Murray, on developing defensemen
Here's what Terry Murray had to say about how he plans to help develop the Kings' young defensemen...
MURRAY: Mark Hardy is now back with the L.A. Kings, working with us. He was a defenseman for years and a good coach. It's now our job, to work with the young guys, develop their individual skillS, through small groups on the ice, video sessions, communication and small-group meetings, and to put that team in place. One thing they need to know... If you're going to be a good defenseman in this league, you can only play as well as the team structure that's in place.
You have to have help from your forwards. It takes five guys on the ice, six guys with the goalie, to play well in the defensive part of the game. That's the plan and that's the style that we have to have in place. That's the philosophy that we have to have all these young guys and the veterans buy into, that they're going to play hard for each other. When that foundation is there, then you see the young guys, their true talent and their abilities will start to come out. Then you'll see much better hockey players, individually, as the season goes on, because of the structure that's going to be laid down in training camp.
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Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
One of the most difficult things to do in hockey is to teach young players to play (and commit to) defense. I hope coach has a great deal of patience.
Who would have ever thought that "coaching" meant "to work with the young guys, develop their individual skillS, through small groups on the ice, video sessions, communication and small-group meetings"???
I always assumed it meant fill out the roster and hope for the best.
I like his comments-simple, but meaningful.
Guys have to play hard "for each other", corny as that sounds, to be the best possible team.
And, it is having a *clear structure/style/system
that helps players relax and settle in & play their best.
I'm paraphrasingm but that's basically what I got.
That's an improvement on the less-explanatory (and less clear?) Crawford right there.
I have a good feeling about Murray, I really do.
--triplcrown