Put together, the two moves were seen as little more than Lombardi reaching into the bargain bin to try to conjure up some magic, a method that doesn’t exactly inspire optimism for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2002.

One month into the new season, the optimism has returned, thanks in large part to a suddenly dangerous top line of Smyth, Williams and Anze Kopitar. The trio combined for 14 goals and 20 assists in nine games to open the season, before Williams went on IR with a lower-body injury.

Kopitar, the most talented member of the trio, has posted good numbers since entering the league as a 19-year-old in 2006-07. This season, he’s been in the statistical stratosphere: 11 goals and 24 points — best in the league through 15 games.

“You want to score goals and everything, but when it goes like it’s going for me right now, it’s really fun, first of all,” he told reporters following a recent two-goal outburst against Columbus. “I’m enjoying my time on the ice.”

Smyth, 33, was a gamble acquisition to be sure. He’s owed $16.5 million over the next three seasons, which made him unattractive to most teams in prospective trades. But the young Kings have kept their payroll low in the Lombardi era, making the veteran Smyth a good fit in the balance book, the clubhouse, and the ice.

The Avalanche received defensemen Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing and a fifth-round draft pick in exchange for Smyth, who has 19 points through his first 15 games.

“Ryan Smyth has come in and done a great job fitting in and bringing the puck to the net on a more consistent basis,” head coach Terry Murray said after the Columbus game, “which forces other people there looking for loose pucks and rebounds.”

Williams, 28, hasn’t played a full season since 2006-07, when he scored 33 goals for the Hurricanes.

“You’ve got three skilled guys, but you also have three guys who work hard, and you have to put the work before the skill if anything’s going to come out of it,” Williams recently told Gann Matsuda on the Frozen Royalty blog. “If we keep getting our chances, game in and game out, then we should be successful together.”

The Kings improved to 9-4-2 after beating the division-rival Phoenix Coyotes 5-3 on Monday. Williams rejoined the lineup and scored a goal, and the reunited line finished a combined plus-8 for the game.

Defenseman James Wisniewski was suspended two games by the NHL for this hit on Shane Doan in the Ducks’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. … Erik Christensen was placed on waivers Monday. The forward, a healthy scratch in the Ducks’ past two games, was scoreless through six games this season. … Matt Beleskey was recalled from AHL San Antonio and spelled Evgeny Artyukhin while the right wing served a three-game suspension for slew-footing. Artyukhin returned to the lineup Saturday and Beleskey was returned to San Antonio on Monday. … Today’s game against Pittsburgh marks the first game for Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma against the team he played for from 2000-04.

Ilya Bryzgalov was named the NHL’s Third Star for the month of October. The goaltender posted an 8-3-0 record with a 1.78 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and three shutouts in the month. He led all NHL goaltenders in GAA and shutouts. … Through six home games, the Coyotes have averaged a metaphorically appropriate 9,999 fans. … The only party who did not agree to the Coyotes’ sale to the NHL was Wayne Gretzky, the Associated Press reported, noting the Great One did not file a formal objection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge who approved the sale.

Evgeni Nabokov was named the NHL’s third star of the week after posting a 3-0-0 record and 0.97 GAA in wins against the Kings, Avalanche and Hurricanes. … Dan Boyle revealed to the San Jose Mercury News on Wednesday that he’s been playing the entire season with a broken thumb. The defenseman has 2 goals and 13 points in 15 games this season. … Wednesday’s game will mark the 1,000th in the NHL for trainer Ray Tufts, who joined the Sharks in 1996.

By beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime Wednesday in Dallas, the Stars won back-to-back games for the first time all season. … Goaltender Matt Climie was returned to AHL Texas on Sunday, two days after he was an emergency recall to Dallas when Marty Turco came down with the flu. … Left wing Francis Wathier was assigned to Texas after another one-game stint Wednesday in which he logged 6:25 against Toronto.

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