1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1988–89 1988 Los Angeles Kings Campbell 2nd Smythe 2nd 42–31–7 25–12–3 17–19–4 376 335 Rogatien Vachon Robbie Ftorek Dave Taylor Wayne GretzkyTom Laidlaw Great Western Forum Bernie Nicholls (70) Wayne Gretzky (114) Wayne Gretzky (168) Steve Duchesne (+31) Marty McSorley (350) Glenn Healy (25) Kelly Hrudey (2.90) The 1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 22nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Kings finish second in the Smythe Division with a record of 42 wins and 31 losses and 7 losses in overtime for 91 points. The 1988–89 season was the first for the great Wayne Gretzky in a Kings uniform. He had come over in a shocking trade with the Edmonton Oilers in the off-season (see below). Paced by Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings led the league in goal scoring, with a total of 376 goals scored. In the playoffs, the Kings completed the upset by beating the Oilers (defending champions and Gretzky's former team) in seven games in the Smythe Division Semi-finals before being swept in the Smythe Division Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames in four straight games. This was also the first season that the Kings wore their silver and black uniforms, which they would wear until the 1997–98 season. In the off-season, they had changed their team colours to silver and black from gold and purple, which were more associated with their co-tenants at the Great Western Forum, the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. They had also unveiled a new logo that reflected the new team colours.2024-06-20 LA Kings Unveil Brand Evolution Los Angeles Kings https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/la-kings-unveil-brand-evolution 2024-08-08 www.nhl.com enStanovich Austin 2024-06-20 Kings Announce Brand Evolution, 'Retire' Old Logo https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/los-angeles-kings-announced-brand-evolution-retire-old-logo 2024-08-08 The Hockey News en As of 2025, this remains the most recent season where the Kings eliminated the Oilers in the playoffs as the Kings have lost 7 straight playoff series since, and the Kings are 2–9 all time in series wins against the Oilers. 2 Offseason NHL draft 1988 NHL Entry Draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team17Martin Gélinas (LW)CanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)228Paul Holden (D)CanadaLondon Knights (OHL)349John Van Kessel (RW)CanadaNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)470Rob Blake (D)CanadaBowling Green State University (CCHA)591Jeff Robison (D)United StatesMount St. Charles Academy (USHS-RI)6109Micah Aivazoff (RW)CanadaVictoria Cougars (WHL)6112Robert Larsson (D)SwedenSkellefteå AIK (Sweden)7133Jeff Kruesel (RW)United StatesJohn Marshall High School (USHS-MN)8154Timo Peltomaa (RW)Ilves (Finland)9175Jim Larkin (LW)United StatesMount Saint Joseph Academy (USHS-VT)10196Brad Hyatt (D)CanadaWindsor Spitfires (OHL)11217Doug Laprade (RW)CanadaLake Superior State University (NCAA)12238Joe Flanagan (C)United StatesCanterbury School (USHS-CT)S12Sean Fitzgerald (LW)United StatesState University of New York at Oswego (SUNYAC) Wayne Gretzky trade On August 9, 1988, in a move that drastically changed the dynamics of the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky (along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski) to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (Jason Miller), 1991 (Martin Rucinsky) and 1993 (Nick Stajduhar). "The Trade", as it came to be known,oilersheritage.com, After the Trade, OilersHeritage.com, accessed July 13, 2006 upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded that the government block itScott Morrison, Wayne Gretzky traded... ...California here he comes, Toronto Sun, August 10, 1988 and Peter Pocklington was burned in effigy. Gretzky himself was considered a "traitor" by some Canadians for turning his back on his adopted hometown, his home province and his home country; his motivation was widely rumoured to be the furtherance of his wife's acting career.Terry Jones, Telling it like it isApril 2026 medicmedic, Edmonton Sun, August 12, 1988 Others believe it was Pocklington who instigated the trade, seeking to benefit personally from the transaction. Regular season On October 6, 1988, Wayne Gretzky made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Kings in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Gretzky scored on his first shot, and contributed 3 assists in an 8–2 victory.Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, 978-0-307-39729-4 In Gretzky's first season with the Kings, he led the team in scoring with 168 points on 54 goals and 114 assists, and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He led the Kings to a second-place finish in the Smythe Division with a 42–31–7 record (91 points), and they ranked fourth in the NHL overall. Gretzky recorded at least one point in all forty regular season home games, as well as the Kings' six home playoff games. No other NHL player has ever accomplished such a feat under a schedule of seventy games or more. Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles saw a marked increase in attendance and fan interest in a city not previously known for following hockey. The Kings, who then played their home games at the Great Western Forum, named Gretzky their captain (a position he held until his trade to St. Louis in 1996) and boasted numerous sellouts on their way to reaching the 1989 playoffs. December 1, 1988: Bernie Nicholls had an eight-point game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Season standings LAK Record vs. opponents LAK Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#010101 5px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 5px solid; 1988–89 regular season1988-89 Los Angeles Kings Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/1989_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 1 || October 6 || Detroit || 2 – 8 || Los Angeles || || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || October 8 || Calgary || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 2–0–0 || 4 |- | 3 || October 9 || N.Y. Islanders || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 3–0–0 || 6 |- | 4 || October 12 || Boston || 2 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 4–0–0 || 8 |- | 5 || October 15 || Philadelphia || 1 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 4–1–0 || 8 |- | 6 || October 17 || Los Angeles || 4 – 11 || Calgary || || 4–2–0 || 8 |- | 7 || October 19 || Los Angeles || 6 – 8 || Edmonton || || 4–3–0 || 8 |- | 8 || October 22 || Minnesota || 8 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 5–3–0 || 10 |- | 9 || October 25 || Edmonton || 4 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 5–4–0 || 10 |- | 10 || October 28 || Los Angeles || 7 – 4 || Winnipeg || || 6–4–0 || 12 |- | 11 || October 30 || Los Angeles || 4 – 8 || Winnipeg || || 6–5–0 || 12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 12 || November 1 || Los Angeles || 3 – 1 || Quebec || || 7–5–0 || 14 |- | 13 || November 2 || Los Angeles || 3 – 5 || Montreal || || 7–6–0 || 14 |- | 14 || November 5 || Los Angeles || 6 – 4 || Toronto || || 8–6–0 || 16 |- | 15 || November 6 || Los Angeles || 5 – 3 || Chicago || || 9–6–0 || 18 |- | 16 || November 10 || Hartford || 7 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 10–6–0 || 20 |- | 17 || November 12 || Pittsburgh || 7 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 11–6–0 || 22 |- | 18 || November 15 || Vancouver || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 12–6–0 || 24 |- | 19 || November 17 || N.Y. Rangers || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 12–7–0 || 24 |- | 20 || November 19 || Buffalo || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 13–7–0 || 26 |- | 21 || November 22 || Los Angeles || 6 – 1 || Philadelphia || || 14–7–0 || 28 |- | 22 || November 23 || Los Angeles || 8 – 3 || Detroit || || 15–7–0 || 30 |- | 23 || November 26 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || 15–8–0 || 30 |- | 24 || November 27 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Vancouver || || 15–9–0 || 30 |- | 25 || November 29 || New Jersey || 9 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 16–9–0 || 32 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 26 || December 1 || Toronto || 9 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 17–9–0 || 34 |- | 27 || December 3 || Chicago || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 18–9–0 || 36 |- | 28 || December 6 || Winnipeg || 4 – 5 || Los Angeles || OT || 18–10–0 || 36 |- | 29 || December 8 || Winnipeg || 5 – 5 || Los Angeles || OT || 18–10–1 || 37 |- | 30 || December 10 || Los Angeles || 4 – 3 || N.Y. Islanders || || 19–10–1 || 39 |- | 31 || December 12 || Los Angeles || 5 – 2 || N.Y. Rangers || || 20–10–1 || 41 |- | 32 || December 14 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || 20–11–1 || 41 |- | 33 || December 16 || Los Angeles || 6 – 4 || Detroit || || 21–11–1 || 43 |- | 34 || December 17 || Los Angeles || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || 21–12–1 || 43 |- | 35 || December 20 || Calgary || 7 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 22–12–1 || 45 |- | 36 || December 21 || Minnesota || 8 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 23–12–1 || 47 |- | 37 || December 23 || Los Angeles || 5 – 2 || Vancouver || || 24–12–1 || 49 |- | 38 || December 27 