Lindros Seems Unlikely, but Kings Keep Thinking Big

Three weeks ago, a block- buster trade between the Kings and Philadelphia Flyers for Eric Lindros seemed workable.

Both the Kings and Flyers were fresh off first-round playoff defeats and Lindros’ days in Philadelphia appeared numbered. Published reports during the season had the Flyers looking to deal away their 25-year-old center and once they were eliminated from the postseason in five games by the Buffalo Sabres, a popular rumor around the league had Lindros being on his way out.

Although Lindros’ reputation as a leader had taken a beating over the last year--thanks to Canada’s disappointing finish in the Olympics and the Flyers’ poor playoff showing--many teams were willing to take on the job of reworking his contract, which has one season remaining at $8.5 million.

The Kings, who found out how far they are from being a legitimate Stanley Cup contender in being swept by the St. Louis Blues, were said to be interested.

Philadelphia General Manager Bobby Clarke would not have had any problem getting King General Manager Dave Taylor to take his call. After all, having Lindros wearing a King uniform when the team moves to the downtown Staples Arena for the 1999-2000 season would not be a bad thing for a franchise trying to build up its core of season ticket holders.

But despite the Kings’ resources (money, goaltending and depth in the minor leagues) to possibly entice Clarke into making a deal, Lindros is not leaving Philadelphia. At least for now.

“There’s no plan to move Eric,” Carl Lindros, Eric’s father and agent, said Sunday. “Last week, we had several meetings with [Clarke], and he’s come forward saying that he would like to get a contract extension with Eric.”

Having Lindros off the market does not mean the Kings will shy away from seeking other big deals. It has been more than a month since the Blues sent the Kings packing and Taylor has been busy plotting the team’s next moves in the upcoming amateur and expansion drafts along with putting together a priority list of free agents.

Aside from making daily calls to general managers across the league, Taylor has held numerous meetings with players, coaches and scouts in an effort to improve the Kings. This week, the entire organization from the accounting department to Coach Larry Robinson will spend the week at the franchise’s annual Lake Arrowhead retreat--the brainchild of President Tim Leiweke. For the first time, this year’s retreat will involve players Rob Blake, Luc Robitaille and Glen Murray.

The Kings will have 10 picks in the amateur draft on June 27 with their first selection being the 21st choice in the first round. Taylor said the team could draft more than one goaltender and will look to add depth on defense.

Overall, the Kings are pleased with the amount of quality young players they have in their system. Happy enough to give Taylor confidence to be active but selective in the free-agent market this summer.

The Blues’ Steve Duchesne (a former King) and Al MacInnis are both high on the Kings’ list of unrestricted free agents because of the need to find a quarterback for their inconsistent power play. But even Taylor is uncertain how freely he can shop for free agents because of the escalation of NHL salaries.

“We can’t afford everybody. With the salaries being what they are today, teams have to be very [careful],” said Taylor, who will look to sign players after the July 1 unrestricted free-agent kickoff date. “But some teams will be limited with how much they can spend on players.”

Making a trade is also an option for the Kings.

Although he wouldn’t go on record labeling any player “untouchable” regarding a potential trade, Taylor did say that the Kings have a couple of players considered important to the team’s future.

“We have a lot of keys on our team. . . . Our goaltenders are a key, Blake on defense is a key and [Jozef] Stumpel and Murray up front,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t want to specify who might be untouchable, but those guys are our key players.”

DENTED DOMINATOR

It’s easy to lump blame for Buffalo’s 3-1 deficit against the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference finals on Sabre goaltender Dominik Hasek.

Hasek gave up two of the worst-looking goals in recent playoff history in a 2-0 loss to the Capitals in Game 4 on Saturday. He was partially screened on Craig Berube’s shot from the blue line, and simply failed to catch Joe Juneau’s bomb from near the red line.

And he has twice appeared on the verge of meltdown in the series--tossing his blocker in anger at Washington’s Peter Bondra in Game 2 and tackling Richard Zednick late in Game 4.

“It’s been a very long season,” Buffalo Coach Lindy Ruff said. “Mentally, Dom could be worn out.”

Hasek, unwilling to concede defeat, disagreed.

“I feel in very good shape physically and mentally,” he said. “I think I played well [in Game 4] for 50 minutes. It’s tough to make the save when you don’t see the puck. We have to believe in ourselves. I believe if we play the same way [tonight in Game 5] as [Saturday] we have a good chance to win.”

The bottom line is that the Sabres’ margin of error is too thin. They are a plucky bunch that relies on emotion and determination rather than skill and depth. Until now, the Sabres also have feasted on opponents’ poor goaltending.

However, Washington’s Olaf Kolzig is much more sound in net than Montreal’s Andy Moog or Philadelphia’s Sean Burke and Ron Hextall.

After leading the Czech Republic to the gold medal in the Nagano Olympics and carrying the Sabres this far, Hasek deserves to be praised rather than ridiculed.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

The Capitals have squandered 3-1 playoff series leads twice in their history. But Coach Ron Wilson bristled when Ruff spoke of it Saturday. “Yeah, he can mention it,” Wilson groused. “I mean, we’re in the driver’s seat. We’re up 3-1. All the pressure is on them.” . . . Buffalo motormouth Matthew Barnaby, walking past the Washington dressing room on his way to his car after Game 4, shouted to the Capitals, “See you guys back here for Game 6.” . . . After Game 4, Canadian TV commentator Don Cherry presented Wilson with a framed team picture of the 1962-63 Buffalo minor-league team that included Wilson’s father, Larry. Wilson said he was touched by the gesture.

Don’t expect fired Mighty Duck assistants Don Hay and Walt Kyle to stick around in their new assignments in Anaheim. Hay is believed to be a favorite for a minor-league coaching position in the Dallas Stars’ organization. Dallas General Manager Bob Gainey almost hired him for the same job last year. Kyle also is expected to be a candidate for jobs in other organizations. . . . Look for the NHL to announce it has struck a deal with sporting goods companies to standardize the size of goaltenders’ equipment. There has been much hue and cry over the illegal use of oversized leg, elbow and shoulder pads.

Michael Jund, a media relations assistant with the Kings, died last Sunday of heart failure at 22. Jund, who worked as an intern with the Dodgers, Blades and Long Beach Ice Dogs before joining the Kings last year, had a heart condition that led to his death. Jund’s family has requested that any donations be made to the Mary Potter Fund at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance or the Kings Care Foundation.

Times staff writer Elliott Teaford contributed to this column.