Any time a team goes through a rough stretch, the “hot seat’’ enters the coach’s room. The process is accelerated, of course, when a team saddled with high expectations does not match them. Terry Murray, a member of the coaching fraternity since the early 1980s, is no stranger to this, so he can’t be surprised to see his name surface in potential-firing reports, with the Kings now sitting in 12th place in the Western Conference. Murray has twice been fired mid-season, by Washington and Florida, and he was on the other side of it, taking over for his brother, Bryan, who was fired in Washington during the 1989-90 season. Today, Murray was asked whether hearing his name surface in firing reports makes it more difficult to do his job on a day-to-day basis…
MURRAY: “No, it doesn’t make it any more difficult. We’re trying to win hockey games. I’m going to approach every game and every practice the same as if we had seven or eight wins in a row. You want to win the next one. So that’s the approach that I take every day, every game. I like the way we’re playing. The effort, the compete, the intensity, the chances that we’re getting, everything is in place. We just have to find a way to get a `W.’
“We had a meeting here before practice. We have to know that we are playing good. That’s why I want to show it and talk about it. You know, with a young group of guys, you want them to go on the ice and have some fun with the game, too. You want to play instinctive hockey and not become, in any sense, a robotic team, where you’re so stationary and hesitant that now you do look really out of place. We want to play the right way, play instinctively, and get after the puck, hunt it down and make sure we’re doing the right things. I think that’s where we’re at.’’
To that end, perhaps getting on the road is a good thing for the Kings. Being at home certainly was not. The Kings were in California for three weeks straight — including one trip to Anaheim — went 2-5-0 and didn’t score more than two goals in a single game.
MURRAY: “It was a long time at home. I guess they felt sorry for us, after the European trip, and wanted to give us some games there. We’re a good road hockey club. We’ve been able to show that over the time that I’ve been here. We played extremely well in the month of February, last year, in a difficult time. That’s what we need to start to get back to right now, is playing a more relaxed game, in the sense that you don’t have to feel the need to put on a show. I don’t know if that’s part of the issue with us or not, but when I take a look at our home games, over last year and this year, there seems to be something, emotionally, that we need to deal with a lot better, to play that relaxed game.’’
What’s the over under on how many games TM has left?
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Branzilla Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@Skippidee Dip Dip, We have a 4 game road trip, yes?
O/U officially 4 games.
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Sean Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@Branzilla,
We win all 4 games, the guys start clicking on offense, DD starts playing like he is a sophomore again, and TM leads us to the Finals! You might say I’m a dreamer…
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Lake Forest Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
@Sean, but you’re not the only one
Deke'r Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@Sean, …more like a smoker…
KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@Skippidee Dip Dip, The next loss (hopefully)
O/U: 2.5
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Kyle Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@Skippidee Dip Dip,
Best line: “I like the way we’re playing. The effort, the compete, the intensity…” Yep, Terry. Thats exactly why you are about to be fired.
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He’s a goner
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Shakes Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
@TheAcaciaStrain,
Sadly I’m starting to feel like Deano is going to show his shot mentality
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Eric K Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
@Shakes, (slow clap)
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You should approach the game as if you lost 5 of the last 7 and can’t score a goal. It shouldnt be the “same” approach. You win 7 or 8 you say, “let’s keep doing what we are doing”….you play like we have been, and that is not the message. Change is good Terry. You may find that out very soon.
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Leadfeet Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
@Weis Guy, My thoughts exactly!!
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furrylats Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
third
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LAK1ngs Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
@Weis Guy,
Fourthed.
So if we were on a winning streak he’d juggle the lines. How freaking frightening is that bologna?
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Please, no more Murray quotes. They are all recyclable.His semi-conscious demeanor has run its course
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@Poe, OK, so I wasn’t the only one that thought this was from an interview LAST year?
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LAK27 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@KingOfRedlands, Last year? I think he recycled it from his last interview.
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“We have to know that we are playing good” kind of says it all.
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Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@kingszzz, When was the last time we scored a goal from the slot? GO KINGS GO!!!
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@Forum Gold, 2010?
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@kingszzz, hahaha I laughed
Stop the Puck Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
@Forum Gold,
penner’s rebound goal vs. MIN
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@Stop the Puck, Ahhh, seeing Luc find that space between the dot and the goalie…….memmmmmoriessssss
Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
@Stop the Puck, I was actually thinking of one of those nice wristers that I see other teams scoring after comming across the blue line. GO KINGS GO!!!
