What a circle of coaching life it has been for Terry Murray and John Stevens. Early in the 2006-07 season, Ken Hitchcock was fired as the Philadelphia Flyers’ coach and was replaced by Stevens, who had been head coach of Philadelphia AHL’s affiliate. Stevens retained Murray, who had been an assistant coach under Hitchcock. Murray and Stevens spent two seasons together before Murray left to coach the Kings in 2008. Then, 26 games into the 2009-10 season, Stevens was fired. The following summer, Murray hired Stevens to replace Mark Hardy as an assistant coach. Now, Stevens takes over for Murray on an interim basis.
From what I’ve come to understand, the Kings don’t see Stevens as their long-term coach. Keep an eye on the whereabouts of Darryl Sutter in the next few days. Dean Lombardi is very close with Sutter and, as GM in San Jose, hired Sutter in 1997. Sutter left the coaching ranks after the 2005-06 season, as he went from coach/GM to GM, and he left that role last December. I’ll never forget the exchange I had with Lombardi, at the press conference to announce his hiring as Kings’ GM in 2006. It went like this…
Question: “In terms of qualities, what will you be looking for in a coach?”
Lombardi: “Darryl.”
Sutter, at that time, was still the coach in Calgary.
Darryl Sutter? Oh lord… Out of the frying pan and into the fire
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alex101 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s Stache, No for Sutter! First video I watch on youtube is the flames team talking about how no one can score… shooting, puck not going in.. Plus he looks like a complete goon, there I said it.
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Kenny44 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s Stache, Yeah, maybe that would be DL’s revenge on the players. Didn’t like TM’s style, well what if TM had rabies?
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Gary Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@Lanny McDonald’s Stache, Bob Boughner for coach. If Lombardi hires Sutter he’s a moron. TM and Sutter are the same crappy coach.
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This solved my case of the Mondays.
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I don’t care who as long as TM is adios….
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jkking Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@John, ducks old coach….
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Any correspondents at Western Michigan University?
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Neil Shafton Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@cjms, Newell Brown is from W Michigan. He has been an assistant for Carlye, and now with Vancouver.
His son played for Kelowna in the WHL Adam Brown a goalie.
His nephew is Matt Duchene.
Brown might still have a home in Anaheim Hills, not sure on that.
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cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Neil Shafton, I was thinking of Andy Murray.
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Danielle Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@cjms, According to my sister, who goes to Western Michigan, he is doing a great job there. As a Kings fan she would have mixed emotions about him leaving. Happy the Kings got him, but unhappy her college lost him, lol
Hiring Sutter would be a HUGE mistake by DL. He might as well start preparing his resume because his job would be on the hot seat with that move.
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Can we stop with the nepotism? Can we hire the guy who is best suited for the job?
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wavesinair Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@DrewStopCrossChecking,
Nepotism? Didn’t know they were related.
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DrewStopCrossChecking Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
@wavesinair, Sorry Cronyism , my bad.
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Rob Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@wavesinair, I think anyone with the name Sutter is related to just about everyone else in the NHL.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Rob, makes a good point!
Deke'r Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@Rob, …inbreeding…
Ezra Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@wavesinair, many dictionaries include friends in the definition of nepotism. See Oxford, Collins, American Heritage, etc.
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pitty Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@DrewStopCrossChecking, It’s easy to say hire the right person it’s a lot harder to pick that right person. Who is your pick for the best suited?
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DrewStopCrossChecking Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@pitty, As long as he does serious interviews, and also let’s other Kings execs do a second interview I’m fine with whoever he picks. All I’m saying is just don’t hire the guy because you’re old buddies. I’ve seen this in my own profession as well, and its a terrible way to run a business.
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Deke'r Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@DrewStopCrossChecking, …you know what they say…it’s not what you know, it’s who you ****.
Darryl Sutter? Hmmmm, I can live with that.
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Darryl Sutter? Hmmmm, I can live with that.
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TYLER Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
@lars1970, you can say that again
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no to sutter.
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Why not granato???? WTF……. ok moving on, r we going to make a trade for semin, or not.
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Jason4Kings Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Rom27,
Who wants Semin?
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Joe Dirt Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
@Rom27, why semin? this team has plenty of non motivated under achievers already
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Alex Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@Joe Dirt, How about Hartnell from Philadelphia.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
@Alex, We need to win with the players we have. No reson we can’t.
Kings x Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@Rom27, semin’s not the guy we want. I like the star power, but washington is going to let him go at the end of the season or trade him before the deadline if they can. If we trade for him, he has a huge cap hit. His work ethic is questionable. Do you really want a guy like that for ~7M?
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TYLER Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 9:10 pm
@Kings x, are we talking about Semin or Doughty?
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cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
@Rom27, Cammi Granato? Might be interesting, to say the least.
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jimrad Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@Rom27, Semin=Penner
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Gary Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@Rom27, Please GOD, no Tony Granato.
