1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season
The 1974–75 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' eighth season of play.
Offseason
Defenseman Barry Long jumped to the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA.Regular season
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 the most of the season. But they faltered just enough at the end and the Philadelphia Flyers earned that honor by a mere 4 goals.Playoffs
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
Schedule and results
Playoffs
- Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 3
- Kings 2 at Maple Leafs 3
- Maple Leafs 2 at Kings 1
Player statistics
Awards and records
– Bob Pulford, CoachAll-NHL 2nd team – Rogie Vachon, Goalie
Transactions
Roster
Draft picks
Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held in Montreal, Quebec.| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 3 | 48 | Gary Sargent | Fargo Sugar Kings | |
| 4 | 66 | Brad Winton | Toronto Marlboros | |
| 5 | 84 | Paul Evans | Kitchener Rangers | |
| 6 | 102 | Marty Matthews | Flin Flon Bombers | |
| 7 | 120 | Harvey Stewart | Flin Flon Bombers | |
| 8 | 137 | John Held | London Knights | |
| 9 | 154 | Mario Lessard | Sherbrooke Castors | |
| 10 | 169 | Derrick Emerson | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge | |
| 11 | 184 | Jacques Locas | Quebec Remparts | |
| 12 | 197 | Lindsay Thomson | University of Denver | |
| 13 | 207 | Craig Brickley | University of Pennsylvania | |
| 14 | 217 | Brad Kuglin | University of Pennsylvania |