Contract discussions between goaltender Jamie Storr and...

Contract discussions between goaltender Jamie Storr and the Kings have picked up and it appears likely that Storr will be signed before next week’s start of the regular season.

However, Storr--who may be sidelined at least two weeks because of groin injury--could be put on injured reserve once he is signed. It is uncertain when he may return to the ice and is listed as week to week.

Chabot will continue to back up starter Stephane Fiset until Storr returns.

King General Manager Dave Taylor may be close to signing Storr but not so with left wing Vitali Yachmenev, who is still unsigned and not with the team.

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Dan Bylsma, one of the Kings’ top defensive forwards, and Stephen Finn, a 12-year NHL veteran defenseman, were both left unprotected by the team for Sunday’s waiver draft.

Out of the 18 skaters and two goalies protected by the Kings, center Andrew Dale and defenseman Jan Nemecek were the only players without major NHL playing experience. Most of the team’s younger players like defenseman Aki Berg and forward Donald MacLean were exempt from the draft because of their age and lack of NHL experience. Dale and Nemecek did not qualify for exemption because they are non-goalies drafted in 1994.

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MacLean’s play may knock Pavel Rosa back down to the minors for the start of the regular season.

MacLean, who will turn 21 in January, is nearly six months older than Rosa.