Roenick No Longer Talking

The mouth that roared, but never bored, is on sabbatical.

The Kings’ Jeremy Roenick, faced with what could be the final leg of his NHL career or a cleansing strong finish to a frustrating season, has gone mum, turning down interview requests the last two days.

Whether he is ready to let his play do the talking remains to be seen.

The Kings have 22 games remaining -- beginning Thursday against the Minnesota Wild at Staples Center -- in a season that has gone awry for Roenick.

He arrived for training camp in poor condition after the NHL’s lengthy lockout and was slowed by a concussion and a groin injury, then stopped by a broken finger that required surgery.

He openly carped at what he felt was disrespect at being left off the Olympic team.

And then Roenick received unwelcome attention after being identified as a major bettor in an alleged gambling ring.

What the Kings hope now is that he can again be the force on the ice that he has been throughout his 17-season career.

Roenick “respectfully declined” to be interviewed, a King official said. But Coach Andy Murray indicated Roenick’s play is imperative to the team’s holding on to playoff position.

Asked what would be a successful season for Roenick at this point, Murray said, “I think helping this team get in the playoffs and doing some damage in the playoffs.... He is a guy who can contribute different things. He can be physical. He can score. He has the ability to win face-offs. Those are things he can do when he is on the top of his game.”

Roenick’s NHL future may hinge on that. He is in the last year of a contract that pays him $4.94 million this season.

The Kings acquired Roenick from the Philadelphia Flyers in August to be the marquee player. He filled that off the ice, a lightning rod for media attention. He shot a TV pilot and was a regular on sports talk shows, while always willing to provide colorful comments to reporters.

On the ice, things have not gone so well. He suffered a concussion in training camp and acknowledged that he had skated little during the lockout. He had a groin injury in October and sat out six weeks after breaking a finger in December.

He has played five games since returning and had a goal and an assist against Dallas on Feb. 12. He has seven goals and 14 points in 37 games.

“The reason he struggled was he got hurt,” Luc Robitaille said. “The last five games he has skated really well. He had jump and was strong on the puck. It is just a matter of time before the puck starts going in for him more.”

But Roenick also has had to deal with the gambling scrutiny. He is believed to have placed about $100,000 in bets through a ring allegedly run by Phoenix assistant coach Rick Tocchet -- his former teammate -- and New Jersey state trooper James Harney.

Roenick has refused to talk about gambling allegations, and this week made it a media blackout.

His teammates, though, were ready to speak for him.

“[Roenick needs] 10 goals in 22 games,” Craig Conroy said. “If we can get him 10, it will be a good season. We need it.”

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Forward Pavol Demitra probably will be out until next week because of an eye injury.

While playing for Slovakia in the Olympics, he was hit by a puck that broke his nose and caused bleeding behind his right eye. After being examined again Tuesday, Demitra learned that the blood has not dissipated.