Morning Notes: Lombardi, Coaches, Rangers

Huge changes were laid down yesterday in Los Angeles, with the team firing both GM Dean Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter. Lombardi had been with the team since 2006, and ushered in the first two Stanley Cups in Kings history in 2012 and 2014. The general manager was highly respected by his players, including those he drafted like Drew Doughty and others he brought in like Jeff Carter. It’s no surprise then that Gord Miller of TSN reported today that many Kings’ players showed up at his home last night to “console him”.

While the GM can certainly be critiqued for moves he made to try and keep the Kings relevant the last few years, Miller reminds us that most were due to loyalty for the players who took the team to the Stanley Cup. Whether that is an ideal way to run a franchise (it’s not), it is at least understandable from a man who found no such success with the San Jose Sharks in his previous stint as GM. He’ll definitely land on his feet somewhere, if only because of the loyalty and respect he’s earned over the years. The Kings though, are likely better off moving in a new direction.

• As for Sutter, he joins the rest of the recently fired coaches that will be looking for new employment this offseason. Craig Custance of ESPN took a shot at predicting who will fill the other four vacancies, with Ken Hitchcock (Dallas), Travis Green (Vancouver), Dallas Eakins (Florida) and Jack Capuano (Vegas) getting the nods. He also mentions coaches like Jim Montgomery of the University of Denver, David Quinn from Boston University, and Todd Nelson of the Grand Rapids Griffins as names to watch this summer for the vacancies. All three are considered excellent up-and-coming options, who should find their way into the NHL eventually if they so choose.
• The Rangers have made their playoff cuts, sending Taylor Beck and Magnus Hellberg back down to the Hartford Wolfpack for the last few games. Hartford has been the worst team in the AHL this season and will end their season in a few days with an ugly record. While that’s not neccessarily emblematic of a poor farm system, the Rangers haven’t selected in the first round since 2012 and it is obviously hurting their pipeline. They don’t have their second, third or fourth picks this year, but when they missed out on Kevin Shattenkirk at the deadline, they kept that first-rounder for the time being.