Kings: No Offer Made to Nolan

The Kings have not offered their coaching job to Ted Nolan, General Manager Dave Taylor said, denying a report in Sunday’s Toronto Sun that the team had reached an agreement to hire Nolan during last weekend’s Memorial Cup junior hockey tournament.

“I did meet with Ted Nolan in Ottawa, but it was just to talk to him and get to know him a little,” Taylor said Sunday. “He is a candidate, but we didn’t talk about any terms and no offer was made. In fact, we said we would probably talk again sometime. . . .”

Taylor, who branded the Sun report “a little irresponsible” because it did not contain a comment from him or from Nolan, said he anticipated interviewing other coaching hopefuls in the next two weeks. The Kings have been without a coach since they announced shortly after the season ended they would not renew Larry Robinson’s contract.

“A couple of candidates, I have to request permission from their teams, and I expect to do that [today] or Tuesday,” Taylor said.

It’s likely that Dave Lewis, a former King who is an associate coach of the Detroit Red Wings, falls into that category. Taylor would not confirm whether he is interested in talking to Lewis, but Lewis is highly regarded around the NHL and he indicated he would be interested in discussing the King job after his team’s season ended, and that occurred last week.

Also considered a top contender for the job is John Van Boxmeer, coach of the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Taylor also said it’s possible a new coach will be hired before the June 26 entry draft. “It’s not completely necessary, but it would be nice,” Taylor said.