La kings roster biography

National Hockey League team occupy Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey crew based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey Friend (NHL) as a member of depiction Pacific Division in the Western Advice. The team was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent Journalist was awarded an NHL expansion privilege for Los Angeles on February 9, 1966, becoming one of the sestet teams that began play as worth of the 1967 NHL expansion.^[4] Say publicly team plays its home games decompose Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, their home since the start representative the 1999–2000 season. Prior to desert, the Kings played for 32 majority at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., a suburb of the Greater Los Angeles area.

During the 1970s person in charge early 1980s, the Kings had numerous years marked by impressive play pulsate the regular season only to superiority washed out by early playoff exits. Their highlights in those years facade the strong goaltending of Rogie Vachon, and the "Triple Crown Line" jump at Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor and Arrival of FamerMarcel Dionne, who had adroit famous upset of the rising Edmonton Oilers in a 1982 playoff distraction known as the Miracle on Metropolis. In 1988, the Kings traded get better the Oilers to get their helmsman Wayne Gretzky, leading to a well-off phase of the franchise that convex hockey's popularity in Los Angeles, deliver helped elevate the sport's profile be bounded by the American Sun Belt region.^[5] Gretzky, fellow Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille, and defenseman Rob Blake led glory Kings to the franchise's sole parceling title in 1990–91, and the Kings' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance inconvenience 1993, where they lost to dignity Montreal Canadiens.

After the 1993 Finals, the Kings entered financial problems, reduce a bankruptcy in 1995, which opulent to the franchise being acquired manage without Philip Anschutz (the owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group and the operators dead weight Crypto.com Arena) and Edward P. Roski. A period of mediocrity ensued, bump into the Kings only resurging as they broke a six-year playoff drought rephrase the 2009–10 season, with a body that included goaltender Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, and forwards Dustin Grill, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams. Secondary to coach Darryl Sutter, who was chartered early in the 2011–12 season, endure with the acquisition of Jeff Bearer, the Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years: 2012 over primacy New Jersey Devils, and 2014 go underground the New York Rangers, while Lasting and Williams respectively won the Conn Smythe Trophy. The franchise has locked away mixed success since; to the demonstrate day, the Kings qualified for excellence playoffs for the last three following seasons, but only five times squeeze the last decade, never advancing foregoing the first round.

History

Main article: Life of the Los Angeles Kings

NHL come back and the "Forum Blue and Gold" years (1967–1975)

When the NHL decided be acquainted with expand for the 1967–68 season in the midst of rumblings that the Western Hockey Compact (WHL) was proposing to turn upturn into a major league and break one`s neck for the Stanley Cup, Canadian middleman Jack Kent Cooke paid the NHL $2 million to place one tip off the six expansion teams in Los Angeles.^[6] Following a fan contest encircling name the team, Cooke chose birth name Kings because he wanted diadem club to take on "an imbalanced of royalty," and picked the contemporary team colors of purple (or "Forum Blue", as it was later apparently called) and gold because they were colors traditionally associated with royalty. That color scheme, first popularized by depiction NCAA's LSU Tigers and later disturbance the Minnesota Vikings of the Municipal Football League (NFL), was then adoptive by the Los Angeles Lakers pay for the National Basketball Association (NBA), which Cooke also owned.^[7][8] Cooke wanted dominion new NHL team to play advise the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Area, home of the Lakers, but high-mindedness Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which managed the Sports Arena (and still manages the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum today), had already entered into an be of the same opinion with the WHL's Los Angeles Blades (whose owners had also tried offer land the NHL expansion franchise brush Los Angeles) to play their festivity at the Sports Arena.^[9] Frustrated gross his dealings with the Coliseum Snooze, Cooke said, "I am going telling off build my own arena. ... I've had enough of this balderdash."^[9]

Construction take it easy Cooke's new arena, the Forum, was not yet complete when the 1967–68 season began, so the Kings unfasten their first season at the Well ahead Beach Arena in the neighboring impediment of Long Beach on October 14, 1967, defeating another expansion team, blue blood the gentry Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2.^[10] The "Fabulous Forum" finally opened its doors on Dec 30, 1967, with the Kings activity shut out by the Flyers, 2–0.^[11] While the first two seasons locked away the Kings qualifying for the playoffs,^[12] afterwards poor management led the Kings into hard times. The general managers established a history of trading take off first-round draft picks, usually for experienced players,^[13] and attendance suffered during that time.^[14] Eventually the Kings made unornamented few key acquisitions to resurge chimpanzee a contender. By acquiring Toronto Maple LeafswingerBob Pulford, who would later be seemly the Kings' head coach, in 1970,^[15] Finnish center Juha Widing in copperplate trade from the New York Rangers,^[16] and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Rogie Vachon in 1971,^[17] the Kings went escape being one of the worst insulating teams in the league to distinct of the best, and in 1974 they returned to the playoffs.^[12]

Marcel Dionne and the "Triple Crown Line" (1975–1988)

After being eliminated in the first wheel round of the playoffs in both 1973–74 and 1974–75, the Kings moved appoint significantly upgrade their offensive firepower like that which they acquired center Marcel Dionne vary the Detroit Red Wings.^[18] Behind Dionne's offensive prowess, the strong goaltending clutch Rogie Vachon, and the speed innermost scoring touch of forward Butch Goring,^[19] the Kings played two of their most thrilling seasons yet, with playoff match ups against the then-Atlanta Fusillade in the first round, and justness Boston Bruins in the second advert, both times being eliminated by Beantown.

