Kings Criticized for Refunds Delay : Hockey: Crisis over return of playoff ticket deposits could be solved today, but some fans are fed up with the team.

Lost in the middle of the Kings’ legal and financial problems is an unprecedented delay of more than two months in distributing postseason refunds for playoff tickets.

Adding to ticket buyers’ discontent is that this also happened last season. Then, the lengthy delay was caused by the pending sale of the team from Bruce McNall to Jeffrey Sudikoff and Joseph Cohen.

Yet that postponement, though more publicized, was shorter than this one. Refunds started six weeks after the season ended and continued through the summer.

The latest King financial crisis, which could be resolved in high-level meetings in New York today, probably has victimized the fans more than anyone else. Traditionally, refunds are sent out immediately at the end of the season. The Mighty Ducks, for instance, issued refunds about two weeks after the season ended, according to a team spokesman.

League officials are especially angered and concerned over this issue. Fans have beenvoicing their discontent in various ways--phone calls to the Kings, letters and faxes to The Times and irate postings on the Internet.

“I’m inundated with it,” said Michael Handelman, the Kings’ chief financial officer. “Our cash flow has kept us from making those refunds on a more timely basis. Because of the public knowledge of the organization’s problems, the $10.5 million has been held up.

“The money earmarked for this and the [anticipated] revenue sources have not been coming in. One thing leads to another.”

The amount owed to fans is $1.5 million. Some fans might opt to put the money toward next season’s seats but others have canceled because of displeasure over delays in playoff refunds and the team’s failures on the ice. The season ended on May 3, but since then, there has been nothing but legal and financial chaos, some ending up in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles.

Proposed interim financing of $10.5 million from an investment group headed by Philip F. Anschutz and Edward P. Roski Jr., has not been approved by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Phil Pascal of West Los Angeles, who said he has had season seats at the Forum for more than two decades, won’t be renewing his seats. He said he is owed $5,500.

“We’re completely unhappy,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate because we love the game. But the hockey’s bad. There’s no commitment. No management. The coaching is bad. The Ducks, they know what they’re doing. They’re going to win a Stanley Cup before the Kings.”

Daniel Schreier of Eagle Rock was pleased by how the team handled the situation during the NHL’s lockout. But he is angered over a lack of communication over the playoff money issue and sent the Kings and The Times a two-page letter detailing his concerns.

After Handelman called him last week, Schreier received his check for $948 on Monday. The Kings’ CFO said he has been able to take care of a couple of individual cases.

“I guess I got lucky,” Schreier said. “But they can’t forget this happened. The only way the trust could come back is if they sent me a letter of apology or if they made me a specific offer.”

Said Handelman: “We need a resolution. We need resources. The last thing we want to do is hurt our season ticket holders.”

And if there is a resolution by today or Thursday?

“They’ll get the money within a week,” Handelman said. “I’m ready to pounce on it.”

What especially irked some fans was that they received invoices for next season’s payment before playoff refunds were issued.

“It’s a running joke,” said Brentwood’s Mel Powell, a season-ticket holder for 23 years. “We should get together and have a pool for it. This year is an insult, it’s just too much.”

Powell, due $2,500, will be back next season, however.

“I don’t know why I’m going back,” he said. “I love the game. They are completely forgetting the game is for the fans.”

Kings Notes

New Jersey Devil assistant Larry Robinson said there is an 80-90% chance he will be a head coach in the NHL next season--either with Calgary or Florida. “I should know in two or three days,” he told the Montreal Gazette. “I have a difficult decision to make. . . . As for the Kings, they’ve got some serious financial problems. Too serious for me to consider.”