Ranking the 5 Best American Players in Los Angeles Kings History

Historically the very best players on the Los Angeles Kings have been Canadians: Wayne Gretzky, Marcel Dionne and Luc Robitaille, just to name a few. 

The current team is led by two American stars, captain Dustin Brown and goaltender Jonathan Quick. Both suited up in Team USA's first Olympic game against Team Slovakia on Thursday. Brown notched one goal and Quick made 22 saves in a 7-1 win.

The pair has garnered attention because of their role in the Kings' first Stanley Cup win. However, there have been a number of other talented Americans to play for L.A. 

Find out where Brown, Quick and others rank in the top five American Kings of all time.

Stats courtesy of NHL.com.

Honorable Mention: Jack Johnson

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Born in Michigan and raised in Indiana, Jack Johnson played for the Michigan Wolverines before being drafted third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005. Before ever playing for the Hurricanes, he was traded to the Kings along with Oleg Tverdovsky for Tim Gleason and Eric Belanger. 

Johnson went on to have a big offensive impact from the blue line, racking up 30 goals and 94 assists for 124 points in 343 games with L.A. Johnson won silver with Team USA at the 2010 Olympics and was captain of the World Championship team the same year. 

Johnson would be traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jeff Carter in February 2012. It would prove to be one of the Kings' most important trades since they acquired Wayne Gretzky, as Carter helped the team win its first Stanley Cup in franchise history. 

5. Mathieu Schneider

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The top defenseman in franchise history is Mathieu Schneider. He'd rank higher on the list, but he only appeared in 193 games for the Kings. 

Still, with 37 goals and 87 assists for 124 points, Schneider ranks ninth all-time in points among American Kings. He helped the team reach the playoffs in 2000-01 and 2001-02, but they fell to the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in both years. 

The New York native enjoyed a long career in which he suited up for 10 different teams and represented the U.S. at two Olympics and at the World Cup in 1996.

4. Jimmy Carson

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As the second overall pick by the Kings in the 1986 NHL draft, Jimmy Carson is best known for being a part of the Wayne Gretzky trade. 

While he didn't enjoy a long career, there were certainly moments of brilliance from Carson during his two stints in L.A. He notched 55 goals and 52 assists for 107 points in his second season. And, he went on to become the second-youngest player after Wayne Gretzky to reach the 100-goal mark. 

Carson averaged exactly a point per game over his 219 games with L.A. And although he only spent parts of four seasons with the Kings, he remains one of the most talented American players to ever dawn the silver and black.

3. Tony Granato

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Too often overlooked in Kings history is Tony Granato of Downers Grove, Ill.

He may not have been the flashiest player, but he consistently found a way to make an impact. Whether it meant laying a hit, backchecking or battling in the corners, Granato worked hard and fulfilled the role coaches expected. 

The only American players with more games played for L.A. are Dustin Brown and Craig Johnson. Granato notched 148 goals and 157 assists for 305 points in 308 games with the Kings. He also played a big role in the 1993 playoff run, recording 17 points in 24 games. 

2. Jonathan Quick

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Coming up just short of the top spot in Jonathan Quick. That said, he has plenty of time to cement himself not only as the greatest American King, but also as one of the team's best players ever. 

The 28-year-old from Milford, Conn., was drafted by the Kings in the third round, 72nd overall in 2005. He has since risen to become one of the world's top goaltenders, compiling a career record of 165-113-31 with a 2.30 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and 31 shutouts. 

Quick already has a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy, and as he enters the prime of his career, he seems poised to win more hardware, be it individual or team honors. 

1. Dustin Brown

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Dustin Brown may be having an off year, but his career as a whole has been very impressive. 

In 2008, when he was just 23 years old, the Kings named Brown the 15th captain in team history. In the seasons since, the Ithaca, N.Y., native has proven worthy of the role, leading by example each and every night. 

Brown is among the top physical, two-way players in the NHL and has consistently contributed offensively. Brown is seventh all-time on the Kings' games played list and 12th all-time in points with 404. He should have no problem moving into the top five or six on both lists over the next decade. 

Finally, Brown was instrumental in helping the Kings win their first Stanley Cup in 2012, when he scored a number of clutch goals on the way to recording 20 points in 20 playoff games.