Power Plays at Work as Training Camps Open

When the Kings reported for physicals Tuesday morning, it was easy to see that the team was a lot bigger than in recent years, thanks to several off-season moves.

General Manager Dave Taylor and Coach Larry Robinson had hoped to add beef and nearly every move they made--from acquiring forwards Jozef Stumpel and Sandy Moger in a trade to drafting forwards Olli Jokinen, Scott Barney and Matt Zultek--involved players with size.

So, no longer will opponents be facing off against the scrawny Kings. Not with 6-foot-8, 245-pound Steve McKenna, a fan favorite at the end of last season, in the lineup. And he has an impressive collection of teammates, with nearly half of the 50 skaters on the team’s training camp roster standing 6-2 or taller, and weighing more than 200 pounds.

“We looked at our team last year and decided that the direction we wanted to go was to build the team through the draft, hold on to our young players and our draft picks,” Taylor said. “But at the same time we wanted to add some size and offense up front and a little bit of leadership.”

With only four players older than 30--Ray Ferraro, Steven Finn, Garry Galley and Luc Robitaille--the Kings are definitely young. Only 14 of the skaters in camp are past 25.

And the player who best represents both size and youth is Jokinen, from Finland, the team’s No. 1 pick and the third overall choice in the June draft.

Taylor has said he wouldn’t be surprised if Jokinen was one of the team’s better players by March, but the 18-year-old center said his first goal was to earn a roster spot.

“I’m ready,” Jokinen said through his translator, defenseman Aki Berg. “I worked out with weights and did a lot of skating practicing with [his Finnish club].

Jokinen, who played for the Finnish national team in the World Championships over the summer, already has added 10 pounds to his 6-2 frame since the draft and now weighs 210.

With so many young players being kept and new ones added, the Kings are expecting their most competitive training camp since the late 1980s. Forwards Pavel Rosa, Don MacLean and Josh Green, who excelled in the juniors last season, will be given good opportunities to make the team, and their inclusion would make the Kings even younger.

The Kings may still not have a dominant scorer but they are hoping Robitaille, recently reacquired from the New York Rangers, can regain his scoring touch.

If not, the Kings will have to rely on scoring by committee and Taylor said the team could have six or seven players with 20-25 goals.

There also will be competition defensively for the Kings. Nine of the 19 defensemen in camp were NHL regulars last season, which means there are proven players fighting for positions.

Captain Rob Blake is in the final year of his contract and is determined to have a strong season after being slowed the last three seasons because of injuries. He hopes to get needed help from Galley, a former King defenseman signed as a free agent.

“He’s offensive minded and also a good leader,” Blake said. “When [Pat] LaFontaine went down in Buffalo last year, [Galley] took charge there. . . . They had a young team, similar to this team without a big star. . . . So, he’ll be in a familiar role.”

A key goal for the Kings finding the right combination of defensemen. Jan Vopat, Sean O’Donnell, Philippe Boucher, Jaroslav Modry, Mattias Norstrom, Doug Zmolek, Finn, Berg, Blake and Galley all played in the NHL last season.

“We realize that in order for us to compete better in this league, we’re going to have to be the harder working team every night,” Taylor said. “We now have more depth in this organization and that should create a competitive camp. Which, should lead to a harder working team.”

King Notes

Goaltender Jamie Storr reported to camp but is still unsigned. . . . Winger Vitali Yachmenev did not report and remains an unsigned restricted free agent. . . . Ray Ferraro, who wore No. 20 last season, has switched to No. 26 with Luc Robitaille getting back No. 20, the number he wore during his first stint with the Kings. . . . Practice will start today at the Iceoplex in North Hills, beginning at 10 a.m. The first exhibition game is Sunday against San Jose at San Diego.

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Fast Facts

* New players: Left wing Luc Robitaille, center Jozef Stumpel, defenseman Garry Galley, right wing Sandy Moger and center Olli Jokinen.

* Departed players: Goaltender Byron Dafoe, forward Dimitri Khristich, forward Kevin Stevens.

* First exhibition game: Sunday vs. San Jose (at San Diego).

* First home exhibition game: Sept. 27 vs. Mighty Ducks.

* First regular-season game: Oct. 1 at Pittsburgh.

* First regular-season home game: Oct. 12 vs. Ottawa.