He has a penchant for making young players earn the top assignments and earning PP time. That's part of teaching young player.

And the AHL Coach doesn't make player personell decisions of where to send players. I'm sure he has some input. But situations like sending Akeson to the ECHL is an orginizational decision. And you know what,how Akeson plays away from the puck, is going to be a big factor in how good of an NHL player he is going to be.
- MJL

The Kings 'lost' a number of pretty talented prospects during his watch... Moulson, Frolov, O'Sullivan and Purcell come to mind. They wouldn't bend to his ultra-conservative tactics.

This will be his third full season. Why? Because who else was better to do it? I think the ORGANIZATION sees the offensive upside, mainly because of how he scored in juniors and that he has shown flashes of that upside so far. But anyone who understands hockey knows that defensive responsibility is a much more rare commodity in a young player, especially one who is 19, 20, 21 years old. And the coaches felt, Rightly in my opinion, that putting the kid in a role they knew he could do would help him down the road.

Do I agree it is time for him to start finding his offensive game? ABSOLFRANKINLUTELY. But saying he has no offensive upside because of what he has done so far is ridiculous.


In three years Couturier will be a 6 year veteran. And that is a different conversation. We are talking about Couturier now. I think he still has some room to grow as a player offensively. You state quite clearly that you think he doesn't.
- MBFlyerfan

Coots has had his chance, man. He's a washed-up has-been. He should really just retire.

Ryan Johansen signed a 3 yr deal. So that saga has ended.
- moylander

I was hoping he'd do sit-ups in his driveway a la Terrell Owens.

Coots has had his chance, man. He's a washed-up has-been. He should really just retire.
- mcefalu

"You're not even a has been; you're a never was."

Ryan Johansen signed a 3 yr deal. So that saga has ended.
- moylander

Wow, they caved. $6M in that second year... his next contract is going to be huge.

I was hoping he'd do sit-ups in his driveway a la Terrell Owens.
- NickTheKid87

Am I the only one who took TO's side? I mean, to an extent?

"You're not even a has been; you're a never was."
- jmatchett383

I really do love that line. So classic.

Wow, they caved. $6M in that second year... his next contract is going to be huge.
- Tomahawk

If they didnt cave they would have definitely missed the playoffs.

It's based on results. Which players have gotten better under Murray? How has the team done under Murray? Has the team improved at all since Murray took over?
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, Akeson for one. And now we will see what he does with a team that actually has some talent. I will gauge his success this season not so much on wins and losses, but by how many of these kids are productive NHL players in a year or two or three. I'm specifically looking at Ghost, Laughton, Hagg, and in the near future Sanhiem and Morin.

It's based on results. Which players have gotten better under Murray? How has the team done under Murray? Has the team improved at all since Murray took over?
- PhillySportsGuy

But how much of the results are down to the lack of talent in the roster?

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0054182013.html
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...ons/teams/0054182014.html

Once the lockout ended and BSchenn and Coots took their PPG butts up to the NHL, their only real talent up front was Akeson. The defense and goalies weren't too flash, either.

I really do love that line. So classic.
- mcefalu

I can't even remember, is that The Mighty Ducks when his old coach is talking to him? I remember the line, not the movie.

Never once have a stroked my man meat back and forth to orgasm while thinking of Sean Couturier. You have me confused with Linda Ronstadt.
- jmatchett383

jfc I'm so tired of hearing her EVERY FREAKING HOUR on Sirius channel 26

Coots has had his chance, man. He's a washed-up has-been. He should really just retire.
- mcefalu

It's NOW OR NEVER! Just like it was for Laughton.

Am I the only one who took TO's side? I mean, to an extent?
- jmatchett383

I was too. He made the whole thing a distraction but I think they should have restructured his contract when he asked.

If they didnt cave they would have definitely missed the playoffs.
- GOA88

Please provide facts to support this. Or is it just an unsupported theory?

Wow, they caved. $6M in that second year... his next contract is going to be huge.
- Tomahawk

I thought it was 3 mill in years one and two and then 6 mill in year 3. Maybe I read that wrong.

jfc I'm so tired of hearing her EVERY FREAKING HOUR on Sirius channel 26
- Giroux_Is_God

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

Wow, they caved. $6M in that second year... his next contract is going to be huge.
- Tomahawk

I disagree. 3 years at $4m AAV is a great deal for the BJs.

I thought it was 3 mill in years one and two and then 6 mill in year 3. Maybe I read that wrong.
- mcefalu

You're right, sorry. Just saw the last year was 6.

I was too. He made the whole thing a distraction but I think they should have restructured his contract when he asked.
- NickTheKid87

If they didn't make it such a public thing, it could have been done. Laurie should have called him into his office with his jerkoff agent, and hammered out a new deal. When they refused to do so...well, you know. TO being TO.

You're right, sorry. Just saw the last year was 6.
- Tomahawk

Regardless, that is quite the jump in dough

I disagree. 3 years at $4m AAV is a great deal for the BJs.
- Feanor

Its that $6 mil in year 3 sets the stage for Johansen's next contract. This contracts AAV is fantastic.

Am I the only one who took TO's side? I mean, to an extent?
- jmatchett383

He should have just heldout and been quiet. The way he handled it was horrible. He brought McNabb into it.

His contract was (frank)ed up though. The Eagles really (frank)ed him when he signed it. He was basically forced into it because he clamored to go to the Eagles. Finally, he got there and they offered a poopty deal. After all the complaining, he knew he couldn't turn his nose up at it.

If they didn't make it such a public thing, it could have been done. Laurie should have called him into his office with his jerkoff agent, and hammered out a new deal. When they refused to do so...well, you know. TO being TO.
- jmatchett383

That was the definition of a media circus. It was very close to being a real circus too. Had it gone a few more weeks, I think TO would have hired some trapeze artists and maybe bought an elephant or two.

"It's all heresay at this point."

Please provide direct quotes from no less than 11 players currently on the roster, video evidence, notorized documents, and possible some DNA evidence to support your stance. Otherwise, all heresay.
- jmatchett383

Heresy!!

All those wasted years
(All those precious wasted years)
Who will pay?

Do we have to be forgiving at last?
What else can we do?
Do we have to say goodbye to the past?
Yes, I guess we do.

*Sure, only a couple of people here will get this. Oh, well.