Robinson Greets Old, New but Bemoans Holdouts

The accent was on the new kid in camp, Olli Jokinen, and an old kid who has come back to camp, Steve Duchesne.

They’re the ones Larry Robinson could watch Sunday when the Kings opened training camp in North Hills.

He couldn’t watch defenseman Rob Blake, who wasn’t there, joining left winger Matt Johnson and goalie Jamie Storr among the 100 or so NHL players who officially became holdouts when signed players began drills.

And he couldn’t watch defenseman Aki Berg, also among their number and apparently on his way east, home to Finland because the Kings’ offer, believed to be about $1 million for the 1998-99 season, was deemed insufficient. “I hope he’s getting the right advice, because to me, I think for a guy who really hasn’t done anything for three years and is ready to make a statement to the league, he’s going about it the wrong way,” Robinson said of Berg.

The Kings have expected great things from Berg since they made him their first choice in the 1995 entry draft, the third pick overall. On Oct. 7 that year, he became the youngest player in club history to make his NHL debut.

His contribution has been two goals and 21 assists in 164 games.

Berg was a healthy scratch seven times last season.

“I hope he knows what he’s doing,” Robinson said. “We’ve got eight or 10 defensemen [in camp] right now who can play, so it’s important for everybody to get a good start. Now’s their chance.”

Among them is Duchesne, back after seven seasons with other clubs, and on Sunday, getting a look for the first time at the new NHL dimensions.

The goals have been moved out an additional two feet from the end boards, creating more space behind the net to be, well, more creative.

Also, the crease has been shaved so that it is flat on each side of the goalie, instead of curved.

“Personally, I love it,” said Duchesne, being counted on to team with Blake on a potent power play once Blake’s contract difficulties are worked out.

“I can use my speed a little more. I can use the back of the net to turn around and go the other way. I think it’ll be harder on the goalie, because the goalie won’t be able to get out anymore. They want to create a little more offense, and I think it might be a good idea.”

The Kings say they are hoping that Jokinen will create a little more offense now that he is back from Finland’s Elite League, stronger and with another year of skills-honing.

Jokinen scored the first goal in Sunday’s scrimmage, playing right wing on a line with No. 1 center Jozef Stumpel and No. 1 left wing Luc Robitaille.

“He looks pretty good,” Stumpel said. “It’s tough to see in a scrimmage, but he looks very good.”

King Notes

Eric Belanger was the day’s first casualty, requiring a couple of stitches to close a cut in his nose, the result of a high stick. . . . Jozef Stumpel also was injured, twisting his right ankle in the first half of Sunday’s scrimmage and sitting out the second half.