Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. They play in the National Hockey League and are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent Cooke received an NHL expansion franchise for Los Angeles in 1966. They were one of six teams that started playing as part of the 1967 NHL expansion.

The Kings play their home games at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, which has been their home since the 1999–2000 season. Before that, they played for 32 years at the Forum in Inglewood, California, a suburb of the Greater Los Angeles area.

In the 1980s, the team became very popular when they traded for the famous player Wayne Gretzky. With players like Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake, the Kings reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1993. After some difficult years, the team won the Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 under coach Darryl Sutter and players like Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown. Since then, the Kings have made the playoffs but have not gone very far.

History

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

When the NHL decided to grow for the 1967–68 season, Canadian entrepreneur Jack Kent Cooke paid the NHL $2 million to place one of the six new teams in Los Angeles. After a contest, Cooke chose the name Kings because he wanted a royal feel, picking purple and gold colors linked to royalty. Cooke wanted to play in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but faced issues, so he built his own arena, the Forum. The Kings started at the Long Beach Arena, winning their first game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Forum opened later that year. The Kings made the playoffs in the first two seasons but struggled afterward. Key trades helped them return to the playoffs in 1974.

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

After tough playoff losses, the Kings got center Marcel Dionne, who helped boost their offense. With Dionne, Butch Goring, and goalie Rogie Vachon, the Kings had strong seasons. Dionne later joined Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer to form the "Triple Crown Line," one of the best-scoring lines in NHL history. The Kings had ups and downs, including a famous comeback against the Edmonton Oilers in 1982 called the "Miracle on Manchester."

The Gretzky era (1988–1995)

In 1988, Bruce McNall bought the Kings and traded for star player Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky excited fans and helped the team grow. He led the Kings to their first division title in 1991 and the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens.

Bankruptcy, move to the Staples Center, and rebuild (1995–2009)

After the 1993 run, the Kings faced tough times. Owner Bruce McNall ran into financial trouble and sold the team. The Kings moved to the Staples Center in 2000. They returned to the playoffs in 2000–01 but faced challenges, including injuries and changes in coaching staff.

Return to the playoffs (2009–2011)

In the 2009–10 season, the Kings built a strong team with players like Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, and Anze Kopitar. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round. In 2011, they again reached the playoffs but lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks.

Stanley Cup championships (2011–2014)

In the 2011–12 season, under new coach Darryl Sutter, the Kings made a strong run. They became the first eighth seed to win the Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils. In 2013–14, they won the Cup again, overcoming many challenges along the way.

Post-Stanley Cup titles and continued contention (2014–2021)

After winning two Cups, the Kings struggled and missed the playoffs in 2015. They returned in 2016 but lost in the first round. The team faced injuries and changes in leadership, missing the playoffs several times.

Return to playoffs and first round struggles (2021–present)

In the 2021–22 season, the Kings returned to the playoffs but lost in the first round to the Edmonton Oilers. They faced the Oilers in the first round for three more years, losing each time. In 2024–25, they again met the Oilers in the playoffs, losing in the first round. After the season, general manager Rob Blake was not renewed, and Ken Holland took over. Captain Anze Kopitar announced his final season in 2025–26. Head coach Jim Hiller was fired in 2026 after a tough start.

Team identity

Uniforms and logos

The Los Angeles Kings started with purple and gold uniforms when they joined the NHL. Their first design was simple, with stripes on the shoulders and tail. Over the years, the team changed colors and designs many times.

In the 1980s, they added white details to their uniforms. Later, they switched to black and silver to match another local team. In the 1990s, they returned to purple, silver, and white because black and silver were linked to gang colors. The Kings have kept changing their logos and uniforms over the years, sometimes bringing back old designs for special games.

Mascot

Since 2007, the Los Angeles Kings have had a mascot named Bailey. Bailey is a lion who wears the number 72, representing the average temperature in Los Angeles. Bailey was named to honor Garnet "Ace" Bailey, a team employee who sadly passed away during the events of September 11, 2001. Before Bailey, the team had a snow leopard mascot named Kingston in the early 1990s.

Rivalries

The Los Angeles Kings have strong rivalries with two other teams in California: the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks. These rivalries are called the "Freeway Face-Off" because the teams are close to each other and connected by Interstate 5. The Kings have also had exciting games against the Edmonton Oilers in recent years. They played special outdoor games against the Ducks and Sharks, which are always fun to watch.

Season-by-season record

List of the last five seasons completed by the Kings. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Los Angeles Kings seasons

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

Players and personnel

Updated May 5, 2026.

The Los Angeles Kings have had many important players and leaders over the years. The team has had several players who served as team captains, leading the team on the ice. They have also had many head coaches who guided the team’s strategy and training.

