2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season


The 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season was the 42nd season for the National Hockey League franchise. The Kings showed improvement while fielding the youngest team in the league, but came up short of breaking a playoff drought that stretches back to the 2001–02 season.
Despite a tough schedule that saw them play 17 of their final 24 games away from the Staples Center, the Kings managed to stay in the playoff hunt for much of the year. They played in 43 games decided by one goal, and their record in these games was 20–12–11.
Alexander Frolov led the team in goals with 32, his fifth-consecutive season with at least 20 or more goals. The last King to post five consecutive season with over 20 goals was Luc Robitaille in the 1993–94 season. Moreover, defenseman Sean O'Donnell reached a milestone by playing in his 1,000th career NHL game on March 14.

Pre-season

On June 10, the Kings fired Head Coach Marc Crawford after failing to make the post-season in back-to-back seasons. Crawford posted a 59–84–21 record during his tenure. He was replaced on July 17 by Terry Murray, who takes over his fourth NHL team. Murray had previously coached the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers, where he led the latter to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Entering the season, Murray's career record is 360–288–89.

Regular season

The Kings made great strides in the 2008–09 season. They went from 30th in the NHL a year prior in penalty killing to seventh-best in the league, with an 82.9% rating. They had the League's fourth-best faceoff win percentage and allowed the fourth-fewest shots on goal. Five players played in all 82 regular games: Anze Kopitar, Michal Handzus, Matt Greene, Sean O'Donnell and rookie Wayne Simmonds. Several surprises also emerged during the season.
Kyle Quincey was acquired via waivers shortly after season started from the Detroit Red Wings, necessitated by an injury to defenseman Jack Johnson. Quincey went on to finish second in the team in assists and averaged over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Drew Doughty, the second overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, immediately contributed to the team, leading the Kings in ice time and was second in blocked shots. He finished in the top ten in the NHL in several categories, and was considered a strong Calder Memorial Trophy candidate for Rookie of the Year honors.
Another surprise was Jonathan Quick, who emerged as the team's number one goaltender. Quick was thrust into the line-up following the trade of Jason LaBarbera in mid-season to the Vancouver Canucks and due to an injury to Erik Ersberg. All Quick lead the team in every goaltending category, posting the third highest win total for a rookie in Kings history. He finished third in the league among rookie netminder in goals against average, and played in 22 of the final 27 and 41 of the final 52 Kings games He had a 1.76 goals-against average and.942 save percentage in nine straight appearances from March 22 to April 9.
The Kings finished the regular season having been shut out 12 times, tying the Colorado Avalanche for the most times shut out.
The Western Conference remained a tight race throughout the season, and the Kings were not officially eliminated from the playoffs until two weeks remained in the season.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The Los Angeles Kings failed to qualify for the 2009 NHL Playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season------

Goaltenders

Regular season-----------

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Kings. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

‡Traded mid-season

Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

  1. Pick later traded to Carolina Hurricanes.
  2. Pick later traded to Phoenix Coyotes.
  3. Pick later traded to Calgary Flames.
  4. Pick later traded to Florida Panthers.
  5. Condition not satisfied.

    Free agents

Waivers

Other

PlayerType of TransactionDate
Bryan CameronReturned to Belleville Bulls September 23, 2008
Matt FillierReturned to Montreal Junior Hockey Club September 23, 2008
Geordie WudrickReturned to Swift Current Broncos September 23, 2008
Olivier LegaultReleased from Try-OutSeptember 23, 2008
Colten TeubertReturned to Regina Pats September 25, 2008
Dwight KingReturned to Lethbridge Hurricanes September 25, 2008
Linden RowatReturned to Regina Pats September 26, 2008
Justin AzevedoAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Andrew CampbellAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Paul CrostyAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Vladimir DraveckyAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Gabe GauthierAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Bud HollowayAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Josh KiddAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Brady MurrayAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Marty MurrayAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Scott ParseAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Daniel TaylorAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Eric WernerAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Jeff ZatkoffAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Drew BagnallAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Jonathan BernierAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Trevor LewisAssigned to Manchester Monarchs September 29, 2008
Michael D'OrazioReturned to Owen Sound Attack September 29, 2008
Andrei LoktionovReturned to Windsor Spitfires October 1, 2008
Martin JonesReturned to Calgary Hitmen October 2, 2008
David MecklerAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 2, 2008
Slava VoynovAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 2, 2008
Davis DrewiskeAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 3, 2008
Joe PiskulaAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 3, 2008
John ZeilerPlaced on Injured ReserveOctober 3, 2008
Alec MartinezAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 6, 2008
Teddy PurcellAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 6, 2008
Jonathan QuickAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 6, 2008
Kevin WestgarthAssigned to Manchester Monarchs October 6, 2008
Thomas HickeyReturned to Seattle Thunderbirds October 6, 2008
Marc-Andre ClichePlaced on Injured ReserveOctober 6, 2008
Richard ClunePlaced on Injured ReserveOctober 6, 2008
Jeff ZatkoffReassigned to Ontario Reign October 7, 2008
Daniel TaylorReassigned to Reading Royals October 8, 2008
Brady MurrayReassigned to HC Lugano October 9, 2008
Jack JohnsonPlaced on Injured ReserveOctober 13, 2008
Matt MoulsonAssigned to Manchester Monarchs November 3, 2008
John ZeilerActivated from Injured Reserve and Loaned to Manchester Monarchs November 3, 2008
John ZeilerRecalled from Manchester Monarchs November 17, 2008
Richard CluneActivated from Injured Reserve and assigned to Manchester Monarchs November 19, 2008
John ZeilerSuspended for three games by the NHLNovember 24, 2008
Brian BoyleAssigned to Manchester Monarchs November 30, 2008
Brad RichardsonPlaced on Injured ReserveDecember 3, 2008
Jonathan QuickRecalled from Manchester Monarchs December 16, 2008
Jeff ZatkoffReassigned to Manchester Monarchs from Ontario Reign December 17, 2008
Slava VoynovLoaned to Russian National Junior TeamDecember 18, 2008
Trevor LewisRecalled from Manchester Monarchs December 18, 2008
Oscar MollerLoaned to Swedish National Junior TeamDecember 18, 2008
Trevor LewisAssigned to Manchester Monarchs December 30, 2008
Brian BoyleRecalled from Manchester Monarchs December 31, 2008
Oscar MollerRecalled from Swedish National Junior TeamJanuary 6, 2009
Slava VoynovReassigned from Russian National Junior Team to Manchester Monarchs January 6, 2009
Jeff ZatkoffReassigned to Ontario Reign from Manchester Monarchs January 13, 2009
Danny TaylorReassigned from Reading Royals to Manchester Monarchs January 13, 2009
Oscar MollerPlaced on Injured ReserveJanuary 14, 2009
Kevin WestgarthRecalled from Manchester Monarchs January 14, 2009
Brad RichardsonLoaned to Manchester Monarchs on a conditioning assignmentJanuary 15, 2009
Brian BoyleAssigned to Manchester Monarchs January 17, 2009
Jack JohnsonActivated from injured reserveJanuary 17, 2009
Jonathan BernierRecalled from Manchester Monarchs January 18, 2009
Teddy PurcellAssigned to Manchester Monarchs January 18, 2009
Jonathan BernierAssigned to Manchester Monarchs January 22, 2009
Kevin WestgarthAssigned to Manchester Monarchs January 22, 2009
Brad RichardsonRecalled from Manchester Monarchs January 22, 2009
Denis GauthierSuspended by NHL for five gamesFebruary 2, 2009
Davis DrewiskeRecalled from Manchester Monarchs February 2, 2009
Marc-Andre ClicheActivated from Injured Reserve and assigned to Manchester Monarchs February 4, 2009
Oscar MollerActivated from Injured ReserveFebruary 13, 2009
Tom PreissingPlaced on Injured ReserveFebruary 13, 2009
Davis DrewiskeAssigned to Manchester Monarchs February 15, 2009
Oscar MollerLoaned to Manchester Monarchs on a Conditioning AssignmentFebruary 15, 2009
Bud HollowayReassigned from Manchester Monarchs to Ontario Reign February 18, 2009
Tom PreissingActivated from Injured ReserveMarch 1, 2009
Raitis IvanansPlaced on Injured ReserveMarch 1, 2009
Oscar MollerRecalled from Manchester Monarchs March 2, 2009
Tom PreissingAssigned to Manchester Monarchs March 4, 2009
Teddy PurcellAssigned to Manchester Monarchs March 4, 2009
Teddy PurcellRecalled from Manchester Monarchs March 4, 2009
Kevin WestgarthRecalled from Manchester Monarchs March 7, 2009
Raitis IvanansActivated from Injured ReserveMarch 12, 2009
Davis DrewiskeRecalled from Manchester Monarchs March 20, 2009
Justin WilliamsActivated from Injured ReserveMarch 20, 2009
Colten TeubertReassigned to Ontario Reign March 20, 2009
Kevin WestgarthAssigned to Manchester Monarchs March 23, 2009
Brian BoyleRecalled from Manchester Monarchs March 27, 2009
Thomas HickeyReassigned to Manchester Monarchs March 31, 2009

Draft picks

LA 's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.
Round#PlayerPositionNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team -
12Drew DoughtyDGuelph Storm
113Colten TeubertDRegina Pats
232Slava VoynovDTraktor Chelyabinsk
363Robert CzarnikC/RWU.S. National Team Development Program
374Andrew CampbellDSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
388Geordie WudrickLWSwift Current Broncos
5123Andrei LoktionovCLokomotiv Yaroslavl
6153Justin AzevedoCKitchener Rangers
7183Garrett RoeLWSt. Cloud State University

Farm teams

The Kings have one American Hockey League affiliate in the Manchester Monarchs. They also have two ECHL affiliates in the Ontario Reign and Reading Royals. All three are owned in part by the Kings' parent company Anschutz Entertainment Group.
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