Kings get Ryan Smyth from Colorado for Quincey, Preissing, 5th-round pick

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The Kings got the ‘character’ winger they wanted -- but he comes at an advanced age and with a hefty price tag.

Late Friday, while the rest of the world was watching Manny Ramirez or enjoying the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Kings acquired left wing Ryan Smyth for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth-round pick in next year’s entry draft.

Smyth, nicknamed ‘Captain Canada’ for his many appearances for Canada’s national team, is 33 and carries a salary-cap hit of $6.25 million through the 2011-12 season. He had been on the market for a while, as the Avalanche is going younger and wanted to shed his age and his salary.

Smyth had 26 goals and 59 points in 77 games with a bad Colorado team last season, a good rebound from his previous, injury-marred season in which he played only 55 games.

That the Kings would trade Quincey is a surprise;he was solid on defense after they picked him up on waivers. Preissing had fallen into Coach Terry Murray’sdoghouse and never quite emerged, with Murray often saying Preissing’s ‘compete level’ was lacking.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports

-- Helene Elliott