Bodger Puzzled by Lack of Offense

Defenseman Doug Bodger said Monday that he is mulling retirement after the season but added that it might not be up to him.

“I have been thinking about it a little and talking with my family. And I have to wait for an offer,” said Bodger, who has struggled this season because of injuries and because of a loss of confidence in his offense, and who might be hard-pressed at 33 to duplicate his $1.3-million salary next season.

He has no goals and 10 assists in a diminishing number of shots this season. Known throughout a 15-season, 1,035-game career as an “offensive” defenseman, with 103 goals and 420 assists, he has only 41 shots in as many games.

“I have no idea why,” he said of questions about his scoring. “I must have had about 10 shots last year and four went in [before he was traded from San Jose to New Jersey].

“Then, I think when I came here [in a trade from the Devils] I looked around and saw Rob Blake and Steve Duchesne and figured my job was to be strong in my own end of the ice.”

*

Dave Taylor, the Kings’ vice president and general manager, is in Europe looking at players, including former King Aki Berg, who is playing in Finland after failing to come to terms before training camp.