It's definitely an odd year. The Cup wins change the definition of satisfaction. There was just not quite enough in any aspect of the team to get to the playoffs. Everything was just a bit off. Kopitar with one fewer shot per game than he usually gets. Quick not coming up with that one Quick-esque save as often as previous years. An unforeseen, non-hockey suspension. They never played a single game with a full lineup. We have no way of knowing if fatigue or motivation played any part in the weird season. Going through what they've done in the previous 3 years, last year especially, and then having to come back for another 82 game, 6 month grind. In games that have nowhere near the energy level of an 0-3 comeback, 3 road Game 7's, one of the best series in recent history against a team that made them look silly more than once in Chicago, and then another Cup victory, this one in double OT. Maybe it's tough to get up for games after that, and when you need that energy at the end of the season, it's just not there.
The only thing the Kings had to play for was the Cup though. There's no loud cheering if they made the playoffs. Win a round? Been there, done that. I can clearly remember when even that seemed like an insurmountable mountain. That's just as a fan. If they had won a round this year, it would've been ok, that's great, now what? After what they've done recently, a series win isn't all that impressive. What are they going to do? Come back from down 5-0 in every game? What else could they do?
All that mattered was the Cup, but you couldn't really expect them to do it again. It's a weird place.
(kidding)
).
