1988–89 Los Angeles Kings
Division2nd Smythe
Conference2nd Campbell
1988–89 record42–31–7
Home record25–12–3
Road record17–19–4
Goals for376
Goals against335
Team information
General managerRogatien Vachon
CoachRobbie Ftorek
CaptainDave Taylor
Alternate captainsWayne Gretzky
Tom Laidlaw
ArenaGreat Western Forum
Team leaders
GoalsBernie Nicholls (70)
AssistsWayne Gretzky (114)
PointsWayne Gretzky (168)
Penalty minutesMarty McSorley (350)
Plus/minusSteve Duchesne (+31)
WinsGlenn Healy (25)
Goals against averageKelly Hrudey (2.90)

The 1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 22nd season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings finish second in the Smythe Division with a record of 42–31–7, 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 led the league in goal scoring, with a total of 376 goals scored. In the playoffs, the Kings upset the Oilers, 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.

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
17Martin Gelinas (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) FinlandIlves (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,[1] upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded that the government block it[2] 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.[3] 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.[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'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

Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Calgary Flames8054179354226117
Los Angeles Kings804231737633591
Edmonton Oilers803834832530684
Vancouver Canucks803339825125374
Winnipeg Jets8026421230035564

[5]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Wales Conference

Schedule and results

October

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
1October 6Detroit2 - 8Los Angeles1-0-02
2October 8Calgary5 - 6Los AngelesOT2-0-04
3October 9N.Y. Islanders5 - 6Los AngelesOT3-0-06
4October 12Boston2 - 6Los Angeles4-0-08
5October 15Philadelphia1 - 4Los Angeles4-1-08
6October 17Los Angeles4 - 11Calgary4-2-08
7October 19Los Angeles6 - 8Edmonton4-3-08
8October 22Minnesota8 - 2Los Angeles5-3-010
9October 25Edmonton4 - 5Los Angeles5-4-010
10October 28Los Angeles7 - 4Winnipeg6-4-012
11October 30Los Angeles4 - 8Winnipeg6-5-012

November

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
12November 1Los Angeles3 - 1Quebec7-5-014
13November 2Los Angeles3 - 5Montreal7-6-014
14November 5Los Angeles6 - 4Toronto8-6-016
15November 6Los Angeles5 - 3Chicago9-6-018
16November 10Hartford7 - 2Los Angeles10-6-020
17November 12Pittsburgh7 - 2Los Angeles11-6-022
18November 15Vancouver6 - 4Los Angeles12-6-024
19November 17N.Y. Rangers5 - 6Los Angeles12-7-024
20November 19Buffalo5 - 4Los Angeles13-7-026
21November 22Los Angeles6 - 1Philadelphia14-7-028
22November 23Los Angeles8 - 3Detroit15-7-030
23November 26Los Angeles1 - 4Calgary15-8-030
24November 27Los Angeles2 - 5Vancouver15-9-030
25November 29New Jersey9 - 3Los Angeles16-9-032

December

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
26December 1Toronto9 - 3Los Angeles17-9-034
27December 3Chicago6 - 4Los Angeles18-9-036
28December 6Winnipeg4 - 5Los AngelesOT18-10-036
29December 8Winnipeg5 - 5Los AngelesOT18-10-137
30December 10Los Angeles4 - 3N.Y. Islanders19-10-139
31December 12Los Angeles5 - 2N.Y. Rangers20-10-141
32December 14Los Angeles4 - 5Pittsburgh20-11-141
33December 16Los Angeles6 - 4Detroit21-11-143
34December 17Los Angeles2 - 3Minnesota21-12-143
35December 20Calgary7 - 3Los Angeles22-12-145
36December 21Minnesota8 - 6Los Angeles23-12-147
37December 23Los Angeles5 - 2Vancouver24-12-149
38December 27Montreal2 - 3Los Angeles24-13-149
39December 29Vancouver3 - 6Los Angeles24-14-149

January

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
40January 5Los Angeles6 - 8Calgary24-15-149
41January 6Los Angeles4 - 4WinnipegOT24-15-250
42January 8Los Angeles4 - 4WinnipegOT24-15-351
43January 10Edmonton5 - 4Los AngelesOT25-15-353
44January 12St. Louis7 - 4Los Angeles26-15-355
45January 14Hartford9 - 6Los Angeles27-15-357
46January 17Los Angeles2 - 5St. Louis27-16-357
47January 19Los Angeles2 - 4N.Y. Islanders27-17-357
48January 21Los Angeles4 - 5Hartford27-18-357
49January 24Los Angeles4 - 4WashingtonOT27-18-458
50January 26Vancouver2 - 6Los Angeles27-19-458
51January 28Edmonton6 - 7Los Angeles27-20-458
52January 31Calgary5 - 8Los Angeles27-21-458

February

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
53February 2New Jersey6 - 6Los AngelesOT27-21-559
54February 4Buffalo5 - 3Los Angeles28-21-561
55February 9Los Angeles1 - 4Boston28-22-561
56February 10Los Angeles7 - 6WashingtonOT29-22-563
57February 12Los Angeles6 - 2Chicago30-22-565
58February 15Boston3 - 7Los Angeles30-23-565
59February 18Quebec11 - 3Los Angeles31-23-567
60February 20Toronto5 - 4Los Angeles32-23-569
61February 22Washington2 - 7Los Angeles32-24-569
62February 24Los Angeles1 - 4Edmonton32-25-569
63February 26Los Angeles1 - 1New Jersey32-25-670
64February 27Los Angeles4 - 6N.Y. Rangers32-26-670

