History of the Los Angeles Kings facts for kids

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. They are part of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team started in 1966 when the league decided to add more teams. A businessman named Jack Kent Cooke, who also owned the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, was given the new hockey team for Los Angeles.

The Kings played their first game on October 14, 1967, at the Long Beach Arena, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2. They also played some games at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena while their new home, The Forum in Inglewood, California, was being built. The Kings played at The Forum for 32 seasons before moving to the Crypto.com Arena in Downtown Los Angeles in 1999.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Kings often played well during the regular season but struggled in the playoffs. A big change happened in 1988 when the Kings traded for Wayne Gretzky, a superstar from the Edmonton Oilers. This made hockey much more popular in Los Angeles. Gretzky, along with Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille and defenseman Rob Blake, helped the Kings win their only division title in 1990–91. They also reached their first Stanley Cup Finals in 1993, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens.

After the 1993 Finals, the Kings faced money problems. This was fixed when Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski bought the team. For a while, the Kings didn't do very well. But they started to improve in the 2009–10 season with players like goalie Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, and forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams. Under coach Darryl Sutter, who joined in 2011–12, the Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years: in 2012 against the New Jersey Devils, and in 2014 against the New York Rangers.

How the Kings Started: NHL Expansion

An exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame showing the first jerseys for the 1967 NHL expansion teams. The Kings wore gold and purple until 1988.

Before the Kings, other hockey teams played in California, like the Los Angeles Monarchs in the 1930s and the Los Angeles Blades in the 1960s. In 1967, the NHL decided to add six new teams. Several groups in Los Angeles wanted a team.

The owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jack Kent Cooke, was one of them. He wanted to build his own arena because he was unhappy with the current stadium. This plan made the NHL like his bid more.

In February 1966, Cooke was given one of the six new NHL teams. The other new teams were the California Seals, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. Cooke thought Los Angeles had many people from Canada and the Northeastern U.S. who would love hockey.

Cooke bought land in Inglewood to build his arena, The Forum. He spent a lot of money to create the Kings, making them one of the most expensive new teams at the time.

After a contest, Cooke chose the name "Kings" and the team colors of purple (called "Forum Blue") and gold. These colors are often linked with royalty and were also the colors of his Lakers team. Cooke hired Larry Regan as the first general manager and Red Kelly as the first head coach. He also bought another hockey team, the Springfield Indians, to get their best players for the Kings.

The Early Years: "Forum Blue and Gold" (1967–1975)

The Forum in 1997. It was the Kings' home from 1967 to 1999.

The Forum wasn't ready when the 1967–68 season began. So, the Kings played their first game at the Long Beach Arena on October 14, 1967, winning 4–2 against the Philadelphia Flyers. For the next two months, they played at Long Beach and the Sports Arena. The "Fabulous Forum" finally opened on December 30, 1967.

The Kings played at the Forum for the next 32 seasons. Players like Bill "Cowboy" Flett and Eddie "The Jet" Joyal helped introduce the NHL to Los Angeles. Owner Jack Kent Cooke even came up with their fun nicknames.

In their first season, the Kings finished second in their division. They were the only new team with a winning record at home. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota North Stars. In their second season, they made the playoffs again and won their first round against the Oakland Seals, but then lost to the St. Louis Blues.

After these good starts, the Kings had some tough years because of poor management. They often traded away their top draft picks for older players, which hurt the team's future. Attendance also dropped, making Cooke joke that people moved to California because they "hated hockey."

In 1972, the Kings made two important additions. They got goalie Rogie Vachon from the Montreal Canadiens, who became a fan favorite. Fans would often chant "Rogie! Rogie!" for his amazing saves. They also got Bob Pulford, first as a player and then as their coach. Pulford made the Kings a much better defensive team. He led them back to the playoffs in 1974.

In the 1974–75 season, the Kings had one of their best seasons ever, earning 105 points. They finished second in their division. However, they were upset in the playoffs by the younger Toronto Maple Leafs. This loss was a big disappointment after such a great season.

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

After two early playoff exits, the Kings wanted to improve their offense. On June 23, 1975, they traded for superstar center Marcel Dionne from the Detroit Red Wings. Dionne immediately made a big impact in the 1975–76 season, scoring 94 points.

With Dionne's scoring, Rogie Vachon's great goaltending, and the speed of Butch Goring, the Kings had exciting seasons. In the 1976 playoffs, they swept the Atlanta Flames but then faced the powerful Boston Bruins. The Kings shocked the Bruins by winning two games, including an overtime victory. Game 6 at home was incredibly loud, with fans giving a five-minute standing ovation. The Kings came back from a 3–1 deficit to tie the game, and Goring scored again in overtime to tie the series. However, the Bruins won Game 7.

