The Los Angeles Kings were part of the first group of NHL expansion teams in 1967-68 | Wayne Gretzky breathed life into a struggling franchise when he was acquired in 1989
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About the Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings were part of the first group of NHL expansion teams in 1967-68. They were one of six new teams and the Kings had the tough job of trying to introduce the sport of ice hockey to sunny Southern California. While fans may have been slow to come around, hockey is now part of the sports landscape in Los Angeles.

History The Kings were owned by Jack Kent Cooke, a displaced Canadian who jumped at the opportunity to pay $2 million for his own franchise in Los Angeles. A flamboyant leader, his team wore yellow and purple uniforms with a crown on the jersey. Cooke, however, said the purple was actually a color called "Forum Blue" and it was the same colors that his basketball team, the Lakers, wore. The Kings were not a very proficient team in their early years, but they were entertaining. Players like Eddie "The Jet" Joyal, Bill "Cowboy" Flett and Eddie "The Entertainer" Shack brought fans to the Forum in Inglewood, California for high-scoring games that usually ended up in defeat. The team started to turn around in mid-1970s with the arrival of Marcel Dionne. The diminutive center was one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL and he became even more dangerous with the arrival of linemates Dave Taylor and Charlie Simmer. The trio formed the Kings' high-scoring "Triple Crown" line and gave the Kings the bulk of their offense. When they pushed the dominating Boston Bruins to seven games in their 1976 playoff series, it was clear that the Kings had arrived as a team that could no longer be taken lightly. The biggest move in franchise history was the acquisition of Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers prior to the 1988-89 season. Gretzky was the biggest name in the sport and many observers credited him with being the best player ever. He had been the dominant scorer in the game with the Oilers and continued his productivity with the Kings. Los Angeles would beat Edmonton in the playoffs in 1989 and would march all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1993 before losing a five-game series to the Montreal Canadiens. The Kings have not gotten back to the Stanley Cup Finals again, as of 2009. They would have a highlight in 2000-01, when they took on and beat the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings in six games. However, they would lose to the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the next round. Great players

Wayne Gretzky breathed life into a struggling franchise when he was acquired in 1989. Marcel Dionne combined scoring skill with speed and grace and was one of the most crowd-pleasing players in the game. Rogatien Vachon was a top-level goaltender for many seasons. Dave Taylor was a clever scorer who needed just a few feet of space to squeeze off his accurate shot. Charlie Simmer had one of the most powerful shots in the league. Rob Blake was probably the best all-around defenseman in team history. Luc Robitaille was the highest scoring left wing in NHL history after his prolific career with the KIngs. Great moments

In 1993, the Kings enjoyed a great playoff run. The Kings overpowered the Calgary Flames in the opening round before beating the Vancouver Canucks in six games in the second round. The Kings were expected to go down easily when they met the Toronto Maple Leafs in the semifinals. The Kings trailed in the series three games to two before the sixth game in Los Angeles. The Maple Leafs sent that game to overtime, but the Kings won it when Wayne Gretzky scored in the extra session to even the series. Gretzky led the Kings to 5-4 seventh-game win when he scored three goals and added an assist.

Miracle on Manchester The 1982 season saw the Kings make the playoffs but draw the powerful Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Since the Oilers had Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffey, it was expected the Kings would go down easily. With the series tied 1-1, the teams met in Los Angeles for the third game. The Kings were off their game and found themselves trailing 5-0 after two periods. They were openly mocked by the Oilers during the second-period intermission. Defenseman Jay Wells put the Kings on the scoreboard with a goal early in the third period. A goal by King forward Doug Smith followed and when Oiler defenseman Randy Gregg inadvertently put Charlie Simmer's shot into the net, the Kings fans were roaring as the deficit had been cut to 5-3. Jay Hardy would send the crowd into a further frenzy with a quick wrist shot that made it 5-4. Ryan Bozek then completed the comeback with a goal in the final seconds that sent the game to overtime. In the extra session, Daryl Evans took a hard shot after a faceoff win that gave the Kings the 6-5 victory. That victory spurred the Kings to a victory in the fifth game. It is considered one of the greatest playoff upsets of all time.

Potential

The Kings became one of the most important teams in the league after they acquired Wayne Gretzky. Up until his arrival, hockey had been largely ignored in non-traditional hockey markets, but the fans flocked to see him play in Los Angeles and when the team was on the road. Even after he left, the Kings remained a viable draw. Playoff appearances have been few and far between in recent years, but all signs point toward improvement and Los Angeles appears to be on the right track as the team closes out the first decade of the new century
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About the Los Angeles Kings



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