The kinship of looking back

[SettlementRichie10]

I think the Kings in 2012 and the Hawks in 2013 beat any championship team in a seven game series, except maybe the 2007 Ducks and the 2008 Wings.

Those four teams are by far the best championship teams since the lockout. Everyone else is a tier below.

 

[johnjm22]

I think the Kings in 2012 and the Hawks in 2013 beat any championship team in a seven game series, except maybe the 2007 Ducks and the 2008 Wings.

Those four teams are by far the best championship teams since the lockout. Everyone else is a tier below.

Don't tell that to the main board. The 2012 Kings apparently weren't that good and had an easy path to the SC.

 

[Herby]

I wish that hockey would have gotten bigger here with the Kings three year run like it did in Chicago.

Maybe it was a perfect storm for Chicago with the Bears and Cubs being pretty bad for much of the Hawks run (although the Lakers were horrible too). Maybe it's just Chicago is a better sports town or hockey comes more natural in the Midwest but I wish the Kingshad been able to be more mainstream.

And I'd love to see a 7 game series with the 2014 Kings vs 2010 Hawks. I think those were the best of each teams.

 

[Legionnaire]

I wish that hockey would have gotten bigger here with the Kings three year run like it did in Chicago.

Maybe it was a perfect storm for Chicago with the Bears and Cubs being pretty bad for much of the Hawks run (although the Lakers were horrible too). Maybe it's just Chicago is a better sports town or hockey comes more natural in the Midwest but I wish the Kingshad been able to be more mainstream.

And I'd love to see a 7 game series with the 2014 Kings vs 2010 Hawks. I think those were the best of each teams.

It grew big. I see so many Kings people and cars with Kings gear now. I would guess that Cota De Caza isn't exactly the bastion of self-expression before I'd say that the Kings didn't grow their fanbase.

 

[Rorschach]

It grew big. I see so many Kings people and cars with Kings gear now. I would guess that Cota De Caza isn't exactly the bastion of self-expression before I'd say that the Kings didn't grow their fanbase.

I agree it has definitely grown. Most Dodgers fans and many Lakers fans actually care if the Kings do well. Before, they didn't.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think the 2013 Hawks were the best of their championship teams. The 2010 team had ludicrous forward depth, but weren't as well rounded as the 2013 team, IMO.

Similarly, I think the 2012 Kings had better depth, with almost every player in their prime, and a perfect lineup on paper.

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Fraser-Nolan

Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Voynov
Martinez-Greene

Quick
Bernier

That team had everything. They were big, tough, and fast. They had clutch performers all over the lineup, dynamic scoring threats on multiple lines, a perfectly built blue line. And they had the best defensive stats of any playoff team in the last 10+ years.

 

[Herby]

It grew big. I see so many Kings people and cars with Kings gear now. I would guess that Cota De Caza isn't exactly the bastion of self-expression before I'd say that the Kings didn't grow their fanbase.

Perhaps I worded it wrong, I didn't mean that it didn't grow. What I was saying was I wish it had gotten as big here in SoCal as it did in Chicago as each team was going through their eras of dominance.

 

[Herby]

I think the 2013 Hawks were the best of their championship teams. The 2010 team had ludicrous forward depth, but weren't as well rounded as the 2013 team, IMO.

Similarly, I think the 2012 Kings had better depth, with almost every player in their prime, and a perfect lineup on paper.

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Fraser-Nolan

Scuderi-Doughty
Mitchell-Voynov
Martinez-Greene

Quick
Bernier

That team had everything. They were big, tough, and fast. They had clutch performers all over the lineup, dynamic scoring threats on multiple lines, a perfectly built blue line. And they had the best defensive stats of any playoff team in the last 10+ years.

I think the additions of Gaborik, Toffoli and Pearson give the edge to the 2014 team. The Kings had a Conn Smythe winner on the 3rd line.

Carter was a slight improvement on Richards at the 2C and Gaborik in that 2014 run was probably better than Carter at wing in 2012.

