We might have another coaching change in the NHL by the time you read this column.
A report from the Los Angeles Times says the Los Angeles Kings are preparing to fire Terry Murray perhaps as early as tomorrow night.
Los Angeles is 13-12-4 on the season with 30 points and sit in 12th in the Western Conference, just two points out of the final playoff spot.
But the problem for the Kings is they have enough talent on their roster where they should be one of the top five teams in the West instead of struggling for a playoff spot.
I watched Los Angeles play Minnesota on Thursday night. The Wild scored 24 seconds into the game and 1:25 into the start of the 2nd period. Once that happened the Kings seemed to be just going through the motions and didn't put up much of a fight.
That might be the thing that is Terry Murray's undoing, the lack of passion being shown by the players on the Kings roster. What Los Angeles needs is a guy to come in and give the roster a swift kick in the ass. The perfect coach for that job just so happens recently was coaching in Orange County.
Randy Carlyle led the Anaheim Ducks to five playoff berths in six seasons and won a Stanley Cup in 2007. He won a Norris Trophy as best defenseman back in 1981 and coached two defenseman, Chris Pronger & Scott Niedermeyer that have won Norris Trophies.
The Kings have two potential Norris Trophy defenseman on their roster in Drew Doughty & Jack Johnson. The Kings also have a deep group of forwards on their roster who are having trouble putting the puck in the net. Anaheim may have had their issues scoring this season but it wasn't because their top forwards weren't producing.
Right now the LA Times says Carlyle isn't a candidate to replace Murray should a coaching change be made. The Kings should take a hard look at Carlyle. With the NBA returning in a couple weeks the Kings run the risk of getting lost in the shuffle in LA behind the Lakers and Clippers.
Hiring Carlyle could not only save their season but make them relevant for the first time since Gretzky skated at the Great Western Forum.
Here is the Power Poll for Week 9.
1. Minnesota 20-7-3 43 points
Have won four straight on current road trip. Faces Chicago on Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center.
2. Detroit 18-9-1 37 points
Fourteen different Red Wings record a point in 7-1 win over Winnipeg on Saturday.
3. Boston 18-9-1 37 points
Zdeno Chara listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury.
4. Chicago 18-8-4 40 points
Game against Minnesota on Wednesday night is a match-up of the top two teams in the NHL.
5. Vancouver 18-10-1 37 points
Canucks have scored at least three goals in last nine games.
6. Philadelphia 18-7-3 39 points
Claude Giroux expected to miss at least one game with concussion like symptoms.
7. Pittsburgh 17-9-4 38 points
Sidney Crosby also out indefinitely with concussion like symptoms.
8. N.Y. Rangers 17-6-4 38 points
6-1 win over Florida has Rangers one point out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
9. St. Louis 17-9-3 37 points
Brian Elliott is tied for the league lead in shutouts with four on the season. Not bad for the former Badger.
10. Dallas 16-11-1 33 points
Penalty Kill is a big part of the Stars success so far this season.
11. Florida 16-9-5 37 points
Congrats to Erik Gudbrandson on his first NHL goal.
12. San Jose 15-10-2 32 points
Sharks have one win in their last five games.
13. Washington 15-12-1 31 points
John Carlson (1G, 6A) named NHL 3rd star of the week.
14. Buffalo 15-12-2 32 points
Upcoming 10 day stretch should tell us what kind of team the Sabres are.
15. Toronto 15-11-3 33 points
Maple Leafs ranked 29th in the NHL in Penalty Kill (74.3%)
16. Phoenix 15-11-3 33 points
Coyotes have allowed eight power play goals in their last eighteen penalty kills.
17. New Jersey 14-13-1 29 points
Devils will retire Scott Niedermeyer's number Friday night. (long overdue)
18. Nashville 14-11-4 32 points
Jordin Tootoo returns from a two game suspension, scores game winning goal over Anaheim.
19. Edmonton 14-13-3 31 points
Big challenge ahead for Oilers as eight of next ten games are on the road.
20. Calgary 14-13-2 30 points
Jarome Iginla has four goals and nine points in his last five games.
21. Los Angeles 13-12-4 30 points
Having Mike Richards out of the lineup is not helping the Kings.
22. Winnipeg 13-12-4 30 points
New Jets in Winnipeg, same result against Detroit.
23. Colorado 13-16-1 27 points
Avalanche are 0-7-1 in their last eight road games.
24. Ottawa 13-13-4 30 points
Senators say they aren't giving up on Nikita Filatov despite lending him to CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
25. Montreal 12-11-7 31 points
Swapped defenseman with Carolina sending Jaroslav Spacek to the Hurricanes in exchange for Tomas Kaberle.
26. Tampa Bay 12-15-2 26 points
Lightning signs Antti Miettinen to a two year contract. Should add depth at forward.
27. N.Y. Islanders 9-12-6 24 points
Evgeni Nabokov close to returning after being on injured reserve for the last month.
28. Carolina 9-18-4 22 points
Jaroslav Spacek had two assists in his first game with the Hurricanes.
29. Anaheim 8-16-5 21 points
Ducks trade Kurtis Foster to New Jersey as they try to shake up their roster.
30. Columbus 8-17-4 20 points
Blue Jackets are 7-5-2 when scoring first. They should try to do that more often.
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