Smyth welcomes change

Former NHL All-Star Ryan Smyth has a no-trade clause in his contract. But he had no problem waiving it this summer when the Colorado Avalanche orchestrated a deal that sent the veteran left wing to the Los Angeles Kings for defensemen Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey and a 2010 fifth-round draft pick.

It was an easy decision for Smyth, who left a rebuilding Colorado club that finished last in the Western Conference last season to join an improving young Kings team that appears poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Smyth is slated to start for Los Angeles (3-2-1) against Colorado (3-2) at 6 tonight at the MGM Grand Garden in the 12th annual Frozen Fury NHL preseason game in Las Vegas.

The Kings will wrap up their preseason schedule Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks before opening the regular season at home on Oct. 3 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

"I was excited to come (to Los Angeles) from a hockey standpoint because of the youth, energy and excitement. I saw a lot from the Kings last year, and to be part of it this year is pretty special," said the hard-nosed Smyth, 33, a four-time 30-goal scorer who helped lead the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. "Colorado is in a transition period, and I look at it as I'm not getting any younger and I've got to give myself every opportunity to have a chance to win a Stanley Cup."

Los Angeles has the worst winning percentage (.468) of any NHL team over the last four seasons, but it's developed a plethora of promising young players along the way and thinks the addition of veterans such as Smyth and former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi will help propel it back to the postseason.

"That's everyone's goal this year, and we'll all be disappointed if it doesn't end up like that," said Jonathan Quick, a 23-year-old who is expected to start tonight and open the season as the team's top goaltender.

Scuderi, a penalty-killing specialist, signed a four-year, $13.6 million deal with the Kings after helping Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup last season.

Los Angeles also features 22-year-old Jack Johnson and 19-year-old Drew Doughty on the blue line, along with veteran Sean O'Donnell, who received a five-game suspension for cross-checking in the Kings' 3-2 loss to the Avs on Wednesday.

Smyth, entering the third year of a five-year, $31.5 million contract, will play on L.A.'s top line with Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar, who led the team in scoring last season with 66 points. Williams, a two-time 30-goal scorer, helped the Carolina Hurricanes capture the Stanley Cup in 2006.

Kings coach Terry Murray hopes the team's recent rebuilding process will start to pay dividends this season.

"It's an exciting time for the Los Angeles Kings," he said.

While L.A. appears to be a franchise on the rise, the once-dominant Avalanche probably will miss the playoffs for the second straight season.

Future Hall of Famer Joe Sakic retired, and Colorado has a new coach in Joe Sacco and a new general manager in Greg Sherman. Former Avs goalie Patrick Roy rejected the team's requests to return in those roles.

Colorado will be led on offense by veterans Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk, who tied Smyth for the team lead in scoring last season with 59 points. Newcomer Craig Anderson is slated to start in net.

"I believe there are some great hockey players there," Smyth said of Colorado. "I wouldn't count them out. They're going to be young and energetic, for sure."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0354.