Dwight King getting closer to return, but not in 2015

Missing most of the Kings’ recently completed trip seemed more like “a couple of months” for an injured Trevor Lewis.

“It felt like they were gone forever,” said Lewis, who returned to the lineup on Saturday in Toronto after sitting out seven games.

If it felt like that for Lewis, then imagine how it must be for Dwight King.

Actually, all you need to do is look at King’s beard to measure the time. King hasn’t played a minute this season for the Kings because of surgery for a broken foot suffered in a preseason game Oct. 3 against Colorado. He has let the beard go since then and now looks like he is months into a Stanley Cup playoff run and called it a “process thing.”

Monday was a significant day for King in terms of his recovery — his first full practice with his teammates since getting cleared by doctors. One more checkup and if all goes according to schedule, he should be back in the lineup in early January.

Or in other words …

“Don’t expect him in 2015,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said.

There are five games remaining in 2015, starting Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center as the Kings hope to extend their eight-point lead in the Pacific Division. It is also their final game before the Christmas break.

King said the injury exile was more difficult mentally than physically. One recent bonus, however, was the chance to watch his 3-year-old daughter in a preschool Christmas concert.

“It was almost like an eight-month summer for me,” he said.

The depth on left wing could be boosted by his return. Other than the productive Milan Lucic, the left side has been a concern, a frequent theme sounded by Sutter, who said Michael Mersch “lost his energy,” the last couple of games and hinted the rookie might sit out against the Sharks.

But he had no such issues with Lewis.

“It was a good thing we had him on that line for that game [in Toronto] because his wingers were a little bit behind the game,” Sutter said. “He’s an important guy. If you take him out of your lineup, our speed on our third and fourth lines was very evident, missing without Trevor in the lineup

“That’s the biggest thing you see.’

Said Lewis: “It was good to get back. My skating felt fine. I was just a step off in a couple of places.”

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KINGS VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS

When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. PST.

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Update: Sharks forward Joel Ward, injured Friday against Ottawa, was scheduled to see a doctor Monday and is considered doubtful for the Kings’ game, according to CSNBayArea.com. Martin Jones, the former Kings goalie, has won 14 games for the Sharks. Sutter spoke about the long tradition of excellent Sharks goaltenders and got off a good line about the current whereabouts of Arturs Irbe, a long-ago fixture in San Jose. “Maybe he’s the prime minister,” Sutter said of the Latvian.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: @reallisa