John Slaney

Signing a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks worth about $2.3 million plus incentives "was a pretty easy decision," goaltender Kelly Hrudey said Thursday. "I had a frank discussion with people here, and I came away knowing this is the place I want to come and play," said Hrudey, who was 7-15-10 with the Kings last season and for his King career ranked second only to Rogie Vachon in minutes played (20,565) and victories (145).

Signing a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks worth about $2.3 million plus incentives "was a pretty easy decision," goaltender Kelly Hrudey said Thursday. "I had a frank discussion with people here, and I came away knowing this is the place I want to come and play," said Hrudey, who was 7-15-10 with the Kings last season and for his King career ranked second only to Rogie Vachon in minutes played (20,565) and victories (145).

Newly acquired right wing Brad Smyth played in his first game for the Kings Saturday night. Smyth, who came from Florida for a third-round draft choice on Thursday, replaced Kai Nurminen in the lineup. For the third consecutive game, defenseman John Slaney did not play. * Saturday night's crowd of 16,005 was the Kings' second consecutive sellout. The last time they had consecutive sellouts at the Forum was in April 1995, when they sold out against Detroit and the Mighty Ducks.

Winger Warren Rychel is concerned about the possibility of a one-game suspension after receiving a stick-related major and game misconduct penalty for slashing the Kings' John Slaney on Friday. Rychel said he had a stick-related major and game misconduct last season while playing for the Colorado Avalanche, and NHL rules call for an automatic suspension for two such penalties within 41 regular-season games.

Defenseman Rob Blake, who has been sidelined because of a broken right hand since Dec. 26, is expected to return for Saturday's game against the Mighty Ducks at the Forum at 5 p.m. Blake practiced with the team on Monday. * The Kings took defenseman Sean O'Donnell off injured reserve on Tuesday, and waived defenseman John Slaney. The Kings may recall Slaney once he has cleared 48-hour waivers and send him to Phoenix, their International Hockey League affiliate. . . .

Warren Rychel is walking a thin line--assuming he hasn't already crossed it. Tossed out of the Ducks' game against Ottawa a little more than two minutes after the opening faceoff, Rychel will face a suspension the next time he receives a game misconduct penalty. The early and unofficial assessment of the tangled text of the NHL rulebook is that Rychel won't face a suspension for this one because it wasn't stick-related.

Although they lost for the first time in four games, the day wasn't a total disaster for the Kings. One of the bright spots was enforcer Matt Johnson's willingness in the second period to take on Blackhawk left wing Bob Probert, who was once considered the league's best fighter. Johnson did this despite suffering from a sore and very swollen right hand, which he hurt when he hit the helmet of the Flyers' Daniel Lacroix in a scrap last week. "It's a good test," said Johnson, who fought to a draw.

King defenseman John Slaney's miscue helped lead to the Sharks' game-winning goal in overtime with four seconds remaining Sunday, and he found himself out of the lineup on Wednesday in Montreal. But Slaney will return tonight in Philadelphia. "The last couple of games, I haven't really played how I played last year," he said. "I tried to make a pass and didn't make a good pass to Ray [Ferraro] and Ray lost it at his feet. When I saw that, I tried to get myself back and then I lost myself.

So far, the Kings' rebuilding process is proceeding smoothly. Third-period goals by Philippe Boucher and Kevin Stevens broke open a close game and lifted the Kings to a 4-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes Friday at the Sports Arena, improving their exhibition record to 3-0. The Coyotes, formerly the Winnipeg Jets, are 0-3. The crowd of 4,577 watched the Kings rally from an early deficit in a fairly physical game.

Opponent--Edmonton Oilers. Site--Edmonton Coliseum. Time--6:30. TV--Prime Sports. Radio--XTRA (690). Records--Kings 14-14-8. Oilers 12-19-6. Record vs. Oilers (1995)--2-2-1. King update--Trying to boost the power play, the Kings acquired 23-year-old defenseman John Slaney on Thursday from Colorado in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice. Slaney has three assists in seven games this season. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Slaney practiced with the Kings on Thursday in Edmonton.