HDBob Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@Stop the Puck, Richardson’s shorthanded goal was coming right down the slot.
Yes, the Kings had a good February last season after pissing away their eight-game homestand in January, much like they did this December. Go Kings! Go, TM! Yes, I still hope you can fire up the guys.
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You never want to see someone lose their job, but the time has come for the Kings and Murray to part ways. He has done a great job of getting this team in a position to go to the next level, but it’s time for some new blood.
My one question: who are possible candidates?
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Weis Guy Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
@Tyler, I hear a certain Duck’s coach is looking.
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TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
@Weis Guy, Oh god no, I would take a high school coach over him
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@Weis Guy, No more defensive minded coaches. Gimme one that likes goals and can tell Doughty to stop cross checking
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Token Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
@Tyler, Tony Granato.
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Gustavo Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@Token,
The only thing tony Granato can teach is how to use a hockey stick as a samurai sword.
I love the guy for all his years as a Kings player, but he did nothing for Colorado of any significance when he was there.
My vote goes to any of the successful AHL coaches over the recent year that can motivate.
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Token Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@Gustavo, OK, I’ll go with that even tho its been years since he was at the Avs and he is under Bylsma right now. I like the whole Pens angle so:
John Hynes – Their AHL coach.
or
Dale Hawerchuk – Barrie Colts.
or
Mike Haviland – Blackhawks assistant coach.
Shakes Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
@Tyler,
I think the answer may actually be Hextall, i’ve heard lots of folks talk about how smart he is and that it’s a matter of time before he gets his chance
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Sydor25 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@Shakes, Hextall would replace Dean, not Murray.
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honestly, this is what i expected him to say…
he’s a “stay the course” type of coach…
if he was passionate about his teachings, principles and techniques of playing this system before the discussion, why would that change now…?
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@V,
And if the Kings slaughter BOS, then what????
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, based on how the team is playing, I can’t realistically fathom that happening.
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Nick Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
@kingszzz, Even the worst teams catch good times on really bad nights. Remember the earlier Kings vs Wild game this season? These games don’t really prove much, except that one team forgot to show up.
wavesinair Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Then they have 32 points.
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@wavesinair, FACT
variable Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
exactly…B
everything seems a lil’ presumable and preemptive at this point…
he’s still got to coach them…and the players still have to play the games…
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, lets just say im sitting quick out in my fantasy leauge…Jesus finally a year when i can pick up a kings goalie in my league and he cant buy a W
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Niko Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, TM gets #500, DL lets him go
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408kingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@Niko, Thats my theory, DL lets him get his 500th win then the bleeding stops
ziggyfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, TM still needs to go. May be he thinks players will repeat what happened last Feb. and they might as well but, we need to go further this year and another dip might be on the way again. We need fresh approach this year with fresh voices.
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furrylats Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Baaaahhhaahahahah
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“We had a meeting here before practice. We have to know that we are playing good. That’s why I want to show it and talk about it. You know, with a young group of guys, you want them to go on the ice and have some fun with the game, too. You want to play instinctive hockey and not become, in any sense, a robotic team, where you’re so stationary and hesitant that now you do look really out of place. We want to play the right way, play instinctively, and get after the puck, hunt it down and make sure we’re doing the right things. I think that’s where we’re at.’’
I get the whole staying positive, looking for the good, don’t harp on the negatives, but for God’s sake, at some point you have to face the cold hard reality that the team is just plain nose diving at the moment.
Murray, your team is NOT playing good. Your team is playing robotic. They are stationary. They are NOT doing the right things man!
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Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
@Whodawat, And they are not having fun. I do not need them to put on a show at home. I just want a solid effort for 60 minutes that will give us a chance to win. GO KINGS GO!!!
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StillKingly Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@Whodawat, Exactly what i thought when reading this quote
TM has lost his complete sense of reality
The team is playing horribly!!!
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FdoFmFull Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
@Whodawat, There’s something very strange about this whole TM interview.
Almost as if he were writing his own “epitaph”!
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I love everyone on here that had inside information that TM would be here until the end of the season regardless.
