Kings had a long off-season and questions abound ahead of training camp

Five months without playing a meaningful NHL game.

Until this summer, Kings fans had grown accustomed to the off-season feeling more like five minutes. The lights went out on last season on April 11. Some might argue it happened much sooner.

Redemption time or reinvention? The Kings will start to answer those questions when training camp opens Friday in El Segundo.

Can they take advantage of the long off-season of recovery?

A common theme at training camps will be how everyone worked harder than ever in the summer. The Kings fought through 11 playoff series in three seasons and the long runs took their toll. Now they’ve had time to not only recuperate but also get stronger and work on the comeback narrative.

“Again, having that time is one thing, but taking advantage of that time is another,� Kings captain Dustin Brown said. “The feeling I got is a lot of guys took advantage of it.�

Will Anze Kopitar’s contract extension negotiations be a distraction?

Not in this market. There is nothing imminent in terms of an agreement, but in a recent telephone interview Kopitar’s agent, Pat Brisson, said he expected talks to intensify this month. It won’t be headline news every day, not as it would be in any Canadian market. Now if it lingers well into the season …

What about the centers (other than Kopitar and Jeff Carter)?

Remember those days when the Kings were so deep down the middle? There were Kopitar and Carter and, in their best days, Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll. Stoll, who signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers, faded last season with just 17 points in 73 games. Richards, whose contract was terminated in June because of a “material breach,� started slipping well before last season.

Youngsters Nick Shore and Andy Andreoff received limited playing time last season. They have a combined 52 games of NHL experience and three goals. Veteran Trevor Lewis is versatile and the sort of responsible two-way forward that even a demanding coach such as the Kings’ Darryl Sutter can appreciate.

Will Milan Lucic be the answer for Kopitar and Marian Gaborik on the first line?

Expect that the big man will be a big personality in the dressing room. General Manager Dean Lombardi made a bold move at the draft, acquiring the veteran power forward from the Boston Bruins, who are in the midst of a revamp. The price was high. The Kings sent their No. 1 pick in 2015 to the Bruins as well as minor league defenseman Colin Miller and backup goaltender Martin Jones. Jones was later traded to the San Jose Sharks.

Kings executives are excited about what Lucic could do with Kopitar and Gaborik. Lombardi immediately made reference to New York Islanders legends Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier and Mike Bossy.

How do the Kings shore up the back end?

It was a question that never went away last season and lingers now that the Slava Voynov matter has been resolved. Voynov, who is being held at an immigration detention center, announced that he intends to return to his native Russia.

Because of Voynov’s unavailability last season, several defensemen were put in advanced situations, given their experience level. The Kings thought they had a replacement when they acquired Andrej Sekera before the trade deadline, but Sekera opted to sign with the Edmonton Oilers on the opening day of free agency.

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Twitter: @reallisa