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Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California, competing in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. Founded in 1967 as part of the NHL's expansion, the Kings initially played at The Forum in Inglewood before moving to the Staples Center in 1999, and more recently, to the Crypto.com Arena. The team is known for its distinct black, silver, and white colors.

The Kings gained significant recognition during the 1970s and 1980s with the emergence of the "Triple Crown Line," featuring star players Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer, and Dave Taylor. A pivotal moment in the franchise's history came in 1988 when Wayne Gretzky joined the team, leading them to their first Stanley Cup Final in 1993. After a challenging period, the Kings experienced a resurgence in the 2010s, winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, marking the first championships in the team's history. Despite fluctuations in performance, notable players such as Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, and Drew Doughty have continued to shape the team’s legacy. The Kings' history reflects a blend of challenges and triumphs, contributing to the sport's growing popularity in California.

Full Article

Quick Facts

  • Inaugural season: 1967
  • Home arena: Crypto.com Arena
  • Owner: Philip Anschutz, Edward Roski
  • Team colors: Black, silver, and white

Overview

The Los Angeles Kings is a professional ice hockey team that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). Based in Los Angeles, California, the team is a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1967, the team was one of six established as part of the NHL’s expansion that year. From its founding until 1999, the Kings played their home games at The Forum in Inglewood, California. They moved their home games to the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 1999. By 2025, they continued to play in this location, though it was renamed Crypto.com Arena. The 1970s and 1980s were notable years for the team, mainly because of the “Triple Crown Line,” which included star players Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne. This era also saw the “Miracle on Manchester,” a famous 1982 playoff game between the Kings and the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings later traded with the Oilers in 1988 to add Wayne Gretzky to their lineup, arguably the most famous hockey player in history. Gretzky led the team to its only division championship during the 1990–1991 season as well as its first shot at the Stanley Cup in 1993. Financial troubles led to the franchise declaring bankruptcy in 1995. The team was then acquired by Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski, after which it entered into an unimpressive playing period before experiencing a resurgence in the 2010s, winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. After another playoff slump, team owners dismissed Stanley Cup-winning coach Darryl Sutter. Between 2017 and 2019, the team hired three new coaches in the hopes of breaking its playoff losing streak. Under Todd McLellan, who coached for five years from 2019 to 2024, the team made it to the playoffs two of the five years, though they lost in the first round both times. The team found mild success in the early 2020s, making it to the playoffs from 2022 to 2025, though they failed to make it past the first round every time.

History

The Los Angeles Kings were established as part of the NHL expansion efforts of the 1967–68 season. The expansion was a response to rumors that the Western Hockey League (WHL) was trying to create a major league to compete for the Stanley Cup. The NHL expansion to Los Angeles was initiated by Canadian entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke, who paid the NHL $2 million to have one of the expansion teams set up in the city. Since Los Angeles housed several people who had moved from the Northeast and parts of Canada, where hockey was very popular, Cooke considered Los Angeles to be a prime location to settle a hockey team.

While awaiting the completion of construction of The Forum, the Kings played their inaugural season at the Long Beach Arena in the nearby city of Long Beach, California. They played their first game on October 14, 1967, against the Philadelphia Flyers, defeating the team 4–2. The Forum had its grand opening two months later. The Kings played their first game there on December 30, 1967, against the Flyers, but this time the Flyers defeated them 2–0. The Kings managed to finish second of six that season, winning 31 games and losing 33.

The team had a few unremarkable seasons before it reached a turning point in the 1970s. At this time, the Kings finally made it to the playoffs and added several key players to their lineup, taking them to new heights. First, the arrival of Marcel Dionne from the Detroit Red Wings in 1971 gave the team a much-needed offensive boost. Kings’ coach Bob Berry later added a pair of young and unknown players to Dionne’s offensive line: Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer. The trio worked well together and scored a historic number of goals, eventually being nicknamed the “Triple Crown Line” for their goal-scoring prowess. The three led a 1982 upset victory against the Edmonton Oilers, a team then led by young hockey star Wayne Gretzky. This helped the Kings come back from a five-goal deficit during the third period to win in what was later dubbed the “Miracle on Manchester.”

Gretzky was later added to the Kings’ roster in 1988 following the team’s purchase by Bruce McNall, a former racehorse owner. Gretzky was considered the NHL’s best player, and his addition to the Kings proved very fortuitous for the team and Gretzky himself. McNall raised Gretzky’s salary to $3 million, a move that prompted a swift rise in NHL salaries across the board throughout the 1990s. McNall also orchestrated a change to the Kings’ team colors, which were originally purple and gold. The Kings now wore silver, white, and black. Gretzky remained with the Kings through 1996, a year after the franchise declared bankruptcy. Gretzky led the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup final in 1993. Gretzky’s tenure in Los Angeles gave the sport of hockey a boost in popularity in the West, and the Kings became a much-liked team with A-list fans such as Hollywood celebrities and politicians.