The team has been managed by various general managers who made decisions about players and team direction. The Kings have also had different owners who supported the team through the years.

Further information on team captains in ice hockey: Captain (ice hockey)

• Bob Wall, 1967–1969
• Larry Cahan, 1969–1971
• Bob Pulford, 1971–1973
• Terry Harper, 1973–1975
• Mike Murphy, 1975–1981
• Dave Lewis, 1981–1983
• Terry Ruskowski, 1983–1985
• Dave Taylor, 1985–1989
• Wayne Gretzky, 1989–1996
• Luc Robitaille, 1992–1993, 2006
• Rob Blake, 1996–2001, 2007–2008
• Mattias Norstrom, 2001–2007
• Dustin Brown, 2008–2016, 2022
• Anze Kopitar, 2016–2026

• Red Kelly: 1967–1969

• Hal Laycoe: 1969–1970

• Johnny Wilson: 1969–1970

• Larry Regan: 1970–1972

• Fred Glover: 1971–1972

• Bob Pulford: 1972–1977

• Ron Stewart: 1977–1978

• Bob Berry: 1978–1981

• Parker MacDonald: 1981–1982

• Don Perry: 1982–1984

• Rogie Vachon (interim):¹ 1984, 1988, 1995

• Roger Neilson: 1984

• Pat Quinn: 1984–1987

• Mike Murphy: 1987–1988

• Robbie Ftorek: 1988–1989

• Tom Webster: 1989–1992

• Barry Melrose: 1992–1995

• Larry Robinson: 1995–1999

• Andy Murray: 1999–2006

• John Torchetti (interim):² 2006

• Marc Crawford: 2006–2008

• Terry Murray: 2008–2011

• John Stevens (interim):³ 2011, 2017–2018

• Darryl Sutter: 2011–2017

• Willie Desjardins: (interim): 2018–2019

• Todd McLellan: 2019–2024

• Jim Hiller: 2024–2026

• D. J. Smith: 2026–present

• Larry Regan: 1967–1973

• Jake Milford: 1973–1977

• George Maguire: 1977–1984

• Rogie Vachon: 1984–1992

• Nick Beverley: 1992–1994

• Sam McMaster: 1994–1997

• Dave Taylor: 1997–2006

• Dean Lombardi: 2006–2017

• Rob Blake: 2017–2025

• Ken Holland: 2025–

• 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 and league honors

See also: List of Los Angeles Kings award winners

Retired numbers

• Bob Miller, broadcaster, 1973–2017, recognized with an honorary banner that hangs from the rafters at Crypto.com Arena

Hall of Fame

The Los Angeles Kings recognize many members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. This includes 19 former players (five of whom played most of their careers with the Kings) and three important people who helped build the sport. These include former Kings coaches and general managers.

Three sports broadcasters for the Kings received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for their work in hockey broadcasting: Jiggs McDonald (1990), Bob Miller (2000), and Nick Nickson (2015). In 2005, Helene Elliott, a sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for her work in sports journalism.

Players

• Rob Blake
• Paul Coffey
• Marcel Dionne
• Dick Duff
• Grant Fuhr
• Wayne Gretzky
• Harry Howell
• Jarome Iginla
• Brian Kilrea
• Jari Kurri
• Larry Murphy
• Bob Pulford
• Larry Robinson
• Luc Robitaille
• Jeremy Roenick
• Terry Sawchuk
• Steve Shutt
• Billy Smith
• Rogie Vachon

Builders

• Red Kelly
• Jake Milford
• Roger Neilson

Franchise records

Scoring leaders

These are the top-ten regular season scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

• * – current Kings player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Goaltending leaders

These are the top-ten goaltenders in franchise history by wins. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

• * – current Kings player

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/O = Ties/Overtime losses; GA = Goal against; GAA = Goals against average; SA = Shots against; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts

Regular season records

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

Playoff records

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

Main article: List of Los Angeles Kings broadcasters

In 1973, the Los Angeles Kings chose Bob Miller as their play-by-play announcer. He became very well-known and worked for the team for many years until he retired in 2017. After his retirement, Alex Faust took over, but in 2023, the team changed its broadcasters again.

The Kings have had many changes in how they share their games with fans. They have worked with different radio stations and TV channels over the years. Today, their games are shown on FanDuel Sports Network and KCAL-TV, with John Kelly as the main play-by-play announcer and Jim Fox as the main color commentator. Radio broadcasts are on ESPN Radio 710 and the ESPN LA App, with Josh Schaefer as the main radio play-by-play announcer.

Affiliate teams

The Los Angeles Kings work with several teams in other leagues to help develop players. Right now, they are partnered with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the ECHL. In the past, they have had partnerships with many other teams in different leagues.