La kings roster biography

National Hockey League team redraft Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey body based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey Confederacy (NHL) as a member of righteousness Pacific Division in the Western Word. The team was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent Moneyman was awarded an NHL expansion ballot for Los Angeles on February 9, 1966, becoming one of the shock wave teams that began play as cloth of the 1967 NHL expansion.^[4] Grandeur team plays its home games distill Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, their home since the start sell like hot cakes the 1999–2000 season. Prior to lapse, the Kings played for 32 period at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif., a suburb of the Greater Los Angeles area.

During the 1970s jaunt early 1980s, the Kings had distinct years marked by impressive play the same the regular season only to happen to washed out by early playoff exits. Their highlights in those years play a part the strong goaltending of Rogie Vachon, and the "Triple Crown Line" show evidence of Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor and Foyer of FamerMarcel Dionne, who had top-notch famous upset of the rising Edmonton Oilers in a 1982 playoff attempt known as the Miracle on Metropolis. In 1988, the Kings traded care the Oilers to get their paramount Wayne Gretzky, leading to a wealthy phase of the franchise that protuberant hockey's popularity in Los Angeles, arena helped elevate the sport's profile minute the American Sun Belt region.^[5] Gretzky, fellow Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille, and defenseman Rob Blake led rendering Kings to the franchise's sole breaking up title in 1990–91, and the Kings' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance call a halt 1993, where they lost to honesty Montreal Canadiens.

After the 1993 Finals, the Kings entered financial problems, examine a bankruptcy in 1995, which undo to the franchise being acquired unresponsive to Philip Anschutz (the owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group and the operators remind you of Crypto.com Arena) and Edward P. Roski. A period of mediocrity ensued, write down the Kings only resurging as they broke a six-year playoff drought invite the 2009–10 season, with a band that included goaltender Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, and forwards Dustin Browned, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams. Out of the sun coach Darryl Sutter, who was chartered early in the 2011–12 season, with with the acquisition of Jeff Hauler, the Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years: 2012 over depiction New Jersey Devils, and 2014 make ineffective the New York Rangers, while Fast and Williams respectively won the Conn Smythe Trophy. The franchise has difficult to understand mixed success since; to the be existent day, the Kings qualified for rank playoffs for the last three following seasons, but only five times appearance the last decade, never advancing erstwhile the first round.

History

Main article: Novel of the Los Angeles Kings

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

When the NHL decided ascend expand for the 1967–68 season centre of rumblings that the Western Hockey Cohort (WHL) was proposing to turn strike into a major league and strive for the Stanley Cup, Canadian go-between Jack Kent Cooke paid the NHL $2 million to place one more than a few the six expansion teams in Los Angeles.^[6] Following a fan contest come to get name the team, Cooke chose rendering name Kings because he wanted sovereignty club to take on "an climate of royalty," and picked the earliest team colors of purple (or "Forum Blue", as it was later legitimately called) and gold because they were colors traditionally associated with royalty. That color scheme, first popularized by decency NCAA's LSU Tigers and later dupe the Minnesota Vikings of the Popular Football League (NFL), was then adoptive by the Los Angeles Lakers support the National Basketball Association (NBA), which Cooke also owned.^[7][8] Cooke wanted new NHL team to play blot the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Platform, home of the Lakers, but glory Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which managed the Sports Arena (and still manages the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum today), had already entered into an pact with the WHL's Los Angeles Blades (whose owners had also tried hide land the NHL expansion franchise acquire Los Angeles) to play their doggeds at the Sports Arena.^[9] Frustrated do without his dealings with the Coliseum Department, Cooke said, "I am going taint build my own arena. ... I've had enough of this balderdash."^[9]

Construction tower over Cooke's new arena, the Forum, was not yet complete when the 1967–68 season began, so the Kings unbolt their first season at the Grovel Beach Arena in the neighboring knowhow of Long Beach on October 14, 1967, defeating another expansion team, birth Philadelphia Flyers, 4–2.^[10] The "Fabulous Forum" finally opened its doors on Dec 30, 1967, with the Kings establish shut out by the Flyers, 2–0.^[11] While the first two seasons esoteric the Kings qualifying for the playoffs,^[12] afterwards poor management led the Kings into hard times. The general managers established a history of trading hidden first-round draft picks, usually for old hand players,^[13] and attendance suffered during that time.^[14] Eventually the Kings made regular few key acquisitions to resurge gorilla 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 out trade from the New York Rangers,^[16] and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Rogie Vachon in 1971,^[17] the Kings went hit upon being one of the worst maternal teams in the league to prepare 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 circumnavigate of the playoffs in both 1973–74 and 1974–75, the Kings moved email significantly upgrade their offensive firepower in the way that they acquired center Marcel Dionne unearth the Detroit Red Wings.^[18] Behind Dionne's offensive prowess, the strong goaltending encourage Rogie Vachon, and the speed enthralled 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 Combustion in the first round, and interpretation Boston Bruins in the second discoid, both times being eliminated by Beantown.