The Kings declared bankruptcy in 1995 following allegations of bank fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion against McNall and his associates. Jeffrey Sudikoff and Joseph Cohen served as the team’s owners from 1994 to 1995 before selling the franchise to Philip Anschutz and Edward Roski for $113.25 million. Shortly after the sale, the partners began to construct a new home for the Kings and other Los Angeles sports teams. The Kings relocated their games to the state-of-the-art Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles in 1999. The arena featured luxury suites among many other modern amenities that attracted fans and athletes.

The 2000s were not remarkable years for the team, and between the 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons, the Kings did not qualify for the playoffs once. After a slow start to the 2010s, the Kings made a comeback in 2012 under the direction of head coach Darryl Sutter and won the Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils in the finals. The Cup win was the first in the team’s history. Two years later, the Kings captured their second Stanley Cup when they bested the New York Rangers in that year’s Stanley Cup Finals. That season was one of the best in the team’s history, with its 26-win run in the playoffs becoming the longest of any Stanley Cup-winning team in NHL history.

However, the Kings’ success dwindled over the latter half of the decade. Sutter was fired in 2017 and replaced by John Stevens. Stevens coached for one full season and a short period during the 2018–19 season before being replaced by Willie Desjardins, who was then replaced by Todd McLellan for the 2019–20 season. They missed the playoffs in 2021, finishing sixth in the Honda West Division. The team qualified for the playoffs in 2022, but was defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. History repeated itself in 2023, when the Kings once again faced the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs and were defeated. In 2024, the team fired head coach Todd McLellan. Assistant coach Jim Hiller was later named head coach. The team returned to the playoffs again in 2025 and were once again defeated by the Edmonton Oilers.

Notable players

The Kings rose to prominence among NHL teams when Wayne Gretzky was added to the roster in 1988. His time with the Kings included a division championship and the team’s first shot at the Stanley Cup. Gretzky, considered one of the league’s best players ever, raised the status of the sport among those on the West Coast. He won multiple honors during this period, including the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, and scored a record number of points during the 1988–1989 season that remains unsurpassed. Gretzky’s number, 99, was retired across the NHL in 2002.

Before Gretzky’s arrival, the team’s renowned “Triple Crown Line” featured players Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne. The trio was one of the highest-scoring offensive player combinations in NHL history and led the 1982 legendary victory against the Edmonton Oilers, dubbed the “Miracle on Manchester.” Dionne remains the team’s all-time points leader with 1,307 points. He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1992. He is frequently cited as one of the greatest players in NHL history. His number, 16, was retired in 1990.

Other notable players from the Kings include Hall of Famer Rogie Vachon, who played from 1966 to 1982 and was one of the team’s first members. Vachon’s number was retired in 1985. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, players Bernie Nicholls, Kelly Hrudey, and Hall of Famer Rob Blake proved to be standout players. Nicholls holds the record for most goals in one season (1988–1990). The all-time goals leader for the team is Luc Robitaille, whose twenty-year career (1986–2006) included 89 game-winning goals.

During the teams’ Stanley Cup-winning period, several players made headlines for their skills, including Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, and Drew Doughty. Center Brown and right-winger Kopitar led the team in goals and assists, with defenseman Doughty helping out with assists. The three are counted among the team’s top-ten scorers in franchise history. Goaltender Jonathan Quick held the record for most wins and shutouts. He was named the MVP during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.


Bibliography

Diest, Derek Van. "Kings Eliminated From Playoffs Due to Depth Issues, Failure to Hold Leads." NHL, 2 May 2025, www.nhl.com/news/why-los-angeles-kings-are-eliminated-from-2024-2025-postseason. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025. 

“Gretzky’s Trade to L.A. 25 Years Ago Still Creating Ripple Effect.” The Hockey News, thehockeynews.com/news/article/gretzkys-trade-to-l-a-25-years-ago-still-creating-ripple-effect. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Lane, Jon. "Hiller to Return As Coach of Kings." NHL, 15 May 2025, www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-retain-coach-jim-hiller. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025. 

“Los Angeles Kings.” Hockey Reference, 2025, www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/history.html. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

“Los Angeles Kings Fire Coach Darryl Sutter, General Manager Dean Lombardi.” USA Today, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/kings/2017/04/10/los-angeles-fires-darryl-sutter-dean-lombardi/100310020/. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

“Los Angeles Kings Team History.” Sports Team History, 2025 sportsteamhistory.com/los-angeles-kings. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Millman, Lisa. “Kings’ Sale Cleared by Bankruptcy Judge: Hockey: Deal Could Be Final Tuesday. Former Financial Officer Waks Charged in McNall Scheme.” Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 1995, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-06-sp-53981-story.html. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

National Hockey League. National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2017. Triumph Books, 2016.

