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Celebrating LA Kings Birthdays: April 4

By Ryan Gagne

16 Nov 1998: Yanic Perreault #44 of the Los Angeles Kings in action during the game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Mighty Ducks defeated the Kings 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
16 Nov 1998: Yanic Perreault #44 of the Los Angeles Kings in action during the game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Mighty Ducks defeated the Kings 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /
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Everyone loves a good celebration, so whether you are cutting your own cake or wishing friends and family a happy birthday today, here are a few LA Kings players, past and present, who were also born on this day.

Phil Crowe – 1970 (53)

LA Kings Goalie (1991 – 1994)

Phil Crowe was an undrafted junior prospect when he signed with the LA Kings in 1993 and would make his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 1993, against the Quebec Nordiques. After 31 games in black and silver, where he collected just two assists and 77 penalty minutes, Crowe departed the west coast to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent.

Eventually, Crowe would play with the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators and finish his NHL career on Nov. 27, 1999. However, he remained in the IHL for a few seasons before moving to Europe in a year, retiring from pro hockey in 2003-04 after a season in CHL.

Howie Hughes – 1939 (84)

LA Kings Right Wing (1967 – 1970)

Howie Hughes was an undrafted player who made his NHL debut at 28 years old on Oct. 14, 1967, the same night the Kings joined the league against the Philadelphia Flyers. As a mainstay in the lineup, appearing in every game (74), he collected 23 points and finished the year with a plus-two rating.

Furthermore, his best season came in his second season (1968-69) when he potted 16 goals and 30 points, missing a single contest during the campaign. Interestingly, Hughes only suited up for 21 games in 1969-70, last skating in the NHL on Dec. 3, 1969, finishing his career with 57 points in 168 over two and half seasons.

Yanic Perreault – 1971 (52)

LA Kings Right Wing (1994 – 1999)

Yanic Perreault played 14 seasons in the NHL, suiting up for 859 games after being a third-round pick (47th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. After a brief 13-game stint with the Maple Leafs in 1993-94, he was traded to the Kings on Jul. 11, 1994, for a fourth-round draft pick.

Nov. 16, 1998: Yanic Perreault #44 of the Los Angeles Kings in action during the game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Mighty Ducks defeated the Kings 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
Nov. 16, 1998: Yanic Perreault #44 of the Los Angeles Kings in action during the game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Mighty Ducks defeated the Kings 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

Although it took him an entire season to become a regular in the LA lineup, he scored 25 goals in 1995-96 and followed that up with 28 lamplighters in 1996-97. Perreault was traded back to the Maple Leafs on Mar. 23, 1999, despite his offensive contributions, for a third-round pick and Jason Podollan. Interestingly, he produced his best numbers in the NHL as a member of the Kings with 156 points (76 goals and 80 assists) in 288, topping his numbers from his three stints with Toronto (123 points) and his time with the Montreal Canadiens (133). After stops in Nashville, Arizona, and Chicago, he Apr. 8 at 36 in 2007-08.

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