Charlie Simmer
The first and only Kings player to lead the NHL in goals, anchoring the potent Triple Crown Line with explosive scoring bursts.
Charlie Simmer is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who became a defining figure for the Los Angeles Kings during their rise to prominence. Selected in the third round of the 1974 draft by the California Golden Seals, he was traded to Los Angeles where he flourished alongside Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor on the legendary "Triple Crown Line." Simmer is best known for leading the NHL in goals during the 1979–80 season with 56, a feat he repeated the following year. His career at the Kings was marked by explosive scoring bursts, including 21 goals in just 38 games upon his promotion in 1978–79, before a horrific leg injury in March 1981 altered his trajectory. Despite the setback, he remained an All-Star and MVP candidate for the franchise.
- position
- Left Wing
- years_with_club
- 1978–1984 (approximate based on trade dates: promoted halfway 1977-78, traded 5
- draft_year
- 1974
- all_star_status
- NHL All-Star in 1981 and 1984
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Simmer's time with the Kings transformed him from a limited-prospect split between the Seals and Salt Lake Golden Eagles into one of the league's most feared scorers. After being traded in 1977 and spending the season with the Springfield Indians, he was promoted halfway through the 1978–79 campaign, scoring 21 goals in 39 games. This set the stage for his back-to-back 56-goal seasons in 1979–80 and 1980–81. In 1980, he shared the NHL goal-scoring title, becoming the first Kings player to lead the league in that category. The following year, he nearly achieved the historic "50 goals in 50 games" feat; entering his 50th game with 46 goals, he scored three times but finished just shy as Mike Bossy became only the second player to reach the mark. Simmer finally scored his 50th goal in his 51st game that night. His shooting percentage of 32.75% in 1981 remains an NHL record. However, on March 31 against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens, a missed check on Borje Salming resulted in a broken right leg when his skate caught in the ice, ending his season prematurely.
In Their Own Story
The defining moments of Simmer's Kings career were a mix of historic highs and devastating lows. His promotion to the team halfway through the 1978–79 season sparked an immediate offensive explosion. He became a central part of the "Triple Crown Line," one of the most potent forward lines in hockey history, alongside Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor. During the 1979–80 season, Simmer scored goals in thirteen consecutive games, the longest such streak since Punch Broadbent's record of sixteen in 1922. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in both 1980 and 1981. The tragedy of his career occurred on March 31, 1981, during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While missing a check on defenseman Borje Salming, Simmer's right skate became caught in the ice, causing one leg to fly into the air and resulting in a broken right leg. This injury limited him to just 15 goals in 50 games the following season, though he still managed back-to-back 80-point seasons thereafter. He was named an All-Star again in 1984 after scoring 44 goals and 48 assists, earning the Bill Libby Memorial Award as the Kings' most valuable player before being traded to Boston five games into the 1984–85 season.
Reader's Guide
Charlie Simmer's tenure with the Los Angeles Kings began in earnest during the 1978–79 season after a trade from the Cleveland Barons organization. He played for the Kings until his trade early in the 1984–85 season. During this period, he established himself as an elite goal scorer, sharing the NHL title in 1980 and winning it outright in 1981 with 56 goals each year. His playing style was characterized by high-volume shooting and speed, evidenced by his record-setting 32.75% shooting percentage in 1981. Fans remember him for his role on the "Triple Crown Line" and his resilience; despite a broken right leg in March 1981, he returned to play multiple 80-point seasons. He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game twice while with the Kings (1981 and 1984) and won the Bill Libby Memorial Award in 1984. His career at the Forum included significant milestones like scoring a goal in thirteen straight games in 1980, a streak that stood as the longest since 1922.
Did You Know?
- Simmer is the first and only Kings player to lead the NHL in goals.
- His shooting percentage of 32.75% in 1981 remains an NHL record.
- He nearly scored 50 goals in 50 games in 1981, finishing with 46 goals at the 50-game mark before scoring his 50th goal in game 51.
- Simmer was traded to Boston just five games into the 1984–85 season.
- He scored goals in thirteen consecutive games in 1980, the longest streak since Punch Broadbent's record of sixteen in 1922.