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2011-12 Year-In Review: Coaching Change, Three Rookies, Big Trade Help LA Kings Reach For The Stars

July 13, 2012 by 5 Comments

2011-12 YEAR-IN-REVIEW: The Los Angeles Kings were struggling mightily, even after Darryl Sutter took over as head coach just before Christmas. Although things improved marginally, it took the recall of three rookies from the minor leagues, and a big trade, to allow the Kings to play the brand of hockey that would allow them to reach for the stars.

Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter (left), shown here with
center Anze Kopitar (center) and forward Jeff Carter (right)
during a practice session on May 9, 2012.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES — After starting the 2011-12 season with sky high expectations, the Los Angeles Kings were in disarray. They were not anywhere near as successful as they should have been heading into the holiday season, just barely keeping their heads above water with a 13-12-4 mark on December 10, 2011, 29 games into the season.

Although they were not that far off the division lead, or even from first place in the Western Conference yet, that record left the Kings much closer to the cellar of both Read more of this post

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2012 Stanley Cup Poetry: The Local Hockey Team Made Good

June 28, 2012 by 3 Comments

The Los Angeles Kings winning the 2012 Stanley Cup, the first championship in the 45-year history of the franchise, still has fans celebrating more than two weeks later. One fan, young Kai Jacinto, of Culver City, California, was so inspired, he wrote the following poem…

Kai Jacinto, (right), shown here with his proud mother,
Ave Jacinto, and younger brother, Keianu.
Photo courtesy Ave Jacinto

by Kai Jacinto

The Kings were the unlikely winners of the 2012 Stanley Cup
Seeded eighth going into the playoffs and kept moving on up.

They were underdogs in the first round against Vancouver
But they shut them down in five games with amazing maneuvers.

Sweeping the Blues brought the Kings much attention
Never in 45 years have they had so much possible championship mentions.

Then came the Coyotes, checking hard and howling at every face-off
But the silver and black skated with no fear and never backed off. Read more of this post

Filed under Exclusives, NHL, Stanley Cup Playoffs Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2011-12 Los Angeles Kings Year-In-Review: Front Office Turnaround Set Stanley Cup Run In Motion

June 27, 2012 by 6 Comments

2011-12 YEAR-IN-REVIEW: The Los Angeles Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup. What is there to review or evaluate? Plenty. To start things off, here’s a look at how a “front office turnaround” set their run to the Stanley Cup in motion.

Los Angeles Kings center Mike Richards
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings blew right through the Vancouver Canucks, the St. Louis Blues, and the Phoenix Coyotes, before the New Jersey Devils gave them a bit more to handle in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. Nevertheless, the Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup, the first Stanley Cup Championship in the 45-year history of the franchise.

Given that they reached the pinnacle of achievement this season, what is there to review or evaluate?

Although some might think that is a waste of time, no Stanley Cup Championship team can rest on its laurels during the off-season and expect the same level of success. As players, coaches and Read more of this post

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