Surgery Ends Season for Kings’ Tsyplakov

King rookie left wing Vladimir Tsyplakov’s season most likely ended Thursday when he had reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder.

Tsyplakov, who signed a two-year deal on Nov. 5, injured the shoulder in the first game he played, at St. Louis on Nov. 7. In 11 games, he had two goals and three points.

He is the second King to suffer a season-ending injury. Defenseman Rob Blake went down because of a partial ligament tear in his left knee.

The team may also be without right wing Rick Tocchet for Saturday’s game against Toronto. Tocchet faces an automatic one-game suspension, having received his third instigation penalty of the season. King General Manager Sam McMaster said Thursday, however, that he will try to have the latest penalty rescinded. It was called in the third period of Wednesday’s games against Ottawa.

The Kings reassigned center Gary Shuchuk to Phoenix. Shuchuk was called up on Tuesday, played against the Senators and had one assist. Right wing Kevin Brown, who scored his first goal of the season Wednesday, will play for the Roadrunners on Friday but will return to the Kings in time for Saturday’s game.

As expected, the Kings have hired goaltending consultant Don Edwards as a full-time assistant coach. He signed a two-year deal that runs through the 1996-97 season.