Patrick O'Sullivan remains away from Kings camp

"We're not giving him a one-year contract because I might have to write off this season," Lombardi said during practice Thursday morning.

In fact, Lombardi said he won't offer anything less than a three-year deal. As far as sending the wrong message to other Kings, several of whom will be restricted free agents after this season, Lombardi said he's trying to avoid that scenario.

"The whole message we're trying to send is we want to keep everybody together," he said. "If [O'Sullivan's contract] is not done right, you're going to have a problem with the other guys."

Anze Kopitar, the team's leading scorer last season who played on the same line as O'Sullivan, will become a restricted free agent in the off-season. He's hoping he doesn't get caught up in the same mess.

"Hopefully, we can get a deal done before that," he said. "But my mind is on hockey right now, where it should be."

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The void created by O'Sullivan's absence is slowly being filled by a group of youngsters, namely Matt Moulson, Brian Boyle and Wayne Simmonds.

"I've been very impressed with some of the younger players we have in this organization," Coach Terry Murray said. "They deserve more games and we'll continue to watch these young guys as they move through the training camp."

Murray, who was hired over the summer, was especially complimentary of Simmonds, a 20-year-old right wing who played at the junior level earlier this year.

"He has brought my focus to him often with good play, smart play and energy," Murray said. "It's interesting, for a young player coming out of juniors, to be able to play the level he's playing at . . . he's still playing the game the right way and executing the style of play, the system that we put in place."

Richard Clune is another forward who was making a push for a roster spot but fractured a bone in his chest and is sidelined indefinitely. Clune, who was traded from Dallas last summer for former Kings' first-round pick Lauri Tukonen, suffered the injury when he was slammed against the boards during the second period of Monday's game against visiting Phoenix.

"It's going to set him back, no doubt about it," Murray said of the injury.

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Alexander Frolov did not practice again Thursday. He has been off the ice for the last several days, trying to shake the effects of a sore groin, Murray said.

Frolov was plagued by a groin injury during the early part of last season, and he totaled only one goal and six assists in the first nine games. He then aggravated the injury and sat out 11 games in November and December. Frolov enjoyed a strong second half, finishing with 44 assists and 67 points, both second best on the team.

Murray said he doesn't plan to use Frolov on Saturday in Las Vegas, when the Kings play an exhibition game against Colorado at the MGM Grand.

"After that, I have a good feel that he'll be ready," Murray said.

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Murray plans to cut a large number of players after Saturday's game against the Avalanche.

One player who may have helped his cause Wednesday at Colorado was goalkeeper Jonathan Quick, who played the third period and overtime. He then stopped shootout attempts by Darcy Tucker and Ryan Smyth and forced captain Joe Sakic to shoot wide, enabling the Kings to escape with a 4-3 victory and run their exhibition record to 3-0.

Quick got a taste of the NHL last season, playing three games for the Kings.

"As we got into the shootout, the players on the bench and the coaches beside me were pretty confident that he was going to be able to get the job done," Murray said. "They threw their A-team, absolutely."

Quick, a 22-year-old from Milford, Conn., was pleased with the result of his first NHL shootout but wasn't ready to pat himself on the back.

"I think they're saving their good moves for the regular season," Quick said.

dan.arritt@latimes.com