5 NHL Teams That Should Find Hope in LA Kings Stanley Cup Win

As some teams know all too well, there can only be one team that hoists the Stanley Cup at the end of each season. 

The pain of getting oh so close to winning that silver chalice often sits with the players and fans of those teams until next season's playoffs roll around. 

For a player, there is nothing sweeter than knowing that your name will soon be engraved on the Stanley Cup alongside so many legends. From a fan's perspective, there is no greater feeling than seeing your team's captain hold the Cup high above his head for all the world to see. 

This article will take a look at five teams that should find solace in the Los Angeles Kings winning the Stanley Cup. 

New York Rangers

This team shares a number of similarities with the Kings: an elite goaltender, multiple top offensive threats and an American-born captain are just a few of them. 

However, something else that can't go without saying is this team's mix of guys who rely on hard work and grit to make up for lack of talent. The Rangers also have some players who can rely mainly on their talent, but they must also work hard, too. 

The Broadway Blueshirts were the best team in the NHL for much of the season, but they came up two wins short of reaching the Stanley Cup finals.

Getting a deep playoff run under their belt should do nothing but help the Rangers going forward. Expect New York to be right back in the thick of things in 2012-13. 

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers have an absurd amount of offensive talent—a group that should be the best in the league next season. 

That is not where the problem lies; however. The team is still adjusting to life without Chris Pronger. The rest of the defense isn't bad, but with Pavel Kubina and Matt Carle scheduled to become free agents, Philly may find themselves searching for answers on the blue line. 

With that being said, we must also see an improvement from Ilya Bryzgalov in year two. He was both at his best and his worst at times over the course of his debut season on Broad Street. 

The Flyers will not make it back to the finals until there is improvement by the goaltender and on defense as well. 

New Jersey Devils

Why not talk about the team that after five games of the finals, many thought had a chance to make a historic comeback?

Assuming the Devils can manage to re-sign Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur, there is no reason they shouldn't be contenders again next season. 

Couple Parise with the blossoming talent up front, and New Jersey may have one of the most underrated offensive corps in the league. 

I know how hard it is to reach the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years—just ask the Canucks and Bruins—but I liked a lot of what I saw from this team in the playoffs. 

They seem to have found a perfect mix of veterans and young guys that will help carry them in 2012-13 and for the foreseeable future. 

Nashville Predators

Similar to the other teams on this list, there seems to be a common theme developing with the teams I have listed: They all have those one or two glaring weaknesses that must be addressed before I believe they can win the Stanley Cup. 

Sticking to the theme, the Predators are lacking some firepower on offense and must add an elite forward. 

The elite goaltender and defense is there, but Nashville will not get a chance to play for their ultimate goal until there is more consistent goal-scoring up front. 

Well, the defense is there if Ryan Suter returns. 

Buffalo Sabres

Yes, I know you're probably all wondering how can I put a team that missed the playoffs on this list. 

Well, the short answer is that the Sabres are an elite forward or two away from being recognized as true contenders. 

Ryan Miller will be back between the pipes and the defense, led by Tyler Myers and Christian Ehrhoff, will only continue to get better as Myers gets older and gains some more valuable experience. 

In order for Buffalo to reach their ceiling, they must add some more true scoring threats up top.  

Good news may be on the way, however, as the Sabres are expected to pursue some offensive help this weekend at the NHL Draft (via Yahoo Sports).

Adding some firepower will make this team one of the best in the Eastern Conference for the next couple of years.