The 1984–85 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 18th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Following a fifth-place finish the previous season under three different coaches, Pat Quinn was hired as the new head coach of the Kings. In his first season, he returned them to the playoffs after a three-year absence with a 23-point improvement in the standings. But despite the goal scoring brilliance of Marcel Dionne and Bernie Nicholls, the Kings could not duplicate their Miracle on Manchester performance this time, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in three straight games in the Smythe Division semi-finals.
Offseason
Transactions June 9, 1984 – Acquired Bob Janecyk, a first-round choice in the 1984 NHL entry draft (Craig Redmond), a third-round choice in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft (John English) and a fourth-round choice in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft (Tom Glavine) from Chicago for a first-round choice in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round choice in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
NHL draft
This draft would the first for Rogie Vachon as the team's general manager. It would be memorable in Kings history for hits as well as misses. On the down side, the team's first round selection, Craig Redmond, didn't amount to much, and they used their fourth round draft pick on Tom Glavine, who opted instead to play professional baseball with the Atlanta Braves. But on the plus side, Vachon struck gold in the 9th round with the 171st pick overall by choosing future Hockey Hall of Fame member Luc Robitaille.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || 11 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–2 || Los Angeles || 0–0–1
| 2 || 13 || Vancouver Canucks || 5–6 (OT) || Los Angeles || 0–1–1
| 3 || 14 || St. Louis Blues || 2–5 || Los Angeles || 0–2–1
| 4 || 16 || Washington Capitals || 3–5 || Washington || 0–3–1
| 5 || 18 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 || Montreal || 0–3–2
| 6 || 20 || New York Islanders || 3–8 || Uniondale || 0–4–2
| 7 || 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–5 || Chicago || 0–5–2
| 8 || 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–8 || Edmonton || 0–6–2
| 9 || 27 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–2 || Winnipeg || 0–6–3
| 10 || 29 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–3 || Winnipeg || 1–6–3
| 11 || 31 || Vancouver Canucks || 10–3 || Vancouver || 2–6–3
| 12 || 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 7–0 || Los Angeles || 3–6–3
| 13 || 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || Los Angeles || 3–7–3
| 14 || 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 4–7–3
| 15 || 11 || New York Rangers || 4–2 || New York || 5–7–3
| 16 || 13 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–4 (OT) || Quebec City || 6–7–3
| 17 || 14 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Toronto || 7–7–3
| 18 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Los Angeles || 8–7–3
| 19 || 19 || Calgary Flames || 5–4 || Los Angeles || 9–7–3
| 20 || 21 || New Jersey Devils || 8–1 || Los Angeles || 10-7–3
| 21 || 24 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–9 || Los Angeles || 10–8–3
| 22 || 27 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–5 || Los Angeles || 10–9–3
| 23 || 29 || Vancouver Canucks || 12–1 || Los Angeles || 11–9–3
| 24 || 1 || Vancouver Canucks || 6–3 || Los Angeles || 12–9–3
| 25 || 4 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–2 || Minnesota || 12–9–4
| 26 || 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–5 || Chicago || 12–9–5
| 27 || 8 || Montreal Canadiens || 7–9 || Montreal || 12–10-5
| 28 || 10 || New York Rangers || 2–4 || New York || 12–11–5
| 29 || 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 7–2 || Los Angeles || 13–11–5
| 30 || 15 || Calgary Flames || 6–5 || Los Angeles || 14–11–5
| 31 || 18 || Calgary Flames || 6–3 || Calgary || 15–11–5
