TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Lightning Add Ex-Goalie Vernon To Front Office

ADVERTISEMENT

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

TAMPA - The Lightning continue to round out their front-office staff, bringing more NHL experience into the fold.

Two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Mike Vernon was hired as special assistant to the vice president of hockey operations on Thursday. Vernon backstopped the 1989 Calgary Flames and the 1997 Detroit Red Wings to a title.

His responsibilities will include assisting in all hockey-related matters and providing some assistance with the team's goaltenders, according to VP of hockey operations Brian Lawton.

"Mike's past experience and knowledge will be a true benefit to the organization and it will be critical to us as we continue to make changes within the team to improve it," Lawton said.

Vernon, 45, retired from playing in 2002 after 17 years and 781 career games while compiling a record of 385-273-92 with a 2.98 goals-against average. He was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP in 1997 after posting a 16-4 record and 1.76 goals-against average in the playoffs for the Red Wings.

KINGS: Good luck, Terry Murray. You've just been hired for the toughest job in the NHL.

That's what Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said Thursday when he introduced Murray as the 22nd coach in franchise history.

Murray, who turns 58 Sunday, signed a three-year, $2.65 million contract to succeed Marc Crawford, who was fired June 10 after two unsuccessful seasons.

Unsuccessful has been the byword for the Kings in recent years since they haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2002. They had 71 points last season - tied with Tampa Bay for the fewest in the NHL.

Murray guided Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup finals 11 years ago, and has coached 737 regular-season NHL games. Murray has been an assistant with the Flyers since 2003-04, and hasn't been a coach since being fired by Florida following the 2000-01 season.

"I did think I would get another head coaching job someday," he said. "It's a great opportunity - the opportunity to work with good people, the opportunity to work with a team that has a plan."

Murray has a 360-288-89 regular-season record and a 46-43 postseason mark as a coach with Philadelphia (1989-94), Washington (1995-97) and Florida (1998-2001).

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT