive during the Stanley Cup Final, totaling four points in five games,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2014-los-angeles-kings-vs-new-york-rangers-stanley-cup-final.html |access-date=December 17, 2024 |website=Hockey Reference}}</ref> but they still played a role in helping the Kings win their second Stanley Cup in three years.<ref name=":2" /> The nickname, a reference to ''That '70s Show'', comes from all three players having jersey numbers in the 70s:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duarte |first=Michael |date=November 7, 2015 |title=LA Kings Change 'That 70s Line' For 'That Dominant Line' |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/la-kings-change-that-70s-line-for-that-dominant-line/106057/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=NBC Los Angeles}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Wilcoxen |first=Connor |date=October 20, 2014 |title=Is That 70's Line The Best In The NHL? |url=https://rinkroyalty.com/2014/10/20/70s-line-best-nhl/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Rink Royalty}}</ref> Carter wore number 77, Pearson wore number 70, and Toffoli wore number 73.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=September 24, 2014 |title=Catching up with That 70's Line™ |url=https://lakingsinsider.com/2014/09/24/catching-up-with-that-70s-line/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=LA Kings Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Willis |first=Jonathan |date=June 3, 2014 |title=Rangers vs. Kings: Line-by-Line Breakdown for 2014 Stanley Cup Final |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2084590-rangers-vs-kings-line-by-line-breakdown-for-2014-stanley-cup-final |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Bleacher Report}}</ref> It received credit as a critical factor in helping the Kings win their second Stanley Cup,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Russell |date=August 10, 2021 |title=LA Kings: Top 5 Forward Lines In The Last Ten Years |url=https://hockeyroyalty.com/2021/08/10/la-kings-top-5-forward-lines-in-the-last-ten-years/ |access-date=December 19, 2024 |work=Hockey Royalty}}</ref> and ESPN listed it as one of the Kings' best lines of the previous 30 years in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Wyshynski |date=May 7, 2020 |title=The best lines of the past 30 years for all 31 NHL teams: Top overall, cult classic and current |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29141808/the-best-lines-30-years-all-31-nhl-teams-top-overall-cult-classic-current |access-date=December 19, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref>

=== 2014–15 season === 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.<ref name=":4" /> 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.<ref name=":3" /> After a productive beginning to the season, the line's performance declined until January 2015, when Pearson broke his leg in a contest against the Winnipeg Jets.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Cao |first=Vinh |date=February 19, 2015 |title=That '70s Line 2.0 Delivering Critical Offense for Los Angeles Kings |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2369118-that-70s-line-20-delivering-critical-offense-for-los-angeles-kings |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2015 |title=Tanner Pearson out with broken leg |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nhl/story/_/id/12151410/los-angeles-kings-tanner-pearson-indefinitely-broken-leg |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref> 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 was once again the Kings' most effective offensively.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Teaford |first=Elliott |date=August 28, 2017 |title=That 70s Line 2.0 leads L.A. Kings on 3-game winning streak |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2015/02/13/that-70s-line-20-leads-la-kings-on-3-game-winning-streak/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Daily News}}</ref> Despite the line's productivity, the Kings failed to reach the playoffs that season.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lozo |first=Dave |date=April 10, 2015 |title=Who's to Blame for Los Angeles Kings' Failure to Reach the 2015 NHL Playoffs |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2426046-whos-to-blame-for-los-angeles-kings-failure-to-reach-the-2015-nhl-playoffs |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=Bleacher Report}}</ref>

=== Post–2015 and breakup === Due to multiple roster changes, the original line of Carter, Toffoli, and Pearson were reunited in December 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 18, 2015 |title=That 70's Line reunited … again |url=https://lakingsinsider.com/2015/12/18/that-70s-line-is-back-again/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=LA Kings Insider}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Wyshynski |date=November 14, 2018 |title=Penguins trade Carl Hagelin to Kings for Tanner Pearson |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/25275439/pittsburgh-penguins-trade-carl-hagelin-los-angeles-kings-tanner-pearson |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=ESPN}}</ref> The Kings would later trade Toffoli to the Vancouver Canucks in 2020<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blackburn |first=Pete |date=February 17, 2020 |title=Vancouver Canucks acquire Tyler Toffoli from Kings in big pre-deadline splash |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/vancouver-canucks-acquire-tyler-toffoli-from-kings-in-big-pre-deadline-splash/ |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=CBS Sports}}</ref> and Carter to the Penguins in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Penguins Acquire Jeff Carter from the Kings for Conditional Draft Picks |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/peenguins-acquire-jeff-carter-los-angeles-kings-323556268 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |work=NHL}}</ref>

When Toffoli joined the San Jose Sharks in 2024 and wore 73, he often played alongside Macklin Celebrini (who wore 71) and William Eklund (72), leading some to use the "70s Line" moniker to refer to the trio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Max |date=2025-01-16 |title=Analyzing The Chemistry Of The Sharks 70s Line |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks/latest-news/analyzing-the-chemistry-of-the-sharks-70s-line |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=The Hockey News |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{Los Angeles Kings}}

Category:Nicknamed groups of ice hockey players Category:Los Angeles Kings