Larry Regan wrote the book on trading the future for immediate dividends. Hockey fans with an interest in the history of the NHL, who remember Regan as the Los Angeles Kings' first GM, remember him for trading away first-round draft picks for players who – it was hoped – would provide immediate help to the Los Angeles Kings. As the first GM of the Kings, his marching orders were to put together a team which would be competitive in the West Division. It was hoped that a playoff bound team would draw well.
The first season – 1967-68 – Los Angeles finished with 72 points, second best in the West – one point behind the first place Philadelphia Flyers. The fourth place Minnesota North Stars eliminated the Kings in seven games, in the first-round. Regan sought to improve his goaltending for the 1968-69 season with the acquisition of Gerry Desjardins from the Montreal Canadiens, for two first-round draft picks (in 1969 and 1972). He also sent a first-round draft pick to the Boston Bruins (in 1970), for Skip Krake.
The second season – 1968-69 – Los Angeles finished in fourth place, with 58 points ( a 14 point drop from the inaugural season). In the playoffs, the Kings eliminated the Oakland Seals in the first round, in seven games. In the second round, they were bounced by the St. Louis Blues in four games. A month later, Regan sent Ken Turlik and two first-round draft picks (in 1971 and 1972) to the Bruins for Ross Lonsberry and Eddie Shack.
During the third season – 1969-70 – both Lonsberry and Shack were productive: Ross led the Kings in points with 42 points in 76 regular season games (and also led the team in penalty minutes with 118); Eddie led the team in goals with 22. Nonetheless, Los Angeles finished in last place, with 38 points (a 20 point drop from 1968-69).
Regan made his most famous trade during the 1970-71 season. In January – in hopes of salvaging what was looking to be another disappointing season – he sent Gord Labossiere, Ray Fortin and a second-round draft pick (in 1973) to the Canadiens for Ralph Backstrom. The trade wasn't enough to propel the Kings in to the playoffs, but they did finish with 63 points (a 25 point jump from 1969-70) – one point more than the Pittsburgh Penguins, and 18 more points than the California Golden Seals who finished last. The Seals' 1971 first-round draft pick belonged to Montreal, who would select Guy Lafleur.
Before the 1972-73 season – after a very disappointing 1971-72 season (finishing last with 49 points – Regan traded two first-round draft picks (in 1975 and 1976), a second-round draft pick (in 1974) and a third-round draft pick (in 1975) to the Canadiens for Terry Harper. That trade, and the acquisition of Bob Berry and Dan Maloney, led to a 24 point improvement (73 points) over 1971-72.
After the 1972-73 season, Montreal attained one more first-round draft pick from Larry Regan. The Kings acquired Bob Murdoch and Randy Rota for a first-round draft pick in 1974.
The first season – 1967-68 – Los Angeles finished with 72 points, second best in the West – one point behind the first place Philadelphia Flyers. The fourth place Minnesota North Stars eliminated the Kings in seven games, in the first-round. Regan sought to improve his goaltending for the 1968-69 season with the acquisition of Gerry Desjardins from the Montreal Canadiens, for two first-round draft picks (in 1969 and 1972). He also sent a first-round draft pick to the Boston Bruins (in 1970), for Skip Krake.
The second season – 1968-69 – Los Angeles finished in fourth place, with 58 points ( a 14 point drop from the inaugural season). In the playoffs, the Kings eliminated the Oakland Seals in the first round, in seven games. In the second round, they were bounced by the St. Louis Blues in four games. A month later, Regan sent Ken Turlik and two first-round draft picks (in 1971 and 1972) to the Bruins for Ross Lonsberry and Eddie Shack.
During the third season – 1969-70 – both Lonsberry and Shack were productive: Ross led the Kings in points with 42 points in 76 regular season games (and also led the team in penalty minutes with 118); Eddie led the team in goals with 22. Nonetheless, Los Angeles finished in last place, with 38 points (a 20 point drop from 1968-69).
Regan made his most famous trade during the 1970-71 season. In January – in hopes of salvaging what was looking to be another disappointing season – he sent Gord Labossiere, Ray Fortin and a second-round draft pick (in 1973) to the Canadiens for Ralph Backstrom. The trade wasn't enough to propel the Kings in to the playoffs, but they did finish with 63 points (a 25 point jump from 1969-70) – one point more than the Pittsburgh Penguins, and 18 more points than the California Golden Seals who finished last. The Seals' 1971 first-round draft pick belonged to Montreal, who would select Guy Lafleur.
Before the 1972-73 season – after a very disappointing 1971-72 season (finishing last with 49 points – Regan traded two first-round draft picks (in 1975 and 1976), a second-round draft pick (in 1974) and a third-round draft pick (in 1975) to the Canadiens for Terry Harper. That trade, and the acquisition of Bob Berry and Dan Maloney, led to a 24 point improvement (73 points) over 1971-72.
After the 1972-73 season, Montreal attained one more first-round draft pick from Larry Regan. The Kings acquired Bob Murdoch and Randy Rota for a first-round draft pick in 1974.
