Top 10 LA Kings Forwards of All-Time

7 – Bernie Nicholls – 1981 to 1990 

(photo credit to kings.nhl.com)

The originator of the PumperNicholl fist pump, Bernie Nicholls was an extremely talented sniper and one of the most popular Kings for the nine and a half seasons he played in the Kingdom, (his popularity has never waned over the years). Besides the wicked fist pump, Nicholls is also best known for scoring 70 goals for the Kings during the 1988-89 season, (aka, Gretzky’s first year in LA), which is still a franchise record today. He also holds the Kings’ all-time record of 25 shorthanded goals. As a rookie, Nicholls contributed 4 goals in 10 games during the 1982 playoff run that included the “Miracle on Manchester,” where the underdog Kings eliminated the mighty Gretzky led Edmonton Oilers in five brutally close, exciting and historical games. After being disappointed that he was being traded away from the Kings, (while he was representing them in the 1990 NHL All-Star Game), just as things were starting to get exciting in LA after the arrival of Gretzky, Nicholls returned to the franchise during the 2012 Stanley Cup run as an assistant coach, and finally got his opportunity to lift up the majestic Cup. And speaking of lifting things, or more appropriately, raising things, I think it’s now the right time to finally retire Bernie’s #9 jersey and get it hanging nice and high up at the Staples Center with the others, am I right??? (<whispers apologetically> Sorry Kempe).

Best Regular Season with the Kings – 1988-89

• 79 games, 70 goals, 80 assists, 150 points, Plus-30 and 21 PP goals.

Best Playoffs with the Kings – 1989

• 11 games, 7 goals, 9 assists and 16 points.

Career Totals with the Kings

• Regular Season – 602 games, 327 goals, 431 assists, 758 points and 25 SH goals.
• Playoffs – 34 games, 16 goals, 21 assists and 37 points.

Awards and Achievements with the Kings

• 1984, 1989 & 1990 NHL All-Star Game