Kings Continue Their Search

Larry Robinson has replaced the Kings before they have been able to replace him.

Robinson, fired as the King coach April 19, accepted a job as an assistant with the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday as the Kings’ search for his replacement dragged into its second month.

Dave Taylor, the King senior vice president and general manager, said Wednesday that he had spoken with two candidates--former Buffalo Sabre coach Ted Nolan and Long Beach Ice Dog Coach and General Manager John Van Boxmeer--and expected to talk with “a couple more” next week.

“I believe we might have a coach by the draft,” he said.

The NHL entry draft is June 26, and the Kings have been more concerned with players they might select than with someone to coach them.

Taylor met with Nolan in Ottawa a week ago and interviewed Van Boxmeer on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Nolan said Wednesday that there has been no return call, but that he hoped there would be.

“I’d like the job,” he said. “There are some young players there I’d like to try to mold.”

Next week’s list is expected to include Dave Lewis, an assistant at Detroit, though Lewis said Wednesday that Red Wing General Manager Ken Holland had not been contacted for permission.

A source close to the Red Wings said that permission would be granted, if asked.

Lewis, a former teammate of Taylor’s with the Kings, said he would entertain an interview but was concerned that no overture toward Holland had been made.

“I think, before the end of the week, I’ll be having my agent contact them to ask, ‘Are you interested in me or not?’ ” Lewis said.

Lewis has been mentioned as a replacement for Red Wing Coach Scotty Bowman, 65. But Bowman is expected to re-sign to try to become the first person to coach in the NHL in five decades and two centuries, and Lewis is eager to establish himself as a head coach.

King President Tim Leiweke shot down a rumored deal that would bring Edmonton General Manager Glen Sather and Coach Ron Low to the Kings.

“Dave has another year on his contract and an option year [as general manager],” Leiweke said. “And I don’t think he has talked with Sather about becoming the coach.”

Taylor also said there was no interest in former Phoenix coach Jim Schoenfeld, who was fired Monday.

King Notes

Taylor said the Kings have offered a contract to defenseman Richard Seeley, who played in junior hockey this season and was the team’s sixth-round choice in the 1997 entry draft. . . . The Kings will not sign winger Matt Zultek, one of two first-round choices in the 1997 draft, because “he has not made the progress we hoped he would make,” Taylor said. Zultek will go back into this year’s draft and the Kings will receive a compensatory choice in the second round, the 43rd pick overall. . . . Taylor said he talked with Larry Kelly, agent for defenseman Aki Berg, but no deal is close.