Yes, I've been a Kings fan all my life.
Kings fans remember the 1980 trade deadline. Because, outside of the triple crown line (all of which had great seasons that year) the only other truly fun reason to watch the team was Butch Goring. An electricfying offensive player, Goring had been with the Kings for about a decade, and had spent his entire NHL career with the Kings to that point.
Goring was having another very productive year with the Kings, but the Kings needed productive bodies, and so they traded Goring at the trading deadline, to the Islanders.
The Islanders, of course, would then win 4 consecutive Stanley Cups. Goring won the Conn Smythe one of those years.
The Butch Goring saga defined the Kings for many, many years, basically until Wayne Gretzky showed up. A great player who played many seasons for a usually average team that ultimately went nowhere, he left and became one of the great NHL champions.
This current Kings club has washed all those memories away. This team has the heart of a lion. 7 games? We love it. Have to play on the road? Love it. Beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions on their ice in Game 7? Bring it.
My god it's a great night for Kings fans everywhere. It's a very solid franchise, with great fans, and now a great bunch of players to rally around.
One more thing: Congratulations to the Rangers on a great playoff run. The Rangers gave the Kings everything they could handle. Every game at Staples went to OT. It was a war out there. They played with tremendous grit. It was just not their time; I wish them well.