Panthers Get Barrie on Waivers

Florida wanted forward Len Barrie last summer, but he figured the Kings offered him a better chance to play in the NHL.

On Friday, the Panthers got what they wanted, claiming Barrie on waivers the Kings had hoped would slip past the rest of the league.

Barrie was waived Wednesday, the last day before the Tuesday trading deadline that such a thing could be done. The idea was, he would clear waivers and be shipped to Long Beach if the Kings needed a roster spot to accommodate a trade. No trade, no demotion was the plan.

But Florida stepped in and fouled up that bit of strategy.

“I hate this,� Barrie said. “We have had something good here and I felt like I was a part of it, and I would have liked to see it through.�

From the Kings, sixth in the Western Conference, Barrie joins Florida, sixth in the East. He leaves Coach Andy Murray to be reunited with Panther Coach Terry Murray, who coached Barrie at Cincinnati of the International Hockey League.

Barrie, 30, had five goals and eight assists with the Kings after starting the season with Long Beach of the IHL, moving to the Kings as a first-line center when Jozef Stumpel was injured, then staying with them as a fourth-line winger.

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Murray reiterated his belief that the Kings would not make a major trade before the Tuesday deadline, but acknowledged that Dave Taylor, the team’s senior vice president and general manager, was continuing to accept calls.

The Kings are a popular choice of general managers looking to deal higher-salaried players for youth, draft choices or both, but Taylor is a hard bargainer and is somewhat limited in what he can do because of the groin injury suffered by goalie Stephane Fiset.

Fiset and goalie Jamie Storr are frequently mentioned in calls about trades.

TONIGHT

vs. Calgary

7:30, Fox Sports Net

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 32-27-8-3, Flames 28-32-8-5.

* Record vs. Flames--3-0.

* Update--When the Kings last saw them, the Flames were beginning an eight-game home stand with a playoff spot tantalizingly close. Calgary lost, 7-2, and finished the home stand a disappointing 3-3-2 and is still tantalizingly close to the playoffs, three points out of eighth in the West.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.