Here is part 2 of the 4 part series with Davis Payne…he talks about his general philosophy re coaching…his approach to his interview with the Kings and assistant coach vs. head coach responsibilities…
JF: General philosophy. We don’t always like to be labeled but if you were to try to define the type of coach you are, what would that be?
DP: This is always a funny thing to answer. You start with the obvious. A “player’s coach”, a “tactician” or a “motivator”. All these types of things. I’d like to think there’s a hybrid in there somewhere that has a little bit of everything. I think at times you rely a little bit on your strengths and your instincts, which would be to communicate, to walk step by step with the players. To motivate them in that regard based on an understanding of where they want to “get to”. But ultimately, a good feel for how the players want to play and how that works itself into success in this league. A disciplinarian or a taskmaster, I wouldn’t lean too far in that regard. I think there is fairness to how I coach. There’s firmness to how I coach. I think there’s a good balance there.
JF: When you were interviewed for the Kings’ assistant coaching position, did you approach it any differently since you have already had experience as a head coach?
DP: No, not in particular. I think you look at what you add as a coach. Whether that’s in the head coaching “ultimate decision making” position or as an assistant you’re going to have responsibilities that are yours and yours alone and you’ve got to get the job done. So, I think from that regard, you’re looking at it as part of a coaching staff and that’s what you have to think. One part is certainly a little bit different, but ultimately coaching is getting guys to do something they may not necessarily want to do and doing it together and I think whether that’s as a power-play group or as a group of penalty-killers or whether that is as a team, ultimately the head coaching responsibility, I think they all play a part in what we do as coaches.
JF: You may have already answered this in the previous answer, but anything you feel is a high priority when it comes to being an assistant coach on a coaching staff, as opposed to being a head coach? I know you may touched on some of those things, but maybe the highest priority, it’s always difficult to single out one thing, but if you were to say “I’m an assistant now, not the head coach, what do I have to do here”?
DP: Provide a link between the players and the head coach. That link allows us to see smoke before we see fire. It allows us to head those situations off. It provides clarity to what we are doing as a group. It provides clarity to the head coach as to where he may need to spend some of his time, which is a difficult part. The designation of the hours that you have in a day, can be tough so for us as assistants to not only work on our avenue of responsibility, but also, have these players know that they have got an ear and a voice to the head coach and potentially solving that and or passing that on, I think is crucial!

ESPN SportsCenter – NHL cancels games through Nov. 30, ending potential for a full 82-game season as lockout drags on
[Reply]
Jesus, and now the juniors are demanding minimum wage and bennies. They ought to quit hockey and going to freaking school.
[Reply]
From what I gather this is the players and not the parents, so perhaps the parents ought to sit down with their children and remind them that they’re getting exposure and somehwat of an education, but that most of them will never see the NHL so they ought to just be happy being kids for now. Sheesh.
[Reply]
i feel like the kid that picture today. nothing else about the NHL really matters to me.
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@Sebastian, He seems alittle uninterested doesnt he? I can see the caption above his head now….
“is this thing over yet or what? I would rather be playing Video games right now”
[Reply]
The lock out is extended? Cool, now I will save money by not driving to LA for games and will actually save enough to fly to Oakland for a Raiders game. Reference our new assistant coach, he sounds pretty good so far since he hasn’t mentioned any of the things that were important to Kompon. Meanwhile, the Cup keeps hanging out in LA, enjoying the sunshine, cool locations, great fans, and great presenters such as Bob, Jim, Nick and Darryl.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
@DesertKing, My gut tells me one of the most important qualities Sutter was looking for was that link between players and coach. Kompon clearly did not fit that bill. Yeah, also saving a bunch a money as I went for the half season plan this year.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
@DesertKing, Don’t forget that sweet 5% interest rate on my season ticket deposit. LOL
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 8:45 am
@luc20rules,
Yep, now I feel like the rich guy in Monopoly.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 9:38 am
@luc20rules, I can just see the IRS audit “… and what’s this 5% you made with AEG you didn’t declair?”
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:59 pm
@KC23, OOOOOHHH! OOOHHHHHH! IT NEVER ENDS!
Well, many of us said when the Kings win the cup the world can end. I guess we saw the Kings win and now an end to hockey. A fitting end for Kings fans.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@Demob, …..long live the King(s)…..GO REIGN!!
[Reply]
Refund!!!! The NHL and NHLPA better get their act together or they’ll be sorry. Fans really need to think twice about going back
[Reply]
Since I am from the OC I tend to read the local news sometimes. i was looking at Rich’s articles. They would be awesome if I was a USC fan. No comments om a majority of his articles.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
@Lake Forest, is it a blog? shoot me a link…
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@Stuart, no he’s writing for the OC register
http://www.ocregister.com/sections/sports/usc/
[Reply]
Time to call in William Shatner to handle the CBA negotiations.
[Reply]
Gail Web Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
@DesertKing, +1
[Reply]
Dear Bill Daly,
I deeply regret (to use your own words)that I must cancel my remaining plans to purchase NHL licensed merchandise for Christmas. It was our family plan to spend some significant money on LA Kings Stanley Cup merchandise, but since you are the ones locking out the players and denying us any NHL hockey, we can not participate in a process where I lose all my money and you get it, since that process appears to be blatantly unfair, both now and in the long term.
Sincerely,
DesertKing
Big Time LA Kings Hockey Fan and Santa Claus
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@DesertKing, Dont forget Nacho Libre!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
I feel like the kid sitting behind the glass behind Davis Payne in the picture for this story: No Kings, no hockey, no nachos, and no messing with the heads of VanHoover, Anaslime and San Josuck fans when we play their teams.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@DesertKing, Actually, this is true for me. Was getting a new jersey … now it’ll have to wait.
