# 1982–83 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1982–83 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 16th season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings miss the playoffs, finishing last in the Smythe Division.

## Offseason

Goaltender Gary Laskoski attended the camp on a tryout basis. He had played four years at St. Lawrence University, but had never been drafted. Based on his performance at camp, Laskoski was named the number one goalie for the team. Laskoski was not signed to a contract until after several regular season games, earning $200 per game.

## Regular season

One highlight came on January 18, when Laskoski and the Kings ended Wayne Gretzky's consecutive goal streak at 30. However, it was one of the few highlights as the Kings finished last in the division. The Kings finished with the fewest goals scored in the Division and the highest goals against in the division. Laskoski played in 46 games as the number one goalie, but the team played four other goalies in the backup role.

### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 47 | 21 | 12 | 424 | 315 | 106 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 32 | 34 | 14 | 321 | 316 | 78 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 35 | 15 | 303 | 309 | 75 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 39 | 8 | 311 | 333 | 74 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 308 | 365 | 66 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—2−4−23−3−25−2−15−2−115−11−6
Edmonton
4−2−2—5−1−25−2−16−220−7−5
Los Angeles
3−3−21−5−2—3−3−22−69−17−6
Vancouver
2−5−12−5−13−3−2—4−3−111−16−5
Winnipeg
2−5−12−66−23−4−1—13−17−2
Vs. Norris Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
2−12−11−1−12−11−1−18−5−2
Edmonton
1−1−12−12−12−0−12−0−19−3−3
Los Angeles
0−2−11−0−21−21−22−15−7−3
Vancouver
1−0−21−1−10−2−13−01−26−5−4
Winnipeg
1−23−00−32−13−09−6−0
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
0−2−11−21−0−21−20−2−13−8−4
Edmonton
0−2−12−12−0−12−11−1−17−5−3
Los Angeles
2−11−22−11−21−1−17−7−1
Vancouver
1−21−1−12−10−33−07−7−1
Winnipeg
2−0−11−21−1−10−31−25−8−2
Vs. Patrick Division
1982–83 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2−10−2−10−2−10−33−01−26−10−2
Edmonton
3−00−33−01−22−12−0−111−6−1
Los Angeles
2−10−31−1−11−21−21−1−16−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−21−21−1–11−1−12−11−1−16−7−5
Winnipeg
2−11−1−11−1−10−32−10−1−26−8−4 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 6, 1982 | 3–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | W | October 9, 1982 | 3–1 | Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1982 | 5–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | T | October 14, 1982 | 4–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1982–83) | 2–0–2 |
| 5 | L | October 16, 1982 | 1–4 | @ New York Islanders (1982–83) | 2–1–2 |
| 6 | W | October 17, 1982 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (1982–83) | 3–1–2 |
| 7 | W | October 20, 1982 | 7–4 | New Jersey Devils (1982–83) | 4–1–2 |
| 8 | L | October 23, 1982 | 3–5 | Hartford Whalers (1982–83) | 4–2–2 |
| 9 | W | October 24, 1982 | 5–4 | Boston Bruins (1982–83) | 5–2–2 |
| 10 | L | October 27, 1982 | 3–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 5–3–2 |
| 11 | L | October 29, 1982 | 3–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 5–4–2 |
| 12 | T | October 30, 1982 | 5–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1982–83) | 5–4–3 |
| 13 | W | November 3, 1982 | 6–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1982–83) | 6–4–3 |
| 14 | W | November 6, 1982 | 6–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1982–83) | 7–4–3 |
| 15 | L | November 9, 1982 | 4–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 7–5–3 |
| 16 | L | November 10, 1982 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 7–6–3 |
| 17 | W | November 13, 1982 | 2–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1982–83) | 8–6–3 |
| 18 | L | November 16, 1982 | 3–8 | Minnesota North Stars (1982–83) | 8–7–3 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1982 | 4–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1982–83) | 9–7–3 |
| 20 | L | November 20, 1982 | 2–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1982–83) | 9–8–3 |
| 21 | W | November 24, 1982 | 3–0 | New Jersey Devils (1982–83) | 10–8–3 |
| 22 | L | November 27, 1982 | 0–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1982–83) | 10–9–3 |
| 23 | W | November 30, 1982 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 11–9–3 |
| 24 | W | December 1, 1982 | 4–1 | Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 12–9–3 |
| 25 | W | December 4, 1982 | 6–3 | St. Louis Blues (1982–83) | 13–9–3 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1982 | 3–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 13–10–3 |
| 27 | T | December 7, 1982 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 13–10–4 |
| 28 | T | December 9, 1982 | 3–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 13–10–5 |
| 29 | L | December 11, 1982 | 3–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 13–11–5 |
