Didn’t You Used to Be Rogie Vachon? : Hockey: Former general manager has been reduced to little more than a public relations role.

He has a better Forum seat than most fans. He has a nicer parking space. And he has far greater access to the players.

But, for the first time in his adult life, Rogie Vachon is merely another fan.

For the first time, he must sit at the Forum and cheer or agonize over the fortunes of his team, knowing that he has no more real power to affect the action on the ice than the guy in the last row.

For 16 years, Vachon was a goaltender, one of the best in NHL history.

For eight-plus seasons, he was the Kings’ general manager.

But this season, he was moved upstairs and handed a new title, assistant to the chairman under owner Bruce McNall.

In theory, Vachon is an adviser, lending his wisdom to McNall on matters ranging from McNall’s role as chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors to McNall’s activities with the Kings.

In fact, the 47-year-old Vachon has had little to do this season, other than charity work and the entertaining of visiting league officials.

Friday night at the Forum, Vachon could only wring his hands as the Kings lost Game 3 of their playoff series against the Calgary Flames, 5-2.

“It’s very strange,” Vachon said. “The first two or three months after I took this job, it was incredible. I was used to pounding away every day. I was used to getting called at home by reporters. But now, it’s been nothing.

“I got used to the routine. But now, with the playoffs, it has all come back. This is a special time of the year and I have nothing to do.”

Vachon took his share of heat during his years as general manager when the Kings flopped in one postseason after another.

Finally, after last season, McNall decided to clean house. Starting with himself.

“I want out,” Vachon said McNall told him, “and I’m taking you with me.”

McNall moved out of the picture and made Roy Mlakar the new team president. Vachon was replaced by Nick Beverley and Coach Tom Webster by Barry Melrose.

At first, Vachon felt confident he would continue to stay involved and active. But it hasn’t worked out that way.

“Bruce has had so much to do on the league level, especially with the two new teams coming in, that he didn’t have time to develop my job,” Vachon said. “A lot of it has turned into public relations. Bruce even told me I didn’t have to come into the office every day.”

Vachon is not totally shut out of the Kings’ decision-making process.

“Nick and Roy are pretty much a team,” Vachon said. “They do their stuff together. Before a trade, they ask me what I think, but then they make their own decisions.”

It seems there would be one advantage to Vachon’s new position. At least he doesn’t have to sit in the stands and listen to the fans criticize his trades.

Not so.

“The fans still give it to me,” he said. “They yell, ‘What kind of . . . trade is that?’ Or ‘What kind of . . . period is that for your team to play?’ They must still think I’m the general manager.”

Vachon still sits in his customary press-box seat, next to Mlakar and Beverly.

“I’m more relaxed,” he said. “But I know what they’re going through and I sympathize with them.

“I’m isolated and it’s very difficult. But if we win the Stanley Cup, I’ll still be the happiest man in town. We’ve all worked so hard for it, I just hope I’m still around to see it happen.”