Bob Pulford left the Kings rear 1 the 1976–77 season after constant enmity with then owner Jack Kent Moneyman, and General Manager Jake Milford trustworthy to leave as well. This nonchalant to struggles in the 1977–78 seasoned, where the Kings finished below .500 and were easily swept out collide the first round by the Maple Leafs. Afterwards, Vachon became a painless agent and sign with the Get smaller Wings. The following season, Kings lecturer Bob Berry tried juggling line combinations, and Dionne found himself on span new line with two young, above all unknown players: second-year right winger Dave Taylor and left winger Charlie Boil, who had been a career minor-leaguer.^[15] Each player benefited from each niche, with Simmer being the gritty contestant who battled along the boards, Composer being the play maker, and Dionne being the natural goal scorer. That line combination, known as the "Triple Crown Line", would go on strip become one of the highest-scoring law combinations in NHL history.^[15][20] During picture first three seasons of the Triad Crown Line, a period where Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Kings, primacy Lakers, and the Forum for $67.5 million,^[11] the Kings were eliminated hub the first round. The Kings regressed in 1981–82 finishing 17th overall, on the contrary this was nevertheless good enough motivate make the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs under the new format put get in touch with place that year as they were still fourth in their division collide with 63 points, the lowest point in one piece of any playoff team but up ahead of the Colorado Rockies, the get the better of team in the league that occasion. However, Los Angeles managed to endure the second overall Edmonton Oilers, who finished 48 points ahead of them during the season and were moneyed by the young Wayne Gretzky.^[21] Mess about with two victories in Edmonton and separate at the Forum – dubbed "Miracle on Manchester", where the Kings managed to erase a 5–0 deficit infringe the third period and eventually magnify in overtime – the Kings put off the vaunted Oilers, but they shock defeat up eliminated by eventual finalists Metropolis Canucks in five games.^[22]

The 1982 off-season saw the moribund Rockies move do research East Rutherford, New Jersey. To occupy the divisions geographically and numerically stable, the renamed New Jersey Devils were re-aligned to the Patrick Division extensively the Winnipeg Jets took their settle in the Smythe Division. It was immediately apparent that the Kings, say to the lone American team in excellence division, would have a much improved difficult time staying out of aftermost place since Winnipeg, after struggling sponsor their first two seasons after charge over from the WHA, had by this time improved to a .500 record probity previous season. Despite Dionne's leadership, magnanimity Kings missed the playoffs in depiction next two seasons.

The Kings managed to record a winning record overfull 1984–85 under coach Pat Quinn, despite the fact that it was still only good ample supply for fourth place. This time, blue blood the gentry Kings were quickly swept out chastisement the playoffs by the Oilers prolong their way to capturing their second-straight Stanley Cup championship.^[12] After a bereavement season in 1985–86, the Kings byword two important departures during 1986–87, monkey Quinn signed a contract in Dec to become coach and general unanswered of the Vancouver Canucks with efficient months left on his Kings arrangement – eventually being suspended by NHL PresidentJohn Ziegler for creating a difference of interest -^[23] and Dionne left-hand the franchise in March in uncluttered trade to the New York Rangers.^[24] Despite these shocks, a young platoon that would lead the Kings let somebody use the next decade, including star forward Bernie Nicholls, Jimmy Carson, Luc Robitaille, and defenseman Steve Duchesne,^[22] started combat flourish under head coach Mike Tater, who played thirteen season with rectitude Kings and was their captain pull out seven years, and his replacement Robbie Ftorek.^[25][26] The Kings made the playoffs for two seasons, but they were unable to get out of magnanimity first round given the playoff terms forced them to play either representation Oilers or the equally powerful City Flames en route to the convention finals. In all, the Kings meagre either the Oilers or the Cannonade in the playoffs four times about the 1980s.^[27]

The Gretzky era (1988–1995)

In 1987, coin collector Bruce McNall purchased grandeur Kings from Buss and turned depiction team into a Stanley Cup sportsperson almost overnight. After changing the band colors to silver and black,^[8] McNall acquired the league's best player, General Gretzky, in a blockbuster trade organize the Edmonton Oilers on August 9, 1988. The trade rocked the province world, especially north of the impertinence, where Canadians mourned the loss neat as a new pin a player they considered a public treasure.^[28] Gretzky's arrival generated much cheer about hockey and the NHL boring Southern California, and the ensuing repute of the Kings is credited meant for the arrival of another team tutor in the region (the Mighty Ducks show Anaheim, renamed the Anaheim Ducks crucial 2006), as well as the package of a new team in Circumboreal California (the San Jose Sharks)^[29] enthralled the NHL's expanding or moving go-slow other Sun Belt cities such variety Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Nashville, stall Las Vegas.^[30][31]

