1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season

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1974–75 Los Angeles Kings
Division2nd Norris
ConferenceWales
1974–75 record42–17–21
Goals for269
Goals against185
Team information
General managerJake Milford
CoachBob Pulford
CaptainTerry Harper
Alternate captainsDan Maloney
Juha Widing
ArenaLos Angeles Forum
Team leaders
GoalsBob Nevin (31)
AssistsBob Nevin (41)
PointsBob Nevin (72)
Penalty minutesDan Maloney (165)
WinsRogie Vachon (14)
Goals against averageRogie Vachon (2.24)

The 1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' eighth season in the National Hockey League.

Offseason

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Defenseman Barry Long (3G, 19Ast, plus/minus = +25) jumped to the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA.

Regular season

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The Kings were coming off their first playoff appearance in 5 years and the season before finished with a .500 record and scored more goals than they allowed for the first time in club history. Still, they were placed in a division with the powerful Montreal Canadiens in the 1974–75 realignment and hockey experts joked that Montreal would clinch 1st place by Christmas. But the Kings started fast, losing only twice in their first 26 games. The Canadiens finally overtook them and clinched first place with only 3 games to play. In addition, the Kings had allowed the fewest goals in for most of the season (which would have earned their goaltender tandem of Rogie Vachon and Gary Edwards the Vezina Trophy under 1975 rules). But they faltered just enough at the end and the Philadelphia Flyers earned that honor by a mere 4 goals.

Playoffs

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With the 4th best record in the league, the Kings were hopeful of a deep playoff run. But because they finished 2nd in the division, they had to play in the dangerous 2 out of 3 mini series. Their opponent was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were under .500 on the season, finishing 27 points behind the Kings. But a hot goalie can carry a team and Toronto's Gord McRae got hot at the wrong time for the Kings. Toronto scored a late goal in game 1 but the Kings won in overtime, 3–2. Toronto won game 2 in overtime by the same 3–2 score, and won game 3 in L.A. 2–1. Three of the four higher seeded teams lost in the mini series.

Final standings

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Norris Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 80 47 14 19 374 225 +149 113
2 Los Angeles Kings 80 42 17 21 269 185 +84 105
3 Pittsburgh Penguins 80 37 28 15 326 289 +37 89
4 Detroit Red Wings 80 23 45 12 259 335 −76 58
5 Washington Capitals 80 8 67 5 181 446 −265 21


