Los Angeles Kings facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Los Angeles Kings
Conference	Western
Division	Pacific
Founded	1967
History	Los Angeles Kings 1967–present
Home arena	Crypto.com Arena
City	Los Angeles, California
Colors	Black, silver, white
Media	FanDuel Sports Network West KCAL-TV ESPN Radio 710 Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM
Owner(s)	Anschutz Entertainment Group
General manager	Ken Holland
Head coach	Jim Hiller
Captain	Anze Kopitar
Minor league affiliates	Ontario Reign (AHL) Greenville Swamp Rabbits (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	2 (2011–12, 2013–14)
Conference championships	3 (1992–93, 2011–12, 2013–14)
Presidents' Trophies	0
Division championships	1 (1990–91)

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team from Los Angeles, California. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team started on June 5, 1967, as one of six new teams joining the NHL.

The Kings play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. Before that, they played for 32 years at the Forum in Inglewood. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Kings had strong regular seasons but often lost early in the playoffs. Key players from that time included goalie Rogie Vachon and the "Triple Crown Line" of Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne. They had a famous upset win in 1982, known as the Miracle on Manchester.

In 1988, the Kings traded for superstar Wayne Gretzky. This made hockey much more popular in Los Angeles and other warmer parts of the United States. Gretzky, along with Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake, led the Kings to their first division title in 1991. They also reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 1993, but lost.

After 1993, the Kings faced financial problems. They were bought by Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski. The team struggled for a while but improved by the 2009–10 season. Key players like goalie Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, and forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams helped them become strong again. Under coach Darryl Sutter, the Kings won two Stanley Cups in three years: in 2012 and 2014. Quick and Williams were named the most valuable players in those playoffs. Since 2014, the team has made the playoffs but has not advanced past the first round.

Team History

Starting the Team (1967–1975)

The Forum in Inglewood, California, was the Kings' home from 1967 to 1999.

In 1967, the NHL decided to add six new teams. Canadian businessman Jack Kent Cooke paid $2 million to bring a team to Los Angeles. Cooke chose the name "Kings" because he wanted the team to feel royal. He picked purple (called "Forum Blue") and gold as the team colors, which are often linked to royalty. These colors were also used by the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, which Cooke also owned.

The Kings' first game was on October 14, 1967, at the Long Beach Arena. They beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2. Their new arena, the Forum, opened on December 30, 1967. The Kings made the playoffs in their first two seasons. However, poor management led to tough times for a while. The team often traded away their top draft picks for older players, which hurt their future.

Eventually, the Kings made some smart player trades. They got Bob Pulford in 1970, Juha Widing from the New York Rangers, and goalie Rogie Vachon in 1971. These players helped the Kings become one of the best defensive teams in the league. By 1974, they were back in the playoffs.

The "Triple Crown Line" Era (1975–1988)

After losing in the first round of the playoffs in 1974 and 1975, the Kings wanted to score more goals. They got center Marcel Dionne from the Detroit Red Wings. With Dionne's scoring, Vachon's great goaltending, and Butch Goring's speed, the Kings had exciting seasons. They made the playoffs but were eliminated by the Boston Bruins twice.

Marcel Dionne (center) played with Dave Taylor (right) and Charlie Simmer (left) on the famous "Triple Crown Line."

After the 1976–77 season, Bob Pulford and General Manager Jake Milford left the Kings. The team struggled in the 1977–78 season and lost in the first round of the playoffs. The next season, coach Bob Berry put Dionne on a new line with two young players: Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer. This line became known as the "Triple Crown Line." Simmer was tough and fought for the puck, Taylor was a great playmaker, and Dionne was a natural goal scorer. This line became one of the highest-scoring lines in NHL history.

In 1982, even though the Kings had a tough regular season, they made the playoffs. They faced the powerful Edmonton Oilers, led by young superstar Wayne Gretzky. The Kings pulled off a huge upset, winning the series. One game, known as the "Miracle on Manchester," saw the Kings come back from being down 5–0 in the third period to win in overtime. This was a huge moment for the team.

The Gretzky Years (1988–1995)

A statue of Wayne Gretzky stands outside Crypto.com Arena. He played for the Kings from 1988 to 1996.

In 1987, Bruce McNall bought the Kings. He quickly changed the team colors to silver and black, like the Los Angeles Raiders. Then, on August 9, 1988, McNall made a huge trade to get Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers. This trade shocked the hockey world. Gretzky's arrival made hockey incredibly popular in Southern California. It also helped new NHL teams start in other warm-weather cities like Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas, and Tampa.

In Gretzky's first season, he led the team with 168 points and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's best player. The Kings beat the Oilers in the first round of the 1989 playoffs but then lost to the Calgary Flames. Gretzky helped the Kings win their first division title in 1991.

