Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional hockey team based in Los Angeles. They play in the NHL’s Western Conference, Pacific Division. The team was founded in 1967 as one of the league’s first expansion teams and has become a staple of Southern California hockey. They currently play at Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, a home they’ve used since 1999–2000; before that they spent 32 years at The Forum in Inglewood. The Kings’ colors are black, silver, and white, and their mascot is Bailey, a lion.
A quick history
- The Kings’ early years featured strong regular seasons but playoff heartbreaks in the 1970s and early 1980s. Notable names from that era include Rogie Vachon in goal and the “Triple Crown Line” of Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, and Marcel Dionne.
- In 1988, the Kings traded for Wayne Gretzky, which boosted the team’s profile and helped raise hockey’s popularity in Los Angeles. They won their first division title in 1990–91 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, losing to the Montreal Canadiens.
- The mid-1990s brought financial trouble, bankruptcy, and a change in ownership. Philip Anschutz and Ed Roski Jr. bought the team in 1995, and the Kings moved to the new Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in 1999.
- The 2000s brought rebuilding and a surge of talent. The core—Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Justin Williams—helped the team become a Stanley Cup contender again.
- The Kings won two championships in a three-year span: in 2012, defeating the New Jersey Devils, and in 2014, defeating the New York Rangers. Jonathan Quick earned the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012, and Justin Williams did so in 2014.
- Since then, the team has had mixed results, with playoff appearances in 2022, 2023, and 2024 but no latest repeat runs. After 2014, changes in coaching and management followed, including a number of coaching burns and GM shifts. In 2025, Ken Holland was named general manager after Rob Blake’s contract wasn’t renewed.
Recent years and leadership
- Anze Kopitar has been the team captain since 2016 and is widely regarded as one of the Kings’ best players. The team has experimented with several coaches and rosters as they rebuild and try to reclaim their place among the NHL elite.
- In 2025, Kopitar announced that the 2025–26 season would be his last, signaling the end of an era for the franchise. The Kings also made a major front-office move, hiring Ken Holland as GM.
Rivalries and culture
- The Kings have strong rivalries with California teams, especially the Anaheim Ducks (the Freeway Face-Off) and the San Jose Sharks. They’ve played outdoor games against both teams and have a history with the Edmonton Oilers dating back to the Gretzky era.
- The team’s branding has evolved over the years. The purple-and-gold look from earlier days gave way to black-and-silver, and the crown logo has remained a central symbol. In 2024, the Kings updated their primary branding with a new look, continuing the franchise’s long tradition of reinvention.
Key facts
- Stanley Cups: 2 (2012, 2014)
- Conference championships: 3 (1992–93, 2011–12, 2013–14)
- Division championships: 1 (1990–91)
- Home arena: Crypto.com Arena
- Team colors: Black, silver, white
- Mascot: Bailey the lion
- Notable players in franchise history include Wayne Gretzky, Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, and Luc Robitaille
- Captain: Anže Kopitar (announced retirement after 2025–26 season)
The Kings remain a defining team in Los Angeles sports, known for their two recent Stanley Cup runs, a history of star players, and a culture built around resilience, community, and strong rivalries.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 00:04 (CET).