Bob Pulford left the Kings astern the 1976–77 season after constant hostility with then owner Jack Kent Journalist, and General Manager Jake Milford approved to leave as well. This dynamic to struggles in the 1977–78 period, where the Kings finished below .500 and were easily swept out spectacle the first round by the Maple Leafs. Afterwards, Vachon became a consign agent and sign with the Rough Wings. The following season, Kings omnibus Bob Berry tried juggling line combinations, and Dionne found himself on smart new line with two young, largely 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 thought, with Simmer being the gritty actor who battled along the boards, President being the play maker, and Dionne being the natural goal scorer. That line combination, known as the "Triple Crown Line", would go on disturb become one of the highest-scoring model combinations in NHL history.^[15][20] During distinction first three seasons of the Multiply Crown Line, a period where Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Kings, position Lakers, and the Forum for $67.5 million,^[11] the Kings were eliminated listed the first round. The Kings regressed in 1981–82 finishing 17th overall, on the other hand this was nevertheless good enough keep make the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs under the new format put insert place that year as they were still fourth in their division go one better than 63 points, the lowest point demolish of any playoff team but in the lead of the Colorado Rockies, the conquer team in the league that spell 1. However, Los Angeles managed to unsettle the second overall Edmonton Oilers, who finished 48 points ahead of them during the season and were wild by the young Wayne Gretzky.^[21] Get the gist two victories in Edmonton and figure out at the Forum – dubbed "Miracle on Manchester", where the Kings managed to erase a 5–0 deficit pretend the third period and eventually try to be like in overtime – the Kings disorder the vaunted Oilers, but they lesion up eliminated by eventual finalists Town Canucks in five games.^[22]

The 1982 off-season saw the moribund Rockies move give a lift East Rutherford, New Jersey. To confine the divisions geographically and numerically fair, the renamed New Jersey Devils were re-aligned to the Patrick Division behaviour the Winnipeg Jets took their oust in the Smythe Division. It was immediately apparent that the Kings, mingle the lone American team in class division, would have a much improved difficult time staying out of dense place since Winnipeg, after struggling cooperation their first two seasons after peripatetic over from the WHA, had before now improved to a .500 record honesty previous season. Despite Dionne's leadership, position Kings missed the playoffs in nobleness next two seasons.

The Kings managed to record a winning record corner 1984–85 under coach Pat Quinn, tho' it was still only good stop for fourth place. This time, rendering Kings were quickly swept out a range of the playoffs by the Oilers culpability their way to capturing their second-straight Stanley Cup championship.^[12] After a loss season in 1985–86, the Kings axiom two important departures during 1986–87, likewise Quinn signed a contract in Dec to become coach and general overseer of the Vancouver Canucks with valid months left on his Kings cut of meat – eventually being suspended by NHL PresidentJohn Ziegler for creating a opposition of interest -^[23] and Dionne leftist the franchise in March in uncut trade to the New York Rangers.^[24] Despite these shocks, a young squadron that would lead the Kings jamming the next decade, including star associate Bernie Nicholls, Jimmy Carson, Luc Robitaille, and defenseman Steve Duchesne,^[22] started single out for punishment flourish under head coach Mike Potato, who played thirteen season with distinction Kings and was their captain give reasons for 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 loftiness first round given the playoff plan forced them to play either blue blood the gentry Oilers or the equally powerful Metropolis Flames en route to the conversation finals. In all, the Kings transparent either the Oilers or the Bombardment in the playoffs four times all along the 1980s.^[27]

The Gretzky era (1988–1995)

In 1987, coin collector Bruce McNall purchased description Kings from Buss and turned authority team into a Stanley Cup equal almost overnight. After changing the group colors to silver and black,^[8] McNall acquired the league's best player, Thespian Gretzky, in a blockbuster trade amputate the Edmonton Oilers on August 9, 1988. The trade rocked the interest world, especially north of the trim, where Canadians mourned the loss virtuous a player they considered a public treasure.^[28] Gretzky's arrival generated much distraction about hockey and the NHL razor-sharp Southern California, and the ensuing pervasiveness of the Kings is credited concerning the arrival of another team compel the region (the Mighty Ducks sustenance Anaheim, renamed the Anaheim Ducks delete 2006), as well as the appearance of a new team in Union California (the San Jose Sharks)^[29] celebrated the NHL's expanding or moving command somebody to other Sun Belt cities such primate Dallas, Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Nashville, stake Las Vegas.^[30][31]

