# 1991–92 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1991–92 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 25th season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings finishing second in the Smythe Division with a record of 35–31–14. However, they were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers in six games.

## Offseason

In the Entry Draft, the Kings first pick, in the second round, was used to choose Guy Leveque from the Cornwall Royals of the Ontario Hockey League. Their first-round pick had been dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in the Wayne Gretzky trade.

## Pre-season

On September 27, 1991, the Kings played the New York Rangers in the first ever outdoor NHL game in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Caesars Palace. This was also the first NHL game in Las Vegas since 1968. The crowd on hand was 13,000 with the Kings beating the Rangers 5 to 2.

## Regular season
### Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 285 | 250 | 96 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 287 | 250 | 84 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 295 | 297 | 82 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 32 | 15 | 251 | 244 | 81 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 296 | 305 | 74 |
| San Jose Sharks | 80 | 17 | 58 | 5 | 219 | 359 | 39 |
Campbell Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 25 | 12 | 320 | 256 | 98 |
| 2 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 42 | 26 | 12 | 285 | 250 | 96 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | NRS | 80 | 36 | 29 | 15 | 257 | 236 | 87 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | SMY | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 287 | 296 | 84 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | NRS | 80 | 36 | 33 | 11 | 279 | 266 | 83 |
| 6 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 295 | 297 | 82 |
| 7 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 33 | 32 | 15 | 251 | 244 | 81 |
| 8 | Calgary Flames | SMY | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | 296 | 305 | 74 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | NRS | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 246 | 278 | 70 |
| 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NRS | 80 | 30 | 43 | 7 | 234 | 294 | 67 |
| 11 | San Jose Sharks | SMY | 80 | 17 | 58 | 5 | 219 | 359 | 39 |
Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 4, 1991 | 6–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | T | October 6, 1991 | 2–2 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | W | October 8, 1991 | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | L | October 10, 1991 | 1–7 | Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | T | October 12, 1991 | 3–3 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 2–1–2 |
| 6 | W | October 16, 1991 | 8–5 | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 3–1–2 |
| 7 | W | October 19, 1991 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 4–1–2 |
| 8 | L | October 22, 1991 | 2–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 4–2–2 |
| 9 | L | October 23, 1991 | 2–7 | @ New York Rangers (1991–92) | 4–3–2 |
| 10 | W | October 26, 1991 | 4–2 | @ New York Islanders (1991–92) | 5–3–2 |
| 11 | W | October 28, 1991 | 4–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 6–3–2 |
| 12 | T | October 30, 1991 | 4–4 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 6–3–3 |
| 13 | W | October 31, 1991 | 4–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 7–3–3 |
| 14 | W | November 2, 1991 | 5–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) | 8–3–3 |
| 15 | L | November 7, 1991 | 3–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 8–4–3 |
| 16 | T | November 9, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 8–4–4 |
| 17 | L | November 11, 1991 | 2–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 8–5–4 |
| 18 | L | November 12, 1991 | 2–8 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 8–6–4 |
| 19 | T | November 14, 1991 | 2–2 OT | Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) | 8–6–5 |
| 20 | L | November 16, 1991 | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 8–7–5 |
| 21 | W | November 19, 1991 | 3–2 OT | @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 9–7–5 |
| 22 | W | November 21, 1991 | 6–1 | New York Rangers (1991–92) | 10–7–5 |
| 23 | W | November 23, 1991 | 6–4 | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 11–7–5 |
| 24 | T | November 26, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) | 11–7–6 |
| 25 | L | November 28, 1991 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 11–8–6 |
| 26 | L | November 30, 1991 | 1–4 | New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 11–9–6 |
| 27 | L | December 3, 1991 | 2–3 OT | @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 11–10–6 |
| 28 | L | December 5, 1991 | 2–6 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 11–11–6 |
| 29 | L | December 7, 1991 | 5–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 11–12–6 |
| 30 | W | December 12, 1991 | 2–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 12–12–6 |
