Terry Murray broke his silence today with an interview on SiriusXM’s “Power Play’’ show, with hosts Scott Laughlin and Jim Ralph. Murray, fired on Dec. 12 and eventually replaced by Darryl Sutter, gave his thoughts on his firing, the Kings and today’s NHL game…
Question: Give us a sense of what about the last couple weeks have been like for you…
MURRAY: “[laughs] Well, it’s never fun, whenever you get let go from your job. It was a surprise for me. I was very disappointed and probably still am disappointed about the way things went at the end of the day. I was very happy with what was going on in L.A., as far as going out there and working with the young hockey club, a team that’s still one of the youngest in the National Hockey League. In my opinion, the team has come a long way in the time (since) I started out there. I’m watching them closely, and I’m hoping that things continue to go well for them.’’
Question: Since the draft last year, 13 coaching changes in the NHL. Do you remember any cycle like this since you started coaching?
MURRAY: “I really don’t remember a high number of coaches being fired, like it is this year. Just chatting with (producer) Josh Rimer before we came on the air, he pointed out to me that there were a couple years when it was higher, but it’s incredible. The parity, the line is so fine out there today, and the expectations are high. The salaries are high. It puts a lot of pressure on everybody. I think, as a veteran hockey club, you probably can deal with it a lot easier and a lot better than young hockey clubs. That’s where you have to have the patience and just go through the process of dealing with those high expectations. At the end of the day, things will work out, but man, the line is so fine. One bad bounce, one penalty kill, one power play, so many things can make a difference in the game today.’’
Question: You mentioned the salary cap and players making X amount of dollars. They’ve got no-movement clauses. When you go back to the start of your coaching career, to now, is it more difficult because you’ve got fewer tools to use threats with players?
MURRAY: “It has changed dramatically, since the time I started, just because of the stuff you’re talking about. Years ago, if there was a player who slipped for five or six games, and not performing well or not scoring, the minors was the option that every team used. You were sent down for a couple weeks, or longer, and were able to regain his confidence. That’s a big change in where the game is today. Now you’ve got to work through a lot of issues. The confidence is a big part of the game today. The expectations, as I mentioned earlier, are huge, not only from teams’ point of view but from the individuals, and that’s just a part of the process.
“On the other side of it, today, I believe we have better hockey players. The players are better-prepared to play in the NHL. They’re coming out of junior and guys are stepping in and having huge impacts on the game, and that’s because of the process that they’re going through in their development, with playing year-round, going to World Juniors, experiencing different levels of play and playing in different countries. It just prepares them so well for the NHL. Then, as you get into maybe your second or third year, inevitably there’s going to be a time where you’re going to hit a wall and you’re going to have a tough time breaking through. That’s where you have to show a lot of patience, as an organization, and you have to deal with the consequences, obviously, and hopefully you can break through quickly.’’
Question: Dean Lombardi said, years ago, when you took over and he came aboard, that he was building from the goaltender out, to be a better defensive team. Quickly, you and Dean had success together, in transforming the Kings into a top-flight defensive team. How frustrating was it to get the team to score more? Even Darryl Sutter, right now, is not able to get this team to score like we thought you could…
MURRAY: “That’s one of the hard things in the league to do today, is score goals. You take a look at the standings today, and there are 19 teams that are `minus’ teams in the NHL. I watch my brother’s team there in Ottawa, and as many goals as they score — they’re one of the top-scoring teams in the league — they’re still a minus team. So it’s a fine line, again, to bring it all together. Some teams can score. Other teams are not very good in the checking part of it, and they end up being a minus team, or vice versa. You can be a good defensive team and not be able to get it done on the offensive part of it. But I think, as you go through that whole process, it’s just time. You’ve got to have that kind of patience with your young hockey team, those core guys that are going to be there for an extended period of time, to bring it all together, to become a mature group of players. To be a real good team in the league, you have to be a high plus team.
“Again, the scoring for L.A. is starting to come. They’re starting to get timely goals. That was something that I just couldn’t get it going. The power play didn’t click. In any given game, if we had just been able to score one or two power-play goals, it would have been a `W’ and I’d still be coaching the team. It was that fine of a line. It’s just a young group of guys in L.A. right now that have to get themselves healthy and get some real good confidence in themselves, and it will come together. It’s a great group, a great leadership group. It’s a very strong dressing room. I really like what’s gone on there, during my time there, and they’re just continuing to build on it. I think that the L.A. Kings could become a team to reckon with as they move through the rest of this year.’’
Question: Would you like to coach again? You’ve got a milestone (500 wins) ahead of you and you’ve had a good career. What about the future?
MURRAY: “I’m a hockey coach, and that’s what I’ve been doing every year, through my post-playing days, and that’s what I want to stay with. It’s coming to the end of my time as a coach in the NHL, and I understand that, but I’d sure like to give it one more shot someplace, and see if I could get something in place. I take a lot of pride in being able to build a team and put a solid defensive game in place. I also feel that, on the offensive part, that I could get that side of it going. So I would be very excited to get another opportunity to coach in the NHL. It’s the greatest league in the world, the greatest sport in the world. I had a great time in L.A. and all the places that I coached, and I’d sure like to finish it off on my own terms and get one more chance.’’
Before Murray’s interview, Kings president of business operations Luc Robitaille also joined the “Power Play’’ show. Robitaille talked about his “Celebrity Shootout’’ charity event, to be held Jan. 22 in Park City, Utah — more information here — and talked about the Kings’ play under Sutter
ROBITAILLE: “We weren’t playing that before. It’s just that we weren’t winning. At the end of the day, unfortunately, in sports you’ve got to win. The expectations are really high in our organization. When you’re losing games 1-0 or 2-1, you know you’re right there. What happens is, who knows what it is, but a couple guys pick up confidence with a different voice, a different speech maybe. We’re not playing, necessarily, that much different, but you can clearly tell that a couple guys have picked up confidence. Sometimes you get a cheap assist or cheap goal, and next thing you know, you see the play so much bigger and it just happens. It was unfortunate for Terry, because that’s just the way it is sometimes. That’s just the way it is in sports. Darryl is coming in and we’re finding ways to win, where we weren’t finding ways earlier. That’s basically the difference.’’
