Players Just Trying to Get Back in Shape

The Kings’ first practice since the NHL’s 12-day Olympic break began Feb. 14 was anything but normal Thursday.

With Coach Andy Murray still experiencing symptoms of post-concussion syndrome at his family’s home in Faribault, Minn., and four Olympians (Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom and Mikko Eloranta) not due to rejoin the team until Tuesday, the King workout had a certain playground-like feel at the team’s HealthSouth Training Center in El Segundo.

“The first day is to just get the kinks out,” said assistant coach Mark Hardy, who along with fellow assistants Dave Tippett and Ray Bennett conducted Thursday’s practice in Murray’s absence. “After you’ve had that long of a layoff, it’s tough. You have to first get your legs and your hands going and then over the next few days, we have to get our minds back into it.”

After being involved in a single-vehicle accident Friday in rural Wisconsin, Murray had planned to travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday, but doctors advised him not to travel until today. Murray suffered a mild concussion, four broken ribs, a separated left shoulder and several lacerations from his accident.

The Kings, who do not play again until Tuesday at Columbus, did plenty of skating Thursday and finished their workout with a spirited three-on-three game. But because the team’s coaching staff wants to make sure the players are healthy for the remainder of the season, the drills definitely lacked some intensity.

Winger Ziggy Palffy competed for Slovakia in the Olympics and did not have to report back to the Kings until next week but that didn’t keep him from practicing with his teammates Thursday.

“It was good to see Ziggy having some fun out there,” Hardy said.