Table of Contents
Los Angeles Kings
A Royal Name
Entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke chose the name “Kings” from over 7,000 fan submissions because he wanted the team to convey a regal, commanding presence. 1)
The Fabulous Forum
The “Fabulous Forum” was designed by architect Charles Luckman and opened in 1967 with a revolutionary tension ring suspended roof, meaning it had no internal support columns. 2)
Miracle on Manchester
On April 10, 1982, the Kings rallied from a 5-0 third-period deficit against the heavily favored Edmonton Oilers to win 6-5 in overtime, securing the largest comeback in NHL playoff history. 3)
Inaugural Season
The Los Angeles franchise officially entered the NHL and played its first competitive games during the 1967-68 season. 4)
1967 Expansion
The Kings were a cornerstone part of the historic 1967 NHL expansion that doubled the league's size from the Original Six to twelve teams. 5)
Temporary Arenas
Before the Forum was fully completed, the Kings were forced to play their first two months of home games at the Long Beach Arena and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. 6)
The Trade
On August 9, 1988, the Kings fundamentally changed the NHL by acquiring Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers in a blockbuster transaction known simply as “The Trade.” 7)
Shifting Colors
Coinciding with Gretzky's arrival in the late 1980s, the Kings completely overhauled their primary visual identity, switching from purple and gold to silver, black, and white. 8)
First Retired Number
Goaltender Rogie Vachon was the very first player to have his number (30) officially retired by the Los Angeles Kings franchise. 9)
Franchise Legends and Records
All-Time Points Leader
Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne is the Kings' all-time regular season points leader, dominating the franchise leaderboards long before the Gretzky era. 10)
Left Wing Goal Record
Drafted in the late rounds, Luc Robitaille went on to set the all-time NHL record for the most career goals scored by a left-winger. 11)
Single-Season Record
During the explosive 1988-89 season, center Bernie Nicholls set a franchise record that still stands by scoring 150 points. 12)
Games Played Record
Anže Kopitar holds the all-time franchise record for the most regular-season games played in a Los Angeles Kings uniform. 13)
Shutout King
Jonathan Quick established himself as the most dominant goaltender in team history, holding the franchise record for most career shutouts. 14)
Playoff Points by a Defenseman
Drew Doughty currently leads all Los Angeles Kings defensemen in all-time franchise playoff points. 15)
Draft Steal
Anže Kopitar was drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft and spent his entire career becoming a franchise cornerstone. 16)
High Defensive Pick
Drew Doughty was selected 2nd overall by Los Angeles in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, immediately stepping into a top-pairing role. 17)
The Triple Crown Line
The famous “Triple Crown Line” consisted of Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, and Charlie Simmer, becoming one of the most feared scoring lines in NHL history. 18)
The 2012 Stanley Cup Run
The 8th Seed Miracle
In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings made history by becoming the first eighth-seeded team in North American professional sports to win a championship. 19)
Road Warriors
The Kings proved virtually unbeatable away from home, tying an NHL record by winning 10 consecutive road games during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 20)
Conn Smythe Goaltending
Jonathan Quick posted a historically low 1.41 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage during the 2012 run to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. 21)
Captain Brown's Leadership
Dustin Brown served as the team's captain from 2008 to 2016, becoming the first player in franchise history to lift the Stanley Cup. 22)
Playoff Scoring Leader
Center Anže Kopitar tied for the league lead in overall playoff scoring during the 2012 championship run. 23)
The First Championship
The 2012 Stanley Cup victory marked the first time the Kings had ever won the championship in their 45-year franchise history. 24)
Unprecedented Dominance
The Kings took a commanding 3-0 series lead in all four rounds of the 2012 playoffs, steamrolling their Western Conference competition. 25)
Heavy Defensive Structure
Defensive structure and top-pairing reliability were the primary hallmarks of the 2012 Kings' blue line, suffocating opposing offenses. 26)
International Talent
The Kings' 2012 championship roster successfully blended players from diverse international backgrounds, including Slovenia and Russia, alongside North American talent. 27)
The 2014 Stanley Cup Run
The Reverse Sweep
During the 2014 first round, the Kings became only the fourth team in NHL history to win a seven-game series after trailing 3-0, defeating the San Jose Sharks. 28)
Game 7 Masters
The Kings demonstrated incredible resilience by winning three consecutive Game 7s entirely on the road during their 2014 Stanley Cup run. 29)
Marathon Postseason
The Kings played an NHL-record 26 games in a single postseason to win the 2014 Stanley Cup, maximizing their playoff schedule. 30)
Mr. Game 7
Justin Williams earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2014, solidifying his reputation for clutch performances in elimination games. 31)
Jazz Hands in Overtime
Defenseman Alec Martinez scored the iconic double-overtime Stanley Cup-clinching goal against the New York Rangers to secure the 2014 championship. 32)
Elite Two-Way Play
The 2014 Kings prioritized elite two-way center depth as a core foundation of their playing style, allowing them to match up against top offensive lines. 33)
Mid-Season Acquisitions
Strategic mid-season trade acquisitions, particularly to bolster goal-scoring on the wing, were pivotal to the Kings' 2014 championship success. 34)
Second Championship Title
The 2014 victory gave the Kings their second Stanley Cup in a three-year span, cementing their status as a modern NHL powerhouse. 35)
Home Ice Celebration
Unlike their 2012 clinching win, the Kings secured their 2014 Stanley Cup championship in front of their home crowd at Staples Center. 36)
Arenas, Rivalries, and Culture
Modern Home Ice
The Kings currently play their home games at Crypto.com Arena, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. 37)
Managing the Cap
The franchise carefully manages its payroll to remain compliant with the NHL's hard salary cap while investing in long-term contracts for core players. 38)
Minor League Pipeline
The Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) serve as the Kings' primary minor league affiliate, keeping top prospects geographically close. 39)
High Draft Capital
Quinton Byfield was drafted second overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, representing a major piece of the franchise's modern rebuilding efforts. 40)
From Player to Management
Rob Blake transitioned from a Hall of Fame, Norris Trophy-winning defenseman for the Kings into the role of General Manager for the franchise. 41)
Western Conference Foes
The Kings compete in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, battling against heavy competition on the West Coast. 42)
The MVP Distinction
Wayne Gretzky won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player in his very first season wearing a Los Angeles Kings uniform. 43)
The Norris Trophy
Drew Doughty was recognized as the premier defenseman in the league when he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2016. 44)
A Meaningful Mascot
The team mascot, a lion named Bailey, is named in honor of Garnet “Ace” Bailey, the Kings' Director of Pro Scouting who died in the September 11 attacks. 45)