In the 1977 playoffs, the Kings again beat the Flames but lost to the Bruins in the second round. After the 1976–77 season, coach Bob Pulford left the Kings due to disagreements with owner Jack Kent Cooke. Without Pulford and general manager Jake Milford, the Kings struggled and missed the playoffs in 1977–78. Rogie Vachon then left to join the Detroit Red Wings.

On January 13, 1979, coach Bob Berry put Dionne on a line with two young players: Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer. This line, known as the "Triple Crown Line," became one of the highest-scoring lines in NHL history. Simmer was tough, Taylor was a great passer, and Dionne was a natural goal scorer.

Soon after, Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Kings, Lakers, and the Forum. The Triple Crown Line dominated the NHL in the 1979–80 season, scoring 328 points. Marcel Dionne won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer. However, the Kings were eliminated in the first round of the 1980 playoffs by the New York Islanders, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In the 1980–81 season, the Triple Crown Line scored even more points. All three players, plus goalie Mario Lessard, were chosen for the 1981 NHL All-Star Game held at the Forum. Rookie defenseman Larry Murphy also set a record for points by a rookie defenseman. The Kings had a great regular season with 99 points. But Charlie Simmer broke his leg late in the season, which hurt the team. They were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Rangers.

The 1981–82 season was not as good for the Kings. They finished 17th overall but still made the playoffs because of the rules at the time. They changed coaches several times that season. A bright spot was rookie Bernie Nicholls, who played very well.

The Kings faced the Edmonton Oilers in the 1982 playoffs. The Oilers were led by a young superstar named Wayne Gretzky and were one of the best teams in the league. Few expected the Kings to win.

In Game 1, the Kings came back from a 4–1 deficit to win 10–8, setting an NHL record for the highest-scoring playoff game ever. Game 2 was closer, with the Oilers winning in overtime.

Game 3 at the Forum became known as the "Miracle on Manchester" (the Forum was on Manchester Boulevard). The Oilers led 5–0 after two periods. But the Kings scored four goals in the third period, with Steve Bozek tying the game with just seconds left. In overtime, Daryl Evans scored to give the Kings an incredible 6–5 comeback victory. This was the greatest comeback in NHL playoff history and a huge moment for the Kings. The Kings went on to win the series in Game 5 in Edmonton, completing a miraculous upset. However, they lost to the Vancouver Canucks in the next round.

Despite Dionne's efforts, the Kings missed the playoffs for the next two seasons. In 1984, Rogie Vachon became the general manager. The Kings improved in 1984–85 and made the playoffs, but were quickly swept by the Oilers, who won their second straight Stanley Cup. On February 14, 1985, Rogie Vachon became the first player in team history to have his jersey retired. Marcel Dionne was traded to the New York Rangers in 1987. The Kings now had new young stars like Bernie Nicholls, Jimmy Carson, Luc Robitaille, and defenseman Steve Duchesne.

The Kings struggled with attendance in the 1980s, often having some of the lowest crowds in the league. This was partly because they were the only U.S. team far west of St. Louis in their division, playing against teams from smaller Canadian cities. However, the 1988–89 season would change everything for the team.

Gretzky Arrives in LA (1988–1996)

Statue of Wayne Gretzky outside Crypto.com Arena. Gretzky played for the Kings from 1988 to 1996.

In 1987, Bruce McNall bought the Kings and quickly turned them into a top team. On August 9, 1988, McNall made a huge trade, bringing the best player in the league, Wayne Gretzky, to the Kings from the Edmonton Oilers. This trade shocked the hockey world, especially in Canada, where Gretzky was a national hero. McNall also changed the team colors to silver and black.

In his first season with the Kings, Gretzky led the team with 168 points and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He helped the Kings finish second in their division. In the 1989 playoffs, the Kings faced Gretzky's old team, the Oilers. The Kings came back from being down 3–1 in the series to win in seven games. However, they were then swept by the Calgary Flames. After the season, coach Robbie Ftorek was replaced by Tom Webster.

The next season, Gretzky became the NHL's all-time leading scorer. On October 15, 1989, he broke Gordie Howe's record of 1,850 points. The Kings finished fourth and again faced the Flames in the first round, beating them in six games. But they were then swept by the Oilers, who were looking for revenge.

Gretzky led the Kings to their first division title in 1990–91, with 102 points, the second-best in franchise history. However, they struggled in the playoffs, winning the first round but losing to Edmonton again in the second round.

