Duchesne, Bodger Make Kings a Little Older, Wiser

The Kings, who are concentrating on adding experience to a squad that was among the youngest in the NHL last season, introduced newly acquired veteran defensemen Steve Duchesne and Doug Bodger on Wednesday.

“I think the combination [of veterans and younger players] is good,” said Bodger, 32, a 14-year veteran acquired from New Jersey in a trade last month. “Obviously, we’ve got a lot of guys who could score goals last year. I think giving up goals is probably a concern, and I think experience will help that.”

According to Duchesne, 33, his duties will not be limited to guarding the goal. He led King defensemen in scoring from 1986-91, and the Kings will be counting on his offensive output again. He had 14 goals and 56 points last season for the St. Louis Blues before becoming a free agent.

“With the new rules [designed to increase offensive output], you need scoring,” Duchesne said. “You definitely need somebody like me in the back. The power play is very important with the new rules. I like Rob Blake next to me or Doug Bodger, and it’s going to be exciting. We’re . . . going to do very well.”

Despite the additions on defense, King General Manager Dave Taylor has lingering concerns about the front line.

“We have a good group of forwards, but if we could add one player, we’d love to be able to add someone with the ability to score goals first of all, and also with more speed,” Taylor said.

Taylor says he has spoken to every free agent, but he still has no definite plans for a trade.

“If we can get a player through a trade that will fit in our top six we’d like to do that,” Taylor said. “If we can’t, I don’t think it’s the end of the world. We have players like Olli Jokinen and Josh Green in our system that are probably very close to stepping into those roles in the National Hockey League.”

*

KING SCHEDULE, C9