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I’m not sure about this one.
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Intriguing. Sutter had a decent record in Calgary and took the Flames to a Cup final in ’04 before he stepped down to focus on being a GM.
Also, an interesting quote from a Flames blog after he was fired as GM. This was long after his coaching duties ended (thanks Puck Daddy):
“Darryl did a lot for this franchise, bringing back its legitimacy, both in the local market and across the league. He took the team from being a 70 point one to a 90 point one. We thank him for that, and we will always thank the man for reigniting the fan base with the magical Cup run of 2003-2004.
But the man went crazy. He was like one of those Chinese Emperors who drank mercury and lost his mind. Kotalik? Stajan? Ivanans? And that’s just this year. That is us not even talking about Keenan or Joseph or Marchment or all the traded draft picks.
He had to go, but at the end of the day, he wasn’t the only one who has to go.”
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NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@Eric K, Hey, Why not Keenan?
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Gary Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@NOT IMPRESSED, Game has passed Keenan by. If they want to make a splash hire Bob Boughner
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Certainly one of the oddest starts to a season I’ve seen. Thanks T. GKG
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Why not Sutter…you all wanted emotion…that guy throws lots of “eff” bombs!
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I would rather hire the assistant from Chicago
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jayrew Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@jacky boy, Billy P. hes the man.
agreed.
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CabbagesAndKings Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@jacky boy, I totally agree. I know he was on the Jets short list for coaches. Good organization — great system. If Yzerman turns us down — he’s definitely the way to go.
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I don’t see what is wrong with Darryl Sutter, as a Coach he has done very well leading Calgary to the finals. As a GM he hasn’t done as well. He will only be the coach here, so i don’t have a problem with him as the new coach.
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Jeff Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@Jeff, However I would rather have an up and coming coach from the AHL or Juniors.
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cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Jeff, Our AHL coach is decidedly not up and coming.
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Jeff Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
@cjms, I am talking more about Hynes coaching Pittsburgh’s AHL team or Boughner coaching Windsor.
jkking Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Jeff, he coached calgary and half our players are from edmonton….
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Think outside the box of geezers DL. We need a forward thinking coach one that knows the century has turned and the game has moved on to a more offesnsive one…remember the lockout?! The game has changed but we seem to be left in the past..can we get back to the future already!?
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Sutter? Time to give someone new an opportunity. Others have done it with great success recently (Minnesota, Dallas, Pittsburgh…) I will be very disappointed with DL (or should I say even more disapointed..) if he goes back to the junk heap to pick another retread.
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Whatever the case, the management shake up is not over by any means. I hope DL thinks about the next few choices very carefuly.
This team is as deep in D and goaltending as anybody can ask for. The next step is the killer instinct to finish which clearly TM did not have. IF the new coach gets the Kings into a goal scoring rythem the season may shape up for more fun, more victories and less frustration.
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Oh God, I see that guy and all I can think of is The Goonies Sloth “CHUNK!!!”
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tullskull Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@Devilmachine, “Haaaay u guys!!!”
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Let’s not forget that just because Sutter led a team to the finals doesn’t me he is (or isn’t) the perfect solution. Our old coach led the Panthers (the Panthers!) to the Finals..
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Nut Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
@Shakes, Doug Maclean took the Panthers to the Finals in ’96. Murray went with to the Finals with Philadelphia
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Kenny44 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@Nut, Ah ye, the infamous “choking situation.” If we only had the Legion of Doom line in LA . . .
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Some interesting tweets coming from the hockey media “go to guys”
Dreger “Dean Lombardi scorched the players in a meeting a short while ago. Very upset he had to fire Murray.”
LeBrun “Kings player, who doesn’t want to be identified, via text regarding Murray firing: “I think it had to happen. We were dead.”"
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FiG17 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@Sebastian,
I think LeBrun’s is the most telling. It’s what we all saw, they just couldn’t say it.
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cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@Sebastian, Was it Penner?
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@cjms, I’m willing to bet it was a D-Man.
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CB14 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@Sebastian, The one from LeBrun just about sums up what everyone’s noticed. It had to happen.
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KOHO Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Sebastian,
Dreger “Dean Lombardi scorched the players in a meeting a short while ago. Very upset he had to fire Murray.”
Tell you what DL..if you don’t like firing Murray maybe you should wuit hiring YOUR FRIENDS.
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IIShort Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Sebastian, At the same time when will we be holding the players accountable!?
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KingMe20 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@IIShort,
That begins now. This is a “look-in-the-mirror” moment for every man on that roster, and if they don’t think it is, then they need to go as well.
