Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings are a professional hockey team that plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League. Since their founding in 1966, the Kings have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals once. In 1993, they were defeated in the Stanley Cup finals by the Montreal Canadiens.

The just completed 2009-10 season marked the first time since 2001-02 that the Kings qualified for post-season play. The teams recorded 101 points, marking just the third time in franchise history that they reached triple digits in points earned for the season. The other times were 1974-75 and 1990-91.

The Kings joined the NHL for their first season in 1967 as part of the six team expansion that doubled the league. Their first few seasons were less than successful, finishing with more losses than wins each season. It was not until the 1974-75 season, that the Kings finished with more wins than losses.

In the 1982 playoffs, they upset the heavily favored Edmonton Oilers in the first round. The signature win was in Game 3, when they rallied from a 5-0 third period deficit to win 6-5 in overtime. Darryl Evans scored the game-winner, and the game has since become known as 'The Miracle on Manchester'.

The franchise was never able to get any solid footing until August 9, 1988. In what has become known in sports simply as 'The Trade', the Kings acquired Wayne Gretzky from the Oilers. Immediately, season ticket sales skyrocketed, and the team began having sustained success on the ice. Gretzky's arrival with the Kings allowed the NHL to expand significantly into the southern half of the United States.

The Kings eventually traded Gretzky to the St. Louis Blues in 1996. They missed the playoffs for several seasons after dealing Gretzky away. They returned to post-season play in 1998 and participated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in four of the next five seasons.

They again had a seminal moment during the 2001 playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings. In Game Four, they rallied for a 3-0 third period deficit to win in overtime in a game referred to as the Frenzy on Figueroa. The Kings defeated Detroit in six games in that series, the last time the franchise won a playoff series to date.

• 16 - Marcel Dionne, C
• 18 - Dave Taylor, RW
• 20 - Luc Robitaille, LW
• 30 - Rogie Vachon, G
• 99 - Wayne Gretzky (88-96), C

• Rob Blake, D **
• Jimmy Carson, C *
• Adam Deadmarsh, RW
• Steve Duchesne, D *
• Jim Fox, RW **
• Kelly Hrudey (88-95), G
• Jari Kurri, RW *
• Marty McSorley, D/RW
• Larry Murphy, D * **
• Bernie Nicholls, C **
• Mattias Norstrom, D
• Zigmund Palffy, RW
• Felix Potvin, G
• Luc Robitaille, LW * **
• Terry Sawchuk, G *
• Dave Taylor, RW **
• Rick Tocchet, LW
• Rogie Vachon, G
• Wayne Gretzky, C (88-96) *

• * Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame
• **Also drafted by Los Angeles