Opportunity Knocks Again
for Jason King

by Josh Brewster
www.hockeytalk.biz

When Brian Burke flipped Ryan Shannon for the 26 year-old King last June, the planets lined up once more for the Corner Brook, Newfoundland native. Opportunity is knocking for King in Southern California this season.

“I’m going to do everything I can to stay here,” said King after deflecting a shot home for a goal in the Ducks’ first preseason game Thursday, a 5-4 loss to the Kings.

“My goal is to play on this team this year,” he says. “Have a great camp and go from there.”

King’s first taste of the NHL came in 2002-03, when he suited up for eight Canucks games. His first legitimate shot at a full-time job in the bigs came in 2003-04, when he rattled off twelve goals and nine assists for 21 points in 47 games. He split the remainder of the season with Manitoba.

With the Canucks, King saw time on a line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, earning the trio the short-lived moniker, the “Mattress Line,” i.e. two “twins” and a “King.”

During the NHL’s locked-out 2004-05 season, King joined Ducks coach Randy Carlyle with the Moose and churned out 26-27-53 until a concussion cut short his season. He suffered with post-concussion syndrome at the start of the 2005-06 season, and was limited to 36 games.

Ducks coach Rancy Carlyle believes in King, who can play either wing.

“He has a flair,” says Carlyle. “(King’s) got quick hands, he’s a good skater, a smart hockey player, has a quick release.”

King never failed to produce shots on goal. With the Canucks, he managed 2.27 shots per game (awfully good for a rookie). In Manitoba, he regularly got the puck to the net, averaging between 2.25 and 3.59 shots per game. In Sweden last season, he managed 3.12 per game.

“He’s a guy that will surprise some people,” says Carlyle.

Unable to make a deal with the Canucks, King went to Sweden to work on his game, playing for Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League.

“It was a great league,” King noted. “It’s the type of league where you can really develop your skills on the big ice surface. It worked out well for me.”

No surprise here if he ends up as a fourth line wing in Anaheim, and a threat to fill in on the second line if injuries strike. At 6’1”, 175 lbs., he can keep pace with the high-pressure, tough Duck offense.

“It's great that (Burke’s) giving me a chance again,” says King. “It’s on my shoulders. There are a few spots that are open. I’m going to do everything I can to stay here.”

As for his ability to make a stint in the NHL stick, it’s as simple and as complicated as the scoresheet.

“You’ve got to put numbers on the board every game,” says King. “At the NHL level, that’s a key.”

UPDATE: (SEPT 24) King will start the season with Portland of the AHL. Not cracking the top-six was the club's likely concern.  They want him to play as much as possible.  Drew Miller joins King with the Pirates. --Ed.

AUDIO:

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
TO GEORGE PARROS (13:09)
RECORDED AT ATHLETES' PERFORMANCE, CARSON, CA
PHOTO COURTESY ANAHEIM DUCKS

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