Three Kings Can’t Replace This Ace : Hockey: No veterans to fill in for Gretzky as Penguins had in 1990-91.

Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux missed the first 50 games of the 1990-91 season in the wake of an operation on a herniated disk in his back and a subsequent infection.

But by May, he was gingerly hoisting the Stanley Cup, skating in celebration with his teammates after defeating the Minnesota North Stars in the final. He did, in fact, carry the team on his back.

So, there is precedent. An injured athlete can go from flat on his back to the top of his sport in the same season.

Still, King fans should not be holding their breath.

With Wayne Gretzky sidelined for an indefinite period because of a herniated thoracic disk, the Kings are not only losing a high-powered scorer and playmaker but the franchise’s foundation.

Of more immediate concern on the ice is trying to find a viable No. 1 center for the duration of Gretzky’s absence. Hampering the search is the fact that there is no proven No. 1 NHL center in the Kings’ house.

There is a promising rookie, 21-year-old Robert Lang, who impressed scouts with his performance at the Winter Olympics last winter for Czechoslovakia. Behind Lang are 28-year-old Corey Millen, who had a career-high 21 goals and 46 points last season. The other center is John McIntyre, 23, who scored five goals and a career-high 24 points.

In Pittsburgh, the situation was much different when Lemieux was sidelined two years ago, John Cullen was there to assume a partial load. The season before Lemieux had back surgery, Cullen scored 32 goals and 92 points. In the absence of Lemieux in 1990-91, Cullen led the league in scoring for a stretch, recording 31 goals and 94 points.

The other centers on the Penguins’ depth chart that season were Bryan Trottier, Barry Pederson and Randy Gilhen. And after Lemieux returned, the Penguins traded Cullen to the Hartford Whalers for Ron Francis, a solid, two-way center.

For now, King Coach Barry Melrose seems content to give the kids a chance.

“It’s an opportunity for Robert Lang and John McIntyre and Corey Millen, who’s been in a backup role,” Melrose said.

One option would be to change winger Tony Granato’s role. Granato, who scored a career-high 39 goals and 68 points last season, is capable of playing center. Another alternative is winger Bob Kudelski, who started last season as the No. 2 center in a short-lived experiment.

King General Manager Nick Beverley was asked whether the development regarding Gretzky ruined the team’s chances this season.

“Not at all,” he said. “Absolutely not. We have as much in the positive vein that Wayne referred to as far as his approach to his personal health. He said this team is going to be young and exciting and fun to watch. I’ve certainly said that from day one.”

Melrose held a team meeting on Tuesday to inform his players of Gretzky’s status.

“We’re handling it as if we don’t know how long he’ll be out,” Melrose said from Tacoma, Wash., where the Kings played an exhibition Wednesday night.

Melrose said the players were almost relieved to learn anything about Gretzky, having been waiting for almost a week. Goaltender Kelly Hrudey concurred.

“It was more concrete evidence of what the season will hold for us,” Hrudey said. “Instead of saying it’ll be a month or two and all of us waiting for him to return, now it’s final. It could be a year or it could be something longer.”

Hrudey is thinking about Gretzky the person, not simply Gretzky the hockey player.

“As far as Wayne goes, I hope he gets better for his own sake,” he said. “It’s shortsighted to say he should get better for hockey’s sake. It’s a serious injury and it’s certainly not to be taken lightly.”