The 1995–96 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 29th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It involved Wayne Gretzky being traded to the St. Louis Blues. For the third consecutive year, the Kings failed to make the playoffs.
Regular season February 27, 1996: Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the St. Louis Blues for Patrice Tardif, Craig Johnson, Roman Vopat, 1st round pick in the 1997 draft and a 5th round pick in the 1996 draft.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||October 7, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||1–0–0 ||
|2||October 10, 1995||6–5 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||2–0–0 ||
|3||October 12, 1995||7–7 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||2–0–1 ||
|4||October 15, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||2–0–2 ||
|5||October 18, 1995||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||2–0–3 ||
|6||October 20, 1995||7–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||3–0–3 ||
|7||October 21, 1995||3–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||4–0–3 ||
|8||October 23, 1995||3–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||4–1–3 ||
|9||October 26, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||4–2–3 ||
|10||October 28, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||4–2–4 ||
|11||October 31, 1995||1–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||4–3–4 ||
|12||November 2, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||5–3–4 ||
|13||November 4, 1995||2–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||5–4–4 ||
|14||November 7, 1995||1–0 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||6–4–4 ||
|15||November 8, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||6–4–5 ||
|16||November 11, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||7–4–5 ||
|17||November 13, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||8–4–5 ||
|18||November 14, 1995||5–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||8–5–5 ||
|19||November 16, 1995||9–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||9–5–5 ||
|20||November 18, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||10–5–5 ||
|21||November 21, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||10–6–5 ||
|22||November 22, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||10–7–5 ||
|23||November 24, 1995||1–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||10–8–5 ||
|24||November 26, 1995||1–5 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||10–9–5 ||
|25||November 27, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||10–10–5 ||
|26||November 30, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||11–10–5 ||
|27||December 2, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||11–10–6 ||
|28||December 6, 1995||6–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||12–10–6 ||
|29||December 9, 1995||1–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||12–11–6 ||
|30||December 11, 1995||2–6 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||12–12–6 ||
|31||December 13, 1995||6–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||13–12–6 ||
|32||December 16, 1995||3–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||13–13–6 ||
|33||December 20, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||13–13–7 ||
|34||December 22, 1995||3–4 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||13–14–7 ||
|35||December 23, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||13–14–8 ||
|36||December 27, 1995||7–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||14–14–8 ||
|37||December 29, 1995||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||14–15–8 ||
|38||December 31, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||14–15–9 ||
|39||January 3, 1996||4–5 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||14–16–9 ||
|40||January 5, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||15–16–9 ||
|41||January 6, 1996||7–5 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||16–16–9 ||
|42||January 8, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||16–16–10 ||
|43||January 10, 1996||4–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||16–17–10 ||
|44||January 12, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||16–18–10 ||
|45||January 14, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||16–19–10 ||
|46||January 16, 1996||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||16–19–11 ||
|47||January 22, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||16–20–11 ||
|48||January 23, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||16–21–11 ||
|49||January 25, 1996||2–8 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||16–22–11 ||
|50||January 27, 1996||5–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||17–22–11 ||
|51||January 31, 1996||4–6 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||17–23–11 ||
|52||February 1, 1996||6–6 OT|| align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||17–23–12 ||
|53||February 3, 1996||1–2 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||17–24–12 ||
|54||February 6, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||17–25–12 ||
|55||February 8, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||18–25–12 ||
|56||February 10, 1996||1–6 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||18–26–12 ||
|57||February 13, 1996||4–9 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||18–27–12 ||
|58||February 14, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||18–27–13 ||
|59||February 17, 1996||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||18–28–13 ||
|60||February 19, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||18–28–14 ||
