1968–69 Los Angeles Kings season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1968–69 1968 Los Angeles Kings West 4th 24–42–10 19–14–5 5–28–5 185 260 Larry Regan Red Kelly Bob Wall Bill WhiteDale RolfeEddie Joyal Los Angeles Forum Eddie Joyal (33) Real Lemieux (29) Eddie Joyal (52) Dale Rolfe (85) Gerry Desjardins (18) Gerry Desjardins (3.26) The 1968–69 Los Angeles Kings season was the second ever for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League (NHL). After finishing a surprising second place during the 1967–68 season, the Kings stumbled in their second regular season, finishing with a 24–42–10 record, good for 58 points and fourth place in the six-team Western Division. The Kings made the playoffs, losing in the West Division Final to the St. Louis Blues. 2 Offseason The Kings acquired goaltender Gerry Desjardins from the Montreal Canadiens in June, giving up two first-round picks. Goaltender Terry Sawchuk was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in October for Jimmy Peters Jr. On the same day the Kings picked up goaltender prospect Wayne Thomas of the University of Wisconsin from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Desjardins would play the majority of games with Wayne Rutledge his main backup. Regular season The Kings second season began with playoff expectations following a second-place finish in their inaugural season. The Kings played well enough at home to be competitive for a playoff spot, but they only won 5 road games all season. Attendance for the season exceeded 300,000 for the first time over a 38-game home schedule. Season standings LAK Record vs. opponents LAK Playoffs The Kings pulled off a first round upset, knocking off their in-state rivals the Oakland Seals in seven games in the NHL Quarter-finals. The Kings would then be swept by the St. Louis Blues in the West Division final. Bill Flett led all Kings playoff scorers with 7 points, while Eddie Joyal and Ted Irvine had 6 points each. Irvine had 5 goals to lead the club. Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#552583 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 5px solid; 1968–69 regular season1968-69 Los Angeles Kings Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/1969_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; October Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 1 || 12 || St. Louis Blues || 0–6 || St. Louis || 0–1–0 |- | 2 || 13 || Oakland Seals || 4–4 || Oakland || 0-1–1 |- | 3 || 17 || Boston Bruins || 2–1 || Los Angeles || 1–1-1 |- | 4 || 19 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–4 || Minnesota || 1–2–1 |- | 5 || 20 || New York Rangers || 0–7 || New York || 1–3–1 |- | 6 || 23 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–5 || Los Angeles || 1–4–1 |- | 7 || 26 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–2 || Los Angeles || 2–4-1 |- | 8 || 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 2–5–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; November Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 9 || 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 3–5-1 |- | 10 || 6 || New York Rangers || 2–0 || Los Angeles || 4–5-1 |- | 11 || 9 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 5–5-1 |- | 12 || 12 || Oakland Seals || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 6–5-1 |- | 13 || 14 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–5 || Los Angeles || 6–6–1 |- | 14 || 16 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–3 || Minnesota || 6–7–1 |- | 15 || 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–3 || Philadelphia || 6–8–1 |- | 16 || 20 || New York Rangers || 2–4 || New York || 6–9–1 |- | 17 || 21 || Boston Bruins || 1–4 || Boston || 6–10–1 |- | 18 || 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || 6-10–2 |- | 19 || 24 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Philadelphia || 7–10-2 |- | 20 || 27 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 7–11–2 |- | 21 || 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 7–12–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; December Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 22 || 4 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 8–12-2 |- | 23 || 7 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 9–12-2 |- | 24 || 11 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–3 || Los Angeles || 10–12-2 |- | 25 || 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || 11–12-2 |- | 26 || 15 || St. Louis Blues || 1–3 || St. Louis || 11–13–2 |- | 27 || 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–2 || Montreal || 11-13–3 |- | 28 || 19 || Boston Bruins || 4–6 || Boston || 11–14–3 |- | 29 || 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–2 || Los Angeles || 11–15–3 |- | 30 || 26 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–4 || Los Angeles || 11-15–4 |- | 31 || 28 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–1 || Toronto || 12–15-4 |- | 32 || 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Chicago || 12–16–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; January Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 33 || 1 || St. Louis Blues || 0–0 || Los Angeles || 12-16–5 |- | 34 || 5 || Oakland Seals || 0–0 || Oakland || 12-16–6 |- | 35 || 7 || St. Louis Blues || 0–5 || St. Louis || 12–17–6 |- | 36 || 9 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–6 || Detroit || 12–18–6 |- | 37 || 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–4 || Toronto || 12–19–6 |- | 38 || 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Chicago || 12–20–6 |- | 39 || 14 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 13–20-6 |- | 40 || 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 14–20-6 |- | 41 || 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–0 || Los Angeles || 15–20-6 |- | 42 || 23 || New York Rangers || 1–3 || New York || 15–21–6 |- | 43 || 25 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–3 || Minnesota || 15–22–6 |- | 44 || 26 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–9 || Chicago || 15–23–6 |- | 45 || 