In Gretzky's first season warmth the Kings, he led the band in scoring with 168 points summit 54 goals and 114 assists contemporary won his ninth Hart Memorial Bestow as the league's Most Valuable Sportsman. The fourth overall Kings eliminated Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in goodness first round of the 1989 playoffs before being swept out in loftiness second round by the eventual Inventor Cup champion Flames.^[27] Clashes between Gretzky and head coach Robbie Ftorek direct to Ftorek's dismissal,^[26] and he was replaced by Tom Webster.^[32] The adhere to season, where Gretzky became the league's all-time leading scorer,^[33] was the reversed of its predecessor, with the Kings eliminating the defending champion Flames at one time falling to the eventual champion Oilers.^[27] Gretzky spearheaded the Kings to their first regular season division title mission franchise history in the 1990–91 season,^[34] but the heavily favored Kings astray a close series against Edmonton put back the second round that saw duo games go into overtime.^[35] After unembellished third straight elimination by the Oilers in 1992, Webster was fired. Popular manager Rogie Vachon was moved utility a different position in the class and named Nick Beverley as jurisdiction successor, and Beverley hired Barry Melrose, then with the American Hockey League's Adirondack Red Wings, as head coach.^[36]

Melrose would help the Kings reach contemporary heights in the 1992–93 season, uniform if Gretzky missed 39 games familiarize yourself a career-threatening herniated thoracic disk. Ill-behaved by Luc Robitaille, who served makeover captain in Gretzky's absence,^[37] the Kings finished with a 39–35–10 record (88 points), clinching third place in illustriousness Smythe Division.^[38] Heavily contested series calculate the 1993 playoffs had the Kings eliminating the Flames, Canucks and Leafs en route to their first fasten in the Stanley Cup Finals.^[39][40] Rafter the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, rank Kings faced the Montreal Canadiens. They won the first game 4–1, on the contrary late in Game 2, with significance Kings leading by a score racket 2–1, Canadiens coach Jacques Demers popular a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley's stick blade.^[41] His suspicions potent to be correct, as the meander of blade was too great, title McSorley was penalized.^[41] The Canadiens pulled their goaltender, Patrick Roy, giving them a two-man advantage, and Eric Desjardins scored on the resulting power lob to tie the game.^[41] Montreal went on to win the game explain overtime on another goal by Desjardins,^[41] and the Kings never recovered. They dropped the next two games feature overtime, and lost Game 5, 4–1, giving the Canadiens their league-leading Twenty-fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history.^[39][42]

Bankruptcy, relay to the Staples Center, and construct (1995–2009)

The years after the 1993 playoff run were tough for the Kings, as a sluggish start in influence 1993–94 season cost them a playoff berth, their first absence from nobleness postseason since 1986. However, Gretzky allowing a notable highlight during that epoch on March 23, 1994, when sharp-tasting scored his 802nd career goal make available pass Gordie Howe as the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer. At the sign up time, McNall defaulted on a accommodation from Bank of America, who endangered to force the Kings into failure unless he sold the team. Stern the federal government launched an inquiry into his financial practices, McNall at long last sold the club to IDB Discipline founder Jeffrey Sudikoff and former President Square Garden president Joseph Cohen.^[43] Available later emerged that McNall's free-spending attitude put the Kings in serious cash trouble; at one point, Cohen status Sudikoff were even unable to legitimate player payroll, and were ultimately contrived into bankruptcy in 1995.^[44] They were forced to trade many of their stronger players, and the middling outgrowth led to Gretzky demanding a recede to a legitimate Stanley Cup adversary. He would be dealt to blue blood the gentry St. Louis Blues in 1996.^[45]

On Oct 6, 1995, one day before rank 1995–96 season opener, a bankruptcy deference approved the purchase of the Kings by Philip Anschutz and Edward Proprietor. Roski for $113.5 million.^[46] The farreaching rebuild saw the Kings only reimburse to the playoffs in 1998, abounding by captain Rob Blake and type like Jozef Stumpel and Glen Lexicologist, where the highly skilled St. Prizefighter Blues swept the team in two games.^[47] The Kings suffered through undecorated injury-plagued season in 1998–99 as they finished last in the Pacific Partition and missed the playoffs with dexterous 32–45–5 record, leading to the expulsion of head coach Larry Robinson.^[48]

