Kings Fire Terry Murray; Name John Stevens Interim Head Coach

[Thrillhouse]

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Kings head coach Terry Murray has been relieved of his duties and Kings assistant coach John Stevens will assume interim head coach duties, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Murray, 61, began his head coaching tenure with the Kings in 2008-09 and compiled a 139-106-30 regular season record during his time in Los Angeles. Among the franchise’s all-time head coaches Murray ranks third in wins (139), fourth in games coached (275) and first in winning percentage (.560).

Murray reached the 100-win mark faster than any other coach in Kings history. He also helped lead the Kings to the playoffs the past two seasons. The Kings recorded 199 total points from 2009-10 to 2010-11 – the most ever in two consecutive seasons by the franchise. The Kings under Murray also enjoyed 46 wins in 2009-10 and 2010-11, which ties the franchise record for most wins in a season.

In addition to the Kings, Murray has also served as head coach for the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. His overall record as an NHL head coach is 499-383-130. Murray, who coached in his 1,000th NHL game on November 12 versus Minnesota, ranks 17th all-time in NHL history in wins and 19th all-time in games coached.

Stevens, 45, is in his second season with the Kings organization, having been named a team assistant coach prior to the 2010-11 season. He will be the 23rd head coach (including interim head coaches) in Kings history.

Prior to joining the Kings, Stevens served as the head coach for the Philadelphia Flyers (2006-09) and had a 120-109-34 record, while leading the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008.

The native of Campbellton, New Brunswick, took over as the Flyers head coach on October 22, 2006, after beginning the 2006-07 campaign as the club’s assistant coach. The Flyers were 21-42-11 under Stevens in 2006-07 before having a great turn-around in 2007-08 (the Flyers had an NHL-best 39-point improvement from the year before). Following that season, The Hockey News honored Stevens with their Coach of the Year award.

In 2007-08 the Flyers went 42-29-11 in the regular season and qualified for the playoffs before eliminating Washington in the first round and top-seeded Montreal in the second round. Stevens guided Philadelphia to a 99-point season in 2008-09 (44-27-11) and the team’s second consecutive playoff appearance. He was 13-11-1 to start the 2009-10 campaign before he was relieved of his duties on December 4, 2009. That Flyers club eventually reached the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.

Before his NHL coaching tenure, Stevens was the head coach of the Philadelphia Phantoms (the Flyers’ AHL affiliate) for six years (2000-01 through 2005-06). His Phantoms were 230-181-69, made the playoffs four times and won the Calder Cup Championship in 2005. He also served as an assistant coach with the club in 1998-99 and 1999-00.

Stevens was drafted by the Flyers (third round, 47th overall) in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and played parts of five seasons with the Flyers and Hartford Whalers, totaling 10 points (0-10=10) and 48 penalty minutes in 53 NHL regular season games. In 834 career AHL games Stevens, a defenseman, had 186 points (21-167=188), 1,397 penalty minutes and won three Calder Cups: 1988 with Hershey, 1991 with Springfield (served as team captain) and 1998 with the Phantoms (team captain).

[GaryRobertsFan]

Kings fans are going to be mad about this one

[PAO]

Wow wicked stuff

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by GaryRobertsFan

Kings fans are going to be mad about this one

??

Are you kidding me?

95% of us fans have been wanting this for the last 2 seasons..


Good Fu(king Riddance!

Hopefully we get someone that likes the rough play and lights a fire under these guys as$...

[lakingsfan19]

If Lombardi is hiring Murray's replacement, some believe Darryl Sutter is a candidate. If owners push...Carlyle could be the man.

Dreger

[PAO]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

??

Are you kidding me?

95% of us fans have been wanting this for the last 2 seasons..


Good Fu(king Riddance!

Hopefully we get someone that likes the rough play and lights a fire under these guys as$...

I didnt mind Murray,But I agree with you hope we get someone that likes to play tough.

[GaryRobertsFan]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

??

Are you kidding me?

Yeah dude... I was.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by GaryRobertsFan

Yeah dude... I was.

Sorry man.. I was just too damn excited..

Here is some interesting notes..

Kings player, who doesn't want to be identified, via text regarding Murray firing: ``I think it had to happen. We were dead.''

Lebrun

Dean Lombardi scorched the players in a meeting a short while ago. Very upset he had to fire Murray.

Dreger

Lombardi said Murray paid the price but ``make no mistake, they're (the players) the ones who are accountable for this.''

Lebrun

Lombardi on Darryl Sutter, ``We're looking at all our options. Right now that's as far as I can comment.''

I asked Lombardi about a short list of coaching candidates. He said it's a very short list.

Lebrun

Hopefully Jammie Komp is on the way out next...


Another Note, TM was going to scratch westgarth against Boston tomorrow, Hopefully that has changed..

[Stevens Lindros]

I'm gonna miss the guy who play Ivanans for a record-tying 61 games a couple years ago without scoring a single point. Was kinda cool to see, always like Murray in the NHL and he was a good fit for the Kings.

[NickDoh]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Kool & The Gang - Celebration -...

[caps05]

Originally Posted by lakingsfan19

Another Note, TM was going to scratch westgarth against Boston tomorrow, Hopefully that has changed..

Wasn't Stevens the guy who steadfastly scratched Riley Cote a couple of years ago? Granted, Westgarth probably slightly better than Cote overall, but Stevens isn't exactly a fighter-friendly coach, IIRC.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

I'm gonna miss the guy who play Ivanans for a record-tying 61 games a couple years ago without scoring a single point. Was kinda cool to see, always like Murray in the NHL and he was a good fit for the Kings.

He lost his ways the last couple of seasons. Started putting handcuffs on players, scratching heavies, ect... Hell he wasn't going to dress Westgarth tomorrow against Boston.

He made Clifford scrared to play the game. At 20 years old, if the kid took a penalty, he was benched for the rest of the game.

His juggling of lines every game has proven to be extremely stupid. His love for players that do the same thing and not produce (I.E. Lewis, Richardson, Hunter, Lokti... ect..) is ridiculous.

I am glad he is gone.. Hopefully someone else comes in and we see a different attitude, that just hasn't been in LA recently...

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by caps05

Wasn't Stevens the guy who steadfastly scratched Riley Cote a couple of years ago? Granted, Westgarth probably slightly better than Cote overall, but Stevens isn't exactly a fighter-friendly coach, IIRC.

I don't know much about Stevens... The Philly fans might need to chime in... He is just the interim coach and all indications are they looking for a replacement. Hopefully Stevens wakes up and puts Westie in the lineup tomorrow. We then have the Blue Jackets on thursday.

[lakingsfan19]

Originally Posted by NickDoh

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Kool & The Gang - Celebration - YouTube

And he makes his return! Welcome back... I knew you couldn't let this one keep you silent...

[Flyer_Frank]

What did they expect Murray to do? Coach the team AND score goals too?