29 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 16–23-6 |- | 46 || 30 || Boston Bruins || 5–7 || Los Angeles || 16–24–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; February Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 47 || 1 || Oakland Seals || 8–5 || Los Angeles || 17–24-6 |- | 48 || 4 || St. Louis Blues || 4–2 || Los Angeles || 18–24-6 |- | 49 || 6 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 18–25–6 |- | 50 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Pittsburgh || 19–25-6 |- | 51 || 9 || Detroit Red Wings || 0–5 || Detroit || 19–26–6 |- | 52 || 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–7 || Montreal || 19–27–6 |- | 53 || 13 || New York Rangers || 4–1 || Los Angeles || 20–27-6 |- | 54 || 15 || St. Louis Blues || 1–4 || St. Louis || 20–28–6 |- | 55 || 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–6 || Detroit || 20–29–6 |- | 56 || 19 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–7 || Minnesota || 20–30–6 |- | 57 || 20 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–6 || Los Angeles || 20–31–6 |- | 58 || 22 || St. Louis Blues || 1–3 || Los Angeles || 20–32–6 |- | 59 || 23 || Oakland Seals || 4–3 || Oakland || 21–32-6 |- | 60 || 24 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–1 || Los Angeles || 21-32–7 |- | 61 || 26 || Boston Bruins || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 21–33–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid; March Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 62 || 1 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Los Angeles || 21-33–8 |- | 63 || 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–6 || Toronto || 21–34–8 |- | 64 || 6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–5 || Philadelphia || 21–35–8 |- | 65 || 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 || Montreal || 21-35–9 |- | 66 || 9 || Boston Bruins || 2–7 || Boston || 21–36–9 |- | 67 || 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–4 || Los Angeles || 21–37–9 |- | 68 || 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 22–37-9 |- | 69 || 18 || Oakland Seals || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 23–37-9 |- | 70 || 20 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–2 || Los Angeles || 24–37-9 |- | 71 || 22 || Oakland Seals || 0–4 || Los Angeles || 24–38–9 |- | 72 || 23 || Oakland Seals || 4–5 || Oakland || 24–39–9 |- | 73 || 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Pittsburgh || 24–40–9 |- | 74 || 27 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–4 || Philadelphia || 24–41–9 |- | 75 || 29 || St. Louis Blues || 1–3 || Los Angeles || 24–42–9 |- | 76 || 30 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–3 || Los Angeles || 24-42–10 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs West Division Semifinal Los Angeles Kings vs. Oakland Seals Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 2 Los Angeles 5 Oakland 4 (OT)April 3 Los Angeles 2 Oakland 4 April 5 Oakland 5 Los Angeles 2 April 6 Oakland 2 Los Angeles 4 April 9 Los Angeles 1 Oakland 4 April 10 Oakland 3 Los Angeles 4 April 13 Los Angeles 5 Oakland 3 Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4–3. West Division Final Los Angeles Kings vs. St. Louis Blues Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 4 Los Angeles 0 St. Louis 4 April 6 Los Angeles 2 St. Louis 3 April 9 St. Louis 5 Los Angeles 2 April 11 St. Louis 4 Los Angeles 1 St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–0. Player statistics Forwards Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Eddie Joyal 73 33 19 52 24 Bill Flett 72 24 25 49 53 Real Lemieux 75 11 29 40 68 Ted Irvine 76 15 24 39 47 Howie Hughes 73 16 14 30 10 Lowell MacDonald 58 14 14 38 10 Gord Labossiere 48 10 18 28 12 Howie Menard 56 10 17 27 31 Jimmy Peters 76 10 15 25 28 Phil "Skip" Krake 30 3 9 12 11 Doug Robinson 31 2 10 12 2 Ron Anderson 56 3 5 8 26 Gary Croteau 11 5 1 6 6 Bryan Campbell 18 2 1 3 4 Bill Inglis 10 0 1 1 0 Gerry Foley 1 0 0 0 0 Marc Dufour 2 0 0 0 0 Defensemen Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Bill White 75 5 28 33 38 Bob Wall 71 13 13 26 16 Dale Rolfe 75 3 19 22 85 Brent Hughes 72 2 19 21 73 Larry Cahan 72 3 11 14 76 Dave Amadio 65 1 5 6 60 Jacques Lemieux 0 0 0 0 0 Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Player GP MIN W L T SO GAA Gerry Desjardins 60 3499 18 34 6 4 3.26 Wayne Rutledge 17 921 6 7 4 0 3.65 Jacques Caron 3 140 0 1 0 0 3.86 Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1968–69 season.https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Kings&BeginDate=1968-05-01&EndDate=1969-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search Hockey Transactions Search Results Trades May 20, 1968To Los Angeles KingsSkip KrakeTo Boston Bruins1st round pick in 1970 – Reggie Leach June 11, 1968To Los Angeles KingsGerry DesjardinsTo Montreal Canadiens1st round pick in 1969 – Dick Redmond 1st round pick in 1972 – Steve Shutt June 11, 1968To Los Angeles KingsMyron StankiewiczTo St. Louis BluesTerry Gray July 1, 1968To Los Angeles KingsLarry CahanTo Montreal CanadiensBrian Smith Yves Locas September 30, 1968To Los Angeles KingsGary Croteau Brian Murphy Wayne ThomasTo Toronto Maple LeafsGrant Moore Lou Deveault October 10, 1968To Los Angeles KingsJimmy Peters Jr.To Detroit Red WingsTerry Sawchuk November 12, 1968To Los Angeles KingsRon AndersonTo Detroit Red WingsPoul Popiel Reverse Draft June 6, 1968To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)Brian Kilrea June 10, 1968From Montreal CanadiensNoel Price Intra-league Draft June 12, 1968To St. Louis BluesMyron Stankiewicz Draft picks 1968 NHL entry draft Round Pick Player Nationality 1 7Jim McInallyCanada NOTE: Back before 1979, the amateur draft was held with varying rules and procedures. In 1968, teams only needed to select as many player as they wanted to, which is why there was only one Kings player drafted. References Kings on Hockey Database Category:Los Angeles Kings seasons Los Category:1968 in sports in California Category:1969 in sports in California Category:1960s in Los Angeles County, California