| 31 | T | December 14, 1991 | 4–4 OT | Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 12–12–7 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1991 | 1–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 12–13–7 |
| 33 | L | December 21, 1991 | 2–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) | 12–14–7 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1991 | 5–3 | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 13–14–7 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1991 | 9–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 14–14–7 |
| 36 | L | December 29, 1991 | 2–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 14–15–7 |
| 37 | L | December 31, 1991 | 3–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 14–16–7 |
| 38 | W | January 2, 1992 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 15–16–7 |
| 39 | W | January 4, 1992 | 7–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 16–16–7 |
| 40 | W | January 7, 1992 | 5–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 17–16–7 |
| 41 | L | January 9, 1992 | 2–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 17–17–7 |
| 42 | L | January 10, 1992 | 4–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 17–18–7 |
| 43 | L | January 12, 1992 | 2–5 | @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) | 17–19–7 |
| 44 | T | January 14, 1992 | 3–3 OT | San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 17–19–8 |
| 45 | T | January 16, 1992 | 2–2 OT | Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 17–19–9 |
| 46 | T | January 22, 1992 | 3–3 OT | @ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) | 17–19–10 |
| 47 | W | January 23, 1992 | 6–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 18–19–10 |
| 48 | W | January 25, 1992 | 4–3 | Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 19–19–10 |
| 49 | T | January 28, 1992 | 3–3 OT | St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 19–19–11 |
| 50 | L | January 30, 1992 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1991–92) | 19–20–11 |
| 51 | W | February 1, 1992 | 2–0 | Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 20–20–11 |
| 52 | L | February 4, 1992 | 1–2 | New York Islanders (1991–92) | 20–21–11 |
| 53 | T | February 6, 1992 | 5–5 OT | Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 20–21–12 |
| 54 | W | February 8, 1992 | 4–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 21–21–12 |
| 55 | W | February 9, 1992 | 5–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) | 22–21–12 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1992 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) | 22–22–12 |
| 57 | T | February 13, 1992 | 2–2 OT | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) | 22–22–13 |
| 58 | W | February 15, 1992 | 6–3 | Washington Capitals (1991–92) | 23–22–13 |
| 59 | W | February 17, 1992 | 6–3 | Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 24–22–13 |
| 60 | L | February 19, 1992 | 3–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 24–23–13 |
| 61 | L | February 21, 1992 | 7–9 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 24–24–13 |
| 62 | W | February 23, 1992 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 25–24–13 |
| 63 | W | February 25, 1992 | 4–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 26–24–13 |
| 64 | W | February 27, 1992 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) | 27–24–13 |
| 65 | W | February 29, 1992 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 28–24–13 |
| 66 | W | March 3, 1992 | 4–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) | 29–24–13 |
| 67 | W | March 4, 1992 | 4–3 | @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) | 30–24–13 |
| 68 | W | March 7, 1992 | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) | 31–24–13 |
| 69 | W | March 9, 1992 | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) | 32–24–13 |
| 70 | L | March 11, 1992 | 0–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) | 32–25–13 |
| 71 | L | March 14, 1992 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) | 32–26–13 |
| 72 | L | March 15, 1992 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) | 32–27–13 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1992 | 5–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 33–27–13 |
| 74 | L | March 19, 1992 | 2–8 | Buffalo Sabres (1991–92) | 33–28–13 |
| 75 | W | March 21, 1992 | 5–2 | Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 34–28–13 |
| 76 | L | March 26, 1992 | 2–7 | @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) | 34–29–13 |
| 77 | L | March 27, 1992 | 4–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) | 34–30–13 |
| 78 | T | March 29, 1992 | 2–2 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) | 34–30–14 |
| 79 | W | April 12, 1992 | 6–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 35–30–14 |
| 80 | L | April 14, 1992 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) | 35–31–14 |

## Playoffs

The Kings lost in the Division Semi-finals to the Edmonton Oilers, four games to two.
* Edmonton won series 4–2

