Defenseman Tom Preissing was in the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals after a 38-point, plus-40 season with the Ottawa Senators.
The following year, he was in Los Angeles with a four-year, $11 million contract with the Kings. The next year, he was playing minor-league hockey in Manchester, N.H., and was traded a few months later to the Avalanche as a “throw-in” to a multiplayer deal.
“It was a weird year,” said Preissing, who played at Colorado College from 1999-2003. “It started with some promise and then things started faltering a little bit. For whatever reason, it just never really worked out for me and wasn’t a good fit in L.A.”
Preissing is hoping to play his first NHL game since Jan. 15 tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center. While coach Joe Sacco hasn’t made up his mind on whether to play the defenseman, Preissing skated at Friday’s practice with Brett Clark as a partner and said he’s eager to play after missing the first six weeks because of a knee injury.
“It’s definitely been awhile, and I’m sure no matter when I play I’ll be at least a little bit rusty, but I’ve played in the league long enough now to know how to play when you’re not feeling your best,” said Preissing, who turns 31 next month.
Preissing was bothered by nagging injuries last season, including a bout with vertigo, but he fell out of favor with new Kings coach Terry Murray and was demoted to Manchester of the AHL late in the season. Murray questioned Preissing’s “compete” level, and Preissing got a reputation as a guy who stopped playing hard after getting a big contract.
To be living in a hotel room in New Hampshire — two years after tying Detroit’s Nick Lidstrom for the NHL plus-minus award — was quite a letdown for Preissing, especially right after his wife, Danielle, just had their first child.
“When I fell into a slump, it (was) easy to get negative on yourself. Mentally, it was a tough time,” Preissing said. “At the same time, I know I have had success in this league. My knee feels great and my knees haven’t felt good for about a year and a half, so it’s nice to have that problem behind me at least.”
Preissing helped fill some of his inactive time last season with a blog on the Kings’ website, where he weighed in on topics ranging from the 2008 national elections to opinions on Sean Avery and Plaxico Burress.
“I enjoy writing, but there isn’t as much time for that at night with a baby occupying a lot of my off-ice time now,” Preissing said.
If Preissing can regain his offensive form, he could give the Avs their best right-handed shot from the blue line since Rob Blake.
“He’s a guy who can really help us if he plays the way he’s capable,” Avs captain Adam Foote said.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Vancouver at Colorado
8 p.m. tonight, ALT, KCKK 1510 AM
Spotlight on Craig Anderson: For Anderson, tonight will be start No. 19 out of 20 games. Anderson regained his top form with a 37-save effort Wednesday in Chicago and remains near the top of every NHL statistical goaltending category.
Avalanche: Right wing Milan Hejduk return to the lineup after missing a couple of games with a back ailment. He participated in a full practice Friday. . . . Avs coach Joe Sacco called tonight’s game a “must win” with the next three games on the road and only two wins in the last six. . . . The Avs will wear their new third jerseys tonight, the royal blue-dominated designs unveiled Thursday. . . . Center T.J. Galiardi (ankle) skated all of Friday’s practice and is ahead of schedule to return from an original four-to-six week prognosis. He could return during next week’s road trip. . . . Defenseman John-Michael Liles (shoulder) did not practice.
Canucks: Star goalie Roberto Luongo returned this week from a cracked rib and is slated to start tonight. . . . Winger Daniel Sedin (broken foot) remains sidelined and probably will be out at least another week. . . . Forward Mason Raymond, who scored Vancouver’s only goal in a 3-1 loss at Detroit on Thursday, has five goals in his last seven games. . . . Forward Alex Burrows hasn’t scored a goal in 15 straight games.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
