Breaks of the Game Aren’t Going Rookie Belanger’s Way

While Pavel Rosa scored three goals in Wednesday’s scrimmage, Eric Belanger rode a stationary bicycle, the victim of a broken bone in his left hand, two days after breaking his nose. “It just so happens that he had a lot of bad luck,” King Coach Larry Robinson said, “starting with his trip here.”

Belanger, a 20-year-old center, was given a good chance of making the King roster as a rookie, along with Rosa, Josh Green and Olli Jokinen. “I can’t say what’s going to happen, but for sure I came here to make the team,” said Belanger, his hand in a cast. “I think they’re still going to give me a chance to make the team.”

Perhaps, but that chance probably will be from elsewhere. “It’s going to be very difficult for a guy to miss four to six weeks and expect to be right in there,” Robinson said. “To be a realist, he probably will start at Springfield or Long Beach.”

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There were a couple of familiar skaters at Iceoplex in North Hills before the Kings took the ice for practice Wednesday. Norris Trophy winner Rob Blake and left wing Matt Johnson, both unsigned, got in some ice time, then left before practice. The Kings have offered Blake a five-year, $25-million contract. He is seeking a three- or five-year deal, believed to be worth $19 million and $35 million.

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Right wing Dan Bylsma participated in Wednesday’s scrimmage, his first contact work since camp began. He reported no lingering effects of off-season surgery on his left foot. . . . Defenseman Aki Berg said he received another offer from the Kings for slightly more than the $495,000 they had offered for this season. He said it wasn’t enough to keep him off a plane to Finland, which he was set to take Wednesday night. . . . Jokinen centered a line with Luc Robitaille and Glen Murray on Wednesday.