• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Los Angeles Kings

How Do Champs Fare Post-Lockout?

By Michael Gwizdala September 13th, 2012

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

As much as Los Angeles Kings players and their fans enjoy seeing their team parade the Stanley Cup around the globe, there’s assuredly one record they don’t want.  Longest reigning Stanley Cup Champions to not repeat as such.  That record currently belongs to the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning, who defended that title beyond the lockout laden 2004-05 campaign and through the 2005-06 season.  If nothing else, the Cup got a lengthy vacation in the Sunshine State.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE)

So with what can amount to one heck of a championship hangover, coupled with a league with potential new rule changes, what can one expect as a post-lockout defending champ?  If the past is an indicator, it could be a bumpy ride for L.A., which additionally missed the playoffs in each of the past two post-lockout seasons.  Let’s take a look at those of most recent vintage, the Bolts and New York Rangers.

Tampa Bay Lightning:

After winning their first Cup in franchise history, the “‘ning dynasty” upped their scoring in the “new rules” NHL.  However, with that also came more goals against, especially with the departure of Nikolai Khabibulin.  Tampa went from 106 point Southeast Champs, to a squad with a respectable 92 points and an eighth place finish in the Eastern Conference, just edging out the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Facing the top seeded Ottawa Senators, in the first round of the playoffs, Tampa won the second game but was summarily ousted in five games.  Following that, the Lighting again made a first round exit and missed the playoffs for three of the next four seasons, save for the 2010-11 campaign, when the dropped a 1-0 contest in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Final, against the Boston Bruins.

New York Rangers:

Somewhere around my house is an old VHS tape of the 1994-95 (well okay 1995) Rangers raising their Stanley Cup banner, while hosting the Buffalo Sabres.  As I recall, there was a looming black cloud of Mark Messier’s contract situation.  Oh and out was coach Mike Keenan and in was Colin Campbell.  My first year of watching hockey regularly was the 1993-94 season, so of course following the Rangers, I was young and naive in thinking this was going to happen every year.  Or not.

New York lost that first game and really seemed to spin their wheels all year.  Out were Esa Tikkanen, Greg Gilbert, Ed Olczyk, Glenn Anderson, Craig MacTavish and Doug Lidster, most of those guys following Keenan to St. Louis.  In their place were guys like Petr Nedved and Pat Verbeek.

While that edition failed to finish at the .500 mark, they did manage to squeak past the Florida Panthers and much like the Lightning, were able to slide into the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.  From there, New York was able to stun the top seeded Quebec Nordiques in six, in the first round.  Of course the next season, most of those players would win the Cup for the Colorado Avalanche.  However, in the second round, the Rangers would get swept in four by the Philadelphia Flyers and their vaunted “Legion of Doom,” line.

New York would again reach the second round the next season, made the Eastern Conference Final the year after that, before missing the playoffs for seven straight years.  Although the Rangers have rebounded more from the most recent lockout, making the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, including reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2011-12.

So how will the Kings fare?  How long will they have to wait?  Only time will tell.

  • Tags
  • Stanley Cup
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 24th 6:15 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Find Success Against Red Wings

Jan 24th 6:10 PM
Column

Canadiens’ News & Rumours: Hot Start, Armia, Mete & More

Jan 24th 6:00 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Road Trip, Lineups, Stützle & More

Jan 24th 5:50 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ Notebook: NHL Players to Watch & Overseas Ice

Jan 24th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

3 Takeaways From Canadiens’ 5-2 Win Over Canucks

Jan 24th 3:15 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Michigan, Gushchin & Gordin

Jan 24th 3:05 PM
New York Rangers

Rangers News & Rumors: Chytil, Dubois Traded, Lafreniere & More

Jan 24th 2:55 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Getting the Best of Curtis Lazar

Jan 24th 2:05 PM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Are in Good Hands With Jack Hughes

Jan 24th 1:35 PM
San Jose Sharks

Sharks Seeing Offense From Erik Karlsson But Defense Is Lacking

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Wayne Gretzky Almost Joined the Detroit Red Wings

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information