Murray set to be Kings’ new coach

So, another Murray is on the way to Southern California and the NHL. Not Andy Murray, who was the Kings’ coach for seven seasons, including the 2004-05 lockout year. Or Bryan Murray, who was the longtime general manager of the Ducks and coached them for a season.

It is Terry Murray, Bryan’s brother, who is expected to become the Kings’ next coach, barring any last-minute veto from team ownership.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi and Murray met Tuesday night with Tim Leiweke, chief executive of AEG, the team’s parent company, and the Kings’ representative on the NHL Board of Governors.

One potential hurdle could be the approval of Boston Celtics co-owner Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck, who, with his partners, has expressed interest in taking a minority ownership stake in the Kings. Lombardi has met with one of the prospective owners.

If everything proceeds smoothly, Murray would become the Kings’ 22nd coach, filling the vacancy created by Marc Crawford’s firing June 10.

Murray, who turns 58 on Sunday, has been a head coach with three other NHL teams -- the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers. Most recently, he has been a Flyers assistant under Coach John Stevens.

With the Kings firmly in rebuilding mode, Lombardi said Tuesday in a telephone interview with The Times that he was looking for and, in Murray, had found someone who showed “poise under pressure.” Lombardi added, “We’re under no illusions what we’re facing here this year.”

The Kings had started the coaching search by interviewing one internal candidate, associate coach Mike Johnston, speaking with him on several occasions. Then Murray moved front and center.

The link between Lombardi and Murray goes back to the Flyers. Murray has been assistant coach the last four seasons, and Lombardi worked with that organization for two seasons before joining the Kings as general manager. Also, Ron Hextall, the Kings’ assistant general manager, played for the Flyers while Murray was head coach there.

The Toronto Globe and Mail reported on its website Tuesday that the Kings were finalizing contract details with Murray, citing unidentified sources.

Though the Flyers reached the Stanley Cup finals under Murray in 1997, he has not been a head coach in the NHL since the 2000-01 season with the Panthers. Lombardi said he was not concerned about the sizable gap on the resume between head coaching jobs.

“He hasn’t been in the TV booth, hasn’t left the action at all,” Lombardi said. “Some coaches, when they get fired they keep their names out there in the media. He became a pro scout. It’s not like he’s been out to pasture.”

Lombardi said he was impressed that Murray spent hours breaking down game film. He also was able to observe Murray’s work habits first-hand in Philadelphia, and more recently received a solid endorsement from Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren. Then at the NHL draft last month, Lombardi spoke to Flyers senior vice president Bobby Clarke about Murray.

“He’s a detail guy, a good teacher, not going to play mind games,” Lombardi said of Murray. “He’ll tell it straight to your face.”

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com