The 1988–89 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 22nd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Kings finish second in the Smythe Division with a record of 42 wins and 31 losses and 7 losses in overtime for 91 points.
The 1988–89 season was the first for the great Wayne Gretzky in a Kings uniform. He had come over in a shocking trade with the Edmonton Oilers in the off-season (see below). Paced by Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings led the league in goal scoring, with a total of 376 goals scored. In the playoffs, the Kings completed the upset by beating the Oilers (defending champions and Gretzky's former team) in seven games in the Smythe Division Semi-finals before being swept in the Smythe Division Finals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames in four straight games.
This was also the first season that the Kings wore their silver and black uniforms, which they would wear until the 1997–98 season. In the off-season, they had changed their team colours to silver and black from gold and purple, which were more associated with their co-tenants at the Great Western Forum, the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers. They had also unveiled a new logo that reflected the new team colours.
As of 2025, this remains the most recent season where the Kings eliminated the Oilers in the playoffs as the Kings have lost 7 straight playoff series since, and the Kings are 2–9 all time in series wins against the Oilers.
Offseason
NHL draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team17Martin Gélinas (LW)Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)228Paul Holden (D)London Knights (OHL)349John Van Kessel (RW)North Bay Centennials (OHL)470Rob Blake (D)Bowling Green State University (CCHA)591Jeff Robison (D)Mount St. Charles Academy (USHS-RI)6109Micah Aivazoff (RW)Victoria Cougars (WHL)6112Robert Larsson (D)Skellefteå AIK (Sweden)7133Jeff Kruesel (RW)John Marshall High School (USHS-MN)8154Timo Peltomaa (RW)Ilves (Finland)9175Jim Larkin (LW)Mount Saint Joseph Academy (USHS-VT)10196Brad Hyatt (D)Windsor Spitfires (OHL)11217Doug Laprade (RW)Lake Superior State University (NCAA)12238Joe Flanagan (C)Canterbury School (USHS-CT)S12Sean Fitzgerald (LW)State University of New York at Oswego (SUNYAC)
Wayne Gretzky trade
On August 9, 1988, in a move that drastically changed the dynamics of the NHL, the Oilers traded Gretzky (along with Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski) to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989 (Jason Miller), 1991 (Martin Rucinsky) and 1993 (Nick Stajduhar). "The Trade", as it came to be known,oilersheritage.com, After the Trade, OilersHeritage.com, accessed July 13, 2006 upset Canadians to the extent that New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis demanded that the government block itScott Morrison, Wayne Gretzky traded... ...California here he comes, Toronto Sun, August 10, 1988 and Peter Pocklington was burned in effigy. Gretzky himself was considered a "traitor" by some Canadians for turning his back on his adopted hometown, his home province and his home country; his motivation was widely rumoured to be the furtherance of his wife's acting career.Terry Jones, Telling it like it is, Edmonton Sun, August 12, 1988 Others believe it was Pocklington who instigated the trade, seeking to benefit personally from the transaction.
Regular season
On October 6, 1988, Wayne Gretzky made his debut as a member of the Los Angeles Kings in a game against the Detroit Red Wings. Gretzky scored on his first shot, and contributed 3 assists in an 8–2 victory.Gretzky's Tears, Stephen Brunt, pp.182-183, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Toronto, Canada, 2009, In Gretzky's first season with the Kings, he led the team in scoring with 168 points on 54 goals and 114 assists, and won his ninth Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He led the Kings to a second-place finish in the Smythe Division with a 42–31–7 record (91 points), and they ranked fourth in the NHL overall.
Gretzky recorded at least one point in all forty regular season home games, as well as the Kings' six home playoff games. No other NHL player has ever accomplished such a feat under a schedule of seventy games or more.
Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles saw a marked increase in attendance and fan interest in a city not previously known for following hockey. The Kings, who then played their home games at the Great Western Forum, named Gretzky their captain (a position he held until his trade to St. Louis in 1996) and boasted numerous sellouts on their way to reaching the 1989 playoffs.