[Reply]
5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@KingMe20, Better late than never, but it is about 29 games too late for a gut check! These bunch of cry babies got their coach fired and they don’t give a dam, any more then they gave a dam to execute on the ice so far! What is going to change unless these dung heads decide to apply themselves at least 85%(not the 33% they have been doing so far!). They are the “20 Minute Kings and the 40 Minutes of Chaos Team” so far this season. You could hire any coach you want, but everything rides on the players putting out some heart and passion with urgency. So they all forgot how to play their game? BS! They would rather whine and make excuses for their lack of passion and urgency! Oh darn, the “puck is not going in” and “we cannot seem to get a break”, or the “puck is not bouncing our way now”….This is all CRAP Talk for Losers! Losers make excuses and winners go out and just pound out a bunch of “I demand to win hockey games”, instead of “woe is me, it just isn’t going in right now!” Double BS! Change the Coach because there are no other choices…you are right up against the Cap, you have no chips to sell, you cannot get rid of all the primadonna players at once or you cannot ice a team of 20 skaters! Mad at the chair so kick the table! Prediction: This bunch of muckety mucks will win nothing until they search their own souls and see the truth about their collective intestinal fortitude!…and then throw out the silly kid stuff and apply themselves 110% with a purpose, with passion and with some hockey mentality!!…There is none of it today on this team, all inclusively!! Another 69 point season without the GTs we have is what it would be….No Play-offs at this rate for sure! This season is likely lost until this internal adjustment is made by the entire roster regardless of who is willing to coach them!!
The creativity needed to score goals consistently has not been present in a decade or more in LA….there’s been none of it consistently in the Lombardi era yet! Bring in all the Sutter brothers to coach, no matter, it won’t help until someone decides to play hockey like they know how to do it! It is a leadership problem on the team much more then a coaching problem IMHO!. TM was the same guy every day he came to the rink, so who can say they did not know he was a systems guy with a cool as a cucumber demeanor? No one could ever say that about him. TM is not what was wrong here, but he had to go in order to start a curing process with some new blood! My take, so take or dump it!
Kenny44 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@5holer, So, what you’re saying is that DL is a terrible judge of character, because DL always said that he put a premium on “character” guys in drafting, trades, and signings.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Sebastian, Signed, Anze Kopitar.
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sigh so more of the same with sutter then…. /wrists
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LAK1ngs Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@pr0cess,
slash wrists. LOL
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Don’t like this story.
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Why not Carlyle he’s got a cup, he knows how to lead an offensive team, Penner has thrived in his system, and it’s a huge slap in the face to the ducks when we thrive with him.
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Sorry for TM, who genuinely cared about the job, but did not succeed.
Hopeful for DL that he hires the right person, since the success of the coaching hire will determine his future with the Kings.
Concerned for us Kings fans, who have been watching a season of hope disintegrate into game after game of failure and disgust.
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IIShort Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@Cowboy Bill, DL has been a blessing for us & I hope he stays around to see us hoist a Cup or two!
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Cowboy Bill Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@IIShort, DL has built the army, but there is no general to command it to victory as currently composed.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@Cowboy Bill, Yeah, I know I was coming apart at the seams. I almost got to the point where I stopped watching games when they got behind. This year’s team was not the same generally positive and improving team of years past, and I refuse to believe the difference was the offseason moves. I look at the long losing streaks the Kings had, and think the team’s recent play resembled those extraordinary bad times in the midst of mostly improvement.
[Reply]
5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
@Cowboy Bill, Right you are there Flett! err a Cowboy Bill! I have conversed with TM on several occasions during his 4 years here. He is a solid hockey man for sure. He is not a butt patter or a Ra Ra guy, but he is a fine Xs and Os guy! He did his coaching internship under some excellent hockey minds…Freddy “the fog” Shero, Mike Nickoluk, and some others of fine repute. He will land on his feet in another organization soon enough. I did not buy the hype myself on all these roster moves starting with the Penner move last season! Lost our identity as a team and cannot find a style to be proficient at as yet….don’t seem to care enough to find it either!…lost a lot of size and grinding skills (Simmonds, Zues, Smyth, and some others) and kept some untested unknowns (Lewis, Clifford, Lok, Westgarth among others)…No speed here at any position save for one or two with nothing else to go with their speed! 2nd line Top Centerman is excellent to have, but who to distribute the puck to? Where are the goals coming from? Left side is a many year chronic problem (since Lucky went upstairs)! What is this team? Not a Mucking/Grinding Cycling group any longer? Not a smooth skating headman the puck team either? Not a solid in your face forechecking group any longer? So what is this menagerie of a group anyway? They sure as hell do not know at this point! They did not execute the coaches system at all this season…so what to expect? Crash and burn or will they find their hearts in time to save their season? Hope is eternal, but experience says it will be dam tough to do if at all! No expectation of complete correction here this year IMHO! A sell off coming? Dare I say it! There are at least 6 to 8 forwards that are useless on this club!
