Unlikely Player Is Singled Out

As the regular season gets closer -- 10 days and counting -- it was surprising to hear which player was singled out by King Coach Andy Murray as having the best training camp.

Luc Robitaille, with three goals in five games? Nope.

Young defensemen Denis Grebeshkov and Tim Gleason, who look less like the future than the present? Not bad, not the answer.

Try center Derek Armstrong.

“Best player in training camp,” Murray said.

It’s only the preseason, but any NHL game, real or exhibition, is significant to Armstrong, whose 11-year career has featured a steady dose of the minor leagues.

All told, Armstrong, 30, has played 447 games in the minors or overseas, and 152 in the NHL, 66 of them last season in a breakthrough year with the Kings, where he tied for third in team scoring with 38 points.

Armstrong had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 3-1 preseason victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Said Murray: “Sometimes when you’re a guy like him that’s fought all these battles in the minor leagues, you maybe appreciate what you’ve got.”

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The Kings assigned six players to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League: centers Steve Kelly and Chris Schmidt, defensemen Joe Rullier and Richard Seeley, and wingers Noah Clarke and John Tripp.