1. Darcy Kuemper
While Kempe might have been the most valuable skater on the Los Angeles Kings, he wasn't the most impactful player as that title should go to Darcy Kuemper. The Kings would bring Kuemper over from the Washington Capitals in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade and there may not be a better example of win-win for all parties in recent memory.
For Kuemper, he had a career season and was recognized as a Vezina Trophy finalist as one of the top goalies in all of hockey this past season. He would go 31-11-7 with a save percentage .921 (which tied for a career-high) and a goals against average of 2.02 (which was a career-best).
The Kings were one of the best home teams this past season in the NHL and that was due in large part to Kuemper as he went 20-3-2 at Crypto.com Arena and had a save percentage of .933 and a goals against average of 1.67.
Darcy Kuemper will be back in net next season for the LA Kings and if they get a similar performance, along with some potential changes among the skaters, the Kings have to really like their chances of not only returning to the playoffs but finally advancing out of the first round.