Defenseman Laidlaw Ends Career With Buyout by Kings

After a decade on the ice and 18 months in rehabilitation, defenseman Tom Laidlaw ended his career Friday by agreeing to a buyout offer from the Kings.

Unable to recover from the back injury that has sidelined him since St. Patrick’s Day, 1990, Laidlaw, 33, settled for $455,000. His contract called for $310,000 for both this year and next season, his option year. The team would have been required to pay him the full amount this season and at least two-thirds or $206,000 next season for a total of $506,000. But when he was informed Friday that he was being sent to the minors, Laidlaw chose the lower offer.

And Friday, he also was having a new set of phones installed in his house to begin his new career as a player agent.

“I played 10 years in the NHL,” Laidlaw said. “That’s not bad.”

Laidlaw finished with 25 goals and 164 points in 705 games with the Kings and New York Rangers.

The Kings play the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7:30 in their final Forum appearance of the exhibition season.