Interview w/ Andy Murray
Written by The Mayor, Saturday January 09 2010
Andy Murray went from being a virtual unknown when he was first hired by the Kings to their most successful coach in history. After three trips to the playoffs and with the team above .500, despite being riddled with injuries, he was let go with just a handful of games remaining in the 2005-06 season.
It may have been de ja vu all over again last Saturday morning. Murray had moved on to the St. Louis Blues. He led them to a remarkable second half run last season, putting the team in the playoffs for the first time in five years. His team was riddled with injuries this season, played poorly at home and he was promptly welcomed into 2010 by getting his walking papers from the Blues.
Prior to him being let go I had chatted with Murray in preparation for tonight's game. Although some answers seem a little of context now, the insight and thoughts were still worth sharing. We talked about family, winning, losing and a team he still obviously cares about - the Kings.
In 1999 you were hired by the Kings...
When I got the job in LA I had never met Dave Taylor before. I knew Al Murray and I knew Rob Blake from coaching him with Team Canada. I had one interview with the Kings and when they asked me back I figured they must have liked me. When we went out to dinner and they offered the job I think I surprised them when I said I needed to think about it. But, I wasn't expecting them to offer me the job so soon and wanted to talk to my family and think about the kids back home that I had made a commitment to when I became their coach.
Prior to that you were coaching at Shattuck St Mary's (a prep school). You've mentioned you took that job to be closer to home and your family. Why take the job with the Kings? Was it to get back to the NHL, was it the opportunity to be a head coach?
For sure. There are only 30 NHL head coaching positions. To be considered for one means that you have done some good things leading up to it. That's why I tell young coaches "Don't think so much about the future. Coach the team you have. If you do that well, the future opportunities will come." To answer your question though, there were other reasons. I always admired Dave Taylor as a player and I wanted to work with him. I also enjoyed coaching Rob Blake with Canada, so that appealed to me. The best part of being a coach is the day they ask you. It's a validation of all you've done up until that point.
Your first three seasons in LA your teams had 90+ points and made the playoffs all three years. Then the team lost to Colorado in '02. The next season the Kings had 78 points. What happened?
Well...I don't like to use injuries as an excuse. However, we set a record at one point for the most man games lost over a multi year period. We lost Allison, Deadmarsh, Palffy was out for an extended period - plus other guys. We weren't dealing with small injuries either. We had guys out with broken bones and concussions. That would be like Anaheim losing Getzlaf and Perry this season. It would crush them. Or the Kings losing Kopitar. It would hurt. Who knows where we would have been without a guy like Derek Armstrong. I think people forget, he basically became our number one center. It was a tough road to hoe there. We were struggling to find consistency. Looks like the Kings have that solved this year. But, that was a problem in LA for a number of years.
You left LA with more wins than any other coach in Kings history. Is that your legacy here or would you like to be remembered for something else?
You know what means the most to me? Going to the rink and having guys come up to me and still want to shake my hand. The way I'm treated when I return. Players, front office people and the fans, they all treat me so well. I love the handshakes and the hellos. The Kings are a great team finally. They are so fun to watch and I truly enjoy the people in LA. I'm glad they still welcome me.
In the Spring of 2006 you were fired with just a few games left in the season. Looking back on it, do you think it was a desperation move by a GM trying to save his own job?
I remember us being 8 games over .500 when I was fired. But we had been playing poorly for awhile and just came off a terrible game in Colorado. It was about 4pm and Dave Taylor called me into his office. I knew something was up. The only time he called me to his office at a time like that was if we were sending somebody down to Manchester. He'd call me in and we'd tell the player together. I knew that wasn't the case here so I went over and stuck my head in his office and said "Are you sending me down to Manchester?" and he was white in the face. I knew what was coming. I thanked him for what he had done for me, how he helped me and for the opportunity he gave me.
I'm not mad though. I had a great time in LA. I liked working for Mr Anschutz, Tim Leiweke and the whole team. I loved everything about being the Kings coach. I just wish we could have stayed healthy. It also would have been nice to still be there when guys like Brown and Frolov developed into the players they are today. Wow, they're something special. The only thing that bothers me is some of the stuff that people wrote that wasn't true - about my supposed battles with certain players and stuff like that. Even with Sean Avery. Sure, he's a real character. But he's become a pretty darn good hockey player for the Rangers.
For me, it's all about the relationships. I feel like now I can go back there when I retire and sit and watch the Kings games and enjoy it.
As far as the decision to let me go, sure I was disappointed. But, those things happen in our business and you just have to move on. I don't blame Dave. I'm a big Dave Taylor fan. Still am right now.
Let's move on to family. Your son Brady was drafted by the Kings and then finally made his debut in the NHL when the team played a series over in London back in '07. Was that a bittersweet moment for you since you couldn't be there at the game?
First off, I had no idea we were drafting him. It's a common misconception that I influenced that happening. Truth is I didn't know. As a coach you really don't get to see the draft book. Sure, you go to the draft - but that's basically just to shake hands or if there is a trade being proposed they'll consult you. But, most coaches know nothing about the draft - unless you're a coach and GM. You're not part of the decisions. I didn't even know where we had him ranked. In fact, I had been told by somebody in the Nashville organization that the Preds were looking to draft him around the third round. I guess somebody they had ranked higher fell to them in the second or third and then when it came around to us picking Al Murray walked around to the end of the table and said 'We're going to take Brady.' I had no idea. They told me just minutes before it was announced.
Anyway, it was great that he finally made the team in '07. He had a good summer camp. Nelson Emerson was keeping me informed. He was just living the dream there.
Then, when the Kings came home, one of their first games was against the Blues. So, to see him playing for the Kings at Staples Center - a building he was skating around in as a kid when it was first being built - it was special.
A couple games later he scored his first NHL goal, only to be sent down the next day. So, that was an exciting time, we just wished he could have stayed up a little longer.
He's playing in Europe right now, right?
Yes. He's playing as a non-import over there since I was there for eight years. He's making real good money and he led the league is scoring last year. The Kings qualified him. However, LA just has so many good young players right now you just never know if there's room for him. Who knows. In another year or two maybe he'll be back to give it another crack.
And your other son, Jordy, he's a left wing is in his second season at the University of Wisconsin. How's he enjoying himself?
He really likes it there. He was a little down in December after separating his shoulder. Right after it happened he was a little sour about being out. But, he'll be fine.
I just watched a tape of my daughter Sarah too, she is playing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, one of the best women's hockey programs every year. She's a senior and she's getting ready to go play in a real good women's pro league over in Switzerland. In fact, she's going to sign with a team that's in the same city as Brady, so that will be pretty exciting.
How about some word association Andy?
Sure!
Here we go, we'll start with some guys you coached early in your career and move forward from there...
Tie Domi - irritator
Nelson Emerson - great guy
Brent Thompson - passionate
Jay Wells - competitor
Ron Hextall - ultimate competitor
Rick Tocchet - ultra, ultra competitor (he laughs)...how about 'total package'
Mike Modano - quality guy, quality player
Rob Blake - great person
Luc Robitaille - one of the nicest guys in the game
Frolov - happy guy...I love being around him, always makes me smile
Ziggy Palffy - I still talk to Ziggy quite a bit - for him I'll say 'dynamic player'
Dustin Brown - wish we had him on our team
Sean Avery - underrated as a player
Ian Laperriere - love the guy
Jeremy Roenick - was fun to coach
Mattias Norstrom - warrior (then he laughed and said or 'a Canadian Swede')
Keith Tkachuck - classy guy, real leader on our team
When we wrapped things up I thanked him and said I'd see him today. Only I won't.
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