What’s new with the Los Angeles Kings? That’s what this page is all about.
The Team Spirit Line Change website begins where the Team Spirit books end.
That’s because hockey never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!
Take a look at some of the Kings collectibles I have in my home.
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Updates
2022-23 Season
Season Recap: The Kings were tough to beat at home and on the road in 2022–23, finishing 47–25–10 to finish with more than 100 points. Adrian Kempe had another great year with 41 goals, Kevin Fiala topped the club with 49 assists, and captain Anze Kopitar led LA with 74 points. After a pair of overtime victories, the Kings led their opening round playoff series against the Oilers but ended up losing to Edmonton for the second year in a row, 4 games to 2.
Season Preview: The Kings surprised many experts with their fine season in 2021–22. Whether they go up or down from there will be one of the big stories in LA sports this winter. As always, Drew Doughty will head up the defense, while centers Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault power the offense. Much is expected from newcomer Kevin Fiala, who looked like a superstar at times with the Minnesota Wild, and Quinton Byfield, who struggled during his rookie year with the Kings. Can the goaltending duo of Jonathan Quick & Cal Petersen keep the puck out of the net? That is yet another big question the Kings will have to answer in 2022–23.
2021-22 Season
Season Recap: The Kings made the playoffs with 44 victories and nearly upset the Edmonton Oilers, stretching them to seven games. Veteran Anze Kopitar was terrific as usual, leading the club with 48 assists and 67 points. Adrian Kempe was the team’s only All-Star, rewarded for a breakout season during which he scored a career- and team-high 35 goals. Trevor Moore, who grew up within driving distance of the Kings’ arena, was their best two-way player.
Season Preview: The Kings were busy in the off-season adding important pieces to their lineup to help Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, and Anze Kopitar find their way back to the Stanley Cup Finals. That may be asking a lot, but there are young players on the second and third lines—and in goal—who could make the Kings one of the surprise teams in the NHL this year.
2020-21 Season
Season Recap: The Kings fell short of the playoffs for the third year in a row. They could not keep up their good early-season work on the power play and had trouble putting the puck in the net down the stretch. Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty were the team’s top players and rookie Mikey Anderson showed he could be one of the league’s top defensemen.
Season Preview: The goal for the Kings in 2020–21 is to play consistent hockey and make the playoffs. Both will depend on their up-and-coming young stars, including Gabe Vilardi and Quinton Byfield. In the meantime, veterans Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Jeff Carter will be LA’s most important leaders.
2019-20 Season
Season Recap: The Kings were one of the hottest teams in the NHL when the season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, they were still a handful of wins short of a playoff spot. Anze Kopitar continued to be the team’s most exciting scorer, while Jonathan Quick and Jack Campbell formed a solid goaltending duo.
November 6, 2019: Jeff Carter, a King since 2012, played in his 1,000th NHL game.
Season Preview: No one is expecting the Kings to return to the Cup finals, but between their star veterans and rising stars, they could make the playoffs very interesting if everything goes right. Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Jonathan Quick are among the big names still on the ice for LA. By season’s end, Alex Turcotte and Blake Lizette may become household names, too.
2018-19 Season
Season Recap: The Kings finished at the bottom of the Pacific Division with just 31 victories. The team did not get the big scoring seasons it needed from stars Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. The addition of Ilya Kovalchuk did not energize the team. The Kings have a lot of forwards on the roster; they will need to trade one or two to help in other areas.
January 5, 2019: Goalie Jonathan Quick won his 300th game. Only 35 other players have 300 wins.
Season Preview: Center Anze Kopitar, defenseman Drew Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick will have to be as good as they were last year for Los Angeles to challenge for the 2019 Stanley Cup. They will get help from veterans Ilya Kovalchuck and Jeff Carter, who could easily combine for 50-plus goals. The L.A. defense is excellent at full strength and even better when killing penalties. The Kings are getting older, so the window for another Cup may be closing soon.
2017-18 Season
Season Recap: The Kings returned to the playoffs after a down year in 2016–17, thanks to a great final two months. Anze Kopitar was easily the club’s best player, with a career-high 35 goals and 57 assists. He was just as good at the defensive end. The Kings also got solid contributions from goalie Jonathan Quick and defensemen Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown.
December 15, 2017: Marion Gaborik scored the 400th goal and 800th point of his career in the same game in a 5–2 win over the Minnesota Wild.
Season Preview: Los Angeleans were unhappy to see the Kings fall short of the playoffs in 2017, and the team replaced its coach and general manager. The players the Kings send out on the ice, however, remain mostly the same. They will have to do a better job of putting the puck in the net, and get great play from their defensemen to recapture their past glory.
2015-16 Season
Season Recap: A promising 102-point season ended in the first round of the playoffs against the streaking San Jose Sharks. LA’s regular-season heroes included veterans Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Milan Lucic and Jeff Carter, along with young gun Tyler Toffoli, who blossomed into a great two-way center at age 23. Goalie Jonathan Quick had an All-Star season, winning 40 games—the most in his career.
Season Preview: L.A. fans are still wondering how their team went from NHL champs to playoff chumps last season. Milan Lucic joins the #1 line alongside Anze Kopitar and Marian Gaborik, but he is the only big addition. Meanwhile, Stanley Cup heroes Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll are no longer with the team. That means the Kings will need big years from goalie Jonathan Quick and defensemen Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin in order to go deep into the playoffs again.
2014-15 Season
October 23, 2014: Jonathan Quick held the Sabres scoreless for his 33rd career shutout. He passed Rogie Vachon for the most in team history.
Season Preview: Will Drew Doughty be the NHL’s next great superstar? Based on last year’s playoffs, he looks like a good bet. The multitalented defenseman led a core of quality blue-liners that stood between opposing scorers and goalie Jonathan Quick. The team’s scoring was triggered by winger Anze Kopitar and veteran Marian Gaborik. Just about everyone from the championship team is back exception of Willie Mitchell, one of the league’s smartest defensemen. The Kings should do fine without him.
2013-14 Season
June 13, 2014: The Kings won the Stanley Cup on a double-overtime goal in Game 5 by Alec Martinez against the New York Rangers. Justin Williams won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. The Kings finished the year with 100 points and took a deep and powerful team into the playoffs. This enabled them to survive three seven-game series on their way to the finals against the Rangers. Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick outplayed Henrik Lundqvist in a 4–1 series victory.
April 30, 2014: The Kings beat the Sharks after falling behind 0–3 in the series. Two Los Angeles players—Mike Richards and Jeff Carter—were teammates on the 2010 Flyers, who also won a playoff series after trailing 0–3.
March 22, 2014: L.A. forward Jeff Carter scored a hat trick in the Olympics against Austria.
february 23, 2014: L.A. defenseman Drew Doughty was named to the Olympic All-Star squad after helping Canada win a gold medal.
February 14, 2014: Almost all of the key players from the 2012 championship are
Season Preview: Almost all of the key players from the 2012 championship are still in L.A., so Kings fans have high hopes for another Stanley Cup in 2013–14. Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, and Anze Kopitar will once again man the team’s top line, while Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick lead the defense.
More Go-To Guys
More Fun Facts
League Leaders
In the Stanley Cup Finals
SEASON | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1992–93 | Montreal Canadiens | Lost 1–4 |
2011–12 | New Jersey Devils | Won 4–2 |
2013–14 | New York Rangers | Won 4–1 |