Which can't be stressed enough. I'm wary about teams that make quantum leaps in the standings from non-playoff team to Cup contender the next year. Worst to first happens in baseball and football, even, but not too much in hockey. The Lightning haven't even back to the playoffs since their run.
The Kings were steady risers over the years. Which leads me to the irony of how the Kings were HF darlings during the building process, because HF loves potential. Then the minute the Kings realized their potential and started looking like world-beaters, it's just a hot streak and riding a hot goaltender. Now, the main board loves talking about the Kings in a negative light. Ahh, it's good to be the king.