The Kings, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, made an even bigger move principal 1999, as they left The Colloquium after 32 seasons and moved assent to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, which was built by Anschutz and Roski. Staples Center was unornamented state-of-the-art arena, complete with luxury suites and all modern amenities.^[49] With unornamented new home, a new coach (Andy Murray), a potential 50-goal scorer story the fold in Zigmund Palffy, reprove players such as Blake, Robitaille, Philologist, Stumpel, Donald Audette, Ian Laperrière, gain Mattias Norstrom, the Kings improved dramatically, finishing the season the 1999–2000 stretch with a 39–31–12–4 record (94 points), good for second place in say publicly Pacific Division. While Audette would twist under the Kings' system and was unhappy as the number two okay wing, most of the new Kings like Bryan Smolinski and Palffy would find success under Andy Murray.^[50] On the other hand in the 2000 playoffs, the Kings were once again dispatched in influence first round, this time by righteousness Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep.^[51]

The 2000–01 season was controversial, pass for fans began to question AEG's allegiance to the success of the Kings because they failed to significantly rear the team during the off-season. Gear fuel to the fire was character February 21, 2001, trade of main attraction defenseman and fan favorite Rob Poet to the Colorado Avalanche.^[52] Despite that, two players received in the conformity, right wing Adam Deadmarsh and defenseman Aaron Miller, became impact players misjudge the Kings, who finished the 2000–01 season with a 38–28–13–3 record (92 points), good for a third-place keep apart in the Pacific Division and on the subject of first-round playoff date with the Port Red Wings.^[53] The heavily favored Slurred Wings suffered an upset, losing sky six games for the Kings' extreme playoff series win since 1993.^[39] Put back the second round, the Kings artificial seven games in their series opposed the Avalanche, but lost to glory eventual Stanley Cup champions.^[51]

Afterwards, during glory off-season, Luc Robitaille turned down far-out one-year deal with a substantial agreement cut and ended up signing tie in with Detroit, as the Red Wings tiny his best chance at winning probity Stanley Cup, and like Tomas Sandstrom before him in 1997, Robitaille won the Stanley Cup with Detroit beckon 2002.^[54] The Kings started off rank season with a sluggish October extort November, and then found their business again to finish with 95 score. They in fact were tied diminution points with the second-place Phoenix Coyotes, and only finished third in significance Pacific Division and seventh in primacy West due to a head-to-head measuring tape — the Coyotes won the patch series, 3–0–2. In the playoffs they met the Colorado Avalanche once in addition, this time in the first obviate. The series would prove to put in writing a carbon copy of their anterior meeting, with the Kings behind pair games to one and bouncing waste time to tie the series, only in front of be dominated in the seventh business and eliminated.^[55] The next seasons would be major disappointments as the Kings hit another major decline, missing nobility postseason up until the 2009–10 bout.

During those mediocre seasons, there would be a few bright spots rip open the form of draft picks ensure would attribute to future success bring the team, beginning with the 2003 NHL entry draft. Players such chimp Dustin Brown (2003), Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick (both 2005), and Drew Manlike (2008) were drafted and would aid the Kings reach the playoffs before again.

Return to the playoffs (2009–2011)

During the 2009–10 season, the team difficult built a consistent roster with netkeeper Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, extremity forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar service Justin Williams.^[56] Finishing sixth overall put it to somebody the West with 101 points, unbiased the third 100-plus point season flat franchise history, and establishing a authorization record with a nine-game unbeaten vein, the Kings returned to the playoffs, where they lost to a eminently skilled third seeded Vancouver Canucks body in six games.^[57]

The Kings entered excellence 2011 playoffs as the seventh pip in the West and played birth second seeded San Jose Sharks inconsequential the first round. Despite Anze Kopitar's absence with injury, the Kings incite the series to six games depending on an overtime goal by Joe Architect qualified the Sharks.^[58]

Stanley Cup championships (2011–2014)

A bad start to the 2011–12 course resulted in coach Terry Murray beingness fired, with Darryl Sutter being tasteless as his replacement. The Kings were much improved under Sutter, finishing come to mind the eighth seed after trading idea Jeff Carter midseason and having finishing-off the season with a 40–27–15 enigmatic for 95 points. The Kings fuel headed into the 2012 playoffs realize the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks. After playing two games in Town and one in Los Angeles, excellence Kings were up 3–0 in leadership series, a franchise first. By alluring Game 5 in Vancouver in in the fullness of time, the Kings advanced to the meeting semifinals for the first time on account of the 2000–01 season, whereupon they brush the second-seeded St. Louis Blues, continuing to the conference finals for one the second time in franchise characteristics. In doing so, the Kings further became the first NHL team get in touch with enter the playoffs as the oneeighth seed and eliminate the first- gift second-seeded teams in the conference. They then defeated Phoenix in five jollification to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, culminating in an overtime goal invitation Dustin Penner in Game 5, vital thus becoming the second team barred enclosure NHL history to beat the beyond three Conference seeds in the playoffs (the Calgary Flames achieved the tie in feat in 2004, ironically also inferior to Darryl Sutter) and the first one-eighth seed to accomplish the feat.^[59]

Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Devils discern the Cup Finals, defeating them farm animals six games to win their premier Stanley Cup in franchise history.^[60] Angst the Game 6 victory occurring persist in home ice at Staples Center, representation Kings became the first team owing to the 2007 Anaheim Ducks to conquer the Stanley Cup at home, kind well as the second Californian NHL team to do so.^[61] The Kings became the first eight seed title-holder in any of the North Indweller major leagues, the first Stanley Trophy champion that finished below fifth double up its conference, and the third run into finish below second in its splitting up (after the 1993 Canadiens and glory 1995 Devils).^[59] Goaltender Jonathan Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy sort the most valuable player during excellence playoffs, and soon after signed adroit ten-year contract extension on June 28.^[62]

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, magnanimity 2012–13 NHL season began on Jan 19, 2013, and was shortened collect 48 games.^[63] The Kings finished class season as the fifth seed mark out the West and began the safeguard of the Cup on the finished against the St. Louis Blues, who they swept in the 2012 playoffs.^[64] After losing the first two boisterousness, the Kings won four in pure row to eliminate the Blues down six games.^[65] In the second rule out, they then played a very stalwart San Jose Sharks team, this put on ice with home-ice advantage. In the chief game, Jarret Stoll suffered an hurt from the Sharks' Raffi Torres, who ended up being suspended for prestige rest of the series. The Kings eventually won in seven games. Infiltrate the conference finals, they faced righteousness number one seed in the Westward and Presidents' Trophy winning-Chicago Blackhawks. End dropping the first two games, magnanimity Kings won Game 3 with Jeff Carter suffering an injury from Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, who was flopping for Game 4 as a abide by. After losing Game 4, the Kings battled the Blackhawks through two in the fullness of time periods in Game 5, with Apostle Kane eventually scoring the game-winning grounds that won the game and depiction series, sending the Blackhawks to nobleness 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against picture Boston Bruins (whom they defeated remit six games for their second Adventurer Cup in four seasons) and timeless the Kings' season.^[66]

During the 2013–14 stint, the Kings acquired Marian Gaborik, stomach qualified for their fifth straight playoffs with the sixth-best result of blue blood the gentry West.^[67] In the first round watch the 2014 playoffs, the Kings contrived their in-state rivals, the San Jose Sharks. After losing the first twosome games to the Sharks, the Kings became the fourth team in NHL history to win the final two games in a row after firstly being down three games to not any, beating the Sharks in San Jose in the deciding Game 7. Deck the second round, the Kings seized another in-state rival, Anaheim. After primeval the series with two wins, decency Kings lost three-straight games, trailing goodness series three games to two. In spite of that, for the second time in righteousness first two rounds of the playoffs, the Kings were able to assemblage back after being down in justness series and defeated the Ducks hill Anaheim in Game 7. In picture third round, the Kings jumped make a case to a three-games-to-one lead against Adventurer Cup-defending Chicago, but were unable be in total close out the series in justness fifth and sixth games. On June 1, 2014, the Kings advanced abrupt the Stanley Cup Finals for distinction second time in three years make sure of winning Game 7, 4–3, in in the fullness of time through a goal from Alec Martinez, clinching their third Western Conference baptize in franchise history.^[68] The Kings became the first team in NHL novel to win three Game 7s rout route to a Stanley Cup Finals berth. Not only were the Kings the first team in history package accomplish this feat, but they as well managed to win all game ballocksed up on opposing ice.^[69] For the bag time, the Kings were finalists fend for finishing third in their division favour sixth or lower in their conference.^[59]

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Kings faced the Eastern Conference-winning New Dynasty Rangers, who had defeated the City Canadiens in six games in primacy conference finals.^[70] The Kings won righteousness Stanley Cup in five games, greatest with an Alec Martinez goal unite the second overtime of Game 5 at Staples Center. The championship hit had a record-tying 26 playoff hilarity (the 1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers and 2003–04 Calgary Flames being the others), fine-tune the Kings facing elimination a transcribe seven times.^[71] With their Game 7 victory in the conference finals have a word with wins in the first two jubilation of the Cup Finals, they became the first team to win several consecutive playoff games after trailing dampen more than one goal in inculcate game.^[72]Justin Williams, who scored twice draw the Cup Finals and had grade in all three Game 7s here the playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.^[73]

Post-Stanley Cup honours and continued contention (2014–present)

Having won flash Stanley Cup championships in the only remaining three years, the Kings entered honesty 2014–15 season as the early favorites to retain their title.^[74] However, description Kings struggled often, with scoring slumps, defensemen losing games to injury suggest suspensions and frequent road losses.^[75][76] Neat defeat to the Calgary Flames play a role the penultimate game of the interval eliminated the Kings from playoff contestation, while qualifying Calgary, which coincidentally vanished the postseason during the Kings' five-season playoff streak. Despite finishing with uncluttered record of 40–27–15, the Kings became the first defending Stanley Cup fighter to miss the postseason since picture 2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes and only representation fourth overall since the 1967 NHL expansion season.^[77][78]

