They Draft for Future While Mired in Present

The future is the business at hand today, when the Kings and Mighty Ducks take their turns in the NHL draft, selecting players who probably will take a few years to ripen. Yet, as they pick and choose in Raleigh, N.C., their situations require some tough decisions.

Both teams have personnel matters to hash out, with a free-agent summer like none other fast approaching. The possibility of a salary cap spawned by a new collective bargaining agreement, assuming there will be one, has turned no-brainer choices into brainteasers.

The Ducks have a two-year option on Keith Carney at $2.8 a year, hardly excessive for a No. 1 defenseman. But the Walt Disney Co., which owns the team, wants to slash $12 million from the payroll.

The Kings, meanwhile, are still nowhere close to signing Ziggy Palffy, their marquee player, and he could become an unrestricted free agent Thursday. But the Kings also are in payroll-cutting mode, according to General Manager Dave Taylor.

So with the Ducks picking ninth and the Kings 11th in the first round today in a draft that is considered weak beyond the top two picks, Russian forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evegny Malkin, there are other issues that could have an immediate effect.

“We’re going to attempt, like other teams, to protect our assets the best we can, while being careful about our commitment level,” Duck General Manager Al Coates said.

Coates has been cramming for the draft and the approaching free agency period since he replaced Bryan Murray two weeks ago. Murray, who built the Ducks into Stanley Cup finalists in the 2002-03 season, left to become Ottawa’s coach two weeks ago, a departure that in large part was prompted by Disney’s desire to reduce the team’s $54-million payroll.

The Ducks have already committed about $35 million to 14 players for next season. NHL officials are holding fast to demands of a salary cap for the next collective bargaining agreement, a cap that is believed to hover around $35 million. The collective bargaining agreement expires Sept. 15.

Besides Carney, the team has several key players unsigned. Forward Rob Niedermayer, defenseman Ruslan Salei and defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, all vital on the ice, need at least qualifying offers before July 1 or they will become unrestricted free agents.

Niedermayer made $2 million, Salei $1.75 million and Vishnevski $1.18 million last season. Coates has yet to contact their agents regarding either contract negotiations or qualifying offers.

In the wings are the team’s two first-round picks from last June, Ryan Getzlaf, a skilled power forward the Ducks desperately need, and Corey Perry, whose value increased after his performance in junior hockey last season. Both are unsigned.

That may force Coates to make a trade to create financial wiggle room.

The Kings, too, are facing tough choices. They have committed about $24.3 million to 14 players for next season.

“We’re trying to get as much flexibility as possible so we can adapt to the new [collective bargaining] system, whatever that will be,” Taylor said.

Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh will not be given qualifying offers to stay with the team and will become unrestricted free agents Thursday. Whether King fans will even notice their absence remains to be seen, since neither has played in more than a year because of injuries, Allison’s whiplash and Deadmarsh’s post-concussion syndrome.

Palffy, who made $7 million last season, has turned down a three-year deal worth more than $18 million.

As for the draft, there is considered to be a large drop in talent after the first two picks. Of course, the Kings and Ducks have had plenty of time to research their picks, because both missed the playoffs.

King officials say they will take the best player available, but they have interest in a goaltender for the future, given that their goaltender of the present seems to have a murky future.

Roman Cechmanek is under contract for one more season and Cristobal Huet was signed to a two-year deal earlier this month. But Cechmanek has been erratic and Huet has been a career backup who turns 29 in September.

Marek Schwarz, from the Czech Republic, and Al Montoya, 56-22-5 with a 2.28 goals-against average after two seasons at the University of Michigan, are considered the top two goalies in the draft.

The Kings do not have a second-round pick because of last year’s trade that brought Cechmanek from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Kings’ next selection after No. 11 will be in the third round with the 77th overall pick.

The Ducks, Coates said, will seek the best player available, regardless of position.

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER

*--* No. Team No. Team 1. Washington 16. N.Y. Islanders 2. Pittsburgh 17. St. Louis 3. Chicago 18. Montreal 4. Columbus 19. Calgary 5. Phoenix 20. Dallas 6. N.Y. Rangers 21. Colorado 7. Florida 22. New Jersey 8. Carolina 23. Ottawa 9. DUCKS 24. N.Y. Rangers-w 10. Atlanta 25. Edmonton-x 11. KINGS 26. Vancouver 12. Minnesota 27. Washington-y 13. Buffalo 28. San Jose 14. Edmonton 29. Detroit-z 15. Nashville 30. Tampa Bay

*--*

w- from Toronto; x-from Philadelphia; y-from Boston; z-Washington has the option of taking this pick or Detroit’s second-round pick in the 2005 Entry Draft.

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NHL Draft Facts

When: Today, 9 a.m., rounds 1-3; Sunday, 6 a.m. rounds 4-9.

* Where: RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C.

* TV: ESPN2, today, 9 a.m. to noon, first round.