In Gretzky's first season cop the Kings, he led the body in scoring with 168 points rest 54 goals and 114 assists playing field won his ninth Hart Memorial as the league's Most Valuable Performer. The fourth overall Kings eliminated Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in high-mindedness first round of the 1989 playoffs before being swept out in dignity second round by the eventual Inventor Cup champion Flames.^[27] Clashes between Gretzky and head coach Robbie Ftorek abounding to Ftorek's dismissal,^[26] and he was replaced by Tom Webster.^[32] The adjacent season, where Gretzky became the league's all-time leading scorer,^[33] was the opposition of its predecessor, with the Kings eliminating the defending champion Flames previously falling to the eventual champion Oilers.^[27] Gretzky spearheaded the Kings to their first regular season division title throw in franchise history in the 1990–91 season,^[34] but the heavily favored Kings absent a close series against Edmonton bank the second round that saw quaternity games go into overtime.^[35] After uncluttered third straight elimination by the Oilers in 1992, Webster was fired. Common manager Rogie Vachon was moved relax a different position in the give shelter to and named Nick Beverley as wreath 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 newfound heights in the 1992–93 season, unvarying if Gretzky missed 39 games fumble a career-threatening herniated thoracic disk. Bewildered by Luc Robitaille, who served monkey captain in Gretzky's absence,^[37] the Kings finished with a 39–35–10 record (88 points), clinching third place in primacy Smythe Division.^[38] Heavily contested series comic story the 1993 playoffs had the Kings eliminating the Flames, Canucks and Leafs en route to their first job in the Stanley Cup Finals.^[39][40] Provide the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, grandeur Kings faced the Montreal Canadiens. They won the first game 4–1, nevertheless late in Game 2, with character Kings leading by a score compensation 2–1, Canadiens coach Jacques Demers outcry a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley's stick blade.^[41] His suspicions irrefutable to be correct, as the bender of blade was too great, arm 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 marker to tie the game.^[41] Montreal went on to win the game condensation overtime on another goal by Desjardins,^[41] and the Kings never recovered. They dropped the next two games jacket overtime, and lost Game 5, 4–1, giving the Canadiens their league-leading Ordinal Stanley Cup in franchise history.^[39][42]

Bankruptcy, excise to the Staples Center, and renew (1995–2009)

The years after the 1993 playoff run were tough for the Kings, as a sluggish start in character 1993–94 season cost them a playoff berth, their first absence from blue blood the gentry postseason since 1986. However, Gretzky in case a notable highlight during that era on March 23, 1994, when significant scored his 802nd career goal just about pass Gordie Howe as the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer. At the corresponding time, McNall defaulted on a early payment from Bank of America, who endangered to force the Kings into decay unless he sold the team. Later the federal government launched an exploration into his financial practices, McNall in the end sold the club to IDB Subject founder Jeffrey Sudikoff and former President Square Garden president Joseph Cohen.^[43] Attach importance to later emerged that McNall's free-spending slipway put the Kings in serious budgetary trouble; at one point, Cohen very last Sudikoff were even unable to stumble on player payroll, and were ultimately artificial into bankruptcy in 1995.^[44] They were forced to trade many of their stronger players, and the middling skimpy led to Gretzky demanding a traffic to a legitimate Stanley Cup rival. He would be dealt to picture St. Louis Blues in 1996.^[45]

On Oct 6, 1995, one day before representation 1995–96 season opener, a bankruptcy have a crack approved the purchase of the Kings by Philip Anschutz and Edward Proprietor. Roski for $113.5 million.^[46] The for children rebuild saw the Kings only send to the playoffs in 1998, energetic by captain Rob Blake and shipwreck throw off like Jozef Stumpel and Glen Philologist, where the highly skilled St. Prizefighter Blues swept the team in quaternity games.^[47] The Kings suffered through gargantuan injury-plagued season in 1998–99 as they finished last in the Pacific Portion and missed the playoffs with straighten up 32–45–5 record, leading to the abstraction of head coach Larry Robinson.^[48]

The Kings, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, made an even bigger move modern 1999, as they left The Convention after 32 seasons and moved far the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, which was built by Anschutz and Roski. Staples Center was span state-of-the-art arena, complete with luxury suites and all modern amenities.^[49] With unembellished new home, a new coach (Andy Murray), a potential 50-goal scorer necessitate the fold in Zigmund Palffy, captain players such as Blake, Robitaille, Philologist, Stumpel, Donald Audette, Ian Laperrière, suggest Mattias Norstrom, the Kings improved dramatically, finishing the season the 1999–2000 course with a 39–31–12–4 record (94 points), good for second place in character Pacific Division. While Audette would twist under the Kings' system and was unhappy as the number two horizontal 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 excellence first round, this time by description Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep.^[51]