How can you do the same things that you’ve been doing and expect different results? Isn’t that the definition of insanity? We will just play like we have won 7 or 8 games. Well, you haven’t. Is it me or is that just crazy?
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Niko Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@RobSD, Sounds to me like he’s thrown in the towel, accepted his fate, and is going through the motions…
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Leave him alone!! *sobs* Leave Terry Murray alone!!! :’()
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@chris crocker, He’s a nice boy…
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Is it just me, or the players but did everyone fall asleep reading his same old quote’s ? SO your coaching is no different when you win 7 in a row or loose 7 in a row. Now that makes me laugh.
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McCheese Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
@gene, I’m growing to love these quotes. I know its been brought up before, but TM quotes make for a great drinking game. Everyone takes their cliche with some added bonus words.
“compete” is an obvious social.
Personally, I go with “heavy game” as my go to, but please feel free to go with your own favorite TM drivel.
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Jon G Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
@McCheese, “Play the right way”.
What coach would tell his players to play the wrong way?
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What is upsetting me the most is he still doesn’t get it. Your team sucks at scoring goals Terry and you’ve lost 4 in a row. Approaching the game the same way no matter what is why ou are on the Hot Seat.
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Kluka68 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@Winger23, What do you expect him to say? We will change system over night? Maybe players will play better knowing that Murray is one leg out of the door.
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This is the major problem I have with murray. How can he say he likes the way were playing? Are we watching the same games ? He is disconnected! The kings are playing with no emotion no grit no chemistry no passion…nothing. Hell I wouldn’t mins losing so much but its HOW we are losing that I cannot stand.
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I just want a W tomorrow. The rest of this coaching change stuff will play out however it plays out. For now just get us some wins so we can see hockey this spring.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@yetiman_oc,
We will…
In late March.
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@yetiman_oc, a win against Btown? yeah right…not this squad
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Kluka68 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@drankthecoolaid, I think it’s possible, not likely but they might play with different attitude knowing that Murray can be gone this week.
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Terry, thank you for getting our young guys set up with the fundamentals, and for putting us in a spot where the next coach can now come in and take us to the Stanley Cup. You did your job and we appreciate it, and we wish you well in your next coaching stint.
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off topic….I really think that DB does so much better on the LW.
And…as Penner ever played RW before?
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wavesinair Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@@spencerlakings,
I don’t understand. Is this a hockey-related question? I’m confused now.
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tornado12 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@@spencerlakings, someone previously mentioned they thought he played there when with the Ducks during the cup run…
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@tornado12, who cares any lind DB plays on sux
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Niko Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@drankthecoolaid, Yea, he only lead the Kings in goals last season
I wonder what would happen if we went 4-0 on this trip?
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
@tornado12, Vegas odds = 10,000 / 1
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tornado12 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@kingszzz, that good?
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@tornado12, it improves to 8/1 with a new coach.
yard dog Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
@tornado12, They will obviously prolong his stay. If they give him four more games then they have no intention of letting him go, because if they did, then I feel he will be gone by late tonight or early tomorrow.
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tornado12 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@yard dog, Im not so sure, but you may be right. I think it may have to more about improving a certain much talked about aspect of our game…
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wavesinair Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@tornado12,
They would have 38 points…just one more than 3 other teams in the top 8 who haven’t played their 4 games yet either. Yes, it’s that bad.
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tornado12 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
@wavesinair, touche!
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@tornado12, what would happen is we would move up to 10th place and do it under a new coach
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He wants a “W”. I think Wendy’s is selling them for $2.99.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@OnTheFly, …and it’s basically a double stack with a few more toppings.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
@ twice the price
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Murray fired after kings lose in Boston
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Capt Jam Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@dean,
Agreed. Plus, it’s just a quick hop to his off-season home in Maine, so it works out well all-around.
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Yea TM you are right! It is an awesome feeling to have a great team and having it go to waste. Us fans are very happy with a 4 game losing streak and dropping the last 5 out of 7 when there is almost no travel at all. You are always filled with a bunch of excuses. YOU ARE AN EXCUSE YOURSELF. PLEASE IF DL ISNT FIRING YOU. YOU SHOULD JUST STEP DOWN. With the talent we have we should be scoring way more goals. Your time in LA is come to an end and maybe u havent been a kings fan for a long time but us fans are ready to WIN. WE WANT TO WIN. We dont want to go and have fun on the ice. Our TEAM is ready to win and we need another coach to show us how to win and win big!
