Vachon Is Promoted by Kings : Hockey: Cohen tried to get former Boston official Milbury as coach and general manager.

Rebuffed in a recent effort to go outside the organization for a new general manager and coach, King co-owner and chairman Joe Cohen instead turned to a familiar figure to help bring stability to a chaotic team.

King goaltending legend Rogie Vachon, who joked that he has held nearly every position in the organization, got a new job title on Friday when Cohen named him team president.

The move follows a recent attempt by Cohen to right something of a sinking ship. Cohen, troubled by the Kings’ record and the widespread perception that their controversial trade for goaltender Grant Fuhr was a blunder, offered the jobs of coach and general manager to Mike Milbury last weekend, according to two sources.

Milbury, 42, resigned as assistant general manager of the Boston Bruins last season to coach at Boston College. He stayed there briefly before also leaving that job. He is an analyst on ESPN’s hockey telecasts.

Both sources said Milbury, who met with Cohen in Southern California last week, quickly turned down the opportunity to join an organization whose ownership situation remains uncertain and whose most valuable asset--Wayne Gretzky--is nearing the end of his career.

Cohen, reached on Friday, refused to confirm or deny that he had offered the jobs to Milbury.

“No comment,” Cohen said. “I just don’t comment.”

Asked his specific assessment of the job performances of General Manager Sam McMaster and Coach Barry Melrose, Cohen said, “I’m really thrilled that we’re 3-1-1 (in the last five games). . . . The team seems to be playing better, and I hope it keeps up as a result of Sam and Barry’s hard work and the players’ hard work.”

Considered a top management prospect, Milbury played for the Bruins for 12 seasons, retiring in 1987. He had been groomed to replace Harry Sinden, but Sinden has stayed on as general manager in Boston.

Sources said Milbury was offered a salary of more than $400,000, which he considered insufficient to uproot his family from the Boston area and take on the task of rebuilding the Kings. Had he accepted, Cohen wanted him to retain McMaster in an advisory role, sources said.

McMaster, who was hired last summer after a long career as a junior hockey executive, has been criticized for virtually giving away left wing Mike Donnelly to Dallas and trading defenseman Alexei Zhitnik to Buffalo for Fuhr, who has struggled, and young defensemen Philippe Boucher and Denis Tsygurov.

Boucher, who had wrist surgery, is out for the season, and Tsygurov has been a defensive liability.

Milbury didn’t deny having spoken with the Kings, but he otherwise declined comment. His ESPN contract contains a mutual escape clause that could be invoked after this season.

“I don’t think it’s fair to any party to say anything.” Milbury said. “It’s unreasonable to engage in speculation and it’s unfair to the present coach. It’s my business and it will remain my business. . . . One thing I did learn, though, is I never say never.”

Vachon’s promotion marks something of a political comeback for the former goalie, who was virtually shut out of all management decisions since June 1992, when he became an assistant to then-owner Bruce McNall after having served as general manager since 1984.

He didn’t even have an office at the Forum after that front-office shake-up.

Vachon, 49, said he would not have believed this scenario if someone had predicted it.

“I would have said, ‘I think you better have another drink,’ ” he said. “Two, three years ago, I was put on the shelf. I didn’t think I would ever get out again.”

The promotion is designed to allow Cohen more time to concentrate on other projects related to the team, giving Vachon responsibility for day-to-day activities. And now Vachon is the boss of McMaster and Melrose.

One of his priorities before the April 7 trading deadline is to get a legitimate NHL defenseman, a longtime need even before Rob Blake went down with a groin injury.

“We have to be prepared,” Vachon said. “We only have three experienced defensemen and three to four others without a great deal of experience. We’re not going to find a Rob Blake type of defenseman, but we’re hopeful we can get a good solid defenseman.”