Good luck TM!!!! You gave this club a SOLID foundation. If the Kings win the cup with this solid defense sometime soon your name should be etched on it too. GL
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Zeley Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@rogiesbackup,
Thank you for putting a voice to what I’ve been thinking.
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paige Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
@Zeley, I agree. Nothing can change the fact that the last few years under Murray will play such a big part of this club’s future.
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InTheCrease Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
@rogiesbackup, Ditto. Any success the Kings have this season can be directly attributed to TM. If the Kings slip back into their old ways (strings of losses), you can be sure that it will be Lombardi’s head on the block next.
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Sean Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
@InTheCrease,
Kopitar and all the other young King players have benefitted tremendously from having TM as their coach early in the start of their careers. Kopitar is one of the best two way centers in the league due to TM’s teachings. Good luck TM! I hope you get another chance and that 500th win.
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quita89 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Not saying it would or wouldn’t happen but I don’t think Lombardi should be on the chopping block. We have not had a team this good since ’93. I believe we owe Lombardi for it. Who would do a better job? SJ is still reaping the benifits of hiring him. Just saying….
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:37 pm
@quita89, He’s built a really good team (with even more improvement planned) and those that call for his head are showing more desperation than they are objectivity. Some of his most vaunted acquisitions (#s 25, 12 ,
have often dipped below expectations and I cannot come close to placing the blame on his plate for that. I hope he doesn’t go anywhere.
Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
@quita89, I don’t know how but that ’8′ I typed became an icon. Sorry.
Poorman Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:40 am
@quita89, Best since ’93. Based on no playoff series wins vs. Stanley Cup Finals dude? Disagree!
InTheCrease Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Actually, I think Lombardi (and Sutter) should ask TM to come back and coach defense and the PK. Have Stevens be in charge of offense and the PP. Get rid of Kompon. See how that works. If the Kings make the playoffs, TM gets to be there. Assuming he would take the job, but stranger things have happened…
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Poorman Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:43 am
@InTheCrease, Maybe they Can bring Barry Melrose back as well.
uknojata Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:59 am
@InTheCrease, having Terry back as the defensive coach wouldn’t be awkward in the dressing room at all (add sarcastic tone here). “Get rid of Kompon,” +1.
Yes I wish Terry the best, and yes I think he was the right hire to replace Crawford, but Dean should have fired him after our first round exit last year. The only thing that saved Terry’s job was Kopi’s broken leg. It’s not just bad luck that held back our offense under Terry, it was they way he approached the game. Dump and chase, and a “shot mentality” is a great game plan when you have more size than skill. But our roster outgrew that style of game and the players stopped buying in.
It’s really early, but I’m loving what Sutts is doing so far. Accountability seems like a recurring theme with him, and I think the team has responded. As far as his approach to the game, you can be a defense first coach and still let guys skate the damn puck in. Looking for a quality chance, in some cases, is a better option than taking a low percentage shot and turning it over. He seems to understand that. I think we’re getting better chances in every game and soon the puck will start hitting the back of the net. If Kopi can snap out of his annual mid-season hibernation then its on. Now if Dean can just turn Bernie and JMFJ in to Parise then we can get on to winning our long overdue cup.
Poorman Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:37 am
@rogiesbackup, Yeah, like that’ll make him feel good.
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TM is one class act and I hope he gets a job somewhere.
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Stuart Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
@fsd1, exactly, to a word, what I was about to say after reading that… it’s really quite sad that the team couldn’t/wouldn’t perform under him…
maybe Kompon has as much to do with his firing as the players did…
Time to wish Terry well and get ready for tomorrow!
GKG
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BringBackMarcel Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@fsd1, Absolutely. We were lucky to have him. We all want more scoring, but you can’t win a cup anymore without a confident defense that you can count on. We’re piecing it together. Not sure if this is our year, but it’s building.
Thanks, TM!
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I was also let go….by the SF valley newspaper!!!
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andy Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@rogiesbackup, keep your head up brother, these are tough times.
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Nothing bad to say about the Kings or the management after the firing, a class act indeed. Good luck TM.
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I hope he lands somewhere and does well…
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As anyone would expect, Murray spoke like a real class act. The man is a gentleman and ultimately a good coach.
Trouble is, he also showed he’s still of touch in continuing to refer to the Kings a young hockey team. That simply is not true.
How you can coach a team effectively, and hold them accountable, when you’re treating them like youngsters? Not only is there a handful of veterans on the team, most of the core players are aged 25-29. That’s not young, that’s prime time. And Doughty might only be 22 (about to be 23) but this is his fourth season. Plus we only have one rookie on the team. One.
I’m so grateful to have a coach who treats this team like a group of professional athletes and not a bunch of kids learning to play in the NHL. The time was supposed to be now, right?
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fsd1 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@Cricket, in relationship to all other teams I believe we are the 3rd youngest team in the NHL. So he was correct with that statement.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@fsd1, I am not sure if thats true. I remember hearing Foxy give statistics about that and we were not #3.
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Cricket Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@fsd1, according to this site, we’re 8th:
http://nhlnumbers.com/teams?year=2012
In my read of the team it’s not so much that the Kings are a young team but that they have some young players on the team who bring the average age down. The other factor in this is that addressing a team as young naturally implies that they lack experience. Again, Doughty is one of the youngest players on the team but he’s in his fourth season. He knows the drill. The “young team” shtick doesn’t hold water anymore, and I’m glad not to hear so much about it these days.
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DanD Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@Cricket, Yeah, the time is now, if you believe all of the LA Kings marketing propaganda that is littering our billboards. “The time is now” is simply a marketing campaign devised to get people to buy tickets/gear etc.
