Opportunity Opens for Rookie Pirnes

King rookie Dustin Brown snared all the early attention as a baby-faced 18-year-old, drawing comparisons to Adam Deadmarsh after showing a desire for the physical game during the exhibition season.

But an equally intriguing story was center Esa Pirnes, a speedy sixth-round selection from the 2003 draft who also made the club, albeit under less-heralded circumstances.

Pirnes, 26, is more of a finesse player who spent the last four seasons in the Finnish Elite League. He has two points in 14 games with the Kingsbut has been given the best opportunity of his short NHL career as the Kings’ new No. 2 center.

His promotion from the fourth line was brought about by necessity -- centers Jason Allison, Jozef Stumpel and Derek Armstrong are all injured. Pirnes will play Wednesday against the Nashville Predators with Luc Robitaille on his left and Trent Klatt on his right.

“Of course I’m excited about that,” Pirnes said. “It’s a chance for me to show what I can do. I’m just trying to enjoy all the time in practice and then in the game.”

Pirnes had 23 goals and 14 assists in 56 games last season for Tappara.

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Armstrong, tied for the team lead with six goals, saw a hand specialist Monday and is listed as week to week because of a fractured ring finger on his left hand.

Stumpel has been out since Oct. 25 because of a bruised chest and cartilage damage in the rib area, but his exact return date is not known. Stumpel has a similar injury to defenseman Mattias Norstrom, who sat out three weeks.

“He’s not practicing with the big guys,” King Coach Andy Murray said.

“He’s still on the injury squad. Nothing I can do about it until he tells us he’s OK.”

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As expected, forward Michael Cammalleri was called up from Manchester of the American Hockey League. Cammalleri did not have a point in two games with the Kings.

He had four goals in five games with Manchester.