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@kingsfan602, wow i have been thinking that for 40+ years
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Pretty much sums up for himself all the reasons why he will be let go. He will just keep doing what he’s doing. Too set in his ways, and maybe just a bit oblivious to how the game has been changing since he started coaching long ago. Ahh well. I’m sure some bottom feeder team can find use for him to help teach their kids to play defense and the game “the right way”.
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What’s interesting is early in the season there was a poll on another site which asked who was the early front-runner for coach of the year. Murray was one of those 5 or 6 on the list. How things can change…
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Playing Great!!!! Ok Kings are playing great… as a player hearing that I would say, DAAAA we are?!&%^$^ :-[]
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I know that it’s not the most mature way to react but I get PISSED OFF when I’m playing hockey and my side is being DOMINATED! Losing is losing, it’s going to happen but when you get consistently “worked” it’s time for someone to stand up and GO OFF!!! Show some fire, some emotion! Make no apologies for being angry. I skate harder, faster, and play more intensely when I’m angry like that. So why are the Kings players still smiling in pre-game interviews??? You should gladly eat glass or be willing to punch your granny in the face for a chance at the Cup! (Sorry granny, you know I love you but…).
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Murray only makes changes when things are going well. Quick wins three straight shut outs? Put bernier in and start a losing streak. Lose four straight? Keep the same approach. We’ll all be glad when hes gone.
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“But Captain, what about that iceberg?”
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Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
@jess, I like the path were on and the engines are running great. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@jess,
Fill my glass and I’ll take a couple of cubes, thanks!
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drug test the coach…..really…is there anyone and I mean anyone that thinks that we are playing well..with intensity and effort??? Just reading that comment made me even madder.In other words..we wont be seeing more effort or compete…We wont see changes cause TM admitted to coaching the same as if it was a 7 or 8 game winning streak….(has TM even seen a winning streak) Remember this is the same coach who took us thru long losing streaks last year….
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
@neil, and then winning streaks to follow…
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One comment. Say whatever you wish about TM. Yes, the team does look ‘stodgy’ from what I’ve seen. Would love to say that it’s only down to Terry Murray. I’ll go out on the line and say it now. It’s not only down to Terry Murray. The one principle complaint that I have above and beyond anything else at the moment has to do with discipline.
I wouldn’t be able to say my team was playing well when A) they are not scoring 5-on-5 and they are taking a non-stop march to the penalty box. It went on for like four or five straight games back there when they played Pitt and Vanc (forget who else), calmed down for a bit and then went back into overdrive vs. Dallas. In fact, the last two Dallas games, Moreau’s penalty at the end of what should have been a W, and then, listening to the game the other night, you just knew they couldn’t win that game giving a skilled Dallas team one opportunity after another. It was almost logic.
So as for TM, yes, I was for sure not pleased that he didn’t call them out on that. He didn’t have to sit DD and Anze or do something extreme, but at least be clear and call em out on it, even if you do it nicely. That for sure didn’t sit well with me.
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johnjuan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@number 6,
We have no offense. All he does is shuffle lines.
Stogy? He plays offense with two players every shift.
Its over for him.
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No, Terry, you ARE NOT playing well. That’s why your seat’s up for grabs, son. Tired of the same old crap being spewed by this man. I bet TM’s one of those people who would trash their car with four or five accidents and attempt to sell himself as a good driver to the rest of the world.
See ya, pops. I’m throwing a party to commemorate your dismissal.
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If we could get Bryan Murray behind the bench — we would have three Murrays in a row. The Murray Dynasty.
How about Butch Goring?
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number 6 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@Silence Dogood,
Butch Goring was a great player.
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The biggest win this team could get is a loss of this useless coach.
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johnjuan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@Ilikethelakings,
Ditto.
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Just to lighten the mood with some useless trivia… did you know that Bruce Boudreau was in Slapshot?
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pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@McCheese, Yep!!
