King hopes to fill a big scoring void

Teemu Selanne took his 48 goals into limbo while he considers retirement. Dustin Penner packed up his 29 goals and headed to Edmonton with a rich offer sheet under his arm.

Add it up and the Ducks are looking to replace 77 goals from last season -- no easy task.

Jason King hopes to help fill that void. “That’s my game,” King said after practice Thursday at Anaheim Ice. “When I get opportunities and scoring chances, I put pucks in the net.”

King, who turned 26 last week, has been trying to land a regular job in the NHL since 2002. He came close in 2003-04 with the Vancouver Canucks when he scored 11 goals on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Instead, it has been a struggle. After fading with the Canucks, he suffered a concussion with their minor league team and missed much of the 2005-06 season before resuming his career in Sweden last season.

“There’s been some disappointments,” King acknowledged. “Yeah, it’s been a roller coaster to this point. But it’s all in the past. It’s a new page.”

General Manager Brian Burke and Coach Randy Carlyle know King well, which is why they traded center Ryan Shannon for him in June. When Burke was GM in Vancouver, he drafted King. And Carlyle coached King with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

In three exhibition games, King has two goals and an assist.

“My goal is to play in Anaheim this year,” he said. “I’ve been at that level and when you get a taste of it, you want to stay here. But it’s going to be tough when you come into a team that’s the returning Stanley Cup champions. . . . But I know where my game is at and where it should be at. I’m ready to bring it.”

King’s ability to score has never been questioned. He once scored 63 goals in junior hockey and has 77 goals in 191 AHL games with Manitoba.

His ability to score consistently will determine his future with the parent club. “Jason has the ability to skate at the NHL level,” Carlyle said. “He’s got NHL hands. Quick release.”

However, King’s progress in camp took a setback this week in Vancouver. “Too many turnovers and not enough [play] on the puck,” Carlyle said. “He’ll get another opportunity.”

King is battling for what probably will be three open forward spots for the opening-night roster. Drew Miller, who performed well as a rookie in the playoffs, figures to be in line to clinch a spot. That leaves King vying with centers Ryan Carter, Petteri Wirtanen and wingers Brandon Segal and Bobby Ryan.

King said his mind is on staying in Anaheim and not heading to Portland, Maine, home to the Ducks’ minor league affiliate.

“It’d definitely be a disappointment,” King said of Portland. “Saying that, I’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen. If it happens, I have to try my best to get back up here.”

Defenseman Francois Beauchemin sat out practice with a sore groin muscle and won’t play in tonight’s exhibition game at San Jose, Carlyle said. Beauchemin injured himself Monday in the Ducks’ 3-2 overtime victory at Vancouver and is day to day.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com