Passmore Too Good to Pass Up?

All Steve Passmore has done is play 99 minutes, give up only two goals and save 41 of 43 shots.

It could be his King epitaph.

In today’s waiver draft--like all other NHL drafts--goalies figure to be at a premium, and Passmore might be too good for the rest of the league to pass up.

Passmore is philosophical.

“Whatever happens [today] is 100% out of my control,” he said. “I’m still at the hotel and my wife is still at Kamloops [Canada].”

In other words, it’s just a matter of packing a bag if his season is to be spent elsewhere. The important thing is that it be spent in the NHL.

“I battled my way up to prove I could play in the league,” he said. “I played 24 games last year and I played well. I think I not only proved I can play in this league but that I can help a team. I’m not just a body to back up the starter. I’ll battle for playing time.”

His career has been a fight, including a suggestion from doctors that he retire in 1995, when he was found to have a chemical imbalance in his system that was traced to exposure to industrial waste in his youth.

He broke through in Chicago last season, then was traded to the Kings for a draft choice in June with the understanding that the Kings would risk losing him in the expansion draft.

Instead, he sailed through that and now faces the waiver draft, though the Kings have tried to make moves to retain him because he has played well in exhibitions and training camp and because Stephane Fiset has an injured knee.

Passmore would like to stay with the Kings--”they’re good guys and it’s a good organization”--but mainly he’d like to stay in the NHL. When Fiset returns, a trip to Lowell of the American Hockey League would probably be Passmore’s fate.

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Fiset was given a brace for his left knee Thursday. He injured it a week ago and his status is called “week to week.”

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The Kings sent defenseman Rich Brennan and winger Pete LeBoutillier to Lowell of the AHL and designated defenseman Philippe Boucher for assignment. If Boucher isn’t claimed on waivers, he will go to an IHL team and lose a gamble he made last summer.

Boucher was paid $800,000 last season and was offered a two-way deal of $880,000 if he stayed in the NHL, $75,000 if he plays in the minor leagues. He also was offered a one-way deal that would have paid him about $400,000 no matter where he played. He chose the two-way deal. “High risk, high reward,” he said.

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Jamie Storr will be in goal tonight when the Kings play an exhibition at San Jose.