| 32 || 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–7 || Edmonton || 15–12–5
| 33 || 22 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–6 || Winnipeg || 15–13–5
| 34 || 23 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–4 || Winnipeg || 15–13–6
| 35 || 26 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–3 || Vancouver || 15–13–7
| 36 || 27 || Boston Bruins || 6–6 || Los Angeles || 15–13–8
| 37 || 30 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Los Angeles || 15–14–8
| 38 || 3 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–8 || Los Angeles || 15–15–8
| 39 || 5 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–3 || Detroit || 16–15–8
| 40 || 7 || Boston Bruins || 4–5 (OT) || Boston || 16–16–8
| 41 || 9 || Calgary Flames || 4–4 || Calgary || 16–16–9
| 42 || 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–4 || Los Angeles || 17–16–9
| 43 || 13 || Winnipeg Jets || 5–6 || Los Angeles || 17–17–9
| 44 || 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–4 || Los Angeles || 17–18–9
| 45 || 19 || New York Islanders || 6–5 (OT) || Los Angeles || 18–18–9
| 46 || 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 7–8 || Edmonton || 18–19–9
| 47 || 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–3 || Los Angeles || 19–19–9
| 48 || 25 || St. Louis Blues || 3–6 || St. Louis || 19–20-9
| 49 || 26 || St. Louis Blues || 7–3 || St. Louis || 20-20–9
| 50 || 29 || New Jersey Devils || 6–3 || Los Angeles || 21–20–9
| 51 || 31 || Hartford Whalers || 5–3 || Los Angeles || 22–20–9
| 52 || 2 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–5 || Los Angeles || 22–21–9
| 53 || 5 || New York Rangers || 7–5 || Los Angeles || 23–21–9
| 54 || 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–4 || Philadelphia || 23–21–10
| 55 || 8 || Washington Capitals || 1–6 || Washington || 23–22–10
| 56 || 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || 24–22–10
| 57 || 14 || Boston Bruins || 3–3 || Los Angeles || 24–22–11
| 58 || 16 || Washington Capitals || 5–2 || Los Angeles || 25–22–11
| 59 || 19 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–7 || Quebec City || 25–23–11
| 60 || 21 || New Jersey Devils || 5–3 || New Jersey || 26–23–11
| 61 || 23 || Hartford Whalers || 2–1 (OT) || Hartford || 27–23–11
| 62 || 24 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || Buffalo || 28–23–11
| 63 || 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || Los Angeles || 28–24–11
| 64 || 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–4 || Edmonton || 29–24–11
| 65 || 3 || Calgary Flames || 0–7 || Calgary || 29–25–11
| 66 || 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0 || Los Angeles || 30-25–11
| 67 || 8 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–4 || Vancouver || 30–26–11
| 68 || 10 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Los Angeles || 30–26–12
| 69 || 13 || Hartford Whalers || 3–3 || Los Angeles || 30–26–13
| 70 || 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 8–3 || Los Angeles || 31–26–13
| 71 || 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–4 || Los Angeles || 32–26–13
| 72 || 19 || New York Islanders || 2–3 || Uniondale || 32–27–13
| 73 || 20 || Detroit Red Wings || 6–8 || Detroit || 32–28–13
| 74 || 23 || Calgary Flames || 3–4 || Los Angeles || 32–29–13
| 75 || 27 || Calgary Flames || 2–4 || Los Angeles || 32–30-13
| 76 || 29 || Calgary Flames || 0–3 || Calgary || 32–31–13
| 77 || 30 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–2 || Los Angeles || 33–31–13
| 78 || 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–6 || Los Angeles || 33–32–13
| 79 || 5 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–3 || Vancouver || 34–32–13
| 80 || 6 || Vancouver Canucks || 4–4 || Los Angeles || 34–32–14
Legend:
Playoffs
1985 Smythe Division Semi-finals Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Date Away Score Home Score NotesApril 10 Los Angeles 2 Edmonton 3 (OT)April 11 Los Angeles 2 Edmonton 4 April 13 Edmonton 4 Los Angeles 3 (OT)
Edmonton wins best-of-five series 3–0.
Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 80 46 80 126 46111612 C 80 46 54 100 76-41506 RW 79 41 51 92 132131126 LW 80 31 54 85 5321403 RW 79 30 53 83 104602 D 78 14 39 53 97-20812 C 78 16 33 49 1442202 C 62 21 20 41 58-15311 LW 59 16 25 41 10-16501 D 79 6 33 39 57-8100 D 78 8 30 38 823112 LW 79 17 15 32 38-18122 LW 73 12 12 24 28-4111 D 79 4 19 23 70-2300 C 63 4 16 20 35-17000 LW 73 8 10 18 55-9002 D 73 4 13 17 46-10001 LW 30 4 8 12 43-8000 D 77 2 9 11 1854000 LW 12 4 3 7 430000 D 14 1 1 2 20-2000 G 51 0 2 2 270000 LW 7 1 0 1 22000 D 3 1 0 1 02001 C 13 1 0 1 150000 LW 5 1 0 1 4-4000 G 33 0 0 0 00000 W 5 0 0 0 9-5000 C 2 0 0 0 0-1000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 3002 51 22 21 8 183 3.66 2 1882 33 12 11 6 137 4.37 0 Team: 4884 80 34 32 14 320 3.93 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 3 2 2 4 80000 C 3 1 2 3 2-1100 C 3 1 1 2 9-2000 C 3 0 2 2 0-1000 D 3 1 0 1 20000 D 3 1 0 1 2-4000 C 3 1 0 1 4-2000 RW 3 0 1 1 03000 D 3 0 1 1 2-2000 LW 3 0 1 1 00000 C 2 0 1 1 01000 LW 3 0 1 1 4-2000 D 3 0 1 1 00000 D 3 0 0 0 2-4000 LW 3 0 0 0 00000 D 3 0 0 0 41000 G 3 0 0 0 00000 LW 1 0 0 0 00000 LW 3 0 0 0 4-4000 LW 3 0 0 0 41000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 184 3 0 3 10 3.26 0 Team: 184 3 0 3 10 3.26 0
Awards and records
Records
Individual Most goals in a game, 4 (tied with many others): Bernie Nicholls, November 13, 1984, at Quebec
Team Most 30+ goal scorers in one season, 5: Marcel Dionne, Bernie Nicholls, Dave Taylor, Brian MacLellan, and Jim Fox Most 40+ goal scorers in one season, 3 (tied with 1980–81 Kings): Marcel Dionne (46), Bernie Nicholls (46), and Dave Taylor (41) Greatest margin of victory at home: 11: November 29, 1984, vs. Vancouver, 12–1 Greatest margin of victory on the road: 7: October 21, 1984, at Vancouver, 10–3
Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1984–85 season.
Trades June 9, 1984To Los Angeles KingsBob Janecyk 1st round pick in 1984 – Craig Redmond 3rd round pick in 1984 – John English 4th round pick in 1984 – Tom GlavineTo Chicago Black Hawks1st round pick in 1984 – Ed Olczyk 4th round pick in 1984 – Tommy Eriksson October 20, 1984To Los Angeles Kings1st round pick in 1985 – Dan GrattonTo Boston BruinsCharlie Simmer November 18, 1984To Los Angeles KingsSteve ShuttTo Montreal Canadiens10th round pick in 1985 – Maurice Mansi November 27, 1984To Los Angeles KingsCashTo Edmonton OilersDean Hopkins March 12, 1985To Los Angeles KingsTiger WilliamsTo Detroit Red WingsFuture considerations
Free agent signings October 1, 1984From Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)Steve Duchesne October 9, 1984From Kärpät (SM-liiga)Bob Miller October 10, 1984From Quebec NordiquesRick Lapointe November 8, 1984From Hartford WhalersStuart Smith April 1, 1985From RPI (NCAA)Ken Hammond
Free agents lost July 11, 1984To Washington CapitalsMarc Chorney August 24, 1984To St. Louis BluesKevin LaVallee October 4, 1984To Philadelphia FlyersDon Nachbaur October 10, 1984To Boston BruinsDean Jenkins February 21, 1985To Edmonton OilersMarco Baron
Draft picks Round # Pick # Player PositionNationality College/junior/club team 1 6 Craig Redmond Defence University of Denver (WCHA) 2 24 Brian Wilks Centre Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 3 48 John English Defence Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 4 69 Tom Glavine Centre Billerica High School (Massachusetts) 5 87 David Grannis Left wing South St. Paul High School (Minnesota) 6 108 Greg Strome Goaltender University of North Dakota (WCHA) 7 129 Timothy Hanley Centre Deerfield Academy (Massachusetts) 8 150 Shannon Deegan Centre University of Vermont (ECAC) 9 171 Luc Robitaille Left wing Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 10 191 Jeff Crossman Centre Western Michigan University (CCHA) 11 212 Paul Kenny Goaltender Cornwall Royals (OHL) 12 232 Brian Martin Left wing Belleville Bulls (OHL)
References Kings on Hockey Database