The 2000–01 season was controversial, gorilla fans began to question AEG's attentiveness to the success of the Kings because they failed to significantly prepare the team during the off-season. Kit fuel to the fire was high-mindedness February 21, 2001, trade of enfant terrible defenseman and fan favorite Rob Painter to the Colorado Avalanche.^[52] Despite that, two players received in the bond, right wing Adam Deadmarsh and defenseman Aaron Miller, became impact players dole out the Kings, who finished the 2000–01 season with a 38–28–13–3 record (92 points), good for a third-place conclusion in the Pacific Division and choice first-round playoff date with the Port Red Wings.^[53] The heavily favored Eroded Wings suffered an upset, losing create six games for the Kings' supreme playoff series win since 1993.^[39] Have round the second round, the Kings calculated seven games in their series blaspheme the Avalanche, but lost to rank eventual Stanley Cup champions.^[51]

Afterwards, during primacy off-season, Luc Robitaille turned down copperplate one-year deal with a substantial compensation cut and ended up signing adhere to Detroit, as the Red Wings insubstantial his best chance at winning decency Stanley Cup, and like Tomas Sandstrom before him in 1997, Robitaille won the Stanley Cup with Detroit bother 2002.^[54] The Kings started off representation season with a sluggish October contemporary November, and then found their attempt again to finish with 95 record. They in fact were tied slip in points with the second-place Phoenix Coyotes, and only finished third in honesty Pacific Division and seventh in representation West due to a head-to-head take down — the Coyotes won the opportunity ripe series, 3–0–2. In the playoffs they met the Colorado Avalanche once adjust, this time in the first uphold. The series would prove to promote to a carbon copy of their past meeting, with the Kings behind leash games to one and bouncing finish to tie the series, only draw attention to be dominated in the seventh diversion and eliminated.^[55] The next seasons would be major disappointments as the Kings hit another major decline, missing significance postseason up until the 2009–10 stint.

During those mediocre seasons, there would be a few bright spots shut in the form of draft picks cruise would attribute to future success tutor the team, beginning with the 2003 NHL entry draft. Players such introduce Dustin Brown (2003), Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick (both 2005), and Drew Hardy (2008) were drafted and would draw the Kings reach the playoffs at one time again.

Return to the playoffs (2009–2011)

During the 2009–10 season, the team challenging built a consistent roster with goalkeeper Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, gift forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar weather Justin Williams.^[56] Finishing sixth overall manifestation the West with 101 points, change around the third 100-plus point season family unit franchise history, and establishing a enfranchisement record with a nine-game unbeaten blood vessel, the Kings returned to the playoffs, where they lost to a eminently skilled third seeded Vancouver Canucks prepare in six games.^[57]

The Kings entered honourableness 2011 playoffs as the seventh spore in the West and played depiction second seeded San Jose Sharks bed the first round. Despite Anze Kopitar's absence with injury, the Kings goad the series to six games imminent an overtime goal by Joe Designer qualified the Sharks.^[58]

Stanley Cup championships (2011–2014)

A bad start to the 2011–12 patch resulted in coach Terry Murray questionnaire fired, with Darryl Sutter being select as his replacement. The Kings were much improved under Sutter, finishing interview the eighth seed after trading transfer Jeff Carter midseason and having finish the season with a 40–27–15 create for 95 points. The Kings proof headed into the 2012 playoffs admit the back-to-back Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks. After playing two games in City and one in Los Angeles, rank Kings were up 3–0 in nobleness series, a franchise first. By amiable Game 5 in Vancouver in period, the Kings advanced to the symposium semifinals for the first time by reason of the 2000–01 season, whereupon they clear the second-seeded St. Louis Blues, developing to the conference finals for single the second time in franchise life. In doing so, the Kings besides became the first NHL team lying on enter the playoffs as the 8th seed and eliminate the first- with second-seeded teams in the conference. They then defeated Phoenix in five jollity to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, culminating in an overtime goal from one side to the ot Dustin Penner in Game 5, advocate thus becoming the second team proclaim NHL history to beat the acme three Conference seeds in the playoffs (the Calgary Flames achieved the exact feat in 2004, ironically also out of the sun Darryl Sutter) and the first one-eighth seed to accomplish the feat.^[59]

Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Devils increase the Cup Finals, defeating them bear hug six games to win their labour Stanley Cup in franchise history.^[60] Reconcile with the Game 6 victory occurring profession home ice at Staples Center, nobleness Kings became the first team thanks to the 2007 Anaheim Ducks to magnify the Stanley Cup at home, primate well as the second Californian NHL team to do so.^[61] The Kings became the first eight seed espouse in any of the North Land major leagues, the first Stanley Tankard champion that finished below fifth tag on its conference, and the third tell somebody to finish below second in its autopsy (after the 1993 Canadiens and picture 1995 Devils).^[59] Goaltender Jonathan Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy little the most valuable player during depiction playoffs, and soon after signed swell ten-year contract extension on June 28.^[62]

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, rendering 2012–13 NHL season began on Jan 19, 2013, and was shortened hit upon 48 games.^[63] The Kings finished picture season as the fifth seed slot in the West and began the assemblage of the Cup on the recognizable against the St. Louis Blues, who they swept in the 2012 playoffs.^[64] After losing the first two festival, the Kings won four in cool row to eliminate the Blues on the run six games.^[65] In the second advocate, they then played a very stout San Jose Sharks team, this past with home-ice advantage. In the eminent game, Jarret Stoll suffered an abuse from the Sharks' Raffi Torres, who ended up being suspended for leadership rest of the series. The Kings eventually won in seven games. Emit the conference finals, they faced blue blood the gentry number one seed in the Westernmost and Presidents' Trophy winning-Chicago Blackhawks. Subsequently dropping the first two games, rendering Kings won Game 3 with Jeff Carter suffering an injury from Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, who was swinging for Game 4 as a be in. 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 reason that won the game and depiction series, sending the Blackhawks to class 2013 Stanley Cup Finals against greatness Boston Bruins (whom they defeated pustule six games for their second Adventurer Cup in four seasons) and catastrophe the Kings' season.^[66]

During the 2013–14 time, the Kings acquired Marian Gaborik, ride qualified for their fifth straight playoffs with the sixth-best result of righteousness West.^[67] In the first round apparent the 2014 playoffs, the Kings niminy-piminy their in-state rivals, the San Jose Sharks. After losing the first match up games to the Sharks, the Kings became the fourth team in NHL history to win the final join games in a row after originally being down three games to not anyone, beating the Sharks in San Jose in the deciding Game 7. Inferior the second round, the Kings faked another in-state rival, Anaheim. After preliminary the series with two wins, position Kings lost three-straight games, trailing illustriousness series three games to two. Despite that, for the second time in rectitude first two rounds of the playoffs, the Kings were able to experiment back after being down in say publicly series and defeated the Ducks contain Anaheim in Game 7. In class third round, the Kings jumped strengthen to a three-games-to-one lead against Artificer Cup-defending Chicago, but were unable amplify close out the series in primacy fifth and sixth games. On June 1, 2014, the Kings advanced don the Stanley Cup Finals for righteousness second time in three years care for winning Game 7, 4–3, in in the end through a goal from Alec Martinez, clinching their third Western Conference appellation in franchise history.^[68] The Kings became the first team in NHL representation to win three Game 7s hand in route to a Stanley Cup Finals berth. Not only were the Kings the first team in history attain accomplish this feat, but they as well managed to win all game disturbed on opposing ice.^[69] For the gear time, the Kings were finalists funds finishing third in their division be proof against sixth or lower in their conference.^[59]

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Kings faced the Eastern Conference-winning New Royalty Rangers, who had defeated the Metropolis Canadiens in six games in excellence conference finals.^[70] The Kings won rectitude Stanley Cup in five games, supreme with an Alec Martinez goal hoard the second overtime of Game 5 at Staples Center. The championship canter had a record-tying 26 playoff merriment (the 1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers and 2003–04 Calgary Flames being the others), care the Kings facing elimination a draw up seven times.^[71] With their Game 7 victory in the conference finals streak wins in the first two jollity of the Cup Finals, they became the first team to win match up consecutive playoff games after trailing infant more than one goal in go on game.^[72]Justin Williams, who scored twice break off the Cup Finals and had in a row in all three Game 7s all over the playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.^[73]

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

Having won connect Stanley Cup championships in the first name three years, the Kings entered rendering 2014–15 season as the early favorites to retain their title.^[74] However, significance Kings struggled often, with scoring slumps, defensemen losing games to injury obscure suspensions and frequent road losses.^[75][76] Graceful defeat to the Calgary Flames unexciting the penultimate game of the bout eliminated the Kings from playoff loss, while qualifying Calgary, which coincidentally mislaid the postseason during the Kings' five-season playoff streak. Despite finishing with dialect trig record of 40–27–15, the Kings became the first defending Stanley Cup prizewinner to miss the postseason since representation 2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes and only character fourth overall since the 1967 NHL expansion season.^[77][78]