[Reply]
Don’t make me watch the Lakers. I don’t want to do it. I can’t stand the smugness of the NBA and the inconsequential nature of the first 45 minutes of each game. Please come to your senses.
[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@The Weasel, unless you have TWC even the Lakeshow wont be an option…
[Reply]
The Weasel Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
@Stuart,
Oh great, so I might end up being one of those fantasy football geeks? That’s even worse. If a fantasy league is required to enjoy a sport (1) you’ve got a gambling problem (2) your sport isn’t that compelling in the first place.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
@The Weasel, You may have something there. I always play Fantasy Football, I was even a pioneer and did it by hand before the internet. I have never been compelled to play fantasy hockey leagues.
This is the best pic you can find of the guy?
[Reply]
Ok NHL, since there was Kings no opening nite, and to appease my better half, I got opening nite tix for her Clippers. NHL is not looking good, and I will join @DesertKing and not make any NHL purchases this holiday season.
[Reply]
Sutter speaks out about his and Parise’s both signed identical contracts this summer 98 mil over 13 years with a 10 mil signing bonus. It really rubs me the wrong way the Minn Owner is on the 5 man commitee that is with Bettman. This guy has so much to gain over 13 years if rollbacks take place. Remember the so called make whole provision was set to have players pay themselves back and only for the 1st year of the NHL proposed CBA now off the table.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8556769/ryan-suter-minnesota-wild-defenseman-says-owners-offer-contracts-afford
[Reply]
Question for the NHL & NHLPA what HAPPENED TO THE TALK OF AN ARBITRATOR COMING IN!!!!!!!!!!?
THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED IN SEPT. AND BOTH SIDES SAID THEY WERE OPEN TO IT, BUT BETTMAN SAID IT WAS FAR OFF? ARE WE NOT FAR OFF, SHOULD WE NOT BE DESPERATE TO RESOLVE THIS NOW?
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
@luc20rules,
Apparently there’s no hurry to save this season, it would appear, eh?
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
@Kingsfanone, Apparently?
[Reply]
Where in the world did I put my JOHN 3:16 sign & Rainbow Wig?
[Reply]
SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW!
Time to leave, before enjoying some corn.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
@luc20rules, Thats it Festivious is cancelled. There can be no Festivious with out a pole or a stolen feed of Hockey Night in Canada.
[Reply]
Terry Murray Update:
Phantoms fall 5-1 to the Devils.
[Reply]
jess Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 7:59 pm
-If the gosh darn players would just follow TM’s system, it would have only been a 2-1 loss!
They will eventually get it.
[Reply]
luc20rules Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
@jess, 2-0 loss if the other teams goalie is worth his salt.
[Reply]
jess Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
@luc20rules,
Question,
-just for what-evers.. (and nykingsfan, feel free to jump in on this one)
IF, the Phantoms had a choice.. (in Candy-Cane-Unicorn Land), do you think they would rather have Darryl Sutter as HC right now?? -Cause TM has a ring you know, but Lokti does not…
luc20rules Reply:
October 30th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
@jess, Did they really release a list of names that received a ring? Loki didn’t get one. That is really wierd. Let the conspiracy theories churn.
[Reply]
The amount of comments on these blogs had dropped a lot lately. Not that it matters…but guess all those bands wagon fans are gone.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
October 26th, 2012 at 11:25 pm
@Cruiznblue,
That explains the draft horses in my front yard.
[Reply]
HillsKings Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 3:15 am
@Cruiznblue, or it could be because there is no Kings hockey to comment upon.
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
@Cruiznblue,
NO Hockey = No Fans
Seems reasonable to me.
[Reply]
I know we all miss hockey as I do to but we should all be thankful at the same time our kings won the cup. stop bieng so incredibly bitter. If any of you thought these morons from league to union do it for the fans or think of the fans then your a fool. We watch and spend money becausue we love the game and love our kings. the game will comeback i dont think season will be lost if it is obviously big bummer not to defend the cup. But we need to cool down and take it as it is. Just enjoy the memories for now and what great memories we have to enjoy for our 2012 stanley cup champion Los angeles Kings!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
Let’s look at the positives here. All of the $$ held from our accounts for season tickets is earning 5% No fighting LA traffic to go to the games. No paying astronomical concession prices. We hold the cup as champions for 2 years(with a whole season lost). Gee, what could be better……………THE GAMES BEING PLAYED????????????
[Reply]
The owners are so much full of hot air.
A deal is a deal.
Why is an owner going to his player and saying to rework a deal that both sises were happy to sign?
I was never a fan of a player going in and saying that he wanted his deal redone either.
Why raise the free agency years?
Owning another person beyond their already fulfilled contract is= to modern day slavery in my book.
Why have a salary cap in the first place?
Let the free market decide how much a team can spend.
Why should loyal fans of teams like NY,LA,Vancouver,Montreal or Boston have see their team let players go because they are at the cap and for fans on places like Ohio or Nashville who do not support their team get the benefits?
AS YOU CAN TELL I SIDE WITH THE PLAYERS AND AS LONG AS THERE IS LOCKOUT NOT 1 CENTS OF MY MONEY GOES TO RICH OWNERS.
[Reply]
Gustavo Reply:
October 27th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@hab,
With the same dishonesty that owners want to modify contracts to pay less to the players, there is a number of players who dump their effort, conditioning, quality of play and commitment once they get those long term contracts…(Scott Gomez, Rick Dipietro)
Shorter contracts should solve both of those problems.
[Reply]
Hi Jim,
I’m enjoying the interview. Thanks for filling in here.
I suppose the interview is already in the can, but I’d really like to know the honest answer to the following question:
The Blues struggled under you at the beginning of last season, and then you were replaced by Ken Hitchcock and they became the best team in the NHL overnight. What did he do differently than you?
[Reply]