Winnipeg Fires Murdoch After Missing Playoffs

Nine months after Bob Murdoch was named coach of the year, he was fired Monday by the Winnipeg Jets, one of only five clubs in the 21-team NHL to miss the playoffs.

“A good part of the coach’s job is to get the players to perform well here this year,” General Manager Mike Smith said. “I just felt that we were poorly prepared for the start of training camp. We were behind the eight-ball for the whole season.”

Murdoch, 44, cool all season despite frequent booing by the fans, took his dismissal in stride. “You have to respect Mike because he obviously is capable of making a decision,” he said.

Last year, Murdoch guided the Jets to an 85-point season, 21 better than the previous year. In the playoffs, the Jets nearly upset the eventual Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.