Dionne Has Departed, but Fond Memories Remain

The trade of Marcel Dionne to the New York Rangers struck like a body blow; that the trade was at his request was more like a slap in the face. Those of us who have followed the Kings through good times and bad always felt a closeness and respect for our great star, even when the rest of the L.A. sports community barely knew of his existence.

Will the Rangers be Dionne’s ticket to the Stanley Cup? Their history would say no. But what is really at issue now is the affect of the Dionne trade on Luc Robitaille and Jimmy Carson, the brilliant rookies for whom Dionne acted as mentor, and on the team in general, seeing that its great constant has been removed.

Also, how will the trade affect the small but loyal coterie of Kings fans? Alas, we have learned that nothing in sports is more constant than change, and that no player is untouchable, not even the second-greatest scorer in NHL history. We’ll still be there, still rooting, but it will be awhile before we stop looking on the ice for that No. 16 jersey.

ELISE BERARU

Los Angeles