Murray chats it up with Penner

Toward the end of practice today, Terry Murray — as coaches often do — pulled aside Dustin Penner for a quick chat. Since Penner joined the Kings a few days ago, there has been plenty of on-ice communication involving Penner, coaches and teammates, as everyone is trying to get Penner as comfortable and familiar as possible with his new environment. After practice, Murray discussed his chat with Penner, sharing that the reason was two-fold: one, to encourage Penner to relax a bit and, two, to discuss the defensive coverage on Daniel Sedin’s game-winning goal last night.

MURRAY: “The puck comes along the boards and, a big body like that, I would like to see him just finish on that defenseman and make sure that puck gets out of the zone. There was a support guy, the D pinched and I think Burrows kept the puck in at the blue line. But, to me, it’s a matter of that’s where you dig in and get the puck out of the zone at any cost, play hard and physical on him.

“It’s been a pretty intense, probably month, maybe longer for him. His name surfaced almost every time there was a conversation about Edmonton with the trade deadline approaching. Now it’s done and over, and he can become a part of the L.A. Kings as quickly as possible just by relaxing and getting to know your teammates.”