Kings blended old and new for Stanley Cup run

1/31

Kings players celebrate winning the Stanley Cup as Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist looks on. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

2/31

Kings Captain Dustin Brown carries the Stanley Cup around the ice for the second time in three years at Staples Center after the Kings defeated the Rangers, 3-2 in double overtime in June. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

3/31

Kings players crowd together for a team photo after winning the Stanley Cup at Staples Center. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

4/31

Streamers fall from the Staples Centers rafters after the Kings defeated the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in June to clinch the championship series. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

5/31

Kings defenseman Alec Martinez leaps off the ice after beating Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist with a shot to end Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in double overtime, 3-2, at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kyle Clifford, Alec Martinez, Slava Voynov, Tyler Toffoli

6/31

Kings teammates Kyle Clifford (13) and Slava Voynov (26) embrace defensemen Alec Martinez and Tyler Toffoli (73) prepares to join in after Martinez scored the winning goal against the Rangers to end Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in double overtime. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Tyler Toffoli, Drew Doughty, Willie Mitchell, Martin Jones, Henrik Lundqvist

7/31

Kings forward Tyler Toffoli skates toward teammates Drew Doughty, Willie Mitchell and Martin Jones after the Kings defeated the Rangers and goalie Henrik Lundqvist in double overtime on Friday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

8/31

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stares at the helmet- and glove-strewn ice after the Kings clinched the Stanley Cup title with a double-overtime win in Game 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

9/31

Kings fans cheer the players as they celebrate their double-overtime victory over the Rangers on Friday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

10/31

Kings winger Justin Williams, who was selected most valuable player of the playoffs, takes his turn to skate with the Stanley Cup on Friday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

11/31

Kings fans celebrate after Los Angeles’ 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers in double overtime of Game 5. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Henrik Lundqvist, Dustin Brown, Marc Staal, Mats Zuccarello

12/31

Kings right wing Dustin Brown dives past Rangers defenseman Marc Staal (18) and left winger Mats Zuccarello (36) to attempt a shot against goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in the third period of Game 5 on Friday night at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Dustin Brown, Henrik Lundqvist, Marian Gaborik, Anton Stralman

13/31

Kings right wing Dustin Brown ends up underneath Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in the crease as teammate Marian Gaborik and Rangers defensemen Marc Staal (18) and Anton Stralman (6) look for the puck in the third period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

14/31

Rangers defenseman John Moore and Kings forward Kyle Clifford collide along the boards as they chase the puck in the third period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

15/31

Kings right wing Dustin Brown clips Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi in the chin with his stick as they cross paths in the second period. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan McDonagh, Marian Gaborik, Henrik Lundqvist, Dan Girardi, Anze Kopitar

16/31

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist searches for the puck as defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) and Dan Girardi battle for position with Kings right wing Marian Gaborik (12) in the third period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

17/31

Rangers left wing Chris Kreider flips the puck past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick for a goal in the second period of Game 5 on Friday night at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Kreider, Matt Greene, Jonathan Quick

18/31

Rangers left wing Chris Kreider points to teammate Ryan McDonagh (not pictured) who fed him a pass that led to a score against Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick and defenseman Matt Greene (2) in the second period. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

19/31

Rangers players celebrate after scoring their first goal in the second period against goaltender Jonathan Quick and the Kings. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

20/31

Kings forward Kyle Clifford (13) watches Henrik Lundqvist stop his shot in the second period of Game 5. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Mat Zuccarello, Jonathan Quick, Alec Martinez

21/31

Rangers left wing Mats Zuccarello sends a shot through the crease past Kings defenseman Alec Martinez, forcing goaltender Jonathan Quick to make a save in the second period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

22/31

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick can’t stop a shot by Rangers center Brian Boyle (not pictured) late in the second period. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

23/31

Kings right wing Justin Williams (14) gets his stick on a rebound of a teammate’s blocked shot and prepares to score against the Rangers in the first period of Game 5 on Friday night at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

24/31

Kings and Rangers players, as well as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, look for the puck in the back of the net after Justin Williams (not pictured) put a rebound past the scrum in front of the crease. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Dwight King, Anton Stralman, Henrik Lundqvist, Justin Williams

25/31

Kings forward Dwight King (74) and center Jarret Stoll, right, celebrate after teammate Justin Williams (not pictured) scored against the Rangers in the first period. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

26/31

Kings teammates surround right wing Justin Williams after he scored early in the first period against the Rangers in Game 5 on Friday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

27/31

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick takes a moment to gather himself after he was struck in the head by Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot in the first period. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)

Jarret Stoll, Henrick Lundqvist, Dwight King, Marc Staal

28/31

Kings center Jarret Stoll has his shot blocked by Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the first period. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

29/31

Kings fans Jake and Hillary Westphal sport crazy hair as they show their excitement before game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

30/31

A Kings fan, who did not want to be identified, offers to shave his beard for a ticket to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday night at Staples Center. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

31/31

LAPD mounted police officers keep an eye on fans before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on Friday night. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

By David Wharton

Staff Writer

June 14, 2014 10:04 AM PT

Share via
- Email
- Facebook
- X
- LinkedIn
- Threads
- Reddit
- WhatsApp

Among the Kings players who hoisted the Stanley Cup on Friday night, 17 appeared in postseason games during the team’s 2012 championship run.

That equates to a veteran roster. But there was also new blood.

Rookie forwards Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson played crucial roles over the past few weeks. Defenseman Jake Muzzin, who spent the 2011-12 season in the minors, was a mainstay on defense.

“Its a compliment to our organization to keep producing players,” Muzzin said.

After the double-overtime, Cup-clinching victory over the New York Rangers, players talked about the importance of keeping the team’s core intact while blending in fresh faces.

“We’ve got guys who have been around, they’ve seen it all,” Muzzin said. “It helps with the younger guys coming in, giving them advice.”

Luc Robitaille, the former Kings star who now serves as president of business operations, said the franchise has followed a careful strategy, building from within while adding occasional talent — such as Jeff Carter and Marian Gaborik — through trades.

“We never changed what we believe in,” Robitaille said. “You stick to the plan and somehow good things happen.”