The Los Angeles Kings will honor former defenseman Mark Hardy before Saturday evening’s game against the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center, their final Legends Night Series game of the season.
Retired broadcaster Bob Miller will serve as master of ceremonies for the pregame ceremony.
Hardy played 11 seasons with the Kings. On the team’s all-time lists among defensemen, he is third in assists (250), fourth in games (616), fifth in penalty minutes (858) and seventh in goals (53).
Hardy scored the goal in the “Miracle on Manchester” game that cut the Oilers lead to 5-4, in a game the Kings would win 6-5 in overtime, overcoming a 5-0 deficit in the largest comeback in NHL playoff history.
Hardy was selected by the Kings with the 30th choice in 1979 NHL draft. He made his debut the Kings in the 1979-80 season, remaining with the team until the 1987-88 season, when he was traded to the New York Rangers.
Hardy returned to the Kings in the 1992-93 season, helping them advance to their first Stanley Cup Final. The next season would be his last in the NHL.
Hardy had two stints with the Kings as an assistant coach — 1999-2006 and 2008-10. He is now a special assistant coach with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen.
—City News Service