LA Kings GM Fined $50k For Remarks After Reviewed Goal

Added on Jan 22, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

Los Angeles Kings President and General Manager Dean Lombardi has been fined $50,000 for comments made following the game the Kings played against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made it very clear why he was being fined in a statement. He said “There is no acceptable explanation or excuse for commentary challenging the integrity of the League’s Hockey Operations Department in general or Mike Murphy, in particular. People can disagree with a call by an official on the ice or an official in the Situation Room in Toronto, but even in instances of the utmost frustration there is no justification for speaking as inappropriately and irresponsibly as Mr. Lombardi did. Mike Murphy is a devoted caretaker of the game. His commitment to the National Hockey League, all 30 of its Clubs – and to the game – is beyond challenge, question or debate.”

Commissioner Bettman said the money would go to the NHL foundation, and concluded, “I have spoken to Dean, who has apologized to Mike Murphy and to me and has acknowledged that his comments were wrong, inappropriate and without merit.”

Lombardi made comments after the game against the Coyotes because of a second period goal by Martin Hanzal of Phoenix was allowed to stand after a five-minute review. Lombardi suggested the outcome was because of some bias from Mike Murphy the NHL’s senior vice president of hockey operations. After the game, Lombardi suggested that Murphy was interested in the Kings’ general manager’s position but did not get the job. Murphy played for and coached with the Kings before joining the League offices.

Lombardi’s quote for which he was fined was “When the guy in Toronto making the decisions on the goals, in Ottawa (in a Nov. 22 game) and the one tonight, wanted the G.M.’s job in L.A. and was not happy about not getting it, you have to assume you are going to get those type of calls. However, we have put ourselves in a position where these calls have a monumental effect on our season, and we’re going to have to find a way out of it ourselves.”

Lombardi released a statement yesterday, and admitted he acted in haste and wasn’t thinking when he made those comments. He said “I spoke to the Commissioner today and he made it very clear to me that my actions last night were inappropriate and detrimental to the game. There is no question that his assessment is correct and the punishment fits the crime. Just as important, I apologized to Mike Murphy this morning and I sincerely appreciate his willingness to accept my apology. Like the team must learn from its mistakes, the GM has to learn from his mistakes as well.”