Because of the salary-cap equivalent of pennies, the Kings might have to play shorthanded on defense.
Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr left practice after only 10 minutes Friday morning, and his status for Saturday night?s game against Vancouver is in question, General Manager Dean Lombardi said after practice.
If Regehr can?t play, the Kings will have only five healthy defensemen, one fewer than normal, and because of salary-cap woes they are unable to call up a replacement from the AHL.
The NHL?s salary cap this season is $69 million. The Kings are $160 short of being able to call up a player with a minimum NHL salary, according to Jeff Solomon, the Kings? vice president of hockey operations. The minimum salary is $550,000. As of Saturday morning, the Kings will have $549,840 in cap room.
The Kings might have to play shorthanded at a position for the second time in less than two weeks. It happened during the recent road trip, when the Kings were short one forward against Philadelphia because of injuries.
At issue, primarily, is the league?s suspension of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov while he is being investigated on domestic-violence accusations. Voynov, suspended since Oct. 20, is still being paid, and his $4.167-million salary-cap hit still counts against the Kings? total.
That?s a big problem, because the Kings were already near the salary-cap ceiling. The Kings? only recourse would be to put a player on long-term injured reserve, but that requires a minimum stint of 10 games.
Kings executives are privately seething that the NHL has been unwilling to grant any cap relief while Voynov?s legal situation plays out. Redondo Beach detectives are scheduled to meet with Los Angeles District Attorney officials Monday, and a decision on whether to charge Voynov could be made, but there is no firm deadline.
''It?s challenging. It?s not easy,?? Coach Darryl Sutter said of the Kings? first-month roster woes. ''Hey, we?re playing as good as we can. ? That?s what I ask, and that?s what we do.??
If Regehr were to miss more than one game, the Kings will have accrued enough salary-cap room to call up a minimum-salaried player on Sunday morning.
Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr left practice after only 10 minutes Friday morning, and his status for Saturday night?s game against Vancouver is in question, General Manager Dean Lombardi said after practice.
If Regehr can?t play, the Kings will have only five healthy defensemen, one fewer than normal, and because of salary-cap woes they are unable to call up a replacement from the AHL.
The NHL?s salary cap this season is $69 million. The Kings are $160 short of being able to call up a player with a minimum NHL salary, according to Jeff Solomon, the Kings? vice president of hockey operations. The minimum salary is $550,000. As of Saturday morning, the Kings will have $549,840 in cap room.
The Kings might have to play shorthanded at a position for the second time in less than two weeks. It happened during the recent road trip, when the Kings were short one forward against Philadelphia because of injuries.
At issue, primarily, is the league?s suspension of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov while he is being investigated on domestic-violence accusations. Voynov, suspended since Oct. 20, is still being paid, and his $4.167-million salary-cap hit still counts against the Kings? total.
That?s a big problem, because the Kings were already near the salary-cap ceiling. The Kings? only recourse would be to put a player on long-term injured reserve, but that requires a minimum stint of 10 games.
Kings executives are privately seething that the NHL has been unwilling to grant any cap relief while Voynov?s legal situation plays out. Redondo Beach detectives are scheduled to meet with Los Angeles District Attorney officials Monday, and a decision on whether to charge Voynov could be made, but there is no firm deadline.
''It?s challenging. It?s not easy,?? Coach Darryl Sutter said of the Kings? first-month roster woes. ''Hey, we?re playing as good as we can. ? That?s what I ask, and that?s what we do.??
If Regehr were to miss more than one game, the Kings will have accrued enough salary-cap room to call up a minimum-salaried player on Sunday morning.
