Keeping Up With Burke Can’t Hurt Kings

Brian Burke’s arrival as general manager of the Mighty Ducks might be the best thing that ever happened to the Kings.

And he’s not doing badly for his own team, either.

Southern California became the center of the NHL universe Thursday when the Kings acquired Jeremy Roenick and a third-round draft pick from the capped-out Philadelphia Flyers for future considerations, and the Ducks signed 2003-04 Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer as a free agent.

Roenick will be 36 in January and is past his prime, but he could be productive if the NHL keeps its promise to eliminate obstruction. His history of head injuries is worrisome -- the Jason Allison saga should be enough to scare the Kings away from anyone with an accordion file full of CT scans -- but it’s only a one-year deal and Roenick did play well in the 2003-04 playoffs after sitting out 20 games because of repeated concussions.

Niedermayer, who will be 32 later this month, is as smooth-skating and creative a defenseman as has skimmed the blue line since Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque were young. Freed from the shackles of the New Jersey Devils’ trap, his scoring potential is unlimited, and he was one of the most coveted free agents in this crazy, condensed post-lockout signing period. Snaring him was a major coup for the Ducks, who had a trump card because they owned the rights to Niedermayer’s younger brother, Rob, a restricted free agent.

“I made these moves to help our club,” Burke said at a conference call. “Now, if we sell some tickets, well, great.”

Roenick, soon to be dubbed the Mouth of the Southland, didn’t endear himself to fans during the lockout when he said that paying customers who are jealous of players’ salaries and boo them when play resumes could affix their lips to his hindquarters. He said his remarks had been taken out of context, but his face and his voice were all over sports talk shows on TV and radio -- or as “all over” as hockey ever gets.

The man deserves a medal, not censure. Because of him, hockey was talked about during the lockout. “I think there’s going to be a rebirth of hockey here in Southern California,” he said at a news conference in El Segundo. “I’m really excited to be part of that.”

Roenick’s knack for making headlines and getting noticed played a huge part in this trade, and the Kings acknowledged it.

“L.A. needed to get a player like this,” Luc Robitaille said, “and in reality, the NHL needed L.A. to get a player like this.”

The Kings are wary of Burke because he brings attention to the Ducks and, they fear, will deflect attention from the Kings. Burke’s cellphone number is on the speed-dial of every major Canadian TV network and radio station, and they call him for interviews on every major issue. He’s out there, outspoken, bold. Only President Tim Leiweke fits that description for the Kings. But he’s too busy with his duties as president of AEG -- Philip Anschutz’s entertainment and development unit -- to pay daily attention to a hockey club that’s a tiny portion of the company’s ever-expanding empire.

“Hockey is a foreign sport out here. We have to do whatever we can to sell it,” General Manager Dave Taylor said. “We’ve been away too long, so players like Jeremy will help us bring it back.”

The Kings and Ducks haven’t met in the playoffs -- they’d first have to make the playoffs in the same season -- but Burke’s presence has infused their rivalry with a postseason intensity. During the Sidney Crosby draft selection lottery, when Commissioner Gary Bettman opened envelope after envelope and left unspoken only the names of the Ducks and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the palest face in the room of 30 club representatives belonged to Leiweke. He knew if the Ducks got the top pick and drafted Crosby, who has long been touted as the next Wayne Gretzky, it would have been a public relations coup he couldn’t have matched.

The Ducks didn’t get Crosby, but they did get the second pick and used it on Bobby Ryan, who had played for the Junior Kings. There’s an in-your-face.

If the Kings being conscious of Burke’s every move means that they’ll live up to their vow to improve a team that’s still full of holes, all the better.

Signing Pavol Demitra brought the Kings a versatile and consistent player who upgraded their skill level. Before they got Roenick they pursued Glen Murray, who went back to Boston, and were in contention for Peter Forsberg, who signed with the Flyers. They were less serious about Miroslav Satan. Paul Kariya is likely to land in San Jose from all indications.

Ziggy Palffy is still available and the Kings should re-sign him even though he hasn’t jumped at the chance to play alongside Demitra, his friend and Slovak compatriot. The Kings also need a power-play quarterback for their defense. And if Roenick suffers one more serious head injury, they’ll be hurting up front again. Dustin Brown and Tim Gleason will bring youthful energy and a physical element, and Alexander Frolov has skill, but Mathieu Garon’s American Hockey League playoff performance raised questions about his prospects as a starting NHL goalie.

The Ducks appear to be in better shape. Signing Niedermayer could allow them to trade Sandis Ozolinsh, who last week signed a two-year contract for $2.75 million a year, an amount that’s easy to fit under the $39-million cap. If they keep Ozolinsh they’ll have the active defense Burke wants. Sergei Fedorov should benefit from the obstruction crackdown, but Jean-Sebastien Giguere must get past the psychological effects of the new, pared-down goalie equipment and prepare to see a lot of shots.

This is shaping up to be a vibrant era for local hockey. And there’s Burke to thank for it, even if part of his feat was indirect.