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Stuart Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
@DanD, or simply realize that there is a professional hockey orgaIzation in town…
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@DanD, THE TIME IS NOW (to buy all 40 different type jerseys)
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Cricket Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@DanD, It was meant to be tongue-in-cheek but yes, I understand what a marketing campaign is, and that a billboard is meant to promote buying things not state cut-in-stone truths. I still don’t buy the “young team” label though and I think the quicker it’s expunged from this team’s identity the better.
The time may not be now, and the ways things are looking it still isn’t. But this is no longer a young team learning to deal with expectations. If that were the case the “time” is even farther away.
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Deke'r Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
@DanD, …ya think?…..it is a business afterall..
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MmmmYummy Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
@DanD, While they’re in the firing mood, Kings should fire their marketing manager for sure. Billboards are such a lazy advertizing avenue. I’ve mentioned before that Kings are lacking feet on the street marketing – building the fan base one sports bar at a time etc. But I guess it’s easier to call your Clear Channel rep and just order up more space – heck don’t even have to leave the office for that.
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
@MmmmYummy, There’s the Hooters watch parties!
OneTimer Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
@Cricket, personally I think the “25-29 is prime time” is a bit off the mark. You do realize that 7 of the top 10 NHL point-getters last year were in their 30′s? (at time of seasons end, April 2011.) And that included Iginla at 33, St. Louis at 35, and Teemu “the ageless freak-show” Selanne at 40. The other three were: Perry (love him or hate him- he’s good) at 25, that guy Ovechkin (who has scored more goals than anyone the last 4 years or so) at 25, and Stamkos (another franchise, generational-talent who deservedly went #1 overall) who really brought down the average, at 21.
I did the math:
Mean age of top 10 goal scorers was 27.8.
Mean age of top 10 point scorers was 29.9.
Mean age of top 10 point scorers among D was 28.7.
My point? … is yes, although there were a few examples of guys in that 25,26 range who showed league leadership … the truth is- the large majority of our “Core” are still (imho) “young”, and are still 2 to 5 years away from really truly being in that perfect sweet spot “average” age.
Kopi is 24 … how good is he gonna be in FIVE years at age 28?
Richards is almost 27 … he’s great now at his role, and will be even better in 2-3 years.
Doughty is 22 … 22! … and while true- in his fourth season – I shutter to think how much better, stronger, mature, experienced he will be in 6 or 7 years. A Norris or 2 by then.
JJ turns 25 on Friday … he’s still improving, and 3 or 4 years could prove huge for him. (Heck, look at Lubo and Boyle at 34, and Lidstrom at 40. Wow)
Clifford … Cliffy is 20, and (also) has a birthday on Friday. OH my god- how power forward kick-a** dominant could this kid be EIGHT years from now?!?
So, (imho) I say the Kings ARE still a relatively young team. Especially when I think about the key, home-grown, core picks and players we have that are playing now and yet are still 3 to 6 years away from truly hitting their “perfect prime.” Oh and BTW- we’re still considered one of the top 5 “stocked” teams in terms of overall depth in the system. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/nhl_organisation_rankings/
Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t love to win the Cup NOW, and be talking DYNASTY someday 6 short years from now. But, I also can see the bigger-BIGGER picture. Call it kool-aid of you will … whatever … I believe. You all should too. It really to quickly get over 2 goal games.
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OneTimer Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
@OneTimer,
*helps
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@OneTimer, Nicely observed, OT. I, for one, am in this for the longhaul and looking forward to following these guys as they develop into truly elite names in the NHL.
Cricket Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
@OneTimer,
I have to admit I like your post, but let’s play with this idea a bit.
Out of the top 30 scorers last year, 13 were 30 or older. I’ll admit higher than I thought, but my point is that 25-29 is really when athletes start to hit their prime. Those guys in the top 10 who are older are truly the exception, not the norm. Most players in their 30′s watch their numbers go down, not stay high. Those at the top have always been there, just as Stamkos will always be there. The elite have a tendency to be age differently than other players do.
What it all comes down to is that being referred to as a young team could have been holding them back. These guys have all been in the league long enough to shed that label. Is there still plenty of youth? Of course! Will they continue to grow as players? Yes! But this “young team” stuff is what we heard for years during the rebuild. Then once they finally hit the playoffs and were promptly bounced, we heard last season about a young team dealing with expectations. Fine. That message about expectations should have been digested by now. They aren’t so young that they should be coddled in any way. That party line doesn’t work anymore. These guys are men, and it’s time they get talked about like they are.
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OneTimer Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 9:43 am
@Cricket, Good reply and I agree on both points.
I think what we’re both talking about here is that there’s 2 types of “young”. Young in terms of days measured living a life on earth and physically maturing; and Young in terms of valueable NHL experience-laden playing days. BOTH of which are I think needed (or at least are considered) when you look to measure a players relative level of success and achievement.
So in the latter “Young” sense, I wholly agree. Doughty isn’t young anymore being in his 4th year. Kopi, JJ, Quick, even Lewis – they’ve got a lot of games played now. It’s time to be hitting their “prime” in terms of PLAYING SUCCESS, and maybe the TM young tag hindered that.
Good stuff. Go Kings Go.
We need a STEADY stream of POINTS the rest of the way if we’re gonna dance, come April. Get it done kids!
Cricket Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@OneTimer,
Hey now, kids, that I like! Yeah, this is definitely a team full of kids – I’m board with you cheering that on!
Good distinction, OneTimer, I think you crystallized the difference I was getting at.
All the best TM. Hope you find another young team to build and can get your 500th win … against someone other than the Kings.
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TM is classy for sure. A real gentlemen. No to detract from that though, everyone making mor ethan $25K per year knows never to bad-mouth your ex-employer, especially in the press!!!!
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Paging Columbus: You should hire this guy.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@PRMan, Um, why?
