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Kings relieve Darryl Sutter and Dean Lombardi of their duties

By Dave Stevenson

Apr 2, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter makes a point in the first period of the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter makes a point in the first period of the game against the Arizona Coyotes at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Kings are making some huge changes, as they have fired Darryl Sutter and Dean Lombardi. 

The NHL is a “what have you done for me lately” league. Coaches and general managers rarely get enough of a leash to be around with a team for longer than a few years. This is true even for a team who has won two recent Stanley Cups like the Los Angeles Kings. After missing the postseason for the second time in three seasons, they have let go of both head coach Darryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” said Kings owner Dan Beckerman, via NHL.com. “But the present and future of our organization is the highest priority. Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for what Dean and Darryl have accomplished for the Kings franchise. They built this team and helped lead us to two Stanley Cup Championships and will forever be remembered as all-time greats in Kings history.”

These moves are a bit of a surprise. It was expected the Kings would explore firing Sutter after missing the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. However, they’re also firing Lombardi, their president and general manager.

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Los Angeles is promoting former Kings greats Luc Robitaille to president and Rob Blake to vice president and general manager. Already, this season has seen three coaches be fired. Lindy Ruff and Willie Desjardins each received a pink slip as well. For the Kings, this represents a humongous change. However, it’s also likely a necessary one. Winning cures all ailments and the Kings stopped winning. Lombardi is the more surprising firing of the two, as Los Angeles had expressed support of him before this season.

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