New coach? Lombardi wants it `done yesterday’

What a 48-hour period it was for Dean Lombardi. Sometime Sunday, Lombardi made the decision to fire Terry Murray. At the crack of dawn Monday, he made the cross-country flight to Boston, rode to the team hotel and delivered the news to Murray. Lombardi then talked to the assistant coaches, then held a meeting with the players in which he, according to a couple people in attendance, was highly critical of the team’s effort of late but also took responsibility on himself for perhaps not creating the right mix of players. This morning, Lombardi was at the morning skate, looking (understandably) a bit tired. As for the next coach, Lombardi once again deflected talk of Darryl Sutter, but it’s clear that there really are no other candidates at this point. Before the skate, Lombardi spoke generally about the search and what’s he’s looking for, going forward…

(on his timeline for hiring a new coach…)
LOMBARDI: “I think it’s safe to say, as short as possible. I think you’ve still got to try to do it right. How long do I want? I want it done yesterday, but sometimes things don’t always work according to the time frame you want.’’

(on the type of personality he’s looking for in a new coach…)
LOMBARDI: “Well, any time you bring in a different leader, there’s going to be a difference. Nobody is exactly the same. I think a lot of this, I think when the players look around the room, they believe they’re better than some of these teams that have beaten them, but there’s a mental thing that has to get through to them, an emotional side. They have to look at themselves and then bond together. You can never forget those fundamentals that have been ingrained in them. But there is a side in this game — and I know it’s changed — but it still is an emotional game. For whatever reason, this team, at times, did not look emotionally charged. So I do think that has to be the focus. But again, I’ve said this to the players, as individuals. We don’t want to change our game. We want to add to our game. I don’t even want to forget that we’re one of the top teams in the league defensively. That was critical, to put that in place, but we’ve got to add to our game, and part of adding to our game right now is learning to deal with expectations and raising our emotional level and fighting through mentally. I think that’s where we are.’’

(on whether the players, coaches and management all share that responsibility…)
LOMBARDI: “No question. In the end, the players own the team. That’s where you want to get to. The management and coaches provide the direction and provide the guidance. But I think on any great team, essentially it’s the players who have ownership, who point it in the right direction and they take over. That’s where you want to get to. We can’t go out there and play for them. The coach and the GM are only as good as the players. So clearly, if they have ownership in the team, they’re going to have pride in the team and they’re going to figure out, emotionally and mentally, what has to get done. I think that’s where we’re got to break through.’’

(on what he’s looking for under a new coach…)
LOMBARDI: “Certainly Murph has taught them the right way. There’s no better coach in terms of playing the game properly and being prepared. But I think a lot of this fallout right now is mental. When you heighten the expectations on a team, it’s a whole different mindset. When you don’t look like you reach that bar, then you start wallowing in bewilderment. I think they need to regroup mentally, go back to basics mentally and start building themselves back up. To me, given the talent in that room, they’re capable of much more, and to me it’s all between the ears.’’

(on John Stevens taking over on an interim basis…)
LOMBARDI: “He’s a real pro, he’s a good man and he will never back down from a challenge. We’re in a tough spot right now. We’ve got ourselves in a little bit of an ambush, but I think he’s the type of guy that can keep us focused until we can do what we’ve got to do.’’

(on whether he’s ever seen a team, collectively, struggle to score as much as the Kings…)
LOMBARDI: “No. The young players are still trying to reach their potential. Then proven guys, Stolly, Brownie, Williams, Gagne, none of them should be on the downside of their careers. That said, I do think they have to make some adjustments in their game. Collectively? Usually it’s just one or two that are off. I haven’t seen this.’’