When Los Angeles Kings officials gathered for a precamp media briefing, they talked about Jason Allison and Adam Deadmarsh and their hopes for the upcoming season.
They said little about Luc Robitaille, the future Hall of Famer who returns to the club for a third tour after two seasons in Detroit.
Even with 631 career goals, Robitaille might be the biggest unknown heading into camp. Allison and Deadmarsh were slow to recover from concussions but will be ready for opening day. Robitaille had the worst year of his career, with just 12 goals and 31 points. He was 11th on the Red Wings in scoring and, at 36, the question is: Did he have an off year or is he done?
Robitaille had 30 goals in helping Detroit to the Stanley Cup two years ago. Last season he averaged just 12 minutes 48 seconds a game and spent little time on the power play, where he scored 16 goals with the Kings in 2000-01.
“We certainly think he can compete on our top two offensive lines,” general manager Dave Taylor said. “And he has always been great on the power play. But competition in camp is a good thing.”
Five of the six spots are secure on the top two lines. Deadmarsh and Allison will play together with the No. 1 unit. Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy make up two-thirds of the second group. Left winger Alexander Frolov, who made the all-rookie team last year, will play somewhere, but on which line is uncertain. Frolov had some chemistry with Palffy a year ago.
The Kings also brought in free agent Trent Klatt, whose gritty style is more popular with Kings coach Andy Murray, who in the past occasionally griped about Robitaille’s offense-only approach. Klatt’s career-high 24 goals represents the third-lowest total of Robitaille’s career.
But is this the same Robitaille?
Rob Laird, the Kings scout who watched the Red Wings more than a dozen times last season, said opportunity, not skill, was Robitaille’s problem.
“Everybody gets hurt when they don’t play as much,” Laird said. “Physically I think he is fine. Luc has made a strong commitment to conditioning a few years ago and he is training hard in the summer so he doesn’t lose a step.
“The summer gets more important as you get older. His skills are competitive skills–shooting and scoring. It’s never been his skating, but I’ve never seen a guy who can shoot off either foot or one-time the puck from any direction.
“He still has a great set of hands.”
More Top Picks Best Cordless Snow Blowers For Decks