Kings Achieve Major Goal With Potvin

The Kings crossed out the last item on their off-season to-do list Monday, agreeing to terms with Felix Potvin on a one-year, $3-million contract, with a team option for the 2002-03 season that would pay the goaltender $3.3 million.

The deal, reached one day before the Kings are to report to El Segundo today for physical examinations in advance of the opening of training camp Wednesday, means that for the first time in four years, the Kings will not have a key player holding out as they begin formal preparations for the season.

It also makes Potvin, 30, the third-highest-paid player on the team. Only 2000-01 club scoring leader Ziggy Palffy, at $6 million, and defenseman Mathieu Schneider, at $3.25 million, will be paid more this season.

“Better late than never, I guess,” Potvin said Monday night at the Kings’ HealthSouth training center in El Segundo after flying all day from his summer home outside Montreal. “I’m just glad everything got resolved before camp.

“That was important, I think. You never want to miss camp and have all kinds of stories and distractions going around.”

Potvin, who made $2.75 million last season, was languishing with the Vancouver Canucks when he was traded to the Kings Feb. 15. The trade resurrected his career and helped push the Kings to the brink of the Western Conference playoff finals.

He was 13-5-5 with a 1.96 goals-against average and four shutouts in 23 regular-season games with the Kings and 7-6 with a 2.44 GAA in the playoffs. He had consecutive shutouts against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in Games 5 and 6 of the Western Conference semifinals.

“He exceeded our expectations and played outstanding for us,” General Manager Dave Taylor said of Potvin, who was on the verge of being shipped to the minors by the Canucks before they traded him.

“His play helped to give everybody else on the team confidence. He was a real steadying influence when he came over, so from that perspective it was real important to get him signed.”

The Kings had hoped to sign Potvin to a multiyear deal but the goaltender, who could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer, preferred to keep his options open. If the Kings exercise their option for the 2002-03 season, Potvin will become a free agent in the summer of 2003.

“I think this is a good middle ground,” said Potvin’s agent, Jay Fee. “It gives both parties an opportunity to get a full season together and build on last year’s success.”

With Potvin in the fold for this season at least, Taylor said he will begin talking to other teams about trading one of the Kings’ backups, Stephane Fiset, 31, or Jamie Storr, who will turn 26 on Dec. 28.

Taylor said he would like to make a deal before the waiver draft Sept. 28. Only two goaltenders can be protected in the draft.

Storr, whose one-year, $1.45-million contract will pay him about $1 million less than Fiset will make this season, probably will draw the most interest. Though he didn’t play after Feb. 18, Storr was 19-18-6 with a 2.74 GAA last season, establishing a career high in victories and matching a career high with four shutouts.

Fiset, bothered by a knee injury, was 3-0-1 with a 3.58 GAA. He played in only seven games, none after Potvin arrived.

“There will be some real good competition at all positions,” Taylor said, “but especially at goal.”