Kopitar Makes Move

Anze Kopitar moved a day closer to making the Kings’ regular-season roster, and moved a few feet across the dressing room to his own locker stall.

Small steps for a guy trying to make a big leap.

Kopitar has been using a makeshift dressing stall, which amounted to a metal chair and a few hooks attached to one of the double doors leading to the team lounge. He was moved to better accommodations after the herd was thinned Tuesday.

Noah Clarke and Matt Moulson were reassigned to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League, leaving Kopitar as one of 17 forwards still with the team. Some number crunching would seem to have the 19-year-old as a leading contender for one of the remaining roster spots.

Certainly Kopitar’s play suggests he is ready for a shot. His power-play goal against the Ducks in an exhibition Monday started a rally that erased a 3-0 deficit. He also scored a goal in the shootout, as the Kings pulled out a 5-4 victory.

“It’s for the guys making the decision to say if I’m ready,” Kopitar said. “My personal thought is I am ready. I feel comfortable and I’m confident that I can handle the physical play.”

The Kings probably will be cautious with Kopitar, who was former general manager Dave Taylor’s last first-round draft pick. He has the size -- 6 feet 4, 220 pounds -- and skills to be a high-end center. But he has never played in North America, spending last season in the Swedish elite league.

“He’s been playing against adults for years,” center Derek Armstrong said. “It’s not a big deal to him. A lot of these guys from Europe start playing against men when they’re 16.”

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Forward Lauri Tukonen, who had off-season shoulder surgery, resumed full contact drills Tuesday.

chris.foster@latimes.com