(SB Nation) — The Los Angeles Kings are 2012 Stanley Cup Champions, and in L.A., fans have plenty of new heroes to celebrate following their team’s six-game triumph over the Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Devils. SB Nation’s Dirk Hoag breaks them all down all of the new Hollywood heroes for us.
Darryl Sutter’s team wasn’t Darryl Sutter’s team until December, but after the midseason coaching change the Kings really began to develop their identity as potential champions. The trade deadline move that saw Jeff Carter come to town for Jack Johnson was a bit of addition-by-subtraction, but Carter’s work in Los Angeles was noteworthy as well. He did score the Cup-clinching goal, after all.
Jonathan Quick’s work in the goal crease was second-to-none, of course, and without him the Kings may not have even made the postseason, let alone the Finals. Now, the Stanley Cup is in Hollywood and there are plenty of new stars to be seen.