Wheat Kings - PR

FOR KING AND COUNTRY

Emerging from what was their slowest FA period to date, the Kings still managed some small changes. Key was the resigning of Selke finalist Scott Hartnell, forty goal man Petr Sykora, and all-around utility player Danius Zubrus to four year contracts at reasonable rates, as well as the addition of Manny Legace as a back-up for Roberto Luongo.

The surprise of free agency for the Kings was the offer made to goaltending prosepct Kari Lehtonen by the Sioux. The three year, 13.2 million dollar offer was deemed excessive by GM Tyler Young and Lehtonen was bid a fond ado. The Kings received the 12th and 61st overall picks in the upcoming draft as compensation.

The Wheaties are now preparing for the draft. As always, GM Young is maintaining a strict code of secrecy as far as potential picks. The Kings have a history of rare participation in the draft, but of great success when they do so. To date their only pick since the TFHL was reconstituted has been Steve Bernier, chosen 13th overall last year, who cracked the President Trophy champion's roster in the second half of the last season and was a big part of the Kings' late season surge. He has a guaranteed spot on the Kings' first line for the upcoming season alongside Keith Tkachuk and Daymond Langkow.

"There's nothing much that we need, moreover our roster is already fairly young," Tyler Young commented to reporters Sunday. "I think we'll just take the player we think is best at that pick, we have the luxury for the first time since I took over the Kings seven seasons ago to begin to stock the pantry; we can take it slow, not force these kids into the pros until they're ready."