# 1996–97 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1996–97 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 30th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Kings missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

## Offseason

Defenseman Rob Blake was named team captain.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 277 | 205 | 107 |
| 2 | 4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 36 | 33 | 13 | 243 | 231 | 85 |
| 3 | 7 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 36 | 37 | 9 | 252 | 247 | 81 |
| 4 | 9 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 35 | 40 | 7 | 257 | 273 | 77 |
| 5 | 10 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 32 | 41 | 9 | 214 | 239 | 73 |
| 6 | 12 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 214 | 268 | 67 |
| 7 | 13 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 27 | 47 | 8 | 211 | 278 | 62 |
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 49 | 24 | 9 | 277 | 205 | 107 |
| 2 | Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 48 | 26 | 8 | 252 | 198 | 104 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 38 | 26 | 18 | 253 | 197 | 94 |
| 4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 36 | 33 | 13 | 245 | 233 | 85 |
| 5 | Phoenix Coyotes | CEN | 82 | 38 | 37 | 7 | 240 | 243 | 83 |
| 6 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 36 | 35 | 11 | 236 | 239 | 83 |
| 7 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 36 | 37 | 9 | 252 | 247 | 81 |
| 8 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 223 | 210 | 81 |
| 9 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 35 | 40 | 7 | 257 | 273 | 77 |
| 10 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 32 | 41 | 9 | 214 | 239 | 73 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 230 | 273 | 68 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 28 | 43 | 11 | 214 | 268 | 67 |
| 13 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 27 | 47 | 8 | 211 | 278 | 62 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Schedule and results