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@zulov, so we can beat them
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Stuart Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@zulov, because they are a mess and with some DLesque drafting from the back out, TM could have them playing stellar D in 3-5 years too…
A good start could be JB and some of our ranch hands and an established Dman for Nash…
just saying, not believing, before Dom pulls out his big book of stats and gets all fenwick on me.
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
@Stuart, I say we can get Nash for those unproductive bums Corsi and Fenwick! ; ]
Kaiser Soze Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@PRMan, I was just thinking that.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@PRMan,
My thoughts exactly. They desperately need defensive structure.
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
@FKA PakiFro, they just shut us out
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Deke'r Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@408kingsfan, ….yeah…the scoring machine that is LA…
That was a classy interview. As much as I disagree with TMs coaching style and what he views as valuable in a lineup, I do wish him the best. Just for his sake, I hope he does get another shot in the NHL, but I do pity the organization that give it to him
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@zulov, Did you pity the kings when he was the only coach to bring us 40+ wins in back to back seasons? Yeah pity those guys.
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Id take him as a assistant coach and dump Kompon any day
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
@Kasey9, I would just dump Kompon…
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Kasey9 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@zulov, same here lol
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The power play didn’t click. In any given game, if we had just been able to score one or two power-play goals, it would have been a `W’
Murray hit the nail on the head. And If our powerplay clicked Murray would still be coach. So I hope Sutter can get our powerplay going.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
@408kingsfan, If the bad PP is solely responsible for TM’s firing, than thanks the PP guys for sucking.
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@zulov, you can thanks them for me but it doesnt change the fact that if we were able to score one damn powerplay in any giving game it would have been a win instead of a loss. And if your winning you dont lose your job.
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
@408kingsfan, …. and of course everyone would be praising TM.
Terry…
–Bow–
You are a class act, Sir.
Thank you for what you’ve done for a young L.A. Kings team trying to get out of its own way.
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Classy – yes. Respectable – yes. Experienced – yes. Great coach? – NO.
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DanD Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@zulov, Why is he not a great coach?
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@DanD, Many reasons, some of which are a comparison of career accomplishments to other great coaches – which are factual, and some which are my own opinion.
But hey – you are right, this is not a time to continue to criticize him, but rather to celebrate what he did achieve.
***Officially resisting the temptation to be sarcastic…
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Kasey9 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
@zulov, how great coach NO?? Kings were garbage until he game along in case you forgot no playoffs or even close to them
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@Kasey9, Before he came along there was no JQ. Who was our #1, LeBarbara? And no Mitchel and no Scuds.
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Kaiser Soze Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@zulov, I have to disagree. We owe our stellar defense to TM.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@Kaiser Soze, I believe we owe our stellar defense to Willie Mitchel, Rob Scuderi, Matt Greene and most notably Johnathan Quick.
Yes, TM did reward forwards that back checked with playing time. So now we have a team of checkers.
I believe that has cost our offense. And we are only now starting to climb out of it. And it may be a long road, or we may bust through all of a sudden.
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dMan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@zulov, so, let me get this straight; the players (Mitchell, Scuderi, Greene, Quick, etc.) are responsible for the stellar defense not TM, but TM is responsible for the poor offense and not the players?!
Right. Don’t give the guy credit for the good things but credit him for all the bad things.
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@zulov, He did great things for us! TM IS a great coach and the only reason we have been in the top end in the NHL on defense the last 3 years is a tribute to him. The guy knows defense and he teaches it well…Unfortunatly for him some guys just needed a different voice or whatever to kick there asses into gear. If we do win a cup in the next year or so it will have alot to do with TM and the systems and philosophy HE put in place here.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Don’t hold your breath – Kings are not going to win the cup. And if they don’t, which they won’t, will you also credit TM for that?
Players win cups. Coaches motivate, strategize, lead practice, and arrange the lineup.
A great coach helps a team be better as a group than any individual player.
I don’t think the Kings were ever better then their roster dictated, and in fact TM was fired for being worse then the roster indicated they should be.
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Thank you Terry Murray. Our defense is not a joke for the first time I can remember… because of you.
I hope you do end your career on your own terms. You deserve it.
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Good bye and good luck to a class man
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Off topic.
Before the season started Kevin Weekes didn’t even have Quick in his top 15 goal tenders. IMHO Weekes is a big time east coast/Canada tunnel vision homer, but he finally recognized Quick as his number 4 in the league behind, Lindquist, Thomas and Howard which I think is pretty fair.
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KC23 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@KC23, It looks like Quick is a shoe in for the All Star game. Looks like a lock from what I’m reading nationally.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@KC23,
What’s the big deal about Howard? I’ve never been too impressed with him. He just plays on a really good team.
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KC23 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Detroit isn’t all that great imho and Howard’s stats speak for themselves. Thomas is a very good goalie, but not better than Quick imho. I think Howard is better as well. Lindquist is the best goalie in the league right now in my eyes. If my life depended on a goalie making a big stop, I’d pick Lindquist.
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With time, and some reflection, TM will hopefully gain a new perspective on offense, and how to approach it. I have always admired that he was a man of convictions and stuck to his set of beliefs regardless of the outcome.
Although I disagreed with his philosophies in some ways, I refrained from publicly calling for him to be fired. He served the Kings with pride, and a set of beliefs he tried to instill into his players, and on many levels, made the Kings a force to be reckoned with. He has set the ground work for defense, and help shape the devlopement of every player on the team.
I’m sad that he is gone, but excited at the prospects we have moving forward. Good luck Terry Murray, and thank you for your dedication to this franchise.
[Reply]
zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
@Dominick, Well that about sums it up. Well said.
