Cammalleri grows into role

The Kings’ Michael Cammalleri will never be confused with 6-foot-4 teammate Rob Blake.

Not when you’re 5-9 and 185 pounds.

But that doesn’t mean Cammalleri’s shoulders are too small to carry the scoring load and perhaps lead the Kings to the playoffs for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

“The great thing about Michael is that he expects to do big things,” Coach Marc Crawford said.

The 25-year-old winger was a restricted free agent at the end of last season, one in which he led the Kings in scoring with 34 goals and 46 assists.

Those numbers brought him a two-year deal worth a reported $6.7 million.

But going through arbitration wasn’t easy.

He got a lesson on the business side of hockey when he met General Manager Dean Lombardi at an Aug. 2 hearing.

Despite the fact that players with similar resumes received big contracts -- Michael Nylander (an 83-point scorer who signed a four-year, $19.5-million contract with Washington) and Jason Blake (a 69-point scorer who signed a five-year, $20-million deal with Toronto) -- Cammalleri ended up with much less.

He reportedly will earn $3.1 million this season and $3.6 million in 2008-09, after which he can become an unrestricted free agent.

“It was what it was,” Cammalleri said of his arbitration experience.

“I knew what I was getting into and so did they. That’s really all I have to say about it. We are here to play hockey and that’s not going to change the way I play the game one bit. That will be evident with the people who watch me this year.”

After a deal was reached, Lombardi told reporters that getting the Kings’ leading scorer under contract at a certain price was important to the franchise’s long-term plan.

“It’s not so much his salary, it’s how it fits into the grand scheme,” Lombardi said at the time.

“We got there the hard way. . . . Nobody ever wins at these things.”

But winning is what Cammalleri is all about and, despite the animosity of that hearing, expectations are high.

Blake knows what it’s like to be the focus of such high aspirations.

“His goal has to be to get this team in the playoffs. That’s the bottom line,” Blake said. “Cammi’s established himself as a player around the league. People associate him as being a goal scorer and now it is time for him to take it to the next level for his career.

“It’s funny how careers in this league stage themselves,” the veteran defenseman added. “You have to be real selfish early by pushing yourself to get to the league and finding a way to fit in. Then, you go into the team aspect and that just takes over from then on.”

Cammalleri -- who, because of his size, has always had to do more to stand out -- always showed signs of leadership.

It began when he played minor league hockey with the Toronto Red Wings and continued to develop when he represented Canada in consecutive World Junior Championship teams.

By the time he began playing for the Michigan Wolverines, he already had a reputation for being a player teammates rallied behind.

That did not change after the Kings selected him in the second round of the 2001 draft.

“To me, it’s just a natural progression,” Cammalleri said of his hockey career. “It’s kind of what you expect. Anything less would not be right. So, really it’s exciting for me because you work your whole life to be put in position to win something. And to be in a role to lead makes it that much more fun.”

After being drafted, Cammalleri spent two seasons dealing with injuries and splitting time with the Kings and their American Hockey League affiliate in New Hampshire.

Then, in 2004-05, Cammalleri spent the season with the Manchester Monarchs, where he really turned heads. He finished with a league-leading 46 goals and had 63 assists in 79 games for 109 points. Cammalleri has worn a Kings’ uniform since.

“He is a special player who is always hungry for the puck, especially in the offensive zone,” Kings forward Anze Kopitar, one of Cammalleri’s linemates, said. “His attitude is just great for the locker room. He likes to talk and he shows it on the ice. He’s just really passionate and wants to win.”

Blake said Cammalleri is starting to get it.

“I saw that come out in him late last season in the frustration aspect when it become obvious that we weren’t going to make the playoffs,” Blake said.

It’s not uncommon for young NHL scorers to try and pad their statistics over the final weeks of a lost season, but not Cammalleri.

“You could tell the losing bothered him,” Blake said. “Last year, he took it upon himself [with each loss] and that is a good sign to me.”

Now it is up to Cammalleri.

“You look at our team, you can see that Dean has definitely done a great job of upgrading the roster and making us more competitive,” said Cammalleri, who last season set career-highs in power-play goals (16), game-winning goals (five), power-play points (37), plus/minus (plus-five), shots (299), games played (81) and time-on-ice average (18:02).

“I’m so excited about getting the season started. I really feel strong out there. My legs feel good and my cardio is the best ever.

“I’m looking forward to this being a big season for the Kings.”

Which sounds good to Blake.

“You can go only so high as a player when you don’t win,” Blake said.

“If you want to get to the next level you have to get in the playoffs. . . that’s something you see in Cammi now. He has that desire to win.”

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lonnie.white@latimes.com