THE NHL : The More Things Change for Kings, the More They Remain Same

It may be a new season for the Kings, but be assured some of the same old things are going to happen. The names have changed in nearly a quarter of a century of existence, but the patterns on this club have been well established.

So, the following are guaranteed to occur:

--The Kings will play poor defense.

--The front office will blame much of the defensive problems on the forwards.

--General Manager Rogie Vachon will be rumored on his way out.

--Wayne Gretzky will go pointless in a game, and someone will speculate that he’s washed up.

--Gretzky will get hot, and someone will call him ageless.

--The Kings will play poor defense.

--Someone will question the Bernie Nicholls trade.

--Bernie Nicholls will question the trade.

--Todd Elik will emerge as a star, further justifying the trade.

--Rob Blake will have a good year.

--Coach Tom Webster will be rumored on his way out.

--Season ticket-holders will complain about rising prices.

--Prices will continue to rise.

--The Kings will put together a winning streak on the road, and credit will go to their new plane.

--The Kings will put together a losing streak on the road, but nobody will mention the plane.

--The Kings will trade for a defenseman.

--The Kings will play poor defense.

--Marty McSorley and Jay Miller will vow to spend less time in the penalty box.

--Luc Robitaille will be rumored on his way out in a trade.

--Gretzky will not be rumored headed anywhere.

--Robitaille will not go anywhere.

--Owner Bruce McNall will declare an era of stability.

--McNall will make changes.

--The Kings will sell out more than 75% of their home games.

--The Kings will not win a division title.

--The Kings will say it doesn’t matter because the real season starts in the playoffs.

--The Kings will not win the Stanley Cup.

--The Kings will play poor defense.

As he stood outside the victorious Edmonton Oilers’ locker room in Boston Garden last spring, the Stanley Cup back in his possession, team owner Peter Pocklington didn’t miss the opportunity to justify his controversial trade of Gretzky to the Kings in the summer of 1988.

“To win in the 1990s,” he said, “you sometimes have to do something unpopular in the ‘80s. . . . There is no doubt in my mind I did the right thing.”

At least for last season. But can the Oilers continue to dominate without Gretzky?

Here is a look at the new season, in predicted order of finish in each division with last season’s records:

CAMPBELL CONFERENCE

Smythe Division

1. Edmonton Oilers (38-28-14, second)--Even without Kurri, there’s too much talent.

2. Calgary Flames (42-23-15, first)--Problems run deeper than ex-coach Terry Crisp.

3. Kings (34-39-7, fourth)--They’ll score plenty, but so will other guys.

4. Winnipeg Jets (37-32-11, third)--Without Hawerchuk, they won’t score enough.

5. Vancouver Canucks (25-41-14, fifth)--Lots of kids, lots of hope, but not this season.

Norris Division

1. Chicago Blackhawks (41-33-6, first)--Chelios deal gave them balance to hold onto first.

2. St. Louis Blues (37-34-9, second)--With Stevens and Hull, they are not far back.

3. Detroit Red Wings (28-38-14, fifth)--New coach, new defense, returning stars, Yzerman.

4. Minnesota North Stars (36-40-4, fourth)--Didn’t move to Oakland, don’t figure to move up.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs (38-38-4, third)--Goals will come in droves, on both sides of ice.

WALES CONFERENCE

Adams Division

1. Buffalo Sabres (45-27-8, second)--Hawerchuk should make difference.

2. Boston Bruins (46-25-9, first)--Their offensive shortcomings surfaced in finals.

3. Montreal Canadiens (41-28-11, third)--A return to glory days seems a lot closer.

4. Hartford Whalers (38-33-9, fourth)--Locked in, better only than Nordiques.

5. Quebec Nordiques (12-61-7, fifth)--Good news is, another bad year means Eric Lindros.

Patrick Division

1. New York Rangers (36-31-13, first)--Healthy defense and Nicholls equals repeat.

2. New Jersey Devils (37-34-9, second)--Inconsistency may again hold this club down.

3. Washington Capitals (36-38-6, third)--Loss of Stevens and off-ice controversy will hurt.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins (32-40-8, fifth)--Their key man is again Lemieux’s doctor.

5. New York Islanders (31-38-11, fourth)--LaFontaine can’t do it by himself.

6. Philadelphia Flyers (30-39-11, sixth)--Hextall could make rebuilding job go faster.

Conference semifinalists-Oilers and Flames, Sabres and Rangers.

Conference winners-Oilers and Rangers.

Stanley Cup champion-Oilers.