1996–97 regular season :
October: 5–6–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 4, 19961–0New York Islanders (1996–97)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 6, 19966–7 OTSan Jose Sharks (1996–97)1–1–0Recap
3LOctober 9, 19963–6@ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)1–2–0Recap
4LOctober 10, 19964–5 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)1–3–0Recap
5WOctober 12, 19964–3@ Washington Capitals (1996–97)2–3–0Recap
6WOctober 15, 19963–2Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97)3–3–0Recap
7WOctober 17, 19964–2Boston Bruins (1996–97)4–3–0Recap
8LOctober 20, 19961–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)4–4–0Recap
9LOctober 21, 19960–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)4–5–0Recap
10LOctober 24, 19962–8Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)4–6–0Recap
11TOctober 26, 19960–0 OTCalgary Flames (1996–97)4–6–1Recap
12WOctober 29, 19965–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)5–6–1Recap
13TOctober 30, 19962–2 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1996–97)5–6–2Recap :
November: 5–6–1 (home: 2–2–0; road: 3–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
14WNovember 2, 19963–2@ Hartford Whalers (1996–97)6–6–2Recap
15TNovember 4, 19964–4 OT@ Boston Bruins (1996–97)6–6–3Recap
16WNovember 7, 19964–1Montreal Canadiens (1996–97)7–6–3Recap
17LNovember 8, 19964–7@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)7–7–3Recap
18WNovember 14, 19964–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)8–7–3Recap
19WNovember 17, 19964–2@ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)9–7–3Recap
20LNovember 19, 19960–3@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)9–8–3Recap
21LNovember 20, 19961–4@ Florida Panthers (1996–97)9–9–3Recap
22LNovember 23, 19960–6Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)9–10–3Recap
23WNovember 27, 19965–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)10–10–3Recap
24LNovember 28, 19960–2@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)10–11–3Recap
25LNovember 30, 19963–5Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)10–12–3Recap :
December: 3–9–1 (home: 2–4–1; road: 1–5–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26WDecember 3, 19964–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)11–12–3Recap
27LDecember 5, 19961–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97)11–13–3Recap
28WDecember 7, 19964–2Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)12–13–3Recap
29LDecember 10, 19963–5Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)12–14–3Recap
30LDecember 12, 19961–5Calgary Flames (1996–97)12–15–3Recap
31TDecember 14, 19964–4 OTWashington Capitals (1996–97)12–15–4Recap
32LDecember 17, 19963–4@ New York Islanders (1996–97)12–16–4Recap
33LDecember 18, 19960–4@ New York Rangers (1996–97)12–17–4Recap
34LDecember 20, 19962–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)12–18–4Recap
35LDecember 22, 19964–7@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)12–19–4Recap
36WDecember 26, 19965–2Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)13–19–4Recap
37LDecember 28, 19962–5Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)13–20–4Recap
38LDecember 30, 19961–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)13–21–4Recap :
January: 5–6–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 1–4–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
39LJanuary 2, 19973–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)13–22–4Recap
40LJanuary 4, 19970–5Florida Panthers (1996–97)13–23–4Recap
41WJanuary 7, 19976–2Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)14–23–4Recap
42WJanuary 9, 19976–3Buffalo Sabres (1996–97)15–23–4Recap
43WJanuary 11, 19972–1St. Louis Blues (1996–97)16–23–4Recap
44TJanuary 14, 19973–3 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97)16–23–5Recap
45WJanuary 15, 19973–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)17–23–5Recap
46LJanuary 21, 19971–4New Jersey Devils (1996–97)17–24–5Recap
47LJanuary 22, 19972–7@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)17–25–5Recap
48TJanuary 25, 19972–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)17–25–6Recap
49LJanuary 27, 19972–7@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)17–26–6Recap
50LJanuary 29, 19973–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)17–27–6Recap
51WJanuary 30, 19975–3Hartford Whalers (1996–97)18–27–6Recap :
February: 5–6–2 (home: 4–2–2; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
52LFebruary 1, 19972–3Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97)18–28–6Recap
53WFebruary 3, 19973–2@ Calgary Flames (1996–97)19–28–6Recap
54LFebruary 5, 19972–3@ San Jose Sharks (1996–97)19–29–6Recap
55LFebruary 9, 19971–2 OT@ Dallas Stars (1996–97)19–30–6Recap
56LFebruary 11, 19971–3@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)19–31–6Recap
57TFebruary 13, 19974–4 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1996–97)19–31–7Recap
58TFebruary 15, 19972–2 OTEdmonton Oilers (1996–97)19–31–8Recap
59LFebruary 17, 19971–2Dallas Stars (1996–97)19–32–8Recap
60LFebruary 18, 19971–6@ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)19–33–8Recap
61WFebruary 20, 19973–1Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)20–33–8Recap
62WFebruary 22, 19974–0Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)21–33–8Recap
63WFebruary 25, 19973–1Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)22–33–8Recap
64WFebruary 27, 19976–3Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)23–33–8Recap :
March: 3–8–2 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–5–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
65WMarch 1, 19973–0@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)24–33–8Recap
66LMarch 4, 19971–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97)24–34–8Recap
67LMarch 6, 19972–6New York Rangers (1996–97)24–35–8Recap
68WMarch 8, 19973–1Ottawa Senators (1996–97)25–35–8Recap
69TMarch 10, 19973–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (1996–97)25–35–9Recap
70LMarch 13, 19972–4St. Louis Blues (1996–97)25–36–9Recap
71LMarch 15, 19972–5Calgary Flames (1996–97)25–37–9Recap
72LMarch 19, 19972–6@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)25–38–9Recap
73WMarch 22, 19972–1San Jose Sharks (1996–97)26–38–9Recap
74TMarch 24, 19972–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97)26–38–10Recap
75LMarch 27, 19971–2@ St. Louis Blues (1996–97)26–39–10Recap
76LMarch 29, 19971–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97)26–40–10Recap
77LMarch 30, 19972–5@ New Jersey Devils (1996–97)26–41–10Recap :
April: 2–2–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 1–1–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78LApril 3, 19974–5Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97)26–42–10Recap
79TApril 5, 19973–3 OTDallas Stars (1996–97)26–42–11Recap
80LApril 9, 19971–4@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97)26–43–11Recap
81WApril 12, 19974–1San Jose Sharks (1996–97)27–43–11Recap
82WApril 13, 19974–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97)28–43–11Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 8 | Dmitri Khristich | C | 75 | 19 | 37 | 56 | 8 | 38 |
| 20 | Ray Ferraro | C | 81 | 25 | 21 | 46 | −22 | 112 |
| 7 | Eddie Olczyk‡ | RW | 67 | 21 | 23 | 44 | −22 | 45 |
| 9 | Vladimir Tsyplakov | LW | 67 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 8 | 12 |
| 25 | Kevin Stevens | LW | 69 | 14 | 20 | 34 | −27 | 96 |
| 43 | Vitali Yachmenev | LW | 65 | 10 | 22 | 32 | −9 | 10 |
| 4 | Rob Blake | D | 62 | 8 | 23 | 31 | −28 | 82 |
| 21 | Kai Nurminen | RW | 67 | 16 | 11 | 27 | −3 | 22 |
| 44 | Yanic Perreault | C | 41 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 0 | 20 |
| 28 | Philippe Boucher | D | 60 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 22 | Ian Laperriere | C | 62 | 8 | 15 | 23 | −25 | 102 |
| 14 | Mattias Norstrom | D | 80 | 1 | 21 | 22 | −4 | 84 |
| 6 | Sean O'Donnell | D | 55 | 5 | 12 | 17 | −13 | 144 |
| 11 | Brad Smyth† | RW | 44 | 8 | 8 | 16 | −7 | 74 |
| 27 | John Slaney | D | 32 | 3 | 11 | 14 | −10 | 4 |
| 19 | Jeff Shevalier | LW | 26 | 4 | 9 | 13 | −6 | 6 |
| 33 | Jan Vopat | D | 33 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 22 |
| 12 | Roman Vopat | C | 29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | −7 | 60 |
| 42 | Dan Bylsma | RW | 79 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −15 | 32 |
| 27 | Glen Murray† | RW | 11 | 5 | 3 | 8 | −2 | 8 |
| 5 | Aki Berg | D | 41 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −9 | 24 |
| 23 | Craig Johnson | LW | 31 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −7 | 26 |
| 41 | Brent Grieve | LW | 18 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −2 | 15 |
| 15 | Jaroslav Modry | D | 30 | 3 | 3 | 6 | −13 | 25 |
| 40 | Barry Potomski | LW | 26 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −8 | 93 |
| 29 | Steven Finn | D | 54 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −8 | 84 |
| 17 | Matt Johnson | LW | 52 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 194 |
| 24 | Nathan LaFayette | C | 15 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −8 | 8 |
| 10 | Neal Broten†‡ | C | 19 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −9 | 0 |
| 85 | Petr Klima‡ | RW | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −7 | 2 |
| 37 | Paul DiPietro | C | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 6 |
| 2 | Doug Zmolek | D | 57 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −22 | 116 |
| 32 | Jean-Claude Bergeron | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 34 | Byron Dafoe | G | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 35 | Stephane Fiset | G | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 26 | Chris Marinucci† | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 |
| 7 | Steve McKenna | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 37 |
| 52 | Jason Morgan | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 |
| 1 | Jamie Storr | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 34 | Byron Dafoe | 40 | 13 | 17 | 5 | 1178 | 112 | 3.11 | .905 | 0 | 2162 |
| 35 | Stephane Fiset | 44 | 13 | 24 | 5 | 1410 | 132 | 3.19 | .906 | 4 | 2482 |
| 1 | Jamie Storr | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 147 | 11 | 2.49 | .925 | 0 | 265 |
| 32 | Jean-Claude Bergeron | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 | 4.30 | .886 | 0 | 56 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Rob Blake |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dmitri Khristich |
| Team | Best Newcomer | Stephane Fiset |
| Team | Bill Libby Memorial Award | Dmitri Khristich |
| Team | Defensive Player | Ian Laperriere |
| Team | Jim Fox Community Service | Dan Bylsma |
| Team | Jim Fox Community Service | Byron Dafoe |
| Team | Leading Scorer | Dmitri Khristich |
| Team | Most Inspirational | Ian Laperriere |
| Team | Most Popular Player | Dan Bylsma |
| Team | Most Popular Player | Ian Laperriere |
| Team | Outstanding Defenseman | Mattias Norstrom |
| Team | Unsung Hero | Byron Dafoe |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Kai Nurminen | October 4, 1996 |
| First game | Steve McKenna | March 24, 1997 |
| First game | Jason Morgan | April 9, 1997 |