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408kingsfan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
@Dominick,
True, and for that reason I hope he gets that 500th win and leaves coaching on his own terms.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@Dominick,
well said…
[Reply]
g smith86 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
@Dominick, I have run the gamment of emotions when it comes to TM and my opinion of him…on the one hand, he took a franchise that didn’t even know how to spell the word ‘defense’ and made them into one of the best defensive teams in the league…but…as we all know, you can’t just sit back and play defense and expect to fill seats at Staples center…it is not the kind of Hockey anyone wants to see, much less in LA where we had Gretzky and the like for all those wonderful years…sure…only one legitimate cup run to show for it, but man were those teams fun to watch…
Sure, it’s a different game now…the goalies have chest protectors the size of the michelin man and knee pads the size of surfboards so there is not much to shoot at these days…not to mention the fact that the mindset has changed 180 degrees to pretty much if you are not a descent 2 way forward, you are not in the NHL for long…add to that that the little guy is non existent for the most part and you have a fast paced version of soccer…I think they score more goals in indoor soccer than in hockey…don’t like the direction that the NHL is headed in…and i much as I respect TM for teaching these guys strong defensive fundamentals, I would much rather see the puck going in the net…TM was an anti goal guy…just like J Lamaire… that guy didn’t even pull the goalie when he was two goals down because he would rather have his team lose then give up another goal! I don’t like that philosophy…So, although I respect TM for what he did, it was time for him to leave…I do wish him well and as for the Kings…let’s kick some Dalls butt tomorrow!
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Choralone Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
@Dominick, Well I’d quibble about praising someone for sticking with their beliefs no matter the outcome – that’s just as much a product of stubborness as it is faith. To ulitmately succeed, we all have to challenge our assumptions and at least look at things with a fresh eye. If we come to the same conclusion as we did before, that’s fine. Otherwise, we should modify our beliefs – else we don’t learn and grow.
But beyond me taking things a little too philosophically, good post and well said.
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Dominick Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
@Choralone,
That is one area where I strongly disagreed with him on.
I did admire the fact that he believed in it so strongly that he prefered marytrdom to comprimise. I understand a man with principles, even if I don’t agree with his beliefs. The lack of in game adjustments, strict adherence to system. He did believe that his system would ultimately win out over time, and by sticking to it, it would prove right over the long haul.
What he did (right or wrong) he did with the Kings best interests at heart.
[Reply]
I also was the one who wanted coaching change but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect the guy. TM is one of the smartest coaches in the league. His defensive system is top notch. And like he said, it was just a fine line that he couldn’t break. I still have this feeling that if TM coaches the other team, that team’s going to be tough to be beaten.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@goldielocks, Yes, they will sure be a pain to play against, but they will not win the cup.
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It seems to me, that great defense relies on experience and hard work, and at the end of the day a reflection on the players more than anything else. A coach can stress and reward hard work, and TM certainly did.
But when it comes to offense, it’s directly related to what you practice and what you emphasize in practice. The Red Wings don’t jump out of the womb making quick stick to stick passes and always moving without the puck to the right places. I am sure it is something they practice constantly.
I don’t think TM practiced any possession play, or was too scared of potential mistakes. The Dump and Chase strategy was killing the team and killing the creativity.
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Cricket Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@zulov, Good post. This gets into my take on TM now that we’ve had some separation from the guy.
At least as a fan, it appears that TM coached a system that he did not want players to stray from at all. Hence the ubiquitous criticism that he didn’t make adjustments mid-game but coached his team to stick to the system no matter what, leading or trailing.
That’s something you do with a young team learning how to play the game at the NHL level. After a while, when the kids grow up a bit and know how fast everything is and all else, you have to open the game up. I know he made some offensive tweaks, ie encouraging them to shoot the puck on net as soon as they passed the blue line, leading to easily blocked shots with no rebounds, but that seemed to be about it.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@zulov,
Did Kopitar suddenly flip on a switch and become an excellent defensive center?
Murray taught him.
The coach has to work with what players the GM gives him.
He wasn’t given a datsuk, zetterberg, lidstrom, franzen, etc.
If Lombardi wanted a highly skilled team, we would have a totally different look.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@trytodethroneus, No doubt Lombardi is responsible for looking to create a defensive team. But I don’t think Kopitar is any less skilled then most top NHL centermen.
Any coach would have stressed and taught Kopi to be more responsible defensively. To me, i wish he was a little less responsible and filled the net a little more.
Kopi’s plus minus does not make him nearly as good defensively as Federov or Datsuyk. But I don’t think its his bad defense that’s hurting that, but rather the void of offense.
Arguably, the skill level on the Kings is supposed to be as good as almost any other team in the league. At least on the blue line, I believe that to be the case.
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Terry Murray:
-Never accountable for his actions
-Random line scrambling
-Unusual out of touch quotes after game losses
-Pulled Quick after his 3 game shutout streak
-After a horrible loss at Staples, the only time he ever showed emotion we to yell back at the fans and throw a water bottle -CLASSY
-After slew of poorly played games and the loss against Dallas: “I’m not going to change anything”
-Bye Terry Murray..
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
@jess, And you forgot the most important thing of all, TM…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
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jess Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
@puck73,
I left that part blank so others like yourself could participate by saying nice touchy feely stuff.
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nykingfan Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 5:11 am
@jess,
pretty sad that you forget to mention what it was like before he got here and what it’s like now.
Instead of battling for the #1 draft pick, we’re battling for #1 in the Pacific.
Never accountable? I guess you’re the only person in the world who doesn’t consideer being fired as being held acountable.
Eventually you’ll say the same things about Sutter.
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Ok, now its getting a little mean spirited. Which I honestly didn’t want to see.
But I have to add that TM and coaches like him (if there are any) are really bad for the sport.
Reasons?
1. Their teams and the games their teams are involved in are terribly boring to watch.
2. Their lack of passion is a downer.
3. Their lack of puck possession play makes their teams look like a street hockey team as opposed to the most skilled players in the world.
