Former Shark GM May Be in Their Sights

The Kings are focusing on former San Jose Shark general manager Dean Lombardi as they look to rework the organization after missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for a third consecutive season, league sources said.

Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ chief executive, met Friday with Lombardi, the sources said.

Leiweke said he would wait until the end of the regular season before announcing a decision on current General Manager Dave Taylor, who has one year left on his contract. The Kings, who were eliminated from the playoff race Thursday, have two games remaining.

A team spokesman denied that any decision had been made on Taylor and also denied Leiweke had met with any potential candidates for general manager.

Taylor is expected to be removed after the season, possibly as soon as Tuesday. He could remain in the organization in another capacity. Taylor, asked Thursday whether he has had any conversations with Leiweke, said, “None that I’m going to comment on.”

The Kings, who led the Pacific Division on Jan. 8, have lost 11 of their last 15 games to fall out of contention. The team has reached the playoffs four times during Taylor’s nine years as general manager, but advanced past the first round only once.

Taylor, a popular player when he was with the Kings, has drawn mixed reviews for his performance as general manager. He has worked under tight financial constraints, but has traded key players, or allowed them to leave as free agents. He has yet to successfully fill the team’s hole at goaltender and several high draft picks have failed to pan out.

The Sharks qualified for the playoffs five times, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals twice, while Lombardi was general manager.

Lombardi, currently a scout with the Philadelphia Flyers, has also talked with the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, teams looking for a general manager. He is believed to prefer the West Coast, where he has a home.

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TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 7:30, FSNW

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Kings 40-35-5, Flames 46-24-10.

Record vs. Calgary -- 2-1.

Update -- John Torchetti, the Kings’ interim coach, said the lineup for the team’s final home game is likely to be the same as for Thursday’s game in Phoenix, where injuries kept Brent Sopel (knee), Aaron Miller (hip surgery) and Derek Armstrong (back) out of the lineup and Sean Avery didn’t play after club officials told him he’d caused one distraction too many. Left wing Jeff Giuliano was assigned to Manchester and will join the Monarchs for the American Hockey League playoffs.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.