Lehoux Is Dimming His Own Prospects

Depleted by injuries, the Kings have used seven rookies this season, all but one of them forwards. An eighth, forward Chris Schmidt, was recalled Thursday from the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H.

Meanwhile, center Yanick Lehoux, one of four highly touted forward prospects brought to training camp by the Kings last summer, remains in Manchester, and King Coach Andy Murray indicated he shouldn’t expect a call anytime soon.

“He’s not playing well enough, not competing hard enough,” Murray said. “He’s got to learn that. He’s the one young guy that hasn’t realized yet what he has to do. [Jared] Aulin’s realized it, has adjusted. [Michael] Cammalleri’s adjusted. [Alexander] Frolov’s adjusted. He’s resisted adjusting.

“He doesn’t see the light, and he’d better see it pretty soon. It’s like a person that’s got a problem or an addiction. Until they realize they’ve got that, they can’t move ahead. With Yanick, we tell him, but I don’t know if he sees it. He sees himself in another light. That’s not going to get him to the NHL.”

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Steve Heinze, sidelined since Dec. 14 with a concussion, is expected to play tonight against the Dallas Stars, paring the Kings’ injured list to seven forwards and defenseman Aaron Miller. Of those, only Derek Armstrong is expected to make the two-game trip that starts Monday at Minnesota, Murray said.

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TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 16-15-4-3, Stars 21-10-9-1.

Record vs. Stars -- 2-0.

Update -- Jamie Storr will start again in goal for the Kings, who have outscored the Stars this season, 5-0, running their string of shutouts against them to three in a row. Storr stopped 35 shots in a 3-0 victory Dec. 11 at Dallas.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.