As a fan, not making the playoffs with a high scoring team is far more exciting than loosing in the first round with a low scoring team – if you look at the season as a whole.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@zulov, Good post. The thing that irritated me the most about TM was that he always asked the players to be accountable and yet he nver was himself. TM always seemed to think that if the players just played his system to a T, there was no way the Kings could lose. After that loss vs San Jose in game 3, he found nothing wrong with anything he did, or didnt do. I dont know if the guy was aarogant, or if he was totally out of touch, what I do know is that several of our players have improved their game since he left, and if TM was still coach, Moreau would probably be still on our powerplay.
Good riddance TM. Your a nice guy, but a coach that teaches pre-lockout hockey in a post-lockout era.
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number 6 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@puck73,
You can say whatever you wish about Terry Murray. That’s whats nice about being able to express oneself. But I can say without even a shadow of a doubt, that arrogance is not at all an issue with Terry Murray. Look it up in the dictionary and go track down some people who are arrogant. You’ll see no resemblance to TM.
I too agree that he had his blind spots wrt coaching in the nhl in the post lockout era, and if you wish to take him to task on that go right ahead. But please…. that guy is 1) a very good human being and 2) you’ll find that a truly good human being and gentleman don’t mix with being arrogant.
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number 6 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@number 6,
…..and I might add one more thing. He was imo not out of touch. He had a different philosophy that could have been reshaped slightly, but he installed a very substantial defensive system in LA. Remember the last outstanding defensive team the Kings had? Of course you don’t unless you were around in the days of Bob Pulford which I only read about.
He gave a hell of a lot to this team and to say ‘good riddance’ my friend, is not the gentlest or nicest way to say goodbye to someone who gave a lot of heart to your hockey team.
skooma Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@zulov,
There’s a time and a place for grinding out wins. Stoke City in the English Premier League for example pretty much lives on this philosophy. They just beat the hell out of the opposition and grind out low scoring wins.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@skooma, It’s funny that you are referring to a football club cause I was just going to complain that I don’t want a hockey game to resemble a soccer match! But the Kings under TM certainly did! LOL
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
@skooma, I would take Huth the Brute and Shawcross on our blue-line, eh?
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I like TM, didnt think he was going to get let go.
Did anyone catch his “bad bounce” reference?
I literally laughed out loud!
GOOD LUCK TM! (just not against us)
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MK Ultra Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
@Lake Forest,
What about the “bad bounce” reference? What are we missing?
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Getting fired is one of the worst feelings you could ever go through. It’s even more amplified when you don’t see it coming.
TM is a great coach, and very passionate about what he does. He did a hellava lot more for this team than I think most people realize, and what he left will resonate for many years to come.
But that is the business side of the NHL, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Stanley Cup is tough to get and teams have to go through all kinds of changes to get there.
Good luck TM, this Kings fan thanks you!!!
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Are the Bluejacks stil looking for a head coach?
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No hard feelings Terry. You brought us to the playoffs two years on the trot. I miss your press conferences.
Wish you all the best. You’ll never walk alone.
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Fantasy time….
Say the Kings ended up at the bottom of
the Nhl this year and got 1st draft pick…
Then we picked Nail Yakupov….
We already have the “Hammer”
and now we would have the “Nail”…
I have too much time on my hands lately..
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
@SLIM, Then trade for Byron ‘Allen’ & Kyle Well’wood’.
Rebuild our Hockey club!!
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i’ll never understand the utter hatred being vocalized by some on here for a guy who gave it his all to the kings organization and its players – that should be undisputed, but unfortunately, has to be defended now…
you might have had issues with his coaching methodologies and how he handled certain situations…you might have not liked his calm demeanor and fatherly disposition behind the bench…you might have been upset with the fact he couldn’t get the offense going and up to everyone’s anticipated expectations…(something that darryl sutter has also struggled with thus far)…
but how can you dislike the way he carried himself throughout his tenure…and even now in the aftermath of his dismissal…?
if yr able to put aside what you think of him as a coach and look at the man, what’s there not to like and admire about terry murray…?
if you really read the transcript of this interview or had the ability to hear his sincerity and tone regarding his passion for hockey…and his continued belief in this kings team STILL, even in the aftermath of his dismissal, how can you throw a single stone at him or go out of yr way to hurt him…?
the truth us that terry murray is a very good coach…
the truth is that the los angeles kings were very lucky to have hired teery murray when they did…
the truth is that terry murray did more positive things here than negative…and was a pivotal reason as to why many thought the kings would be serious contenders before the season started…
and the truth is that it became apparent that the team needed a new person/voice to deliver the same message that terry murray tried to get through to them this year…
but to vilify terry murray the man and discount the significant contributions he made with this team as their coach is deplorable…
he epitomizes class…
he is as decent of a man as any who’ve been associated with the kings…
yes – the team struggled under his direction this year…i think we can all say that there was plenty of shared disappointment and blame to go around…and if you agree with that aforementioned statement, then how can you make terry murray the lone scapegoat…and how can you continue to stress a myopic point of view, ridiculing him to the point of unjustifiable, diminishing returns…?
terry murray, the coach. has his faults…
but – based upon what we have seen of terry murray, the man – when you start to criticize him as a human, you have crossed the line…you have made it known to all that you show little respect for one’s accomplishments and only choose the recognize one’s faults to a point where they become a detriment to yr own self-character…
i think it’s time for those peeps to move on and stop beating up a man who deserves much more credit that blame…
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MK Ultra Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@variable,
You had me at “I’ll”.
