Kings Will Try to Sign Canadien Star Robinson

It’s obviously a longshot and even owner Bruce McNall of the Kings admits that he’s not optimistic about his chances of wooing longtime star defenseman Larry Robinson away from the Montreal Canadiens.

But Robinson is at least interested enough to be in Los Angeles this week for meetings with McNall and General Manager Rogie Vachon.

As the man who pulled off the trade for Wayne Gretzky likes to remind us: “Nothing is impossible in sports.”

McNall was saying that again Monday as he waited for Robinson and his agent, Donny Cape, to arrive at his office to talk bottom line.

Robinson, who turned 38 last month, is a free agent. Montreal, his team of 17 seasons and the only National Hockey League team he has played for, has offered him a 15% raise based on an estimated yearly salary of $430,000.

The Canadiens also have a policy of giving veterans of 10 years or more a year’s salary as separation pay upon retirement. If Robinson retired from another team, he wouldn’t receive the separation pay.

But according to a report from Montreal, Robinson and Cape have asked for the 15% raise to include $150,000 in deferred payments that the Canadiens contend come under a separate contract with a brewery.

Robinson and Cape also have asked to have Robinson’s jersey number retired when he leaves but Serge Savard, Montreal general manager, did not agree to that.

So Robinson is here to listen to the Kings.

McNall said: “I think probably something happened in Montreal. He must have some motivation to come here to see us. Maybe it would extend his career longer. Maybe it’s the challenge. I don’t think the money would be that much different unless he played longer with us.

“On the negative side, to pick up and move from a city where he’s been for 17 years, where he has a house and kids in school and has endorsements--that would be very difficult.

“We’ll do what we can to try to get him. When a player of this caliber comes along, that’s pretty exciting. His kind of character is what we want in our organization.”

Vachon, too, mentioned the value of Robinson as a leader, a role model in the dressing room. But, Vachon added: “He can still play. He was great in the Stanley Cup finals against Calgary, and that was his fourth round of the playoffs. He has been very durable. . . .

“We would be talking relatively short-term, but that’s what we’ve been doing.”

The Kings have invested a lot of money and have traded young players and draft picks to get experienced players who are counting on winning the Stanley Cup in the next two or three years, players such as Gretzky and goalie Kelly Hrudey.

The Kings led the NHL in goals last season, but adding a top defenseman or two is a priority.

Vachon said: “Larry Robinson plays with a lot of confidence and is very well respected, and I think he would have a very good effect on our young defensemen. . . . We’re going to give this our best shot.”