Murray talks about camp, summer work

For those at work who can’t watch the video interviews — or can’t come up with a compelling reason to explain to the boss why you’re watching hockey interviews — here are some of the highlights of Terry Murray’s interviews, starting with his impressions of the development camp…

MURRAY: “It’s great to see the young guys that have been here before. You see a big change in them physically. They’re very mature on the emotional part of the game. They’ve spent a lot of time improving themselves, improving their game, and it’s fun. As you go through a year, two years with these players, you see how they improve, how they’re getting better and how they’re closer.”

Question: How different is the game now, compared to when you played and started coaching, in terms of the summer workouts>

MURRAY: “Well, in the offseason we had to find a job, to get us through the offseason, to get us through the summertime for the next year. So it has changed dramatically. This is now a year-round job. The players, we’re sending them out with programs. They have personalized trainers. They have constant contact by the coaches, by Tim Adams, our strength and conditioning coach. So we’re pushing them to get to that next level, to get into that uncomfortable zone in the summertime, to develop that higher level as quickly as possible. So it’s a big, big change in the attitude about the game, the nutrition, the psychological part of the game, the on-ice coaching that we’re putting them through now and the on-ice sessions. Everything is detailed. Everything is to the development side of it, so that we can get them to the NHL as soon as possible.”

Question: Looking ahead to the start of the season, there’s a change in that you’ll be starting in Europe. Does that change the way you prepare at all?

MURRAY: “There’s not really going to be much of a change. I really like the start of the year that we’ve had the last couple years. It’s been exactly what we wanted to have. So the training camp, as far as the work and what we’ll get done here in L.A. and the exhibition games, that will be the same. Then we’ll get on the plane and go over to Europe. So, at that time, a lot of the preparation work will be done, and now we’re just looking to get started with the season in a different country, and then come back over to North America after that and start to play here. So, no changes in my approach, because of the reason that I mentioned. It has been a great start the last two years.”

Question: And personally, what are your plans for the rest of the summer?

MURRAY: “After the development camp, I’ve got to get a trip to Canada. I’ve got to go back and visit my family. That will be a five-, six-day trip. And after that, I’m looking to get back to the Toyota Center and start getting ready for the start of the year, getting in touch with players. Guys are going to start coming around and working with Tim and the strength and conditioning side of it, so just being in touch and being around is going to be things that I’m going to be looking forward to doing.”