1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' eighth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Offseason Defenseman Barry Long (3G, 19Ast, plus/minus = +25) jumped to the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA.

Regular season

The Kings were coming off their first playoff appearance in 5 years and the season before finished with a .500 record and scored more goals than they allowed for the first time in club history. Still, they were placed in a division with the powerful Montreal Canadiens in the 1974–75 realignment and hockey experts joked that Montreal would clinch 1st place by Christmas. But the Kings started fast, losing only twice in their first 26 games. The Canadiens finally overtook them and clinched first place with only 3 games to play. In addition, the Kings had allowed the fewest goals in for most of the season (which would have earned their goaltender tandem of Rogie Vachon and Gary Edwards the Vezina Trophy under 1975 rules). But they faltered just enough at the end and the Philadelphia Flyers earned that honor by a mere 4 goals.

Playoffs With the 4th best record in the league, the Kings were hopeful of a deep playoff run. But because they finished 2nd in the division, they had to play in the dangerous 2 out of 3 mini series. Their opponent was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were under .500 on the season, finishing 27 points behind the Kings. But a hot goalie can carry a team and Toronto's Gord McRae got hot at the wrong time for the Kings. Toronto scored a late goal in game 1 but the Kings won in overtime, 3–2. Toronto won game 2 in overtime by the same 3–2 score, and won game 3 in L.A. 2–1. Three of the four higher seeded teams lost in the mini series.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||W||October 10, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) ||1–0–0

|2||T||October 12, 1974||4–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||1–0–1

|3||W||October 13, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) ||2–0–1

|4||T||October 15, 1974||1–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||2–0–2

|5||T||October 16, 1974||1–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) ||2–0–3

|6||W||October 19, 1974||3–0 || align="left"| Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) ||3–0–3

|7||L||October 22, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) ||3–1–3

|8||W||October 24, 1974||7–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) ||4–1–3

|9||W||October 26, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1974–75) ||5–1–3

|10||W||October 28, 1974||2–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||6–1–3

|11||T||October 31, 1974||1–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1974–75) ||6–1–4

|12||W||November 2, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||7–1–4

|13||W||November 5, 1974||4–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) ||8–1–4

|14||W||November 7, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||9–1–4

|15||T||November 9, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1974–75) ||9–1–5

|16||W||November 13, 1974||4–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) ||10–1–5

|17||T||November 15, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) ||10–1–6

|18||L||November 16, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) ||10–2–6

|19||T||November 20, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||10–2–7

|20||T||November 23, 1974||0–0 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||10–2–8

|21||W||November 24, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||11–2–8

|22||T||November 27, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1974–75) ||11–2–9

|23||W||November 30, 1974||2–0 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1974–75) ||12–2–9

|24||W||December 4, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) ||13–2–9

|25||W||December 7, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1974–75) ||14–2–9

|26||W||December 11, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) ||15–2–9

|27||L||December 12, 1974||1–8 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) ||15–3–9

|28||L||December 14, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1974–75) ||15–4–9

|29||T||December 15, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1974–75) ||15–4–10

|30||W||December 18, 1974||6–0 || align="left"| @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) ||16–4–10

|31||W||December 19, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||17–4–10

|32||T||December 21, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||17–4–11

|33||W||December 26, 1974||5–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) ||18–4–11

|34||L||December 28, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1974–75) ||18–5–11

|35||W||December 30, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||19–5–11

|36||W||December 31, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) ||20–5–11

|37||L||January 2, 1975||2–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1974–75) ||20–6–11

|38||T||January 4, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) ||20–6–12

|39||W||January 8, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) ||21–6–12

|40||W||January 9, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) ||22–6–12

|41||W||January 11, 1975||7–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) ||23–6–12

|42||W||January 14, 1975||6–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||24–6–12

|43||W||January 16, 1975||4–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) ||25–6–12

|44||L||January 17, 1975||0–5 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) ||25–7–12

