Kings Bolster Attack With Trade

The Kings, taking a step to be buyers instead of sellers as the trade deadline approaches, acquired offensive-minded defenseman Nathan Dempsey from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday for a fourth-round selection in 2005 and a conditional sixth-round selection in 2006.

Dempsey, 29, a smooth skater who also gets extensive time on the power-play and penalty-killing unit, had eight goals and 17 assists while leading the Blackhawks in ice time with 23 minutes 47 seconds per game.

Dempsey sat out three games because of a concussion but has played the last two games for the bottom-dwelling Blackhawks, who continued their quest to shed payroll in a deal that makes financial sense for the Kings as well.

The Kings will pay the remainder of Dempsey’s $600,000 salary, about $100,000. The Blackhawks receive the conditional sixth-round selection if the Kings advance past the first round of the playoffs this season.

Dempsey, originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 12th round of the 1992 draft, will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

“I think we’re open to discuss a contract, but we’d like to get him settled in and playing for us,” King General Manager Dave Taylor said. “He’s a good character guy and he’s got a pretty good all-around game. Good mobility, moves the puck. He’s not real big, but he positions himself well and has good skating ability.”

Taylor said he was not concerned about Dempsey’s concussion, suffered Feb. 22 after a hit by St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk.

“They held him out for a week as a precaution, but he’s been playing 25 minutes in his two games back,” Taylor said. “We are going to do a medical on him when we bring him in [today]. We don’t see any issues.”

Dempsey fills a void defensively for the Kings, who have been without Lubomir Visnovsky since Jan. 31 and Aaron Miller since Dec. 10, both because of pinched nerves in the neck and shoulder areas.

Dempsey is expected to be in the lineup for the Kings’ next game Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.

“I was a little shocked to begin with, but I’m excited about everything, to get to a playoff team, hopefully help them get in and do well from there,” Dempsey said. “I respect the things they’ve been doing this year, the fact they’ve gone though a lot of adversity [with injuries]. It shows the type of guys they have in the locker room with the way they’ve been going. I’m hoping to fit in as soon as possible.”

Dempsey, listed at 6 feet and 191 pounds, said he does not have a history of concussion problems.

“I’ve played the last two games with no problems whatsoever,” he said. “It was a freak hit by Tkachuk.” Dempsey might not be the last acquisition for the Kings before next Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“I would say we’re still looking,” Taylor said. “These are the types of deals we’ll make. We’re not interested in giving up our young players. It made a lot of sense to us.”

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Defenseman Jason Holland, sidelined for the back-to-back games against the Mighty Ducks over the weekend because of a bruised thigh, resumed practicing Monday and assessed himself at 90% healthy.

He is expecting to return to the lineup Thursday.

“By then, I should be 100%,” Holland said.

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The New King

The Kings acquired Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Nathan Dempsey for a fourth-round selection in 2005 and a conditional sixth-round selection in 2006. A look at Dempsey’s NHL statistics:

*--* Year Team GP G A Pts. +/- PIM 96-97 Toronto 14 1 1 2 -2 2 99-00 Toronto 6 0 2 2 2 2 00-01 Toronto 25 1 9 10 13 4 01-02 Toronto 3 0 0 0 1 0 02-03 Chicago 67 5 23 28 -7 26 03-04 Chicago 58 8 17 25 -5 30 Totals 173 15 52 67 2 64

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