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1971–72 Los Angeles Kings season

{{short description|National Hockey League team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

|League=NHL

|Season=1971–72

|year=1971

|Team=Los Angeles Kings

|Record=20–49–9

|HomeRecord=14–23–2

|RoadRecord=6–26–7

|Division=West

|DivisionRank=7th

|GoalsFor=206

|GoalsAgainst=305

|GeneralManager=Larry Regan

|Coach=Larry Regan

|Captain=Bob Pulford

|Arena=Los Angeles Forum

|GoalsLeader=Juha Widing (27)

|AssistsLeader=Ralph Backstrom (29)
Butch Goring (29)

|PointsLeader=Juha Widing (55)

|PIMLeader=Mike Corrigan (95)

|WinsLeader=Gary Edwards (13)

|GAALeader=Gary Edwards (3.60)

}}

The 1971–72 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' fifth season of operation in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Kings finished in last place in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

{{TOC limit|limit=2}}

Regular season

=Final standings=

{{1971–72 NHL West Division standings|team=LAK}}

=Record vs. opponents=

{{1971–72 NHL Record vs. opponents (West)|team=LAK}}

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 5px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 5px solid;|title=1971–72 regular season{{cite web |title=1971-72 Los Angeles Kings Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/1972_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=March 27, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=October|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|1||T||October 8, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||0–0–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|2||W||October 10, 1971||4–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||1–0–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|3||L||October 13, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||1–1–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|4||L||October 16, 1971||0–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||1–2–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|5||L||October 17, 1971||0–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||1–3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 20, 1971||1–8 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||1–4–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|7||W||October 21, 1971||7–0 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||2–4–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|8||L||October 23, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||2–5–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|9||L||October 24, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||2–6–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|10||L||October 27, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||2–7–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|11||L||October 30, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||2–8–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=November|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|12||L||November 3, 1971||1–7 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||2–9–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|13||L||November 6, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||2–10–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|14||L||November 10, 1971||1–7 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||2–11–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|15||W||November 11, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||3–11–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|16||L||November 13, 1971||4–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||3–12–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 14, 1971||2–11 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||3–13–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|18||L||November 17, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||3–14–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|19||L||November 18, 1971||0–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||3–15–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|20||W||November 20, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||4–15–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 23, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||4–16–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|22||W||November 24, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||5–16–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|23||L||November 27, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||5–17–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=December|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||December 1, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||5–18–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|25||L||December 2, 1971||0–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||5–19–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|26||L||December 4, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||5–20–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 5, 1971||0–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||5–21–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 8, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||5–22–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|29||W||December 11, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||6–22–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|30||L||December 15, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||6–23–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|31||W||December 18, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||7–23–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 21, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||7–24–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|33||W||December 22, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||8–24–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|34||L||December 25, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||8–25–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 26, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||8–26–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|36||W||December 29, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||9–26–1

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=January|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|37||L||January 1, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||9–27–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||January 2, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||10–27–1

|- {{Game-won}}

|39||W||January 4, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||11–27–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40||L||January 5, 1972||2–6 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||11–28–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|41||L||January 8, 1972||2–10 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||11–29–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

|42||L||January 9, 1972||0–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||11–30–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

|43||T||January 12, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||11–30–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

|44||T||January 13, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||11–30–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

|45||L||January 15, 1972||4–7 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||11–31–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

|46||T||January 16, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||11–31–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|47||L||January 19, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||11–32–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|48||W||January 22, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||12–32–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

|49||L||January 23, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||12–33–4

|- {{Game-won}}

|50||W||January 26, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||13–33–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

|51||T||January 29, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||13–33–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

|52||T||January 30, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||13–33–6

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=February|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|53||W||February 1, 1972||7–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||14–33–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

|54||T||February 3, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||14–33–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|55||W||February 5, 1972||8–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||15–33–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|56||L||February 9, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||15–34–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|57||L||February 10, 1972||1–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||15–35–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|58||L||February 12, 1972||5–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||15–36–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|59||L||February 13, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||15–37–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|60||L||February 16, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||15–38–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|61||L||February 17, 1972||4–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||15–39–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||February 19, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||16–39–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|63||L||February 23, 1972||0–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||16–40–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|64||L||February 26, 1972||4–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||16–41–7

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=March|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|65||L||March 1, 1972||4–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||16–42–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|66||L||March 4, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||16–43–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|67||W||March 5, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||17–43–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|68||L||March 7, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||17–44–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|69||L||March 9, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||17–45–7

|- {{Game-won}}

|70||W||March 11, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||18–45–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|71||L||March 15, 1972||2–5 || align="left"| @ California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||18–46–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

|72||L||March 16, 1972||3–8 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||18–47–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

|73||T||March 18, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||18–47–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|74||L||March 22, 1972||3–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||18–48–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

|75||L||March 25, 1972||0–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||18–49–8

|- {{Game-won}}

|76||W||March 29, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||19–49–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

|77||T||March 31, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||19–49–9

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#552583 2px solid; border-bottom:#FDB927 2px solid;|title=April|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|78||W||April 1, 1972||9–4 || align="left"| California Golden Seals (1971–72) ||20–49–9

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

Player statistics

class="wikitable collapsible" width="60%" border="1"

! Regular season

class="tocccolors" | Scoring
{| class="wikitable sortable"
ALIGN="center"

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" title="Position"| Pos

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Games played" | GP

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Goals" | G

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Assists" | A

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Points" | Pts

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Penalties in Minutes" | PIM

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Plus/minus" | +/−

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Power play goals" | PPG

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Short-handed goals" | SHG

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" title="Game-winning goals" | GWG

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Juha|Widing}}

C7827285526−36303
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Ralph|Backstrom}}