In the 1992–93 season, the Kings reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. Even though Gretzky missed many games due to injury, Luc Robitaille led the team. The Kings beat the Flames, Canucks, and Leafs to get to the Final. They faced the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings won Game 1, but a controversial penalty in Game 2 helped the Canadiens tie the series. Montreal then won the next three games, taking the Stanley Cup.

Financial Troubles and Rebuilding (1995–2009)

After the 1993 playoff run, the Kings had a tough time. They missed the playoffs in 1994. Around this time, owner Bruce McNall had financial problems. He had to sell the team, and the Kings even faced bankruptcy in 1995. Philip Anschutz and Edward P. Roski bought the team.

Mattias Norstrom was the Kings' captain from 2001 to 2007.

Many strong players were traded away, including Wayne Gretzky, who went to the St. Louis Blues in 1996. The team struggled for several years. They returned to the playoffs in 1998 but were swept by the Blues.

In 1999, the Kings moved from the Forum to the new Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in downtown Los Angeles. This modern arena was built by the team's new owners. With a new home and new coach Andy Murray, the Kings improved. They made the playoffs in 2000 but lost in the first round.

In 2001, the Kings traded star defenseman Rob Blake. However, the players they received, Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller, helped the team. The Kings upset the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the 2001 playoffs, their first series win since 1993. They then lost a close seven-game series to the Colorado Avalanche. The next few seasons were disappointing, and the Kings missed the playoffs until the 2009–10 season.

During these years, the Kings drafted some very talented young players who would become future stars. These included Dustin Brown (2003), Anze Kopitar (2005), Jonathan Quick (2005), and Drew Doughty (2008). These players would soon lead the team to great success.

Becoming Playoff Contenders (2009–2011)

Anze Kopitar (left) and Drew Doughty (right) were key players who helped the Kings become a top team.

By the 2009–10 season, the Kings had a strong team with players like goalie Jonathan Quick, defenseman Drew Doughty, and forwards Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Justin Williams. They finished with 101 points, one of their best seasons ever, and returned to the playoffs. They lost to the Vancouver Canucks in six games.

In the 2011 playoffs, the Kings faced the San Jose Sharks. Even without injured Anze Kopitar, the Kings pushed the series to six games before losing.

Winning the Stanley Cup (2011–2014)

The 2011–12 season started slowly, and coach Terry Murray was replaced by Darryl Sutter. Under Sutter, the Kings improved a lot. They also traded for Jeff Carter during the season. The Kings finished as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, just making the playoffs.

In the 2012 playoffs, the Kings surprised everyone. They beat the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks, then swept the second-seeded St. Louis Blues. They became the first eighth-seed team to beat the top two seeds in their conference. They then defeated the Phoenix Coyotes to reach the Stanley Cup Final for only the second time in team history.

Los Angeles faced the New Jersey Devils in the Final. The Kings won in six games, claiming their first-ever Stanley Cup! They were the first team since 2007 to win the Cup on their home ice. Goalie Jonathan Quick was named the most valuable player of the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Dustin Brown celebrates with the Stanley Cup after the Kings won in 2012.

The 2012–13 NHL season was shorter due to a lockout. The Kings finished fifth in the West. They beat the St. Louis Blues again in the first round and then won a tough seven-game series against the San Jose Sharks. In the conference finals, they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

In the 2013–14 season, the Kings acquired Marian Gaborik. They made the playoffs as the sixth seed. In the first round, they faced the San Jose Sharks again. The Kings made history by coming back from being down 3–0 in the series to win the next four games and take the series! They then beat the Anaheim Ducks in another seven-game series. In the conference finals, they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games, reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in three years. The Kings became the first NHL team to win three Game 7s on the road in one playoff run.

The Kings' parade after winning their second Stanley Cup in 2014.

In the Stanley Cup Final, the Kings played the New York Rangers. The Kings won the Stanley Cup in five games, with Alec Martinez scoring the winning goal in double overtime of Game 5. This championship run was very long, with the Kings playing a record-tying 26 playoff games and facing elimination seven times. Justin Williams, who played a key role in all three Game 7 wins, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Recent Seasons (2014–present)

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

A face-off between the Kings and the San Jose Sharks during a playoff game in 2016.

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 team's new captain, taking over from Dustin Brown.

The Kings celebrated their 50th anniversary in the 2016–17 season. They hosted the NHL All-Star Game. Goalie Jonathan Quick was injured for most of the season, and the team struggled, missing the playoffs again. After the season, General Manager Dean Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter were fired. Rob Blake became the new General Manager, and John Stevens became head coach.

