NORSTROM QUALITY CHOICE AS CAPTAIN.

Byline: MATT McHALE

Rob Blake and Mattias Norstrom were just a couple of lugs, moving furniture to make room for a new defenseman in the house.

There were no servants to help out, no hired hands to lighten the load for the rich and famous. Just two guys who once shared the Kings jersey, rooms on the road and still remain the best of friends.

And one other thing. When the Kings arrive in Denver today for Monday night's game against the Colorado Avalanche, Norstrom will be named to replace Blake as the Kings captain.

The announcement will come at the home of Kings owner Philip Anschutz, who lives an hour outside Denver. Blake won't be there, of course. His angry split with the Kings over a new contract led to a trade to the Avs last February.

But when Blake was preparing his Manhattan Beach home last Tuesday for the arrival of his first child, Jack, Matty Norstrom was there the way he always has been, to help with the heavy lifting.

``They could not give it to a better person,'' Blake said. ``No one is respected more than Matty in that (dressing) room. I consider it an honor to be his friend.''

In the sport of hockey, the only thing bigger than being named captain is winning the Stanley Cup. There have been good ones and bad ones, but whoever wears the ``C'' is the conscience of a team.

It is so important, Kings coach Andy Murray and GM Dave Taylor won't even discuss the subject. And Taylor used to have the job when he was a player. But he'll be smiling today when Norstrom's name is called.

Norstrom, 29, is beginning his sixth full season with the Kings. If you want to get a read on his contribution, don't look on the stat sheet. He never had scored more than two goals in a season, didn't have any last year and has just seven in his career.

But any forward in the NHL will tell you what it feels like to be taken into the boards by Norstrom. He leads the Kings in hits every year. When he arrived in camp this month, Norstrom scored the highest in all three strength and fitness tests.

All that and a soft Swedish accent, too. But a closer look usually reveals a couple stitches in his cheek.

Blake wore the ``C'' with distinction for four years, but when talks for a new contract became bitter last summer, he literally took it off his uniform before an exhibition game. The gesture sent shock waves through Canada and crushed the Kings organization.

Although Blake eventually took back the captaincy, the Kings were a distracted mess for five months until he finally was traded to Colorado in late February.

The Kings, of course, lived happily ever after, rallying to reach the postseason, then playing two inspired playoff rounds before losing to Blake's Avs.

For eight months, the Kings have gone without a captain. Luc Robitaille was upset when the Kings didn't pay him the honor. Blake talked to Robitaille during the summer and knew he wasn't coming back to the Kings for a variety of reasons.

The one-year, $2.5 million offer was disappointing enough. But not becoming captain really stung. The Detroit Red Wings cushioned the blow with a three-year deal that could be worth $12 million.

Despite 37 goals last season, Robitaille was not Andy Murray's kind of captain. Robitaille was a star, but one-dimensional. Murray has found glory during two years as Kings coach. But it still is tough to get the grit of two decades as an assistant out from under his fingernails.

Murray has grappled for months over who should replace Blake as captain. He even thought of going another year without one. After all, the team played so well after Blake left. He even thought about using three alternate captains.

But he knows better. Kelly Buchberger was a captain in Edmonton and Atlanta. But when a captain is an offensive player, he usually has to be one of its top scorers. Buchberger is in a fight to play on the fourth line.

Ziggy Palffy is the team's leading scorer. But like Robitaille, he commands more attention on the ice than in the dressing room. Doesn't make him a bad guy, just not a rallying point for the long season.

Mattias Norstrom is your new Kings captain. He has all the qualities needed to help get the Kings to the second round of the playoffs and beyond.

And he has Rob Blake's blessing.