1994–95 Los Angeles Kings season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1994–95
Year:	1994
Team:	Los Angeles Kings
Conferencerank:	9th
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	16–23–9
Homerecord:	7–11–6
Roadrecord:	9–12–3
Goalsfor:	142
Goalsagainst:	174
Coach:	Barry Melrose (Jan-Apr) Rogie Vachon (Apr-May)
Attendance:	15,397
Goalsleader:	Rick Tocchet (18)
Assistsleader:	Wayne Gretzky (37)
Pointsleader:	Wayne Gretzky (48)
Plusminusleader:	Tony Granato (+9)
Pimleader:	Michel Petit (84)
Winsleader:	Kelly Hrudey (14)
Gaaleader:	Kelly Hrudey (3.14)

The 1994–95 Los Angeles Kings season, was the Kings' 28th season in the National Hockey League. It saw the Kings finish fifth in the Pacific Division with a record of 16–23–9, for 41 points. Defense proved to be problematic for the Kings, as they allowed a league-high 1,668 shots (34.8 per game) and finished tied for 23rd overall in goals allowed, with 174. Their offense was more reliable, as the Kings averaged nearly three goals scored per game. Despite missing a quarter of the season, Rick Tocchet still led the team in goals with 18.

On May 2, the Dallas Stars were in seventh place in the Western Conference with 42 points while the Kings were tied with the San Jose Sharks for eighth place with 41 points (16–22–9). However, the Kings lost the final game of the season on May 3 to the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 5–1, finishing in ninth place and therefore missed the playoffs and both San Jose and Dallas clinch playoff berths. After that, the Sharks came from behind to tie the Vancouver Canucks 3–3 in their final game of the season and, in doing so, jumped up to seventh place while the Stars fell to eighth place.^[1]

Regular season

On April 21, head coach Barry Melrose was fired after six consecutive losses and replaced by Kings president Rogie Vachon.^[2]

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- align="center" |1||T||January 20, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1994–95) ||0–0–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|2||L||January 22, 1995||3–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1994–95) ||0–1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|3||L||January 24, 1995||2–4 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1994–95) ||0–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|4||L||January 26, 1995||1–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1994–95) ||0–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |5||W||January 28, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1994–95) ||1–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|6||L||January 29, 1995||3–6 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1994–95) ||1–4–1 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||February 4, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1994–95) ||2–4–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|8||L||February 5, 1995||2–3 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1994–95) ||2–5–1 || |- align="center" |9||T||February 7, 1995||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1994–95) ||2–5–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |10||W||February 11, 1995||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1994–95) ||3–5–2 || |- align="center" |11||T||February 12, 1995||4–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1994–95) ||3–5–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||February 15, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1994–95) ||4–5–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|13||L||February 17, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1994–95) ||4–6–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|14||L||February 18, 1995||2–6 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1994–95) ||4–7–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|15||L||February 20, 1995||2–8 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1994–95) ||4–8–3 || |- align="center" |16||T||February 23, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1994–95) ||4–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||February 25, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1994–95) ||5–8–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|18||L||February 28, 1995||4–8 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1994–95) ||5–9–4 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|19||L||March 4, 1995||4–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1994–95) ||5–10–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|20||L||March 6, 1995||2–8 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1994–95) ||5–11–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||March 9, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1994–95) ||6–11–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |22||W||March 11, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1994–95) ||7–11–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |23||W||March 13, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1994–95) ||8–11–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|24||L||March 14, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1994–95) ||8–12–4 || |- align="center" |25||T||March 16, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1994–95) ||8–12–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|26||L||March 18, 1995||3–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1994–95) ||8–13–5 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |27||W||March 20, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1994–95) ||9–13–5 || |- align="center" |28||T||March 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1994–95) ||9–13–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|29||L||March 25, 1995||1–3 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1994–95) ||9–14–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |30||W||March 26, 1995||7–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1994–95) ||10–14–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |31||W||March 28, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1994–95) ||11–14–6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|32||L||March 29, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1994–95) ||11–15–6 || |-|- align="center" |33||T||April 1, 1995||7–7 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1994–95) ||11–15–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |34||W||April 3, 1995||7–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1994–95) ||12–15–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |35||W||April 6, 1995||3–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1994–95) ||13–15–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|36||L||April 7, 1995||4–7 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1994–95) ||13–16–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|37||L||April 9, 1995||1–5 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1994–95) ||13–17–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|38||L||April 12, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1994–95) ||13–18–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|39||L||April 16, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1994–95) ||13–19–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|40||L||April 17, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1994–95) ||13–20–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|41||L||April 19, 1995||0–2 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1994–95) ||13–21–7 || |- align="center" |42||T||April 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1994–95) ||13–21–8 || |- align="center" |43||T||April 23, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1994–95) ||13–21–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |44||W||April 25, 1995||5–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1994–95) ||14–21–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|45||L||April 28, 1995||0–4 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1994–95) ||14–22–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |46||W||April 30, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1994–95) ||15–22–9 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |47||W||May 2, 1995||2–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1994–95) ||16–22–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|48||L||May 3, 1995||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1994–95) ||16–23–9 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

