Changes Afoot With Players Returning

Ziggy Palffy: no pain. Rob Blake: OK. Stephane Fiset: Better.

All skated at the Kings’ practice Monday at Montclair State University in New Jersey and will again this morning before the team plays New Jersey.

Should they be able to play, Dave Taylor, the team’s senior vice president and general manager, is going to be spending the early afternoon juggling the roster.

Palffy, out since Dec. 4 because of back spasms, is on the injured list and can come off at any time. Should that happen, somebody is going to have to be shuffled off the roster to bring the Kings down to the mandated 23 players.

“We’ve been talking about four or five situations,” Coach Andy Murray said, then declined to go over the various scenarios.

Likely, though, defenseman Jere Karalahti would go to Long Beach, because he doesn’t have to pass waivers. Jaroslav Modry, scratched Saturday night at Montreal in favor of Karalahti, would need waivers.

“He wouldn’t pass,” Murray said.

Blake skated lightly after being scratched the last two games because of a groin strain.

“It feels good,” said Blake, who was pointing for a return tonight against the Devils. “I’ll skate in the morning and see how it feels.”

Blake made it through the entire 56-minute workout, though he did not push himself, particularly in starting and stopping.

Fiset’s situation is another story. Out since Nov. 9 because of a bruised hand, he went through Monday’s workout and handled everything his teammates could throw at him.

The Kings are hoping he can back up Jamie Storr tonight, then play Wednesday against the New York Rangers.

*

The annual rookie dinner was held Sunday night at the most expensive steak house the King veterans could find.

“Only in the teens,” was Luc Robitaille’s description of the tab for dinner, wine, etc.

Actually, rookie Jason Blake said, “It wasn’t bad. About $2,500 apiece [for each rookie].”

It’s a King tradition that rookies pay the tab for veterans once a year.

TONIGHT

at New Jersey,

4:30 PST

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Continental Airlines Arena

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 16-8-6-1, Devils 15-10-3-2.

* Record vs. Devils (1998-99)--1-1.

* Update--New Jersey is led by rookie center Scott Gomez, who has five goals and 23 assists. His presence has rendered Brendan Morrison, the former Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey’s best player, superfluous and he has asked for a trade.