Kings’ Prospects Go Camping

The Kings’ future is crystallizing this week in El Segundo, where 31 prospects are displaying their skills.

General Manager Dean Lombardi liked what he saw on the ice Monday but doesn’t expect those kids to provide all the immediate help the team needs, so he’s pondering a dip into the free-agent market for a big, veteran forward.

He wouldn’t confirm any names but it’s believed his list includes Eric Lindros and Owen Nolan.

“We’ve got to make sure it’s a fit,” Lombardi said.

Center Anze Kopitar, the Kings’ first pick and 11th overall in the 2005 draft, has the size at 6 feet 4 but lacks the experience after one season in the Swedish Elite League.

“You never say never, because the kid can come in and who knows, but top player in the minor leagues is the ideal scenario,” Lombardi said of his projection for the 18-year-old Kopitar.

“You can also argue that we can have a line with him and [Konstantin] Pushkarev and [Lauri] Tukonen, where they’re not just playing but they’re carrying the team. They can learn to play in all situations and grow as men.”

Kopitar, who last season had eight goals and 20 points in 47 games for his Swedish team, Sodertalje, says he thinks he’s ready for the NHL.

“But my mind is not the coach’s mind,” he said. “The coach is going to say. I’m just looking forward to this summer camp and then to go home and practice more and come back for the training camp in September.”

Coach Marc Crawford, who saw Kopitar in person for the first time Monday, said he liked that Kopitar “has been playing with men the last little while....

“We think he’s going to be a great player. Not very many of these players do you look at and say, ‘We think he’s going to be great.’ Most of them you say, ‘We hope that they can play at the NHL level.’ So you want to be very good in your development of these types of players. They’re going to be stars.”

A familiar face in camp was that of 2003 draft pick Brady Murray, son of former Kings coach Andy Murray. Brady Murray, 21, said his father’s firing hasn’t made him feel awkward.

“They brought in all new people and I’m just trying to be a professional. That’s just the way the game is,” said Murray, who plans to return this season to Rapperswil, Switzerland.

The prospects will scrimmage Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Toyota Sports Center. Free tickets, limited to two per person, can be picked up at the second-floor administrative office Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also, the Kings hired Jamie Kompon, formerly a video coach with the St. Louis Blues, as an assistant coach, and former King Nelson Emerson as a video and player development consultant. Crawford previously brought in Mike Johnston as associate coach and Bill Ranford as the goaltending coach.

Lombardi said that his predecessor, Dave Taylor, would stay with the organization as a consultant and liaison with Kings-owned players assigned to other leagues. He also said the club had hired Bob Berry, a former Kings coach, as a pro scout.

In depth moves, the Kings signed two unrestricted free-agent defensemen. Kevin Dallman split last season between the Boston Bruins and the Blues, and Brendan Buckley played for Peoria of the American Hockey League.

The Kings are expected to announce today the signing of Buena Park resident Gabe Gauthier from the University of Denver.