There’s More Waiting Ahead for Duchesne

King defenseman Steve Duchesne cleared 48-hour waivers Friday, then went on a different waiver list in the NHL’s convoluted system of player movement.

Or, in this case, lack of movement.

Any team can have Duchesne for $100, if it is also willing to pick up the rest of his $15-million contract, which has two more seasons plus an option. With that unlikely, putting Duchesne on the waiver list allows the Kings to buy out his contract or make him the highest paid player in the minor leagues.

The payout would cost the Kings $7.5 million to $8 million, two-thirds of the outstanding money on the contract.

The waivers expire at 9 a.m. Tuesday, meaning there is a three-hour window in which to move Duchesne to another team before rosters are frozen at noon, the trading deadline.

In the interim, he can’t be traded, though talks with other teams can be conducted. Unless the Kings give permission, he cannot negotiate his own deal.

In other words, he is stuck, and while the Kings skated Friday in preparation to play Florida tonight, he skated in preparation for . . . who knows?

“I just have to go from day to day,” Duchesne said.

Dave Taylor, the Kings’ vice president and general manager, was in the East, watching the team’s Springfield players and scouting collegians, but you can bet his cell phone stayed busy.

Duchesne said, “Of course it’s stressful for my family, putting them through this. It hurts my feelings, but it’s business.”

*

Forward Sean Pronger tore a ligament in his left knee in a collision with the Mighty Ducks’ Travis Green and will be out four to six weeks. He probably will be replaced by Vladimir Tsyplakov tonight.

TONIGHT vs. Florida, 7:30

Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 26-37-5, Panthers 25-25-17.

* Record vs. Panthers--0-1.

* Update--Florida is tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference, three points from a playoff spot. The Kings are 10th, five points from a playoff spot in the West. Pavel Bure, coveted by the Kings and traded to Florida by Vancouver, still has knee problems and will not play.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.