[Reply]
If this happens maybe we will land Jerome Iginla in a cheap trade because he is 34 years old.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@downsy89, If Calgary’s Jay Feaster would take a 6 for 1 deal, then get er done! LA needs to unload a pile off their dung heap of forwards. Who is not expendable? Save for a small few guys, they all can go elsewhere and play this crap for someone else. Stay away from Semin for JC’s sakes! Another road apple to add to the pile! Holy Kopitar and Richards, maybe Brownie and one or two more, but the rest do get it…perhaps never will here? The acquisitions made recently were not Terry Murray type players for the most part…so what happened with that? This is not an easy fix without some incredible player attention to it and big time attitude adjustments in the entire locker room! Players in their walk years should be leaving soon! The bus is waiting outside on Fig!!
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Sutter Don’t like the sound of that one bit. We need someone dynamic and hungry to win, a little younger perhaps
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@408kingsfan, Sutter, Smutter! John Steves, Toe Blake, Billy Reay, Punchy Imlach, name your favorite guy…you still got this load of waste up front on your roster! Bring a Witch Doctor in to put a spell on them all, maybe that will help? Are these primadonnas going to all of a sudden decide to play for someone else? I don’t see it helping much to bring in “old what’s his name” as coach of this dung heap! Bad roster, too many holes in it! Smoke and Mirrors from Tommy Lassorda might work, might not either! Big Daddy Darryl won’t help at all!
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408kingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@5holer, so you think our roster sucks? I think we have plenty of skill up front to get the job done
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Silk Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
@5holer, Sorry, you are wrong. We have plenty of talent up front to get the job done. We just need the right coach to provide the right game plan. If you have a solid offensive strategy, a team can be extremely effective with a lot less talent than we have.
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Sutter? Im not sure I like that..ill consult with my Calgary fan friends…
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408kingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@tornado12, No need, it would be a huge mistake to bring Sutter in
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Sutter would be a dangerous pick for DL. If he fails, it’s still on DL. If Darryl is successful, the Kings will have the new saviour with substantial GM experience working under DL.
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flex Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@Kenny44, Yeh ,maybe.but who is not dangeres…Stvenes only.But who knows.It all depens how player would react.
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Well, looks like all this ranting may have just gotten started – On from the fire TM to fire Sutter. Great…
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Does anyone know what Sutter has been doing since he left Calgary? I know he hasn’t coached since 2006.
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tacomakingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@King Taco,
He was a GM
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King Taco Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@tacomakingsfan, Thanks I know that. I meant after he left as GM.
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John,
As short term coach or long term, your first order of business is…….fire Kompon
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This team is coming unglued. Lombardi breached chemistry and “the right way” to play and assembled a group that either checks out or is undisciplined or is a coach-stabber. I don’t like the look of the team or how it was put together. What year are we in, Deano? of your rebuilding project? Congrats! You fired a coach at the beginning and hopefully at the end of your tenure.
Your next hire will be your last if we don’t make the playoffs and get past round one! So stay away from Sutter and go with someone who thinks outside the box, can generate some creativity offensively and hold players accountable for their mistakes (Yes, I’m looking at you, Jack Johnson) and their shoddy work ethic (Paging Drew Doughty, will Drew Doughty please pick up the white courtesy telephone and put down the Effing Krispy Kreme).
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Jeff Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@carol vadnais, While I gather that Sutter won’t bring much in terms of creativity on Offense, he will hold the players accountable for mistakes and should bring the fire needed for this team to wake up.
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carol vadnais Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@Jeff, It cerainly seems like it’ll be Sutter — so we will get the discipline but not much else
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@carol vadnais, Where does this “coach-stabber” thing come from? I like the looks of this team, when it wins. Oh, and FWIW, the year we’re in is the reason the coach got dismissed.
[Reply]
carol vadnais Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Apparently, an “unnamed King” texted to DL that “it was time for Murray to go” — I can only speculate who that would be, but judging from Brown’s comments after the game about how “we don’t play with any desperation” and “there’s no fight” — I figure it was him but maybe not.
Nevertheless, Murray’s boring defensive style that hamstrung creativity had gone as far as it could go. It was time for him to be done.
[Reply]
tullskull Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@carol vadnais, I respect you and I know you have forgotten more about hockey than I will ever know but you will hopefully admit there are other teams in the NHL that use a variable of the King’s system.
To me, Terry Murray is a good coach, maybe even a great coach, but at this time and and with this team he is not the right coach. Why? Because you can not fire all of the players.
If Lombardi is still GM at the end of this season, I believe there will be personnel changes due to the “tuning out” of the coach. The players responsible will be identified and held accountable.
Get Gretzky to coach…perfect fit for Wayne and for the Kings. Talk about a dramatic change and figure to motivate the boys.
[Reply]
broncokings Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Ryno, I was thinking the same thing, at least an interesting thought..
