Los Angeles Kings
California franchise that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014 with Jonathan Quick's Conn Smythe performances — and whose Wayne Gretzky acquisition in 1988 made hockey mainstream in LA.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest NHL Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Los Angeles Kings significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Los Angeles Kings
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Los Angeles Kings.
Often Compared To
San Jose Sharks
#2NHL / Pacific Division — San Jose, California · 1991–present
Silicon Valley franchise that reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2016 but has never won — their teal jerseys, Tank Rhino mascot, and Joe Thornton's Hall of Fame career define the franchise.
Seattle Kraken
#3NHL / Pacific Division — Seattle, Washington · 2021–present
Seattle's first NHL franchise that entered the league in 2021 and quickly exceeded expansion expectations — the Kraken represent the NHL's embrace of the Pacific Northwest.