Norstrom Signs for Four Years

Moving to avoid a potentially messy situation, the Kings on Saturday tore up the final year of Mattias Norstrom’s contract and signed their captain and top defenseman to a four-year, $14.5-million deal.

Norstrom, who would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, agreed to a deal that will pay him $2.5 million this season, up from the $2 million he was due under his previous contract. He’ll make $4.5 million in the 2003-04 season, $4 million in ‘04-05 and $3.5 million in ‘05-06.

Two years ago, the Kings failed to come to terms with their captain, free-agent-to-be Rob Blake, and the situation turned ugly, putting a drag on the team until Blake was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in February 2001.

Unlike Blake, his close friend Norstrom, 30, is neither a superstar nor much of a scoring threat, but the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Swede plays with a determination that exemplifies a team known as much for its tenacity as its talent.

Norstrom, a two-time Olympian, and Aaron Miller were the defensive stalwarts last season as the Kings established a club record with a 2.29 goals-against average and ranked third in the league in penalty killing with the second-best success rate in franchise history. Norstrom, perhaps the Kings’ most physically fit player, averaged more than 23 minutes a game, tops on the team.

“We’re glad to have him make the commitment to our team,� General Manager Dave Taylor said Saturday. “He’s our captain and a tremendous role model.�

Norstrom, who has sat out the first two days of training camp after suffering a concussion during a fall to the ice last week, said he had looked forward to unrestricted free agency but his first choice was to stay with the Kings. The club, he said, broached the idea of a new contract about two months ago.

The signing of their captain leaves the Kings with four potential unrestricted free agents next summer--Miller, goaltender Felix Potvin and forwards Bryan Smolinski and Craig Johnson.

Jerry Crowe

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For Brian Gornick, hockey will not just be a job, it will be an adventure. Gornick, a ninth-round draft pick by the Mighty Ducks in 1999, will split time between minor league Cincinnati and the Air Force this season. He graduated first in his class at the Air Force Academy in May and left training camp Saturday to report to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside of Dayton, Ohio, to begin a two-year commitment.

He is the first military academy graduate to be drafted by an NHL team.

Continuing his hockey career will require military-like precision. Gornick must balance a 40-hour-a-week job as an acquisition officer with being a center for an American Hockey League team. It will involve a 45-minute drive from Dayton to Cincinnati each day.

“The Air Force officials are willing to work something out,� Gornick said. “I’ll go to work at 6 a.m., then take off to go practice, then come back and work into the evening. Instead of working Monday through Friday, I’ll work a seven-day week.�

The Air Force made a similar arrangement with goalie Marc Kielkucki, who was Gornick’s roommate. Kielkucki signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks last year and played for Dayton in the East Coast Hockey League. Gornick selected Wright-Patterson because of its proximity to the Ducks’ minor league affiliate.

Gornick is the second cadet to be drafted. Colorado took Dan Hinote, from West Point, in the ninth round in 1996. But Highnote left the academy after his freshman year to pursue a hockey career. Gornick stuck around and finished with 45 goals and 103 points in four seasons. He also finished with a 3.92 grade-point average and a degree in operations research.

Chris Foster