1. Lubomir Visnovsky
The former fourth-round pick of the Kings in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (118th overall), defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky was a staple on the blue line for the LA franchise for most of the 2000s decade. In his rookie season in 2000-01, Visnovsky made an immediate impact on the Kings' blue line, finishing fourth in the Calder Trophy voting and helping Los Angeles make the postseason in the spring of 2001.
He became one of the offensive catalysts of the Kings' blue line, helping to form one of the Western Conference's most dangerous defensive groups in the early 2000s decade.
Visnovsky played the first seven years of his NHL career with the Kings, ranking fifth in franchise history among defensemen in total points (279), fifth in goals scored (70), and fifth in assists (209). He was selected to represent the Kings in the NHL All-Star Game in 2007, after registering his second straight season with double-digit goals and over 50 total points.
Visnovsky was the first defenseman in franchise history to lead the Kings in scoring in a season when he registered 67 total points in 2005-06.
He was the only Kings' defenseman to register 70 goals, double-digit game-winning goals, 200 assists, and 250 total points in the 2000s.
The blue line for the Kings, especially in the early 2000s, blended offensive creativity with skating ability and veteran leadership. Blake, Norstrom, and Visnovsky each played different roles during the decade, but together they helped the Kings make competitive postseason efforts in the early 2000s and help bridge the gap between the early 2000s playoff teams and the championship foundation that emerged later in the decade.
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