Record vs. opponents

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Norris Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 10, 1974 5–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 1–0–0
2 T October 12, 1974 4–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 1–0–1
3 W October 13, 1974 4–1 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 2–0–1
4 T October 15, 1974 1–1 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 2–0–2
5 T October 16, 1974 1–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 2–0–3
6 W October 19, 1974 3–0 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 3–0–3
7 L October 22, 1974 2–4 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 3–1–3
8 W October 24, 1974 7–2 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 4–1–3
9 W October 26, 1974 5–1 California Golden Seals (1974–75) 5–1–3
10 W October 28, 1974 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 6–1–3
11 T October 31, 1974 1–1 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 6–1–4
12 W November 2, 1974 5–1 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 7–1–4
13 W November 5, 1974 4–3 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 8–1–4
14 W November 7, 1974 5–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 9–1–4
15 T November 9, 1974 2–2 New York Rangers (1974–75) 9–1–5
16 W November 13, 1974 4–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 10–1–5
17 T November 15, 1974 2–2 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 10–1–6
18 L November 16, 1974 1–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 10–2–6
19 T November 20, 1974 3–3 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 10–2–7
20 T November 23, 1974 0–0 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 10–2–8
21 W November 24, 1974 4–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 11–2–8
22 T November 27, 1974 3–3 New York Islanders (1974–75) 11–2–9
23 W November 30, 1974 2–0 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 12–2–9
24 W December 4, 1974 4–1 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 13–2–9
25 W December 7, 1974 6–2 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 14–2–9
26 W December 11, 1974 4–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 15–2–9
27 L December 12, 1974 1–8 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 15–3–9
28 L December 14, 1974 0–3 @ New York Islanders (1974–75) 15–4–9
29 T December 15, 1974 3–3 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 15–4–10
30 W December 18, 1974 6–0 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 16–4–10
31 W December 19, 1974 4–1 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 17–4–10
32 T December 21, 1974 2–2 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 17–4–11
33 W December 26, 1974 5–1 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 18–4–11
34 L December 28, 1974 2–3 California Golden Seals (1974–75) 18–5–11
35 W December 30, 1974 3–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 19–5–11
36 W December 31, 1974 3–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 20–5–11
37 L January 2, 1975 2–5 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 20–6–11
38 T January 4, 1975 2–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 20–6–12
39 W January 8, 1975 4–2 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 21–6–12
40 W January 9, 1975 5–2 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 22–6–12
41 W January 11, 1975 7–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 23–6–12
42 W January 14, 1975 6–2 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 24–6–12
43 W January 16, 1975 4–1 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 25–6–12
44 L January 17, 1975 0–5 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 25–7–12
45 W January 19, 1975 6–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 26–7–12
46 W January 23, 1975 8–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 27–7–12
47 T January 25, 1975 5–5 @ New York Islanders (1974–75) 27–7–13
48 L January 26, 1975 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 27–8–13
49 W January 28, 1975 5–2 New York Rangers (1974–75) 28–8–13
50 W January 30, 1975 6–4 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 29–8–13
51 L February 1, 1975 3–5 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 29–9–13
52 L February 5, 1975 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 29–10–13
53 L February 7, 1975 1–3 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 29–11–13
54 W February 9, 1975 2–1 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 30–11–13
55 T February 12, 1975 2–2 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 30–11–14
56 W February 15, 1975 8–2 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 31–11–14
57 W February 18, 1975 6–1 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 32–11–14
58 T February 19, 1975 2–2 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 32–11–15
59 W February 22, 1975 6–0 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 33–11–15
60 T February 23, 1975 2–2 @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) 33–11–16
61 W February 26, 1975 2–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 34–11–16
62 L February 27, 1975 0–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 34–12–16
63 W March 1, 1975 7–4 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 35–12–16
64 W March 4, 1975 7–4 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 36–12–16
65 T March 6, 1975 2–2 New York Islanders (1974–75) 36–12–17
66 L March 8, 1975 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 36–13–17
67 T March 11, 1975 2–2 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 36–13–18
68 T March 13, 1975 5–5 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 36–13–19
69 L March 15, 1975 0–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 36–14–19
70 L March 16, 1975 0–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 36–15–19
71 W March 18, 1975 5–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 37–15–19
72 W March 20, 1975 3–2 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 38–15–19
73 W March 22, 1975 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 39–15–19
74 W March 26, 1975 5–1 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 40–15–19
75 L March 28, 1975 2–4 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 40–16–19
76 T March 29, 1975 3–3 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 40–16–20
77 L April 1, 1975 1–3 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 40–17–20
78 W April 2, 1975 5–2 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 41–17–20
79 W April 5, 1975 5–3 California Golden Seals (1974–75) 42–17–20
80 T April 6, 1975 1–1 @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) 42–17–21

Playoffs

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  • Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 3 (OT)
  • Kings 2 at Maple Leafs 3 (OT)
  • Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 1

Player statistics

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Awards and records

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Jack Adams Award – Bob Pulford, Coach

All-NHL 2nd team – Rogie Vachon, Goalie

Transactions

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The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season.[3]

Trades

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July 28, 1974 To Los Angeles Kings
Cash 		To Washington Capitals
Bill Lesuk
February 5, 1975 To Los Angeles Kings
Cash 		To Kansas City Scouts
Doug Buhr
February 10, 1975 To Los Angeles Kings
Ken Murray 		To Kansas City Scouts
Cash
March 3, 1975 To Los Angeles Kings
Bill Mikkelson 		To Washington Capitals
Cash
March 10, 1975 To Los Angeles Kings
Cash 		To St. Louis Blues
Jim McCrimmon

Free agent signings

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June 10, 1974 From Vancouver Blazers (WHA)
Dave Hutchison
July 9, 1974 From Michigan Tech Huskies (NCAA)
Lorne Stamler
August 1, 1974 From Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAA)
Jim Witherspoon

Free agents lost

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June 27, 1974 To Kansas City Scouts
Jim McElmury

Expansion draft

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June 12, 1974 To Washington Capitals
Gord Smith
June 12, 1974 To Kansas City Scouts
Norm Dubé
June 12, 1974 To Kansas City Scouts
Randy Rota

Draft picks

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Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
3 48 Gary Sargent  United States Fargo Sugar Kings (MWJHL)
4 66 Brad Winton  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)
5 84 Paul Evans  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
6 102 Marty Matthews  Canada Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
7 120 Harvey Stewart  Canada Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
8 137 John Held  Canada London Knights (OMJHL)
9 154 Mario Lessard  Canada Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
10 169 Derrick Emerson  Canada Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
11 184 Jacques Locas  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
12 197 Lindsay Thomson  Canada University of Denver (WCHA)
13 207 Craig Brickley  United States University of Pennsylvania (ECAC)
14 217 Brad Kuglin  Canada University of Pennsylvania (ECAC)

Farm teams

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "1974-1975 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
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