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Kings keep options open

The Detroit Red Wings acquired high scoring Robert Lang on Friday and the Los Angeles Kings did not.

Any minute, defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be headed to Toronto and not Staples Center.

The NHL trade season started picking up Friday and won't stop until the deadline March 9. How much the Kings will get involved could depend as much on September's possible labor lockout as next month's playoff race.

The Kings have the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference heading into this afternoon's game against the Mighty Ducks.

And unlike last year, when they failed to reach the postseason, the Kings have developed some of the younger players in their organization.

Defensemen Tim Gleason and Tomas Zizka have stepped into roles vacated by injured Aaron Miller and Lubomir Visnovsky. Kings coach Andy Murray raves about promising right winger Scott Barney, who showed a scorer's touch before going down two weeks ago with a shoulder separation. Barney could be back in 10 days.

These players are young and cheap and offer the Kings the kind of payroll flexibility clubs are seeking if a new collective-bargaining agreement reshapes the economics of the game.

"We certainly aren't operating with the idea that there won't be a season next year," Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. "We've been trying to build the organization from within for some time.

"We have the ability to take on some salary at the trade deadline. We would like it to not extend beyond this season, but we are looking at a lot of possibilities."

The Kings, playing without their top four forwards, need help on offense. They also need help on defense since Miller and Visnovsky won't be back anytime soon.

Sounds like a call for Lang, who actually broke in with the Kings but now is the NHL's leading scorer. Or Gonchar, who doubles as a major threat on the power play. Both were fixtures with the Washington Capitals.

Trades can provide an emotional lift for a team. After acquiring left wing Steve Sullivan from Chicago, Nashville won three consecutive games to move back into a playoff spot. Sullivan recorded five goals and five assists during that period.

Teams can also get demoralized when management does not make a move.

The Kings' situation might be unique. Because they are in the race despite losing more than 550 man-games to injury, the Kings have developed a strong bond in the dressing room.

The players think they can reach the postseason with the unit they have right now.

"Anybody they bring in will be welcomed," winger Sean Avery said. "But we have a very close group here. We feel we can make the playoffs just as we are."
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