Puck Podcast

THE ASSOCIATED PRESSEL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Good luck, Terry Murray. You’ve just been hired for the toughest job in the National Hockey League.That’s what Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said Thursday when he introduced Murray as the 22nd head coach in franchise history at the team’s training facility.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired the rights to defenceman Danny Richmond in exchange for the rights to Tim Brent on Thursday.The 23-year-old Richmond appeared in seven games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season.

ATLANTA – Free-agent center Marty Reasoner agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday after playing with Edmonton for six seasons.

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning continue to fill out their front office.New owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced Thursday that the Lightning had hired former NHL goalie Mike Vernon as special assistant to Brian Lawton, the team’s vice president of hockey operations.

MONTREAL – Max Pacioretty is ready to take a shot at making the Montreal Canadiens.The 19-year-old winger turned pro on Thursday and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens.

NEW YORK – All six Canadian NHL teams will play each other home and away next season for the first time since before the lockout.The 2008-’09 schedule was released Thursday and features a new breakdown with more games between teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Blues have added some depth to their blue-line by signing free-agent defenceman Andy Wozniewski.Contract details weren’t immediately available.

Shawn Horcoff has worn only one NHL sweater his entire career. So when it came to thinking about his future, it was a no-brainer.The Edmonton Oilers secured their top offensive threat Wednesday, signing Horcoff to a US$33-million, six-year contract extension.

Movements in the world of hockey Wednesday:National Hockey LeagueATLANTA THRASHERS-Agreed to terms with G Kari Lehtonen.BUFFALO SABRES-Agreed to terms with F Daniel Paille on a multiyear contract.

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Oilers secured their top offensive threat Wednesday, signing forward Shawn Horcoff to a six-year contract extension.Horcoff had 21 goals and 29 assists in 53 games last season before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Thrashers have their No. 1 goalie back under contract.The Thrashers signed Kari Lehtonen to a US$3-million, one-year contract on Wednesday.

TORONTO – It’s hard to imagine this scene playing out anywhere else:Hundreds of people that support a hockey team in the midst of a four-year playoff drought attended a fan rally in the middle of summer Wednesday and repeatedly chanted the name of the 41-year-old backup goalie.

SYOSSET, N.Y. – Josh Bailey flashed a wide, kid-like grin – quite apropos for an 18-year-old hockey player just starting to live the NHL life.

Despite the fact the NHL and the Kontinental League reached an agreement last week not to poach each other’s players under contract, the KHL has ruled it will uphold the three-year, $13 million contract Alexander Radulov of the Nashville Predators signed with Ufa Salavat.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will raise their 11th Stanley Cup championship banner at Joe Louis Arena on Oct. 9 when the team opens its home schedule against Toronto.

LOS ANGELES – Terry Murray has been hired as the new coach of the Los Angeles Kings.A team spokesman said Wednesday that Murray will be introduced Thursday at a news conference at the Kings’ training facility in suburban El Segundo.

LOS ANGELES – Terry Murray, who coached the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals 11 years ago, has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Marc Crawford as coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs might play their loudest home game of the season before the exhibition schedule even comes to an end.The Maple Leafs have added an extra pre-season game to their schedule and will be giving away all of the tickets for free.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Sabres and restricted free agent Daniel Paille agreed to a multi-year contract on Wednesday.Paille, Buffalo’s first-round pick (20th overall) in 2002, emerged as a solid two-way forward in 2007-08, his first full season with the Sabres.

CHICAGO – Frosty baseball games have long been a fixture at Wrigley Field, where a stiff wind off Lake Michigan can chill fans, players and managers alike.