Taylor’s Goal-Scoring Prediction Looks Good

Near the end of training camp, General Manager Dave Taylor raised some eyebrows when he said that the Kings could have five players score at least 20 goals this season. Considering that only two reached that mark last season with Ray Ferraro’s 25 being a team high, Taylor’s statement seemed to be a stretch.

Not any more. Yanic Perreault already has 20 and with 33 games remaining, four others--Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel, Glen Murray and Vladimir Tsyplakov--have at least 13. The Kings’ scoring by committee looks even stronger with Rob Blake and Craig Johnson each with 11 goals and Ferraro finally back after missing most of the first half of the season because of a knee injury.

*

For most of the decade, the number of potential NHL players in the Kings’ system was very low. But after a couple of decent drafts, the Kings feel that their depth has improved greatly, especially up front.

“We have a strong group of forwards coming up,” Taylor said. “We have a group of six that we think have the ability to play in the NHL and they’re all young, from 18 to 22 years old.”

Led by Olli Jokinen--who is playing in the Finnish Elite League--the Kings also have Donald MacLean, Eric Belanger and Josh Green, who are playing with Fredericton in the American Hockey League. Scott Barney and Matt Zultek are both juniors playing in the Ontario Hockey League.

*

Defenseman Jan Nemecek, who has 23 points in 42 games with Fredericton, was selected to play in the AHL all-star game. . . . On Wednesday, the Kings’ Sean O’Donnell, Doug Zmolek, Matt Johnson and Blake will host a hockey show on AM 1150 at 9 p.m.