Kings’ Free Fall Making It Tough to Deal

CHICAGO —  So, how easy will it be to keep Wayne Gretzky?

Not very.

Certainly there is no shortage of disgruntled players, as well as teams looking to dump high-salaried veterans. Two Islander general managers--Don Maloney, who was fired earlier this season, and Mike Milbury--have attempted to trade Islander center Kirk Muller. Calgary defenseman Phil Housley was actively being shopped until fairly recently.

Long before Gretzky spoke about the need to acquire two additional players, the Kings’ shortcomings were visible to nearly everyone else. But the Kings’ prolonged free fall has made their trading position that much weaker.

Sunday brought no relief from a stressful week on and off the ice as the Kings lost, 5-2, to the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Scoring for the Kings were John Druce (his fifth goal of the season) and Tony Granato (his 17th) and Gretzky had one assist.

The Kings (16-19-10) fell three games below .500 for the first time this season and have won once on the road in their last 14 games, going 1-11-2.

Afterward, Gretzky, whose future destination hangs in the balance, admitted the furor is starting to get to him.

“It’s getting more difficult,” he said, looking weary. “It’s mounting more and more. It’ll be a lot better for everybody after Tuesday. I think it’s an unfair situation for everybody right now--my teammates, myself.

“Hopefully after Tuesday it’ll be rectified.”

Tuesday is when Gretzky’s agent is scheduled to meet with the team’s owners to discuss his contract and the philosophy regarding the organization’s future direction. Gretzky likely will have to get more than a verbal commitment that there will be eventual player movement for him to remain in Los Angeles. It’ll take action, rather than mere words. A 50-goal scorer and an offensive-minded defenseman would keep him in a King uniform.

But nothing, it appears, happens quickly in the NHL.

“The Islanders want to get rid of Kirk Muller and what they’re asking for are certain players--they want our Rob Blakes and our [Vitali] Yachmenevs,” King Coach Larry Robinson said. “And our future, our kids. Two nickels for a dime.

“It’s a frustrating situation.”

When Calgary was trying to trade Joe Nieuwendyk--who eventually was dealt to Dallas--Robinson said afterward that the Kings could never discover what exactly the Flames wanted. And he joked about some general managers getting along better than others after that deal was completed.

Robinson was asked if this situation needed to be taken care of immediately.

“Quick decisions are usually wrong decisions,” he said. “It’s a pressing issue but not that pressing an issue. But it’s not like we have to press the panic button.”

Should the Kings be unable to accommodate Gretzky, it is not as though the St. Louis Blues are the only option. The New York Rangers, despite a league-high $32-million payroll, are prepared to make an offer for him.

“If the Kings called and asked are we interested in Wayne, we certainly would talk to them,” Ranger General Manager Neil Smith said.

Smith probably has a stronger array of young talent to offer the Kings in a potential package for Gretzky.

Both the Rangers and Blues could absorb the significant financial cost of adding Gretzky’s contract to the payroll. One figure appearing in some reports is $18 million over two years.

On Sunday, Blues General Manager and Coach Mike Keenan explained why the team would be able to afford Gretzky after they had been concentrating on trimming their sizable payroll.

“One thing Wayne does is he fits into the economics of the industry and particularly our situation,” Keenan said.

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this story.