| 30 | L | December 14, 1982 | 2–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1982–83) | 13–12–5 |
| 31 | L | December 15, 1982 | 1–7 | @ New York Rangers (1982–83) | 13–13–5 |
| 32 | L | December 18, 1982 | 0–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1982–83) | 13–14–5 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1982–83) | 13–15–5 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1982 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 13–16–5 |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1982 | 2–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 13–17–5 |
| 36 | W | December 26, 1982 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 14–17–5 |
| 37 | L | December 29, 1982 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 14–18–5 |
| 38 | L | January 6, 1983 | 3–11 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1982–83) | 14–19–5 |
| 39 | L | January 8, 1983 | 5–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1982–83) | 14–20–5 |
| 40 | L | January 9, 1983 | 2–7 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1982–83) | 14–21–5 |
| 41 | W | January 11, 1983 | 9–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1982–83) | 15–21–5 |
| 42 | T | January 13, 1983 | 4–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1982–83) | 15–21–6 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1983 | 2–5 | @ New York Islanders (1982–83) | 15–22–6 |
| 44 | L | January 16, 1983 | 3–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1982–83) | 15–23–6 |
| 45 | T | January 18, 1983 | 3–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 15–23–7 |
| 46 | W | January 20, 1983 | 4–3 | Hartford Whalers (1982–83) | 16–23–7 |
| 47 | L | January 23, 1983 | 6–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 16–24–7 |
| 48 | L | January 25, 1983 | 6–8 | Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 16–25–7 |
| 49 | L | January 27, 1983 | 4–6 | New York Islanders (1982–83) | 16–26–7 |
| 50 | L | January 29, 1983 | 2–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1982–83) | 16–27–7 |
| 51 | T | February 1, 1983 | 5–5 | New York Rangers (1982–83) | 16–27–8 |
| 52 | W | February 3, 1983 | 7–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 17–27–8 |
| 53 | L | February 5, 1983 | 0–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1982–83) | 17–28–8 |
| 54 | W | February 10, 1983 | 7–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1982–83) | 18–28–8 |
| 55 | L | February 12, 1983 | 4–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1982–83) | 18–29–8 |
| 56 | W | February 13, 1983 | 5–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1982–83) | 19–29–8 |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1983 | 5–2 | @ Hartford Whalers (1982–83) | 20–29–8 |
| 58 | T | February 17, 1983 | 5–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1982–83) | 20–29–9 |
| 59 | T | February 19, 1983 | 3–3 | Washington Capitals (1982–83) | 20–29–10 |
| 60 | L | February 20, 1983 | 2–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 20–30–10 |
| 61 | W | February 22, 1983 | 5–3 | Boston Bruins (1982–83) | 21–30–10 |
| 62 | W | February 24, 1983 | 8–0 | Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 22–30–10 |
| 63 | W | February 26, 1983 | 6–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1982–83) | 23–30–10 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1983 | 2–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1982–83) | 23–31–10 |
| 65 | L | March 2, 1983 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1982–83) | 23–32–10 |
| 66 | T | March 5, 1983 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 23–32–11 |
| 67 | L | March 6, 1983 | 3–8 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1982–83) | 23–33–11 |
| 68 | W | March 8, 1983 | 6–4 | Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 24–33–11 |
| 69 | L | March 13, 1983 | 5–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 24–34–11 |
| 70 | W | March 15, 1983 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 25–34–11 |
| 71 | W | March 17, 1983 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1982–83) | 26–34–11 |
| 72 | L | March 19, 1983 | 4–7 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1982–83) | 26–35–11 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1983 | 5–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1982–83) | 26–36–11 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1983 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1982–83) | 26–37–11 |
| 75 | L | March 26, 1983 | 3–9 | Edmonton Oilers (1982–83) | 26–38–11 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1983 | 4–8 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 26–39–11 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1983 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1982–83) | 26–40–11 |
| 78 | L | March 30, 1983 | 5–10 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1982–83) | 26–41–11 |
| 79 | W | April 2, 1983 | 8–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1982–83) | 27–41–11 |
| 80 | T | April 3, 1983 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1982–83) | 27–41–12 |