“100 Greatest NHL Players.” NHL, www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial/100-greatest-nhl-players. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.


Full Article

Quick Facts

  • Inaugural season: 1967
  • Home arena: Crypto.com Arena
  • Owner: Philip Anschutz, Edward Roski
  • Team colors: Black, silver, and white

Overview

The Los Angeles Kings is a professional ice hockey team that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). Based in Los Angeles, California, the team is a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. Founded in 1967, the team was one of six established as part of the NHL’s expansion that year. From its founding until 1999, the Kings played their home games at The Forum in Inglewood, California. They moved their home games to the Staples Center in Los Angeles in 1999. By 2025, they continued to play in this location, though it was renamed Crypto.com Arena. The 1970s and 1980s were notable years for the team, mainly because of the “Triple Crown Line,” which included star players Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne. This era also saw the “Miracle on Manchester,” a famous 1982 playoff game between the Kings and the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings later traded with the Oilers in 1988 to add Wayne Gretzky to their lineup, arguably the most famous hockey player in history. Gretzky led the team to its only division championship during the 1990–1991 season as well as its first shot at the Stanley Cup in 1993. Financial troubles led to the franchise declaring bankruptcy in 1995. The team was then acquired by Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski, after which it entered into an unimpressive playing period before experiencing a resurgence in the 2010s, winning two Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. After another playoff slump, team owners dismissed Stanley Cup-winning coach Darryl Sutter. Between 2017 and 2019, the team hired three new coaches in the hopes of breaking its playoff losing streak. Under Todd McLellan, who coached for five years from 2019 to 2024, the team made it to the playoffs two of the five years, though they lost in the first round both times. The team found mild success in the early 2020s, making it to the playoffs from 2022 to 2025, though they failed to make it past the first round every time.

History

The Los Angeles Kings were established as part of the NHL expansion efforts of the 1967–68 season. The expansion was a response to rumors that the Western Hockey League (WHL) was trying to create a major league to compete for the Stanley Cup. The NHL expansion to Los Angeles was initiated by Canadian entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke, who paid the NHL $2 million to have one of the expansion teams set up in the city. Since Los Angeles housed several people who had moved from the Northeast and parts of Canada, where hockey was very popular, Cooke considered Los Angeles to be a prime location to settle a hockey team.

While awaiting the completion of construction of The Forum, the Kings played their inaugural season at the Long Beach Arena in the nearby city of Long Beach, California. They played their first game on October 14, 1967, against the Philadelphia Flyers, defeating the team 4–2. The Forum had its grand opening two months later. The Kings played their first game there on December 30, 1967, against the Flyers, but this time the Flyers defeated them 2–0. The Kings managed to finish second of six that season, winning 31 games and losing 33.

The team had a few unremarkable seasons before it reached a turning point in the 1970s. At this time, the Kings finally made it to the playoffs and added several key players to their lineup, taking them to new heights. First, the arrival of Marcel Dionne from the Detroit Red Wings in 1971 gave the team a much-needed offensive boost. Kings’ coach Bob Berry later added a pair of young and unknown players to Dionne’s offensive line: Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer. The trio worked well together and scored a historic number of goals, eventually being nicknamed the “Triple Crown Line” for their goal-scoring prowess. The three led a 1982 upset victory against the Edmonton Oilers, a team then led by young hockey star Wayne Gretzky. This helped the Kings come back from a five-goal deficit during the third period to win in what was later dubbed the “Miracle on Manchester.”

Gretzky was later added to the Kings’ roster in 1988 following the team’s purchase by Bruce McNall, a former racehorse owner. Gretzky was considered the NHL’s best player, and his addition to the Kings proved very fortuitous for the team and Gretzky himself. McNall raised Gretzky’s salary to $3 million, a move that prompted a swift rise in NHL salaries across the board throughout the 1990s. McNall also orchestrated a change to the Kings’ team colors, which were originally purple and gold. The Kings now wore silver, white, and black. Gretzky remained with the Kings through 1996, a year after the franchise declared bankruptcy. Gretzky led the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup final in 1993. Gretzky’s tenure in Los Angeles gave the sport of hockey a boost in popularity in the West, and the Kings became a much-liked team with A-list fans such as Hollywood celebrities and politicians.

