Top 10 LA Kings Forwards of All-Time

10 – Butch Goring – 1969-1980

(photo credit to kings.nhl.com)

Best remembered as the final “piece” of the Stanley Cup puzzle for the New York Islanders and winning four straight Cups in five straight finals with them from 1980 to 1984, including winning the Conn Smythe Trophy for the 1981 playoffs, Robert Thomas “Butch” Goring was making some noise in Los Angeles for eleven seasons before all of that, with a talent that was strong offensively and defensively, and with a hard-nosed work ethic that provided Kings’ fans with some glimmer of hope in a time period where there was none. Drafted by the Kings 51st overall in the 1969 NHL entry draft, Goring, (along with future NY Islander’s teammate, goaltender Billy Smith), won the Calder Cup in 1971 for the Kings’ minor league affiliate the Springfield Kings, before permanently establishing himself with the main Kings’ roster and becoming the first real superstar for the franchise, before the arrival of Rogie Vachon (who arrived during the 1971-72 season), Marcel Dionne, (who arrived before the 1975-76 season), Dave Taylor (1977-78), and Charlie Simmer, (1977-78).  “Butch’s” biggest contributions for the Kingdom was during the second round of the 1976 playoffs when he scored two epic overtime game-winning goals for the Kings in games 2 and 6 against the mighty Boston Bruins. The Bruins ended up winning the series in 7 games but “Butch” had already made the NHL world take notice of him, while he became the first player to gain legendary status within the Kingdom. After 4 straights seasons of achieving over 30 goals for LA, “Butch” was traded to the Islanders in 1980 for Billy Harris and future Kings’ Captain (and assistant coach) Dave Lewis, and the rest… was history. (Well for the “Isles”, not for us). “Butch” is still fondly remembered today by the organization and those that were around and witnessed his years as an LA King.

(Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Best Regular Season with the Kings – 1978-79

• 80 games, 36 goals, 51 assists and 87 points

Best Playoffs with the Kings – 1977

• 9 games, 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points and 2 game-winning goals

Career Total with the Kings

• Regular Season – 736 games, 275 goals, 384 assists, and 659 points
• Playoffs – 30 games, 9 goals, 9 assists, 16 points and 4 game-winning goals

Awards and Achievements with the Kings

• 1971 Calder Cup (with the Kings’ AHL affiliate Springfield (not the Simpsons) Kings)
• 1978 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
• 1978 Lady Byng Trophy
• 1980 NHL All-Star Game