by Dan Adkisson
In the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, the NHL team known as the Kings has had more than their fair share of ups and downs. But through it all, there have been four players who have left an indelible mark on the franchise. These four kings of the City of Angels are the only players to have scored over 1,000 points for the Crypto.com Arena outfit.
Marcel Dionne
First up is Marcel Dionne, who has the most points ever scored in the franchise’s history with an impressive 1,307. How the Kings must wish they still had the iconic Canadian on their roster today. At present, they are currently without a postseason series victory since they lifted the Stanley Cup in 2014. However, things could be set to change as the Kings are currently flying high and challenging for the lead in the Pacific Division, and sports betting sites currently make them the tenth favorite to end their ten-year Stanley Cup drought at the end of the current campaign.
Dionne played for the Kings from 1975 until 1987, and during his time with them, he proved to be one of the NHL’s best playmakers. In fact, he set a record of eight consecutive seasons with over 50 goals, four of which he achieved while playing for the Kings. In 1989, Dionne became the fourth player to ever be inducted into the Kings Hall of Fame, as well as the Hockey Hall of Fame three years later.
Anze Kopitar
Now, let’s move on to Anze Kopitar. This Slovenian-born forward is still playing for the Kings and he has been on the roster since 2006. He has already racked up an enviable record of over 1,100 points and he may very well catch the aforementioned Dionne in the coming years. He has two Stanley Cups under his belt and has won multiple awards throughout his years with the team, including a Frank J. Selke Trophy and a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. He’s currently the captain in SoCal and his leadership has been key in keeping the team motivated during difficult times.
Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille is another Kings legend, having played for the team from 1986 to 1994, and then again from 1997 to 2006. In his 14 seasons with the team, he scored 1,154 points and proved himself to be a top producer year in and year out. He also holds the distinction of being the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history, with 668 goals to his name. With 557 goals scored in a Kings jersey, he is the franchise’s all-time leader in this category and it’s not likely that Kopitar will catch him.
Dave Taylor
Finally, we have Dave Taylor, who scored 1,069 points during his time with the team between 1977 and 1994. The Canadian born forward was extremely versatile, as he could play on either wing, and he was known for his tenacity on the ice. Taylor was a key member of the team during the early years of the franchise when they were still establishing their identity. After he retired, he went on to have a successful career in management, serving as General Manager for the Kings, plus additional roles with the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues.