Who are the top 10 Kings of all time? Three experts make their picks
Kings forward Wayne Gretzky
(Getty Images)
1. Anze Kopitar: All those assists, two Stanley Cups, an exceptional two-way player who’s still a standout at 36.
2. Jonathan Quick: Feisty when someone intruded in his crease and holds just about every Kings goaltending record.
3. Wayne Gretzky: As much for his off-ice contributions as the incredible 918 points he scored. Without him, hockey isn’t as strong here as it is on the youth and pro levels, and without him there’s no Sunbelt expansion.
4. Drew Doughty: The emotional heart of the Kings as long as he has been here. Holds himself and his teammates accountable in a genuine way.
5. Marcel Dionne: The man could score. Still holds the franchise lead in points, though Kopitar can catch him before Kopitar is done. Dynamic and a pure scorer.
6. Dustin Brown: The ultimate captain. His scoring exploits in their 2012 Cup run set a tone for a true team effort. And he never shied away from a hit.
7. Luc Robitaille: What a scorer, still the Kings’ career leader with 557 goals. He had to leave to win the Cup but came back to win as an executive.
8. Rob Blake: Few were as good at dishing out hip checks as he was. Great shot too. Fans who are bitter over his departure should get over it.
9. Rogie Vachon: He gave the Kings credibility and solid goaltending in a high-scoring era.
10. Dave Taylor: Personified class throughout a 17-season career. Excelled on the “Triple Crown” line with Dionne and Charlie Simmer, combining to light up goaltenders around the NHL.
We’d like to hear from readers. Who do you consider the 10 greatest Kings of all time? Wayne Gretzky? Marcel Dionne? Anze Kopitar? Gary Shuchuk?
Rank them in order from 1-10, or your ballot won’t count. Email them to houston.mitchell@latimes.com.
Points will be awarded based on where you rank each player (12 points for first, nine for second, eight for third, etc.) Results will be announced Friday in the Sports Report newsletter.
