Gleason Grew Up Seeing Red

Tim Gleason grew up in Clawson, Mich., 15 miles north of Detroit and well within the radius of Red Wing fans that extends from the Motor City to the state’s Upper Peninsula.

Gleason idolized Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov, and skated on an elite travel team sponsored by Red Wing owner Mike Ilitch. He played several games in Joe Louis Arena as a teenager, wondering what it would be like to play in front of a sold-out crowd.

Now a 20-year-old defenseman, Gleason returns to his home state as the second-youngest player on the Kings, who open the season tonight in Detroit.

“I’ve been a Red Wing fan all my life, but that’s out the door” tonight, Gleason said. “I can’t really be fans of them. I have to be in their face. I want to make a name for myself out there and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.”

A first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2001, Gleason was acquired by the Kings for Bryan Smolinski before last season’s trade deadline. He made the King roster this season with strong shooting and skating skills in training camp.

It was a goal of Gleason’s to play an NHL game in front of his grandfather, Leo, who has been in failing health. Leo Gleason will be in attendance tonight.

“I want to prove to him I’m here and finally playing,” Tim Gleason said.

*

Lost amid the shuffle of injuries is the fact that King right wing Ziggy Palffy has accepted an increased leadership role.

In the past, Palffy was asked to be an alternate captain but, as King Coach Andy Murray put it, “resisted wearing a letter.”

“Then last year when we traded Mathieu Schnedier, we put an ‘A’ on him right away and I think he liked it. At the end of the year I talked to him and said we’d like him to be one of our captains.”

Palffy is one of six Kings from the Czech Republic-Slovakia region. Others include Roman Cechmanek, Jozef Stumpel, Jaroslav Modry, Lubomir Visnovsky and Martin Strbak.

“He has to be the leader of that Czech-Slovak group,” Murray said of Palffy. “If that group is not going for us, our chances of being successful are not near as good.”

Palffy and Stumpel are reunited after Stumpel spent most of the last two seasons with the Boston Bruins. Palffy had 38 goals and Stumpel had 39 assists when they were on the same line for the Kings in 2000-01.

“We’ve played before and had success,” Palffy said. “We have a good chemistry going. I think it’s good for our line and for our team.”

TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30 PDT

FSN, ESPN2

(subject to blackout)

Site -- Joe Louis Arena.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records (2002-03) -- Kings 33-37-6-6, Red Wings 48-20-10-4.

Record vs. Red Wings (2002-03) -- 1-2-1.

Update -- The Kings will be without forwards Jason Allison (whiplash) and Adam Deadmarsh (concussion), and defenseman Aaron Miller (broken wrist), prominent players who are a necessity for tough road games. The Kings had a 5-2-1 record in the exhibition season. Despite a loaded lineup, the Red Wings went an uncharacteristic 2-6-1. Their defense was surprisingly vulnerable and goaltender Dominik Hasek was inconsistent.