Local Teams Hate It, Whatever It’s Called : Kings: Gretzky doesn’t see an agreement being reached in two weeks.

Wayne Gretzky is traveling to the Bay Area for a game this weekend--a football game, the Philadelphia Eagles against the 49ers.

After Friday’s NHL labor developments, Gretzky might be watching a lot more football in November, December and January too. He fears the entire season could be jeopardized.

“The players realize this is not a two-week thing,” he said Friday after the King players had met at Iceoplex in North Hills. “We are not going to be playing in two weeks. If we can’t get an agreement done in 16 months, how are we going to get one in two weeks? It’s just not going to happen. I’m not trying to be negative. I’m being realistic.

“This two-week thing, as far as I’m concerned, is a bit of a cover. This is a delay. I don’t see us playing hockey at Christmastime.”

Meanwhile, down the freeway at the Forum, new King owner Joseph Cohen was answering questions about such issues as potential layoffs and ticket refunds. The two-week delay to the start of the season means the Kings would need to reschedule five games if the season does open on Oct. 15.

The Kings, who were set to start the season tonight in San Jose, are scheduled to play the Boston Bruins at the Forum on Oct. 15 and then leave on a seven-game trip, which begins on Oct. 18 against the New York Islanders.

Cohen, who calls himself “eternally optimistic,” said he still feels that way. He also said there would be no refunds issued now because the league intends to play a full season.

“If we weren’t optimistic, we wouldn’t be here today,” Cohen said at a news conference with team President Bruce McNall, General Manager Sam McMaster and Coach Barry Melrose.

“And you know Bruce’s history, he an optimist. We intend to be in our seats on Oct. 15, and we hope the building is full when the Bruins are here and we beat them.

“I think the reaction runs the gamut. We’re among the more hopeful and optimistic clubs. Some owners are very skeptical. The reaction is all over the lot. . . . But there’s no one rooting against an Oct. 15 start.”

Melrose said the team had reserved practice time at Iceoplex on Monday but that he could not coach the players, merely observe. But the NHL Players Assn. said its members won’t practice until an agreement is reached. Melrose does maintain that his players could be ready to start the season in two weeks if they keep skating on their own.

“Whatever the decision is going to be, all 700 players will be doing the same thing,” said King defenseman Rob Blake, who is the team’s player representative. “Last time, we had a little trouble with that (in 1992). We want to be uniform this year. We knew it was going to happen.”

Three Kings--Marty McSorley, Darryl Sydor and Blake--were scheduled to fly to Toronto on Friday night for a noon meeting today of the NHLPA. Gretzky was present for the NHLPA’s announcement on Thursday that it would pledge not to strike and play under the old agreement if there was no lockout by the owners.

“Everyone was saying what we did yesterday was a P.R. move and what they did today did was a P.R. move,” Gretzky said. “Everyone is jockeying for position. I don’t see how ours was a P.R. move when we said we’d play all year with the old agreement.

“We’re saying we want to play. You would hope the fans would be happy with that.”

King Notes

The team will return goaltender Jamie Storr to his junior team, as well as forward Matt Johnson, but General Manager Sam McMaster reached contract agreements with both players Friday night. Storr agreed to a three-year deal and Johnson’s contract is for four years. Johnson will remain in Los Angeles to have treatment on an injured knee.