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Gary Livingston Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@Ryno,
But, didn’t Gretzky not do well as a coach?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@Ryno, Gretzky proved, as did many before him, that talented players can make really bad coaches. I’m curious as to why so many people bring him up. I try to forget.
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i vote for Gordon Bombay.
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h0wie Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@Poonagi, Barry “Mullet” Melrose or Donald “Grapes” Cherry. Grapes will put everyone in their place.
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broncokings Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@h0wie, I like the Cherry idea, doubt it would happen
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fsd1 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@broncokings, Cherry?!?!?! that guy is a wack job. Not what this team needs.
Steve W Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
@h0wie, He doesn’t like Europeans.
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h0wie Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
@Steve W, ok… aside from kopi, lokti, and voynov, there are no other europeans on our team. Cherry would be wishful thinking…. We need someone to give us a swift kick in the rear to get back on track.
cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@Poonagi, I vote for Coach Reilly.
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pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@Poonagi, when the seasons low and the fans are hateing you, Kings Fly together!
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Poonagi Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
no wait… i’ll take Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks. best. speech. ever.
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Branzilla Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@Poonagi, Hahaha dang it. I came here to say that.
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I want to say this loud and clear: Thank you for your years of service Terry Murray.
In spite of troubles, recent or chronic, you are a large part of why we, the fans, expect and demand greatness. Because you brought the Kings from dismal to dangerous. Sorry you couldn’t celebrate your 500th win with the Kings.
Now, lets get on with WINNING! GKG
[Reply]
IIShort Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@Tyfighter77, great post & shows a lot of class!
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
@IIShort, Yup I’ll second that one! Nice take!
As for the Cherry idea, it has merit but for one small problem….this generation of players flat do not care a lick about anything or anyone as I see it displayed on the ice! They didn’t care about Kopi in the Wild game! How is a guy who cares like hell such as Cherry or any other fireball coach you can name, going to evoke an instant “I now care attitude”? It ain’t happening folks…money makes the puck go by these days! Line them up for Shock Treatments to see if they have a pulse first, and then we can go from there! No signs of life seen to date! Of course its the coaches fault, I almost forgot! Next, the executioner is coming to town!! Chop, chop, and down the street they go! The bus is waiting boys!
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Again, the coach is not the only problem. It’s this recycled GM. He keeps hiring recycled coaches who haven’t won anything. There’s a reason why he was fired by San Jose. He is eventually getting the Kings axe and should. Darryl Sutter, TM, Marc Crawford. No imagination. DL does not have what it takes to win a Cup. John Stevens, interim Coach. Move after move after awful move. Will the Kings ever get it right. At this point, I would have to question Lieuweke’s competence to make NHL decisions. Personally, I’d put the organization in the hands of Luc. He’s the most prolific left winger of all time, his attitude is awesome, he won a Cup with Detroit, and he relates with everybody. Get rid of Lombardi please.
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cjms Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Poorman, This is the NHL. They’re almost ALL recycled coaches. Just look at Quenville!
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Bob Bobson Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@cjms, I do not think it is an old boys club the way as much as it used to be. If it was, Mike Keenan or Pat Quinn would have gotten the call before Kirk Muller or Dale Hunter. Also, I remember the hype surrounding the Guy Boucher hire. I think new blood is slowly being infused into the NHL coaching ranks.
God I hope DL does not recycling the same useless guys over and over again. I am a huge fan of his b/c of what he has done for this organization but his next coaching hire is likely his last and rightfully so.
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408kingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
@Poorman, We might have to hire and fire Sutter first he he he
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tellmeY Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
@Poorman, hmmmm you work for Luc
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Jeff Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@Poorman, Marc Crawford won a cup!!!!!! DL has been the best GM this team has ever had. TM helped this team get to where they are now, as one of the best defensive teams in the NHL. It is now time to bring someone in that can finish the job.
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Kenny44 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@Jeff, Marc Crawford is the Barry Switzer of the NHL. Crawford didn’t win that Cup, his All-Star team won it. Crawford did genuinely lose the Olympics coaching for Canada, though. Also, Crawford has overseen the two most ugly on-ice incidents in our generation: Claude Lemieux’s hit on Draper, and Bertuzzi’s attack of Steve Moore. Coincidence?
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IIShort Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@Poorman, I give DL credit for building this team & if I was a coach this is a dream team to me because they have become a brotherhood w/talent that needs to be displayed every game……Avengers Assemble! Lol
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
@Poorman, People keep criticizing DL for hiring a coach he simply made a comment about in 2006!
This is 2011. Criticize him if he hires Sutter, and if the decision proves to suck.
