Mario Lessard was a late round pick in 1974, and the Goalie would make the Los Angeles Kings roster four years later, where he would become their primary netminder.
The Quebecer held that role for four years, one of them being very good, so good that it is primarily responsible for his high rank. In 1980-81, Lessard led all Goalies in Wins (35), Goalie Point Shares (12.6), and was a Second Team All-Star. Lessard might be best known for a blunder in the 1982 playoffs against Edmonton (he left the net open to trying to beat a Glenn Anderson breakaway), but he had a good run.
Lessard’s play fell off in the 1983-84 season, and he retired shortly after.
Mark Hardy was one of the better offensive Defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings in the 1980s, debuting for them in 1979-80, the year he was taken in the Second Round.
From 1981-82 to 1984-85, Hardy had at least 39 Points, peaking with a 53-Point performance in the last year of that streak. Hardy remained with the Kings until February of 1988 when he was traded to the Rangers, but he was traded back for their L.A.'s 1993 playoff run. He played one more year before retiring.
Hardy had 303 Points in 616 Games for the Kings, a very good number, but his Plus/Minus -121 for Los Angeles hampers his rank.
The talent-laden Montreal Canadiens had no spot for Bob Berry, a Left Wing who was already in his mid-20’s but unable to appear in more than 2 Games for the Habs. Montreal sold his contract to Los Angeles, allowing Berry an opportunity to play in the NHL.
He responded well to the task, scoring 63 Points in his full-season debut. He slipped the following season (39 Points) but followed that with his best year in hockey, a 36-Goal, 64 Point year, which also saw him go to his first All-Star Game. Berry was an All-Star again in 1974, scoring 56 Points.
Age would catch up to Berry, as he only played three additional years in the NHL but had a respectable 350 Points in 539 Games as a King.
One of the better scorers for the Kings in the 1980s, Jim Fox, is also one of their most forgotten contributors.
The Right Wing had 43 Points as a rookie, which he followed up with back-to-back 68 Point seasons. Fox had 30 Goals in 1981-82 and duplicated that in both 1983-84 and 1984-85, where he increased his Points totals to 72 and 83, respectively. Fox should have been able to improve that as he was only 25 when he had his 83-Point year, but his knees began to become issues.
Fox was held to 39 Games in 1984-85 and missed a handful of games the next two years before he was unable to play the entirety of the 1988-89 campaign. He tried a comeback but had to retire before 30. Fox had 479 Points in his career, all of which was with the Kings.
He would later have a long career with the organization, working as a broadcaster.