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1968–69 Los Angeles Kings season

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Division
  
4th West

Home record
  
19–14–5

Goals for
  
185

1968–69 record
  
24–42–10

Road record
  
5–28–5

Goals against
  
260

The 1968–69 Los Angeles Kings season was the second ever for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League. 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.

Contents

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.

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.

Playoffs

West Division Semi-final

Los Angeles Kings vs. Oakland Seals

Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4–3.

West Division Final

Los Angeles Kings vs. St. Louis Blues

St. Louis wins best-of-seven series 4–0.

Forwards

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

Defencemen

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

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; MIN = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Transactions

  • May 20, 1968 – Acquired Skip Krake from Boston for a first-round choice in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft.
  • June 11, 1968 – Acquired Myron Stankiewicz from St. Louis for Terry Gray.
  • June 11, 1968 – Acquired Gerry Desjardins from Montreal for a first-round choice in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft (later transferred to Minnesota) and the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft.
  • July 1, 1968 – Acquired Larry Cahan from Montreal for Yves Locas and Brian D. Smith.
  • October 10, 1968 – Acquired Jimmy Peters from Detroit for Terry Sawchuk.
  • October 15, 1968 – Acquired Gary Croteau, Brian Murphy and Wayne Thomas from Toronto for Lou Deveault and Grant Moore.
  • November 12, 1968 – Acquired Ron Anderson from Detroit for Poul Popiel.

    • Draft picks

  • 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

    1968–69 Los Angeles Kings season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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