The Kings declared bankruptcy in 1995 following allegations of bank fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion against McNall and his associates. Jeffrey Sudikoff and Joseph Cohen served as the team’s owners from 1994 to 1995 before selling the franchise to Philip Anschutz and Edward Roski for $113.25 million. Shortly after the sale, the partners began to construct a new home for the Kings and other Los Angeles sports teams. The Kings relocated their games to the state-of-the-art Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles in 1999. The arena featured luxury suites among many other modern amenities that attracted fans and athletes.

The 2000s were not remarkable years for the team, and between the 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons, the Kings did not qualify for the playoffs once. After a slow start to the 2010s, the Kings made a comeback in 2012 under the direction of head coach Darryl Sutter and won the Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils in the finals. The Cup win was the first in the team’s history. Two years later, the Kings captured their second Stanley Cup when they bested the New York Rangers in that year’s Stanley Cup Finals. That season was one of the best in the team’s history, with its 26-win run in the playoffs becoming the longest of any Stanley Cup-winning team in NHL history.

However, the Kings’ success dwindled over the latter half of the decade. Sutter was fired in 2017 and replaced by John Stevens. Stevens coached for one full season and a short period during the 2018–19 season before being replaced by Willie Desjardins, who was then replaced by Todd McLellan for the 2019–20 season. They missed the playoffs in 2021, finishing sixth in the Honda West Division. The team qualified for the playoffs in 2022, but was defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. History repeated itself in 2023, when the Kings once again faced the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs and were defeated. In 2024, the team fired head coach Todd McLellan. Assistant coach Jim Hiller was later named head coach. The team returned to the playoffs again in 2025 and were once again defeated by the Edmonton Oilers.

Notable players

The Kings rose to prominence among NHL teams when Wayne Gretzky was added to the roster in 1988. His time with the Kings included a division championship and the team’s first shot at the Stanley Cup. Gretzky, considered one of the league’s best players ever, raised the status of the sport among those on the West Coast. He won multiple honors during this period, including the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, and scored a record number of points during the 1988–1989 season that remains unsurpassed. Gretzky’s number, 99, was retired across the NHL in 2002.

Before Gretzky’s arrival, the team’s renowned “Triple Crown Line” featured players Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne. The trio was one of the highest-scoring offensive player combinations in NHL history and led the 1982 legendary victory against the Edmonton Oilers, dubbed the “Miracle on Manchester.” Dionne remains the team’s all-time points leader with 1,307 points. He was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1992. He is frequently cited as one of the greatest players in NHL history. His number, 16, was retired in 1990.

Other notable players from the Kings include Hall of Famer Rogie Vachon, who played from 1966 to 1982 and was one of the team’s first members. Vachon’s number was retired in 1985. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, players Bernie Nicholls, Kelly Hrudey, and Hall of Famer Rob Blake proved to be standout players. Nicholls holds the record for most goals in one season (1988–1990). The all-time goals leader for the team is Luc Robitaille, whose twenty-year career (1986–2006) included 89 game-winning goals.

During the teams’ Stanley Cup-winning period, several players made headlines for their skills, including Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, and Drew Doughty. Center Brown and right-winger Kopitar led the team in goals and assists, with defenseman Doughty helping out with assists. The three are counted among the team’s top-ten scorers in franchise history. Goaltender Jonathan Quick held the record for most wins and shutouts. He was named the MVP during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.


Bibliography

Diest, Derek Van. "Kings Eliminated From Playoffs Due to Depth Issues, Failure to Hold Leads." NHL, 2 May 2025, www.nhl.com/news/why-los-angeles-kings-are-eliminated-from-2024-2025-postseason. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025. 

“Gretzky’s Trade to L.A. 25 Years Ago Still Creating Ripple Effect.” The Hockey News, thehockeynews.com/news/article/gretzkys-trade-to-l-a-25-years-ago-still-creating-ripple-effect. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Lane, Jon. "Hiller to Return As Coach of Kings." NHL, 15 May 2025, www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-retain-coach-jim-hiller. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025. 

“Los Angeles Kings.” Hockey Reference, 2025, www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/history.html. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

“Los Angeles Kings Fire Coach Darryl Sutter, General Manager Dean Lombardi.” USA Today, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/kings/2017/04/10/los-angeles-fires-darryl-sutter-dean-lombardi/100310020/. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

“Los Angeles Kings Team History.” Sports Team History, 2025 sportsteamhistory.com/los-angeles-kings. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

Millman, Lisa. “Kings’ Sale Cleared by Bankruptcy Judge: Hockey: Deal Could Be Final Tuesday. Former Financial Officer Waks Charged in McNall Scheme.” Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 1995, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-06-sp-53981-story.html. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.

National Hockey League. National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2017. Triumph Books, 2016.

“100 Greatest NHL Players.” NHL, www.nhl.com/fans/nhl-centennial/100-greatest-nhl-players. Accessed 4 Sept. 2025.


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