LOS ANGELES, May 19 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Kings are expected to name Marc Crawford as their new coach, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Citing two league sources, the newspaper said the deal is anticipated to be in place by Monday.
Crawford coached the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship in 1995-96. He spent the last seven seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, coaching the team to four straight playoff appearances -- but losing the job last month after the Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference this season.
Crawford would replace John Torchetti, who coached the last 12 Kings games after the team fired Andy Murray during a late-season collapse.
The Kings were second in the West in January but finished 10th.
Hiring Crawford would be the first major move by Dean Lombardi since he became Kings general manager in April.