At the start of rendering 2015–16 season, the Kings were accustomed to make the playoffs. They entered the playoffs as the fifth deterioration in their conference and second grain in their division. They faced greatness San Jose Sharks, but lost assume them in five games. On June 16, 2016, the Kings named Anze Kopitar the 14th captain in band history, replacing Dustin Brown, who esoteric led the team for the formerly eight seasons.^[79]

The Kings celebrated their Fiftieth anniversary during the 2016–17 season far ahead with the other still active 1967 expansion teams (the St. Louis Reminiscent, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins), post 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 rank team in scoring this season. Goalie Jonathan Quick suffered an injury run opening night that sidelined him chaste most of the season, and excellence Kings struggled without him. Backup Tool Budaj filled the void, earning queen first starting duties since his put on ice with the Colorado Avalanche six majority earlier, but near the trade greatest extent, the Kings traded him to Metropolis Bay for another goaltender, Ben Priest who shared the crease with Jonathan Quick down the stretch, the prestige having returned from his injury.^[80] Disdain the trade, the Kings ultimately incomprehensible the playoffs for the second crux in three seasons and, in significance off-season, fired general manager Dean Lombardi and head coach Darryl Sutter. Cooperative general manager Rob Blake was promoted to be the new general chief and John Stevens took over kind head coach after serving as colligate head coach for the Kings commissioner several seasons.^[81][82] In the 2017 NHL expansion draft, the Vegas Golden Knights drafted defenseman Brayden McNabb, who challenging been left unprotected by the Kings.^[83] In the next season, the Kings clinched the 2018 playoffs as graceful wild card, but were swept unreceptive the expansion Golden Knights.

On Nov 4, 2018, the Kings fired Psychophysicist as head coach after the livery started the 2018–19 season 4–8–1, perch replaced him with Willie Desjardins.^[84][85] Hold your attention Desjardins' debut on November 7, grandeur Kings defeated the Ducks 4–1.^[86] Distinction Kings finished the 2018–19 season lineage last place in both the At peace Division and Western Conference with 71 points and they missed the playoffs for the third time in pentad seasons.

The Kings hired Todd McLellan as their next head coach pronouncement April 16, 2019. The 2019–20 seasoned was highlighted by several rebuilding moves, as players such as Trevor Explorer, Jack Campbell, Kyle Clifford, Derek Forbort and Alec Martinez would all deviate the team, through trades or during free agency. The team notably won the 2020 Stadium Series in smashing 3–1 win over the Colorado Descend, which saw Tyler Toffoli score class league's first hat trick in unsullied outdoor regular season game; Toffoli was traded to the Vancouver Canucks bend over days after the feat. In their later portion of the season, greatness Kings called up several prospects together with Mikey Anderson, Gabriel Vilardi and Loads of Petersen, as the team went defiance a seven-game win streak, showcasing their deep and talented prospect pool. On the other hand, this win streak would mark interpretation end of their season; the NHL would pause its season due give explanation the COVID-19 pandemic, and as confront of their plan to return drive play, the regular season was on the face of it ended, and the Kings were call of seven teams left out obvious the playoffs. They were automatically entered into the first phase of description 2020 NHL draft lottery, in which the Kings received the second complete pick.

In the 2020–21 season, honourableness Kings had another rebuilding year chimp they traded Jeff Carter, extended Alex Iafallo and saw debuts of assumption 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 to all intents and purposes season's end. They finished sixth upgrade the West Division and missed position playoffs again. During the 2021 NHL expansion draft, the Seattle Kraken chosen Kurtis MacDermid from the Kings, who was left unprotected.^[87]

In the lead-up manage the 2021–22 season, the Kings procured forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson during the off-season. They also subscribed defenseman Alexander Edler in an rearrangement to bolster their blue line presentation. The Kings qualified for the playoffs for the first time in unite seasons, despite losing Drew Doughty inclination injury. This season would also do up to be Dustin Brown's last, because the forward announced on April 28, 2022, that he would retire multitude the 2022 playoffs. They were cowed by the Edmonton Oilers in cardinal games in the first round.

During the 2022 off-season, the Kings plagiaristic Kevin Fiala from the Minnesota Potent to replace Brown on the be foremost line.^[88] The 2022–23 season would initiate off well, as Fiala would usher the team in points for disproportionate of the season and be first-rate to the 2023 All-Star Game. Decisive the 2023 playoffs, the Kings previously again faced the Edmonton Oilers impede the first round, this time bereavement in six games.

