Kings News: Kings extended contract of Manchester Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris

[CNS]

Yes, thank you

Ah. Sorry I misunderstood your post. And no. He won't replace Sutter. He'll be long gone from our organization by the time Dean fires Sutter. And I think Sutter leaves before our window closes as a contender and in that case, we'd want a coach with NHL head coaching experience.

 

[kingsfan]

Out of curiousity, if there's a biggest stats head than me out there because I don't know the answer to this, but has any coach in recent history made his NHL debut at the age of 56? Morris will be 56 next year and he hasn't cracked the NHL as an asst. coach or Head Coach yet, so I'm just wondering if there's a window of opportunity and if he has a legit shot at it at this point.

Boudreau was 52 when he made his debut as Washington's Head Coach. Seems like most guys make their NHL bench boss debuts in their mid-40's.

 

[Puck U]

Claude Noël & Boudreau look to be current oldest before getting NHL gigs ... @ 51 and 52

 

[Roxo]

Any idea when lombardi's contract ends?

 

[Puck U]

Any idea when lombardi's contract ends?

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/18/sports/la-sp-kings-fyi-20130119

Lombardi, who was hired by the Kings in 2006, signed a contract extension through the 2016-17 season. He wasn't the only key member of the franchise to receive a contract extension in the aftermath of the Kings' Stanley Cup championship. Coach Darryl Sutter now has three more seasons after this lockout-shortened campaign, and Luc Robitaille, the team's president of business operations, received a multiyear extension.

So 2017

 

[kingsfan]

Claude Noël & Boudreau look to be current oldest before getting NHL gigs ... @ 51 and 52

Is that just for head coaches, or for Asst. coaches as well?

If that's for Asst. too, then doesn't look good for Morris getting an NHL gig down the road.

 

[HockeyCA]

I think Morris is extremely overrated. He turns our prospects into bottom line players by allowing zero room for creativity. The Kings have drafted very very well these past 5 years or so, and I can't really think of a guy who has fulfilled his potential offensively under his reign. I think we would have been better off looking outside the organization at this point..

 

[Reclamation Project]

I think Morris is extremely overrated. He turns our prospects into bottom line players by allowing zero room for creativity. The Kings have drafted very very well these past 5 years or so, and I can't really think of a guy who has fulfilled his potential offensively under his reign. I think we would have been better off looking outside the organization at this point..

 

[CNS]

I think Morris is extremely overrated. He turns our prospects into bottom line players by allowing zero room for creativity. The Kings have drafted very very well these past 5 years or so, and I can't really think of a guy who has fulfilled his potential offensively under his reign. I think we would have been better off looking outside the organization at this point..

Yep. Now I KNOW you don't pay attention whatsoever to anything regarding our prospects. You do realize that he turned Slava into an amazing two way defenseman, who still can score like crazy but now isn't a liability in his own zone AND he hits? And Toffoli? There wasn't a person on this board that thought he would bust more than me. In part of one season, he SERIOUSLY rounded out Toffoli's game so that he's not just a pure one dimensional player anymore. I'm not trying to sell Morris as a world beating, next best thing in coaching type of guy but he's been superb at developing our players.

 

[HockeyCA]

Yep. Now I KNOW you don't pay attention whatsoever to anything regarding our prospects. You do realize that he turned Slava into an amazing two way defenseman, who still can score like crazy but now isn't a liability in his own zone AND he hits? And Toffoli? There wasn't a person on this board that thought he would bust more than me. In part of one season, he SERIOUSLY rounded out Toffoli's game so that he's not just a pure one dimensional player anymore. I'm not trying to sell Morris as a world beating, next best thing in coaching type of guy but he's been superb at developing our players.

So you take two players out of probably close to a hundred, and that is your argument? Morris I believe does not even work with the Defenseman down in Manchester, and should probably get very little credit turning Voynov into what he is today, he is just a talent. Toffoli was down in Manch for close to 5 months or so, and I would certainly not kill him a defensive specialist, especially when he's never been/is not a physical player. Toffoli really is the only player, in my mind, whose offensive talents have really not been influenced by Morris, and he probably spent the least amount of time in Manchester before he was called up. Coincidence? Not sure, but it is worth thinking about.

 

[Reclamation Project]

You do realize that not every player that goes through the AHL makes it into the NHL right? So I guess by that logic, every coach has failed because not every player has graduated into the NHL?