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Marcel Dionne | C | 80 | 56 | 51 | 107 | 22 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 7 |
| Charlie Simmer | LW | 80 | 29 | 51 | 80 | 51 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Jim Fox | RW | 77 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 8 | -11 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Murphy | D | 77 | 14 | 48 | 62 | 81 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| Dave Taylor | RW | 46 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 76 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Bernie Nicholls | C | 71 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 124 | -23 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| Terry Ruskowski | C | 71 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 127 | -16 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Daryl Evans | LW | 80 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 21 | -18 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Mark Hardy | D | 74 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 101 | -30 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| John Paul Kelly | LW | 65 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 52 | -14 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Jerry Korab | D | 72 | 3 | 26 | 29 | 90 | -6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Murphy | RW | 74 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 52 | -11 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Steve Bozek | LW | 53 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 14 | -18 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Warren Holmes | C | 39 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 7 | -8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Smith | C | 42 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 12 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ulf Isaksson | LW | 50 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dean Hopkins | RW | 49 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 43 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jay Wells | D | 69 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 167 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dave Lewis | D | 79 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 53 | -22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Kennedy | D | 55 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 97 | -17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Chartraw | D/RW | 31 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 31 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Morrison | RW | 24 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Howard Scruton | D | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian MacLellan | LW | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Phil Sykes | LW | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Bonar | C | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 40 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Gruhl | LW | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Markus Mattsson | G | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Giroux | C | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Victor Nechayev | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Brown | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Helander | D | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Keans | G | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Laskoski | G | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mario Lessard | G | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair Barnes | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Blake | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Blight | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gans | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Gladney | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Sims | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Turner | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gary Laskoski | 2277 | 46 | 15 | 20 | 4 | 173 | 4.56 | 0 |
| Markus Mattsson | 899 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 65 | 4.34 | 1 |
| Mike Blake | 432 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 4.17 | 0 |
| Mario Lessard | 888 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 68 | 4.59 | 1 |
| Doug Keans | 304 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 4.74 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 360 | 4.50 | 2 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Awards and records

* Marcel Dionne – Kings' representative at the NHL All-Star Game.

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1982–83 season.

### Trades

| June 22, 1982 | To Los Angeles KingsBlair Barnes | To Edmonton OilersPaul Mulvey |
| September 9, 1982 | To Los Angeles KingsDean Turner | To Buffalo SabresCash |
| October 19, 1982 | To Los Angeles Kings4th round pick in 1983 – Dave Korol | To Toronto Maple LeafsGreg Terrion |
| October 24, 1982 | To Los Angeles KingsTerry Ruskowski | To Chicago Black HawksLarry Goodenough 3rd round pick in 1984 – Trent Yawney |
| December 7, 1982 | To Los Angeles KingsRick Blight | To Edmonton OilersAlan Hangsleben |
| February 1, 1983 | To Los Angeles KingsMarkus Mattsson | To Minnesota North Stars3rd round pick in 1985 – Stéphane Roy |

### Free agent signings

| May 12, 1982 | From Bowling Green State University (WCHA)Brian MacLellan |
| August 5, 1982 | From New Haven Nighthawks (AHL)Pierre Giroux |
| October 22, 1982 | From St. Lawrence University (ECAC)Gary Laskoski |

### Free agents lost

| September 13, 1982 | To Detroit Red WingsJim Rutherford |
| October 4, 1982 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsIan Turnbull |

### Waivers

| January 13, 1983 | To New York RangersRick Chartraw |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 27 | Mike Heidt | Canada | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 3 | 48 | Steve Seguin | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHL) |
| 4 | 64 | Dave Gans | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 4 | 82 | Dave Ross | Canada | Seattle Breakers (WHL) |
| 5 | 90 | Darcy Roy | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 5 | 95 | Ulf Isaksson | Sweden | Solna (Sweden) |
| 7 | 132 | Victor Nechayev | Soviet Union | SKA Leningrad (USSR) |
| 8 | 153 | Peter Helander | Sweden | Skelleftea AIK (Sweden) |
| 9 | 174 | Dave Chartier | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 10 | 195 | John Franzosa | United States | Brown University (ECAC) |
| 11 | 216 | Ray Shero | United States | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| 12 | 237 | Mats Ulander | Sweden | Solna (Sweden) |