- Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Two sources saying the Kings locked the locker room door to keep head coach Darryl Sutter out after a loss in the past two weeks. The players were expecting another one of his lectures/tirades. Sutter then sought out an arena employee to unlock the door. Once opened, there were three garbage cans lined up.
- Rich Hammond of the OC Register: Kings GM Dean Lombardi.
LOMBARDI: “It’s factually inaccurate. The timing is wrong. It happened in Tampa (in February), not last week.’’
(on whether players actually blocked the door with garbage cans…)
LOMBARDI: “I don’t know if it got that far. It happened in Tampa. This was just brought to my attention yesterday, in terms of that part . So I guess it’s fair to say there was a little scuffle in Tampa.”
On if bothered by the story.
LOMBARDI: ”No, and here’s why. I could look at it and say, `That’s when we won eight in a row, so let’s do this more often.’ In terms of what actually happened, maybe (players) don’t have to go to that extreme, but theoretically I don’t have a problem with it. Here’s the thing, with where this team has to get to. If you look at what a coach’s number-one role is, it’s to give his team structure and detail. The emotion, in terms of getting that emotion to where it needs to be, if we’re going to be a top team it has to come from within the room. With it, at times, the coach obviously still has to have some ability (to talk). So we’re, at times, a part of raising the emotion. Obviously one of the problems this year was just that, that for whatever reason, we weren’t where we needed to be mentally.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Don’t see Brendan Shanahan talking of the Leafs GM duties, thinking he hires a GM.
- Darren Dreger: If Shanahan is going after an experienced GM and coach, term and money will have to be big for each to get someone to take on the challenge.
- Bob McKenzie of TSN: On one potential candidate for the now vacant Maple Leafs GM position.
Los Angeles King exec Mike Futa is a name that will no doubt come up. When Buffalo and Calgary were looking for GMs, Futa was a prime candidate, but the Kings took him out of the mix, promoted him and gave him a new contract with some restrictions on when and what jobs he can entertain. Or not.
Futa is a Toronto native, who grew up a Leaf fan. He has an impressive hockey CV, dating back to his days as a general manager in the Ontario Hockey League, as well as his exemplary work, first as co-director of amateur scouting for the Kings and now vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel. Futa has had working – and seemingly respectful – relationships with both Dubas and Hunter from their OHL days. At face value, not knowing any of his specific contractual restrictions or willingness to leave L.A., Futa could potentially be a perfect fit in Toronto.
- Dennis Bernstain: Not sure of the details in Futa’s contract, but he might have an out for a GM position.
- Steve Simmons: Lightning assistant GM Pat Verbeek might be one candidate that Brendan Shanahan might consider.
- Doug MacLean: “Reading how new GM should fit with existing management team. Are you kidding ? New GM picks his management team . Not fits with …..”
- Joe McDonald: Internal talk has already started regarding the direction of the Bruins.
- John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Murray after firing Ted Nolan.
“You have to find a perfect fit to be really successful, and maybe it just wasn’t a perfect fit.”
“I know this isn’t a popular thing,” Murray said. “To me it’s about getting better. I feel that this was an opportunity maybe for us to improve and keep the improvement going.”
Murray has been a long-time fan of Luke Richardson. Mike Babcock and Claude Julien could become available.
“I want to have the biggest pool of good candidates that I can get,” Murray said. “I don’t know who’s going to be with the teams they’re with now, who’s going to be let go. I have no idea on that, that’s why there’s no timetable.”