Leafs deal Derek King to Blues

 TORONTO (CP) -- The Toronto Maple Leafs traded veteran forward Derek King to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.
 In return, Toronto gets defenceman Tyler Harlton and future considerations. The 23-year-old Harlton will report to the Leafs' AHL farm team in St. John's, Nfld.
 "This is in the best interest of us and Derek," said Leafs GM-coach Pat Quinn. "This is a move that made sense. St. Louis approached us, probably as a result of Geoff Courtnall's injury."
 Courtnall, who missed 41/2 months last season with a concussion, suffered another concussion Saturday during the Blues' 4-2 victory over Toronto. Leafs defenceman Bryan Berard elbowed the 37-year-old left-winger on the chin, drawing a two-game suspension.
 Courtnall is pondering retirement.
 In King, the Blues get a 15-year NHL veteran who had 24 goals and 28 assists for the Leafs last season. Toronto has found itself with a glut of forwards this year and King played in just three of the team's first nine games.
 Quinn said the Leafs will play part of King's $1.8 million US salary, but wouldn't say how much. He did say the main motivation for the trade was not to dump salary, but rather to keep the Leafs near the 23-man roster limit.
 Harlton is six-foot-two and 212 pounds. He spent most of last season with Worcester in the AHL, scoring two goals and adding five assists in 58 games.
 The native of Pense, Sask., was drafted 94th overall in 1994.
 "Scouts think he might have a chance at making it," Quinn said, emphasizing the word "might."

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