Look, if you walk into Crypto.com Arena today, you’re going to see a sea of black, silver, and white. It’s clean. It’s modern. It’s also, honestly, a little safe. But for anyone who grew up watching the NHL in the 80s or 90s, those current colors don't tell the whole story. The obsession with old LA Kings jerseys isn't just about nostalgia; it’s about a franchise that has lived through three distinct visual identities, each one mirroring a specific era of Los Angeles culture.
The Kings didn't just play hockey; they wore the city’s ego on their sleeves.
You’ve got the "Forum Blue" and Gold era that felt like a Lakers fever dream. Then you’ve got the Silver and Black era that basically turned a hockey team into a global streetwear brand thanks to N.W.A. and Eazy-E. Finally, there’s the weird "Burger King" experiment that everyone hated until, suddenly, everyone loved it. If you’re hunting for a vintage sweater, you aren’t just buying mesh and polyester. You’re buying a specific moment in California sports history.
The Purple That Wasn't Purple: The Forum Blue Years
When Jack Kent Cooke founded the team in 1967, he didn't care about "traditional" hockey colors. He wanted royalty. He owned the Lakers, and he wanted his hockey team to look like they belonged in the same palace. So, he dressed them in what he called Forum Blue and Gold.
Here is the thing: it was totally purple.
But Cooke refused to call it that. He insisted on "Forum Blue." This era of old LA Kings jerseys featured a crown that looked like something off a deck of cards. It was ornate, a bit stiff, and bright. In a league filled with the "Original Six" reds and blues, the Kings looked like aliens from another planet. They were loud.
Rogatien Vachon made that jersey legendary. When you see a vintage 70s Kings jersey today, it usually has that heavy knit feel. They were thick. They didn't breathe. If you find an original "Durene" fabric version from this era, you’ve basically found the holy grail of Kings memorabilia. These jerseys didn't have names on the back until 1970, and even then, the font was often inconsistent because teams were still figuring out the logistics of TV broadcasts.
1988: The Trade That Changed the Colors
Everything changed on August 9, 1988. Wayne Gretzky arrived.
The Kings didn't just change their roster; they changed their skin. Out went the purple and gold. In came the Silver and Black. Some people think the Kings just wanted to look like the Raiders, who were the kings of LA culture at the time. They weren't wrong. The Raiders were the baddest team in sports, and the Kings wanted that edge.
The "Chevron" logo—that bold, slanted "Kings" text with the home-plate shape—is arguably the most iconic of all old LA Kings jerseys. It coincided with the Gretzky era, meaning it was the first hockey jersey that people who didn't even like hockey wanted to wear. You saw it in music videos. You saw it on the streets of Compton and Brooklyn.
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The silver wasn't just gray; it was a shimmering metallic thread that caught the arena lights. It was "The Great One." It was Marty McSorley’s illegal curve in '93. It was Kelly Hrudey’s blue bandana under a silver helmet. This jersey represented the moment Los Angeles actually became a hockey town.
The Nuance of the Chevron Era
If you’re looking to buy a vintage 90s jersey, pay attention to the manufacturer.
- CCM/Maska: These are the authentic 90s cuts. They are huge. The sleeves are like wind tunnels.
- Starter: These were the "fashion" jerseys of the mid-90s. They often had a slightly different mesh pattern.
- Pro Player: A brief stint in the late 90s before the brand disappeared.
The authentic on-ice versions from this era had "Gresca" or "Air-Knit" fabrics. They were built to survive a slash from a wooden Sherwood stick. Most "old" jerseys you find on eBay are the replica versions, which lack the reinforced elbows and the "fight strap"—that little Velcro tab inside the back that kept the jersey from being pulled over a player's head during a scrap.
The "Burger King" Jersey: A Beautiful Disaster
We have to talk about 1995. The NHL introduced the "Third Jersey" program. It was a chaotic time for graphic design. The Kings released a jersey that featured a bearded king’s head on the shoulder, weird gradient stripes, and a logo that looked like a fast-food mascot.