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Since Im under moderation I wont respond to anyone directly. Being a glass half full kind of guy, (hey, I woke up this morning so its a great day!) if everyone really looks at the last 8 games the only thing and I mean the only thing missing is goals. I see the passion, i see the sticks getting gripped harder, I see the looks of frustration on the faces of the players, I see how hard Quick is trying to not let in a single goal, really, I do! I also see (and you can go back and count them, I wont, but in the last 8 games at least 10-15 posts hit, at leat 8 wide open nets missed, many many whiffs on the puck down low. I see a determined team playing a proven defensive system that for some reason worked fine the last 2 years yet this year the PLAYERS are not finishing. I really dont TM is the cause of this and I know Im pretty much in the monority but it is what it is. The team is playing good. They just arent going in but the opportunities are their and it is TM’s system getting them. So blast away, just my 2 cents, and by the way, say what you may but I wont be arguing my points. They are to me what they are, mine.
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
@fsd1, I do not see this “passion” that you do. Frustration does not Passion equal. And, good teams also hit posts and still win.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@fsd1, The only thing I have to say about that is that bounces that go your way look lucky, but often, they come to teams who are playing well. We’ve seen the Kings in both roles. I’m a little surprised it took this long for a losing streak, actually, seeing the bounces go the other way for a month now.
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KingOfRedlands Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
@fsd1, Well that just proves that these players (that have proven they can score in other systems) aren’t responding correctly to TMs system. It doesn’t mean he is a bad coach, just that he isn’t capable of getting this team to get going.
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bbb7 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
@fsd1, I agree there’s been some bad bounces and posts, but for the opposition also.. the big difference is the Kings have missed too many open looks, and they dont get that many to squander them. The fact they DONT get many is the system, so I guess I’m saying it’s some of both, but with the fine line in the league these days between a win and a loss, you cant handcuff your team by hindering their chance to generate scoring opportunities. We need a new direction. Okay, and maybe a player with some offensive skills for the 3rd line.
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I hate to say it but as a lifelong Kings fan I’m kind of cheering for losses until the coaching change happens. The more losses the sooner the change happens. The longer it takes for this change to happen the longer we drag out the inevitable and keep watching uninspired, non-offensive, low scoring below average hockey.
Who’s with me? Lets go Bruins!
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fsd1 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
@zipper, go kings go!
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Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
@zipper, The Ducks let Carlyle go after a win so I’ll take the 2 points and see what happens. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Deke'r Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
@zipper, ….zip it…
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For those of you hammering Murray in this thread, what changes would you make to this team to get a better result if you were the coach?
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Mikey Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
@MindGeyser,
Show of passion. Show of anything. Yeah, some people are the strong silent type, but that doesn’t always win hockey games.
Brown mentioned a lack of intensity and desperation.. maybe he wants it from his coach more than the players?
TM’s brother really let Jim Fox have it near the locker rooms after JF made a comment about BM’s player taking runs at the Kings. Maybe TM should take a few pointers from his older bro? (not saying what BM said/did to Foxie was called for. It was NOT. Love Foxy.)
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drankthecoolaid Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
@MindGeyser, dump doughnut like vizzy use the money go after some top 3 talent…biggest mistake so far is paying to much for doughnut
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
@MindGeyser, For those of you who don’t like the pizza we serve, which brand ingredients should we have used? Should our oven be hotter or cooler? Do we use too much yeast in the dough, or not enough?
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MindGeyser Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Unless you think I have some hand in the play of the Kings (the creators of the original lackluster pizza as it were), that commentary is misplaced.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@MindGeyser, What I’m saying is you can’t expect the consumers to know what exactly is wrong with the product, but a great many of them know when it sucks. To ask them what to change is to come across as cynical about the fans’ role. This has been discussed before.
408kingsfan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@MindGeyser, More players finishing their checks and sticking up for their team mates.
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Dead man walking….
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I have had my issues with TM in the past, but I think the team the highly skilled players need to step up more than saying TM your doing it all wrong. Where is JW or Stoll or even our captain Brown? These guys are the reason we are where we are today. I will even throw Trent Hunter under the bus cause he gets open has a tap in and it doesn’t go in. It’s simply scoring so unless there is a coach that can show them what they already did their whole life bring him in. I just think the players need to step up after they look at their stats. Only player that has been awesome is Voynov, Quick(besides that 1 game), and the blockbuster trade of mike Richards. Besides those 3 I can’t say anyone else has looked good out there. I mean now I’m watching Penner and he is out working Brown and others it’s frustrating and hard to solve, but if Stoll Brown or anyone even Richardson can live up to their contracts then I will be happy so far biggest let down has been DD. After all that poop in the summer this is how he plays? Please. Kopitar can’t do it alone and if he can bring his game up to say a Ziggy PALFFY maybe this team will wake up. All I know is this team is messed up not all on TM. If they can win then maybe it will work itself out if not well crap!
