Norstrom Sizes Up Situation

NHL teams often sacrifice speed to get bigger players, but that has not been the case with the Kings, according to defenseman Mattias Norstrom.

“We are a much bigger team than last season, but what has impressed me is that we have even more speed on the ice,” Norstrom said.

Norstrom is hoping to be busier than usual this season because he is expected to be named to the Swedish Olympic team. He played on the Swedish national team during its second-place run at the World Championships in Finland over the summer.

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The Kings feel good about center with the addition of Jozef Stumpel and Olli Jokinen. That’s why Coach Larry Robinson plans to take a look at Roman Vopat at left wing when the team plays Colorado at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in an exhibition Saturday night.

Vopat, who scored four goals in 29 games playing center for the Kings last season, is expected to play on a line centered by Jokinen with Sean O’Brien, usually a left wing, on the right side.