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 74 | 31 | 90 | 121 | 34 |
| Luc Robitaille | 80 | 44 | 63 | 107 | 95 |
| Tony Granato | 80 | 39 | 29 | 68 | 187 |
| Jari Kurri | 73 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 24 |
| Mike Donnelly | 80 | 29 | 16 | 45 | 20 |
| Bob Kudelski | 80 | 22 | 21 | 43 | 42 |
| Corey Millen | 46 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 44 |
| Tomas Sandstrom | 49 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 70 |
| Dave Taylor | 77 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 63 |
| John McIntyre | 73 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 100 |
| Jay Miller | 67 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 249 |
| Kyosti Karjalainen | 28 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 12 |
| Randy Gilhen | 33 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 |
| Scott Bjugstad | 22 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Sylvain Couturier | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Jim Thomson | 45 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 162 |
| Francois Breault | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 |
| Ilkka Sinisalo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Shawn McCosh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sean Whyte | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Defensemen

Note: GP = Games played; G= Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Brian Benning | 53 | 2 | 30 | 32 | 99 |
| Marty McSorley | 71 | 7 | 22 | 29 | 268 |
| Charlie Huddy | 56 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 43 |
| Rob Blake | 57 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 102 |
| Peter Ahola | 71 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 101 |
| Larry Robinson | 56 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 37 |
| Tim Watters | 37 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 92 |
| Darryl Sydor | 18 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
| Paul Coffey | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 25 |
| Brent Thompson | 27 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 89 |
| Jeff Chychrun | 26 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 76 |
| Rene Chapdelaine | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Rod Buskas | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Kelly Hrudey | 60 | 26 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3.37 |
| Daniel Berthiaume | 19 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4.04 |
| Steve Weeks | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.05 |
| David Goverde | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 |

## Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

### Trades

| May 30, 1991 | To Los Angeles KingsJeff Chychrun Jari Kurri | To Philadelphia FlyersSteve Duchesne Steve Kasper 4th round pick in 1991 - Aris Brimanis |
| June 22, 1991 | To Los Angeles KingsRandy Gilhen Charlie Huddy Jim Thomson 4th round pick in 1991 - Darryl Sydor | To Minnesota North StarsTodd Elik |
| October 28, 1991 | To Los Angeles KingsChris Norton Future considerations | To Chicago BlackhawksRod Buskas |
| November 29, 1991 | To Los Angeles KingsRick Lanz | To Chicago BlackhawksCash |
| January 18, 1992 | To Los Angeles KingsFuture considerations | To Boston BruinsDaniel Berthiaume |
| February 18, 1992 | To Los Angeles KingsSteve Weeks | To New York Islanders7th round pick in 1992 - Steve O'Rourke |
| February 19, 1992 | To Los Angeles KingsPaul Coffey | To Pittsburgh PenguinsJeff Chychrun Brian Benning 1st round pick in 1992 - Jason Bowen |

### Free agents lost

| June 30, 1991 | To Chicago BlackhawksJohn Tonelli |
| July 2, 1991 | To Detroit Red WingsMicah Aivazoff |
| August 2, 1991 | To Boston BruinsDennis Smith |
| August 9, 1991 | To San Jose SharksBrian Lawton |
| September 17, 1991 | To Montreal CanadiensStéphane Richer |

### Lost in expansion draft

| May 30, 1991 | To Minnesota North StarsJim Thomson |

## Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft held at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 42 | Guy Leveque | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |
| 4 | 79 | Keith Redmond | Canada | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 4 | 81 | Alexei Zhitnik | Soviet Union | Sokil Kyiv (USSR) |
| 5 | 108 | Pauli Jaks | Switzerland | HC Ambri-Piotta (Switzerland) |
| 6 | 130 | Brett Seguin | United States | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 7 | 152 | Kelly Fairchild | United States | Grand Rapids High School (USHS-MN) |
| 9 | 196 | Craig Brown | Canada | Western Michigan University (CCHA) |
| 10 | 218 | Mattias Olsson | Sweden | Farjestad BK (Sweden) |
| 11 | 240 | Andre Boulianne | Canada | Longueuil College Francais (QPJHL) |
| 12 | 262 | Michael Gaul | Canada | St. Lawrence University (ECAC) |
| S | 26 | Brendan Creagh | United States | University of Vermont (Hockey East) |