Club President and GM Dave Taylor was among those fired by the Los Angeles Kings yesterday during a housecleaning.
The moves came after the Kings stumbled down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
None of the coaching staff, including interim head coach John Torchetti, will have contracts renewed. Kevin Gilmore, assistant GM, and Bill O'Flaherty, director of player personnel, also were relieved of their duties.
Even Tim Leiweke said he is stepping aside as CEO to allow the incoming president/GM to have full control of the hockey operations, although Leiweke will remain the team's governor.
“Three seasons in row, we didn't make the playoffs; one playoff (series) win in 10 years; going through a coaching change and having dissension in the locker room was very difficult for us to deal with,” Leiweke said during a news conference at the team's training facility.
“I think it's safe to say ownership is angry. I guess that's the best way to put it. And we want to win.”
DEVILS 4, CANADIENS 3: Jamie Langenbrunner capped a stunning third-period comeback that earned visiting New Jersey the Atlantic Division title with its 11th straight victory. Brian Gionta had three points, including his franchise-record 47th and 48th goals, then Langenbrunner scored with 2:23 to go in regulation. The Devils, who were battling for one of the last playoff positions a month ago, won their sixth division championship in nine seasons.
PREDATORS 6, RED WINGS 3: Paul Kariya scored his ninth career hat trick and host Nashville ended Detroit's 20-game points streak. The Red Wings, with the Presidents Cup already in hand, hadn't lost in regulation since March 7 when they fell 5-2 to Phoenix. They came into the regular-season finale with a chance to match the 1979-80 Montreal Canadiens' streak of at least one point in 21 straight games. But the Predators finished with the NHL's best home record at 32-8-1 by downing the league's best road team.
BLUE JACKETS 5, STARS 4 (OT): Sergei Fedorov's one-timer 35 seconds into overtime lifted Columbus over visiting Dallas. It was Fedorov's 14th career overtime goal, tying Mats Sundin for the NHL record.
CAPITALS 4, LIGHTNING 1: Jeff Halpern scored twice and goalie Brent Johnson stopped 42 shots, leading visiting Washington over playoff-bound Tampa Bay.
SENATORS 5, RANGERS 1: Dany Heatley scored his 50th goal in the third period to help Ottawa beat New York.
SABRES 4, HURRICANES 0: Martin Biron got his first shutout of the season and visiting Buffalo beat Carolina.
MAPLE LEAFS 5, PENGUINS 3: Mats Sundin scored two goals and added two assists to lead host Toronto.
PANTHERS 2, THRASHERS 1 (OT): Mike Van Ryn's overtime goal, his second score of the game, lifted Florida over visiting Atlanta.
FLYERS 4, ISLANDERS 1: Jeff Carter put visiting Philadelphia into fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, beating goalie Garth Snow on a breakaway with 7:22 left.
BLACKHAWKS 3, BLUES 2 (OT): Kyle Calder scored at 3:20 of overtime to give Chicago the win over visiting St. Louis as two of the NHL's worst teams concluded their seasons.
