Robitaille Mulls Retirement Plans

As the regular season winds down and a protracted labor impasse looms over 2004-05, these could be the final days and nights for some NHL veterans, including King standout Luc Robitaille.

Robitaille, the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history, told reporters before Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks he would “probably’ retire if next season were lost because of a lockout.

“It would be hard to play again a year later,” said Robitaille, 38.

Many veterans have looked into playing in Europe if players are locked out by owners when the current collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15. Robitaille said he would rather not play abroad. Signed through the end of this season, Robitaille has indicated he would like to play with the Kings next season, if there is a next season.

“You never know what happens in life,” he said, “but right now the way I’m looking at it, I just want to enjoy the next few days and make the best of it.”

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Robitaille’s comments, coupled with the Kings’ nine-game losing streak, their longest slide in 20 years, turned a gray Southern California day even darker Thursday at the team’s El Segundo practice facility.

“It’s not only Luc,” King captain Mattias Norstrom said after the team’s workout. “Looking around the league, there are a lot of franchise players who are 35 to 37. A year without hockey would be tough to come back from. It’s also a loss for the game of hockey.

“I’m speculating here, but Chris Chelios, Steve Yzerman, and maybe even younger players [could be playing their final NHL games]. Mark Messier, Ron Francis -- it’d be nice and it would help the game of hockey if they could go out on their own note.”

Norstrom sounded resigned to sitting out a least a part of next season, however.

“These two games could be the last NHL games we play for a while,” he said, referring to the team’s final home game tonight against Calgary and Sunday’s season finale at San Jose. “It’s really important for the game of hockey that we have a season next year.”

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary 7:30, Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 28-28-16-8, Flames 41-29-7-3.

Record vs. Flames -- 1-0-1-1.

Update -- The Flames have clinched their first playoff berth in eight years. The Kings failed to advance to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.