 

[HockeyCA]

You do realize that not every player that goes through the AHL makes it into the NHL right? So I guess by that logic, every coach has failed because not every player has graduated into the NHL?

Perhaps instead of posting idiotic "meme's" (is that what the kids call it these days?), you should refute the point I was making. We are not developing high-end offensive players. Is that a product of the system we play? Probably plays a part of it. Is it a product of a lack of creativity being allowed in the minor leagues? Absolutely. To say otherwise I think would be incorrect.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Perhaps instead of posting idiotic "meme's" (is that what the kids call it these days?), you should refute the point I was making. We are not developing high-end offensive players. Is that a product of the system we play? Probably plays a part of it. Is it a product of a lack of creativity being allowed in the minor leagues? Absolutely. To say otherwise I think would be incorrect.

That's a GIF and idiotic posts get idiotic responses.

Perhaps you would rather have a team that develops run and gun players that aren't defensively responsible. When a player worries about a complete game, they'll likely score less points. Our talent is just fine. Our team has a defensive identity and our talent is developed in that mold. Sorry they don't score enough goals for you.

And high-end offensive talent is certainly a selective phrase. I'd say Jeff Carter is the only player on this team that fits that.

 

[kingsfan]

Perhaps instead of posting idiotic "meme's" (is that what the kids call it these days?), you should refute the point I was making. We are not developing high-end offensive players. Is that a product of the system we play? Probably plays a part of it. Is it a product of a lack of creativity being allowed in the minor leagues? Absolutely. To say otherwise I think would be incorrect.

Morris has been in place since 2006-2007. Who has he had in Manchester in that time to develop?

Kopitar, Brown, Cammy, etc. already were on the Kings by that point, and what top teir offensive players have the Kings drafted since? Loktionov? Well, he has developed.

Take a look at our first round picks since 2006. Bernier (a goalie), Lewis (who was invited to the USA Olympic camp), Hickey (D-man), Doughty (D-man), Teubert( D-man), Schenn (traded after just 12 games (including playoffs) in Manchester) and Forbort, who just got to Manchester. And oh yeah, he's a D-man too.

Take away Lewis, who I'd heavily debate as a bust since he's been invited to an Olympic team camp (and a good camp, not Team Japan or something), and Scheen's cup of coffee, and the highest drafted forward that has been in Manchester since 2006 is Tanner Pearson (30th overall) and Tyler Toffoli (47th overall). Are we saying neither of them is a high-end offensive player?

Both are expected to be top six forwards in LA, Toffoli looks really good to be a 30+ goal guy for us.

Other than those two, the Kings have had only one other forward drafted in the first or second round come through Manchester, and that was Oscar Moller.

So basically, in the last seven drafts (not counting 2013 draft), the Kings have had only four forwards drafted in the first or second round play any significant time in the AHL. Of those four, three (Lewis, Pearson and Toffoli) are on pace to be very good players at their position (two of which look to be a top six player) and one likely busted out (Moller MAY return to the NHL, but unlikely). That's a damn good return rate, especially considering none of those guys were high end first rounders.

Critique Morris all you want, but maybe give him something to work with in order to expect results from him in the first place.

 

[damacles1156]

This might be the first year Morris gets to work with some very good Wingers(multiple) with Hands.

Regardless, from the Monarch games I watched last year; scoring was not a problem. Keeping the puck out of their own net was.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Morris has only just started to get our offensively talented prospects in Manchester. This team was drafted and put together in a very specific way. Goaltenders, defensemen, and then forwards. As I said Morris is only now seeing the forwards come to Manchester and he's had great success with them at the AHL level. Toffoli and Vey were both among top players in the league in goals and points. Kozun was also in the top 20 in both goals and points.

The best way to judge Morris on what he's done so far is to see who he's worked with on the goalie and defenseman front. As those are the top end prospects he's got to work with. When looking at that list some impressive names come up. Guys like Quick, Bernier, Voynov, Martinez, Hickey, and Muzzin.

 

[King'sPawn]

Morris doesn't develop a high end offensive player, because the Kings don't want one dimensional players in the organization.

Offensive creativity gets stifled when systems get implemented. When you let creativity thrive, it inhibits the five players from working as a cohesive unit.

Morris is doing his job. And he does it well. The only criticism I have of him is he has yet to get the Monarchs close to a championship, but I blame that as much on Hextall for not bringing in a vet or two to help push them to the next level.

