Checking In On The NHL’s ’67 Expansion Teams

Los Angeles Kings

June 14 , 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown (23) talks to the fans during the Stanley Cup victory rally inside Staples Center. The rally was held after the victory parade. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Overall Record: 1455-1577-424-98

Stanley Cup Titles: 1 (’12)

Playoff Appearances: 27

Playoffs Record: 55-94

Payoff Series Record: 17-26

Let’s start with our hometown boys.

The Kings have called Los Angeles home since coming into the league, and many players have come through Los Angeles at some point in their career. Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Felix Potvin, Luc Robitaille even the great Wayne Gretzky have wore a Kings sweater for large amount of time. But none of those players were ever able to life the Stanley Cup while in Los Angeles.

It took 45 years for the Kings to earn the right to etch their name on hockey’s Holy Grail. Before ’12 when the Kings won the Cup they did not have too many opportunities at wining it either. Before that magical season, the Kings made the Stanley Cup Final just once and lost the series 4-1.

Los Angeles has been a bit streaky since coming into the league. The Kings have had streaks of nine and seven playoff appearances in a row in the past. But they have also had periods of time where they missed the playoffs four and six seasons in a row. The Kings have made the playoffs the last four seasons, so lets hope they keep trending up and don’t fall into a rut anytime soon.

The Kings have developed into one the NHL’s premier teams and organizations, with players like Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty and Slava Voynov all locked up for the immediate future the fate of Los Angeles Hockey is in good hands.