Los Angeles Kings Are Poised to Be an NHL Dynasty

After an up-and-down season, the 2012 Los Angeles Kings have surprised everyone in the playoffs and are now fighting for the Stanley Cup.

This year's team is special but can those attributes carry over for years to come? In my opinion, yes, the Los Angeles Kings are a force to be reckoned with in the NHL and should be a perennial cup contender under Darryl Sutter.

The Kings have followed the direction of Sutter to a tee, responding positively to his unorthodox and stern coaching style. Under previous coach Terry Murray, the Kings were young and dangerous with much of the same nucleus, but could never advance past the first round.

Under Sutter, the Kings took the next step as a franchise and now find themselves one game away from hoisting the Stanley Cup over their heads.

The Kings have been built on solid defensive principles that can carry over for years to come. When watching them this postseason, it's hard not to notice the smart and aggressive play of Sutter’s players.

Defensemen attack the puck with quick sticks and are always looking to prevent entry their defensive zone and pressure the opposition. This form of attack closes the gap for opposing offenses and is one of the main reasons why Los Angeles has allowed the second least amount of goals this season.  

Sutter’s aggressive approach is implemented by the team’s deep roster of talented defensemen, with 22-year-old Drew Doughty as the corps' lynchpin. Doughty, who signed an eight-year extension last offseason, will continue to not only shutdown the opposition's leading scorer but will build upon his 36-point season and develop as an elite offensive threat. 

Alongside Doughty, rookie Slava Voynov has been the most surprising player this season, coming in after the departure of Jack Johnson in the trade for Jeff Carter. Voynov has seized the opportunity and is now growing into an elite defender at only 22 years of age, making him and Doughty a strong 1-2 punch for years to come.

This Kings defensive unit is young, smart and aggressive, and are able to reach their full potential due to the work of goaltender Jonathan Quick. 

Vezina Cup finalist Jonathan Quick has played brilliantly for the past few seasons and will be the main cog behind the success of the Kings for years to come. At the young age of 26, he has developed into the best goaltender in the NHL.

Not only is Quick young and athletic, but he has taken the next step as an elite goaltender by winning and dominating postseason series. Watch out NHL, Jonathan Quick has taken the next step as a goaltender and will continue to dominate the net and keep games low scoring and playing to the Kings strengths.  

In order for Quick to win games, the offense needs to step up, and this postseason the Kings have shown the balance and fortitude to become a serious attack. Recent acquisitions Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Dustin Penner and the recently-returning Simon Gagne have solidified all four lines of the Kings' offense this season, which struggled mightily during the regular season only scoring 2.3 goals per game. 

What makes the Kings dangerous is that their offense is clicking on all cylinders. The Kings needed pieces to complete their second and third lines, and the addition of Richards and Carter from Philadelphia and Columbus respectively, has vastly improved their offense.

These additions have allowed Jarret Stoll to move to the third line, creating a dangerous attack for the Kings. He has been joined by Dwight King and Trevor Lewis, whose physical play makes them a tough battle for anyone.

Over the next few season the Kings will continue to grow and sink as a unit and will score goals and present matchup nightmares with all four of their forward lines. This combination of strong attack and rock-solid defense will make the Kings a legit contender every season, allowing for a dynasty to flourish in Los Angeles.  

At the center of all this hope and commotion is Slovenian superstar, Anze Kopitar. The 6’3” Kopitar dominates the offensive zone, scoring 25-plus goals in four straight season, and can use his size and speed to move the puck to cause problems for opposing defenses.

The Kings possess two 22-year-old forwards in King and Jordan Nolan who will help anchor the future of this franchise. L.A. has long been thought of as the team of the future, always waiting for their young stars to develop. After this postseason, now is the time for them to take the next step forward and begin building a dynasty.  

What makes the Kings special is their combination of youth and experience. GM Dean Lombardi has done an excellent job of adding veteran pieces to this team to bring championship experience to Los Angeles.

The Kings do not have boatloads of money to spend in free agency but have done a great job of locking up their franchise players to long-term deals. The only pitfall for this team is in 2013, when Jonathan Quick hits the free-agent market. However, assuming he gets locked up long-term, the work of Lombardi will be deemed an ultimate success. 

The Kings are a strong, relatively young and balanced team ready to become the next NHL dynasty. They are competing for a Stanley Cup in 2012, but don't be surprised if this team finds themselves in Finals for years to come.