Kings Trade Kudelski to Senators for Two

Once again, the Kings went looking for talent and dialed that hotbed of hockey ability, the Ottawa Senators.

In giving up a proven player, right wing Bob Kudelski, the Kings picked up two marginal talents from the Senators late Saturday night, center Marc Fortier and right wing Jim Thomson. In October, the Kings claimed left wing Lonnie Loach off waivers from Ottawa.

Thomson, who will turn 27 next week, has already been in the Kings’ organization twice. The last two summers he was picked up by Minnesota and Ottawa in the expansion drafts. In 15 games with the Senators, he had one assist.

Fortier, 25, has one assist in 10 games with the Senators but lately has been assigned to their minor league team in New Haven, Conn. He scored nine goals and had 15 assists and 42 penalty minutes in 16 games there. Fortier spent parts of five seasons in Quebec and his best season was in 1988-89, when he scored 20 goals and 19 assists.

“I’m a little disappointed I’m leaving Ottawa this way,” Fortier said. “But it’s not bad. I’m going to L.A., and they’re winning. It’s a new page in my life.”

Wednesday, Fortier suffered a back injury and hasn’t played since. He is expected to join the Kings Saturday for their game at San Jose. Thomson is expected in Los Angeles today.

Kudelski became expendable because of a surplus at right wing and his inability to play a physical brand of hockey. He had been on the trading block for more than a month, so the news didn’t surprise him.

“These last two games I think I played well, but I didn’t think it would change anything,” said Kudelski, who scored twice in the last two games. “I’m going somewhere where they want me and I’m sure I’ll get to play a lot there.”

In 15 games, Kudelski scored three goals and had five assists. He has scored more than 20 goals the last three seasons.