Murray wants more, better work from Sturm

Yesterday, in discussing Marco Sturm and his move to the Kings’ third line, Terry Murray pointed out that Sturm is essentially still going through training camp, given that he has played only eight games since undergoing offseason knee surgery. Well, today Murray fairly strongly called out Sturm, and indicated that there needs to be more “training” in that training camp. It’s rare for Murray to be so public and forward about his displeasure with a player’s work ethic, but Murray didn’t pull punches when discussing what he wants to see from Sturm.

MURRAY: “In training camp, you work hard. I don’t care if you’ve been off all summer or been off with an injury. Training camp is a time of hard work. So if that’s the case, as we discussed with him — and I understand that he’s coming off a very serious injury and trying to get everything it order, and it is part of the process to get the confidence back, get your legs under yourself, with a new team, new linemates — you still have to come and be intense and work hard and really compete. I don’t care where you are or what the situation is that you’re going through. That’s what the demand was, from me to him, yesterday. … A veteran hockey player has to come and bring intensity, hard work and be a competitive guy every shift, every practice, every game. That’s the expectations. That’s the demands I have of players. I look at the scenario that he’s coming through, and I understand it. I have compassion for it, but I need more.”