Berg Upset With Limited Role

OK, defenseman Aki Berg would have played Tuesday night, even if Rob Blake wasn’t injured. It was Berg’s turn, a situation which is the bone of contention he has with the Kings.

So much contention that if it doesn’t change, he would just as soon be employed elsewhere.

“If it’s going to be like that for the whole year, trade me for somebody else,” Berg said. “I want to play here, but I don’t want to play like this for the whole year.”

“Like this” is a job-sharing arrangement in which Jere Karalahti played the season’s first two games--at Washington and Buffalo--then Berg played at Columbus and at home against St. Louis, then Karalahti again.

“I thought I played good in those two games,” Berg said.

Coach Andy Murray agreed that Berg’s quality of play was fine, but that he wants to keep both players fresh.

Last season, Berg was scratched three times for poor play, but this time he’s a victim of a numbers game.

“I talk to him every day, tell him why he’s not playing,” Murray said. “I could just post the lineup, but I don’t work that way.

“It’s tough for a player to accept. Aki doesn’t like it and I don’t want him to like it.”

The Kings have seven defensemen and when Blake is playing, Karalahti and Berg rank Nos. 6 and 7, according to numerical evaluations by coaches that stretch into exhibition games.

Berg started slowly in his first two exhibition appearances, then peaked at the end of training camp. But rookie defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky stayed steady throughout camp and has started every game so far.

On Tuesday night, he played on the No. 1 power play, teaming with Mathieu Schneider in place of Blake.

Berg was teamed with Schneider when the teams were at even strength.

Berg has asked agent Larry Kelly to intercede on his behalf.

“I know Larry Kelly,” Murray said. “I’d be happy to show him the numbers [on the evaluations].”

For now, the only numbers Berg wants to see are his shifts and ice time.

With the Kings or somewhere else.

King Senior Vice President and General Manager Dave Taylor said he has not been contacted by Kelly.

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Wing Ian Laperriere was scratched Tuesday night after a hip flexor problem flared up in the morning skate.

In his place, Tomas Vlasak got his first NHL duty, playing eight shifts totaling 5:18 on a line with Jason Blake and Steve Reinprecht.