Kings Look Ahead in Deal for Murray

In the weeks leading up to the NHL trade deadline, Ray Ferraro--the Kings’ leading goal scorer--was the veteran most often rumored to be involved in a move to help the team get more youth and size for the future.

On Tuesday, the Kings finally made a trade, but forward Eddie Olczyk--the team’s second-leading goal scorer--was the veteran dealt. Olczyk, 31, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Glen Murray, a 24-year-old physical right winger.

“Any time that you get traded, there is an element of surprise. I didn’t have a clue,” said Olczyk, who signed with the Kings as a free agent before the season and had 21 goals and 44 points in 67 games. “All I know is that I came here and gave the best I had to the Kings.”

With the Kings all but mathematically eliminated after consecutive home losses to St. Louis and Calgary last week, acquiring Murray is a move the Kings feel they could not pass up.

Coach Larry Robinson, who missed the Kings’ loss to the Flames on Saturday because of flu, said that a deciding factor in the trade came after he watched the team on television and realized how bad the Kings were dominated physically.

“You always hate to lose a friend and Eddie was a great guy to have around because he was such a positive guy in the dressing room,” said Robinson, who played against Olczyk. “But Eddie is not really a physical player and he kind of fits the puzzle for Pittsburgh.”

The Penguins will be the fifth team for Olczyk in his 13-year NHL career. He is expected to provide an additional scoring punch for Pittsburgh, which has struggled with injuries since the All-Star break.

In Murray, a 6-foot-2 220-pounder, the Kings get a player not known for scoring but respected for his toughness. Murray, the 1991 first-round draft choice of the Boston Bruins, has 11 goals and 22 points in 66 games this season.

“We have no penetration to the net, guys don’t shoot the puck and we get outhustled on the boards and in the corners,” Robinson said. “That’s [Murray’s] bread and butter. . . .

“He’s a big strong kid who is good along the boards and he has a great shot. He’s the type of guy who will take a check to score a goal. . . . He has a physical presence.”

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King Trade

The Kings tra d ed center Eddie Olczyk to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winger Glen Murray:

EDDIE OLCZYK PROFILE

BACKGROUND: Born Aug. 16, 1966 . . . Center, shoots left . . . Selected in first round (third overall) of 1984 draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. Also played with the Maple Leafs, Jets, Rangers and Kings. . . . Best season was 1988-89 when he finished with 90 points (38 goals) for the Leafs. Career-best 42 goals the previous season with Leafs.

STATISTICS

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GP G A Pts 1996-97 67 21 23 44 Career 869 315 417 732

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GLEN MURRAY PROFILE

BACKGROUND: Born Nov. 1, 1972 . . . Winger, shoots right . . . Selected in first round (18th overall) of 1991 draft by the Boston Bruins. Traded last season to the Pittsburgh Penguins. . . . Best season was 1993-94 when he scored a career-high 18 goals and finished with 31 points.

STATISTICS

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GP G A Pts 1996-97 66 11 11 22 Career 283 54 46 100

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