In the 2017–18 season, the Kings made the playoffs but were swept by the new Vegas Golden Knights. The next season, the Kings started poorly, and Stevens was fired. Willie Desjardins took over as interim coach. The Kings finished last in their division and missed the playoffs.

Todd McLellan was hired as head coach in April 2019. The 2019–20 season was a rebuilding year, with many players traded. The Kings won the 2020 Stadium Series game against the Colorado Avalanche. The season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Kings did not make the playoffs. They received the second overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft.

In the 2020–21 season, the Kings continued to rebuild. Anze Kopitar scored his 1,000th career point. The team missed the playoffs again. For the 2021–22 season, the Kings added forwards Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson. They made the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, even though Drew Doughty was injured. They lost to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. Dustin Brown retired after this season.

In the 2022–23 season, the Kings acquired Kevin Fiala. They made the playoffs again but lost to the Edmonton Oilers in six games. In the 2023 off-season, the Kings traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois. The 2023–24 season started strong, with the team setting an NHL record for the longest unbeaten road streak. However, their performance dropped in January 2024. Coach McLellan was fired, and Jim Hiller became the interim head coach. The Kings made the playoffs but were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers for the third year in a row. Jim Hiller was then promoted to full-time head coach. In July 2025, Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded to the Washington Capitals for goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Team Look and Symbols

Uniforms and Logos

The Kings' first logo, used from 1967 to 1982.

When the Los Angeles Kings first started, their uniforms were purple ("Forum blue") and gold. The design was simple, with stripes on the shoulders and bottom. They used a crown logo with a different colored background.

From 1980 to 1988, the uniforms changed slightly, adding white to the socks and stripes.

When Wayne Gretzky joined in 1988, the Kings changed their colors to black and silver, like the Los Angeles Raiders football team. The team's banner logo was updated to silver and black. These new uniforms were used until the 1997–98 season.

The Kings briefly used a purple and gold alternate jersey in 1995–96. It had a strange fading black design and a logo of a bearded figure. Fans didn't like this "Burger King" jersey, and it was only used for one season.

Primary logo, used 1982–1988

Primary logo, used 1988–1998

For the 1998–99 season, the Kings introduced new logos and uniforms with a purple, silver, and white color scheme. The main new logo was a shield with a lion, a crown, and the Sun. The jerseys had this shield logo with purple on the shoulders and stripes. In 2002, the crown logo became the main one, and the shield logo became an alternate.

In 2008, the Kings brought back a look inspired by their 1988–1998 black and silver uniforms. The current logo, a black and silver banner with an updated crown and "LA" on top, first appeared on this jersey. Three years later, the team fully returned to black and silver as their main colors.

Logos used 1998–2024

Shield logo

Crown logo

Banner logo

The shield logo was the main logo until 2002. The crown logo became the main one in 2002. The banner logo, introduced in 2008, became the main logo in 2011 and was used until 2024.

For their 50th anniversary in the 2016–17 season, the Kings wore special silver alternate jerseys with black shoulders and stripes. The logos and numbers had metallic gold accents, and the neckline had purple with five gold diamonds to remember their original colors.

In 2020–21, the Kings wore a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform. It was like their 1988–1998 design but used the original purple and gold colors instead of black and silver.

Before the 2021–22 season, the Kings updated their white throwback uniforms from the 1990s. These had slightly different stripes and were worn with shiny chrome helmets.

On June 20, 2024, the Kings revealed a new main logo, which is a modern version of their 1988 logo. Their new uniforms are also based on the 1988–1998 look.

Mascot

Since 2007, the Kings' mascot has been Bailey. Bailey is a six-foot lion who wears jersey number 72. This number represents the average temperature in Los Angeles. He was named after Garnet "Ace" Bailey, a former Kings scout who passed away in the September 11, 2001, attacks. Before Bailey, the Kings had a snow leopard mascot named Kingston in the early 1990s. Kingston is now the mascot for the Kings' minor league team, the Ontario Reign.

Team Rivalries

The Kings have strong rivalries with the other two NHL teams in California: the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. The rivalry with the Ducks is called the "Freeway Face-Off" because their cities are close on the Interstate 5 highway. The rivalry with the Sharks shows the competition between Northern and Southern California. The Kings beat both teams during their 2014 Stanley Cup run.

In the 1980s, the Kings had a big rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers. This rivalry has become strong again recently, as the Kings have faced the Oilers in the playoffs every year from 2022 to 2025, losing in the first round each time.

Recent Season Records

This table shows the Kings' performance in their last five completed seasons.

Players and Staff

Team Captains

Anze Kopitar has been the Kings' captain since 2016.

The team captain is a player chosen to be the leader on the ice and in the locker room.

Head Coaches

Darryl Sutter coached the Kings from 2011 to 2017, leading them to two Stanley Cups.

