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Although elated by their performance to date, the Kings, casting a wary eye to the future, traded center Mike Krushelnyski to the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday for center John McIntyre.

Krushelnyski, 30, is in his ninth full season in the NHL after beginning his career with the Boston Bruins. McIntyre, 21, is in his second season with Toronto, having scored five goals and

17 points in 59 games with the Maple Leafs last season. “This is a real good deal for the future,” King General Manager Rogie Vachon said. “You have to make these kinds of moves to keep the

team young and fresh.” Krushelnyski came to Los Angeles in the biggest move the Kings ever made, as part of the 1988 trade with the Edmonton Oilers for Wayne Gretzky. Krushelnyski, who has

189 goals and 451 points in 608 regular-season games, never saw the biggest goal of his career. That came last spring when he shot blindly with Calgary’s Brian MacLellan on top of him in the

slot and smacked in the winning goal in the second overtime of the Kings’ series-clinching, first-round 4-3 victory over the Flames. Krushelnyski had one goal and six points in 15 games

this season. MacIntyre had three assists in 13 games for Toronto. “I’m disappointed to be leaving Toronto,” the Ontario native said. “I like playing where there’s snow. Of all places to be

traded, though, it’s nice to be traded to L.A.” MORE TO READ