Kings reward Lombardi, Murray, execs

General Manager Dean Lombardi and other key Kings executives were given more time to take the next step in a rebuilding process that accelerated this spring when the team made the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Lombardi, who had a year left on the contract he signed in 2006, received a two-year extension with an option. In addition Ron Hextall, the Kings’ assistant general manager, Jeff Solomon, the vice president of hockey operations and legal affairs, and Coach Terry Murray got two-year extensions through the 2012-13 season.

“I know there was a little bit of a concern with the fans as to were we going to get this done, but our season went longer than normal -- thank God,” Tim Leiweke, the Kings’ governor, said Wednesday.

“The bottom line is Dean wants to be here. He wants to finish what we started. He thinks we are on the verge of something spectacular, and we want to keep our nucleus together.”

Lombardi, preparing for the start of the NHL entry draft Friday at Staples Center, wasn’t available for comment.

Murray guided the Kings to a club-record-tying 46 wins this season and 101 points, third-most in club history. “I’m very happy for everyone in management because they’ve put great effort into getting this plan in place and it’s starting to get some legs,” Murray said.

The Kings also said they’ve hired former Flyers Coach John Stevens as an assistant coach. He replaces Mark Hardy, who recently resigned.

-- Helene Elliott

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The Vancouver Canucks’ Henrik Sedin, who had a career-high 112 points, won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller won the Vezina Trophy, and teammate Tyler Myers won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks won the Norris Trophy as top defenseman, and Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk won the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward for the third year in a row. Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, receiving 57 of 59 first-place votes.

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Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who was a finalist for the Norris Trophy, was voted a second-team All-Star. Doughty collected 16 goals and 59 points to help lead the Kings to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. He was joined on the second team by Daniel Sedin, Ilya Bryzgalov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Sidney Crosby and Martin St. Louis. The first team All-Star squad includes Alex Ovechkin, Mike Green, Patrick Kane, Miller and Henrik Sedin.

ETC.

Marlins fire Manager Gonzalez

Fredi Gonzalez was fired as manager of the Florida Marlins, with the team owner saying “we can do better and be better.”

The Marlins are 35-36 following a win in Baltimore on Wednesday. Florida was in fourth place in the NL East, 61/2 games behind first-place Atlanta.

Edwin Rodriguez, who has spent the last 11/2 seasons as manager of triple-A New Orleans, was named the interim manager.

Also fired were bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley.

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The president of the University of Oklahoma said that his school and Texas A&M; both received invitations to join the Southeastern Conference during the recent round of conference realignment.

Although Oklahoma ended up remaining in the Big 12, university President David Boren said the Sooners had offers from both the SEC and the Pac-10. Boren spoke with reporters after a regents meeting for almost 40 minutes about the conference realignment process.

“I’ll put it this way -- we were well positioned for whatever worked out,” Boren said.