2016–17 Los Angeles Kings season

The 2016–17 Los Angeles Kings season was the 50th season (49th season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 5, 1967. The Kings did not qualify for the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, finishing with 86 points.

In March 2017, former Calgary Flames star Jarome Iginla signed with the Kings to play the remainder of the season there. Iginla retired after the season. Later that same month, longtime broadcaster Bob Miller announced he would retire after the season. This season would also be the last for head coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi, who would both be fired after the Kings' final regular season game.

Regular season overview

This season marked the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Kings, who were looking for another chance at making the playoffs following the team's early exit in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs to the San Jose Sharks. The Kings would host the 62nd National Hockey League All-Star Game on January 29, 2017, following the announcement back in January 2016 that the city of Los Angeles would host. During the off-season, forward Anze Kopitar replaced Dustin Brown as team captain, due to Brown's recent goal production drop.

The season would see several ups and downs for the team, ranging from injuries to key players, to younger players from the affiliate team Ontario Reign getting more call-ups to the Kings, and some familiar faces from the Kings' two championship runs departing. On October 12, 2016, the Kings' starting netminder Jonathan Quick would injure his groin in the team's first game of the season; he would not return until February 25, 2017. Former NHL veteran Peter Budaj would be recalled from the Reign and serve as the starting goaltender in Quick's absence. Budaj would later be traded after Quick's return in exchange for Ben Bishop.

Jeff Carter would lead the team in goal-scoring through the season, surpassing team captain Anze Kopitar, who struggled. He would be voted into the All-Star Game for his performance, along with defenseman Drew Doughty. They are the only players from the Los Angeles Kings representing the team this year. Injuries to forwards Tyler Toffoli and Marian Gaborik (who was injured before the regular season) greatly impacted the scoring. However, it propelled forwards such as Tanner Pearson and Trevor Lewis, to score at a more higher rate than before. Gaborik would return to the ice on November 26, 2016. Toffoli, who was injured on December 20, 2016, would not return until February 4 after missing more than a month of action. On March 1, 2017, the Kings acquired Jarome Iginla in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, who would put up 6 goals in his only season with the team. This season also marked the debut of 20-year old Adrian Kempe.

The Kings' defense struggled in games and the team relied on the emergence of young defensemen Derek Forbort, Kevin Gravel and Paul LaDue to aid veterans Drew Doughty, Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, Matt Greene and Brayden McNabb. However, Forbort proved to be the more formidable of the three, and would play all 82 regular season games. Greene would unexpectedly play in his final season with the Kings and the NHL, after he got injured on January 20, 2017, be placed on long-term injured reserve, and would be bought out after the season.

Ultimately the Kings were chasing for a playoff spot all season and, despite the team's best efforts, missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Alternate uniform On September 20, 2016, the Los Angeles Kings revealed a new alternate uniform for the season. Taking cues from their overall history, the jersey is silver with black stripes on the shoulders and sleeves, and a black tail stripe on the bottom; the thin silver stripes on the sleeves represents the team's two Stanley Cup Championships. The inner neckline of the jersey is purple, featuring five gold diamonds honoring the team's 50th anniversary. The Kings' jersey set contains two patches on the shoulders, one for the 50th Anniversary worn on the right shoulder and an All-Star patch worn on the left shoulder. Following the All-Star Break, the left shoulder patch would disappear. A patch honoring Bob Miller's 44 years of broadcasting Los Angeles Kings home games took over the left shoulder during the team's final two games.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2016 pre-season game log: 3–4–1 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 1–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 26 Los Angeles 3–5 Arizona Budaj 5,256 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 26 Arizona 3–4 Los Angeles Campbell 11,064 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 28 Anaheim 1–6 Los Angeles Budaj 14,810 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 30 Los Angeles 1–3 Colorado Zatkoff — 2–2–0 Recap 5 October 2 Los Angeles 1–0 Anaheim Quick 15,837 3–2–0 Recap 6 October 2 Los Angeles 2–3 Edmonton Quick — 3–3–0 Recap 7 October 7 Dallas 6–3 Los Angeles — — 3–4–0 Recap 8 October 8 Colorado 2–1 Los Angeles OT — — 3–4–1 Recap – indicates split-squad game.

