Leiweke Candidly Criticizes Rangers

King President Tim Leiweke told listeners on the Kings’ postgame show Saturday the club will not trade Ziggy Palffy before Tuesday’s trading deadline and expressed strong support for Coach Andy Murray and General Manager Dave Taylor.

Leiweke, who more than once used obscenities that surprised host Nick Nickson, also said the Kings won’t spend lavishly on free agents this summer and condemned those who do -- specifically the New York Rangers.

The Rangers’ $45-million signing of Bobby Holik, “was economic suicide and the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen,” Leiweke said. “The New York Rangers are spending $80 million and we’re a better team than they are.

“I love our fans, but at the end of the day, that’s not the answer.

“I love Dave Taylor and I think he’s done a phenomenal job. Look at this organization and where it was five years ago. We were in bankruptcy and we owed a bunch of people a bunch of money. Our issue this year is injuries. This is not about what free agents we signed or didn’t sign this year. I love what Dave’s done. I love the fact we’ve developed talent from within. I think we’re in a position long-term where this team has an opportunity to dominate long term....

“[Philip Anschutz’s ownership] is not a real-estate play. It’s not us having other businesses we’re concentrating on. If [fans] are waiting for us to spend $80 million they should move to New York and buy season tickets for the Rangers. They have a lot of overpaid, egotistical athletes and don’t make the playoffs. Two things make me happy: the Kings winning and the Rangers losing.”

He also said Taylor is trying to re-sign defenseman Aaron Miller and is not trying to trade Palffy, the Kings’ top scorer. “Ziggy’s not going anywhere,” Leiweke said. “The whole talk about Ziggy [being traded] came from the Canadian media. Ziggy has been not only the best for us that he’s been since he arrived, if you look around the league I don’t think there’s been a player in the league as dominant as Ziggy, except maybe Peter Forsberg.”

*

Not too many things have gone right for the Kings this season but one bright spot has been the play of center Derek Armstrong.

Acquired in a trade last summer from the Rangers for a third-round draft choice, Armstrong has emerged as a dependable physical force on the Kings’ top line after starting the season as training camp hopeful.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole life,” said Armstrong, who will turn 30 next month. “I’ve been lucky to play with Ziggy the whole time and for a while with Steve Heinze. It’s easy when you play with those guys. All I try to do is play hard every night and go to the net and create space as much as I can.”

*

Left winger Jon Sim, claimed off waivers from Nashville on Saturday, is expected to be in the lineup for the Kings tonight.... Goaltender Felix Potvin, sidelined since Jan. 29 because of a knee injury, has begun some light skating but is at least two weeks away from returning.

*

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KDIS (1110).

Records -- Kings 29-31-4-4, Red Wings 38-18-9-3.

Record vs. Red Wings -- 1-1-1.

Update -- Detroit defeated the Kings for the first time this season, 5-4, at Joe Louis Arena last month. The Red Wings are 0-4-1 in their last five regular-season games at Staples Center.