Young Defensemen Get a Shot

Tim Gleason monitored the Kings as the team went wheeling and dealing in August, noting a very important fact.

Pavol Demitra, forward; Jeremy Roenick, forward; Valerie Bure, forward. A pattern was forming.

“I saw that they were signing only forwards,” said Gleason, a 22-year-old defenseman. “I paid attention to that part. It sent me a message.”

The text read: Youth will be, or might be, served.

That the Kings concentrated on forwards -- which included signing Craig Conroy during the summer of 2004 -- was an act of confidence in their young defensemen, specifically Gleason and Denis Grebeshkov.

Both were first-round draft picks, Gleason by Ottawa in 2001 and Grebeshkov by the Kings in 2002, and are itching to fill slots with the team this season.

The Kings probably have two or three spots left to fill on defense and Gleason and Grebeshkov appear to be on the short list, as is Mike Weaver, a 27-year-old who played 57 NHL games with Atlanta.

But Gleason and Grebeshkov are the future. Both have high-end skills and are certainly being groomed. Gleason was paired with veteran defenseman Aaron Miller through the first three days of training camp. Grebeshkov, who missed the first two days because of an expired visa, was teamed with veteran Lubomir Visnovsky on Thursday.

“I think Tim Gleason and Grebeshkov are ready to play on a regular basis,” Coach Andy Murray said. “We decided that they and other young guys could play well.”

Gleason and Grebeshkov demonstrated that during the lockout last season. Both played with Manchester, the Kings’ American Hockey League team, and had seasons that advanced their I’m-ready longings.

“I think two seasons in Manchester, it was enough,” said the 22-year-old Grebeshkov, who had five goals and 49 points for the Monarchs. Gleason, who had 10 goals and 24 points for Manchester, already has had a taste. He played 47 games with the Kings during the 2003-04 season. Grebeshkov played four games that season.

“I think last year in Manchester really helped me,” Gleason said. “I learned what to do on 2-on-1 breakaways and 2-on-2 situations. And I learned to be more patient.”

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The Kings seem to be tap-dancing around center Anze Kopitar -- their first-round pick in August -- and his decision to return to play in Sweden this season. With his skills and physical presence, the Kings would probably be happy if he shortened that trip to play for Manchester.

Kopitar could remain, since he has already signed a three-year contact.

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Mathieu Garon will start in goal and play half the exhibition Saturday against the Ducks.