We all know the exploits of LA Kings players like Jeff Carter and Wayne Gretzy, but the list of All-Time franchise-leading goal scorers for the LA Kings might just surprise you…
The LA Kings have not seen the likes of a goal scorer like Jeff Carter in ages. Carter currently leads the team with 20 goals even after missing 10 games. He has the chance to be one of the greatest Kings to ever play with the season goal records of Bernie Nicholls, Luc Robitaille, and Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky if he continues to stack up goals.
On the all-time goal leaders per season for the Kings, the only current player close on the list is Anze Kopitar (52) who scored 34 goals during the 2009-2010 season. The only other two players from the 2000’s listed fewer than 50 is Robitaille (twice) and Ziggy Palffy, and neither of them had more than 39 goals.
It will always be speculated on how many Carter would have if he hadn’t missed those 10 games but its easy to say he will come close to breaking the Top 30 list, considering LA is half-way through with their games. It would be a stretch to break the Top 10 that begins with 53 (Marcel Dionne 81-82) and ends with 70 (Nicholls 1988-1989).
As impressive as Nicholls’ 70 goals is, it can be attributed to the 114 assists by Gretzky who holds the record for most points that season as well with 168. Any current or future Kings player will never break those records. In LA history 3 Kings have been selected as the best goal scorers.
3.) Bernie Nicholls
Nicholls holds the Kings franchise record with 70 goals – that also places him 12th all-time in NHL history. Wayne holds the unbreakable spot on top with 92 goals during the 1981-1982 season.
Bernie played center for the Kings from 1981 until 1990. During that time he scored 327 goals for Los Angeles. In 6 of his 9 seasons in LA, he scored 30 or more goals with two back-to-back seasons of 40+ goals.
2.) Marcel Dionne
Dionee was a center for the Kings from 1975 until 1987. He played 1,348 games for the Kings during the span and scored 550 goals. He is listed on the all-time season goals Top 50 leaders a whopping 9 times.
His most standout season performance was 59 goals (1978-1979), which ranks him 3rd all-time. He repeated the next two seasons with 58 and 56 goals giving him 4th and 5th place.
1.) Luc Robitaille
A fan favorite for decades, Robitalle continues to shine as the President of Business Operations for the Kings. He played off and on for the Kings for 14 seasons between 1986 and 2006. He scored 668 goals, which is an NHL record for a left-winger. He holds the Kings franchise record for goals with 577.
Robitaille’s most impressive season was during the 1992-1993 season where he scored 63 goals ranking him 2nd on the all time list. He lead in goals back-to-back years with 52 (1987-1988) 50 (1989-1990). Luc had 11 regular seasons that listed on the Top 50 goal-scoring seasons.
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