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5 reasons why Los Angeles Kings will win Stanley Cup

By Paul Horvat

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Dustin Brown
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Dustin Brown /
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History means something, and the Los Angeles Kings are set to prove that as they set out to win the 2017-18 Stanley Cup.

Growing up in southern California and being introduced to hockey at a young age, watching Los Angeles Kings games began with hope while always knowing deep down inside that most seasons would end, as they all had, in disappointment. It starts to become normal — there’s always next year.

For starters, past results always guarantee future outcomes, right? In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings barely squeaked into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. Nothing special seemed like it was going to happen that year and as a fan the feeling of the usual disappointment was ever-present.

Shocking as it was to a life lifelong fan, in 2012 the Kings rolled through the playoffs on their way to earning Lord Stanley’s Cup. No longer losers, the expectations were that a dynasty is upon us. They, of course, failed to make the playoffs the following season, and darkness again came over the fan base. Was it a fluke? Nope, and lo and behold they went out and won the Cup again in 2014 in a record three straight series that each went seven games and gave the entire fanbase a heart attack in the process. The similarity of that team and this year’s installment have one wondering if fans can expect that recent results deserve high expectations? No longer used to and accepting of losing each year this teams confidence matters swagger matters experience matters. LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 11: Goaltender Jonathan Quick
Shocking as it was to a life lifelong fan, in 2012 the Kings rolled through the playoffs on their way to earning Lord Stanley’s Cup. No longer losers, the expectations were that a dynasty is upon us. They, of course, failed to make the playoffs the following season, and darkness again came over the fan base. Was it a fluke? Nope, and lo and behold they went out and won the Cup again in 2014 in a record three straight series that each went seven games and gave the entire fanbase a heart attack in the process. The similarity of that team and this year’s installment have one wondering if fans can expect that recent results deserve high expectations? No longer used to and accepting of losing each year this teams confidence matters swagger matters experience matters. LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 11: Goaltender Jonathan Quick /

5. Experience is King

Something definitely exists with this year’s team that reminds us that these guys have been there before. Let’s just start with the best goalie on the planet, Jonathan Quick. Once again healthy and playing like the MVP of the Final in 2014, this veteran is playoff tested and in stellar form. Is it enough to have guys that have won the Cup and know what it takes to be successful in the playoffs? Although there is no data to support either side it can’t hurt. In sports mental toughness is an edge that is hard to measure. The Kings have it in spades.

And that’s just it. Anze Kopitar, Jeff Cater, Dustin Brown along with Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin and Tyler Tiffoli — oh, and character guys, Kyle Clifford, Alec Martinez, Trevor Lewis and Tanner Pearson — all have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup. Now, excluding Quick, who is always on the ice during a game, that makes 10 skaters out of 20 who normally dress for a game currently playing on this team on a nightly bases. Experience is king and L.A. has a ton.

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