Kings keep a close eye on young players

Left wing Kyle Clifford is scheduled to play on the Kings’ fourth line Thursday against Dallas, his 10th game and the activation point of his pro contract. But a meeting between Coach Terry Murray and General Manager Dean Lombardi on Wednesday didn’t produce a decision on the future of 19-year-old center Brayden Schenn, due to sit out his third straight game.

A club spokesman said the course with both hadn’t changed, though after practice Murray was leaning toward returning Schenn to his junior team. Schenn has played sparingly in eight games.

“My gut feel on it is that he might need to go back and play, go to junior and play,” Murray said.

Players can return to junior hockey after playing 10 NHL games, but their contracts would kick in, bringing them a season closer to free agency. It’s debatable whether Schenn, chosen fifth in the 2009 draft, would benefit from staying with the Kings and playing a limited role.

Clifford will skate alongside center Trevor Lewis and right wing Kevin Westgarth.

Murray plans to pair defenseman Jake Muzzin, promoted from Manchester to replace Willie Mitchell (broken left wrist), with Davis Drewiske on Thursday.

“It was good to go down to Manchester,” Muzzin said. “I played a lot of minutes in those games and I got a lot of confidence playing in those games and to come back here with a lot of confidence, I just want to continue growing and building as a player.”

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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