Kings’ Palffy a Free Agent

The Kings sent their official list of unsigned free agents to the NHL on Wednesday after a final-day discussion with Ziggy Palffy’s agent proved futile, making Palffy fair game for any team with enough money to accommodate the high-scoring right wing.

After five seasons, the Kings and their top forward have parted ways, at best temporarily, at worst permanently.

The Kings will keep pursuing Palffy, 32, but there is little belief he will return unless he finds the free-agent market less than receptive, a limited possibility even though “cost certainty” has become an industry catchphrase and an owners’ lockout is expected to delay the start of the season.

Palffy, who made $7 million last season and is one of the league’s top skilled players, represented the speed and scoring flair of the Kings. He had 150 goals and 340 points in 311 games with the Kings since his acquisition from the New York Islanders in June 1999. He rejected at least three offers from the Kings, most recently a three-year, $19.5-million deal.

General Manager Dave Taylor, who said two weeks ago he “didn’t have a great feeling” about signing Palffy, said Wednesday that Palffy obviously wanted to test his market value.

“It looks like both sides are going to be exploring the market” today, Taylor said. “We understand it’s a player’s right to become unrestricted. We put a fair offer on the table and they rejected it and we move on. We haven’t closed the door on anybody but we have a budget that we’ll work with.”

Palffy’s agent, Paul Kraus, did not return phone calls.

Several teams may be interested in Palffy, including Ottawa, Detroit, Chicago and the New York Rangers.

Other top free-agent forwards are expected to include Peter Bondra, Craig Conroy, Pavol Demitra, Brett Hull, Paul Kariya, Glen Murray, Petr Nedved, Mark Recchi, Teemu Selanne and Alexei Zhamnov. The NHL will release an official list of free agents today.

There were other developments Wednesday for the Kings.

As expected, Luc Robitaille, the highest-scoring left wing in NHL history, signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract. “This is where I started my career and this is where I believe I will end my career,” said Robitaille, 38. “This is my home.”

But erratic defenseman Jaroslav Modry, 33, and pesky forward Ian Laperriere, 30, are no longer tethered to the Kings. Modry was not re-signed and Laperriere was given a qualifying offer, but, as a 10-year veteran making less than the league average, he will execute his option of becoming a free agent.

Laperriere was revered by King fans for his willingness to fight and grind since his arrival from the New York Rangers in March 1996. He accrued 1,017 penalty minutes with the Kings, fifth on the club’s all-time list.

“Many teams would be interested in a player such as Ian Laperriere because of his style of play,” said Pat Brisson, Laperriere’s agent. “Calgary had a few Lappies on their team. Detroit and Anaheim wished they had a Lappy on their team. Anybody that played the Kings, they hate when Ian Laperriere is in their face. That type of thing is as important as anybody that scores a point a game.”

The Kings gave qualifying one-year offers to several restricted free agents, including defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky and Joe Corvo, and forwards Jeff Cowan, Eric Belanger, Sean Avery and Scott Barney.

Visnovsky, Corvo, Cowan and Belanger could elect for arbitration by July 15 to try to increase their salaries, but they will remain with the Kings next season.

Several other restricted free agents were not given one-year qualifying offers by the Kings and are available to any team.

Not surprisingly, Jason Allison, out since January 2003 because of whiplash, did not receive an $8-million qualifying offer. Adam Deadmarsh, out since December 2002 because of post-concussion syndrome, was not given a $3-million qualifying offer. Both players are still feeling symptoms from their injuries.

Anson Carter, who had one assist in 15 games after being acquired in March from the Washington Capitals, was not offered a one-year, $2.8-million deal that would have kept him with the Kings, although he might be re-signed at a lower price.

Carter, who had hernia surgery in May and has been rehabilitating a sore shoulder, lives in Marina del Rey during the off-season.

“He’s always liked it here, but at the same time, other teams may change his interest,” said Brisson, Carter’s agent. “Anson Carter is one of the most consistent players in the NHL, with the exception of last year, and he is taking care of his injuries.”

Forward Brad Chartrand and defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov also were not given qualifying offers.