- The Kings acquired Wayne Gretzky, which was the biggest trade in NHL history.
- The trades for Mike Richards and Jeff Carter led to two Stanley Cups.
- Luc Robitaille became a franchise icon after he was acquired.
No team in the NHL is as synonymous with the blockbuster deal as the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings pulled off “The Trade,” after all.
But Los Angeles’ acquisition of Wayne Gretzky is just one of several franchise-changing deals that the Kings have made over the years.
Check out the seven biggest trades in the history of the Kings below.
7 Biggest Los Angeles Kings Trades in Team History
1. Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, Three First-Round picks, and $15 Million for Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley, Mike Krushelynski
When you mention “The Trade” to hockey fans, everyone knows what you are talking about. That’s because the Kings’ acquisition of Wayne Gretzky is the biggest deal in NHL history.
Gretzky’s on-ice impact was massive for the Kings. He put up 918 points in 539 games in Los Angeles and led them to an appearance in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, but his influence off the ice was what makes this trade so unique.
It can be argued that this trade completely changed the landscape of hockey in America, leading to massive growth for the sport.
2. Terry Harper, Dan Maloney, and a Second-Round Pick for Marcel Dionne and Bart Crashley
This is one of the great steals in the history of the NHL.
With Gordie Howe retired, the Detroit Red Wings entered a period of mediocrity and Marcel Dionne was one of the lone bright spots in MoTown. Dionne, a former second-overall pick, put up 121 points in the 1974-1975 season, but he made it clear he was tired of losing, and the Wings decided to ship him out rather than build around him.
Their loss was the Kings’ gain, as Dionne would become a franchise icon and put his name in the record books. Dionne’s 731 goals and 1,771 points are the sixth-most in NHL history.
3. Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, and a Second-Round Pick for Mike Richards
The Kings looked like they were on the cusp of big things at the beginning of the 2010s.
Los Angeles had a terrific core with Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, and Dustin Brown entering their primes and were considered one of the favourites in the Western Conference according to the NHL odds, but they were not yet the finished product.
Enter Mike Richards.
Known as much for his tenacity as his scoring chops, Richards was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in a blockbuster deal that sent two promising young forwards the other way.
It was seen as a risky move at the time, but it’s now viewed as a coup because Richards and the Kings would win two Stanley Cups in his first three seasons in Hollywood.
4. Jack Johnson and a First-Round Pick for Jeff Carter
You can’t mention the Mike Richards trade without following it up with the deal for Richards’ former running mate in Philadelphia, Jeff Carter.
Carter, who had been traded to Columbus from Philadelphia before the 2011-2012 season, was upset in his new home, and the Blue Jackets worked quickly to rectify the situation.
Columbus traded Carter to Los Angeles for Jack Johnson and a first-round pick in what is now looked at as one of the best deadline deals of this era.
Carter played a massive part in helping Los Angeles win two Stanley Cups, and he was a key centreman for a team that spent a long time at the top of the hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup.
5. Kevin Stevens for Luc Robitaille
Luc Robitaille was already a fan favourite from his first stint in Los Angeles, but he cemented his legacy as one of the most celebrated players in franchise history when he returned following this trade with the New York Rangers.
Robitaille holds the franchise record for goals (577) and ranks third with 1,154 points.
6. Rob Blake for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Jared Aulin, and a First-Round Pick
Rob Blake was considered the best defenceman in franchise history when the Kings traded him to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2001 trade deadline. It was a painful deal to make and only became worse when Blake helped the Avs eliminate the Kings in the playoffs that season.
7. Matt Frattin, a Second-Round Pick, and a Third-Round Pick for Marian Gaborik
Known as one of the best offensive players during the 2000s, Marian Gaborik was approaching the end of his career when Los Angeles acquired him from Columbus at the 2014 trade deadline.
Gaborik proved he still had plenty left in the tank by scoring 14 playoff goals as Los Angeles won its second Stanley Cup in three seasons.
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