Grimson on Kings’ Wish List

The Kings’ season is over, but General Manager Dave Taylor’s work goes on.

Taylor said Friday he will meet next week with enforcer Stu Grimson, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency, hoping to bring Grimson back next season. Taylor said he wants to keep all of the players who can become free agents July 1, a group that also includes unrestricted Luc Robitaille and Mathieu Schneider.

“The term Andy [Murray, the Kings’ coach] used was, if we’re all reasonable here, we’re going to get deals done,” Taylor said. “Those guys who have the ability to be unrestricted have earned it, and if they don’t feel they can get a fair deal, they’re free to look around. We would offer contracts to all of our free agents.”

Taylor anticipates breaking up the three-goalie logjam created when he acquired Felix Potvin from Vancouver Feb. 15. Potvin is eligible for restricted free agency, and Taylor wants to re-sign him. One option under consideration is trading a goalie and a high draft pick to get the top-six forward Taylor feels would help the team get deeper into the playoffs. Signing a top-notch forward as a free agent is another option, but that could be a budget-buster.

“We played two of the teams we’d like to emulate,” Taylor said, alluding to the Detroit Red Wings, the Kings’ first-round victim, and the Colorado Avalanche, which defeated the Kings in a dramatic, seven-game series in the second round.

“Colorado has done a tremendous job drafting,” Taylor added. “Look at players like Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk, core players who have come into their team within the last three or four years after they were drafted. This year, we have four picks in the top 50, and in the last couple of years we’ve added additional resources and scouts.”

He also said the Kings’ ventures into the free-agent market July 1 will depend on who’s available. The market appears promising, with Rob Blake and Joe Sakic, among others, expected to draw high bids.