ONLY TIME WILL TELL ABOUT KINGS' DEALS.

Byline: MATT McHALE NHL 

There were some angry words around the Kings' dressing room after Monday morning's workout.

Seems there are some who believe the club did not receive enough local media credit for its maneuvering at the trade deadline last week.

Although the Boston Globe, Buffalo (N.Y.) News and ESPN applauded general manager Dave Taylor for acquiring Sean Avery and Maxim Kuznetsov from Detroit and the rights to Tim Gleason from Ottawa, area wags yawned and talked about raising the white flag and lowering expectations.

There were no ``two thumbs up'' for Kuznetsov in these parts. No one here said the Red Wings traded a future captain in Avery the way they did in Detroit. Of course, no one made much of a stink last summer when the Kings traded Adam Mair, whom many players think will be a captain one day.

The truth is no one really knows how it will turn out.

The only people really surprised that Mathieu Schneider and Bryan Smolinski were traded were Schneider and Smolinski.

Schneider's value never was higher. He was an All-Star and a top player on the power play. He also was completely healthy for the first time in years. Schneider was set to make $3.75 million next year, a lot of money in anybody's checkbook. And he could have walked away without compensation after next season.

Despite a recent scoring spree, Smolinski was a disappointment the past two seasons. Yes, he was great defensively on the other team's top center, but he needed to produce more for his $2.4 million salary. And he was a pending unrestricted free agent.

The more surprising news out of his deal was that Smolinski might finish out the season, then re-sign with the Kings. (Hint: If you think the club lowballed Luc Robitaille two years ago, imagine the offer Smolinski would get.)

Gleason is the former No. 1 pick of the Senators whom the Kings received for Smolinski. The Kings also got this year's No. 1 and next year's No. 2 from Detroit for veteran defenseman Schneider.

Taylor flew to Canada over the weekend to watch Gleason and liked what he saw. Gleason is a scorer in juniors but Taylor concedes there is a good chance he won't bring that to the NHL.

If you want to believe the local media doesn't know hockey, then how about listening to your own players. Ziggy Palffy said the Kings got ``nothing'' for Schneider. Aaron Miller, who signed a four-year, $14 million contract the day before, said the deadline was not one of the great days for the Kings organization.

These players are cornerstones of the organization. You can't dismiss what they think because Fox.com disagrees.

It's true players often miss the bigger picture because they know it's easier to reach the Stanley Cup Finals with veterans such as Schneider and Smolinski than it is with a couple of unknowns from Kamloops and Saskatoon.

The truth is the Kings are a long way off either way.

Besides, one Red Wings insider said after the trade, ``Kuznetsov is a bad player and a bad guy.'' Should we notify authorities or let this thing play out awhile?

With a collective bargaining-agreement set to expire after next season, teams are trying to get more flexible with their payroll. That's why draft choices are so attractive. Not only do they represent the future, but they also can be used as barter in future trades.

But how safe an investment are they?

Erik Rasmussen, the Kings' oft-injured forward, was the seventh pick overall by Buffalo in 1996.

Jamie Storr was the seventh pick overall in 1994. The Kings have waited nine years or him to be a No. 1 goaltender.

Journeyman Steve Kelly was the sixth overall pick by Edmonton in 1995, ahead of Calgary's Jarome Iginla and the Mighty Ducks' Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Kelly spent most of the season in the minors.

Before we send Dave Taylor to the Hall of Fame or burn him at the stake, let's give these trades some time.

It's good to get mad. But it's just a little early.

--Iginla in L.A.: Iginla, last year's NHL scoring leader, faces the Kings tonight at Staples Center.

With lowly Calgary set to miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, the question is whether the Flames will try to trade him before next season and whether the Kings can find a place for him despite his $7.5 million salary.

A key to trading Iginla lies in the Flames' ability to get restricted free agent Chris Drury signed for reasonable money. He is making $2.5 million this year and that could swell to $4 million. New coach Darryl Sutter loves Drury, but too big a salary bump might force Flames management to trade Iginla.

Privately, the club said an Iginla trade would have to return a top forward and defenseman plus a serviceable NHL player.

In other words, two of the Kings' three No. 1 draft choices in June aren't going to do it. Unfortunately, Jared Aulin, a Calgary native and top Kings prospect, was injured much of this season. If Aulin showed he was the real deal, maybe he could have been thrown in.

But if he had, the Kings most likely would have kept him and avoided Iginla's big salary.

Remember, the Kings already are on the hook next year for Jason Allison's $8 million and Palffy's $7.25 million, plus nearly $8 million combined for defensemen Miller and Mattias Norstrom.

Maybe Storr could sweeten the pot for the Flames. He has been solid in goal for the Kings but has not established himself as the No. 1.

Calgary's top goaltender, Roman Turek, has been awful since the first two months of last season when he stood on his head and got a four-year, $19 million contract. He will be owed $5.5 million next season, the last guaranteed year of the deal. Storr is making $1.6 million.

Calgary and Los Angeles are drastically different cities but surprisingly similar NHL markets. Both are considered small by league standards. Both have billionaire owners who closely check the bottom line.

Iginla would be a great fit here. But the Calgary Flames really can't afford not to keep him.

CAPTION(S):

4 boxes

Box:

(1) TV WATCH

(2) FROM THE BLUE LINES

By Matt McHale

(3) KINGS vs. CALGARY

- Matt McHale

(4) WEST PLAYOFF RACE