Linden Vey has been recalled by the Kings and after some minor travel delays should touch down in the Bay Area just in time for rush hour traffic en route to San Jose, where he is expected to arrive shortly before the opening faceoff. He won’t play tonight but will be eligible to play in Vancouver on Saturday.

Vey, 22, has five assists and an even plus-minus rating in 18 games with Los Angeles this year. Since being assigned to Manchester due to salary cap constraints when the Kings acquired Marian Gaborik at the trading deadline, the 2009 fourth round draft pick posted nine points (1-8=9) in nine games as part of a 44-point (12-32=44), 40-game campaign with the Monarchs.

From an earlier chat with Dean Lombardi:

“You even see Linden, in the short time he’s out, he makes a lot of little plays. It doesn’t bring you out of your seat, but you’re keeping the puck. He gives the puck to a guy who can do something with it. He just doesn’t get rid of it and say, ‘You deal with it.’ And all three of them can do that, but they’re inexperienced.”

With Vey’s recall, the Kings have 23 players on the active roster.