Ranking 10 greatest Los Angeles Kings of all time

The Los Angeles Kings joined the NHL during the expansion for the 1967-68 season, bringing professional hockey to Southern California and achieving moderate success despite several early postseason exits. Everything changed dramatically with the acquisition of the greatest player of all time in Wayne Gretzky, which boosted the franchise’s popularity and sparked new interest in nontraditional hockey markets across the Southern United States.

Throughout their history, the Kings have been fortunate to feature some of the top talents in the league, many of whom have since been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Additionally, several players from the 2012 and 2014 teams, which delivered Los Angeles their only two championships, are also strong candidates for future Hall of Fame induction.

Given that only 10 players can make our list, who are the Top 10 players in Kings history? Let’s dive in and find out, starting with a fairly obvious selection.

1. Wayne Gretzky

Position: C

Years with Kings: 1988-1996

Notable Accolades: Four-time All-Star, 1989 Hart, Three-time Ross, Three-time Byng, Hall of Famer

Wayne Gretzky easily earns a spot on this list, as his trade to the Kings was one of the most shocking moments in professional sports. Gretzky was immediately named team captain upon his acquisition in August 1988 and sparked a surge of interest in the franchise, located in a nontraditional market.

Gretzky’s arrival in Los Angeles also paved the way for the L=league’s expansion into more non-traditional markets in the southern United States, while he continued to rewrite the record books seemingly every time he took the ice.

2. Luc Robitaille

Position: LW

Years with Kings: 1986-1994, 1997-2001, 2003-2006

Notable Accolades: Eight-time All-Star. 1987 Calder, Hall of Famer

The highest-scoring left wing in NHL history before being eventually surpassed by Alex Ovechkin, Luc Robitaille carved out a career defined by his clutch scoring. He continues to hold several Kings franchise scoring records, and his number 20 jersey hangs from the rafters of Crypto.com Arena.

His career also included stops with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won his first and only Stanley Cup title in 2002. He would eventually return to Los Angeles for the final two years of his career before retiring in 2006.

3. Marcel Dionne

Position: C

Years with Kings: 1975-1987

Notable Accolades: Four-time All-Star, 1980 Ross, Two-time Pearson, 1977 Byng, Hall of Famer

Widely regarded as one of the best players in NHL history, Marcel Dionne would be traded to the Kings after four years spent with the struggling Red Wings. He inked what was at the time the richest contract in NHL history and would go on to record six 50-goal seasons wearing a Kings uniform. He also became the third player to ever reach 700 career goals, and he took his rightful place in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

4. Jonathan Quick

Position: G

Years with Kings: 2007-2023

Notable Accolades: 2012 All-Star, 2012 Smythe, Two-time Jennings, Two-time Stanley Cup champion

Without a doubt the top goaltender in Kings history, Jonathan Quick holds nearly every statistical franchise record and will almost certainly have his jersey number retired by the franchise after his playing days come to a close. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2012 after backstopping the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup win and is now the winningest American-born goalie in NHL history. While his career eventually took him elsewhere, Quick remains one of the most iconic and recognizable former Kings players.

5. Anze Kopitar

Position: C

Years with Kings: 2006-Present

Notable Accolades: Two-time Selke, 2022 Messier, Three-time Byng, Two-time Stanley Cup champion

A quiet leader both on and off the ice, Anze Kopitar has carved out a Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Kings while also garnering a reputation as one of hockey’s best defensive forwards. Known as the very first Slovenia native to play in the NHL, Kopitar ranks second all time in Kings point totals and is a three-time recipient of the Lady Byng Trophy and twice won the Frank J. Selke Trophy.

6. Drew Doughty

Position: D

Years with Kings: 2008-Present

Notable Accolades: Four-time All-Star, 2016 Norris, Two-time Stanley Cup winner

Armed with a feisty personality matched only by his play on the ice, Drew Doughty is arguably the best defenseman in Kings history. A Norris Trophy winner in 2016, he has also earned three separate nominations for the award. He was a vital piece of the Stanley Cup wins by Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014, and is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada.

7. Rob Blake