|45||W||January 19, 1975||6–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||26–7–12

|46||W||January 23, 1975||8–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) ||27–7–12

|47||T||January 25, 1975||5–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1974–75) ||27–7–13

|48||L||January 26, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1974–75) ||27–8–13

|49||W||January 28, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1974–75) ||28–8–13

|50||W||January 30, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||29–8–13

|51||L||February 1, 1975||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||29–9–13

|52||L||February 5, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||29–10–13

|53||L||February 7, 1975||1–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) ||29–11–13

|54||W||February 9, 1975||2–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) ||30–11–13

|55||T||February 12, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1974–75) ||30–11–14

|56||W||February 15, 1975||8–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||31–11–14

|57||W||February 18, 1975||6–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||32–11–14

|58||T||February 19, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||32–11–15

|59||W||February 22, 1975||6–0 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1974–75) ||33–11–15

|60||T||February 23, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) ||33–11–16

|61||W||February 26, 1975||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||34–11–16

|62||L||February 27, 1975||0–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) ||34–12–16

|63||W||March 1, 1975||7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) ||35–12–16

|64||W||March 4, 1975||7–4 || align="left"| Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) ||36–12–16

|65||T||March 6, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1974–75) ||36–12–17

|66||L||March 8, 1975||1–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) ||36–13–17

|67||T||March 11, 1975||2–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) ||36–13–18

|68||T||March 13, 1975||5–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) ||36–13–19

|69||L||March 15, 1975||0–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) ||36–14–19

|70||L||March 16, 1975||0–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) ||36–15–19

|71||W||March 18, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) ||37–15–19

|72||W||March 20, 1975||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1974–75) ||38–15–19

|73||W||March 22, 1975||4–0 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) ||39–15–19

|74||W||March 26, 1975||5–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1974–75) ||40–15–19

|75||L||March 28, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) ||40–16–19

|76||T||March 29, 1975||3–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) ||40–16–20

|77||L||April 1, 1975||1–3 || align="left"| @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) ||40–17–20

|78||W||April 2, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) ||41–17–20

|79||W||April 5, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1974–75) ||42–17–20

|80||T||April 6, 1975||1–1 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) ||42–17–21

Legend:

Playoffs Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 3 (OT) Kings 2 at Maple Leafs 3 (OT) Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 1

Awards and records Jack Adams Award – Bob Pulford, Coach

All-NHL 2nd team – Rogie Vachon, Goalie

Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season.

Trades July 28, 1974To Los Angeles KingsCashTo Washington CapitalsBill Lesuk February 5, 1975To Los Angeles KingsCashTo Kansas City ScoutsDoug Buhr February 10, 1975To Los Angeles KingsKen MurrayTo Kansas City ScoutsCash March 3, 1975To Los Angeles KingsBill MikkelsonTo Washington CapitalsCash March 10, 1975To Los Angeles KingsCashTo St. Louis BluesJim McCrimmon

Free agent signings June 10, 1974From Vancouver Blazers (WHA)Dave Hutchison July 9, 1974From Michigan Tech Huskies (NCAA)Lorne Stamler August 1, 1974From Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA)Jim Witherspoon

Free agents lost June 27, 1974To Kansas City ScoutsJim McElmury

Expansion draft June 12, 1974To Washington CapitalsGord Smith June 12, 1974To Kansas City Scouts Norm Dubé June 12, 1974To Kansas City ScoutsRandy Rota

Draft picks Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)348Gary Sargent Fargo Sugar Kings (MWJHL)466Brad Winton Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)584Paul Evans Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)6102Marty Matthews Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)7120Harvey Stewart Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)8137John Held London Knights (OMJHL)9154Mario Lessard Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)10169Derrick Emerson Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)11184Jacques Locas Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)12197Lindsay Thomson University of Denver (WCHA)13207Craig Brickley University of Pennsylvania (ECAC)14217Brad Kuglin University of Pennsylvania (ECAC)

See also 1974–75 NHL season

References