Belanger Seeking Big Role

Eric Belanger, who spent his first two NHL seasons as a third- or fourth-line center, is battling for more playing time and, presumably, more points with the Kings this season.

He strengthened his bid Sunday night, scoring the winning goal in a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Mighty Ducks.

“I want to have a more important role,” Belanger said afterward. “I’m not saying that [the role I played] last year wasn’t important, but I’ve got a little more experience and I just want to do a little bit more on the ice.”

Belanger, 24, was enjoying a productive second season before suffering a wrist injury Jan. 15 that required surgery and sidelined him for 29 games.

Coach Andy Murray has said repeatedly that, at the time he was injured, Belanger was the Kings’ best player.

Belanger, who had 22 points in 46 games before the injury, finally returned to the lineup for the last seven games of the regular season and the playoffs, but he never regained his earlier form, contributing only two assists.

After a long summer, however, he said he’s ready to move up.

“I think I’ve showed since the beginning of training camp that I’ve got skills to play an offensive role,” he said. “I’m expecting I could be on the second line with [Bryan Smolinski] on the wing, or with me on the wing [and Smolinski at center].”

It’s a possibility, Murray said.

“In past years, he made our team as a third- or fourth-line checker, competing hard physically and taking the body,” he said. “If he can continue to do that and can add a little more offense, his ice time will go up.

“We need some guys to step up and give us what we call secondary scoring, and he’s a guy that’s challenging for one of those jobs.”

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The Kings were given the day off Monday. Their exhibition game against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at Denver is the first of four in five nights.... Nine King prospects were assigned to the minors and two were reassigned to their junior teams, reducing the roster to 42 players.