Allison, Deadmarsh Are Cleared to Practice

It was a formality for 60 players, nothing more than a signature on a dotted line.

For two other players at King training camp, receiving doctors’ clearance was more than symbolic.

King physicians Thursday deemed Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh fit to practice as training camp opens today.

Allison and Deadmarsh missed a combined 118 games last season and were a reason the Kings stumbled to 10th place in the Western Conference.

Both players passed agility and fitness tests off the ice Thursday. They will ease into training camp, skipping contact drills most of the first week and sitting out some of the team’s eight exhibition games.

Allison played only 26 games last season because of a concussion and a knee injury, and Deadmarsh played only 20 games because of a concussion.

Deadmarsh has been symptom-free when working out in a gym and is close to game shape, but he occasionally feels slightly uneasy while skating.

“On the ice, every once in a while, you still know it’s there,” he said of the concussion. “It’s nothing that’s made me stop. It might just be getting back to the ice and having guys zip around you.

“My goal is to start the season, but I can’t promise anybody that. I’d like to snap my fingers and have it done, but I can’t. I’m no good to the team if I’m hurt.”

Allison and Deadmarsh will wear reinforced helmets with thicker foam padding designed to minimize whiplash effects.

Their biggest test, of course, will be the first few hits they take in a game. The season opener is Oct. 9 at Detroit.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s been a frustrating process,” Allison said. “I’m not quite at 100%, but I think Oct. 9 is definitely a realistic date.”

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Defenseman Chris McAlpine, who had two assists in 21 games with the Kings last season, signed a one-year contract with Minnesota. McAlpine, 31, missed part of last season because of a hernia injury.

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The Mighty Ducks began training camp Thursday and Petr Sykora began his holdout.

While close on money -- Sykora is believed to be seeking more than $4 million a season -- the sides are apart on length of the contract. Sykora, who made $3.535 million last season, is asking for a four-year contract; the Ducks have countered with a three-year offer.

“I think what we have on the table is fair,” Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said. “I thought that we were close enough that this would get done.”

Sykora led the Ducks with 34 goals last season.

“Every day you are not here [in camp], you are a day behind,” Duck Coach Mike Babcock said. “Obviously, the sooner he gets here the better for him.”

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Sergei Fedorov made his Duck debut Thursday and came away all smiles.

“I feel very comfortable out there,” Fedorov said.

Others felt comfortable with him out there, too.

“Yeah, it’s nice not having to play against him now,” goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere said.

The Ducks have only a few jobs open this camp, mostly at forward where injuries have sidelined Mike Leclerc (knee), Andy McDonald (concussion) and Dan Bylsma (knee).

Babcock will break the camp into two groups, an NHL team and minor league team, next week.

“I think it’s good that we’ll have young guys sitting around the hotel wondering if they are going up or down,” Babcock said.

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McDonald, who missed the second half of last season with a concussion, went through drills Thursday. McDonald is down 13 pounds, from 185 to 172, from last training camp. He said he would not consider contact drills until he gets closer to his playing weight.

“I’ll make that decision with [trainer] Chris Phillips and my doctor,” McDonald said.

Still, being on the ice for a full practice was a step forward.

“Any day I see Andy smiling is a great day,” Babcock said. “There is no timetable for him. But it is good to see things are going in the right direction.”

Center Steve Rucchin skated a half-hour on his own for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 30. He expects to return to practice next week.