The 1991–92 season was the Kings' 25th. Seven Kings players scored over 20 goals. Gretzky, even with a back injury, led the league in assists. He was also reunited with former Oilers teammates Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, and Charlie Huddy. But the Kings still lost to Edmonton in the playoffs for the third straight year. After this, Tom Webster was fired, and Nick Beverley became the new general manager, hiring Barry Melrose as coach.

With Gretzky's fame, the Kings brought huge excitement to hockey in Southern California. Kings home games became very popular, with many celebrities attending. The team went from having low attendance to selling out every game. Gretzky's popularity also led to the NHL adding new teams in warm-weather cities like Anaheim (the Mighty Ducks), Dallas, and Tampa.

First Trip to the Stanley Cup Finals (1992–1993)

The Kings reached new heights in the 1992–93 season, even though Gretzky was injured at the start. Luc Robitaille stepped up as captain and led the team. Gretzky returned to score 65 points in 45 games, but Robitaille had an amazing season with 125 points, setting new records for a left winger. The Kings finished third in their division.

The 1993 playoffs started strong for the Kings, as they beat the Flames 4–2. In the second round, they faced the favored Vancouver Canucks, who had beaten them often during the regular season. But the Kings eliminated the Canucks in six games.

In the Conference Finals, the Kings were big underdogs against the Doug Gilmour-led Toronto Maple Leafs. The series was very close. In Game 6, the Kings came back to win in overtime with a goal by Gretzky, forcing a Game 7. In the final game, Gretzky scored three goals and had an assist to lead the Kings to a 5–4 win. This sent the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time ever!

In the Finals, the Kings played the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings won Game 1. But in Game 2, with the Kings leading late in the game, the Canadiens coach asked for a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley's stick. It was too curved, and McSorley got a penalty. The Canadiens tied the game on the power play and then won in overtime. This changed the series, and the Kings never led again. They lost the next two games in overtime and then Game 5, giving the Canadiens the Stanley Cup.

Financial Troubles and Rebuilding (1993–1997)

After the 1993 playoff run, things got tough for the Kings. Wayne Gretzky still played great in the 1993–94 season, leading the league in points and breaking more records. But the Kings struggled and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1986. Their new rivals, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, even finished ahead of them.

By 1992, Bruce McNall was a powerful figure in the NHL. However, in 1993, he had financial problems and had to sell the team. The Kings faced serious money issues, even struggling to pay players. They had to trade away many key players like Tomas Sandstrom, Luc Robitaille, Alexei Zhitnik, and Charlie Huddy.

In 1995, the team went bankrupt. Phillip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski bought the Kings, saving the team. Larry Robinson became the new head coach. On February 27, 1996, Gretzky was traded to the St. Louis Blues. This was a sad moment for Kings fans. After Gretzky left, Rob Blake became the team captain. The Kings then traded more players to rebuild the team. Dave Taylor, a former Kings player, became the new general manager. The Kings had another tough season in 1996–97.

New Arena and Playoff Returns (1997–2002)

In the 1997–98 season, the Kings improved, finishing second in their division. They were led by players like Jozef Stumpel and Glen Murray. Rob Blake also won the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman. Luc Robitaille returned to the team but was often injured. The Kings faced the St. Louis Blues in the playoffs and were swept in four games after a tough Game 3 comeback by the Blues.

The 1998–99 season was full of injuries, and the Kings finished last in their division, missing the playoffs. This was their last season at the Great Western Forum. Head coach Larry Robinson was fired.

Dave Taylor hired Andy Murray as the new head coach in 1999. Taylor also made a big trade, getting star forward Zigmund Palffy and veteran center Bryan Smolinski.

The Kings moved into the Staples Center in 1999.

In 1999, the Kings, along with the Lakers, moved from The Forum to the new Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. This was a modern arena built by the team owners.

With a new home, new coach, and new players, the Kings improved a lot in the 1999–2000 season, finishing second in their division. But in the 2000 playoffs, they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings.

In 2001, the Kings traded star defenseman and fan favorite Rob Blake to the Colorado Avalanche. After Blake left, Mattias Norstrom became the new captain. The Kings also got goalie Felix Potvin. They finished third in their division and again faced the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs.

Many people expected the Red Wings to sweep the Kings again. Detroit won the first two games easily. But in Game 4, the Kings made an amazing comeback, similar to the "Miracle on Manchester." The Red Wings led 3–0 after two periods. But the Kings scored three goals in the third period to tie the game, with Bryan Smolinski scoring the tying goal with less than a minute left. In overtime, Adam Deadmarsh stole the puck and passed to Eric Belanger, who scored the winning goal. This comeback is known as the "Frenzy on Figueroa" or the "Stunner at Staples." The Kings went on to win four straight games to eliminate the Red Wings, their first playoff series win since 1993.

