McNall Goes for Winning Ticket : Hockey: Tired of disappointment, owner makes a King-sized shake-up, naming Melrose coach, Mlakar president, Beverley general manager.

For the Kings, it was perhaps the most important day since the acquisition of Wayne Gretzky.

There wasn’t merely a single transaction announced Thursday but rather a series of anticipated moves that left the Kings with a new president, Roy Mlakar; a new general manager, Nick Beverley; and a new coach, Barry Melrose.

All of which meant that Rogie Vachon, general manager since 1984, will become owner Bruce McNall’s assistant. McNall stepped down as president to make way for Mlakar’s promotion.

The shake-up was a direct result of the team’s performance last season. The Kings had a 35-31-14 record and finished second in the Smythe Division. But they failed to come close to expectations in the playoffs, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in six games.

McNall decided to do something, starting the process by firing Coach Tom Webster on May 4.

“I’m a patient guy, but I get annoyed every now and then,” McNall said. “I’m a fan, so I get as mad as any fan. They’re sitting there saying, ‘Why did I pay for this?’ And I’m sitting there saying, ‘Why did I pay for this , the most expensive season ticket in the world?’ ”

Mlakar’s business acumen was the key to his promotion. He joined the Kings in 1988 and has been the team’s executive vice president for four seasons. Mlakar, 41, also worked behind the scenes when McNall bought the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.

Beverley, 45, has been with the Kings since 1980. An NHL defenseman for 11 seasons, Beverley played with Boston, Pittsburgh, the New York Rangers, Minnesota, the Kings for the 1978-79 season and the Colorado Rockies, finishing his career in 1980.

He has been the Kings’ assistant general manager for the last two years and previously served as the club’s director of player personnel and development.

Melrose, 35, rounded out the revamped picture. Beverley was impressed with the way he ran Detroit’s top minor league team, the Adirondack Red Wings, when he led them to an American Hockey League championship in May. Even earlier, Beverley had noticed when Melrose was coaching successful junior teams in Canada and Seattle.

Less than a week ago, almost everyone thought Melrose would stay in Detroit’s organization. But the Kings shocked him with a four-year deal worth $1 million.

“The money was a lot of it,” said Melrose, laughing, when asked what influenced him to come to Los Angeles.

Melrose knew that his decision to leave the Red Wings was being second-guessed.

“Some people asked, ‘Why go to this team that has problems?’ ” he said. “I think it has unique advantages, too. If you succeed in L.A., the sky’s the limit.”