Another Hollywood audition

This time of year in hockey, there is an abundance of you-take-’em players.

The Kings seemed to end up with two of them Tuesday. Defenseman Jaroslav Modry, 36, was part of the deal that sent Mattias Norstrom to the Dallas Stars, and Jamie Heward, 35, was acquired from the Washington Capitals.

Both will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season and it seems unlikely that either will be retained.

Veteran players going to contenders have to adjust to new surroundings and prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs but veterans going the other way can have only a short time to audition.

“Unless you’re a high-profile guy, there are always questions about next year when you’re unrestricted,” Heward said. “I have a job here and an opportunity to try to make them want me to be a King next year.”

Heward got off to a good start. He assisted on the game-tying goal in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Ducks on Thursday. Heward rocketed a shot from the blue line that was deflected in by Jamie Lundmark.

“It’s good to go out and get something right away,” Heward said.

For Modry, it’s a homecoming. He played four full seasons and parts of four others with the Kings before signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers after the lockout.

“There are still several familiar faces here,” said Modry, who left the playoff-bound Stars. “It was kind of a bummer at first, but you always have to take the positive out of every situation.”

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Shay Stephenson had a long day’s journey into morning after being called up from minor league Manchester on Wednesday. Stephenson was at the chiropractor and didn’t receive the news until 4 p.m. He was on a 5:45 p.m. flight, stopping to change planes in Philadelphia and Las Vegas, before arriving in Los Angeles at 2 a.m., nearly 12 hours after leaving.

Stephenson played 9 minutes 43 seconds in his NHL debut Thursday.

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TODAY

vs. Nashville, 1, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 22-32-10, Predators 43-18-4.

Record vs. Predators -- 1-2.

Update -- Kings rookie center Anze Kopitar, out with what team officials are calling a strained upper body muscle, is unlikely to play today.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

chris.foster@latimes.com