In the second round, the Kings played the strong Colorado Avalanche, who had superstars like Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy, and their former teammate Rob Blake. The Kings won Game 1 in overtime but then lost the next three games. Facing elimination, the Kings won two straight 1–0 shutout games, including a memorable Game 6 where both goalies made incredible saves. But in Game 7, Colorado dominated the third period and won the series. Colorado went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

After the season, Luc Robitaille left the Kings to play for Detroit, hoping to win the Stanley Cup. He did, winning it with Detroit in 2002.

The 2001–02 season started sadly, as two team scouts died in the September 11th attack. The team honored them by wearing special patches. The Kings acquired Jason Allison and Mikko Eloranta from the Boston Bruins. Jason Allison, Palffy, and Adam Deadmarsh formed an exciting new scoring line called the "L.A.P.D. Line" (from their initials and a reference to the Los Angeles Police Department). The Kings finished with 95 points and made the playoffs, again facing the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. Just like their previous meeting, the Kings came back from being down 3–1 to tie the series, but lost Game 7 and were eliminated.

Rebuilding the Team (2002–2009)

The next two seasons were disappointing for the Kings. Many key players like Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh suffered concussions and missed most of the season. Luc Robitaille returned to the Kings in 2003 and led the team in scoring. But the team continued to struggle with injuries, setting new NHL records for games missed by players due to injury. They missed the playoffs in both 2003 and 2004.

Pavol Demitra with the Kings in December 2005.

During this time, the Kings drafted important young players like Dustin Brown in 2003, Anze Kopitar in 2005, and goalie Jonathan Quick in 2005. After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the team signed new players like Pavol Demitra. Lubomir Visnovsky led the team in points in 2005–06.

The 2005–06 season started well but the Kings struggled in the second half, partly due to more injuries to key players. They missed the playoffs. On March 21, 2006, coach Andy Murray was fired. Luc Robitaille, the team's all-time leading scorer, announced he would retire at the end of the season.

After the season, the Kings made big changes. They hired Dean Lombardi as general manager and Marc Crawford as head coach. They also brought back Rob Blake to play for the team.

Marc Crawford in June 2006. He was named the Kings' head coach.

The 2006–07 season was tough, with the Kings having their worst performance in a decade. However, on January 13, 2007, Yutaka Fukufuji became the first Japanese-born player to play in an NHL regular season game for the Kings. On January 20, 2007, Luc Robitaille's jersey was retired, becoming the fifth Kings jersey to be honored.

Kings' center, Anze Kopitar, at the 2007 NHL Premiere in London.

Before the 2007–08 season, the Kings drafted Drew Doughty, who would become a star defenseman. They also traded for Matt Greene and Jarret Stoll. Rob Blake became the team's captain. The Kings played their first regular season game in Europe, beating the Anaheim Ducks in London. But the team still finished with one of the worst records in the league. Marc Crawford was fired as head coach.

Drew Doughty during his first season with the Kings, April 2009. He was drafted by the Kings in 2008.

In 2008, the Kings hired Terry Murray as their new head coach. On October 8, 2008, Dustin Brown became the Kings' youngest captain ever at 23 years old. The Kings improved in the 2008–09 season, but still missed the playoffs.

Back to the Playoffs and Stanley Cup Wins (2009–2014)

In 2009, the Kings traded for forward Ryan Smyth and signed defenseman Rob Scuderi. They also drafted Brayden Schenn and Kyle Clifford.

Kings score a goal against the Vancouver Canucks in the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Kings had a very successful 2009–10 season, making the playoffs for the first time in eight years. They finished with 101 points, one of their best seasons ever. They faced the skilled Vancouver Canucks in the playoffs. The Kings led the series 2–1, but the Canucks came back to win in six games. Despite the loss, it was a great season for the young Kings team. Anze Kopitar was a top scorer, and Drew Doughty was a finalist for the league's best defenseman award.

In 2010, the Kings signed veteran defenseman Willie Mitchell. In the 2011 playoffs, the Kings played the San Jose Sharks. Their top scorer, Anze Kopitar, was injured and couldn't play. The Kings lost a tough series in six games.

First Stanley Cup Victory (2011–2012)

In 2011, the Kings acquired Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers. They also traded Ryan Smyth and signed Simon Gagne.

Darryl Sutter in 2014. Sutter became the Kings' head coach in December 2011.