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
@Ducksuck, yes, but it is highly skilled players that have been handcuffed under a defensive minded system that creates little to no scoring chances. The players are doing what is being asked of them, which is, dump and chase with one forward (or none if they’re pealing off for a change), play the boards and back check.
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number 6 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@Ducksuck,
Yes, and I think if he is let go, there will be a lot of rather disappointed posters. People use the reference point of Chicago letting Denis Savard go and voila Stanley Cup. As this team is currently constructed, that simply isn’t the case. Drew Doughty would have to improve dramatically to start looking like he did two years ago, and right now, while he may improve he’s a long ways away from looking like the same player.
Chicago had a tremendous supporting cast to some guys named Kane, Toews, Sharp, Hossa, Keith, Bolland, Seabrook, Byfglien. Who at the moment on the Kings roster is looking like that potentially other than our first two centers?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
@number 6, I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but who’s to say they WON’T improve pretty quickly with the right coach? I think we’ve got some pretty good talent on this roster. I can’t speak for others, but I’d say that’s why I’m considerably more impatient with Murray this year than either of the last two.
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TM quote – “I’m going to approach every game and every practice the same as if we had seven or eight wins in a row”
omg I feel a 6-0 loss to Boston and TM is gone – nail in the coffin
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Great post, thanks Rich. however, in my case, (and maybe others) Murray’s words are “robotic”, “recycled”, theyre all the same, and he seems delusional at times. The team has not played well enough to consistently win games. One good period here, 2 ok periods there, doesnt really mean anything if youre not winning.
Murray puts way too much emphasis on just shooting the puck, sure you cant score if you dont shoot, but you cant just enter the zone and shoot right away with no traffic, nobody chasing the puck in. They just take low quality low percentage shots, and at the end of the game when they lose, Murray will always point to the fact that they may have outshot the other team, and he sees that as a positive thing. The “shot mentality” thing doesnt really work in the modern NHL unless you have guys willing to go to the front of the net and camp out there, last guy who did that consistently in a Kings uniform was Ryan Smyth.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@Sebastian, Funny you mentioned “robotic” (or funny HE did.) I’m pretty sure this team has been described as robotic over the last few games.
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Look i dont dislike TM at all, But at the start when things were looking stale i said “im not sure Tm is the coach for this team anymore” And i stand by that. But im not sure who would step in and take this team to the next level…
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number 6 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@pr0cess,
Thats smart process. It’s easy to get rid of a person. Then what do you do. DL will be on his third appointment. When exactly does one get it right? Can’t see more than an interim coach at this point. If you’re gonna make your third appointment for long term, you’d best get it very very right. Especially if the expectation is to push the team to the next level.
There aren’t 23 Bylsma’s and Quenville’s out there just floating around waiting to be hired.
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pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@number 6, ya and i think this is the Crux of the sistuation… I want TM to go to, but as you point out we dont have a replacment and ya DL isnt going to just pull a knee jerk responce on this one
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
@number 6, Who’s to say Murray wasn’t the right guy at the time. I’d say he was.
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pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, ya wtf i think early on we all felt like the peices were all in place.. But then old habits seemed to come back, which made me feel that the system wasnt working for the personal we had..
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
@pr0cess, frankly, I wasn’t too hot on the team the first few games, either. I thought they failed to show up for Frozen Fury, for example…and I’m pretty sure this is a very talented bunch, chosen, among other reasons, because of character. This shouldn’t be happening, and I’ll blame leadership (which includes Brown and Greene, who have been pretty quiet.)
pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, ya i think its getting to a boiling point as well, when you have foxie saying someone needs to take charge anyone! You know things are bad, it would be intresting to be a fly on the wall, to see what is causing the captins of the team to not be out spoken…
tornado12 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@number 6, but there is a Carlyle…
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h0wie Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@pr0cess, Barry Melrose perhaps? The only man to ever lead the Kings to a Stanley Cup Finals.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@h0wie,
Paging @puck73 to the white courtesy phone……
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If at first you don’t succeed – try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try, try…..you get the point……
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I want a 2 point “VIEW FROM BOSTON” on Wednesday morning. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Never before were the need for changes so very apparent. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That is exactly what we are seeing here both in terms of game prep, philosophy, and quotes.
