KINGS: DEFENSE SHORED UP BY TRADE.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND Staff Writer

In a trade designed to strengthen their defense in the present and future, the Kings on Friday acquired top prospect Jack Johnson and veteran Oleg Tverdovsky from the Carolina Hurricanes for Eric Belanger and Tim Gleason.

The move came exactly one week before the Kings' season opener against the Ducks.

Tverdovsky, who will make $2.5 million this season, will fit into the lineup immediately, while the Kings only acquired the rights to Johnson, who was the third overall pick of the 2005 entry draft by the Hurricanes.

Johnson, 19, is the long-term prize of the deal. Johnson is a sophomore defenseman at the University of Michigan, who last season set a school record for most points (32) by a freshman defenseman. He is expected to play at least one more season of college hockey.

``We are prepared to be patient,'' Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi said. ``I think it will be good for him to spend another year there and re-evaluate in March after his season is over.''

A 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Johnson represented the United States at this year's World Junior Championships and was named to the tournament's All-Star team.

``He potentially fills a position that's hard to find,'' Lombardi said. ``These type of players aren't often available at a younger age, so we felt we had to be aggressive.''

Despite the Kings' apparent need for top-level scoring, they dealt for Tverdovsky, another veteran defenseman to join Rob Blake, Aaron Miller, Mattias Norstrom, Brent Sopel and Lubomir Visnovsky.

Tverdovsky had three goals and 20 assists in 72 games last season and was a part-time contributor in the playoffs as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. Tverdovsky also won the Cup in New Jersey in 2003.

Gleason, 23, signed a two-year contract with the Kings this month. A first-round pick by Ottawa in 2001, Gleason was slowed by injuries, including a sore knee for most of last season. Gleason totaled two goals and 19 assists in 78 games last season.

Belanger, 29, had career highs with 17 goals and 20 assists last season.

The salary tradeoff is almost exactly equal. Tverdovsky is due $2.5 million in each of the next two seasons while Belanger will make $1.3 millionand Gleason is due roughly $1.2 million.

Belanger's departure also likely ensures that fellow center Anze Kopitar, who was selected eight picks after Johnson in the 2005 draft, will make the Kings' opening-night roster.

Kings win: Alexander Frolov had a goal and two assists in the first period, and Kopitar added a goal and an assist in the Kings' 5-2 preseason victory over host San Jose. Associated Press contributed

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