NHL teams
Jason Lewis, ESPN Insider 8y

Why Milan Lucic makes the Kings a top Stanley Cup contender

NHL, Los Angeles Kings

There is a scene in the 2011 film Moneyball, where Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) discusses with his scouts how to replace the production of lost players. As one scout professes, "We need 38 home runs, 120 RBIs, and 47 doubles to replace Giambi."

The Los Angeles Kings aren't cash-strapped like the early-2000s Oakland Athletics, but they did head into the offseason in need of replacing the production of 2014 Conn Smythe winner Justin Williams, who signed with the Washington Capitals. Not only was Williams dubbed "Mr. Game 7" for his big-time performances in the postseason, he regularly scored between 40 and 50 points in the regular season and was one of the elite puck-possession players in the NHL.

The veteran winger, who turns 34 on Oct. 4, has also been a fixture alongside superstar center Anze Kopitar. During the past three seasons, 51.1 percent of Kopitar's even-strength ice time has been played with Williams.

General manager Dean Lombardi did not take the Moneyball approach to replacing those 40-50 points. Instead, he took a more risky route, trading a first-round pick for veteran winger Milan Lucic.

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