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ForumFan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@Hipcheck,
just saw your comment. We must have been typing the same thoughts at the same time lol
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Hipcheck Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@ForumFan, great mind thinks alike.
I agree with your post as well…how easy it is to tune a guy out who is simply saying the same things over and over. Said on Kingstalk that we have all been there working for a boss with this same mo and the results are never good.
Im doing my own show tomorrow night at 8pm…..click on my name for the link.
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Wow.. Murray is a dreamer. We “are playing well”, “we are a bunch of young guys”.. what is he smoking. I hate all of this “Coach talk”. It is getting us no where. No Terry – you are not playing well, your powerplay sucks lately, your defensemen are not making the right plays, you top lines are not scoring, and your team can’t seem to penetrate the oppositions blue line.. Should I go on??? Come on Lombardi – make a move now… otherwise I will be writing the same thing about you soon on Rich’s blog!!!
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Isn’t doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results the definition of madness?
It’s easy to see why the players may have tuned TM out. This is pure speculation on my part (after all, what are blog comments for?) but I don’t recall hearing any of the players defend the coaching staff in their after game interviews. They have talked a lot about how they have to do more and stick with the ‘system’ but I’m not sure that is really the same thing.
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Done Cherry Please. Sports coat straight from Hollywood
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His approach better change because what he has been doing obviously has not been working..
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It’s easy to join in the Fire TM chorus – and I have done it to a degree – but he is far from all that is wrong with the Kings. Is he at fault for Doughty turning into an above average – but not great – defenseman? Is he at fault for Dustin Penner’s overall abysmal play? Is he at fault because Richardson/Hunter/Lewis/Stoll, etc. couldn’t find the back of the net even if it was left unguarded? I would like to see TM gone mostly because you cannot fire all the players, but this team’s problems go WAY beyond the coach.
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kingszzz Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@rick, Agree with alot except Doughty being “above average”.
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Hipcheck Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
@rick, maybe so but its far easier to fire the coach first before trading half the team. And if another coach gets more from Doughty and others then it will be obvious it was the right choice.
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It’s almost 5pm Rich. What are your dinner plans in the great city of Boston? GO KINGS GO!!!
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Rich Hammond Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Legal Seafoods!
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pr0cess Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
@Rich Hammond, i wonder what is illegal seafoods? hmmm
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
@pr0cess,
Flipper.
Forum Gold Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
@Rich Hammond, Excellent! Have a great evening and ‘thanks for all your dedication to us Insiders”. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
@Rich Hammond,
Oh oh, something is fishy!
Hahaha! Couldn’t resist!
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deadcatbounce Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@Rich Hammond or anybody else, Anyone know where you can get a good lobster roll in Southern California?
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Wow…So I’m a physician who takes care of life and death stuff regularly.
I think that my job is SO MUCH less stressful than being an NHL coach of a team who is expected to win.
If TM is fired, I would be interested to know whether he thinks the LA crowd is tougher than the Philly crowd..
Seems like it ..no?
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Weasel Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
@@spencerlakings,
Only if he reads the boards. The fans at the arena are still pretty supportive. Although that can change in a hurry too.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@@spencerlakings,
And you thought you lived on the “cutting edge!”
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deadcatbounce Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
@@spencerlakings, Don’t know if being coach is worse than dealing with insurance companies, but it’s close.
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TM: “I like the way we’re playing. The effort, the compete, the intensity, the chances that we’re getting, everything is in place. We just have to find a way to get a `W.’”
Translation – I’m a great coach and the team is doing what I’m asking of them. In a parallel universe, we’d be getting Ws instead of Ls. This is plain and simple DENIAL.
“We had a meeting here before practice. We have to know that we are playing good. That’s why I want to show it and talk about it. You know, with a young group of guys, you want them to go on the ice and have some fun with the game, too.”
Translation – See, I’m a nice guy, I’m not hammering my players though the results warrant it. Also, I can’t understand why these guys aren’t having any fun, what’s the deal?