Regular season 2016–17 Game Log October: 4–5–0 (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 1–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 12 Los Angeles 1–2 San Jose Zatkoff 17,562 0–1–0 0 Recap 2 October 14 Philadelphia 4–2 Los Angeles Zatkoff 18,453 0–2–0 0 Recap 3 October 18 Los Angeles 3–6 Minnesota Zatkoff 18,644 0–3–0 0 Recap 4 October 20 Los Angeles 4–3 Dallas OT Budaj 18,532 1–3–0 2 Recap 5 October 22 Vancouver 3–4 Los Angeles SO Budaj 18,230 2–3–0 4 Recap 6 October 25 Columbus 2–3 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,230 3–3–0 6 Recap 7 October 27 Nashville 2–3 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,230 4–3–0 8 Recap 8 October 29 Los Angeles 0–1 St. Louis Budaj 18,631 4–4–0 8 Recap 9 October 30 Los Angeles 0–3 Chicago Budaj 21,329 4–5–0 8 Recap November: 8–5–1 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Anaheim 4–0 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 4–6–0 8 Recap 11 November 3 Pittsburgh 2–3 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,230 5–6–0 10 Recap 12 November 5 Calgary 0–5 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 6–6–0 12 Recap 13 November 8 Los Angeles 7–0 Toronto Budaj 18,976 7–6–0 14 Recap 14 November 10 Los Angeles 1–4 Montreal Budaj 21,288 7–7–0 14 Recap 15 November 11 Los Angeles 1–2 Ottawa Budaj 15,622 7–8–0 14 Recap 16 November 13 Los Angeles 2–3 Winnipeg SO Budaj 15,294 7–8–1 15 Recap 17 November 15 Los Angeles 1–4 Colorado Budaj 14,805 7–9–1 15 Recap 18 November 17 Edmonton 2–4 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 8–9–1 17 Recap 19 November 19 New Jersey 2–4 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 9–9–1 19 Recap 20 November 20 Los Angeles 3–2 Anaheim Budaj 16,611 10–9–1 21 Recap 21 November 23 NY Islanders 2–4 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 11–9–1 23 Recap 22 November 26 Chicago 1–2 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,435 12–9–1 25 Recap 23 November 30 San Jose 4–1 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 12–10–1 25 Recap December: 6–5–3 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 4–4–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 1 Los Angeles 4–3 Arizona Zatkoff 11,327 13–10–1 27 Recap 25 December 4 Montreal 5–4 Los Angeles SO Budaj 18,230 13–10–2 28 Recap 26 December 8 Carolina 3–1 Los Angeles Zatkoff 18,230 13–11–2 28 Recap 27 December 10 Ottawa 1–4 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 14–11–2 30 Recap 28 December 13 Los Angeles 3–6 Buffalo Budaj 18,375 14–12–2 30 Recap 29 December 15 Los Angeles 4–1 Detroit Zatkoff 20,027 15–12–2 32 Recap 30 December 16 Los Angeles 1–0 Pittsburgh OT Budaj 18,544 16–12–2 34 Recap 31 December 18 Los Angeles 0–1 Boston Budaj 17,565 16–13–2 34 Recap 32 December 20 Los Angeles 2–3 Columbus SO Budaj 16,568 16–13–3 35 Recap 33 December 22 Los Angeles 4–0 Nashville Budaj 17,156 17–13–3 37 Recap 34 December 23 Los Angeles 2–3 Dallas OT Zatkoff 18,156 17–13–4 38 Recap 35 December 28 Los Angeles 1–2 Vancouver Budaj 18,865 17–14–4 38 Recap 36 December 29 Los Angeles 1–3 Edmonton Budaj 18,347 17–15–4 38 Recap 37 December 31 San Jose 2–3 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 18–15–4 40 Recap January: 7–6–0 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 4–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 3 Los Angeles 2–1 San Jose OT Budaj 17,562 19–15–4 42 Recap 39 January 5 Detroit 4–0 Los Angeles Zatkoff 18,230 19–16–4 42 Recap 40 January 7 Minnesota 3–4 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,230 20–16–4 44 Recap 41 January 9 Dallas 