I think the issue is whether you're defining "rivalry" as:
1) The team you most like to see lose, both at the hands of the Kings, and at the hands of pretty much any other team. That team, for me, is still Anaheim.
or...
2) The team you would most like to see an epic, amazing, tightly-fought, highly-skilled yet gritty and tough, playoff battle for the Division or Conference title... which this article has, IMO, correctly identified -at this moment- as San Jose.
I agree. And I'd also add 'hate for team' is different than 'hate for fans'. For example the Ducks "rivalry" is so freaking artificial on the ice. It's all just a fan pissing contest until they play meaningful games vs. one another (Kopitar eliminating them from playoff contention with the Forsberg move in a shootout doesn't count for anything but self-gratification
)
Therefore, my list:
1. Sharks. Best hockey rivalry. last year's playoffs stepped it up another notch with the whining to the media (I love McLellan but his defense of Torres drove me nuts). I don't think Kings fans will ever forget Jumbo spinning on his back on our center ice, though the Cup makes up for it! Fans are great online and in person--can heckle and take it. Just best all around games and both teams are amongst the league's elite right now. I truly think they're the most dangerous team in the league this year (yes, even more than the Blackhawks).
2. Canucks. Still good hockey, you can tell the teams despise one another. I think their fans used to write us off as "aww how cute, you think we're your rival" but they got a dose of reality so they haven't been nearly as abrasive since
3. Cryotes. LA little brother complex. They want so badly to be our rival and our players piss them off to no end. Love beating these guys, absolutely hate losing to them. Plus, Mike Smith is my most hated player in the NHL. Hanzal is up there too--don't know why that guy doesn't get more flack for trying to run everyone when he plays us but eh, just adds to the fire!
4. Blues. Nice recent playoff rivalry, really were our kindred spirits before we won a cup because they are long-tortured souls as well (although they had the pleasure of at least making the playoffs for all eternity). Teams are built similarly. We're really one of the only teams that's a challenge for them, imho. I know posters here give them a lot of **** for not getting it done but let's see how they fare vs. another playoff opponent before writing them off. Don't hate the team, just respect the hell out of how hard they play, and their fans have been mostly good too (and gotta thank Fred Murtz for always posting videos for us despite his clear loathing for all things Dustin Brown
)
5. Ducks. Again, let's be real, this is just geographic and artificial so far. I think both teams want like hell to meet in the playoffs yet are scared of the result
. Now would be a great time as both teams are clearly in that upper-echelon. Still, outside of the fan anger, there's not much more to hate about the Ducks for a Kings fan than vice versa. Sure, I will make fun of Perry/Getzlaf's temper tantrums and Bryan Allen taking a regular shift at the NHL level, but if they weren't our neighbor, you wouldn't hear a peep either way.
(I'm also trying to remain as unbiased as possible because I really dig Etem and Palmieri and some of their rookies. And Saku Koivu's career. and the fact that the only fight Teemu Selanne has ever been in he beat up a Canuck (ahem
) )
HM: Blackhawks--just putting them here not because there are any hard feelings really, just that they are the next demon we have to exorcise--we played clearly below our team's capabilities in the WCF plus they play a style that is our kryptonite. If Sutter and co. can solve the riddle of how we can beat the Hawks (and similar teams like the Avs) over a 7-game series, then we are set for some years!