December 1, 1988: Bernie Nicholls had an eight-point game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 6 || Detroit || 2 – 8 || Los Angeles || || 1–0–0 || 2
| 2 || October 8 || Calgary || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 2–0–0 || 4
| 3 || October 9 || N.Y. Islanders || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 3–0–0 || 6
| 4 || October 12 || Boston || 2 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 4–0–0 || 8
| 5 || October 15 || Philadelphia || 1 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 4–1–0 || 8
| 6 || October 17 || Los Angeles || 4 – 11 || Calgary || || 4–2–0 || 8
| 7 || October 19 || Los Angeles || 6 – 8 || Edmonton || || 4–3–0 || 8
| 8 || October 22 || Minnesota || 8 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 5–3–0 || 10
| 9 || October 25 || Edmonton || 4 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 5–4–0 || 10
| 10 || October 28 || Los Angeles || 7 – 4 || Winnipeg || || 6–4–0 || 12
| 11 || October 30 || Los Angeles || 4 – 8 || Winnipeg || || 6–5–0 || 12
| 12 || November 1 || Los Angeles || 3 – 1 || Quebec || || 7–5–0 || 14
| 13 || November 2 || Los Angeles || 3 – 5 || Montreal || || 7–6–0 || 14
| 14 || November 5 || Los Angeles || 6 – 4 || Toronto || || 8–6–0 || 16
| 15 || November 6 || Los Angeles || 5 – 3 || Chicago || || 9–6–0 || 18
| 16 || November 10 || Hartford || 7 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 10–6–0 || 20
| 17 || November 12 || Pittsburgh || 7 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 11–6–0 || 22
| 18 || November 15 || Vancouver || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 12–6–0 || 24
| 19 || November 17 || N.Y. Rangers || 5 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 12–7–0 || 24
| 20 || November 19 || Buffalo || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 13–7–0 || 26
| 21 || November 22 || Los Angeles || 6 – 1 || Philadelphia || || 14–7–0 || 28
| 22 || November 23 || Los Angeles || 8 – 3 || Detroit || || 15–7–0 || 30
| 23 || November 26 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || 15–8–0 || 30
| 24 || November 27 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Vancouver || || 15–9–0 || 30
| 25 || November 29 || New Jersey || 9 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 16–9–0 || 32
| 26 || December 1 || Toronto || 9 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 17–9–0 || 34
| 27 || December 3 || Chicago || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 18–9–0 || 36
| 28 || December 6 || Winnipeg || 4 – 5 || Los Angeles || OT || 18–10–0 || 36
| 29 || December 8 || Winnipeg || 5 – 5 || Los Angeles || OT || 18–10–1 || 37
| 30 || December 10 || Los Angeles || 4 – 3 || N.Y. Islanders || || 19–10–1 || 39
| 31 || December 12 || Los Angeles || 5 – 2 || N.Y. Rangers || || 20–10–1 || 41
| 32 || December 14 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Pittsburgh || || 20–11–1 || 41
| 33 || December 16 || Los Angeles || 6 – 4 || Detroit || || 21–11–1 || 43
| 34 || December 17 || Los Angeles || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || 21–12–1 || 43
| 35 || December 20 || Calgary || 7 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 22–12–1 || 45
| 36 || December 21 || Minnesota || 8 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 23–12–1 || 47
| 37 || December 23 || Los Angeles || 5 – 2 || Vancouver || || 24–12–1 || 49
| 38 || December 27 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 24–13–1 || 49
| 39 || December 29 || Vancouver || 3 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 24–14–1 || 49
| 40 || January 5 || Los Angeles || 6 – 8 || Calgary || || 24–15–1 || 49
| 41 || January 6 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Winnipeg || OT || 24–15–2 || 50
| 42 || January 8 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Winnipeg || OT || 24–15–3 || 51
| 43 || January 10 || Edmonton || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || OT || 25–15–3 || 53
| 44 || January 12 || St. Louis || 7 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 26–15–3 || 55
