In the New Era of L.A. Hockey, Handwriting Was on the Wall

Alongside a black grand piano, surrounded by cushy couches, potted plants and a sign pointing customers to the Shanghai Garden restaurant downstairs, stood a half-shaven man, just shorn of his job. Now he was in a hotel lounge, directly across the street from the office where he had been fired, drinking a cold non-alcoholic drink. He needed it.

The Kings had called Tuesday morning and asked Robbie Ftorek to drop by the Forum. Asked when he realized that he no longer was employed as the Los Angeles hockey team’s head coach, Ftorek did not have to think very hard.

“About 12:06,” he said.

About 12:06?

“Well, I had to be in the office at 12,” he explained.

Now it was five hours later, and first and foremost on Ftorek’s mind was getting back home before his son did, so he could give him the bad news.

“I’d rather he not hear it on the radio in the car,” Ftorek said.

Just get back home, talk things over with the family, then sit back and watch the Calgary-Chicago game on TV, that was the plan.

This was not the Robbie Ftorek we had come to know and not particularly love. For one thing, this was a new look for him, wearing a couple days’ growth of whiskers, the way his players had during the playoffs, and clad in a casual sport shirt and jeans instead of one of those luxurious Bill Cosby sweaters of his.

Ftorek was visibly at ease, unemotional, almost matter of fact about his dismissal, although suppressing his feelings is an area in which he excels. He took it in stride. He stood there and took all the questions about why this thing happened, who caused this thing to happen, should this thing have happened, until eventually somebody asked if he were bitter, and Ftorek nonchalantly replied: “Bitter at what?”

He did not go out screaming, did not go out claiming that under his leadership hockey had just had its greatest season in Los Angeles, a season of packed houses and thrilling victories. He did not brag about the Kings becoming the highest-scoring team in the National Hockey League, or about their eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions.

“I was a little disappointed,” is what he said. “It’s just a case where, if they think there’s somebody who can do the job better, you’ve got to go with them, whether it’s a forward, a defenseman, a goalie or a coach.”

Funny how so many hockey people saw this one coming. After all the months of rumored turmoil, of the alleged irreconcilable differences between superstar Wayne Gretzky and the coach, of the many criticisms of Ftorek’s general use of Gretzky and constant changing of linemates, the ax did indeed fall, exactly one week from season’s end.

Say this for Bruce McNall, no grass grows under this guy. He wants Gretzky, he gets Gretzky. He needs a goalie, he gets Kelly Hrudey. He decides to change coaches, he changes coaches.

“It must be obvious by now that I am the kind of guy who is willing to try absolutely anything,” McNall said during the recent playoffs.

The owner of the Kings did everything in his power to bankroll a winner. He invested everything but that rare coin he pulled out of his pocket on Pat Sajak’s TV talk show, the coin that was worth $1 million. Losing to Calgary in four straight games was somebody’s fault, but it wasn’t McNall’s. And he wasn’t about to get rid of Gretzky. So, it was pretty doggoned clear who was going to go.

Was this, by any chance, Gretzky’s doing? Will Gretzky be held responsible, as Magic Johnson was when Paul Westhead was shown the door by the Lakers?

“No,” Ftorek said. “And he shouldn’t be.”

Was McNall the villain here?

“No way,” Ftorek said. “Mr. McNall treated us great, from the day we came in here.”

Well, then, was there indeed turmoil behind the scenes of the Kings? Were there disagreements with players that could not be resolved?

Yeah, sure, Ftorek said, but every team has conflict. Guys who aren’t playing as much as they think they should usually aren’t happy with the coach, he said.

“None of it matters now,” Ftorek said. “The bottom line is, it’s my fault. When you don’t win, it’s the coach’s fault. That’s why I’m standing here right now, talking to you. I did the best job that I could, and it wasn’t good enough. The players are a bunch of great guys, as far as I’m concerned. Gretzky and all of them.”

So, no spilling of guts, no telling it like it really was, then.

“Nope,” Ftorek said. “No books, no nothing. Anything that happened in the locker room, let it stay there. It’s sort of like spitting into the wind. It’s not a good habit to get into.”

We cannot say we will miss Robbie Ftorek, because we hardly got to know him in the first place. The Kings did succeed somewhat with him behind the bench--Ftorek became the first person to coach the Kings from first game to last since Pat Quinn in 1985-86--but then again, they left a lot to be desired.

As even Ftorek acknowledged Tuesday: “I didn’t win anything. We didn’t win our division and we didn’t win the Stanley Cup. So, I can hardly say I’m satisfied with everything I did.”

With Gretzky available for a limited number of years, it is important to have a coach who suits his needs. Magic Johnson realized that, and acted on it, with excellent results. Gretzky supposedly was not directly involved in this affair, but he cannot be too shattered by the news.

So, this seems a good move for the Kings, a necessary move. And expect more to follow. Bruce McNall, we are pleased to report, will try anything.