The head coach is in charge of the team's strategy and training.

General Managers

Rob Blake has been the Kings' General Manager since 2017.

The General Manager is responsible for building the team, including trading players and signing contracts.

Team Owners

The owners are the people or groups who own the team.

• Jack Kent Cooke: 1967–1979
• Jerry Buss: 1979–1988
• Bruce McNall: 1988–1994
• Joseph M. Cohen and Jeffery Sudikoff: 1994–1995
• Philip Anschutz and Edward Roski: 1995–present

Team Honors and Records

Retired Numbers

Five of the Kings' retired jersey banners hanging in Crypto.com Arena in 2012.

When a player's number is retired, no other player on the team can wear that number again. It's a special honor for players who made a huge impact.

• Bob Miller, a Kings broadcaster from 1973–2017, also has an honorary banner hanging in the arena.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

Many players and people who helped build the Kings have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This is a special place that honors the best in hockey history.

Players

Builders

• Red Kelly
• Jake Milford
• Roger Neilson

Franchise Records

These are some of the top records for the Los Angeles Kings.

Top Scorers (Regular Season)

Luc Robitaille is the Kings' all-time leader in goals scored with 557.

These players have scored the most points for the Kings in regular season games.

•  *  – current Kings player

Top Goaltenders (Regular Season)

These are the top goalies for the Kings in regular season games.

•  *  – current Kings player

Top Scorers (Playoffs)

These players have scored the most points for the Kings in playoff games.

•  *  – current Kings player

Top Goaltenders (Playoffs)

These are the top goalies for the Kings in playoff games.

•  *  – current Kings player

Jonathan Quick holds the Kings' record for most shutouts in a single season, with 10 in 2011–12.

Regular Season Records

• Most goals in a season: Bernie Nicholls, 70 (1988–89)
• Most assists in a season: Wayne Gretzky, 122 (1990–91)
• Most points in a season: Wayne Gretzky, 168 (1988–89)
• Most points in one game: Bernie Nicholls, 8 (1988–89)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Marty McSorley, 399 (1992–93)
• Most points by a defenseman in a season: Larry Murphy, 76 (1980–81)
• Most points by a rookie in a season: Luc Robitaille, 84 (1986–87)
• Most wins by a goalie in a season: Jonathan Quick, 40 (2015–16)
• Most shutouts by a goalie in a season: Jonathan Quick, 10 (2011–12)

Playoff Records

• Most goals in a playoff year: Wayne Gretzky, 15 (1992–93)
• Most assists in a playoff year: Wayne Gretzky, 25 (1992–93)
• Most points in a playoff year: Wayne Gretzky, 40 (1992–93)
• Most points in one playoff game: Tomas Sandstrom, Tony Granato, Wayne Gretzky, 5 (1989–90)
• Most penalty minutes in a playoff year: Jay Miller, 63 (1988–89)
• Most points by a defenseman in a playoff year: Drew Doughty, 18 (2013–14)
• Most points by a rookie in a playoff year: Tyler Toffoli, 14 (2013–14)
• Most wins by a goalie in a playoff year: Jonathan Quick, 16 (2011–12, 2013–14)
• Most shutouts by a goalie in a playoff year: Jonathan Quick, 3 (2011–12, 2012–13)

Team Records

• Most points in a season: 105 (1974–75)
• Most wins in a season: 48 (2015–16)
• Longest regular season winning streak: 9 (2009–10)
• Longest playoff winning streak: 8 (2011–12)

Broadcasters

Daryl Evans is a current radio commentator for the Kings.

In 1973, the Kings hired Bob Miller as their play-by-play announcer. He was known as the "Voice of the Kings" and worked for the team until he retired in 2017. Miller won awards for his broadcasting and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2018, the Kings stopped broadcasting games on regular radio stations. Instead, they partnered with iHeartMedia to create the "Los Angeles Kings Audio Network." This network streams all games and other content on the iHeartRadio app.

As of July 2025, the Kings' games are broadcast on Bally Sports West and KCAL-TV for television. Radio broadcasts are on ESPN Radio 710 and the ESPN LA App. The main broadcasters are Nick Nickson (play-by-play), Daryl Evans (color commentator), and Jim Fox (color commentator).

Affiliate Teams

The Kings have teams in other leagues where their younger players develop.

• The Ontario Reign play in the American Hockey League (AHL).
• The Greenville Swamp Rabbits play in the ECHL.

Images for kids

• 

  The current Los Angeles Kings logo.

• 

  The Los Angeles Kings' current uniform.

• 

  The Kings' shield logo, used from 1998 to 2013.

• 

  The Kings' crown logo, used from 1998 to 2024.

• 

  The Kings' banner logo, used from 2008 to 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Los Angeles Kings para niños