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King Alex Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
@variable, I was one who called for TM’s head & I admit it. His coaching tenure ran it natural course. I also see what you see as well. This man gave everything he had to this organization and we grew leaps & bounds after the Crawford era and TM was the reason for it. We would not be where we are defensively as a team without TM and what he taught a bunch of kids at the time. I believe every Kings fan loves Kopi & Kopi as stated what TM did for him as a man & for his overall game. Every coach in every sport is going to get fired at some point. Very few retire on their own terms. I wish TM nothing but the best & I do hope he gets another chance to get that magic 500th win. I just wish the Kings were able to give it to him prior to his dismissal. TM is a classy guy & I think you are too Variable with what you wrote above. I do not see the point of kicking a man while he is already down. It’s a classless move & one I think is above most Kings fans
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variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@King Alex,
thanks, man…very kind…
i should proofread more often…
sorry for some spelling mistakes…
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puck73 Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
@variable, Terry Murray is a good teacher, not a good head coach. Lets differentiate shall we. I have this discussion with Charger fans all the time about Norv Turner. Great offensive coordinater, bad head coach.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
@puck73,
i think yr characterization is off…i don’t agree with you at all now or in the past with yr constant character assassinations of him…
and i think to constantly “boooooooo” someone for no other reason to be mean and/or for cheap laughs is suspect…there comes a point when it’s not funny anymore and flat-out cruel…
as much as i respect yr contributions inside – and outside – of this blog PUCK73, i don’t respect how you go after terry murray every chance you get…and most of the time when you do, it’s not even relevant…
i know that you are a knowledgeable hockey person…and, more importantly, that you have a tremendous heart and are a die-hard kings fan…and because of those great characteristics you have displayed over time, it’s hard for me to understand why you don’t show any compassion towards tm…
in yr opinion, he failed you as a coach…fine, i can totally live with that…and can even understand some of yr reasoning for those feelings…we have talked about those things in person and on the phone via text…
but how you continue to make him the target of everything that was and is currently wrong with the kings is troubling to me…
i’m not here to say that tm was the perfect coach…i’m just here to defend him for what i would only label as unfair criticism and hatred towards him – as the former kings coach and as the type of man he seems to be and represents…
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SDGolfer Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
@variable, Nice post, nice calling out the trolling.
This is what i like to read here, unfortunately its few and far between.
hope your post doesn’t get taken down.
KFII Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@variable, Thank you. So well said.
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dMan Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@variable, awesome!
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jess Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
@variable,
I just read through every post here. Where has anyone vilified Terry Murray? Where has anyone criticized him as a human being? I mean wow variable. I spent a moment recalling his impressions left upon me by listing factual things he did which resulted in sleepless nights for me. But one thing I didn’t spend any time doing with my post, is ridiculing others who don’t agree with my point of view.
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variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
@jess,
JESS…
i don’t think i mentioned anyone by name…
and if you felt i was referring to you personally, then i think you might have missed the point of my post…
furthermore, i wasn’t “ridiculing others who don’t agree with my point of view”…ai was ridiculing others who show a lack of fairness in their criticism towards tm…or anyone else for that matter…
there’s nothing wrong with differences of opinion…but showing an indifference towards one’s accomplishments and humanity is troubling to me…
regardless of whether it was displayed on this particular thread or not is somewhat irrelevant…the point is that this type of perspective HAS been displayed here on this site on several occasions…
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@variable, Strong post. TM for all his faults was a man of principles, and class. He was devoted to this teams success, and provided a solid foundation. We don’t have to agree with his philosophies, but we can admire his passion to do what he only believed was in the best interest of the Kings organization, and it’s players.
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zulov Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
@variable, Just to be clear, I was criticizing his coaching – not him as a man. No doubt he cared and no doubt he worked hard. Not that I felt that you directed your comments at me.
But I think it is ok for people to continue to discuss what they see as short comings in his coaching philosophy.
And I think people are well justified and well within their right to argue that his coaching philosophy was a double edged sword, and to even suggest that there were diminishing returns.
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variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@zulov,
completely agree…
this is a forum open to discussion and debate…
and, again, i was making a general statement/observation regarding a type of post that seems to be ill-conceived…
it was not a personal attack on any one particular person whatsoever…rather, a “type” of blogger…
i know yr not saying this, ZULOV, but to say that those types of peeps don’t exist on here would be factual incorrect…
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variable Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
@ALL WHOM PARTICIPATED ON THIS POST…
just a fyi…
you can disagree with someone on here and not take it to heart…
case and point…: me and PUCK73…
there is no ill-will on here…or outside of here…between us…
this is blog…and even friends can get it on with each other from time-to-time…
i hope that’s understood…(!)
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Duncanz Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@variable, While you were typing today I read War And Peace three times.
But I have to say Tolstoy’s got nothing on you as a writer, mate!
Anyhow, your prolific and heartfelt rallying for Terry Murray’s good name was righteous and reasoned!
Let’s see what happens in here regarding the thoughtless irreverence that has been abundant of late.
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jet Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
@variable, thank you for adding some intelligent thought to this blog again. I hardly have the stomach to read the hate here anymore. The whole situation felt like a witch hunt. There were 3 major factors working agianst TM at least for the first half of the season. One was the extended travel. I think the team put so much into the first 10 games that there was not much left after that. I still think we are affected by the travel (40% increase). Second, Drew’s decisions during the off season had an affect on the club. While these are professionals, one player holding up the entire team to take home $82,000 a week instead of $80,000 a week is going to tweak some players. The animosity will not be overt, but more of a lingering internal frustration for one player who thinks it is all about me. Third, the loss of leaders like Zus and Smyth in one off season cannot be easily over come. Every young player who played with these guys was so much better for it. I do not really see a natural phase C player on this team.
Here are some facts the haters may want to consider:
Prior to TMs arrival, most of our players could not skate a full 50 second shift. Over the past 3 years, the Kings have come to dominate the third period of almost every game.
Before TM, if we gave up the first goal our team quit. This may seem hard to imagine now with the new mind-set of the players, but it was embarassing. I would never wear a Kings shirt out in public. Now I have 4 shirts that are worn out. We did not win every game the last couple of years, but there were only a few games a year that I was sorry, I spent the time watching.
TM also brought a dignified class to the team and the whole organization. It was always about his team, his players and never about what he did. He was not a screamer or yeller, but obviously his communication style fit well with the players.
We were well known thourghout the league for being one of the toughest teams to play against night in and night out. And this was in a very respected way, not with dirty or cheap play. I would rather have TM and the Kings player than AV and the Nucks.
