Tverdovsky is up for grabs

Oleg Tverdovsky’s status with the Kings has reached an ambiguous state.

The Kings seem unwilling to play the veteran defenseman and have been unable to trade him. So, they placed him on waivers Friday, with the hope that a team would put in a claim and remove from the Kings’ payroll the $2.5 million that Tverdovsky will make next season.

Teams have until noon today to put in a claim.

Meanwhile, Tverdovsky waits, as he has done much of the last six weeks. He has played in only three of 16 games in that time and has been scratched from the lineup the last nine games.

“I have no control over it right now,” Tverdovsky said. “I haven’t played much lately and I haven’t played a whole lot. That’s their decision. That’s all I can say.”

The Kings acquired 30-year-old Tverdovsky in a deal that also brought the rights to Jack Johnson, a 20-year-old defenseman who is a cornerstone in the team’s rebuilding project. The Kings gave up center Eric Belanger and defenseman Tim Gleason, but taking on Tverdovsky’s contract was also seen as part of the price for acquiring Johnson.

Tverdovsky, who was on two Stanley Cup championship teams and has been an offense-talented defenseman in his career, played sporadically this season. He played eight consecutive games from Dec. 26 to Jan. 11, but apparently was not impressive enough to stay in the lineup and his role has diminished rapidly.

Mike Weaver’s effectiveness in recent weeks earned him playing time.

“We have a defense that is tough to crack into,” Coach Marc Crawford said.

Even when Mattias Norstrom missed a game with a sprained knee, Crawford went with Kevin Dallman instead of Tverdovsky, who has no goals and four assists in 26 games this season.

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TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30, FSNW

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 20-32-10, Avalanche 29-28-4.

Record vs. Avalanche -- 2-1.

Update -- Forward Scott Thornton, out since Dec. 28 with a broken bone in his wrist, will play tonight, Crawford said. To make room on the roster, the Kings returned forward Lauri Tukonen to their minor league team in Manchester.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.

chris.foster@latimes.com