As Robinson Succeeds in New Jersey, Kings Don’t Regret His Departure

Did Larry Robinson get smarter in the swamps of New Jersey? Were the Kings foolish to let him walk away after four rocky seasons as their coach?

If agreeing to coach a talented but disjointed team eight games before the season ended is smart, Robinson is a genius. When he sends out Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Bobby Holik, Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott and Scott Gomez, he looks absolutely brilliant.

Robinson didn’t become more intelligent when he succeeded Robbie Ftorek. He inherited a better team than he had in Los Angeles, which is why he and the Devils will face the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup finals starting today at Continental Airlines Arena.

“In my mind, this was the only decision that could be made,” Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello said of the change. “We were fortunate to have someone who could take our players to the level they are at today.”

Robinson has been credited with helping the Devils rally from a 3-1 deficit against the Philadelphia Flyers in the East finals by delivering a trash can-kicking tirade after Game 4--one that sounded like many he delivered to the Kings. However, he said Monday his role was exaggerated.

“A lot has been said about this so-called speech, but it was more of a tongue-lashing,” Robinson said. “I felt our team was much better than we were showing and it was the right place and the right time to do it. I wouldn’t say it was like what I did in L.A. There was a lot more at stake here. It’s just a different situation, something I don’t normally do.”

Robinson’s biggest accomplishment was healing psyches that were wounded by Ftorek’s bluntness. Robinson is a father figure and friend to players and his voice was fresh to them; he boosted Stevens’ confidence and helped the rugged defenseman raise his play to MVP-caliber.

“The biggest thing he brought is discipline,” Stevens said. “He’s got everybody playing as a team, not as individuals. The forwards have really changed and they’re helping the defensemen. We played river hockey, trading chance for chance, and that’s what got us in trouble.

“Larry has a calming effect behind the bench and that has carried over to the players.”

The Kings, however, came to see Robinson as indecisive because he constantly tinkered with line combinations and failed to carry out threats to bench undisciplined players. The only congratulatory phone calls he has received from the Kings are from equipment manager Peter Millar and former assistant coach Jay Leach. No players. “That’s fine,” he said.

There should be no bitterness on either side. Robinson had lost the Kings’ trust, and even with a team that included Ziggy Palffy and Bryan Smolinski, he wouldn’t have done better than Andy Murray this season. He couldn’t have done any better personally than to guide the Devils to the finals.

“I’m happy for Larry and the success he’s having in New Jersey and hopefully, that success will continue,” King President Tim Leiweke said. “What David [Taylor, the Kings’ general manager] went through in his decision-making process here was something I’m absolutely comfortable with. Everything done was based on the circumstances here and the idea that was the right direction for us to go.

“As much as everyone looks at the Devils and says, ‘Did the Kings make a mistake?’ you have to note we had the fourth-best record in our history this season under Andy. I guarantee you there is no second-guessing going on in our organization.”

THE END OF THE BIG E?

One look at the dazed expression on Eric Lindros’ face Friday after a hard but clean shoulder-to-jaw hit by Stevens was enough to think Lindros has played his last NHL game. He said Monday he’s considering retiring or taking a year off, although a year’s sabbatical only postponed the inevitable for fellow concussion victim Pat LaFontaine.

Lindros’ sixth concussion--and third in less than three months--showed how vulnerable he is. Such contact happens a dozen times a game. If he risks brain injury each time he’s hit, he’s taking a huge gamble. It’s difficult to imagine any doctor will clear him to play again, given his history.

It’s a tragedy that his career may end at 27, but it would be a greater tragedy if he suffers damage that will impair him the rest of his life.

BY THE TIME HE GOT TO PHOENIX

Although a wavering Wayne Gretzky last Friday agreed to join developer Steve Ellman as a minority owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, the deal is far from done.

Ellman made a non-refundable $10 million payment to owner Richard Burke but must raise $90 million to cover the rest of the purchase price and the cost of running the Coyotes for two years before Ellman’s planned new arena will open. There’s doubt he can raise the money, and if he fails, that would cancel the deal. In that case, Burke may sell the club to Paul Allen, who would move it to Portland.

Gretzky used his name as equity and invested little or no money. His title and duties will be announced at a news conference Wednesday.

“It was also an opportunity in a city that is quite close to home,” he said in his weekly (ghostwritten) column in Canada’s National Post.

The Kings are even closer to the home he’s building on a Southland golf course, and his name has more value in Los Angeles than in Phoenix, but Leiweke said Gretzky never indicated he wanted to join the Kings as an executive.

“I’ve talked to Wayne before in general about what he was going to do and where he was headed, but we didn’t get into specifics,” Leiweke said. “The last time we talked was a while ago.

“Wayne’s very bright and passionate and would add an enormous amount of experience and credibility to any franchise. At the time we talked, Wayne was just coming out of playing and he wanted some time away from the game. He’s been in our suite and I think we have a good relationship and I think he knows we’d be happy to talk to him if and when he wanted.

“We’re in a bit of a different situation because we have an ownership situation that’s real solid, unlike the Coyotes, who are trying to put an ownership group together. We have an organizational structure we’re happy with.”

MELROSE’S PLACE

Barry Melrose expected to find another coaching job after he was fired by the Kings with seven games left in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season, but his rashness and his feuds with General Manager Nick Beverley scared off potential suitors.

Not that he suffered. Melrose soon joined ESPN as a studio and game analyst and is in fifth season in those roles. But he virtually has given up on coaching.

“I didn’t think I’d be here five years. I thought I’d be coaching again pretty quickly,” he said. “But I saw how my family thrived without me coaching.

“The longer you’re away from the game, the harder it is to get back in it. I probably will never coach again. I should never say never, but that’s what it looks like.”

SLAP SHOTS

Alexei Yashin’s arbitration hearing still is ongoing and that could impact the ability of arbitrator Lawrence Holden to decide before the entry draft--traditionally a big day for trades--whether Yashin should become a restricted free agent July 1 or if he owes the Ottawa Senators another season at $3.6 million after walking out on the final year of his contract. The decision will set a precedent, so executives in the NHL and NHL Players Assn. are paying extremely close attention to the proceedings.

The Kings’ ticket prices will rise next season but Leiweke declined to say how much until season ticket holders are notified. “I will say we will not have a double-digit increase,” he said. . . . The Detroit Red Wings chose not to exercise an option that would have paid defenseman Larry Murphy $3 million next season. However, they want to re-sign him for less. . . . Red Wing Coach Scotty Bowman may announce this week whether he will return for his eighth season. He underwent a physical two weeks ago and is awaiting results. General Manager Ken Holland has said he wants Bowman to return.

Ray Bourque’s quest for his first Cup ended with Colorado’s Game 7 loss to Dallas in the West finals. The Avalanche wants him back but he hasn’t decided if the separation from his family is worth it. . . . Glen Sather’s hiring as the New York Rangers’ general manager reportedly has been delayed by financial differences. He supposedly wants $15 million over five years, $4 million more than the Rangers offered. Sather agreed to remain an advisor to the Edmonton Oilers until they choose a new general manager.