Kings and Canadiens swap minor-league forwards

The Kings and Montreal Canadiens swapped minor-league forwards Thursday. The Kings acquired right wing Steve Qualier from Montreal in exchange for forward Robert Czarnik. Qualier, 24, is expected to be sent to the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate in Manchester, N.H. He was Montreal’s third-round pick in 2008 and has played for Hamilton of the AHL for the past two seasons after playing at Northeastern from 2008-12. He had five points, including one goal, in 15 games for Hamilton this season. Czarnik, 24, also was a third-round pick in 2008. He had five points, including one goal, in 29 games for Manchester this season.

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Kings rookies squander 6-3 lead, lose to Coyotes 8-7.

Christopher Gibson speaks English, Finnish and French, but has a Latin phrase etched into the back of his goalie mask: “Luctor et Emergo.” Literally, this means “I struggle and emerge.”

The Kings’ first selection in the 2011 Entry Draft, Gibson certainly struggled in his first game in a Kings uniform. Gibson allowed five goals in the third period as the Kings blew a 6-3 lead, losing 8-7 to the Phoenix Coyotes at Toyota Sports Center. The two teams will play again at 2 p.m. today at TSC, completing the two-game exhibition series between the teams.

Gibson wasn’t the only prospect who slipped on a Kings uniform for the first time Wednesday. That was a factor in 60 minutes of up-and-down hockey.

“There were a lot of nervous guys in that dressing room,” said forward Brandon Kozun, who scored two goals and added an assist on the eve of his third training camp with the Kings.
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