6–4 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 20–17–4 44 Recap 42 January 12 St. Louis 1–5 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 21–17–4 46 Recap 43 January 14 Winnipeg 2–3 Los Angeles OT Budaj 18,230 22–17–4 48 Recap 44 January 16 Tampa Bay 2–1 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 22–18–4 48 Recap 45 January 18 San Jose 3–2 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 22–19–4 48 Recap 46 January 21 Los Angeles 2–4 NY Islanders Budaj 15,138 22–20–4 48 Recap 47 January 23 Los Angeles 2–3 NY Rangers Zatkoff 18,006 22–21–4 48 Recap 48 January 24 Los Angeles 3–1 New Jersey Budaj 13,412 23–21–4 50 Recap 49 January 26 Los Angeles 3–0 Carolina Budaj 10,486 24–21–4 52 Recap January 27–29 All-Star Break at Staples Center 50 January 31 Los Angeles 3–2 Arizona Budaj 11,577 25–21–4 54 Recap February: 5–6–2 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 3–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Colorado 0–5 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 26–21–4 56 Recap 52 February 4 Los Angeles 1–0 Philadelphia OT Budaj 19,833 27–21–4 58 Recap 53 February 5 Los Angeles 0–5 Washington Budaj 18,506 27–22–4 58 Recap 54 February 7 Los Angeles 0–5 Tampa Bay Budaj 19,092 27–23–4 58 Recap 55 February 9 Los Angeles 6–3 Florida Budaj 13,451 28–23–4 60 Recap 56 February 16 Arizona 5–3 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 28–24–4 60 Recap 57 February 18 Florida 3–2 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 28–25–4 60 Recap 58 February 19 Los Angeles 0–1 Anaheim Budaj 17,174 28–26–4 60 Recap 59 February 21 Los Angeles 2–1 Colorado Budaj 13,768 29–26–4 62 Recap 60 February 23 Boston 4–1 Los Angeles Budaj 18,230 29–27–4 62 Recap 61 February 25 Anaheim 1–4 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 30–27–4 64 Recap 62 February 27 Los Angeles 4–5 Minnesota OT Quick 19,118 30–27–5 65 Recap 63 February 28 Los Angeles 1–2 Calgary OT Bishop 19,289 30–27–6 66 Recap March: 7–6–1 (Home: 5–3–1; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Toronto 2–3 Los Angeles SO Quick 18,230 31–27–6 68 Recap 65 March 4 Vancouver 4–3 Los Angeles Bishop 18,230 31–28–6 68 Recap 66 March 9 Nashville 2–3 Los Angeles OT Quick 18,230 32–28–6 70 Recap 67 March 11 Washington 2–4 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 33–28–6 72 Recap 68 March 13 St. Louis 3–1 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 33–29–6 72 Recap 69 March 14 Arizona 3–2 Los Angeles SO Bishop 18,230 33–29–7 73 Recap 70 March 16 Buffalo 0–2 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 34–29–7 75 Recap 71 March 19 Los Angeles 2–5 Calgary Bishop 19,115 34–30–7 75 Recap 72 March 20 Los Angeles 0–2 Edmonton Quick 18,347 34–31–7 75 Recap 73 March 23 Winnipeg 2–5 Los Angeles Bishop 18,230 35–31–7 77 Recap 74 March 25 NY Rangers 3–0 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 35–32–7 77 Recap 75 March 28 Los Angeles 1–2 Edmonton Quick 18,347 35–33–7 77 Recap 76 March 29 Los Angeles 4–1 Calgary Bishop 19,005 36–33–7 79 Recap 77 March 31 Los Angeles 2–0 Vancouver Quick 18,865 37–33–7 81 Recap April: 2–2–1 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 Arizona 2–1 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 37–34–7 81 Recap 79 April 4 Edmonton 4–6 Los Angeles Quick 18,230 38–34–7 83 Recap 80 April 6 Calgary 4–1 Los Angeles Bishop 18,230 38–35–7 83 Recap 81 April 8 Chicago 2–3 Los Angeles OT Quick 18,230 39–35–7 85 Recap 82 April 9 Los Angeles 3–4 Anaheim OT Quick 16,564 39–35–8 86 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final Stats

Skaters