Coach Missing as Work Begins

Because of personal reasons, King Coach Larry Robinson was a no-show for the first day of training camp at the Iceoplex in North Hills.

General Manager Dave Taylor said Robinson had a previous commitment in Montreal and will join the team this morning. Assistants Jay Leach and Rick Green along with goaltending coach Don Edwards conducted practice Wednesday.

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Goaltender Jamie Storr, still without a contract, practiced and said he feels an agreement with the Kings should be reached soon.

“One- or a two-year deal . . . it doesn’t matter how long it is because the key is for me to play well this year,� said Storr, who took out a disability insurance policy in case he gets injured before a new contract is done. “I just want to play. My agent is taking care of it and whenever I get signed, he’ll be the first to tell me.�

Taylor said he expects Storr to sign a one-year deal and that it is good Storr is in camp since the team expects him to be the backup behind Stephane Fiset.

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Right wing Vitali Yachmenev, a restricted free agent, was again absent as contract talks remained stalled.

The only other unsigned player on the King roster is left wing Jeff Shevalier, who is in camp and also hopes to have a deal completed soon.

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Center Ray Ferraro, the team’s top returning scorer, did not practice because of off-season sinus surgery. He is listed as day-to-day. . . . Ferraro said recently re-acquired left wing Luc Robitaille has promised to send Ferraro and his family to Hawaii next summer in exchange for his No. 20. . . . The Kings will make individual game tickets available Saturday and will offer a free clinic with players Rob Blake, Ian Laperriere and Sean O’Donnell in the Forum parking lot at 10 a.m.