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Only in my wildest dreams would I have believed an L.A. Kings squad that could not score in the finals months of the season about go on one of the epic Stanley Cup Playoff runs of all-time! On June 11, 2012, that wild dream became a joyous reality. The Kings beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup in 45-year history of the hockey organization!
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| A View of The Sea of Humanity Who Took in the LA Kings Stanley Cup Parade |
As the clock ticked down to zero and the Kings rushed the ice in a triumphant glory, my thoughts darted back to 1993, the one and only Stanley Cup appearance of the Kings before 2012. I couldn't believe it was nearly 20 years ago! That '93 squad was the team of my youth and one of my fanatical sports memories. Being a life-long fan of 'Lucky' Luc Robitaille, I was thrilled that he would have the opportunity to raise Lord Stanley's grail as a member of the Kings organization, albeit not as a player. Robitaille won the cup as a player, as part of the 2002 Detroit Red Wings but his career regret was not hoisting the cup in L.A., his rightful home. After the cup made the rounds through all players and front office personnel, it was finally Luc's turn to hoist the cup as an L.A. King! It's a moment I will never EVER forget!
The story of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions, Los Angeles Kings will focus on the total team effort it took to win the coveted hardware. Coach Darryl Sutter received contributions throughout all four lines he put on the ice. However, the premier all-stars on the team shined the brightest lustre. Their final line of defense, the man that carried the Kings to a playoff spot, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for M.V.P. of the playoffs, Jon Quick carried over his dominance from the regular season to have an outstanding playoffs and Stanley Cup Final. The playoffs saw the maturation of two elite players in Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty. Quiet guys off the ice, these two studs really became leaders on the ice by blending grit with their exceptional skills as they were the Kings most productive players in scoring and ice-time.
All-star cast-offs and best friends, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter got redemption and showed they have the determination and perseverance to win a Stanley Cup. This time last year, Carter & Richards were perceived "locker room cancers" and "team killers". That's why Philadelphia Flyers GM, Paul Holmgren shipped Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Richards to the Kings despite both being signed to multi-year, long-term contracts. Despite those perceptions, when Carter was dealt to L.A. in February to be reacquainted with Richards, the two re-ignited their chemistry and put together a great playoff run. Carter especially found his scoring touch in the Stanley Cup Final, scoring two goals in the clinching game 6, including the game winner.
Then their is the captain of the Los Angeles Kings, Dustin Brown. Trade rumours swirled around Brown near the deadline after the Kings acquired Carter from the Blue Jackets. What Brown did to squash those rumours and make them retrospectively look incredibly silly was show his worth as the Kings captain and lead the Kings to the franchise's first Stanley Cup. He was a true leader in all facets of the game. He was the man counted on to rile the team with a big hit and when a goal was needed, he was the guy to come through in the clutch. That was never more evident than in the deciding game of Stanley Cup Final when Brown opened the scoring and the proverbial floodgates, as the Kings rode the momentum to winning the game and the series. UPS famously asks...
"What can Brown do for you?"In Dustin's case, he can a city's first Stanley Cup! Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings, 2012 Stanley Cup Champions!
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| A Photo Kings Fans Will Never Forget |
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