When a team wins the Stanley Cup, there is a tendency to glorify its key players.
Jonathan Quick backstopped the Los Angeles Kings to the Stanley Cup. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the postseason and his brilliant and consistent performance had much to do with the Kings' run through four playoff opponents.
The Kings also got a lift from offensive players like Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The team that struggled to score during the regular season found a way to put the puck in the net regularly during the playoffs—especially in clutch situations.
The Kings' defense does not have to take a backseat to any area on the team. Specifically, defenseman Drew Doughty stepped up as much as any player in the league during the postseason. He was rock solid with his overall defense, puck carrying and ability to take a hit and still make a play.
Doughty impressed St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock when the two teams met in the second round of the playoffs. "I think the biggest thing that he does is absorb checks, gets the puck out on his own," Hitchcock told Lisa Dillm ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
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