New head coach John Stevens’ staff is complete, as the Los Angeles Kings announced this afternoon that they have hired five-time NHL All-Star Pierre Turgeon as an assistant coach. With Dave Lowry, Don Nachbauer, and Bill Ranford already in place, Stevens and the Kings are ready to go for 2017-18.
Although this will be Turgeon’s first NHL coaching positions, and really his first at all other than coaching his own kids through youth hockey, he makes up for his lack of coaching experience with more than enough playing experience in his illustrious career. The 1987 #1 overall pick is 30th all-time in assists with 812, 38th all-time in goals with 515, and 32nd in points with 1327, all accomplished over a 19-year NHL career with five teams. A teammate of Kings GM Rob Blake with the Colorado Avalanche in 2005-06, Turgeon surely impressed his new boss with his cerebral play-making and vision on the ice. Kings president Luc Robitaille described Turgeon’s new role as that of an “offensive coordinator”, as L.A. looks to cure an offense that was anemic at times last season, finishing 25th in scoring. Turgeon should also provide a boost to the team’s 15th-ranked power play, somewhat of a specialty of his during his playing days.
Turgeon’s hire becomes the third big coaching story today, as the New York Islanders swapped goalie coaches, hiring Fred Brathwaite and not extending Mike Dunham, while across town the New York Rangers made official the hiring of Lindy Ruff as an assistant coach for Alain Vigneault.