The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a
one-year contract with center Eric Belanger.
Belanger, 23, appeared in 62 regular season games with the Kings
this season and recorded 21 points (9-12=21) and 16 penalty minutes.
He made his Kings/NHL debut in the season opener, Oct. 6, 2000, at
Washington, where he recorded a career-high three points (1-2=3).
Belanger led all NHL rookies in total faceoff percentage, winning a
team-leading 56.4% of his draws.  In 13 playoff games with the
Kings, he recorded five points (1-4=5) and two penalty minutes -
including the overtime goal on April 15 in Game 3 of the Kings'
first round series match up versus the Detroit Red Wings - which saw
the Kings overcome a 3-0 deficit en route to a 4-3 overtime victory.
The 6-0, 185-pound native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, also appeared in 13
games with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League
and had 18 points (8-10=18) and 4 penalty minutes.  Belanger was
originally drafted by the Kings in the fourth round (96th overall)
of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

July 31, 2001

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a new one-year contract with goaltender Jamie Storr.  Storr, 25, set new career highs last season with the Kings in games played (45) and wins (19), and also tied a career-best mark in shutouts with four.  The 6-2, 198-pound native of Brampton, Ontario, also made a career-high 17 consecutive starts in goal for the Kings (Oct. 21-Nov. 28) during which he posted an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) with a 1.71 goals-against average and .943 save
percentage. Overall on the season, Storr finished the season with a
19-18-6 record and a 2.74 goals-against average.  He also passed
current King goaltender Stephane Fiset and former Kings goaltender
Kelly Hrudey moving into second place on the Kings all-time shutout
list with 11 career shutouts (Rogie Vachon ranks first with 32).

The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Andreas
Lilja to a new multi-year contract.
Lilja, 26, spent the majority of last season with the Lowell Lock
Monsters of the American Hockey League where he was second on the
club in scoring by defensemen with 36 points (7-29=36) and 149
penalty minutes.  The 6-3, 220-pound native of Stockholm, Sweden,
also played in four playoff games with the Lock Monsters and led the
club in scoring with six points (0-6=6) and six penalty minutes. 
Originally drafted by the Kings in the second round (54th overall)
of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Lilja made his Kings/NHL debut on Dec.
3, 2000, and appeared in a total of two regular season games for the
Kings last season, recording no points and four penalty minutes.  He
also played in Game 5 of the Kings second round playoff series match
up against the Colorado Avalanche, but did not record any points or
penalty minutes.  Prior to joining the Kings, Lilja played the
1999-2000 season with Malmo of the Swedish Elite League and had 19
points (8-11=19) and 88 penalty minutes in 49 games.

July 11, 2001

The 2001-2002 schedule was released.  Kings Schedule

July 10, 2001

The Kings have sigend a one-year contract with winger Jaroslav Bednar. 
Selected by the Kings in the second round (51st overall) of last month`s
NHL Entry Draft, Bednar, 24, recorded 60 points (32-28=60) and 51
penalty minutes in 56 games last season with HIFK Helsinki of the
Finnish Elite League. The 6-0, 198-pound native of Prague, Czech
Republic, led the Finnish Elite League in goals (32) and was second in
the league in points (60). In addition, he also played in five playoff
games and recorded four points (3-1=4) and no penalty minutes. 

July 10, 2001

The Kings signed a two-year contract with defenseman Jaroslav Modry, 

July 7, 2001

I don't get it.  Feels like a slap in the face to me....
The Los Angeles Kings signed unrestricted free agent center Randy Robitaille today. 
Robitaille, 25, played in 62 games with the Nashville Predators last
season and recorded a career-high 26 points (9-17=26) and 12 penalty
minutes. The 5-11, 196-pounder also played in 19 games with the
Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League where he had
33 points (10-23=33) and four penalty minutes. Signed as a free agent
by the Boston Bruins on March 27, 1997, the native of Ottawa, Ontario,
has played in 140 career NHL games with the Predators and Boston
Bruins, recording 53 points (20-33=53) and 22 penalty minutes. 
“Randy Robitaille is a skilled player who provides some depth to the
 organization,” said Taylor. “He has proved that he can play and contribute at the NHL level.” 

July 3, 2001

The Los Angeles Kings have signed unrestricted free agent right winger Steve Heinze on a new three-year contract.  Heinze, 31, played in 79 games this past season for the Buffalo Sabres and the Columbus Blue Jackets, totaling 54 points - including 27 goals - and 46 penalty minutes. He also recorded seven points (3-4=7) and 10 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games for the Sabres. Overall, he scored 15 regular season power play goals, which was tied for 12th (with Brendan Shanahan) in the NHL, and he added a team-high three power play goals during the post-season.
 

July 2, 2001

The Los Angeles Kings have resigned unrestricted free agent defenseman Mathieu Schneider to a new three-year contract.

July 2, 2001

Stu Grimson signed with the Nashville Predators, so we sign Ken Belanger in his place.  Makes no sense unless Stu just wanted outa here. 
Belanger, 27, played in 40 games for the Boston Bruins this past season where he was third on the club with 121 penalty minutes. He also recorded four points (2-2=4), including consecutive goals November
9 versus Ottawa (game-winning goal) and November 11 versus Nashville, and he recorded the club`s hardest shot at the annual Skills Competition with a 98.7 MPH blast.

July 1, 2001

Luc Robitaille signed with the Detroit Red Wings.  The Kings offered him $2.5 million (a $1 million pay cut) for one year.  The Wings offered him a guaranteed $9 million for 2 years plus bonuses.  Good luck Luc.  Love ya buddy, but I still can't root for the Wings.

June 23, 2001

Right winger Jens Karlsson (first round, 18th overall) and center David Steckel (first round, 30th overall) were selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of today`s NHL Entry Draft. 
Karlsson, 18, played in 36 games last year with Vastra Frolunda of the
Swedish Junior League and recorded 37 points (20-17=37) and 185
penalty minutes. The 6-3, 200-pounder from Goteberg, Sweden, also
played for Vastra Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League, where in 19
games he registered two goals (2-0=2) and four penalty minutes.
Steckel, 19, was the next selection by the Kings (first round, 30th
 overall). In 32 games with Ohio State University of the Central Collegiate
Hockey Association, the 6-5, 200-pounder from Westbend, Wisconsin,
had 35 points (17-18=35) and 78 penalty minutes.
 

June 12, 2001

The Los Angeles Kings have signed Head Coach Andy Murray to a two-year contract extension.  Murray, 50, was named as the franchise`s 19th head coach on June 14, 1999, and since his appointment the Kings have compiled a two-year record of 77-59-25-7 (.553), the highest winning percentage in club history.   Prior to signing this extension, Murray - who became the third fastest Kings head coach to record 50 wins and trails only Tom Webster for the best record in his first two seasons behind the Kings bench - had one year remaining on his original three-year contract.