Ranking the 5 Greatest Rookie Seasons in Los Angeles Kings History

The Los Angeles Kings have had their share of star players: Marcel Dionne, Luc Robitaille, Rob Blake and, of course, Wayne Gretzky, just to name a few. 

But only a handful of players have stood out as rookies for the Kings. Since the team's inception in 1967, just one has won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. 

With that in mind, we examine the Kings' five best rookie seasons based on performance, statistics and place in the Calder race that year.

5. Lubomir Visnovsky

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In 2000-01, Lubomir Visnovsky entered the league as an older rookie at age 24.

He joined a blue line that included Mathieu Schneider and, for part of the season, Blake. When Blake was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, Visnovsky had to step up and play a bigger role. He notched seven goals and 32 assists for 39 points in 81 games.

He finished fourth in Calder voting behind Evgeni Nabokov, Brad Richards and Martin Havlat.

4. Anze Kopitar

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He is one of the greatest L.A. players ever, and he's just entering his prime. 

Anze Kopitar started his career in 2006-07 after the Kings selected him 11th overall in the 2005 NHL draft. Kopitar wasted no time showing he had the potential to be a top-line center. His great two-way abilities were evident, as were his offensive instincts.

Kopitar notched 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points in 72 games. He finished fourth in Calder voting behind an excellent trio of forwards in Evgeni Malkin, Paul Stastny and Jordan Staal.

3. Jimmy Carson

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Jimmy Carson was an 18-year-old rookie in 1987 and the youngest player on the Kings. He finished third in Calder voting behind goaltender Ron Hextall and an L.A. teammate we've yet to see on the list. 

Carson registered 215 shots in his rookie campaign, during which he played 80 games. With 37 goals and 42 assists, he came up just short of averaging a point per game, finishing with 79. That was good enough for third on the team that season. 

Carson had three points in five playoff games and played just one more season with L.A. before being a key part of the biggest trade in NHL history.

2. Larry Murphy

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After being drafted fourth overall in 1980 by the Kings, defenseman Larry Murphy burst onto the scene. As he would throughout his incredible career, Murphy made his presence known at both ends of the rink. 

In his rookie year, he appeared in 80 games and recorded 16 goals and 60 assists for 76 points to go along with an impressive plus-17 rating. 

The 19-year-old secured 22 percent of the Calder vote, finishing second to a 24-year-old Peter Stastny, who racked up 109 points. 

Murphy's campaign is the greatest ever by an L.A. rookie blueliner.

1. Luc Robitaille

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He is the only Calder Trophy winner in the history of the Kings. 

Robitaille dominated in the QMJHL, notching over 145 points in back-to-back seasons after being drafted in the ninth round (171st overall) in the 1984 NHL draft by the Kings. 

When he broke into the league in 1986-87, he had an immediate impact as a 20-year-old. He recorded 45 goals and 39 assists to lead the team with 84 points. Trailing him in points were legends like Dionne and Dave Taylor.

Robitaille went on to be the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history.