Qualities not usually associated with the Los Angeles Kings: consistency, playoff success and stability. Over the past two seasons under coach Andy Murray, the Kings have combined for 77 wins and qualified for the playoffs. After being swept in the first round by the Red Wings in 1999-2000, the Kings shocked Detroit in six games last season before taking the eventual-champ Avalanche to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. The much-needed stability comes from GM Dave Taylor and Murray. Murray's subdued public persona might not be in step with L.A.'s glitz, but his winning attitude is. Underestimate the former prep school coach, and you'll likely lose -- as many teams have learned the last two years.

	2000-01 by the numbers
	Record: 38-28-13-3, 92 points (13th overall, 7th West, 3rd Pacific) Man-games lost to injury: 196 (15th) Goals for: 252/3.07 (6th) Goals against: 228/2.78 (17th) Differential: 24 (12th overall) 20-goal scorers: Zigmund Palffy (38), Luc Robitaille* (37), Bryan Smolinski (27) 50-point scorers: Palffy (89), Robitaille* (88), Smolinski (59), Stumpel (55) * - no longer with team.

Looking at next season
Murray has his most difficult challenge in two years. He'll be without the two most identifiable Kings -- save Wayne Gretzky -- of the last decade: Rob Blake and Luc Robitaille. The loss of Blake wasn't a surprise. When Taylor felt there was no chance to re-sign Blake, he traded him to Colorado in order to get something in return for the All-Star defenseman who was set to leave as an unrestricted free agent. Robitaille's departure was more of a shock. According to Robitaille, the team waited too long to contact him after the season -- reportedly, more than a month -- and then offered him only a one-year deal for less than the $3.5 million he made last season. After scoring 520 goals in a Kings uniform (37 last season), Robitaille was done. He bolted to conference rival Detroit for a two-year, $9 million deal.

Even with the departure of two All-Stars, Murray has a solid and promising foundation upon which to build. Goaltending has been an issue in the past, mainly because of injuries to Jamie Storr and Stephane Fiset. But if Felix Potvin continues displaying the form that earned the moniker "Felix the Cat" in Toronto, the Kings will have three solid goalies in training camp. Potvin deserves the label as the incumbent No. 1. After the Kings picked Potvin off Vancouver's scrap heap, he finished the regular season with a 13-5-5 record and five shutouts, then followed with a vintage performance against Colorado in the postseason. If all three goalies perform well in camp, expect Taylor to trade one for a center or left wing.

The Kings' defense might not have many household names -- Mathieu Schneider is likely the only one -- but it does have six players who had solid seasons a year ago and one (Philippe Boucher) who played well in 22 games. Schneider (16-35-51) is coming off his best offensive season since 1995-96, but perhaps his best all-around season since '93-94 when he had 20 goals, 52 points and was a plus-15. With Blake gone, re-signing him was essential. The Kings reeled him back off the open market with a three-year deal. Lubomir Visnovsky had a stellar rookie season with a plus-16 and 32 assists; soon to be 25 years old, he should only get better. With Jere Karalahti, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom (18 assists, plus-10), Jaroslav Modry (plus-16) and Boucher in the mix, the Kings' defense should be solid and a strength.

A successful season will depend on offense and leadership. Last season, Murray didn't name a replacement for Blake as captain, and Robitaille wore an "A." With both players gone, someone will need to take the reins.

On the ice, there's plenty of offensive talent. With the addition of Steve Heinze, the Kings are heavy at right wing and thin at center and left wing. Murray might play Heinze with Jozef Stumpel, who are familiar with each other from their time on a line together in Boston. Robitaille and Kelly Buchberger were the only forwards to play all 82 games, which makes it imperative for Stumpel, Ziggy Palffy, Glen Murray, Bryan Smolinski and Adam Deadmarsh to stay healthy. If they all average about 75 games, if someone helps Stumpel at center and if Palffy has another great year, the Kings should have two excellent scoring lines even without Robitaille. And no, don't expect Randy Robitaille to erase the memory of Luc.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com.