Fans hated it. The players, by most accounts, were embarrassed.
Wayne Gretzky wore it, but he didn't look happy about it. It was worn for only a handful of games before being mothballed. But here’s the kicker: because it was so "ugly" and so rare, it is now one of the most expensive old LA Kings jerseys on the secondary market. A genuine 1995-96 Burger King third jersey can fetch well over $500, even for a replica.
It represents the 90s experimentalism. It’s weird. It’s got that "so bad it's good" energy that collectors crave. It was a departure from the "tough" Silver and Black, trying to bridge the gap back to the purple roots, but it did it with all the grace of a 16-bit video game character.
Spotting a Fake: What Most People Get Wrong
Buying vintage is a minefield. The market for old LA Kings jerseys is flooded with "knockoffs" from overseas that look okay from ten feet away but are disasters up close.
Real vintage CCM jerseys have specific markers. The "CM" logo on the back hem should be embroidered, not a cheap heat-press. The neck labels in the 90s were usually paper-like or a specific green-and-blue CCM tag. If the silver on a Gretzky-era jersey looks like dull gray t-shirt material, it’s a fake. The real ones used a "dazzle" cloth or a metallic twill for the silver accents.
Also, check the font. The Kings used a very specific, bold block font with a heavy 3D shadow during the Gretzky years. Bootleggers almost always get the spacing wrong. The numbers should feel like heavy canvas, not thin plastic.
Why the "Purple and Black" Era is Underrated
In the late 90s and early 2000s, the Kings tried to split the difference. They brought back the "Forum Blue" but kept the black. This gave us the "Shield" logo.
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Rob Blake. Ziggy Palffy. Adam Deadmarsh.
This era is often overlooked because the team wasn't winning Cups, but the jerseys were actually quite high-quality. They moved to the "Koho" and "CCM" dual-branding era. The purple was deeper, almost a midnight plum. It was sophisticated. If you want a jersey that looks great with a hoodie and doesn't scream "I’m wearing a costume," the early 2000s purple/black alternates are the way to go. They feel heavier and more "pro" than the thin replicas of the 80s.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you’re ready to track down one of these relics, don't just search "Kings jersey" on Google. You’ll get hit with a million ads for modern Fanatics gear. Use these steps to find the real deal:
- Search for Specific Manufacturers: Use keywords like "CCM Big Block," "Maska Ultrafil," or "Starter Authentic." These terms filter out the cheap modern reprints.
- Check the "Fight Strap": If you’re looking for a true "On-Ice" authentic, look for photos of the inside back. If there’s no strap, it’s a replica (meant for fans). If there is a strap, it’s a "Pro" weight jersey.
- Verify the Year: The Kings changed the crown logo subtly over the years. From 1967 to 1988, the crown was "The Original Crown." From 1998 to 2011, it was the "Shield Crown." Match the logo to the player. Putting a "Gretzky" name on a 1970s purple jersey is a "jersey foul" in the collecting community.
- Join Forums: Sites like SportsLogos.net or the r/hockeyjerseys community on Reddit have experts who can "LC" (Legit Check) a listing for you before you drop $300 on a fake.
The Kings have one of the most fractured visual histories in the NHL. They’ve been royal, they’ve been "gangster," and they’ve been experimental. Whether you want the loud gold of the 70s or the icy silver of the 90s, these jerseys are more than just sports apparel. They are the aesthetic DNA of Los Angeles.
Owning an old LA Kings jersey is about claiming a piece of that evolution. Start your search by focusing on the 1991-1996 CCM models; they offer the best balance of historical significance, durability, and that classic "heavy" hockey feel that modern jerseys just can't replicate. Check local thrift stores in the SoCal area if you’re local—you’d be surprised how many "Chevron" jerseys are sitting in closets in the Valley.