Kings look set for a big deal

The Kings are poised to make the biggest splash in the NHL’s shallow free-agent pool.

All signs indicate the Kings will lead the pursuit of dynamic left wing Ilya Kovalchuk when the free agency period begins Thursday at 9 a.m. Pacific time. They’re among the few teams with enough salary-cap space and resources to afford him and a bright enough future to lure him, though they’re hoping he won’t try to break the bank.

Kovalchuk, 27, turned down offers of $101 million over 12 years and $70 million over seven years from the Atlanta Thrashers before they traded him to the New Jersey Devils in February. But in a league generally split into big-market teams near the cap and teams that stay near the salary floor for budgetary reasons, there may not be much bidding for the two-time 50-goal scorer.

General Manager Dean Lombardi declined to comment Wednesday on the Kings’ plans. However, Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ governor and the chief executive of their parent company, AEG, said last week that while he’s proud of the Lakers’ five titles under the company’s banner, winning the Stanley Cup is his ultimate goal.

“The foundation of AEG is the Kings and until we win the Stanley Cup our job is not done,” he said. Toward that end, he said, “If the right guy is there next week we’re going to fill a hole.”

Noting the Kings’ improvement — they made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2002 and tied a club record with 46 victories — he said they’re primed to make a significant move.

“We could have added major free agents two years ago and it wouldn’t have mattered,” Leiweke said. “Now you look at our team and the job Dean has done and there’s a lot to get excited about.”

The Kings, who are also expected to pursue a top-four defenseman, freed cap space by letting Alexander Frolov go. Frolov’s agent, Don Meehan, said Wednesday the Kings hadn’t made his client an offer and that Frolov, who made $4 million last season, will become an unrestricted free agent.

The Kings are also expected to let Jeff Halpern, Fredrik Modin and Raitis Ivanans walk away. Lombardi said last week he had talked to defensemen Sean O’Donnell, also about to be an unrestricted free agent, but they hadn’t agreed on O’Donnell’s playing a reduced role next season. Their plans for Randy Jones are unclear.

The Ducks were awaiting word from unrestricted free agent forwards Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu about their plans. Selanne, who will be 40 on Saturday, was plagued by injuries last season but scored 27 goals in 54 games. If he returns it’s likely Koivu, his Finnish compatriot and linemate, will follow.

The Ducks aren’t expected to bid for any top-tier free agents but might target a mid-level defenseman.

The pickings are slim around the NHL. After Kovalchuk, the forward in most demand could be left wing Ray Whitney, who’s 38 but has had four straight 20-goal seasons. Physical left wing Raffi Torres, right wing Lee Stempniak and center Matthew Lombardi are likely to draw interest.

Center Manny Malhotra might return to San Jose, where he was valuable for his grit, but veteran Mike Modano, 40, was told last week that the Dallas Stars don’t have a place for him.

With Michael Leighton agreeing to a two-year, $3.1-million deal to stay in Philadelphia, the top goaltender available is Evgeni Nabokov, set free by San Jose. However, he’s soon to be 35 and earned $6 million last season. Also available: longtime Dallas goalie Marty Turco, Chris Mason and Vesa Toskala, a likely backup.

Teams looking for top-four defensemen have some options. Sergei Gonchar, an exceptional power-play quarterback, apparently wants more years than the Pittsburgh Penguins want to give him at age 36. Dan Hamhuis is mobile, productive and a good addition to any team. Steady Paul Martin might leave New Jersey for a long-term deal elsewhere, defense-oriented Anton Volchenkov should draw some offers to leave Ottawa, and Buffalo could lose Henrik Tallinder and Toni Lydman.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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