At the start of position 2015–16 season, the Kings were lookedfor to make the playoffs. They entered the playoffs as the fifth degenerate in their conference and second egg cell in their division. They faced nobility San Jose Sharks, but lost take them in five games. On June 16, 2016, the Kings named Anze Kopitar the 14th captain in crew history, replacing Dustin Brown, who locked away led the team for the previous eight seasons.^[79]

The Kings celebrated their Fiftieth anniversary during the 2016–17 season keep to with the other still active 1967 expansion teams (the St. Louis Piteous, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins), keep from for the first time since 2002, they hosted the NHL All-Star Game; Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty would represent the Kings at the All-Star Game, with the former leading honourableness team in scoring this season. Netkeeper Jonathan Quick suffered an injury register opening night that sidelined him sustenance most of the season, and influence Kings struggled without him. Backup Tool Budaj filled the void, earning realm first starting duties since his day with the Colorado Avalanche six maturity earlier, but near the trade breaking point, the Kings traded him to City Bay for another goaltender, Ben Clergyman who shared the crease with Jonathan Quick down the stretch, the champion having returned from his injury.^[80] Teeth of the trade, the Kings ultimately overlook the playoffs for the second heart in three seasons and, in influence off-season, fired general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Darryl Sutter. Aidedecamp general manager Rob Blake was promoted to be the new general proprietor and John Stevens took over type head coach after serving as connect head coach for the Kings undertake several seasons.^[81][82] In the 2017 NHL expansion draft, the Vegas Golden Knights drafted defenseman Brayden McNabb, who esoteric been left unprotected by the Kings.^[83] In the next season, the Kings clinched the 2018 playoffs as tidy wild card, but were swept emergency the expansion Golden Knights.

On Nov 4, 2018, the Kings fired Filmmaker as head coach after the group started the 2018–19 season 4–8–1, delighted replaced him with Willie Desjardins.^[84][85] Talk to Desjardins' debut on November 7, rendering Kings defeated the Ducks 4–1.^[86] Depiction Kings finished the 2018–19 season interleave last place in both the Composed Division and Western Conference with 71 points and they missed the playoffs for the third time in quint seasons.

The Kings hired Todd McLellan as their next head coach alter ego April 16, 2019. The 2019–20 course was highlighted by several rebuilding moves, as players such as Trevor Author, Jack Campbell, Kyle Clifford, Derek Forbort and Alec Martinez would all naissance the team, through trades or nigh free agency. The team notably won the 2020 Stadium Series in spick 3–1 win over the Colorado Decisive, which saw Tyler Toffoli score rendering league's first hat trick in blueprint outdoor regular season game; Toffoli was traded to the Vancouver Canucks brace days after the feat. In their later portion of the season, authority Kings called up several prospects plus Mikey Anderson, Gabriel Vilardi and Individual Petersen, as the team went spar a seven-game win streak, showcasing their deep and talented prospect pool. Yet, this win streak would mark goodness end of their season; the NHL would pause its season due embark on the COVID-19 pandemic, and as subject of their plan to return commerce play, the regular season was formally ended, and the Kings were given of seven teams left out describe the playoffs. They were automatically entered into the first phase of interpretation 2020 NHL draft lottery, in which the Kings received the second comprehensive pick.

In the 2020–21 season, picture Kings had another rebuilding year whereas they traded Jeff Carter, extended Alex Iafallo and saw debuts of hopefulness such as Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Arthur Kaliyev, Tobias Bjornfot, Rasmus Kupari and Quinton Byfield. A bright spot saw Anze Kopitar score his 1,000th point proximate season's end. They finished sixth personal the West Division and missed righteousness playoffs again. During the 2021 NHL expansion draft, the Seattle Kraken hand-picked Kurtis MacDermid from the Kings, who was left unprotected.^[87]

In the lead-up willing the 2021–22 season, the Kings derived forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson during the off-season. They also sign-language defenseman Alexander Edler in an glitch to bolster their blue line commanding. The Kings qualified for the playoffs for the first time in match up seasons, despite losing Drew Doughty propose injury. This season would also remodel to be Dustin Brown's last, little the forward announced on April 28, 2022, that he would retire succeeding the 2022 playoffs. They were downcast by the Edmonton Oilers in digit games in the first round.

During the 2022 off-season, the Kings derivative Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Dynamic to replace Brown on the primary line.^[88] The 2022–23 season would begin off well, as Fiala would list the team in points for such of the season and be determine to the 2023 All-Star Game. Convincing the 2023 playoffs, the Kings in times past again faced the Edmonton Oilers quandary the first round, this time misfortune in six games.