“You want to play instinctive hockey and not become, in any sense, a robotic team, where you’re so stationary and hesitant that now you do look really out of place. We want to play the right way, play instinctively, and get after the puck, hunt it down and make sure we’re doing the right things. I think that’s where we’re at.’’
Translation – Don’t you see that my system encourages the players to be instinctive and creative? No way that I’ve turned these talented players into automotons, killed their creativity and taken all the enjoyment out of the game! That’s your imagination….
Beyond denial, it’s a bit defensive, in a suble way. It also comes across like something TM will repeat to himself time and again for weeks, months, years to come. Never to really admit that it was his approach…
Sad.
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fsd1 Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@FdoFmFull, thanks for your interpretation of Terry Murrays words. I dont buy it but thanks anyways.
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Deke'r Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
@FdoFmFull, LOL!…do you hear in your head voices at night as well?
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It’s been a tough few weeks, but I’m thinking the Kings find their Mojo right where they left it – on the road.
A lot of people have been blaming Murray, who deserves a portion of the blame, but I still believe this is a leadership issue; a new coach may change all this and give the team a new found attitude, but nothing is guaranteed. The issue would be finding the right coach, and this is not evident.
But getting a new coach may not address Doughty’s horrendous performance to date (I’m thinking the concussions may be to blame), Brown’s lack of leadership on and off the ice, and secondary scoring finishing, etc.
The next stretch of games will indeed be interesting and a key turning point to this season (good or bad!)
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Cry Baby Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@dMan, How is DB a bad leader? Are you in the dressing room with the team? Are you on the bench? I didn’t think so…
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dMan Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@Cry Baby, a little snarky in your reply there Cry Baby.
To answer your pointed questions; no to the last two and yes I am speculating based on what I see. Kind of like what a lot of people here do and say about Murray without much more than general observation and frustration and wanting to pin the team’s woes on a single point of failure or scapegoat.
Now I love Dustin Brown, as a player and a captain, but just as some criticize Murray, I will also criticize the players with letters on their sweaters. Have you heard of any closed door player meetings called? Have you heard Brown, Kopitar or Greene publicly call out their team’s play? And you may say that that’s not Brown’s style, but as captain I believe he needs to move to that next step, rally the troops and challenge them to be better.
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Interesting article from the Pens Blog.
http://www.thepensblog.com/tpb/dec2011/rumor-tony-granato-could-leave-pittsburgh-for-la-kings.html
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Cry Baby Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
@Kings Fan South, He was a disaster in Colorado!
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Kings Fan South Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@Cry Baby, Not really. He admitted he was still too young.
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Cry Baby Reply:
December 12th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@Kings Fan South, Hahaha…too young! Nice excuse! Maybe TM is just too old. A disaster is a disaster regardless of what excuses you make!
Yeah…. Terry, the team hasn’t been playing well at all. But in your eyes we’re doing fine and just have to do what we’ve been doing???? The definition of insanity…
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Just because we don’t know who the next great coach is doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Look at Minnesota. Who could have called that. One thing is for sure it is not TM.
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Haha so when he gets fired im gonna laugh when Stevens is the head coach and see what you all say since he is a younger TM basically and LA Times article said Carlyle is not a option this will be fun lol
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the problem is what coach do we get that is not another retread? Wish there was someone out there who thought outside the box (like a Chip Kelly for hockey) that could give the franchise a shot of adrenalin.
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Coaching rumors in LA on NHL Live’s next segment with Bob Mckenzie….stay tuned!
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nhllive NHL Live – Bob McKenzie joins next to talk about Kings coaching issues. 2:36p
gKg!
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OK! Time for a new paradigm. TM to the Giants for Tom Coughlin. Maybe the Giants will learn defense. And, Coughlin knows when to call timeout.
GKG!
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Well, one thing is for certain, we are as deep in D and goaltending as much as anyone in the NHL can ask for. So hopefully if a new coach takes the helm, he has a scrappy offensive oriented style. Just imagine this team putting up three-four goals per game! That alone would catapult us into the top ten.
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Noooooooo Not Daryl Sutter!
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Before TM was coach, the Kings hadn’t been in the playoffs since 2001-2002. Give the guy a little bit of a break, those who are the haters. Playoffs two years in a row. So he doesn’t smile much. I didn’t realize that was a requirement.
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TM is gone..
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TM Fired
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