Heinze Not Recalled Despite Big Contract

Three times this season the Kings have recalled a forward from the minors and three times it has not been Steve Heinze.

The latest was Michael Cammalleri, a 20-year-old rookie who made his NHL debut in Friday night’s 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

Heinze, guaranteed $2 million this season as part of a three-year, $6-million contract he signed as an unrestricted free agent in July 2001, remains with the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H.

“We just felt that we wanted a center and Cammalleri was the guy that [Manchester Coach] Bruce Boudreau recommended,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We wanted somebody to give us a bit of an offensive spark, so we asked for Cammalleri.”

The Kings could soon have another opportunity to promote Heinze. Enforcer Ken Belanger will fly home to Los Angeles today for further tests after suffering a concussion Tuesday night, possibly opening a roster spot. But the Kings will wait for the results and an update on Mikko Eloranta’s availability before making a move.

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The Kings probably will continue to carry eight defensemen, Murray said, adding that Brad Norton could move to forward to fill the enforcer role if needed.

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Murray said it was not planned that defenseman Aaron Miller, in his season debut after abdominal surgery, would play a game-high 24 minutes 37 seconds Friday night. “We just play the players that are playing the best,” the coach said.

-- Jerry Crowe