Johnson Impresses Robinson with Effort

Left wing Craig Johnson, regarded as one of the best skaters in the NHL, has used his speed to give the Kings a new offensive weapon during the exhibition season with two goals in three games.

Last season, Johnson had only four goals and seven points in 31 games but was slowed because of an abdominal injury that required surgery and forced him to miss nearly three months. This season, Johnson is healthy and in shape, which King Coach Larry Robinson says is the difference in his play.

“He’s starting to use his speed and do some nice things out there,” Robinson said. “What’s good is that he’s putting the puck in the net. . . . We just hope that he keeps it up.”

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In winning their first three exhibition games, the Kings have received strong efforts from young forwards Donald MacLean, who scored the game-winning goal in the Kings’ 4-3 overtime victory over Colorado on Saturday, and Jason Morgan, who has worked well with the team’s penalty-killing unit.

“All of our young kids have done well, which gives us a luxury that we haven’t had before,” Robinson said. “But, they will only [make the final roster] if they are better than what we have. I don’t want to ruin their development by [keeping them on the team] but not playing them every day. . . . If we had kept [goaltender] Jamie Storr or [defenseman] Aki Berg and not let them play in the minors, I doubt that they would be the players they are now.”

Robinson said he plans to play his younger players in the Kings’ next two exhibitions against Vancouver on Tuesday in Tacoma, Wash., and San Jose on Wednesday in Boise, Idaho. After that, he said he expects to play his regulars in the final two exhibitions against the Mighty Ducks on Friday in Anaheim and Saturday at the Forum.