It’s Time For LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi To Address His Team’s Futility

What kind of offensive threat would LA Kings center Anze Kopitar
be if he ever learns to take the puck to the net and
shoot from prime scoring areas?
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — Through 58 games of the 2011-12 season, one thing is now irrefutable.

When it comes to scoring goals, the Los Angeles Kings are an embarrassing lesson in futility.

There are many opinions and theories out there, attempting to explain the Kings’ woeful inability to score goals. Many point fingers at the coaching staff, and the system the Kings play, among other things. But when you talk to people who really know the game, such as National Hockey League scouts, along with Iformer NHL players and coaches who are involved in the game in various capacities, among the most frequent comments you hear are that the Kings often fail to execute their game plan, and that they do not pay attention to detail on breakout plays, allowing gaps between forwards and defensemen to get too wide, preventing them from generating speed through the neutral zone. Read more of this post

2011 Holiday Season Has Los Angeles Kings Looking To Darryl Sutter As Their Savior

Los Angeles Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi (left)
and newly-hired head coach Darryl Sutter (right), shown here
during a December 21, 2011 press conference.
Photo: Gann Matsuda

EL SEGUNDO AND LOS ANGELES, CA — On this Christmas Day 2011, families around the world are celebrating the holiday season, while young children, who have been dreaming for weeks about what Santa Claus might bring them, are, hopefully, waking to find that their dreams have come true.

For the Los Angeles Kings, they are hoping that Santa will bring them the extra goal or two per game that they have sorely missed all season long. They are also hoping that they have found their savior in new head coach Darryl Sutter, the 53-year-old native of Viking, Alberta, who was hired on December 20, replacing Terry Murray, who was fired on December 12, after the Kings slipped and slid their way through the last few weeks. Read more of this post

Celebrating The 2011 Holidays KingsCast Style

Keith Korneluk and Chris Kaliszewski have, apparently, been busy little elves during the 2011 holiday season.

On December 20, they looked back at the coaching tenure of Terry Murray, who was fired on December 12, in Episode 135 – Terry Murray, LA Kings Head Coach (08-11).

Although you should probably watch this one with the audio muted (Keith and Chris sing in this one…you have been warned), at least they were creative in The Most Miserable Time of the Year For The LA Kings. Read more of this post

New On KingsCast: Episode 134 – Talking LA Kings Hockey With Dennis Bernstein

Dennis Bernstein from The Fourth Period joins Keith Korneluk and Chris Kaliszewski to talk about the reeling Los Angeles Kings, the firing of Terry Murray, and about Darryl Sutter, who is expected to be named the new head coach. Read more of this post

LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi Lays Responsibility For Terry Murray’s Dismissal On Players’ Shoulders

As expected, the Los Angeles Kings have fired head coach Terry Murray (left), shown here with head athletic trainer Chris Kingsley (right).
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES — With his team failing to live up to lofty, but well-deserved expectations, Los Angeles Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi made the move that has been all but expected since late Sunday night.

On Monday, he fired head coach Terry Murray, and named assistant coach John Stevens as interim head coach.

Murray, 61, earned a 139-106-30 regular season record with the Kings after joining the team in 2008-09. He ranks third in franchise history in wins, fourth in games coached, and first in winning percentage (.560). He also reached the 100-win mark faster than any head coach in team history, and his 2009-10 and 2010-11 teams tied the franchise record for most wins in a season (46). Read more of this post

Terry Murray Likely To Take Fall Soon For LA Kings’ Failures, No Matter Whose Fault It Is

LA Kings head coach Terry Murray is likely about to take the fall for his
team’s failure to execute their game plan on a consistent basis.
Photo: David Sheehan

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — After all but one other player had disappeared from the main dressing room area to shower and change clothes, Los Angeles Kings right wing and team captain Dustin Brown sat dejectedly in his locker, slouched down, probably brooding about his team’s performance, or lack thereof, in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on December 10, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

This is not a first for Brown, who has been seen doing the exact same thing in seasons past.

But this time, something was different. Read more of this post

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