The Kings started the 2011–12 season with a good record, but then struggled. Coach Terry Murray was fired and replaced by Darryl Sutter in December 2011. Before the trade deadline, the Kings acquired Jeff Carter, Richards' friend and former teammate. The Kings played much better under Sutter. They finished the season with 95 points and made the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

In the 2012 playoffs, the Kings faced the top-ranked Vancouver Canucks. The Kings won the first three games, a first for the franchise. They then won Game 5 to advance. In the next round, they swept the second-seeded St. Louis Blues, reaching the Western Conference Finals for only the second time. The Kings became the first NHL team to enter the playoffs as the eighth seed and eliminate the first and second-seeded teams. They then defeated Phoenix in five games to reach the Finals. They were the first eighth seed to beat the top three teams in their conference.

Kings' captain Dustin Brown receives the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup.

Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Devils in the Finals. The Kings defeated them in six games to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history! They won Game 6 at home at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings were the first eighth seed to win the Stanley Cup in any major North American sports league. Goalie Jonathan Quick was named the most valuable player of the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Defending Champions (2012–2013)

The 2012–13 NHL season was shorter because of a lockout. The Kings started their season in January 2013. They made some trades to improve their defense. They finished the season as the fifth seed in the West.

The Kings face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in their first game of the 2012–13 season. The season was delayed due to the NHL lockout.

The Kings began defending their Cup against the St. Louis Blues, who they had swept the year before. After losing the first two games, the Kings won four in a row to eliminate the Blues. In the second round, they played a tough San Jose Sharks team and won in seven games. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks. The Kings lost the series in five games, with the Blackhawks winning in double overtime in Game 5. The Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup that year.

Second Stanley Cup Victory (2013–2014)

In the 2013–14 season, the Kings acquired goal scorer Marian Gaborik. They also hosted the first NHL outdoor game in a warm city, playing the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium.

The Kings hosted the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium as part of the 2014 NHL Stadium Series.

In the first round of the 2014 playoffs, the Kings played the San Jose Sharks. After losing the first three games, the Kings made history by winning the next four games in a row to win the series! They were only the fourth team in NHL history to do this. In the second round, they played another California rival, Anaheim. The Kings led 2–0 but then lost three straight games. For the second time, they came back from being down in the series to win Game 7.

In the third round, the Kings led the Chicago Blackhawks 3–1, but Chicago won the next two games. On June 1, 2014, the Kings won Game 7 in overtime, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years. The Kings became the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7s on the road to reach the Finals. In the Final, the Kings faced the New York Rangers.

Parade for the 2014 Kings team after they won their second Stanley Cup, June 2014.

The Kings won the Stanley Cup in five games, with Alec Martinez scoring the winning goal in double overtime of Game 5. Their playoff run had a record 26 games, and they faced elimination seven times. Justin Williams, who scored important goals, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Recent Years: Playoff Ups and Downs (2014–present)

After winning two Stanley Cups, the Kings were expected to win again in the 2014–15 season. However, they struggled with injuries and lost games. They missed the playoffs, becoming the first defending Stanley Cup champion since 2007 to do so.

A face-off between the Kings and the San Jose Sharks during Game 5 of the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs.

In the 2015–16 season, the Kings made the playoffs but lost to the San Jose Sharks in five games. On June 16, 2016, Anze Kopitar was named the new team captain, replacing Dustin Brown.

The Kings celebrated their 50th anniversary in the 2016–17 season and hosted the NHL All-Star Game. Goalie Jonathan Quick was injured for most of the season, and the Kings struggled without him. They missed the playoffs again. General manager Dean Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter were fired. Rob Blake became the new general manager, and John Stevens took over as head coach. In the next season, the Kings made the playoffs but were swept by the new Vegas Golden Knights.

On November 4, 2018, Stevens was fired as head coach and replaced by Willie Desjardins. The Kings finished the 2018–19 season in last place and missed the playoffs.

The Kings hired Todd McLellan as their next head coach in April 2019. The 2019–20 season was a rebuilding year, with many players leaving the team. The Kings won the 2020 NHL Stadium Series game against the Colorado Avalanche. They also had a 7-game winning streak late in the season, showing off their talented young players. However, the NHL season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Kings did not make the playoffs.

In the 2020–21 season, the Kings continued to rebuild. Anze Kopitar scored his 1,000th career point. They finished sixth in their division and missed the playoffs.

Before the 2021–22 season, the Kings acquired forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson. They made the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, even though Drew Doughty was injured. Dustin Brown announced he would retire after the playoffs. The Kings were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the First Round.

In the 2022 off-season, the Kings acquired Kevin Fiala. The 2022–23 season started well, with Fiala leading the team in points and being selected for the 2023 All-Star Game. The Kings made the playoffs again but were defeated by the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the First Round.