Reinprecht Is Now Up to Speed

King Coach Andy Murray spent part of Monday talking with centers Eric Belanger and Brad Chartrand, defenseman Andreas Lilja and wingers Marko Tuomainen and Tomas Vlasak, players considered on the bubble when final cuts are made today.

He spent no time talking with Steve Reinprecht.

“Is it official? Did I make it?” asked Reinprecht, for a moment forgetting the youthful reserve that is part of the cool of a professional athlete.

Yes, he has. Reinprecht has spent most of training camp and the exhibition games centering a line that includes wingers Jason Blake and Nelson Emerson. It’s called the “energy” or “speed” line, though it also could be called the “college line” because all three went.

Emerson went a long time ago.

He has been Reinprecht’s mentor from Day One.

It has made a difference, and the line has worked as well as it has because of the players’ speed. “We’re fast enough to create a lot of havoc for other teams, and Jason and Nelson know how to get the puck in the net,” Reinprecht said.

So does Reinprecht, though it has been slow in coming with the Kings. He has missed some opportunities in exhibitions, but was a prolific college scorer, with 26 goals and 40 assists in 37 games as a Wisconsin senior.

But that was in college.

“It’s a different game here,” he said. “It’s faster, you have more fan support.”

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Goalie Stephane Fiset’s left knee is recovering slowly, and the Kings are expected to put him on injured reserve to start the season. That means Steve Passmore becomes the backup to Jamie Storr for Friday’s opener at Washington and could get a start Saturday night at Buffalo. . . . The Kings will skate for season-ticket holders tonight at 7 at Staples Center.