He did get us to 100 pt avg the past two years, despite playing the second toughest sechedule in the league last season.
His practices were always effective, efficent and fast paced. I loved how smooth his progressions and transistions were. The players faced game type situations.
There are two parts to building great players. One is drafting and the second and maybe more important is coaching/developing the players. Someone above said a coach is just a motivator. There is nothing further from the truth. A real coach is someone who can teach and let that player find their greatness within themselves. And someone who is willing to let the players teach the younger players. TM put his faith in Brown before he even hit phase A and was well rewarded.
TM served the Kings community well and should be remembered for changing the team’s mindset or culture as DL would say, to a team that works hard every shift, is hard to play against and a team that owns the third.
I say thank you Mr. Murray. Your time here was an incredibly valuable piece on the road to the promise land.
[Reply]
jess Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
@jet,
IMHO,
When using the word “hate” or “hater” to describe those who dissent with a different point of view, pretty much ruins the rest of your message, which by the way is decently written.
[Reply]
variable Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 1:47 am
@jet,
thanks for dap…and yr equally strong post and opinions…you make some excellent points about what it was like before and during tm’s tenure…
i especially liked how you characterized the team’s mindset before his arrival…you are so right in yr assessment that when the team fell behind early during a game when crawford was coaching, the team had a very fragile mindset and was often out of games because of it…if tm did anything very well during his first few seasons, it was keeping his composure and instilling structured hockey so that the team became harder to play against…
and even though certain players lost their own self-confidence towards the end, some of which had little to do with his “system”, tm had a large part in teaching them how to find it in the first place and grew many of the young players and draft picks into bonafide nhl professionals….
thanks for recognizing many of the positives that tm brought to the organization during his time here…(!)
[Reply]
thank you terry murray for everything you did for this organization… you were classy from start to finish, with this interview being no exception… good luck in your future, and i too hope you get one more go around in the NHL…
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Off topic alert
I have tickets for tomorrow night but I can’t attend. They are section PR3 row 10 seats 1-4.
Tickets in this section on the Kings website are $99 apiece, so what would be fair.. $80? $80 for each if you take all 4, $90 for each if you want a pair.
Please call or text me if interested (310)890-0112
-Dillon
[Reply]
Josh Model Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@DBking,
If you want an encouraging answer, than sure, sell them for $80 or $90…
However, if you want a realistic answer and the best chance to sell them, $65-$70 or all 4 for $250….
They arent playing a high profile team and people just dont pay face value (or close to it) for Kings games outside of games where they play high profile teams
I used to get PR tickets all the time and would always start at $75 and would always wind up going down to $60
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DBking Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 7:18 pm
I might be happy with less than $80 a seat, but would need to discuss.. call or text (310)890-0112
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Anyone know where I can go to listen to the audio from this interview?
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Some of my first memories are of watching this team….. I love this team, so whatever finally gets the cup in LA works for me!!!!
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I would expect nothing else from this classy man. TM I wish you well. Whatever success the boys achieve from here out, rest assured you will have played a significant role. Current results suggest that a change in voice was needed, but nevertheless, you established a solid foundation.
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TM did a solid job over the years coaching a young Kings team…I never questioned his leadership until this year when an older, wiser, and seemingly better Kings team struggled so desperately to find an identity…it should have been easier this year with the additions of Richards and Gagne, but sadly for TM, the Kings just could not find the back of the net and starting sinking farther back into the D zone and the standings. I have been critical of the style of play this year under TM and felt a change was in order. I softened my position when I knew it was going to happen simply because I felt that, to some extent, the players had let TM down…they let us all down…For that, I feel bad for TM…that on the brink of taking a team from a modest start to greatness was taken away from him…he never got to see it through to the end…I think all Kings fans recognize that any further successes will have TM s stamp on it…thanks, TM…you were and always will be a class guy
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It sounds to me TM’s heart and soul were very much with the club. He seems like a genuinely good guy. Hopefully he will get another shot somewhere else. If he wants a shot somewhere else though getting the D in place shouldn’t be all too hard for him but its the offensive side of things that’s hurting him. It sounds like he’s maybe looking back on some of the things that he could have done/changed offensively but he didn’t.
I’ve been calling for TM’s head mid last season and then the SJ meltdown in the playoffs sealed the deal for me.
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you had ur chance TM
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To put a slightly different phrasing on it, “So long, and thanks for all the wins.”
In all seriousness, though. Thanks for helping the Kings reach a level to which they are (or were) expected to be true contenders, and I hope you can find success (but not at the expense of the Kings) elsewhere.
[Reply]
Thanks TM for all you did for this team, organization, and fans.
You’re a great coach who helped turn around a pathetic franchise into one where we now have expectations of a cup and not who are we drafting in the top 3 in June.
I hope you get another chance and get that milestone you so richly deserve.
Thank you coach!!!!!
[Reply]
I admit that I was happy when I heard he got fired because it seemed like a signal that DL wanted to hold the team to a standard of winning. With hindsight, I feel badly that TM didn’t get a little more time to turn things around. That said, TM did do a couple of things that I never got over:
-Ripped the fans last year for booing when the Kings aome out and played yet another sinker on that terrible homestand.
-Did not come out for the handshake after losing to the Sharks in Game 6. As much as I hate the Sharks, I couldn’t believe he did that. That was truly classless.
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Terry, you did good for the team, we all have a tremendous amount of respect for you and what you brought to the dream. For us fans, we shared in your frustration, needed your calm steady demeanor through the ups and downs to this point. We were blessed to have you at the helm.. Good luck and when the cup comes to LA, the true fans, the ones who appreciate the game, the team and staff no matter the result will comes to recognize all the step taken to get there and you will always be a big part of the Kings successes and journey.
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TM was fine, I think leadership starts on the ice, Dustin Brown is not “C” material. They should have started there first, at the team leadership level. You don’t cut off the head just because a tooth is hurting…you get rid of the tooth!
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