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P90X Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
@Poorman, Maybe we should hire you. Seems you know so much about everything.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:01 pm
@Poorman, It’s a Poorman’s solution…no dice on any of it! Criticize the coaches selected, the roster moves all you want, but it is right at ice level between the goal lines that is the problem! It is always the same problem…the players are always the problem, not Liewecke, not Lombardi, not Anschutz, not Lucky Luc! These guys could have any hall of fame coach working behind the bench for them, but if they do not apply themselves and they all get hockey amnesia then they will always fail! Yet another GM is born is this blog!!
For 45 years the LA Kings have had very few smart hockey players or hockey people in the Franchise. This is not a smart hockey club here today…these guys are fat cats with lazy attitudes failing to apply themselves and instead look for excuses to explain their issues! Losers one and all! A GM can only do what he thinks will work for the roster he has built, but if it doesn’t work like today, he cannot do very much about it! Lombardi doesn’t play LW, nor does Liewecke play RW, nor Murray play Center, although that might not be worse to see them out there! Well, skip that thought, it would be much worse! Who’s team is this club? Brown’s?, Doughty’s?, JJ’s?, Richards? Who is the veteran leadership group here? Let’s start right there to try to find a solution to the problems!! No leadership is present in my view of the ice!
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Jimmyo777 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
@5holer, Richards is a quiet guy and new to the Kings..Give him another year and you’ll see who the real leader is on this team.
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Silk Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@Jimmyo777, Anyone who has knowledge of this game would have noticed after they watched Richards play one game that he is a very special player. He is a very smart and gifted player and appears to have leadership abilities. Although I like Browns tenacity, he can’t compare to Richards!.
Lame move today we needed to get rid of Kompon more then anyone….Fire this entire staff!
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jess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Chris Bond,
It will happen in due time. The new head coach will come in with a new package.
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If not Scotty Bowman, then a clone will do.
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I think we may be in more need of a change at the Captain of the team
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JD Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@Otto Ped,
I boggles my mind as to why Brownie gets the crappy remarks on this blog so many times. Last I knew this game was a team sport and not the responsibility of one guy. Where are all the negative Kopi remarks since he’s gone colder than eskimo balls the last few games? Personally, I wish Brownie would get traded out of LA and on to a real contender for the cup.
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Otto Ped Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@JD, I love DB as a player. This is in no way a negative remark about him as a person or his game. That being said I don’t think that he is the best person to wear the C.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@Otto Ped, Its a mess and who in hell wants to be a Captain of a sinking ship? One guy is not the entire leadership group….D-men stick with D-men, and forwards listen to forwards about their games…Goalies don’t listen to anyone really! Veterans need to be the ones with the loudest voices. So who are they on this club? Its a young nucleus of journeymen level tenured players. You need a gray beard to stand up and say something to the group that they will listen to. Experience in negative situations is the key for the group to figure out how to get out of their problems. Who is that guy or guys? The vets are gone or MIA this year. Kopi is too young, Richards too new, same for Gagne, Brown is out on a island alone somewhere looking for help with no takers found. Stoll is gone but doesn’t know it yet, Penner is a castaway, Justin is not inclined, so who is left? Moreau is gone and Hunter is still trying to find his game if he ever really had one. It looks hopeless to me until someone in the room fesses up to their issues for the whole group. Boston Bruins 5 Kings 0 on Tuesday night in this nightmare of a season! Hope it doesn’t go that way, but I see the fat lady warming up already! Yogi says it ain’t over til its over…well, its over Yogi!!
petemagoop Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
@Otto Ped, I’m not pushing for a new captain, but if I had to choose one it would be Richards, hands down.
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Too bad Tippett is already taken, he was great with the power play..
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Kingsfan602 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@broncokings, the coyotes are in last place in scoring pp goals. I think DT is a better 5 on 5 coach than as a pp.
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The biggest question I have right now is how does Jamie Kompon still have a job???
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fsd1 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
@rick, because you cant replace the whole staff at once.
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colo king fan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@rick,
whoever the new permanent coach is will bring in a staff of his own, then kompon will hit the bricks. stevens, i assume, will keep some sort of job with the kings because of connections.
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This story mad me pour a stiff Whiskey..
I also considered vomiting…
Please don’t Dean.
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No to Gretz. I love him but he is not a good coach. No to Granato too. He did not do enough in Colorado to warrant a job here.
The only positive to Sutter is he will light a fire under the players, but I’m not sure he is creative enough to get us out of our offensive doldrums. Rather try to poach a hot young assistant (I’m opent to suggestions) who will spur some creativity (power play) and give our stars some open ice to work with (Kopitar is so lost out there).
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KingMe20 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@carol vadnais,
Granato got a bad hand in Colorado. He got a team past its prime and on the decline. I think he deserves another shot, and with what he’s been able to learn under Dan Bylsma, I think he might have some new ideas about how the game is played now.
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fsd1 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@KingMe20, I agree, I have always liked him as a player and a coach
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Hipcheck Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@carol vadnais, Colorado had an awful team. Hard to judge a 1st time coach when given that roster. Im thinking time spent as assistant to Bylsma was probably not the worst thing either.