| 45 || January 14 || Hartford || 9 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 27–15–3 || 57
| 46 || January 17 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || St. Louis || || 27–16–3 || 57
| 47 || January 19 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || N.Y. Islanders || || 27–17–3 || 57
| 48 || January 21 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Hartford || || 27–18–3 || 57
| 49 || January 24 || Los Angeles || 4 – 4 || Washington || OT || 27–18–4 || 58
| 50 || January 26 || Vancouver || 2 – 6 || Los Angeles || || 27–19–4 || 58
| 51 || January 28 || Edmonton || 6 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 27–20–4 || 58
| 52 || January 31 || Calgary || 5 – 8 || Los Angeles || || 27–21–4 || 58
| 53 || February 2 || New Jersey || 6 – 6 || Los Angeles || OT || 27–21–5 || 59
| 54 || February 4 || Buffalo || 5 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 28–21–5 || 61
| 55 || February 9 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Boston || || 28–22–5 || 61
| 56 || February 10 || Los Angeles || 7 – 6 || Washington || OT || 29–22–5 || 63
| 57 || February 12 || Los Angeles || 6 – 2 || Chicago || || 30–22–5 || 65
| 58 || February 15 || Boston || 3 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 30–23–5 || 65
| 59 || February 18 || Quebec || 11 – 3 || Los Angeles || || 31–23–5 || 67
| 60 || February 20 || Toronto || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 32–23–5 || 69
| 61 || February 22 || Washington || 2 – 7 || Los Angeles || || 32–24–5 || 69
| 62 || February 24 || Los Angeles || 1 – 4 || Edmonton || || 32–25–5 || 69
| 63 || February 26 || Los Angeles || 1 – 1 || New Jersey || || 32–25–6 || 70
| 64 || February 27 || Los Angeles || 4 – 6 || N.Y. Rangers || || 32–26–6 || 70
| 65 || March 1 || Los Angeles || 5 – 4 || Buffalo || || 33–26–6 || 72
| 66 || March 2 || Los Angeles || 4 – 6 || St. Louis || || 33–27–6 || 72
| 67 || March 4 || Philadelphia || 6 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 34–27–6 || 74
| 68 || March 7 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 2 || Los Angeles || OT || 35–27–6 || 76
| 69 || March 10 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Vancouver || || 35–28–6 || 76
| 70 || March 12 || Los Angeles || 6 – 3 || Edmonton || || 36–28–6 || 78
| 71 || March 14 || Los Angeles || 4 – 0 || Quebec || || 37–28–6 || 80
| 72 || March 15 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Montreal || || 37–29–6 || 80
| 73 || March 18 || Calgary || 3 – 9 || Los Angeles || || 37–30–6 || 80
| 74 || March 21 || Los Angeles || 4 – 3 || Edmonton || || 38–30–6 || 82
| 75 || March 23 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 38–31–6 || 82
| 76 || March 25 || Edmonton || 4 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 39–31–6 || 84
| 77 || March 28 || Winnipeg || 3 – 3 || Los Angeles || OT || 39–31–7 || 85
| 78 || March 29 || Winnipeg || 2 – 1 || Los Angeles || OT || 40–31–7 || 87
| 79 || April 1 || Vancouver || 6 – 4 || Los Angeles || || 41–31–7 || 89
| 80 || April 2 || Los Angeles || 5 – 4 || Vancouver || || 42–31–7 || 91
Legend:
Playoffs
Smythe Division Semifinals The Kings faced Gretzky's old team, the Oilers, in the first round of the 1989 playoffs. They fell behind 3 games to 1, but rallied to take the series in seven games, helped in no small part by nine goals from Chris Kontos, a little-known player who had just recently been called up from the minor leagues. However, the Kings were quickly swept out of the playoffs in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings Date Away Score Home ScoreApril 5 Edmonton Oilers 4 Los Angeles Kings 3 April 6 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 5April 8 Los Angeles Kings 0 Edmonton Oilers 4 April 9 Los Angeles Kings 3 Edmonton Oilers 4 April 11 Edmonton Oilers 2 Los Angeles Kings 4 April 13 Los Angeles Kings 4 Edmonton Oilers 1 April 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 Los Angeles Kings 6 Los Angeles wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 3
Smythe Division Finals Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames