KINGS NOTEBOOK: A MOVE FOR THE FUTURE.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Junior hockey sensation Jared Aulin was in the Colorado Avalanche's plans for next season. Now he belongs to the Kings.

Aulin, a second-round selection of the Avs last June, was chosen by the Kings on Thursday as part of the compensation for Rob Blake, who was traded to Colorado on Feb. 22 as part of a seven-player deal.

Although the Kings received veterans Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller and two draft choices, many believe Aulin could become the central figure in the trade.

Just 19, the 6-foot, 185-pound Aulin was expected to make the Avs next year if the team did not re-sign captain Joe Sakic, an unrestricted free agent July 1. Playing for Kamloops, British Columbia, in the Western Hockey League, Aulin has 107 points in 69 games, including 31 goals and 71 assists.

`'He is a high-skill player whose passing skills and vision on the ice are his biggest attributes,'' Kings general manager Dave Taylor said. `'He recently turned 19 and has a tremendous upside.'

Junior players rarely make the jump to the NHL that quickly. The Kings' top prospect, Yanick Lehoux, who turns 19 on April 8, is averaging one goal and two points per game for Baie-Comeau in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Lehoux is expected to play another year of junior hockey before joining the Kings.

Like Lehoux, Aulin is not signed. If agreements are not reached by June 2002, the players can go back into the draft.

One of the provisions of the Blake deal was the Kings could select one player from a pool of prospects within 30 days of the trade. Vaclav Nedorost, a center for the Czech world junior championship team and the Avs' top pick last June, was protected by Colorado.

The Kings also received two draft choices in the Blake deal. One is Colorado's No 1 for next season. If the Avs re-sign Blake, who also is an unrestricted free agent, the pick becomes a No. 1 for June 2002. If they can't, the Avs surrender a No. 2 selection.

--Quick whistles: Taylor flew to the East Coast on Thursday to scout the NCAA hockey championships. He will be in Worcester, Mass., today and Saturday and Grand Rapids, Mich. on Sunday before returning Monday to Los Angeles.... Jozef Stumpel, sidelined almost three weeks with a broken rib in is back, practiced Thursday at the team's training facility and hopes to be ready for Saturday's afternoon game against the Mighty Ducks at Staples Center. Stumpel will participate in full workout today with the rest of the Kings, who were given Thursday off.