Lewis, who was a first round (17th overall) pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006, was assigned to the Kings' AHL affiliate Manchester on Sept. 29, less than a week before the Kings were scheduled to play an exhibition game against the San Jose Sharks at the E Center in West Valley City.

"He was given the opportunity and he showed us some good things. He impressed us," Kings coach Terry Murray said. "He's a young guy with a bright future. It's just a matter of him learning the trade at a lower level right now and for him to keep working and developing. The opportunity will come again for him."

Many other Kings player are in a situation similar to Lewis'. The exhibition game on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the E Center is the last one the Kings will have before the season starts and many players are fighting for a spot on the roster.

Being a team full of young players means not many spots are guaranteed.

"It's very important evaluation game from the team aspect. The final cuts are just a few days away after that game," Murray said. "Guys will be playing hard and fighting for jobs."

Murray will also see how his young players will match up against a team that is expected to do damage in the NHL's Western Conference.

The San Jose Sharks feature a talented bunch led by Joe Thornton, who led the team with 96 points last season. San Jose will have more depth on defense, thanks to some off-season moves, and has a solid goaltender in Evgeni Nabokov, who had his best season of his career last year.

The last time the NHL came to Utah was in 1998. That, too, was an exhibition game between the Kings and the Sharks.

Because of the success of that event and the fact that the E Center is part of the AEG (one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters) family - the same group that owns the L.A. Kings - another NHL event in West Valley City seemed like a suitable fit.

mthach@sltrib.com

SAN JOSE SHARKS VS. L.A. KINGS

Sunday, 7 p.m., E Center in West Valley City