 

[tigermask48]

Morris doesn't develop a high end offensive player, because the Kings don't want one dimensional players in the organization.

Offensive creativity gets stifled when systems get implemented. When you let creativity thrive, it inhibits the five players from working as a cohesive unit.

Morris is doing his job. And he does it well. The only criticism I have of him is he has yet to get the Monarchs close to a championship, but I blame that as much on Hextall for not bringing in a vet or two to help push them to the next level.

There was the deep run they went on in 2010 (wasn't it to the conference finals?) but they met a team that was basically stacked with NHL talent and tons of vets. They also had a number of guys that got called up and hurt their chances of going deeper a couple of years... It happens. The Calder cup champs have for a few years now been teams loaded with AHL veterans and that really goes against the whole purpose of it being a development league... Hextall tried to get a couple of what should have been solid vets but they just never seem to work out.

 

[damacles1156]

The only way you win a Calder Cup is if your AHL team's top minute eaters are Vets.

That defeats the whole purpose of the AHL team developing your prospects.

Lets hope Blake keeps his eye on the purpose of Manchester.

 

[King'sPawn]

The only way you win a Calder Cup is if your AHL team's top minute eaters are Vets.

That defeats the whole purpose of the AHL team developing your prospects.

Lets hope Blake keeps his eye on the purpose of Manchester.

I'm not saying replace the entire team with vets, but add the extra punch to make them competitive, win an extra playoff series here and there, and give the youth more experience.

The point is that I think Morris does a fine job with what he's given. I think it would be beneficial to give him a little more; a little additional success and competition against an extra vet or two is good for development, in my opinion.

 

[hockeynutz]

Morris doesn't develop a high end offensive player, because the Kings don't want one dimensional players in the organization.

Offensive creativity gets stifled when systems get implemented. When you let creativity thrive, it inhibits the five players from working as a cohesive unit.

Morris is doing his job. And he does it well. The only criticism I have of him is he has yet to get the Monarchs close to a championship, but I blame that as much on Hextall for not bringing in a vet or two to help push them to the next level.

Morris has consistently been given his marching orders from above. He cannot simply play who he wants, in the way he wants. He teaches the players how to play the Kings' systems. He does the job the way the Kings expect him to do it. When Jones went through his losing streak last season, Morris had been told to play him, basically until he broke down, to see how mentally tough he was. Damn near cost the team a shot at the playoffs.

Fans here have been told that it is unlikely that there will ever be vets brought in to help the kids along. "there are too many kids in the Kings' stable" to allow for one or two vets to be signed.

Makes for a very frustrating time for Monarchs fans.

 

[tigermask48]

Morris has consistently been given his marching orders from above. He cannot simply play who he wants, in the way he wants. He teaches the players how to play the Kings' systems. He does the job the way the Kings expect him to do it. When Jones went through his losing streak last season, Morris had been told to play him, basically until he broke down, to see how mentally tough he was. Damn near cost the team a shot at the playoffs.

Fans here have been told that it is unlikely that there will ever be vets brought in to help the kids along. "there are too many kids in the Kings' stable" to allow for one or two vets to be signed.

Makes for a very frustrating time for Monarchs fans.

One thing that has always bothered me with this vets vs. youngsters debate, is at what point do guys like Meckler, Cliché, Campbell, etc become vets? Some of those guys have 4-5 years of AHL experience. Plus you add in Paddock, Rodney, Mannino, Johnson, Stewart, Segal, Murray, Milam, Jarrett, Jackman and so on and there have always been vets in Manchester. They just for whatever reason never seem to work out or get playing time.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Morris has consistently been given his marching orders from above. He cannot simply play who he wants, in the way he wants. He teaches the players how to play the Kings' systems. He does the job the way the Kings expect him to do it. When Jones went through his losing streak last season, Morris had been told to play him, basically until he broke down, to see how mentally tough he was. Damn near cost the team a shot at the playoffs.

Fans here have been told that it is unlikely that there will ever be vets brought in to help the kids along. "there are too many kids in the Kings' stable" to allow for one or two vets to be signed.

Makes for a very frustrating time for Monarchs fans.

Disagree about Jones. He was fanatatic down the strech and main reason the Monarchs made that incredible run to get into the playoffs! Jones needs to have confidence. The decision to completely give Jones the keys proved to be good one. As he stepped up to the challenge. Hopefully that helps his confidence. Which is his biggest issue.