Heinze Ready for Chance

Steve Heinze knows fans will compare and contrast no matter what he does. But, Heinze said Wednesday, he is not coming to the Kings to replace Luc Robitaille.

“I hope they don’t compare me with Lucky Luc,” Heinze said during a conference call Wednesday. “I know everyone out there loved him. I know they brought me in to score goals and fill some offensive shoes. But I’m not in Luc’s class as a prolific scorer. I set the bar high for myself, but I can’t set it at Luc’s level.”

Heinze, a 31-year-old right wing, signed a three-year, $6-million contract Tuesday. It came a day after Robitaille rejected a $1-million pay cut from the Kings and signed a two-year, $9-million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

Robitaille’s departure left the Kings in need of offensive punch.

Heinze, 31, had career highs with 27 goals and 54 points for Columbus and Buffalo last season. It was a jump in production from his eight seasons with the Boston Bruins.

“The grass was certainly greener when I got out of Boston,” Heinze said. “I was not getting ice time under Coach Pat Burns in Boston. Certainly the opportunity to play 20 minutes every night can make things happen. You make a mistake and you’d get benched in Boston.”

As a case in point, Heinze said in Boston he was not allowed to wear No. 57, which he preferred because of the ketchup reference. He wore 57 with Columbus and Buffalo and will again with the Kings.

“They were kind of conservative in Boston,” Heinze said. “No one but Ray Bourque was allowed to wear a high number. It was not a real fun atmosphere. I needed a change in scenery.”

Heinze gets another change now, with some familiar faces. He played with Jozef Stumpel, Bryan Smolinski and Glen Murray in Boston.

He was not an upper-echelon free agent, but the Kings singled him out to plug some of the offensive holes created when Robitaille turned down their offer. Heinze said his negotiations were moved along by the quick signing of other players.

“I was ready to spend the summer on pins and needles,” Heinze said. “I was not going to be signed early and was prepared for the worst.

“Everyone has been talking about three years from now, when the collective bargaining agreement is up. The teams are saying that there is not enough money and everyone thinks there is going to be a lockout to change the spending habits. All those things are being said, then they go out and spend this money.”