Kings’ Brayden Schenn shows his physical side

From the first day of training camp, Kings rookie center Brayden Schenn showed he had the footwork to produce goals. Few realized, however, the damage he could inflict with his fists.

Just ask the Ducks’ Luca Sbisa, who absorbed a number of punches from Schenn during an exhibition game last month.

“Undercover tough, I’d say,” said fellow rookie fourth-liner Kyle Clifford. “Not many people would expect him to throw like he threw [Sbisa] around. He can definitely throw a hard punch.”

But it’s goals the Kings expect from Schenn, who was drafted fifth overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. On Tuesday night, he is expected to be in the lineup for the Kings’ home opener against the Atlanta Thrashers at Staples Center.

Don’t count on him being nervous, though.

“Right now, I feel like I’m getting better day by day,” the 19-year-old said. “The main thing is, I’m watching the older guys to see what they do. If you watch guys like that, you’re going to get better as well.”

Coach Terry Murray agrees.

“I really like what Schenn has done the first two games,” he said. “The first one in Vancouver, I thought he was outstanding and showed great composure.”

Schenn barely missed on two scoring chances in that game — a 2-1 shootout victory for the Kings. Murray said he expected Schenn to display some butterflies during the game, but it wasn’t the case.

“No nervousness whatsoever,” Murray said. “I thought maybe something would be there, but he was composed, he made plays, he competed, he had great scoring opportunities, he makes little plays happen in the offensive zone.”

Congratulate Schenn on making the team, and he demurs, not ready to call himself a card-carrying member of the Kings just yet.

He knows the organization has the option of sending him back to his junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings, though that would make him ineligible to play in the NHL until next season. The team must make that decision before the 10th game — Oct. 28 against the Dallas Stars — or Schenn’s NHL contract kicks in. He can still be returned to his junior club after that but at season’s end; a full contract year will have expired.

Schenn isn’t worried, though, and said the surest way to continue developing is in a Kings uniform.

Growing up in Canada, he didn’t have to look far to find a role model, or a good practice partner. His brother, Luke, was the fifth overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 draft and now is a star defenseman for them. Luke made the club a month before his 19th birthday, something that Brayden isn’t forgetting.

“The backyard rink is where we competed,” Brayden Schenn said of his childhood in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “A lot of battles, competitive battles, made sure I was better … that’s a big reason why I’ve been successful so far.”

Schenn is being asked to earn his stripes on the Kings’ fourth line, which is usually reserved for the more physical players, and the less skilled. After battling Sbisa, Schenn surprised everyone.

“If I have to try and play the skill play, I will,” Schenn said. “If I have to be called upon to grind it out, I’ll try to do that as well. For me, I just try to play all aspects of the game.”

Murray likes that.

“He plays that skill game along with some grit and edge to it,” Murray said. “As he matures, he’s going to be a dynamic add for us.”

Loktionov moves to first line

Murray said he plans to move Andrei Loktionov to the first line Tuesday night and play him at left wing alongside Anze Kopitar. Loktionov, a natural center, was a healthy scratch the first two games.

Although Loktionov has limited experience on the wing, Murray said the 20-year-old Russian has the skills to adapt.

“I like him in the middle of the ice because he’s a very skilled player who handles the puck and makes plays,” Murray said. “But playing with Kopitar on the left side, when you do get into the offensive zone, there’s a lot of reads that they make off each other.”

The move likely would affect Ryan Smyth.

Etc.

The Kings said that President Luc Robitaille has agreed to a multiyear contract extension. Robitaille is in his fourth season as team president.

sports@latimes.com