BOSTON -- Butch Goring, who helped the New York Islanders to four Stanley Cups, Monday was given the job of helping the Boston Bruins reverse their fading fortunes.
Goring, 35, was named the Bruins' head coach, ending a 16-year playing career. Under NHL rules, a player cannot also be a head coach.
Bruins defenseman Mike Milbury, appointed assistant coach in a surprise move, will retire after 10 years in the league. Jean Ratelle, a Bruins assistant coach for four years, will be retained as a special assignment scout.
Goring, a center and assistant coach with the Islanders, was claimed on waivers by Boston on Jan. 8. In his 16 years in the NHL, Goring scored 377 goals and 513 assists.
On Feb. 13, Bruins coach Gerry Cheevers was fired and general manager Harry Sinden took over the head coaching spot for the third time, on an interim basis.
'As coach, I could see, hear and observe Butch Goring, and the more I was around him, the more I was convinced he was the leading candidate to be the new coach,' Sinden said. 'By season's end, there was no doubt he was the person we ought to have here.'
The appointment of Goring was delayed until medical tests were completed last week on center Barry Pederson, who had suffered from a recurring fibrous growth in his right arm.
'We had to have the player personnel problem straightened out first,' said Sinden, who had the option of making Goring an assistant coach with the virtual powers of a head coach.
Goring, who played for 10 years with the Los Angeles Kings and five with the Islanders, was a Bruin for 39 games. He said no immediate changes are planned on the Boston team which has lost in the first round of the playoffs the past two years and finished fourth this season in the Adams Division.
'We will play the same aggressive style which is synonymous with Boston Bruins' hockey,' he said. 'This organization is committed to winning and the right talent is there.'
Since arriving in Boston, Goring said he has been honest about his interest in a coaching career.
'I didn't make any secret of it and Gerry's misfortune became my good fortune,' he said. 'It will be nice to be behind the bench instead of being an armchair quarterback, but it will be a funny feeling not to be preparing for the next shift.'
He said he doesn't plan to be a martinet, but he believes discipline is essential to success.
'My own personal life is one of discipline,' Goring said. 'While I don't expect to be a taskmaster, there must be discipline to what I feel is necessary.'
Bruins right wing Terry O'Reilly was pleased with Goring's appointment.
'Personalities are a big thing in sports,' he said. 'In time he's been here, Butch has shown how dedicated he is. He's earned the respect of the other players because when he talks about discipline and dedication, they'll listen because he's already proved he has both.'
Milbury, 32, grew up in the Boston suburbs, signed with the Bruins as a free agent out of Colgate and played all 10 seasons with Boston.
He said he had expected last season to be his last as a player and had given a lot of thought to getting into management.
Goring says that having played for Sinden, New York coach Al Arbour and former Kings coach Bob Pulford will help him.
Goring played for Pulford in Los Angeles before he was traded to the Islanders, and was part of four Stanley Cup winning teams there. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1981 as the playoff MVP. He had 13 goals and 21 assists in 39 games this year with the Bruins.
'I guess I'll get the itch (to play) from time to time, but this is a tremendous opportunity for me and one I can't afford to pass up,' he said.
