Left-winger John Paul Kelly played exactly 400 regular season games for the Los Angeles Kings between 1979 and 1986. He was an aggressive worker in the corners and along the boards who could also create scoring chances.

Kelly starred for the Maple Ridge Raiders of the BCJHL before joining the WHL's New Westminster Bruins. In three full years of junior he scored 86 goals and played a physical role for his team. The robust winger was a role player on the Bruins' Memorial Cup win in 1977 but was an experienced team leader when they repeated as national champions the following season. Kelly was chosen 50th overall at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft then played 40 games as a rookie in 1979-80. He split the 1980-81 season between the NHL and the minors before taking hold of an NHL spot for good.

Kelly was a solid workhorse for five years on the Kings. His style of play was important to a team that had plenty of offense from Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer, Dave Taylor, Jim Fox, and Bernie Nicholls. Kelly often played with Greg Terrion or Terry Ruskowski on a grinding line but also saw duty on the power play and as a penalty killer. In 1981-82 he scored a goal and played a smothering defensive role in the Kings' stunning first round upset of the Edmonton Oilers. The next season he scored a personal-best 16 goals and remained with the club through the 1985-86 season before retiring. A popular figure with his teammates, Kelly was voted the Kings' Unsung Hero in 1982 and 1983. He was dedicated to his family's farm in Alberta and even skipped bonus trips paid for by Los Angeles at the end of the season to help out back home.