The Los Angeles Kings spent much of the 2000s decade looking for consistency as a franchise, but one position group that featured plenty of talent and stars throughout the decade was on the blue line.
Ranging from longtime veterans to emerging playmakers from the point in the offensive zone, the Kings leaned on several standout defensemen in a transitional era that would eventually pave the way for the Stanley Cup teams of the next decade.
We started off this list series by ranking the best goalies of the 2000s decade for the Kings' franchise. Up next is our look at the best defensemen in the Kings' franchise from the 2000s, before we finish up this decade with the best wingers and centers.
These defensemen helped define the Los Angeles Kings' blue line in a pivotal decade for the franchise
Here's a ranking of the three best Kings' defensemen of the 2000s decade.
3. Mattias Norstrom
Widely considered one of the fan favorites in Kings' franchise history and one of the most important team captains in recent memory, defenseman Mattias Norstrom was the glue that held the team together on the blue line for 11 years. He was picked to be the Kings' 12th captain in franchise history, and he was the first European to wear the C on his jersey for Los Angeles.
Known for his durability, reliability, shot-blocking, and shutdown defensive play, Norstrom became the backbone of the Kings' blue line core throughout much of the decade. Norstrom played over 750 career regular season games with the Kings, which ranks second all-time for the franchise among defensemen.
Norstrom represented the Kings in the NHL All-Star game twice, including once in the 2000s decade in the 2004 all-star game.
While Norstrom never won a Stanley Cup with the Kings and he scored fewer than 20 goals with Los Angeles in his NHL career, he was the heart and soul of the team's blue line for roughly a decade and served as the team's captain for over a half-decade.
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