Things had all come together at once for Jack Kent Cooke the eccentric owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, with a spectacular arena in the Great Western Forum about to open and the NHL about to expand. Cooke who was Canadian Born and missed hockey had long dreamed to bring hockey to Hollywood and with expansion he had that opportunity, as the Kings are one of six expansion teams to join the NHL.

Placed with the other five new teams the Kings wearing colorful purple and gold uniforms would finish second in the Western Conference with a record of 31-32-11. However in the playoffs the Kings would be beaten in seven games by the Minnesota North Stars.