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Under the Cap but No Room to Move

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Times Staff Writer

The Kings find themselves a bit thin at forward and, apparently, a little short of cash.

Jeremy Roenick is out for four to six weeks after surgery on his finger. Valeri Bure is shelved indefinitely after back surgery. Eric Belanger is day to day because of a groin injury. Luc Robitaille struggles to find at least some of the form that made him the top goal-scoring left wing in NHL history.

The Kings are certainly in a situation where a trade could bolster the depleted roster. Yet despite being a little more than $4 million under the NHL’s $39-million salary cap, they are “capped out” under a budget set down by parent company AEG.

“We would have to go back to ownership and ask to increase our budget” in order to make a trade, General Manager Dave Taylor said last week. “We haven’t done that.”

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A bushel of quality players is expected to be available in the next month. Trade rumors have been in circulation around the league about St. Louis center Doug Weight because the Blues want to cut payroll.

But the King hierarchy -- from Taylor to Coach Andy Murray -- has stuck to the use-what’s-here mantra. The tight financial lease that AEG is holding would seem to make that necessary.

AEG Chief Executive Tim Leiweke said he has projected that the Kings will turn a profit if they play one playoff round. But do the Kings need to invest in another quality player to get to the playoffs? That’s the chicken-and-egg scenario they may be assessing in the near future.

The Kings, who have a payroll around $35 million, could be even further below the NHL’s salary cap if Bure sits out the season. The $1.5 million he is due will be taken off the books if he does not play.

Taylor said last week he has kept abreast of the players available and “listens to anyone who wants to talk,” but he also said he is not pursuing anyone.

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After Roenick was injured last Monday, Taylor said that “Luc will get the first shot at filling the hole.” Murray, who had benched Robitaille for three games, followed through on that promise by letting him suit up.

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Robitaille, who has one goal in 12 games since returning from a broken bone in his leg, played only 9 minutes 22 seconds against Calgary on Wednesday. He took four penalties, three in the first period. Against Edmonton on Friday, Robitaille played 12 minutes 31 seconds and nearly scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes.

“I still think I can play, especially under the new rules,” Robitaille after the Edmonton game. “If I play with guys who can hang on to the puck, there’s four more feet in the offensive zone.

“The last two games I’ve felt better, and Andy gave me chances [against Edmonton]. If I keep getting this ice time, the puck will go in.”

TONIGHT

vs. San Jose, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kings 22-14-1, Sharks 15-14-5.

Record vs. Sharks -- 0-1-0.

Update -- This is the Kings’ first look at the Sharks since they acquired center Joe Thornton. San Jose has a 7-3 record since acquiring him from Boston, and he has three goals and 16 points in those 10 games. But the Sharks have lost three of their last four, and Thornton has been held without a point in the last two. Belanger and defenseman Aaron Miller (back injury) remain questionable for the Kings. Forward George Parros played only 13 seconds against Edmonton after reinjuring his ankle during a workout. The Kings are expected to recall a forward from minor league Manchester, with Noah Clarke and Matt Ryan the leading candidates.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

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