Worst case scenario IMO-Sutter. Do not Want.
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Osaka Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@carol vadnais, I like Granato or MacTavish.
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Kenny44 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Osaka, You’re just saying MacTavish to leverage Penner out of town!
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@carol vadnais,
granato sounds great
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i have been saying this almost 2yrs ago to fire Murray and also said let John Stevens take over..I nailed this thing in the head..Good job Dean and what took you so long? GKG!
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Too bad it had to come to this. Terry Murray did a great job, but sometimes players just get too comfortable and stop responding.Players need to do a gut check and turn this thing around.I hope we give a good up and coming coach a chance and not a re-tread.Come on boys! Don’t let this season slip away.
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Teddy Nolan -
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Cynic Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@dirtmover, +1 I’m hopin’. Variable mught be right about him not wanting to leave the east coast.
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Osaka Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@Cynic, East Coast? He is coach of the Latvia National team. Since he is labeled a GM killer, no GM will touch him. His son is playing for us in Manchester so that would be a draw to him I would think.
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i told you guys…
be careful what you ask for…
i avoided bringing up his name knowing all-too-well that it was an obvious possibility…
ugh…(!)
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And for the last time DL..WE ARE NOT PHILLY WEST!
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KOHO Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Or SAN JOSE SOUTH.
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And we come full circle on my inference from a few days ago that the fish stinks from the head down.
DL is still clutching to the stifling defense first mantra and will stick with the same old philosophy of boring hockey.
I was really hoping for some fresh blood from the AHL or Juniors, and there is plenty of that to go around.
I suppose you cant teach an ol’ dog new tricks and Quisp is spot on with his observation of how similar this whole dance is to the last time DL got canned; Star player holdout, team stinks it up, fire coach, bring in old socks for new coach …
This ain’t over till the fat lady sings in March.
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Bernie Nichols a assistant..and to run the PP
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Now can you take away browns C until someone steps up as a leader? Right now no one deserves the C or Alrternates
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@the chiken, IF it’s the right move to take it away from Brownie, I’ve got no problem giving it the Mikey. Richards is the real deal, and has basically been playing through the difficulty, when not injured. I’m not ready to see Brownie lose it, though. I’d say you ask him if it’s a burden, and if he says so, ask him if he’d like to see someone else have it, and who that would be.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
@the chiken, The players usually sort out who the C and As are on the club! It is an honor to be a C or an A on any team. Management needs to stay out of the locker room issues…players need their sanctity in their room. If no one steps up to take charge, then coaches should rotate the positions among the worthy personalities on the roster. i have seen it done both ways to a successful conclusion. Eventually, the right guy steps up and takes the reins! There are too many new vets with no tenure on this club, so its is awkward to step up for the usual suspects. The young guys are still looking to be led and not lead. When you have never won a thing, how do you begin to expect to be able to lead guys to winning something? You don’t, so you look elsewhere. Where in this room do you see that guy? Scuds and Mitchell are on walk years on D. We have exhausted the forward ranks already in this blog, the piss poor group that it is…except of course on paper its pretty!! Oh the Lombardi era forwards seem to always be this way…mismatched, incongruous and no guts! But they are nice boys with good characters, right? How about some guile, gusto and a hell bent attitude, where is that in hockey today?
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I say we get Gretzky in there with his bullhorn. He was great in that ESPN commercial.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@BMSTANG, From bad to Worse! He won’t step foot behind this bench! That is the best news!
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Thank you for your service, Mr. Murray. You brought some order to a franchise in disarray. Now is the time for that young team to take another step toward fulfilling its promise. If it does, you will share in the credit.
Best of luck in your future endeavors.
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NHL Live just shout out Insider and Rich Hammond.
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I say hire Tippet at the end of the season. His contract is up at the end of the year.
He can get a no talent team like the Yotes to perform well. Imagine what he could do with a talented Kings team.
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Gurbo Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@tim,
Totally agree, 1st in powerplay and 3rd in PK when he was our assistant coach, has done well everywhere else.
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Hipcheck Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
@tim, didnt know his contract is up. If thats the case Id almost be willing to roll with Stevens the rest of the year.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@tim, This could be a good reason for interim being made clear.
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5holer Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@tim, You have just explained why he would not do much good here! He has such limited talent there that the group focuses on every little thing he says to them and then they usually execute it! And there is Shane Doan to answer to there in that room! Too much perceived talent in this room to pay attention to Tippet! Too many of the wrong types here for Tippet to work with IMHO! I wish it wasn’t so! Won’t be for long here at this rate, but timing is everything. A new coach of good resume will require a 3 year deal minimum, probably by January 2012 not July 2012!
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Silk Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
@tim, Tippett is great! I’d love to get him on the helm.