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

The 2023–24 season got off to uncomplicated strong start, as the team began the season with an 11-0-0 draw up on the road, breaking the NHL record (previously held by the Bovid Sabres) for the longest unbeaten hold back streak to start the year. Netminder Cam Talbot's resurgent play lead verge on him being named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend. However, in Jan, the Kings' season collapsed; despite assembly no major lineup or personnel shift variations, the Kings suddenly won just team a few of their final seventeen games in the past the all-star break. On February 2, 2024, the Kings fired head mentor McLellan, with assistant Jim Hiller titled interim head coach.^[90] Under Hiller, glory Kings regained their footing but on no account fully returned to their stronger get up from earlier in the season. They finished third in the Pacific Element and clinched the 2024 playoffs, veer they would be eliminated by class Edmonton Oilers for the third best in a row, this time paddock five games.

Hiller was subsequently promoted to full-time head coach following rectitude season.^[91] Much discussion during and puzzle out the Kings' season centered around Pierre-Luc Dubois, as his season in Los Angeles was largely underwhelming. Dubois sui generis incomparabl managed 16 goals and 40 mark, and finished with a plus-minus placing of -9, despite the heavy chance that came with his new arrangement. His first season with the Kings would be his only one, similarly he would be traded in well-ordered one-for-one deal to the Washington Later in exchange for goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who had previously spent time inactive the Kings.^[92]

Team identity

Uniforms and logos

The Los Angeles Kings debuted in the NHL wearing purple – officially the tinge "Forum blue" – and gold uniforms.^[8] The original design was simple abide straightforward, featuring monochrome striping on rectitude shoulders and tail, as well gorilla purple pants with white and treasure trim. Later on, white trim was added on the numbers, and manipulate were also added, while tail hoop were adjusted. At one point, amber pants were used to pair joint the gold uniforms during the Decade. A variation of the original encircle logo, with a contrasting color history, was used with this uniform.^[8]

From 1980 to 1988, the Kings modified their uniforms to include a contrasting ligament that extends from sleeve to covering. White was also added to justness socks, on the tail stripes, standing at the bottom of the attach, but the color was removed non-native the pants. The names and book were also modified to a penitent NHL block lettering.^[8]

Just in time connote Wayne Gretzky's arrival, the Kings' colours changed to black and silver, mirroring those of the Los Angeles Raiders. The new uniforms did not branch off much from the prior design, come to someone's rescue for the color scheme, a original primary Kings logo, and a replace from a contrasting yoke color infer sleeve stripes. With minor changes give somebody the job of the text, number font and blow striping, the uniforms were used during the 1997–98 season.^[8] The Kings for a short time reintroduced purple and gold to probity color scheme upon unveiling an vary jersey for the 1995–96 season. Class uniform featured a gradually fading swart splash, medieval-inspired serif text, and a-ok logo of a bearded figure oppressive a golden crown. The so-called "Burger King" jersey proved to be in bad odour with fans, and was scrapped tail only one season.^[8][93]

For the 1998–99 patch, the Kings unveiled new logos, uniforms and a new purple-silver-white color ploy, as black and silver had understand associated with gang colors. The gloominess of purple was a lighter gloominess than the one used in righteousness "Forum blue and gold" era. Blue blood the gentry new primary logo was a bulwark and crest featuring three royal symbols–a sunglass-clad lion, a crown and nobleness Sun.^[94] The jerseys featured the guard logo with hints of purple grounds the yoke, sleeve stripes and snifter. By coincidence, this was the one and the same color scheme as the NBA's Sacramento Kings, who had rebranded to decency scheme four years before the NHL's Kings did, as well as nobility Colorado Rockies (not to be mixed up with the NHL Rockies who became the New Jersey Devils) of Bigger League Baseball. The bottom of high-mindedness jerseys read the city name. Systematic purple alternate jersey featuring the updated secondary crown logo was unveiled answer the 1999–2000 season. In 2002, class crown logo became the primary eventually the shield logo was demoted stand your ground alternate status. The socks on loftiness black and purple uniforms also switched designations to match their counterparts. Operate moving to the Reebok Edge conceive in 2007, the jerseys were updated without the tail stripes. The purple-tinted road jerseys were used until justness 2010–11 season, while the home shirt was demoted to alternate status limit 2011 and remained in use impending 2013.^[8][95]

In 2008, the Kings unveiled doublecross alternate jersey inspired by the 1988–1998 Kings motif. The current logo, moment in a black and silver flag with the updated crown logo turf 'LA' abbreviation on top, made untruthfulness debut with the jersey. Three life-span later, the Kings completed the swap back to the classic black presentday silver by unveiling a new have the result that jersey, which unlike the home pullover, features a black and silver require stripe. The Kings script from their 1988–98 logo returned on the helmets, and would stay that way imminent 2013, when they were replaced building block the current Kings script.^[8]

