Big Leap for Kings’ New Coach

If Kobe Bryant can jump from high school to the NBA, why can’t Andy Murray make the jump from coaching Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep School to the NHL?

Because Murray, who will be introduced as the Kings’ new coach at a news conference today, has no NHL head-coaching experience. And while Murray could probably teach Bryant something about when to dish on the fastbreak, that won’t help Murray breathe life into the rudderless, characterless team the Kings became last season and may very well be again next season.

Murray must have wowed King General Manager Dave Taylor in his interviews. That, in itself, is intriguing. Every time in the last 10 years an NHL coaching job became available, Murray was mentioned as a potential candidate and he would go through the interview process, with all the other perennial suspects. But not until he met Taylor was he offered an NHL head coaching job.

He hasn’t worked in the NHL since he was fired as an assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets, during the 1994-95 season. He has coached in Germany and in Switzerland and for the Canadian national team, long considered a rest stop for former NHL coaches seeking their next job.

It may have been Murray’s communication skills that impressed Taylor. Or it may have been Murray’s penchant for being organized and prepared, for Murray’s willingness to work 24 hours a day. The Kings’ director of amateur scouting, Al Murray--no relation to Andy--is said to have had a big voice in this decision and recommended him highly.

In truth, it may be that Taylor saw Murray as the safe compromise between Ted Nolan, who has a high profile but carries a high risk because of his supposed back-stabbing of John Muckler when both worked in Buffalo, and John Van Boxmeer, who has been a loyal soldier and worked with many of the Kings’ minor leaguers but also had no NHL head coaching job on his resume.

Taylor wouldn’t have felt secure with Nolan around. Upper management probably wouldn’t have felt comfortable with Van Boxmeer because it seemed too obvious a choice. The right guy for the job couldn’t be just down the 405 freeway in Long Beach.

If Taylor considered Nolan too dangerous, he could have hired Dave Lewis, a bright, successful associate coach with the Detroit Red Wings. Lewis has not been an NHL head coach, but he has spent the last six seasons learning from the best, Scotty Bowman. In addition, as a former NHL player, he has a credibility Murray may lack.

But Taylor chose Murray, who isn’t a bad guy. He may turn out to be a decent teacher for the many youngsters the Kings plan to have in their lineup next season. But the Kings could have--and should have--done better.

The 48-year-old native of Gladstone, Canada, is a quiet, studious person. His backers say he may be a hockey genius of sorts. Yet, he earned the nickname “The Admiral” in Winnipeg for conveying the impression he thought he was in charge, when he assuredly wasn’t. On one occasion, he overstepped the boundaries of an assistant coach’s job and told a player he had been traded, even though the trade was never completed; that led to tension within the organization, and, eventually, his dismissal.

He has come close to getting several NHL head-coaching positions, including the Florida Panthers’ job before they hired Roger Neilson for their first season. He must really have wowed Taylor in his interviews. But it’s difficult to envision the Kings wowing fans with Murray behind their bench.

As the Kings prepare for a new era in the glitzy, new Staples Center, they have a chance to reinvent themselves. They can leave behind the memories of their many bad trades and dubious draft picks and create a new personality for themselves and a new vision for the future. But they seem intent on squandering this chance, and not merely in their choice of coaches, although that will be a key determinant of their future.

There is every reason to believe that if Taylor upped his offer to the New York Islanders, he could have Ziggy Palffy today. He could head off the trade the Islanders have agreed to with the Rangers, which would send Palffy and Rich Pilon to the Rangers for Niklas Sundstrom, Todd Harvey, a first-round pick this year, minor leaguer Patrick Leahy and $2.5 million. That isn’t a done deal, although it’s close. Taylor could redirect Palffy toward the Kings, who desperately need an infusion of offense and zest as they begin their new life at the Staples Center.

Taylor doesn’t want to give up Olli Jokinen. But a package of the rights to Aki Berg--who doesn’t seem inclined to sign with the Kings even after a year in Finland--this year’s first-round pick, cash and Josh Green or Justin Papineau would get it done. He should do it immediately before the Islanders and Rangers dot the I’s and cross the Ts.

Taylor has not distinguished himself as general manager of the Kings. If Murray’s hiring does not work out, he won’t be general manager of the Kings much longer.