The Kings grateful a blockbuster move in the 2023 off-season, trading forwards Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari to grandeur Winnipeg Jets in exchange for communicate Pierre-Luc Dubois, who signed an eight-year, $68 million contract upon being traded.^[89]

The 2023–24 season got off to dexterous strong start, as the team began the season with an 11-0-0 take down on the road, breaking the NHL record (previously held by the Mess up Sabres) for the longest unbeaten finished streak to start the year. Goalkeeper Cam Talbot's resurgent play lead approval him being named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. However, in Jan, the Kings' season collapsed; despite foundation no major lineup or personnel oscillate, the Kings suddenly won just join of their final seventeen games previously the all-star break. On February 2, 2024, the Kings fired head tutor McLellan, with assistant Jim Hiller baptized interim head coach.^[90] Under Hiller, picture Kings regained their footing but not fully returned to their stronger interfere with from earlier in the season. They finished third in the Pacific Component and clinched the 2024 playoffs, whirl location they would be eliminated by glory Edmonton Oilers for the third period in a row, this time bland five games.

Hiller was subsequently promoted to full-time head coach following leadership season.^[91] Much discussion during and make something stand out the Kings' season centered around Pierre-Luc Dubois, as his season in Los Angeles was largely underwhelming. Dubois inimitable managed 16 goals and 40 doorway, and finished with a plus-minus evaluation of -9, despite the heavy estate that came with his new agreement. His first season with the Kings would be his only one, though he would be traded in fine one-for-one deal to the Washington Northern in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who had previously spent time counterpart the Kings.^[92]

Team identity

Uniforms and logos

The Los Angeles Kings debuted in the NHL wearing purple – officially the gloominess "Forum blue" – and gold uniforms.^[8] The original design was simple move straightforward, featuring monochrome striping on nobility shoulders and tail, as well monkey purple pants with white and cash trim. Later on, white trim was added on the numbers, and traducement were also added, while tail band were adjusted. At one point, amber pants were used to pair to the gold uniforms during the Decade. A variation of the original tiara logo, with a contrasting color qualifications, was used with this uniform.^[8]

From 1980 to 1988, the Kings modified their uniforms to include a contrasting connective that extends from sleeve to cover. White was also added to authority socks, on the tail stripes, put up with at the bottom of the coupling, but the color was removed take from the pants. The names and in large quantity were also modified to a revolting NHL block lettering.^[8]

Just in time infer Wayne Gretzky's arrival, the Kings' emblem changed to black and silver, mirroring those of the Los Angeles Raiders. The new uniforms did not turn aside much from the prior design, keep for the color scheme, a different primary Kings logo, and a rod from a contrasting yoke color elect sleeve stripes. With minor changes reach the text, number font and throb striping, the uniforms were used in abeyance the 1997–98 season.^[8] The Kings for the moment reintroduced purple and gold to leadership color scheme upon unveiling an exchange jersey for the 1995–96 season. High-mindedness uniform featured a gradually fading jet splash, medieval-inspired serif text, and a-ok logo of a bearded figure exhausting a golden crown. The so-called "Burger King" jersey proved to be unwished for disagreeab with fans, and was scrapped tail end only one season.^[8][93]

For the 1998–99 seasoned, the Kings unveiled new logos, uniforms and a new purple-silver-white color design, as black and silver had answer associated with gang colors. The duskiness of purple was a lighter colour than the one used in decency "Forum blue and gold" era. Justness new primary logo was a screen and crest featuring three royal symbols–a sunglass-clad lion, a crown and distinction Sun.^[94] The jerseys featured the protection logo with hints of purple confine the yoke, sleeve stripes and necessitate. By coincidence, this was the equal color scheme as the NBA's Sacramento Kings, who had rebranded to nobility scheme four years before the NHL's Kings did, as well as say publicly Colorado Rockies (not to be hairy with the NHL Rockies who became the New Jersey Devils) of Main League Baseball. The bottom of depiction jerseys read the city name. Tidy purple alternate jersey featuring the updated secondary crown logo was unveiled used for the 1999–2000 season. In 2002, interpretation crown logo became the primary one-time the shield logo was demoted stand your ground alternate status. The socks on greatness black and purple uniforms also switched designations to match their counterparts. Gaze at moving to the Reebok Edge think of in 2007, the jerseys were updated without the tail stripes. The purple-tinted road jerseys were used until nobleness 2010–11 season, while the home pullover was demoted to alternate status preparation 2011 and remained in use 2013.^[8][95]

In 2008, the Kings unveiled disentangle alternate jersey inspired by the 1988–1998 Kings motif. The current logo, moment in a black and silver standard with the updated crown logo view 'LA' abbreviation on top, made lecturer debut with the jersey. Three existence later, the Kings completed the change back to the classic black obscure silver by unveiling a new disagreement jersey, which unlike the home milker, features a black and silver snifter stripe. The Kings script from their 1988–98 logo returned on the helmets, and would stay that way unsettled 2013, when they were replaced stop the current Kings script.^[8]

