Norton the Latest to Hit Comeback Trail

King Coach Andy Murray has referred to it as walking through the gates, a graduation of sorts, when a player leaves the small group of other injured skaters and starts practicing full tilt with the rest of the team.

It might take two more weeks, perhaps three, but versatile veteran Brad Norton could be the next King to start practicing with the big boys.

Norton, out since sustaining two sliced forearm tendons in a Sept. 30 exhibition game, has been given the green light to start shooting again, the latest step in a comeback that is ahead of its three-month schedule.

“I think it’ll come fairly quickly now that they’re starting to allow him to shoot,” Murray said. “A week longer in [the] injured group, then a week with the team.”

Murray was not certain whether Norton would fit in as a wing or defenseman.

“It depends who’s playing well and who’s healthy at that point and what we need,” he said. “Right now if our team was to continue to play real well, his rehabilitation could take a month or a month and a half. That’s the job of the guys that are in there right now, to make it tough for the guys that are coming off injury to come into the lineup.”

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To make room for right wing Ziggy Palffy, who returned Thursday against the Dallas Stars, the Kings placed center Esa Pirnes on injured reserve. Pirnes has been out since sustaining a concussion Nov. 27 against the Phoenix Coyotes, although he said Thursday he is feeling better and could return within a couple of days.... Forward Ian Laperriere, also out because of a concussion, said he is at least a week away from returning.