Coach’s Comments Surprise Murray

Glen Murray said Wednesday that he was surprised by recent comments made by Coach Andy Murray, who questioned the winger’s commitment and suggested that his days with the team could be numbered.

Not that he read them.

“I don’t read the papers,” a tight-lipped Glen Murray said. “But I heard about it. All my teammates told me about it.”

He seemed puzzled by the comments. Among other things, the coach said the player must decide if he wants to stay in Los Angeles.

“He’s never said that to me,” Glen Murray said. “He knows and everyone knows that I want to stay in L.A. I want to play for this team. I’m not sure where those comments came from, but I’m ready for the season.”

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The Kings won’t soon forget a blindside hit by Pascal Trepanier of the Colorado Avalanche, who leveled King winger Nelson Emerson on Saturday night.

Emerson suffered a concussion and will be sidelined at least two games.

“It was a terrible cheap shot; it was awful,” Andy Murray said of the center-ice hit away from the puck. “If he’s not suspended, I’ll be very, very surprised.

“We’re hoping that he makes their team and we get to see him again. We won’t cheap-shot him, but we’ll make life miserable for him. I don’t believe in cheap-shoting guys to get revenge, but I hope he makes their team because he’ll be sore when he leaves our building, for sure.”

The coach laughed.

“We don’t play them ‘til January [26 at Staples Center],” he said. “Might as well start the feud going now.”

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Todd Bailey, 23-year-old son of the late King scout Ace Bailey, will drop the puck in a pregame ceremony. Ace Bailey, the Kings’ director of pro scouting, and Mark Bavis, an amateur scout, were killed aboard a hijacked airliner that crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.

TONIGHT

Vs. Phoenix, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records (2000-01)--Kings 38-28-13-3, Coyotes 35-27-17-3.

Record vs. Coyotes (2000-01)--1-2-2.

Update--The Coyotes finished only two points out of the playoffs last season but reportedly lost about $27 million to $29 million, most in the league. The roster has been almost completely rebuilt by managing partner Wayne Gretzky and General Manager Cliff Fletcher.

Tickets--(888) 546-4752.