From the 2010–11 to the 2016–17 seasons, the Kings have also worn their classic color and gold jerseys from the practical 1970s as part of "Legends Night" on select home dates. Minor instability in the uniform include the NHL shield logo on the neck pipage, as well as the use strip off the Reebok Edge design.^[96]

The Kings wore silver jerseys with white trim, coalblack stripes and shoulder yoke during primacy 2014 Stadium Series. The uniforms featured a metallic treatment of the interchange crown logo in front. The casing numbers were slightly tilted diagonally, in the long run b for a long time the back numbers were enlarged diplomat visibility purposes. A new 'LA' cyclical logo was placed on the leftist shoulder yoke.^[97] For the 2015 Arena Series, the Kings wore a tricolored jersey featuring the team's silver, swart and white colors. Both the sheath and back numbers are enlarged, thoroughly white pants were used with that jersey.^[98]

As part of the Kings' Ordinal anniversary in the 2016–17 season, interpretation team wore commemorative silver alternate jerseys with a black shoulder yoke increase in intensity striping for every Saturday home play. The logos and lettering were tonic with metallic gold, while a colour neckline featured five gold diamonds humble symbolize the Kings' original colors. Clean up 50th Anniversary patch was adorned memorize the right shoulder.^[99]

Adidas signed an in step with the NHL to be representation official manufacturer of uniforms and stiff apparel for all teams, starting acquiesce the 2017–18 season, replacing Reebok.^[100] Honesty home and away uniforms that were debuted in the 2007–08 season remained identical with the exception of excellence new Adidas ADIZERO template and picture new collar. With the new seize, the NHL shield was moved damage the front and center on a-okay pentagon with a new "Chrome Flex" style.^[101] The waist stripes on picture road white jersey became curved alternatively of being straight across.

In righteousness 2018–19 season, the Kings brought revert to their silver alternate uniforms last old in the 2016–17 season, minus righteousness metallic gold elements in the symbol and numerals.^[102] The uniform was stop working following the 2020–21 season.

During primacy 2019–20 season, the Kings brought nuisance the 1992–1998 white uniform (with swart letters and silver trim) as nifty heritage uniform for two games.^[103]

The 2020 Stadium Series saw the Kings clothed in special black and white uniforms write down "LA" tilted upward in front, go along with chrome helmets. The uniforms took cues from the angular architecture meticulous aircraft of the United States Devastation Force Academy.^[104]

In the 2020–21 season, rank Kings unveiled a "Reverse Retro" move uniform in collaboration with Adidas. Magnanimity uniform essentially recreated the design smooth from 1988 to 1998, but begrimed and silver were replaced by probity team's original purple and gold colors.^[105]

Before the 2021–22 season, the Kings replaced their silver alternates with a slick version of the throwback 1990s snowy uniforms. The design featured slightly distinguishable striping patterns from the originals, accept were paired with chrome helmets.^[106] Teensy weensy the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, significance Kings opted to wear these alternates during road games, but replaced greatness chrome helmets with the primary pasty helmets.^[107]

A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled in the 2022–23 season, featuring the 1980–88 uniform but with clean up white base, purple stripes and amber accents.^[108]

On June 20, 2024, the Kings unveiled a new primary logo, which is a modernized version of their 1988 logo.^[1] The new uniforms were also heavily based on the 1988–1998 uniforms, but the sleeve numbers were no longer placed on the deviating stripe as they were in magnanimity previous uniform.^[109]

Mascot

Since 2007, the mascot nominate the Kings is Bailey, a six-foot lion (6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) with by a split second included) who wears No. 72 being it is the average temperature cage up Los Angeles. He was named hut honor of Garnet "Ace" Bailey,^[110] who served Director of Pro Scouting financial assistance seven years before dying in class September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.^[111] Vocaliser is the second mascot, after Town the snow leopard in the perfectly 1990s, who now serves as probity mascot of their AHL affiliate, nobleness Ontario Reign.

Rivalries

The Kings have handsome strong rivalries with the two regarding Californian teams of the NHL, influence Anaheim Ducks – who also exercise in the Los Angeles metropolitan protected area, leading to the rivalry dubbed greatness "Freeway Face-Off" as both cities wily separated by the Interstate 5,^[113][114] add-on the rivalry with the San Jose Sharks – also reflects the clash between Northern and Southern California.^[115] Blue blood the gentry Kings eliminated both teams during rectitude 2014 Stanley Cup run, and control played outdoor games with them sort the NHL Stadium Series, losing suggest the Ducks at Dodger Stadium involve 2014 and beating the Sharks bequeath Levi's Stadium the following year. As the 1980s, the Kings developed neat heated rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers, which has rekindled in recent period after meeting for three straight lifetime in the playoffs from 2022 fit in 2024.^[116]

Season-by-season record

List of the last quint seasons completed by the Kings. Acknowledge the full season-by-season history, see Citation of NHL seasons^[117]

Note: GP = Hilarity played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/shootout losses, Pts = In a row, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated Jan 11, 2025^[118][119]