Los Angeles Has Won the Stanley Cup. Will They Ever Give It Up?

So, where do we go from here? Game over, man? Can the Los Angeles Kings ever lose?

In a playoff year punctuated by boredom and defensive hockey, it was the Kings who emerged at the other end, barely scathed by their competition. At no time in this playoff run did they look out of control, or desperate, or panicked.

At no time did they look like an eighth seed. Because, of course, they weren’t really an eighth seed.

At no time did Darryl Sutter look upset, even when he tried to make us believe he was. Mike Richards never came close to his evil twin, the one that delivers head shot or runs guys into the boards. Dustin Brown combined the hardest shoulders in the league with a newfound ability to pump pucks past tenders. Dustin Penner and Jeff Carter were slightly useful.

Jonathan Quick was a God.

Sure, the New Jersey Devils stole two games in between the Kings four-win set. Of course, it’s not something to brag about, is it? “Hey, we were the only ones to beat them in our own barn!” That doesn’t sound like you’re taking the pi*s out of someone. It sounds like you’re just saying, “They weren’t as perfect as you think they were.”

Fair enough. I think the Kings will take it.

At the end of a long, gruelling eight months, the Kings became what every other city feared they were: a contender.

We knew they had it in them, but we hoped the beast would stay dormant.

It didn’t. And, now, we have to wonder whether it can ever be contained again. It’s a scary thing, letting your competition up off the mat. They have a tendency to remain there. Look how long it took for someone to chop down the mighty NFL redwood known as the New England Patriots, and their first Super Bowl in 2001 was (perhaps) more shocking than this Los Angeles Stanley Cup.

The Canucks, Sharks, and Flyers have all wasted decent opportunities to hoist their sport’s only real trophy, while the Kings have stolen the gold and doubloons from under their heels and spurs.

Say goodbye to the NHL you thought you knew. We can’t go back now.

Anyway… congratulations, Los Angeles.