O’Sullivan Joins Kopitar on Roster

Kings rookie forwards Patrick O’Sullivan and Anze Kopitar last week waxed poetic over dinner about their current situation.

“We were talking about how a few years ago, when we were kids, we were watching these guys play on television wondering if we were good enough to make it,” O’Sullivan said.

They are, for now.

Kopitar, 19, and O’Sullivan, 21, both made the Kings’ roster and will play their first NHL game Friday against the Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

For trivia buffs: This is the first Slovenian and first North Carolinian to play in the NHL.

For the Kings’ hierarchy: This is the first test in the youth movement.

Kopitar performed brilliantly throughout training camp, both in practice and games. O’Sullivan started camp fast, then tailed off, but still earned a spot because the Kings feel it’s better to try to mold him here than a continent away in Manchester, N.H., home to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate.

“This is just the first step,” O’Sullivan said. “My focus should be on staying here all year. I know I can be a lot better in some areas.”

That can come in areas other than natural talent.

Said Coach Marc Crawford: “We need him to play a straightforward game. He needs more of an NHL work ethic in his game.”

Kopitar, meanwhile, has done everything that was asked, but now must continue to prove he belongs once the regular season begins.

“The focus is the same,” Kopitar said. “It’s exciting to be here, but I have to keep working hard every day.”

Kings officials hope both players acclimate quickly. Kopitar and O’Sullivan are projected to be high-end forwards on a team that is shy proven goal scorers.

“The key was whether we could get them the playing time to continue to develop,” Crawford said.

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Forward George Parros was claimed off waivers by Colorado on Tuesday. Goaltender Jason LaBarbera cleared waivers and was assigned to Manchester.

chris.foster@latimes.com