KINGS COOL AS TRADE SEASON HEATS UP ANY DEALS MAY HINGE ON POSSIBLE LABOR LOCKOUT, PLAYOFF RACE.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - The Detroit Red Wings acquired high scoring Robert Lang on Friday and the Kings did not. Any minute, defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be headed to Toronto and not Staples Center.

The NHL trade season started picking up Friday and won't stop until the deadline March 9. How much the Kings will get involved could depend as much on September's possible labor lockout as next month's playoff race.

The Kings have the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference heading into this afternoon's game against the Mighty Ducks.

And unlike last year, when they failed to reach the postseason, the Kings have developed some of the younger players in their organization.

Defensemen Tim Gleason and Tomas Zizka have stepped into roles vacated by injured Aaron Miller and Lubomir Visnovsky. Kings coach Andy Murray raves about promising right winger Scott Barney, who showed a scorer's touch before going down two weeks ago with a shoulder separation. Barney could be back in 10 days.

These players are young and cheap and offer the Kings the kind of payroll flexibility clubs are seeking if a new collective-bargaining agreement reshapes the economics of the game.

``We certainly aren't operating with the idea that there won't be a season next year,'' Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. ``We've been trying to build the organization from within for some time.

``We have the ability to take on some salary at the trade deadline. We would like it to not extend beyond this season, but we are looking at a lot of possibilities.''

The Kings, playing without their top four forwards, need help on offense. They also need help on defense since Miller and Visnovsky won't be back anytime soon.

Sounds like a call for Lang, who actually broke in with the Kings but now is the NHL's leading scorer. Or Gonchar, who doubles as a major threat on the power play. Both were fixtures with the Washington Capitals. Trades can provide an emotional lift for a team. After acquiring left wing Steve Sullivan from Chicago, Nashville won three consecutive games to move back into a playoff spot. Sullivan recorded five goals and five assists during that period.

Teams can also get demoralized when management does not make a move.

The Kings' situation might be unique. Because they are in the race despite losing more than 550 man-games to injury, the Kings have developed a strong bond in the dressing room.

The players think they can reach the postseason with the unit they have right now.

``Anybody they bring in will be welcomed,'' winger Sean Avery said. ``But we have a very close group here. We feel we can make the playoffs just as we are.''

But with starting goaltender Roman Cechmanek down with a groin strain, the Kings' 29th-ranked penalty killing unit is cause for concern.

The list of available defensemen starts with New York Rangers veteran Brian Leetch. But he will be 36 next season and will be owed $6.4 million. Joe Corvo makes $450,000. Philadelphia, which already acquired goaltender Sean Burke is a favorite for Leetch, but the Flyers also could wind up with Rangers blue liner Tom Poti.

Florida will be looking to unload defenseman Lyle Odelein once it drops out of the playoffs. Odelein is 35 and was a member of the Montreal Canadiens team that beat the Kings in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals.

Another Panthers defenseman who has drawn interest is former King Andreas Lilja. Nashville and Boston have called.

Taylor concedes the Red Wings were in a little different position than the Kings when dealing for Lang, who has three years left on his deal. Detroit is assured a spot in the playoffs and is actively building toward winning the Stanley Cup. Going out in the first round the way it did last year against the Ducks is certain to cost coach Dave Lewis his job.

The Kings goals are more modest. Just reaching the playoffs after losing Jason Allison, Ziggy Palffy, Adam Deadmarch and newcomer Martin Straka would be considered a very good season.

The Kings have five pending unrestricted free agents: Jozef Stumpel, Jaroslav Modry, Luc Robitaille, Derek Armstrong and Ian Laperriere.

The Kings have received inquiries about Modry and Stumpel.

The Rangers have the biggest supply of talent for trade: Alexei Kovalev, Petr Nedved, Bobby Holik and Darius Kasparaitis are available. But all have long-term deals that will make them difficult to move.

Phoenix might not want to trade with a Pacific Division rival but the Coyotes are looking to dump Brian Savage, Chris Gratton and Mike Sillinger. Gratton's name has come up during the past few seasons. He is making $2.2 million.

Valeri Bure was traded by Florida to St. Louis at the deadline last year. He returned to the Panthers this season and is back on the block.

``I don't know if we could bring in anybody that would make us considerably better than what we have now,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``We've developed a lot of players this year, for now and the future.''

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Kings could use Robert Lang, but the NHL's leading scorer instead was acquired by the Detroit Red Wings.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press

(2) The Rangers have the biggest supply of talent for trade as the NHL's trading deadline approaches: including Alexei Kovalev, center, and Petr Nedved, left.

Ed Betz/Associated Press