Founded: | June 5, 1967 | GM: | Rob Blake |
Owned By: | Philip Anschutz & Ed Roski | Coach: | Jim Hiller |
Home Rink: | Crypto.com Arena | Captain: | Anze Kopitar |
AHL Affiliate: | Ontario Reign | ECHL Affiliate: | None |
The Los Angeles Kings was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent Cooke was awarded an NHL expansion franchise for Los Angeles on February 9, 1966, becoming one of the six teams that began play as part of the 1967 NHL expansion. In 1988, the Kings traded with the Oilers to get their captain Wayne Gretzky, leading to a successful phase of the franchise that raised hockey’s popularity in Los Angeles, and helped raise the sport’s profile in the American Sun Belt region. Gretzky, fellow Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille and defenseman Rob Blake led the Kings to the franchise’s sole division title in 1990–91, and the Kings’ first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1993.
Deeper Dive
- The Latest Los Angeles News at The Hockey Writers
- Current Players, Salaries and Cap Info
- 5 Greatest Moments in Kings History
- Los Angeles Kings’ 50-Goal Scorers
- Bruce McNall: His Rise and Fall
2023-24 Season Roster
Jersey History
The Los Angeles Kings have had some of the most classic jerseys in NHL history. Many legends have worn the Kings jersey and all the history that goes with it. Since the team was founded in 1966, they have only had three main color schemes, that have changed little over the years. Even within these designs, some commonalities keep the Kings’ identity consistent. Read more…
The Players
- Drew Doughty: Hall of Fame Worthy?
- Kings’ Anze Kopitar: Hall of Fame Worthy?
- Dionne was the Greatest King
More Kings History
- The Miracle on Manchester
- Kings Who Won the Stanley Cup After Leaving LA
- Revisiting the 2014 Stanley Cup Final – Kings vs Rangers
Gretzky’s Time With the Kings
Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in hockey history. When people talk about him, they usually talk about his immense skill, his accomplishments, or how he led the Edmonton Oilers’ 80’s dynasty. His time with the LA Kings usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Read more…
Captains
- Bob Wall, 1967-1969
- Larry Cahan, 1969-1971
- Bob Pulford, 1971-1973
- Terry Harper, 1973-75
- 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
- Anze Kopitar, 2016-present