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 24–13–1 || 49 |- | 39 || December 29 || Vancouver || 3 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 24–14–1 || 49 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 40 || January 5 || Los Angeles || 6 – 8 || Calgary || || 24–15–1 || 49 |- | 41 || January 6 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Winnipeg || OT || 24–15–2 || 50 |- | 42 || January 8 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Winnipeg || OT || 24–15–3 || 51 |- | 43 || January 10 || Edmonton || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || OT || 25–15–3 || 53 |- | 44 || January 12 || St. Louis || 7 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 26–15–3 || 55 |- | 45 || January 14 || Hartford || 9 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 27–15–3 || 57 |- | 46 || January 17 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || St. Louis || || 27–16–3 || 57 |- | 47 || January 19 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || N.Y. Islanders || || 27–17–3 || 57 |- | 48 || January 21 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Hartford || || 27–18–3 || 57 |- | 49 || January 24 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Washington || OT || 27–18–4 || 58 |- | 50 || January 26 || Vancouver || 2 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 27–19–4 || 58 |- | 51 || January 28 || Edmonton || 6 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 27–20–4 || 58 |- | 52 || January 31 || Calgary || 5 – 8 || Los Angeles || || 27–21–4 || 58 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 53 || February 2 || New Jersey || 6 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 27–21–5 || 59 |- | 54 || February 4 || Buffalo || 5 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 28–21–5 || 61 |- | 55 || February 9 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Boston || || 28–22–5 || 61 |- | 56 || February 10 || Los Angeles || 7 – 6 || Washington || OT || 29–22–5 || 63 |- | 57 || February 12 || Los Angeles || 6 – 2 || Chicago || || 30–22–5 || 65 |- | 58 || February 15 || Boston || 3 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 30–23–5 || 65 |- | 59 || February 18 || Quebec || 11 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 31–23–5 || 67 |- | 60 || February 20 || Toronto || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 32–23–5 || 69 |- | 61 || February 22 || Washington || 2 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 32–24–5 || 69 |- | 62 || February 24 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Edmonton || || 32–25–5 || 69 |- | 63 || February 26 || Los Angeles || 1 – 1 || New Jersey || || 32–25–6 || 70 |- | 64 || February 27 || Los Angeles || 4 – 6 || N.Y. Rangers || || 32–26–6 || 70 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 65 || March 1 || Los Angeles || 5 – 4 || Buffalo || || 33–26–6 || 72 |- | 66 || March 2 || Los Angeles || 4 – 6 || St. Louis || || 33–27–6 || 72 |- | 67 || March 4 || Philadelphia || 6 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 34–27–6 || 74 |- | 68 || March 7 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 2 || Los Angeles || OT || 35–27–6 || 76 |- | 69 || March 10 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Vancouver || || 35–28–6 || 76 |- | 70 || March 12 || Los Angeles || 6 – 3 || Edmonton || || 36–28–6 || 78 |- | 71 || March 14 || Los Angeles || 4 – 0 || Quebec || || 37–28–6 || 80 |- | 72 || March 15 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Montreal || || 37–29–6 || 80 |- | 73 || March 18 || Calgary || 3 – 9 || Los Angeles || || 37–30–6 || 80 |- | 74 || March 21 || Los Angeles || 4 – 3 || Edmonton || || 38–30–6 || 82 |- | 75 || March 23 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 38–31–6 || 82 |- | 76 || March 25 || Edmonton || 4 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 39–31–6 || 84 |- | 77 || March 28 || Winnipeg || 3 – 3 || Los Angeles || OT || 39–31–7 || 85 |- | 78 || March 29 || Winnipeg || 2 – 1 || Los Angeles || OT || 40–31–7 || 87 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#010101 2px solid; border-bottom:#A2AAAD 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Points |- | 79 || April 1 || Vancouver || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 41–31–7 || 89 |- | 80 || April 2 || Los Angeles || 5 – 4 || Vancouver || || 42–31–7 || 91 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs Smythe Division Semifinals The Kings faced Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in the first round of the 1989 playoffs. They fell behind 3 games to 1, but rallied to take the series in seven games, helped in no small part by nine goals from Chris Kontos, a little-known player who had just recently been called up from the minor leagues. However, the Kings were quickly swept out of the playoffs in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames. Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings Date Away Score Home ScoreApril 5 Edmonton Oilers 4 Los Angeles Kings 3 April 6 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 5April 8 Los Angeles Kings 0 Edmonton Oilers 4 April 9 Los Angeles Kings 3 Edmonton Oilers 4 April 11 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 4 April 13 Los Angeles Kings 4 Edmonton Oilers 1 April 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 Los Angeles Kings 6 Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3 Smythe Division Finals Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 18 Los Angeles Kings 3 Calgary Flames 4 (OT)April 20 Los Angeles Kings 3 Calgary Flames 8 April 22 Calgary Flames 5 Los Angeles Kings 2 April 24 Calgary Flames 5 Los Angeles Kings 3 Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0 Player statistics Forwards Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Wayne Gretzky 78 54 114 168 26 Bernie Nicholls 79 70 80 150 96 Luc Robitaille 78 46 52 98 65 John Tonelli 77 31 33 64 110 Dave Taylor 70 26 37 63 80 Mike Krushelnyski 78 26 36 62 110 Mike Allison 55 14 22 36 122 Bob Carpenter 39 11 15 26 16 Steve Kasper 29 9 15 24 14 Igor Liba 27 5 13 18 21 Jay Miller 29 5 3 8 133 Paul Fenton 21 2 3 5 6 Sylvain Couturier 16 1 3 4 2 Bob Kudelski 14 1 3 4 17 Ken Baumgartner 49 1 3 4 288 Tim Tookey 7 2 1 3 4 Chris Kontos 7 2 1 3 2 Phil Sykes 23 0 1 1 8 Hubie McDonough 4 0 1 1 0 Gilles Hamel 11 0 1 1 2 Brian Wilks 2 0 0 0 2 Paul Guay 2 0 0 0 2 Dave Pasin 5 0 0 0 0 Craig Duncanson 5 0 0 0 0 Robert Logan 4 0 0 0 0 Defensemen Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIM Steve Duchesne 79 25 50 75 92 Dale DeGray 63 6 22 28 97 Marty McSorley 66 10 17 27 350 Doug Crossman 74 10 15 25 53 Tim Watters 76 3 18 21 168 Tom Laidlaw 70 3 17 20 63 Dean Kennedy 51 3 8 11 63 Jim Wiemer 9 2 3 5 20 Wayne McBean 33 0 5 5 23 Larry Playfair 6 0 3 3 16 Petr Prajsler 2 0 3 3 0 Steve Richmond 9 0 2 2 26 Jim Hofford 1 0 0 0 2 Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average Player GP W L T SO GAA Glenn Healy 48 25 19 2 0 4.27 Kelly Hrudey 16 10 4 2 1 2.90 Roland Melanson 4 1 1 0 0 6.42 Awards and records Wayne Gretzky, Hart Memorial Trophy Wayne Gretzky, Center, NHL Second All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky, All-Star Game MVP National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 219, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 0-920445-98-5 Luc Robitaille, Left Wing, NHL First All-Star Team Wayne Gretzky, Club Record, Most Points in One Season (168) Bernie Nicholls, Club Record, Most Goals in One Season (70) Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Kings&BeginDate=1988-05-01&EndDate=1989-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 Hockey Transactions Search Results Trades August 9, 1988To Los Angeles KingsWayne Gretzky Mike Krushelnyski Marty McSorleyTo Edmonton OilersJimmy Carson Martin Gelinas 1st round pick in 1989 – Jason Miller 1st round pick in 1991 – Martin Rucinsky 1st round pick in 1993 – Nick Stajduhar $15 million August 10, 1988To Los Angeles KingsJohn MinerTo Edmonton OilersCraig Redmond September 29, 1988To Los Angeles KingsDoug CrossmanTo Philadelphia FlyersJay Wells October 21, 1988To Los Angeles KingsBob Logan 9th round pick in 1989 – Jim GiacinTo Buffalo SabresLarry Playfair November 3, 1988To Los Angeles KingsDave PasinTo Boston BruinsPaul Guay November 25, 1988To Los Angeles KingsGilles HamelTo Winnipeg JetsPaul Fenton December 12, 1988To Los Angeles KingsIgor Liba Michael Boyce Todd Elik Future considerationsTo New York RangersDean Kennedy Denis Larocque December 13, 1988To Los Angeles KingsCashTo New Jersey DevilsLyle Phair January 22, 1989To Los Angeles KingsJay Miller Steve KasperTo Boston BruinsBobby Carpenter February 3, 1989To Los Angeles KingsDean KennedyTo New York Rangers4th round pick in 1990 – Cal McGowan February 22, 1989To Los Angeles KingsKelly HrudeyTo New York IslandersMark Fitzpatrick Wayne McBean Future considerations March 6, 1989To Los Angeles KingsPat MayerTo Pittsburgh PenguinsTim Tookey March 7, 1989To Los Angeles KingsAlan May Jim WiemerTo Edmonton OilersBrian Wilks John English Free agent signings June 27, 1988From Winnipeg JetsTim Watters June 29, 1988From Calgary FlamesJohn Tonelli July 1, 1988From Granby Bisons (QMJHL)Frank Breault July 1, 1988From New Jersey DevilsSteve Richmond Waivers October 3, 1988To Edmonton OilersKen Hammond October 3, 1988From Toronto Maple LeafsDale DeGray October 3, 1988From Buffalo SabresJim Hofford References Kings on Hockey Database Category:Los Angeles Kings seasons Los Los Angeles Los Angeles Category:1980s in Los Angeles County, California