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.

### Trades

| June 20, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsStephane Fiset 1st round pick in 1998 | To Colorado AvalancheEric Lacroix 1st round pick in 1998 |
| August 22, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsPetr Klima | To Tampa Bay Lightning5th round pick in 1997 |
| October 25, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsFuture considerations | To Pittsburgh PenguinsPetr Klima |
| November 19, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsChris Marinucci | To New York IslandersNicholas Vachon |
| November 22, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsNeal Broten | To New Jersey DevilsFuture considerations |
| November 28, 1996 | To Los Angeles KingsBrad Smyth | To Florida Panthers3rd round pick in 1997 |
| March 18, 1997 | To Los Angeles KingsGlen Murray | To Pittsburgh PenguinsEddie Olczyk |

### Free agent signings

| May 23, 1996 | From Merrimack College (HE)Steve McKenna |
| July 8, 1996 | From Winnipeg JetsEddie Olczyk (2 years, $2.15 million) |
| July 23, 1996 | From Toronto Maple LeafsPaul DiPietro (1 year, $325,000) |
| August 2, 1996 | From Chicago BlackhawksBrent Grieve (1 year, $325,000) |
| August 28, 1996 | From Tampa Bay LightningJean-Claude Bergeron (1 year, $300,000) |
| September 6, 1996 | From Buffalo SabresMark Astley (1 year, $350,000) |
| December 13, 1996 | From Boston BruinsRick Zombo (1 year, $724,500) |

### Free agents lost

| July 10, 1996 | To Anaheim Mighty DucksKevin Todd (2 years, $1.2 million) |
| July 24, 1996 | To Florida PanthersCraig Ferguson (1 year, $350,000) |
| August 15, 1996 | To San Jose SharksTony Granato (3 years, $4.5 million) |
| September 14, 1996 | To Houston Aeros (IHL)Gary Shuchuk |
| October 4, 1996 | To Vancouver CanucksTroy Crowder (1 year, $500,000) |

### Waivers

| January 28, 1997 | To Dallas StarsNeal Broten |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 30 | Josh Green | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 2 | 37 | Marian Cisar | Czech Republic | Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) |
| 3 | 57 | Greg Phillips | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 4 | 84 | Mikael Simons | Sweden | Mora IK (Sweden) |
| 4 | 96 | Eric Belanger | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 120 | Jesse Black | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 5 | 123 | Peter Hogan | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 8 | 190 | Steve Valiquette | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 8 | 193 | Kai Nurminen | Finland | HV71 (Sweden) |
| 9 | 219 | Sebastien Simard | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |