Michael Ventre

LOS ANGELES - After 45 years of looking back in frustration, the Los Angeles Kings can finally look forward with anticipation.

On Monday night, the Kings won the Stanley Cup, their first ever. They’ve heard about the Stanley Cup, seen glimpses of it here and there. In 1993, they actually were three victories away from obtaining it before collapsing against Montreal. But after Game 6 against the New Jersey Devils, they were brandishing it like pirates of the Caribbean.

That may be an image the hockey world might have to get used to.

It’s absurdly early to predict what the future will hold for an NHL team. The Kings, seeded eighth in the West, defeated the first, second and third seeds to get to the Stanley Cup finals, testament to how foolhardy it is to handicap this sport (Detroit was the last team to win back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998). A hot goaltender here, a timely trade there, perhaps a coaching change — all, incidentally, factors in the Kings’ run — and an also-ran can become the leader.

But it’s impossible not to look at the Kings’ situation and see prosperity ahead, maybe even the “D” word — dynasty — or at least the potential for it.

“We feel we’re set up for a while,” said Kings president Luc Robitaille, a member of that ’93 club and a Hall of Famer. “Our best players are all our youngest guys.”

Kings capture first Stanley Cup Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images Contributor A long reign? Ventre: As Kings celebrate, remember new champ's top players, such as Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick, are young and hungry for more. Story Game 6: Kings rule! LA wins first Cup   |  Highlights   It's party time! Watch Kings' on-ice celebration PHT: Conn Smythe to Quick |  'Unbelievable' |  Video PHT: Devils' Bernier regrets costly hit  |  Video Game 5: Devils 'found a way to win'   |  Highlights Game 4: Devils aren't done just yet   |  Highlights Game 3: Kings rout Devils   |  Highlights Game 2: Carter delivers for Kings in OT  |  Highlights Game 1: Kopitar helps Kings win in OT  | Highlights Slideshows: Cup champs  |  Conn Smythe winners   NHL.com: Famous misspellings on the Cup More on series from NHL.com

The scene on the ice after Monday’s game was gleeful. The Kings were surrounded by media, friends, family, team officials, league personnel, and of course, the Stanley Cup itself. Robitaille naturally was focused on the celebration and not so much on the horizon. Still, he knows the questions will soon come at him like slap shots.

“We’re going to enjoy this,” he said, “and next week we’ll start worrying about next year. But it’s amazing.”

Barry Melrose was standing nearby. He coached the team in ’93 when it lost, 4-1, to the Canadiens, a series made infamous by the Marty McSorley stick incident: it had too much curve, and as a result, the Kings went off the road.

He’s been an unabashed fan of these Kings, and gushed about their future.

“All their young guys are in the prime of their lives,” he said as he prepared to interview goaltender Jonathan Quick, one of the team’s young stars and maybe its most important. Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

“They’re big, physical, and they’ll definitely be here for a while.”

Start with Quick. He’s only 26, and yet he dominated in these playoffs. He allowed only 29 goals in 20 playoff games during this run, and stopped 125 of 132 shots in the finals. The Devils know what a superstar goaltender means to a franchise — in their case, three Stanley Cups with Quick's idol, Martin Brodeur, in net — so the Kings have the centerpiece of future riches.

“I don’t know if I can put it into words,” said center Anze Kopitar, when asked to describe Quick’s performances in these playoffs. “You can go ahead and look at the stats. He was just awesome for us.”

But it hardly stops with Quick. Center Dustin Brown, the team’s captain, turns 28 in November. Defenseman Drew Doughty is a babe of 22, as is Dwight King. Jeff Carter and Mike Richards are both 27. Kopitar, the team’s leading scorer during the regular season with 25 goals and 51 assists, is a preposterously infant-like 24.

During the post-game championship celebration in their lockerroom, while they were opening and spraying champagne, I swear I saw some of them getting carded by the cops.

And then there are some geezers clogging up the roster. Justin Williams will be 31 next season. Dustin Penner turns 30 in the fall. Simon Gagne is 32. They’re still highly effective. They just need a little longer on the massage table after games.