|61||February 21, 1996||2–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||18–29–14 ||
|62||February 23, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||18–30–14 ||
|63||February 24, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||18–30–15 ||
|64||February 26, 1996||3–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||18–31–15 ||
|65||February 28, 1996||1–5 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||18–32–15 ||
|66||March 2, 1996||5–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||19–32–15 ||
|67||March 6, 1996||3–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||20–32–15 ||
|68||March 8, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||21–32–15 ||
|69||March 10, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||21–33–15 ||
|70||March 13, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||21–34–15 ||
|71||March 16, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||21–35–15 ||
|72||March 18, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||21–36–15 ||
|73||March 20, 1996||2–5 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||21–37–15 ||
|74||March 23, 1996||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||21–37–16 ||
|75||March 25, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||21–38–16 ||
|76||March 27, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||21–38–17 ||
|77||March 29, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||22–38–17 ||
|78||April 3, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||22–38–18 ||
|79||April 6, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||22–39–18 ||
|80||April 10, 1996||6–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||23–39–18 ||
|81||April 12, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||23–40–18 ||
|82||April 14, 1996||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||24–40–18 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only. Player Regular season 99 C 62 15 66 81 −7 32 8 LW 76 27 37 64 0 44 43 RW 80 19 34 53 −3 16 44 C 78 25 24 49 −11 16 12 C 74 16 27 43 6 38 17 RW 57 17 23 40 −12 37 22 RW 44 13 23 36 3 117 21 RW 49 17 18 35 −5 46 28 LW 72 16 16 32 −11 110 33 D 59 10 21 31 −14 148 26 D 53 7 16 23 −26 31 13 RW 68 6 16 22 −15 10 19 RW 64 9 12 21 −26 14 27 D 31 6 11 17 5 10 14 RW 33 4 10 14 3 12 25 LW 20 3 10 13 −11 22 2 D 58 1 11 12 −11 34 77 D 46 5 5 10 −16 32 9 LW 23 5 5 10 1 4 23 RW 11 5 4 9 −4 6 15 C 35 5 2 7 −8 18 6 D 71 2 5 7 3 127 5 D 51 0 7 7 −13 29 20 C 11 4 2 6 −13 10 24 C 12 2 4 6 −3 6 3 D 18 1 5 6 0 22 29 D 50 3 2 5 −6 102 40 LW 33 3 2 5 −7 104 22 C 10 2 3 5 −2 15 3 D 11 1 4 5 3 4 4 D 6 1 2 3 0 8 11 RW 11 1 2 3 −9 37 20 C 7 1 2 3 0 4 15 D 9 0 3 3 −4 6 37 C 15 1 1 2 −9 37 7 RW 7 1 0 1 −2 4 55 RW 15 1 0 1 −3 42 2 D 16 1 0 1 −6 22 35 D 2 0 1 1 1 0 11 D 11 0 1 1 −8 18 24 D 9 0 1 1 −1 27 45 D 2 0 0 0 0 6 42 LW 4 0 0 0 0 0 31 G 47 0 0 0 6 32 G 36 0 0 0 4 34 LW 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 G 5 0 0 0 0
Goaltending Player Regular season 31 Byron Dafoe 47 14 24 8 1539 172 3.87 .888 1 2666 32 Kelly Hrudey 36 7 15 10 1214 113 3.26 .907 0 2077 1 Jamie Storr 5 3 1 0 147 12 2.75 .918 0 262
Awards and records
Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Wayne Gretzky NHL Rookie of the Month Vitali Yachmenev (October) Team Best Newcomer Vitali YachmenevLos Angeles Kings 2014–15 Media Guide, p. 201–03 Bill Libby Memorial Award Dmitri Khristich Defensive Player Kevin Todd Jim Fox Community Service Rob Blake Eric Lacroix Leading Scorer Dmitri Khristich Most Inspirational Tony Granato Most Popular Player Eric Lacroix Outstanding Defenseman Steven Finn Unsung Hero Steven Finn
Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Aki Berg October 7, 1995 Vitali Yachmenev Vladimir Tsyplakov November 7, 1995 Dan Bylsma December 13, 1995 Barry Potomski January 6, 1996 Jan Vopat March 16, 1996 Ruslan Batyrshin April 3, 1996
Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1995–96 season.
Trades May 31, 1995To Los Angeles KingsJan VopatTo Hartford Whalers4th round pick in 1995 - Ian MacNeil June 7, 1995To Los Angeles Kings5th round pick in 1995 - Jason MorganTo Dallas StarsJeff Mitchell July 8, 1995To Los Angeles KingsByron Dafoe Dmitri KhristichTo Washington Capitals1st round pick in 1996 - Alexander Volchov 4th round pick in 1996 - Justin Davis November 13, 1995To Los Angeles KingsSteven FinnTo Tampa Bay LightningMichel Petit December 28, 1995To Los Angeles KingsJohn SlaneyTo Colorado Avalanche6th round pick in 1996 - Brian Willsie January 14, 1996To Los Angeles KingsSteve LaroucheTo New York RangersChris Snell January 25, 1996To Los Angeles KingsKevin StevensTo Boston BruinsRick Tocchet February 10, 1996To Los Angeles KingsCraig FergusonTo Calgary FlamesPat Conacher February 17, 1996To Los Angeles KingsShane Churla Doug ZmolekTo Dallas StarsDarryl Sydor 5th round pick in 1996 - Ryan Christie February 27, 1996To Los Angeles KingsCraig Johnson Patrice Tardif Roman Vopat 5th round pick in 1996 - Peter Hogan 1st round pick in 1997 - Matt ZultekTo St. Louis BluesWayne Gretzky March 14, 1996To Los Angeles KingsMattias Norstrom Ray Ferraro Ian Laperriere Nathan LaFayette 4th round pick in 1997 - Sean BlanchardTo New York RangersMarty McSorley Jari Kurri Shane Churla March 19, 1996To Los Angeles Kings4th round pick in 1996 - Mikael SimonsTo Philadelphia FlyersJohn Druce 7th round pick in 1997 - Todd Fedoruk March 20, 1996To Los Angeles KingsJaroslav Modry 8th round pick in 1996 - Steve ValiquetteTo Ottawa SenatorsKevin Brown
Free agent signings August 30, 1995From St. John's Maple Leafs (AHL)Steve Bancroft September 12, 1995From Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL)Nicholas Vachon
Free agents lost