After just one season as the team’s “offensive coordinator,” assistant coach Pierre Turgeon will not return to the Los Angeles Kings. Turgeon is leaving the club due to family reasons, though the team made no mention of starting a search to replace him immediately. A statement was included from GM Rob Blake:
Pierre has informed us that he has decided not to return to his coaching position due to family reasons and we have accepted his resignation. We thank him for his efforts with the Kings this past season and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
Turgeon was hired as an assistant for new coach John Stevens and tasked with trying to squeeze more offense out of a group that had struggled for several years. The Kings still struggled as a group, but at least part of that can be attributed to Jeff Carter missing all but 27 games up front. For Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, it was a return to form as they recorded 92 and 61 points respectively to lead the club. Brown especially rebounded; after four straight seasons of 15 or fewer goals, the former 30-goal winger put up 28.
There’s no telling exactly what Turgeon is going through in his personal life but hopefully he’ll be able to get back to hockey in some capacity in the near future. He currently sits 32nd on the all-time points list as a player, and is a well respected figure around the league.
His son, Dom Turgeon, wears #23 because his sister passed. It could have something to do with that.