Kings to Discuss Job With Robinson

The Kings, seeking to fill their coaching vacancy, have been granted permission by the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils to speak with assistant coach Larry Robinson.

“We have yet to contact Larry Robinson, but the Devils gave us permission and we will interview further [candidates] at the draft [July 8 in Edmonton],” King General Manager Sam McMaster said Tuesday.

Robinson, who finished his playing career with the Kings in 1992, won two Norris trophies as the league’s best defenseman and played on six Stanley Cup championship teams in Montreal. In his second season as an assistant in New Jersey, he made $250,000 and it is believed he might ask for as much as $750,000 per season to become a head coach.

The New York Islanders also intend to ask for permission to speak to Robinson. Other teams might also want to interview him.

McMaster will also interview two other candidates today in Los Angeles--former Calgary Coach Dave King and former King player Butch Goring, a former Boston Bruin coach who coached Denver to the Turner Cup championship in the International Hockey League last season.

And during this search, the Kings are contending with broadcast and print rumors sending star Wayne Gretzky everywhere from Toronto to Detroit to New Jersey/Nashville.

“Wayne Gretzky has never expressed a desire to leave,” McMaster said. “The only reason Wayne Gretzky would want to leave is if we came out and announced a youth movement. That would be the only reason. We, the L.A. Kings, are not trying to move Wayne Gretzky.”

McMaster also indicated goaltender Grant Fuhr would not be with the team when training camp opens Sept. 10. Fuhr, acquired in February from Buffalo in the controversial Alexei Zhitnik trade, will be an unrestricted free agent Monday.

“Kelly Hrudey is coming off one of the best seasons in his career, and we want to develop Jamie Storr,” McMaster said. “We feel Jamie Storr is ready for 25 games this season. I feel very comfortable with this decision.”

McMaster said the organization will be searching for a veteran No. 3 goaltender. And before the NHL’s entry draft on July 8, the Kings will decide which goaltender to sign--Frederick Beaubien or Jason Saal, both fifth-round draft picks in 1993.

Additionally, the Kings have signed Russian defenseman Ruslan Batyrshin to a three-year contract. Batyrshin, a 6-1, 185-pounder, was acquired by the Kings in a trade with Winnipeg last summer.