C7623295222−22714
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Butch|Goring}}

C742129502−10302
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Berry|Bob Berry (ice hockey)}}

LW7817223944−23303
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Real|Lemieux}}

LW7813253828−40200
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Pulford}}

LW7313243748−25210
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Mike|Corrigan}}

LW5612223495−7301
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Gilles|Marotte}}

D7210243483−33401
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Ross|Lonsberry}}

LW509142339−18100
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Serge|Bernier}}

RW26111122123101
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bill|Flett}}

RW457121918−30100
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Harry|Howell|Harry Howell (ice hockey)}}

D771171853−34000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jim|Johnson|Jim Johnson (ice hockey b. 1942)}}

C2889176−1320
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Doug|Barrie}}

D483131647−10100
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Eddie|Joyal}}

C441131417−30102
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bill|Lesuk}}

LW2741014142101
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Paul|Curtis|Paul Curtis (ice hockey)}}

D641121357−32000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Mike|Byers}}

RW2845911−13001
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Lucien|Grenier}}

RW603474−6100
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Al|McDonough}}

RW313258−8100
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jean|Potvin}}

D3923535−39001
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bob|Woytowich}}

D360446−8000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Larry|Hillman}}

D2212311−7000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Dale|Hoganson}}

D1012314−2000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Brian|Carlin}}

LW510100000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Bill|Mikkelson}}

D150116−11000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Jim|Stanfield}}

C/RW40110−1000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Denis|DeJordy}}

G500000000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Gary|Edwards|Gary Edwards (ice hockey)}}

G4400000000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Billy|Smith|Billy Smith (ice hockey)}}

G500050000
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Rogie|Vachon}}

G2800000000

|-

| class="toccolors" |Goaltending

|-

|

class="wikitable sortable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%" | Player

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Minutes played" |MIN

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Games played in"|GP

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Wins"|W

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF"title="Losses"| L

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Ties"|T

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against"|GA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF" title="Goals against average"|GAA

! width="3%" bgcolor="#DDDDFF"title="Shut-outs"| SO

align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Gary|Edwards|Gary Edwards (ice hockey)}}

250344132351503.602
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Rogie|Vachon}}

15862861831074.050
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Billy|Smith|Billy Smith (ice hockey)}}

3005131234.600
align="center"

| align="right" | {{Sortname|Denis|DeJordy}}

2915050234.740
align="center"

| align="right" | Team:

468078204993033.882

|-

|}

{{cite web |publisher=hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-07-14 |title=1971-72 Los Angeles Kings Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/LAK/1972.html}}

{{Hockey season stats note}}

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Kings&BeginDate=1971-05-01&EndDate=1972-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search|title = Hockey Transactions Search Results}}

=Trades=

class="wikitable"
May 1, 1971

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Wayne Rivers

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

Mike McMahon Jr.
style="background:#eee;"

| June 8, 1971

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Claude Provost

| valign="top"|To Montreal Canadiens

Cash
June 13, 1971

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Larry Hillman

| valign="top"|To Philadelphia Flyers

Larry Mickey
style="background:#eee;"

| November 4, 1971

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Rogie Vachon
1st round pick in 1975 – Tim Young

| valign="top"|To Montreal Canadiens

Denis DeJordy
Dale Hoganson
Noel Price
Doug Robinson
1st round pick in 1975 – Pierre Mondou
December 16, 1971

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Doug Barrie
Mike Keeler

| valign="top"|To Buffalo Sabres

Mike Byers
Larry Hillman
style="background:#eee;"

| January 11, 1972

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Bob Woytowich

| valign="top"|To Pittsburgh Penguins

Al McDonough
January 28, 1972

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Jim Johnson
Bill Lesuk
Serge Bernier
Larry Brown

| valign="top"|To Philadelphia Flyers

Bill Flett
Eddie Joyal
Jean Potvin
Ross Lonsberry

=Free agent signings=

class="wikitable"
June 1, 1971

| valign="top"|From University of Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)

Phil Hoene

=Waivers=

class="wikitable"
November 3, 1971

| valign="top"|To Boston Bruins

Matt Ravlich
style="background:#eee;"

| November 22, 1971

| valign="top"|From Vancouver Canucks

Mike Corrigan

=Intra-league Draft=

class="wikitable"
June 8, 1971

| valign="top"|From Buffalo Sabres

Gary Edwards

=Reverse Draft=

class="wikitable"
June 8, 1971

| valign="top"|To Seattle Totems (WHL)

Jack Norris
style="background:#eee;"

| June 8, 1971

| valign="top"|To Baltimore Clippers (AHL)

Norm Armstrong
June 8, 1971

| valign="top"|To Salt Lake Golden Eagles (WHL)

Wayne Rutledge

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

class="wikitable"
align="center"

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="4.0%" | Round

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="4.0%" | #

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="21.0%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="14.5%" | Nationality

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="50.0%" | College/Junior/Club team (League)

334Vic Venasky{{flagu|Canada}}University of Denver (WCHA)
448Neil Komadoski{{flagu|Canada}}Winnipeg Jets (WCHL)
562Gary Crosby{{flagu|Canada}}Michigan Tech University (WCHA)
676Camille LaPierre{{flagu|Canada}}Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
789Peter Harasym{{flagu|Canada}}Clarkson University (ECAC)
790Norm Dube{{flagu|Canada}}Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
8103Lorne Stamler{{flagu|Canada}}Michigan Tech University (WCHA)

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Los Angeles Kings}}

{{Los Angeles Kings seasons}}

{{1971–72 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Los Angeles Kings season}}

Los

Category:Los Angeles Kings seasons

Los

Los

Category:1970s in Los Angeles County, California