Podollan Unsigned, Unhappy

Another day, another roller-coaster ride for Jason Podollan, who had another good practice, drew more plaudits from his coaches, found his name in the lineup for an exhibition Saturday at Phoenix, then called his agent and learned he still didn’t have a contract with the Kings.

No contract, no exhibition game.

“I’ve been doing this for two weeks,” Podollan said Thursday. “Maybe the roller coaster is flattening out a bit.”

He is one of two unsigned Kings--defenseman Mattias Norstrom is the other--and Podollan’s is a special case because the problem with negotiations doesn’t concern how much he will earn for playing in the NHL.

It’s how much he will earn if he doesn’t.

“By most of these guys’ standards, it’s peanuts,” Podollan said. “I’ve had three good years in the minor leagues. I know it isn’t the NHL, but I should be rewarded for those years. It’s about respect.”

Podollan is among seven or so Kings realistically competing for two roster spots as forwards, but he’s doing it the hard way.

“I’m fighting for a job in practice,” he said. “There’s only so much you can do in practice.”

He has impressed Coach Andy Murray in those sessions.

“I’m stroking him every day,” Murray said. “He came to camp without a contract, risking injury. He’s had a good camp.”

Podollan, always a scorer in the past, has sized up the right wing situation with the Kings and is hitting people--enough, he hopes, to earn a job on the third or fourth line and avoid being sent back to the minors.

“I feel I can play whatever type of game they want me to play,” he said. “I can use my size, and once in a while I can put a couple in the net. I just want to get my foot in the door.”

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Center Jason Blake underwent an MRI exam Thursday that found torn cartilage in his right knee. Blake, who was injured in a scrimmage last week and had returned to practice after resting, will undergo surgery today and is expected to be out three to four weeks.

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The Kings have split for exhibitions tonight against the Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond and Saturday afternoon at Phoenix.

The first line of Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy, plus winger Donald Audette and defenseman Rob Blake will play Saturday, with Jamie Storr in goal. Tonight’s first line will be Vladimir Tsyplakov, Bryan Smolinski and Glen Murray, with the top “stopper” unit of Craig Johnson, Ian Laperriere and Marko Tuomainen available to match up with the Ducks’ top unit and Stephane Fiset in goal.