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I shudder to think what a coach like Sutter or Carlyle would do to this team right now. From that text, they seem pretty damn fragile. A fire & brimstone coach would kill any confidence they have left. It’s kind of what happens when you have a ‘feel good’ coach for so long. You get comfortable. Dean ripping into the boys is, IMHO, justified. Terry could not create an offensive system to work with his defensive one, that’s on him, but these players are not weak minded people. They have TONS of responsibility in this.
I would not be surprised if I saw a trade before the 19th or after the freeze. IDK. I’m glad Lombardi got fired up in front of the players though. Someone had to. The GM should be the LAST guy to get mad though….
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Capt Jam Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@Cynic,
I wish someone would’ve lit them up after the second period of Game 3 of the SJ series last spring. Couldn’t even get a timeout out of that robot.
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IIShort Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@Cynic, well said!
Who would u see going & why?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@Cynic, Think about the last four years–their fragility is as much due to Murray as anything. People complain all the time on this blog about him not sitting various players, etc. Maybe they’re at a point they need a kick in the behind, and TM wasn’t the guy to do it.
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Where’s Andy Murray at these days?
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jess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
@NOT IMPRESSED, He’s busy slipping notes under people’s hotel doors, asking for 110%!
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Danielle Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@jess, Head coach at Western Michigan
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I’d say it depends on whether they win the President’s Trophy, or come close. It’s not like I expect it, but it would be something to ponder.
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Is Deano done raiding the Flyers organization?
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Turn in the C Dustin. You don’t have what it takes
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So funny…former Shark..former Flyer..former Oiler, c’mon DL do some reaearch.
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Poor Murray… getting fired before Xmas, no paychecks will be coming in, poor guy is gonna be homeless soon…lol and whose decision was to pay 7 million to a mediocre player?…
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Osaka Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@Csaba Bhody, Murray is still under contract for a couple years, he gets paid.
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Let’s follow the MLB model for hiring new coaches, hire current broadcasters. Bring in Jeremy Roenick, we need a little more “F!@$ You” in our game, and boy will he bring that.
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The ‘NHL on the fly’ dude with the big nose is dumping on DL..I bet he wants his job, too.
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I agree the Kings should have Sutter as their coach. Only it should be Brent and NOT Darryl.
Anyone who thinks Phaneuf, Aullie, and Sjostrom for Hagman, Stajan, Mayers, and White is a good hockey move, past, present or future has clearly let the game pass him by.
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“Hello Wayne?”
“Yes, who’s speaking?”
“It’s Dean Lombardi here…”
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Otto Ped Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@Lime, Are you kidding? Wayne was a crappy coach
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Maybe we can have a poll to see what everyone wants?
Stevens
Sutter (maybe just “experienced coach”)
New blood (Granato, AHL-coach)
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We need someone who can craft open ice playmaking. Not sure Sutter is it.
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Bring in a young creative guy to coach.This team needs creativity.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@kingrussell,
agreed
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Oh please not another retread…
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Yeah DL, Darryl would REALLY help the scoring drought. All we need is to go from a defensive-first system, to a defense-only system. Darryl Sutter = KILL hockey. BORING WITH A CAPITAL “B”!!!!
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WTF is Scotty Bowman?
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http://saintjohnseadogs.com/page/gerardgallant
Can teach offence
Relates well to young players
Won championships
To me her would be better than any retread coach.
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Amazing! All these people bitching about the Kings next coach when they haven’t even appointed a permanent replacement yet. Get a life!
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please not sutter!
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Dl want to see how team would react to Stevens.That is why he let TM go without instant replacment.Second ,he said the list is short and I am sure ex duck is not on his list. ..he did not won the cup..players like Niedermaier,Pronger..won the cup.Much the same like crowford did not won with colorado…Roy .sakic and some other stars did.
I am sure Daryls name is on that list (quin time is over,Gretzky is wrong option,Granato..based on what..hoping he learnid something from Balsma… )I also think the next move would be a trade.somebody like Brown,green,stoll..these player still got some value.One more time who would remember Flyers in means of shakeup…wake up.Do not forget we still need a winger with energy and who can score. I am glad ,that shoot mentality ,along puck managment terminaogy is over.I am not expecting any overnight solution,but I know we have a team loaded with talents.M. richard is the smartest player after Gretzky with very goog leadership qualites.I hope soon or later He would be our C.Tm did a lot exept one thing..SCORING.This was basic problem and it started with Frolov departure.Like him or not he was regular 25-32 goal scorer…also an original King.
Today one thing is claer ,there is no name as coach who is accetable from everybody.I think DL with his four year plan,projected this sitution and he knows much better “who” is missing.The question is if “he” is avalable?..Yes,he got a short list,but righ now Stevens is the coach..will see how players would react….Hey, there is another good news..Chara is out.
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Call the Mullett!
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