March

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
65March 1Los Angeles5 - 4Buffalo33-26-672
66March 2Los Angeles4 - 6St. Louis33-27-672
67March 4Philadelphia6 - 2Los Angeles34-27-674
68March 7Pittsburgh3 - 2Los AngelesOT35-27-676
69March 10Los Angeles2 - 4Vancouver35-28-676
70March 12Los Angeles6 - 3Edmonton36-28-678
71March 14Los Angeles4 - 0Quebec37-28-680
72March 15Los Angeles2 - 5Montreal37-29-680
73March 18Calgary3 - 9Los Angeles37-30-680
74March 21Los Angeles4 - 3Edmonton38-30-682
75March 23Los Angeles2 - 4Calgary38-31-682
76March 25Edmonton4 - 2Los Angeles39-31-684
77March 28Winnipeg3 - 3Los AngelesOT39-31-785
78March 29Winnipeg2 - 1Los AngelesOT40-31-787

April

Game #DateVisitorScoreHomeOTRecordPoints
79April 1Vancouver6 - 4Los Angeles41-31-789
80April 2Los Angeles5 - 4Vancouver42-31-791

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Wayne Gretzky785411416826
Bernie Nicholls79708015096
Luc Robitaille7846529865
John Tonelli77313364110
Dave Taylor7026376380
Mike Krushelnyski78263662110
Mike Allison55142236122
Bob Carpenter3911152616
Steve Kasper299152414
Igor Liba275131821
Jay Miller29538133
Paul Fenton212356
Sylvain Couturier161342
Bob Kudelski1413417
Ken Baumgartner49134288
Tim Tookey72134
Chris Kontos72132
Phil Sykes230118
Hubie McDonough40110
Gilles Hamel110112
Brian Wilks20002
Paul Guay20002
Dave Pasin50000
Craig Duncanson50000
Robert Logan40000

Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Steve Duchesne7925507592
Dale DeGray636222897
Marty McSorley66101727350
Doug Crossman7410152553
Tim Watters7631821168
Tom Laidlaw703172063
Dean Kennedy51381163
Jim Wiemer923520
Wayne McBean3305523
Larry Playfair603316
Petr Prajsler20330
Steve Richmond902226
Jim Hofford10002

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 Healy482519204.27
Kelly Hrudey16104212.90
Roland Melanson411006.42

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.[7]

Trades

August 9, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Wayne Gretzky
Mike Krushelnyski
Marty McSorley
To Edmonton Oilers
Jimmy 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, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
John Miner
To Edmonton Oilers
Craig Redmond
September 29, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Doug Crossman
To Philadelphia Flyers
Jay Wells
October 21, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Bob Logan
9th round pick in 1989 - Jim Giacin
To Buffalo Sabres
Larry Playfair
November 3, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Dave Pasin
To Boston Bruins
Paul Guay
November 25, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Gilles Hamel
To Winnipeg Jets
Paul Fenton
December 12, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Igor Liba
Michael Boyce
Todd Elik
Future considerations
To New York Rangers
Dean Kennedy
Denis Larocque
December 13, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings
Cash
To New Jersey Devils
Lyle Phair
January 22, 1989 To Los Angeles Kings
Jay Miller
Steve Kasper
To Boston Bruins
Bobby Carpenter
February 3, 1989 To Los Angeles Kings
Dean Kennedy
To New York Rangers
4th round pick in 1990 - Cal McGowan
February 22, 1989 To Los Angeles Kings
Kelly Hrudey
To New York Islanders
Mark Fitzpatrick
Wayne McBean
Future considerations
March 6, 1989 To Los Angeles Kings
Pat Mayer
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Tim Tookey
March 7, 1989 To Los Angeles Kings
Alan May
Jim Wiemer
To Edmonton Oilers
Brian Wilks
John English

Free agent signings

June 27, 1988 From Winnipeg Jets
Tim Watters
June 29, 1988 From Calgary Flames
John Tonelli
July 1, 1988 From Granby Bisons (QMJHL)
Frank Breault
July 1, 1988 From New Jersey Devils
Steve Richmond

Waivers

October 3, 1988 To Edmonton Oilers
Ken Hammond
October 3, 1988 From Toronto Maple Leafs
Dale DeGray
October 3, 1988 From Buffalo Sabres
Jim Hofford

Playoffs

Smythe Division Semi-finals

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 Score
April 5Edmonton Oilers4Los Angeles Kings3
April 6Edmonton Oilers2Los Angeles Kings5
April 8Los Angeles Kings0Edmonton Oilers4
April 9Los Angeles Kings3Edmonton Oilers4
April 11Edmonton Oilers2Los Angeles Kings4
April 13Los Angeles Kings4Edmonton Oilers1
April 15Edmonton Oilers3Los Angeles Kings6

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 Notes
April 18Los Angeles Kings3Calgary Flames4(OT)
April 20Los Angeles Kings3Calgary Flames8
April 22Calgary Flames5Los Angeles Kings2
April 24Calgary Flames5Los Angeles Kings3

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0

Awards and records

References

  1. oilersheritage.com, After the Trade, OilersHeritage.com, Accessed July 13, 2006
  2. Scott Morrison, Wayne Gretzky traded... ...California here he comes, Toronto Sun, August 10, 1988
  3. Terry Jones, Telling it like it is Archived 2003-09-10 at archive.today, Edmonton Sun, August 12, 1988
  4. Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, ISBN 978-0-307-39729-4
  5. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  6. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
  8. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 219, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
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