Modry trade may not be last

Kings defenseman Brad Stuart went to his usual place in the dressing room after practice in El Segundo on Wednesday.

One problem.

The nameplate above the stall said Peter Harrold.

No, Stuart hadn’t been traded. But he was headed elsewhere -- to a spot next to Kings defenseman Tom Preissing, a nice location close to the dressing room door.

It was where defenseman Jaroslav Modry resided until he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday for a third-round draft pick in June.

That is by no means the last move expected from the Kings before the NHL’s trading deadline on Tuesday.

Put it this way: The dressing room seating chart should not be made in ink.

“You’re paid to be a professional,” but it still hurts, Preissing said. “We’re the ones that put ourselves in this situation. . . .

“I think any one of us could end up getting moved except three or four guys. I don’t know where everything lies. But it wouldn’t be catching me completely off guard if I was moved.”

Preissing’s name has circulated in trade rumors, and the Flyers were said to be interested in acquiring Stuart before settling for Modry.

And the Rob Blake buzz, quiet for the moment, will certainly resume by the weekend.

For now, Kings Coach Marc Crawford plans on pairing rookie defenseman Jack Johnson with Preissing, putting Johnson on the left side.

“We had a brief stint at New Jersey when we were playing together,” Preissing said. “He’s pretty predictable at what he does, which for a D-man, you like that. He’s great with the puck, great at moving the puck. For his age, he’s a pretty advanced defenseman.

“You don’t see a whole lot of real young defensemen in the NHL doing that well.”

Johnson, one of the few untouchables on the roster, started the season living with Blake and his family and then was paired with Modry and it was pointed out he’s losing a lot of mentors.

“I know,” he said. “Hopefully Rob will be back soon. Modry was a great partner for me, and a great guy to look up to. I learned a lot from him. . . . I really admired his patience with the puck, his play. He was always calm. He never panicked.

“And I think that was able to rub off a little bit on me when I played with him. Hopefully I can carry some of Modry with me the rest of my career.”

By the end of the season, Johnson will probably end up being one of the mentors.

“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Crawford said, chuckling.

Forward Scott Thornton, out since Feb. 9 because of an injured back, practiced Wednesday and could return to the lineup tonight.

Crawford also plans to go with the defensive pairing of Harrold, who was called up on Tuesday because of the Modry transaction, and Lubomir Visnovsky.

“He is a gritty, competitive kid,” Crawford said of Harrold. “He skates real well and I think his decision-making is a lot like Jaroslav Modry. He’s got to learn to be a little more positional for his own good. Peter knows he always wants to err on the side of being competitive.

“Sometimes it’s better to just maintain position and pick your spots to be physical.”

--

TONIGHT

vs. St. Louis, 7:30

Radio -- 1150.

Site -- Staples Center.

Records -- Kings 25-34-3, Blues 28-22-9.

Record vs. Blues -- 0-2-0.

Update -- The Blues are 4-0-2 in their last six games and there is an air of excitement with the playoffs possibly within reach for the first time since the 2003-04 season. The Blues are 11th in the Western Conference but only three points out of a playoff spot. Blues forward Lee Stempniak has one goal in the last 14 games and 11 in all, coming off a 27-goal season in 2006-07.

--

lisa.dillman@latimes.com