KINGS NOTEBOOK: LEAGUE WANTS MORE HONESTY.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

With the Kings' recent run of injuries, has come the daily challenge, when it comes to media and fans, of determining exactly what ails each player. The Kings haven't made that task easy this season.

The NHL has gotten involved, telling the Kings that they need to be more forthcoming when answering questions about players who miss games with injuries.

The Kings disclose specific injuries when a player is placed on injured reserve or is out of the lineup for a lengthy period of time, but have become increasingly vague about short-term injuries. Coach Andy Murray consistently uses terms such as 'upper-body injury' and declines to get into specifics.

That sort of thing has become en vogue in the playoffs, when players often play through serious injuries but don't want them to be publicized for fear that they might be seen as weak, or become targets.

But the Kings have brought this idea into midseason, and into a post-lockout season when the NHL is supposed to be more media friendly, and that got the attention of the league office.

Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association contacted a league official, who e-mailed the Kings and informed them that they must be more forthcoming about injuries.

On Thursday morning, a team spokesman acknowledged that the Kings received the e-mail, but Murray again would not get into specifics when discussing the injury of forward Dustin Brown, who was hurt in Monday's game and did not play Thursday night against Phoenix.

Murray said he had spoken with general manager Dave Taylor and that the team would not go into specifics about players who might return to action quickly, and possibly at less than 100 percent.

The NFL, another high-contact sport, requires each team to make a full and complete injury report each week, designating specific injuries and how likely a player is to participate in that week's game.

--Walking wounded: So, about those injuries.

Brown initially said he had muscle spasms in his neck and shoulder and on Wednesday complained of a sore chest. Murray would go only as far to say that Brown has a bruise.

Sean Avery, who missed Monday's game and was believed to be nursing a sore shoulder, returned to the lineup, and to fill out their roster the Kings recalled Connor James and Richard Petiot from the AHL.

Jeff Cowan (hamstring) and George Parros (ankle) participated in a full practice Thursday and seem to be on target to return for Monday's game at Anaheim.

The Kings hope Eric Belanger (groin) will be able to return for the Jan. 12 game at Boston. Murray said it's possible, but unlikely, that Belanger could return for the Anaheim game.

``He has to feel comfortable,'' Murray said. ``If it was Anaheim, he would have to be back out there (practicing) in the next couple days, and I'm not sure that's going to happen.''

There is little optimism about Aaron Miller, who continues to be week to week with a sore back.

Miller, who has missed six consecutive games, has received one anti-inflammatory injection and might have another one early next week, Murray said.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com