Rookie Not Thinking About Award

The question concerned the Calder Trophy, the NHL’s award to the rookie of the year, and the answer was that it’s too soon to talk about.

“Not after 20 games,” said Steve Reinprecht, the Kings’ center who led all NHL rookies with 15 points--six on goals--earlier in the week and who was only two points from Tampa Bay’s Brad Richards on Friday.

“That’s something you think about later. After 20 games, I’m just glad to be in the position I’m in.”

That’s the right answer for several reasons. For one, Reinprecht’s position is centering a line that includes Luc Robitaille, the only Calder winner in King history, now a 564-goal scorer.

For another, Reinprecht is in the NHL.

“I think Steve Reinprecht’s primary focus should be in job preservation,” said Coach Andy Murray, who keeps a tight rein on rookies’ performance and ambition. “Besides, he might not be the best rookie on this team.”

The thinking there is that defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky might be, because he plays a position with more responsibility and has played it well. With three goals and 13 points, and with a demonstrated desire to have the puck in times of peril, Visnovsky has demonstrated experience far beyond his years in the NHL.

He leads all NHL rookies with a plus-12 on the plus/minus scale. Reinprecht is second at plus-10.

Murray’s frequent reminder to both is that there is depth in the King organization now, and that center Eric Belanger is playing well in Lowell after starting the season well with the Kings; and that defensemen Rich Brennan and Andreas Lilja are impressing people in the AHL.

“I don’t want them comfortable,” Murray said.

Not to worry.

“As every game goes by, I still get nervous,” Reinprecht said. “I still haven’t played against a lot of NHL players.”

*

Goalie Jamie Storr, on the Kings’ unbeaten streak ending at 6-0-2 with a 6-1 loss to New Jersey on Thursday:

“You’d have to be crazy to think we’re going to win every game. . . . We’ll be better in Pittsburgh. We learn from [losing to New Jersey] and it’s no big deal. Happy Thanksgiving. Let’s get on with it.”

TONIGHT

at Pittsburgh, 4:30

FSN2, ESPN2

* Site--Mellon Arena.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 11-7-4-0, Penguins 11-7-2-1.

* Record vs. Penguins (1999-2000)--2-0.

* Update--Until Pittsburgh ended Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory Friday, the Penguins were 1-5 in one-goal games. Pittsburgh is 6-1-1-1 when Jaromir Jagr scores, 5-5-1 when he doesn’t. Alexei Kovalev, who had the only goal Friday, has 11 in what is being called a breakthrough season for him. The Kings are 6-2 against the Eastern Conference, but the last game was a 6-1 loss to New Jersey.