The 2014 team beat way better teams, including a playoff tested Chicago team.

The only knock on the 2014 team to me was that the fourth line was pretty bad, where as the 2012 team the fourth line played excellent in their role.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

I think the additions of Gaborik, Toffoli and Pearson give the edge to the 2014 team. The Kings had a Conn Smythe winner on the 3rd line.

Carter was a slight improvement on Richards at the 2C and Gaborik in that 2014 run was probably better than Carter at wing in 2012.

The 2014 team beat way better teams, including a playoff tested Chicago team.

The only knock on the 2014 team to me was that the fourth line was pretty bad, where as the 2012 team the fourth line played excellent in their role.

Fair points all around.

 

[Reclamation Project]

2014 Kings were a powerhouse team in all facets - physically, talent, and above all else mentally. They were pushed to the brink numerous times and never gave up. There's no argument in my mind which run I prefer, it's 2014 and frankly it's not even close. The sheer determination, relentlessness, and will that roster showed transcends hockey, it was an incredible thing to witness. I wouldn't pick any of these teams mentioned over the 2014 roster.

 

[Rorschach]

I think the additions of Gaborik, Toffoli and Pearson give the edge to the 2014 team. The Kings had a Conn Smythe winner on the 3rd line.

Carter was a slight improvement on Richards at the 2C and Gaborik in that 2014 run was probably better than Carter at wing in 2012.

The 2014 team beat way better teams, including a playoff tested Chicago team.

The only knock on the 2014 team to me was that the fourth line was pretty bad, where as the 2012 team the fourth line played excellent in their role.

Completely agree with the forward corps assessment. For defense I feel all of the older SAH defensemen declined while Voynov was improved.

Doughty and Quick I think were about the same.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I wish that hockey would have gotten bigger here with the Kings three year run like it did in Chicago.

Maybe it was a perfect storm for Chicago with the Bears and Cubs being pretty bad for much of the Hawks run (although the Lakers were horrible too). Maybe it's just Chicago is a better sports town or hockey comes more natural in the Midwest but I wish the Kingshad been able to be more mainstream.

And I'd love to see a 7 game series with the 2014 Kings vs 2010 Hawks. I think those were the best of each teams.

Yeah, it kind of was a perfect storm that led to the resurgence of the popularity of the Hawks in Chicago.

First, the Hawks were very popular in Chicago years ago and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Chicago was a Hawks town more than any other sports team back in the 50's, 60's and early 70's. So there was a long standing base of Hawks fans that had been driven away by the owner who were basically hibernating until they saw reason to wake up (I'm one of those old time fans).

Second, the owner that drove fans away (Bill Wirtz) died and his son Rocky took over and it was like a breath of revitalizing fresh air. He said and did all the right things, first and foremost he announced Hawks home games would be televised.

Third, Toews was drafted in 2006 but went back to North Dakota for the 06/07 season. Kane was drafted in 2007 and he and Toews started their careers together in 07/08. It was clear from the puck drop in game #1 that those 2 players were special.

Fourth, other players who would become core players were coming into their prime (Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson) and because Toews and Kane were on ELC's the Hawks had the Cap space to sigh free agents Hossa and Campbell.

And lastly, Rocky brought in John McDonaugh to run the business operation and McDonaugh is very good at marketing. So, while the old timers like me woke up to the new Hawks, new fans were brought on board by the marketing of Toews and Kane as the new fast and exciting Hawks.

Good fortune smiled on us, several times. We won 3 Cups and I'm forever grateful.

 

[Stimpythecat]

I understand the feeling, too.

We had a horrible team for the longest time. Didn't draft well at times and traded picks for vets on the decline. We had similar periods of horrible ownership.

Kings fans have been fortunate to see great success in a limited time. It's so hard to win just one Cup let alone multiple. So many teams have multi-decade long droughts or have never won. I have nothing but respect for what the hawks (and Pens) have done. Props to you guys.