Kings Appear Content to Keep Right Wing Yachmenev on Ice

Not too long ago, Vitali Yachmenev’s hockey future with the Kings seemed secure.

As a rookie in 1995-96, he emerged as one of the team’s top scorers when he finished tied for second among NHL first-year players with 53 points.

But his stock dropped after he struggled to score only 32 points last season. It dropped even further when, as a restricted free agent, he decided to sit out this season’s training camp and wait for a better offer from the Kings.

The exhibition season came and went before Yachmenev, a 5-foot-9, 191-pound right wing, finally agreed to a one-year contract that was basically what the Kings had offered from the start--reportedly about $350,000. But instead of immediately joining the Kings, who had already played nine games, Yachmenev was sent to the Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League.

The Kings told him that they wanted him to play in the IHL until he got back into NHL game-playing shape. He’s still waiting for the call.

Since training camp, the Kings have recalled six players from the minors. But not Yachmenev, who said he had been led to believe he would be the first player called up if the Kings struggled, which they did in January.

“I understand that it’s all part of the business,” said Yachmenev, 23, who has played well with the Ice Dogs, one of the IHL’s strongest teams. He had 16 goals and 36 points through 44 games.

During the summer, Yachmenev worked hard on his upper body strength and skating--two areas the Kings told him that needed improvement. That has helped him become a better player as he has become a dependable two-way forward.

“He’s a very good all-around hockey player,” Ice Dog General Manager/Coach John Van Boxmeer said.

“He works so hard. I have an awful lot of respect for Vitali. I use him everywhere, on our power play, penalty kill, four on fours, whatever. I don’t know what the King plans are so I really don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it. But when you have a player like Yachmenev, you just try to enjoy him as much as you can for as long as you have him.”

King General Manager Dave Taylor says he also has been impressed with Yachmenev’s play.

“I know it was tough for him to go to Long Beach, but he has played well,” Taylor said. “I think a lot of him as a player. . . . I see a big difference in his strength.”

So why hasn’t Yachmenev rejoined the Kings? There is still plenty of time this season, but so far the team’s lack of injuries has hurt him.

The Kings have the fifth-best record in the Western Conference in part because players have remained sound. After being one of the most injury-prone teams in the league the last three seasons, the Kings have suddenly become iron men.

“He wasn’t in training camp and we didn’t get to see him,” Taylor said. “[Since the start of the season] we haven’t had a lot of injuries, so we really haven’t had a chance to bring him up.”

Nearly every move the Kings have made has been for defensive purposes, and they see Yachmenev more as an offensive player. Dan Bylsma, Steve McKenna and Nathan LaFayette are forwards currently on the team’s 24-man roster who didn’t begin the season with the Kings but none of whom are counted on to produce points.

Yachmenev’s problems on the ice last season are also a concern for the Kings. Even though he played despite an assortment of nagging injuries, his weaknesses overshadowed his strengths.

Many began to wonder whether as a rookie he had simply ridden the back of then-King Wayne Gretzky for his goals.

“His only drawbacks are that he’s not bigger and faster,” Taylor said. “His play dropped a little bit in his second season, but I know that he played with injuries and when he came back, he was not quite at 100%.

Yachmenev, who will become a restricted free agent if the Kings make him a contract offer by July 1 and a total free agent if they don’t, could be recalled soon because left wing Luc Robitaille is listed as week-to-week because of a groin injury and center Ray Ferraro has had knee problems.

But if he’s not, Yachmenev says he won’t let it affect his play with the Ice Dogs.

“I’m happy here,” said Yachmenev, who will get married this summer. “I kept the same place that I lived in before and [King forward Vladimir] Tsyplakov lives a floor from me and I see him all the time. I try to follow the Kings, but it’s hard with our schedule. It’s a little bit different, but the league is good. Maybe just a little slower, but it has good players.

“When I was first sent down, I kept thinking that I may get called up. But I don’t any more. I just try to go out and do the best I can.”