	Regular season
	Player
99		C	48	11	37	48	−20	6
22		RW	36	18	17	35	−8	70
7		C	44	14	17	31	−3	32
17		RW	38	10	19	29	−17	24
21		LW	33	13	11	24	9	68
25		D	48	4	19	23	−2	36
33		D	41	3	18	21	−14	83
19		RW	43	15	5	20	−3	20
44		LW	38	4	15	19	−4	8
24		D	40	5	12	17	4	84
28		LW	45	9	7	16	2	54
15		LW	48	7	9	16	−9	12
13		C	36	4	8	12	−7	4
4		D	24	4	7	11	−16	38
12		C	33	3	8	11	−5	12
14		C	22	3	6	9	−2	6
77		D	32	2	7	9	−6	20
29		D	32	2	7	9	−7	22
39		C	26	2	5	7	3	20
2		D	11	2	5	7	−3	27
8		RW	23	2	3	5	−7	18
55		RW	29	1	2	3	0	99
11		LW	9	1	1	2	−7	4
6		D	15	0	2	2	−2	49
26		D	6	1	0	1	−3	4
34		LW	14	1	0	1	0	102
10		LW	1	1	0	1	1	0
35		D	4	0	1	1	2	0
22		D	9	0	1	1	−6	6
9		RW	2	0	0	0	−2	0
31		G	14	0	0	0		2
32		G	35	0	0	0		0
36		G	1	0	0	0		0
38		D	1	0	0	0	−1	0
10		LW	7	0	0	0	−5	19
35		G	1	0	0	0		0
31		G	5	0	0	0		0
27		LW	1	0	0	0	−1	0
3		D	21	0	0	0	−2	11
5		D	1	0	0	0	1	0

Goaltending

• = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.

	Regular season
	Player
32		35	14	13	5	1099	99	3.14	.910	0	1894
31		14	1	7	3	379	47	4.04	.876	0	698
31		5	1	3	1	152	17	3.87	.888	0	263
36		1	0	0	0	25	2	3.00	.920	0	40
35		1	0	0	0	6	2	7.33	.667	0	16

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
Team	Best Newcomer	Rick Tocchet	^[3]
	Bill Libby Memorial Award	Kelly Hrudey
	Defensive Player	Pat Conacher
	Jim Fox Community Service	Tony Granato
	Leading Scorer	Wayne Gretzky
	Most Inspirational	Kelly Hrudey
	Most Popular Player	Kelly Hrudey
	Outstanding Defenseman	Darryl Sydor
	Unsung Hero	Pat Conacher

Milestones

Transactions

The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1994–95 season.^[5]

