Corkum Signs a One-Year Deal

Like so many NHL veterans, center Bob Corkum figured unrestricted free agency was “my one kick of the can.” But in his case, the can kicked back.

Corkum, an original Mighty Duck who also has played for Buffalo, Philadelphia and Phoenix, will become a King today when he signs a one-year contract, plus a club option for another season. No figures were available.

“This is the first time I’ve ever had a contract problem,” he said Monday. “I’ve always been to training camp on time.”

He was caught up in the NHL’s push to keep salaries down, just when he figured his would be going up.

“At the end of last year, I had a meeting with 1/8Phoenix General Manager 3/8 Bobby Smith,” said Corkum, 32, who played the last three seasons with the Coyotes. “He said he thought that what I would be looking for would exceed his budget.”

Corkum played for about $800,000 last season and was believed to be seeking a contract that would average about $1.3 million. Instead, he got ice time at a local rink in suburban Boston, usually skating alone, plus nights in a men’s amateur league when no NHL team picked up the phone.

That wasn’t exactly the competition he sought.

“Maybe my offense is back,” he cracked of his scoring proclivity against the amateurs.

Though he scored 23 goals and had 28 assists in his first of two-plus seasons with the Ducks, he is regarded as a defensive center who averages eight to 10 goals a season and is particularly adept at killing penalties and winning faceoffs. He projects as a third- or fourth-line center with the Kings, though Coach Andy Murray said Monday that Corkum’s signing is more for depth.

“We’re pretty happy with 1/8third-line center 3/8 Ian Laperriere and 1/8fourth-line center 3/8 Len Barrie,” Murray said. “Bob Corkum will give them some competition.”

After passing a physical examination, Corkum will report to the Kings, perhaps for today’s practice before they leave for Denver and Wednesday night’s game against Colorado.

Said Corkum: “I’ll need about four or five practices and then I’ll be ready to go. At this point, I could kill penalties and take faceoffs.”

With Jason Blake about to return after rehabilitation for a concussion, there appears to be a glut of King centers, meaning someone will have to go. That figures to be Barrie, who came up from Long Beach when Jozef Stumpel was injured.

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Winger Ziggy Palffy (back) and defenseman Sean O’Donnell (shoulder) did not skate Monday, though both are believed able to play Wednesday at Colorado.

Winger Bill Huard was sent back to Lowell of the AHL after playing one game and being scratched for another.

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A pregame talk with winger Donald Audette on Sunday preceded a game that Murray said was “improved.”

“Donald . . . gets satisfaction from scoring,” Murray said. “But he’s got to get some satisfaction out of other parts of his game.”