W-OLF
04-18-2006, 06:59 PM
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles Kings have fired general manager Dave Taylor, a team official said Tuesday.
The Kings will ask Taylor to remain with the team in another capacity, an official told The Associated Press on condition on anonymity because the move had not yet been made public.
The team called an afternoon news conference at its training facility to "announce major changes to Kings hockey operations department."
The 50-year-old Taylor was fired after the Kings played poorly down the stretch and fell out of playoff contention for the second year in a row.
Coach Andy Murray was fired last month when the Kings had a 37-28-5 record and were tied for seventh - and a playoff spot - in the Western Conference.
Taylor said then, "It's a little odd that we're nine games over .500 and we're making a coaching change, but we do have high expectations for our team. We know we have to play better down the stretch."
John Torchetti became the interim coach, but the Kings still stumbled and finished with a 42-35-5 record, next to last in the Pacific Division.
Taylor was Los Angeles' GM for nine years. The Kings made the playoffs four times during his tenure, but they advanced beyond the first round just once. They've never won the Stanley Cup.
Dean Lombardi, former San Jose Sharks GM and a scout this season for the Philadelphia Flyers, is believed to be the top candidate for the Kings' job.
credit BellSouth
The Kings will ask Taylor to remain with the team in another capacity, an official told The Associated Press on condition on anonymity because the move had not yet been made public.
The team called an afternoon news conference at its training facility to "announce major changes to Kings hockey operations department."
The 50-year-old Taylor was fired after the Kings played poorly down the stretch and fell out of playoff contention for the second year in a row.
Coach Andy Murray was fired last month when the Kings had a 37-28-5 record and were tied for seventh - and a playoff spot - in the Western Conference.
Taylor said then, "It's a little odd that we're nine games over .500 and we're making a coaching change, but we do have high expectations for our team. We know we have to play better down the stretch."
John Torchetti became the interim coach, but the Kings still stumbled and finished with a 42-35-5 record, next to last in the Pacific Division.
Taylor was Los Angeles' GM for nine years. The Kings made the playoffs four times during his tenure, but they advanced beyond the first round just once. They've never won the Stanley Cup.
Dean Lombardi, former San Jose Sharks GM and a scout this season for the Philadelphia Flyers, is believed to be the top candidate for the Kings' job.
credit BellSouth