(This month, Puck Daddy asked bloggers for every NHL team to tell us The Essentials for their franchises — everything from the defining player and trade, to the indispensable fan traditions. Here's The Royal Half, giving us the boastful post-Stanley Cup champions Essentials for the Los Angeles Kings.)

By The Royal Half



Player

Let's be honest... before Wayne Gretzky was bought by Bruce McNall, no one below St. Louis really cared about the sport of ice hockey... including Southern California. Gretzky's arrival in Los Angeles gave the franchise credibility and created a whole new advertising market for the greatest player in the game that allowed him to pose in ads like this.

Wayne Gretzky never won the Stanley Cup in Los Angeles… but Jonathan Quick did (against the New Jersey Devils). So for that reason alone, Jon Quick is the greatest LA King of all time.

Season

Well, let's see. There was 1990-91 when Head Coach Tom Webster led the LA Kings to 102 points, winning the Smythe Division and placing 3rd overall in the Campbell Conference. And then there was 1974-75 when on the strength of Bob Nevin's 31 goals the LA Kings finished 2nd in the Norris Division with 105 points. But I'm going to have to go out on limb here and say it's 2011-2012 when the Los Angeles Kings WON THE STANLEY CUP (against the New Jersey Devils) FOR THE 1st TIME IN THIS FRANCHISE'S SAD AND PATHETIC 44 SEASON HISTORY.

Game

You want to know what it's like to be a fan of the Los Angeles Kings? For the majority of people, the most memorable game in franchise history was a Game 3 victory in a 1st round playoff series… better known as the Miracle on Manchester. Thankfully, for fans new and old, the greatest game in the history of the Los Angeles Kings is now June 11th, 2012… the day the Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup (against the New Jersey Devils).

Goal

There have been countless important goals scored during the history of the Los Angeles Kings. Daryl Evans' OT game winner in the Miracle on Manchester. Wayne Gretzky's 802nd career goal in 1994. Adam Deadmarsh firing the puck past Chris Osgood in OT of Game 6, sending the LA Kings into the 2nd Round after being down 2-0 in the series. Luc Robitaille scoring a hat trick in 2006 as he surpassed Marcel Dionne to become the all-time leading goal scorer for the franchise.

But none of those trivial goals compare to Trevor Lewis' empty netter with 3:45 left in Game 6 that solidified the fact that the Los Angeles Kings had won the Stanley Cup (against the New Jersey Devils) for the 1st time in the franchise's history.

Trade

Not only was Wayne Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings the biggest trade in franchise history, but it was also the most substantial trade the NHL had ever experienced. But Wayne Gretzky never won a Stanley Cup in Los Angeles… and Jeff Carter did. So Jack Johnson and a #1 pick for Jeff Carter is the greatest trade in LA Kings history… since it directly led to the Kings winning the Stanley Cup (against the New Jersey Devils).

Unsung Hero

Over 17 seasons, 4 of which he was Captain, Dave Taylor scored 431 goals and 1069 points. He holds the LA Kings record for games played with 1111 and is 2nd all-time with 1589 penalty minutes. He is the lowest-drafted player (210th overall, 15th round) in NHL history to score over 1000 career points. Taylor could score goals, throw elbows in the corners and was a natural born leader.

But Matt Greene is really funny and he actually won the LA Kings award for "Unsung Hero" in the same season that he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Los Angeles Kings (against the New Jersey Devils). Something Dave Taylor never did.

Franchise Villain

My buddy Jesse Cohen at All The Kings Men Podcast will tell you that the biggest villain in LA Kings franchise history is Rob Blake. I'm one of the few Kings fans who has never been able to boo Rob Blake. Instead, I submit for Franchise Villain the same man who could be considered Franchise Savior… Bruce McNall.

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