The Los Angeles Kings officially named Marc Crawford as their new head coach on Monday. Crawford takes over for John Torchetti, who coached the final 12 games of the season after Andy Murray was fired.
Crawford has a successful track record as an NHL head coach, having led the Colorado Avalanche to the 1996 Stanley Cup title. He was let go this April by the Vancouver Canucks who missed the playoffs after a late-season skid.
'I'm a different coach from Andy Murray,' Crawford said as he was introduced as the Kings coach. 'I'm very passionate and inclusive. I want players around me who are creative.'
Crawford was the first major move by new GM Dean Lombardi. 'Marc is not only one of the top coaches in the NHL, I believe he is also the perfect fit for this team now and into the future,' Lombardi announced.
Crawford was thrilled with his new opportunity. 'My family and I are excited to be joining Dean [Lombardi] and the Kings organization,' Crawford said in a statement. 'I'm very impressed by their commitment to do things right and I'm truly looking forward to the challenge of guiding this team.'
The Kings finished the 2005-2006 season with a 42-35-5 record and narrowly missed the playoffs for the third straight season. Injuries have decimated Los Angeles in recent years and have impeded the club's progress. They have not made the postseason in three consecutive seasons.
Crawford has 411 career wins as an NHL coach. In addition to his time with the Canucks and Avalanche, he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 1994 while coaching the Quebec Nordiques.
Crawford becomes the 21st head coach in the history of the Kings and the first to have a Stanley Cup coaching win on his resume.
'The most important thing for me was to be in an organization where the philosophy and vision was very similar to what I've always had,' Crawford said. 'We were going to try to forge ahead and do the right thing.'
