Rookie May Be Sent to Minors

Michael Cammalleri, who has not scored in his last six games and has been scratched from the Kings’ last two, might soon be back in the minors.

Coach Andy Murray has hinted for weeks that a demotion could be in the offing for the 20-year-old rookie from Toronto, who gave up his senior year of eligibility at the University of Michigan to sign with the Kings last summer.

Before benching Cammalleri, Murray severely cut the rookie’s ice time.

“You have to be concerned when you have a young player that’s getting [only] six, seven minutes [of playing time],” Murray said. “We would think in his development that he’s further ahead playing more minutes down there ....

“What happens is, when you’re a 20-year-old and it doesn’t look like you’re improving, people will say, ‘Well, he’s a 20-year-old; he needs to play more.’ And where’s he going to play more? Probably with the farm team. You have to prove people wrong and hang onto your position.”

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Speaking of rookies, Murray said that defenseman Joe Corvo is “on trial here,” an unfortunate choice of words considering that Corvo, 25, faces charges in Boston for allegedly sexually assaulting and attacking a woman in a bar last month.... Derek Armstrong, who has sat out the last six games because of a groin injury, was available to play Sunday night against the Chicago Blackhawks but remained on the injured reserve list. “We’re going to wait a bit,” said Murray, adding that Adam Deadmarsh probably will go on the injured list if Armstrong is activated today.

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TONIGHT

at St. Louis, 5 PST,

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Savvis Center.

Radio -- KSPN (1110).

Records -- Kings 15-11-4-3, Blues 16-10-5-2.

Record vs. Blues -- 1-0-0-1.

Update -- The Kings’ 6-2 victory over the Blues last Tuesday at Staples Center featured Eric Belanger’s first NHL hat trick.