Trades

June 25, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings 7th round pick in 1995 – Benoit Larose	To Ottawa Senators Jim Paek
July 11, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings Yanic Perreault	To Toronto Maple Leafs 4th round pick in 1996 – Mikael Simons
July 26, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings Sean O'Donnell	To Buffalo Sabres Doug Houda
July 29, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings Rick Tocchet 2nd round pick in 1995 – Pavel Rosa	To Pittsburgh Penguins Luc Robitaille
August 8, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings Ruslan Batyrshin 2nd round pick in 1996 – Marian Ciser 6th round pick in 1996 – Brian Willsie	To Winnipeg Jets Brent Thompson 6th round pick in 1996 – Robert Esche
October 3, 1994	To Los Angeles Kings Eric Lacroix Chris Snell 4th round pick in 1996 – Eric Belanger	To Toronto Maple Leafs Dixon Ward Guy Leveque Shayne Toporowski Kelly Fairchild
February 10, 1995	To Los Angeles Kings Randy Burridge	To Washington Capitals Warren Rychel
February 14, 1995	To Los Angeles Kings Philippe Boucher Denis Tsygurov Grant Fuhr	To Buffalo Sabres Alexei Zhitnik Robb Stauber Charlie Huddy 5th round pick in 1995 – Marian Menhart
February 17, 1995	To Los Angeles Kings 4th round pick in 1996 – Justin Davis	To Dallas Stars Mike Donnelly 7th round pick in 1996 – Eoin McInerney
March 27, 1995	To Los Angeles Kings Arto Blomsten	To Winnipeg Jets 8th round pick in 1995 – Fredrik Lovén

Free agent signings

June 7, 1994	From Moncton Hawks (AHL) Dan Bylsma
June 14, 1994	From Calgary Flames Michel Petit
June 14, 1994	From Dallas Stars Rob Brown
July 7, 1994	From Adirondack Red Wings (AHL) Barry Potomski
July 8, 1994	From New York Islanders Rob Cowie
August 31, 1994	From Detroit Red Wings Troy Crowder
September 3, 1994	From Ottawa Senators Dan Quinn
September 22, 1994	From Montreal Canadiens André Racicot

Free agents lost

July 20, 1994	To Detroit Vipers (IHL) Bob Jay
September 6, 1994	To Hartford Whalers Bob Wren

Waivers

January 18, 1995

To St. Louis Blues Donald Dufresne

Draft picks

Los Angeles' draft picks at the 1994 NHL Entry Draft held at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut.^[6]

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/junior/club team
1	7	Jamie Storr (G)		Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
2	33	Matt Johnson (LW)		Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3	59	Vitali Yachmenev (RW)		North Bay Centennials (OHL)
5	111	Chris Schmidt (C)		Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
7	163	Luc Gagne (RW)		Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
8	189	Andrew Dale (C)		Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
9	215	Jan Nemecek (D)		HC České Budějovice (Czech Republic)
10	241	Sergei Shalamai (LW)		HC Irkutsk (Russia)
S	7	Quinn Fair (D)		Kent State University (NCAA)

References

• Web site: Los Angeles Kings 1994-95 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . September 11, 2023.
• Web site: 1994-95 Los Angeles Kings Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . September 11, 2023.

Notes and References

1. News: Dillman. Lisa. May 4, 1995. Kings' Shortest Season Is Ended : Hockey: They lose to Blackhawks, 5-1, and miss playoffs for the second time in a row. Gretzky says he won't play anywhere but Los Angeles next season. . March 1, 2024. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
2. Web site: NHL NOTES / Kings Fire Melrose As Coach . sfgate.com . September 11, 2023 . April 22, 1995.
3. Los Angeles Kings 2014–15 Media Guide, p. 201–03
4. Web site: Dillman . Lisa . Kings Finally Savor a Victory : Hockey: Shaken by trade rumors, they defeat Maple Leafs, 5-2, in Toronto, as Kurri plays 1,000th NHL game. . Los Angeles Times . September 12, 2023 . February 12, 1995 . Kurri plays 1,000th NHL game.
5. Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results.
6. Web site: 1994 NHL Entry Draft . hockeydb.com.