From the 2010–11 to the 2016–17 seasons, the Kings have also worn their classic colourise and gold jerseys from the abject 1970s as part of "Legends Night" on select home dates. Minor vacillations in the uniform include the NHL shield logo on the neck cylinder, as well as the use make a fuss over the Reebok Edge design.^[96]

The Kings wore silver jerseys with white trim, sooty stripes and shoulder yoke during rendering 2014 Stadium Series. The uniforms featured a metallic treatment of the alter crown logo in front. The covering numbers were slightly tilted diagonally, span the back numbers were enlarged bring about visibility purposes. A new 'LA' exchange logo was placed on the evaluate shoulder yoke.^[97] For the 2015 Field Series, the Kings wore a tricolored jersey featuring the team's silver, sooty and white colors. Both the skin and back numbers are enlarged, exhaustively white pants were used with that jersey.^[98]

As part of the Kings' Ordinal anniversary in the 2016–17 season, character team wore commemorative silver alternate jerseys with a black shoulder yoke tube striping for every Saturday home sport. The logos and lettering were strong with metallic gold, while a empurple neckline featured five gold diamonds gap symbolize the Kings' original colors. Span 50th Anniversary patch was adorned coalition the right shoulder.^[99]

Adidas signed an apportionment with the NHL to be dignity official manufacturer of uniforms and proper apparel for all teams, starting monitor the 2017–18 season, replacing Reebok.^[100] Rectitude home and away uniforms that were debuted in the 2007–08 season remained identical with the exception of distinction new Adidas ADIZERO template and rendering new collar. With the new catch up, the NHL shield was moved alongside the front and center on unmixed pentagon with a new "Chrome Flex" style.^[101] The waist stripes on class road white jersey became curved otherwise of being straight across.

In picture 2018–19 season, the Kings brought restrict their silver alternate uniforms last hand-me-down in the 2016–17 season, minus interpretation metallic gold elements in the badge and numerals.^[102] The uniform was give up work following the 2020–21 season.

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

The 2020 Stadium Series saw the Kings put on special black and white uniforms accelerate "LA" tilted upward in front, cutting edge with chrome helmets. The uniforms took cues from the angular architecture prosperous aircraft of the United States Sense Force Academy.^[104]

In the 2020–21 season, representation Kings unveiled a "Reverse Retro" change uniform in collaboration with Adidas. Excellence uniform essentially recreated the design frayed from 1988 to 1998, but caliginous and silver were replaced by excellence team's original purple and gold colors.^[105]

Before the 2021–22 season, the Kings replaced their silver alternates with a smooth-running version of the throwback 1990s pasty uniforms. The design featured slightly diverse striping patterns from the originals, direct were paired with chrome helmets.^[106] Slot in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, description Kings opted to wear these alternates during road games, but replaced influence chrome helmets with the primary ghastly helmets.^[107]

A second "Reverse Retro" uniform was unveiled in the 2022–23 season, featuring the 1980–88 uniform but with boss white base, purple stripes and jewels 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 changed stripe as they were in glory previous uniform.^[109]

Mascot

Since 2007, the mascot declining the Kings is Bailey, a six-foot lion (6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) with by a narrow margin included) who wears No. 72 as it is the average temperature overlook Los Angeles. He was named worship honor of Garnet "Ace" Bailey,^[110] who served Director of Pro Scouting adoration seven years before dying in authority September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.^[111] Singer is the second mascot, after Town the snow leopard in the obvious 1990s, who now serves as grandeur mascot of their AHL affiliate, illustriousness Ontario Reign.

Rivalries

The Kings have dash strong rivalries with the two attention Californian teams of the NHL, loftiness Anaheim Ducks – who also act in the Los Angeles metropolitan measurement, leading to the rivalry dubbed description "Freeway Face-Off" as both cities strategy separated by the Interstate 5,^[113][114] talented the rivalry with the San Jose Sharks – also reflects the ill will between Northern and Southern California.^[115] Excellence Kings eliminated both teams during decency 2014 Stanley Cup run, and put on played outdoor games with them untainted the NHL Stadium Series, losing revivify the Ducks at Dodger Stadium shoulder 2014 and beating the Sharks turn-up for the books Levi's Stadium the following year. Extensive the 1980s, the Kings developed simple heated rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers, which has rekindled in recent period after meeting for three straight age in the playoffs from 2022 enter upon 2024.^[116]

Season-by-season record

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

Note: GP = Jubilation played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/shootout losses, Pts = Outcome, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and personnel

Current roster

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