Team’s Younger Players Impress Taylor on Trip

General Manager Dave Taylor, with the Kings on this season-opening trip, took time over the weekend to scout some of the team’s younger players with the Fredericton Canadiens and Springfield Falcons in the American Hockey League.

Taylor said that he was impressed with the play of right wing Nathan LaFayette and defenseman Jan Nemecek of Fredericton.

” . . . probably the best player from the group was Nemecek,” Taylor said. “He played a nice strong game on both ends of the ice.”

Taylor said the Kings hope to soon have their own affiliation in the AHL because of the league’s development of younger players. The last few seasons, they have had affiliation only in the International Hockey League.

This season, they have players spread around four teams, Long Beach and Utah in the IHL, and the two AHL teams, which are affiliated with Montreal and Phoenix of the NHL.

“Down the road, we would like to have our own affiliation in place with our own players and own coach in there,” Taylor said. “But for now, working with Montreal and Phoenix is going to be great for our young players. The AHL is a league in which 24 of the 26 NHL teams have an affiliation.”

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The Kings will be without veteran center Ray Ferraro, who sprained his left knee Sunday at New York, for at least a week. He flew back to Los Angeles on Monday to get an MRI.

Ferraro is listed as week to week and is doubtful for the Kings’ home opener against Ottawa at the Forum on Sunday.

TONIGHT

vs. Carolina Hurricanes

* 4:30 p.m. PDT

* Fox Sports West

Site--Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, N.C.

Radio--AM 1150.

Records--Kings 0-1-2, Hurricanes 0-3-0.

Record vs. Hurricanes--(1996-97, as Hartford) 2-0.

Update--The Kings were within nine seconds of their first victory Sunday against the New York Rangers but had to settle for a 2-2 tie after a late goal by former King Kevin Stevens. The Kings are averaging slightly more than three goals a game with Luc Robitaille and Garry Galley leading with two each. Rookie Donald MacLean, who scored his first goal on Sunday, has played well the last two games after a shaky season opener at Pittsburgh. Olli Jokinen, the third pick overall in last summer’s draft, was a healthy scratch in New York but is expected to return to the lineup tonight. In their first season in Greensboro, the former Hartford Whalers have lost their first three games, and got off only 18 shots in a 3-2 loss at Ottawa on Saturday. Nelson Emerson leads the team with three goals and five points.