Granato Can See It From All Sides

Tony Granato knows all about the rivalry between the Kings and the San Jose Sharks.

As one of the few players in the NHL who has played for both franchises, Granato considers the Kings vs. Sharks one of the league’s most underrated matchups.

“It’s a good solid rivalry,” said Granato, who played nearly seven seasons with the Kings and five with the Sharks before retiring after last season. “Even if the teams were out of the playoff race, it would still be exciting. But this is really great. Both teams are having success this season and fighting for home ice position in the playoffs. That’s a rivalry to me.”

Granato has been impressed with how well the Sharks have come together this season. San Jose has been the Pacific Division leader since December.

“This is the best Sharks team that I’ve seen,” said Granato, who had 248 goals and 492 points in 774 NHL games. “I’ve watched this team develop for the past six years. And this year’s team has been getting it done on a daily basis. The team has the ingredients to win. The Sharks have great goaltending and players who are committed to each other and willing to make the sacrifices to accept roles that they might not like in order to help the team win.”

But before the Sharks can think about the playoffs, they have to hold off a late-season charge by the Kings.

A 3-2 victory Monday in San Jose moved the Kings to within two points of the Sharks. The teams meet two more times this season, including Saturday at Staples Center.

Granato credits Los Angeles’ run this season to King General Manager Dave Taylor, a former teammate, and Coach Andy Murray.

“They have done a great job of turning the Kings from a mediocre team that everyone kind of counted out before the season into a real contender,” Granato said.

“If the teams meet in the playoffs, it would just be great for both organizations and hockey in the state of California.”

Working as a pregame and postgame radio host for the Sharks, Granato has been enjoying his first season as a broadcaster, although he admits that nothing replaces playing.

“It is nice to still be a part of hockey, and around so many of my friends,” he said. “There are still some days when I think that maybe I should have stuck around for another year. But I understand that when you make a decision to put closure to your career, it’s important to be ready to move on to the next part. The next part is not easy, especially because I played hockey for so long. But, so far, I’m really having fun.”

Still a Waiting Game

The chances of backup goaltender Jamie Storr getting another start this season for the Kings are pretty slim.

Starting netminder Felix Potvin wants to play every game, and Murray is in agreement. Murray has played Potvin in 95 of 105 games since he was acquired by the Kings on Feb. 15 of last year and is likely to stick with him right into the playoffs.

That adds up to a lot of tough nights sitting for Storr, who would rank second in the league with 2.05 goals-against average if he had more starts.

“It’s tough to know that you’ve done everything that you can where your stats are great, but yet there isn’t any reward of playing more,” Storr said. “But I’m starting to understand that maybe it’s just taking a little longer for me. Maybe it will take two years before the reward.”

Watching Potvin lead the Kings’ stretch run is nothing new to Storr. Last season, he watched Potvin start 23 consecutive games to close the regular season and all 13 playoff games.

“It’s a tough situation here because I know no matter what I do, I’m not going to get an opportunity to be No. 1,” Storr said. “I am not satisfied with where I am, but I know that the best thing I can do is continue to play well in games so everyone can see that I have what it takes to play in this league.”

Storr was drafted by the Kings with the No. 7 overall pick in 1994 and made his NHL debut on Jan. 24, 1995. For years, he has been regarded as the Kings’ goaltender of the future, but that’s starting to change.

At 26, Storr has the longest tenure of any current King and is no longer considered a young phenom. IHe has been one of the league’s most consistent goaltenders this season and has a 72-59-19 record in his eight-year career, but to Murray, that’s not enough to get him more playing time.

“Right now the situation isn’t the way I want it to be,” Storr said. “But I also know that anything can happen in the game of hockey. I’ve been through three owners and three different coaches. I’ve been through every one of my teammates coming and going. I know what seems to be the best today, might not be that way tomorrow. That could happen with me. Today it might look like that I won’t play for the rest of the season. Then tomorrow, I could suddenly look like the guy who’s going to be playing every day.”

For now, Storr understands that he has to be a team player.

He could tell people he wants to be moved before the league’s trading deadline today at noon, but doesn’t.

“I’ve got time on my side. I am not aging quickly right now, I’m aging slow,” Storr said. “My wife has helped me understand that if I sit there and sulk and feel sorry for myself, I won’t be ready when my opportunity comes.” But with a 1.98 goals-against average and a 7-2-2 record in his last 11 starts this season, Storr’s not ready to wait forever.

“I love L.A., and I would love to end my career here,” he said. “I would love to be here eight or nine more years. But if you talk to anyone who has played the game, you’re only happy when you play. I’m not looking to sit like this and not play for a long period of time. Four years can fly by and all of the sudden, I’m 30 years old and still waiting for an opportunity.”

Line Shifts

* Something that has never made sense is the NHL’s use of a video-replay judge rather than an on-ice official to decide controversial plays near the goal. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman should borrow from the NFL, so the referee who made the call has a chance to review the play on video.

* Deals that reportedly may be made before the trading deadline: Dallas goalie Ed Belfour to St. Louis; Washington center Adam Oates to either Chicago, Phoenix or St. Louis; and Pittsburgh defenseman Darius Kasparaitis to Detroit.

* Toronto’s recent acquisition of goaltender Tom Barrasso raises questions about the Maple Leafs and their No. 1 goalie, Curtis Joseph, who has been sidelined because of a fractured left hand. According to Bill Watters, Maple Leaf president, Barrasso was picked up to back up Corey Schwab until Joseph returns. But the message is clear: Joseph’s injury may be more serious than initially thought, and management does not have confidence in Schwab as a playoff goaltender. With Joseph and Barrasso both becoming unrestricted free agents this summer, the Maple Leafs are skating on thin ice.

Former Chicago Blackhawk forward Al Secord, 44, who enjoyed several great seasons skating on a line with Denis Savard and Steve Larmer in the old Chicago Stadium, is now a pilot for American Airlines.

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The Times’ Rankings

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