WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Butch Goring accepts some of the blame for the Boston Bruins' slow start this season but says General Manager Harry Sinden was 'premature' in firing him.
'I don't know if I was given a fair chance, but I believe Harry was a little bit premature in his decision,' Goring, who was dismissed Wednesday night, said in a telephone interview from his Boston home.
'I don't know if I was given a fair chance or not. I believe he was wrong, even premature in making this type of change, but it's his decision. He's the boss, and I have to live with it.'
Sinden fired the former NHL center after Wednesday night's 8-3 loss in Buffalo. Former Bruin Terry O'Reilly, who was broadcasting some Boston TV games, and defenseman Mike Milbury are running the team until a replacement is named. Sinden has said he hopes to hire a new coach by Wednesday.
Former Philadelphia Flyer Terry Crisp is seen as the favorite for the job. Crisp is currently the coach and general manager of Boston's top farm club, the Moncton (New Brunswick) Golden Flames of the American Hockey League.
Under Goring this season, the Bruins were 5-7-1 and in third place in the Adams Division. Boston opened with a tough schedule and lost 39-man games to injuries.
'Nine of the first 15 games were on the road and our road-record was 4-5, so that certainly isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination,' said Goring, who coached the team since May 6, 1985. 'But the team wasn't playing very well. There was very little intensity. There were some games they barely showed up.
'This team has a lot of internal problems, and it's going to take time to get it back on the right track. There are problems that won't be easily overcome.'
Goring cited roster changes, and some veteran players losing their responsibilties to newcomers as part of the problem.
'The new guys played an important role, and anytime that happens the players who were replaced become a little agitated,' Goring said.
Goring also said constant trade rumors affected players.
'That caused the players' minds to drift, and they couldn't concentrate on hockey,' said Goring. 'I don't know if they were taking their frustrations out on me, or the management. But it was not the type of team Boston fans are used to seeing, one that works hard and comes prepared to play. I don't know if they will ever shake that, or if my firing will shake it. But, I'm obviously taking the brunt of it.'
From the time he was competing with kids much older than himself on Winnipeg's outdoor rinks, Goring has never needed any motivation. And it was never lacking during his 16-year playing career in the NHL when he garnered 375 goals and 513 assists with the Los Angeles Kings, the New York Islanders and the Bruins.
'I can't understand why professional athletes need any kind of motivation,' said Goring. 'They're getting paid a pretty good buck to play a game they enjoy. I did all I could, but if a player doesn't want to be motivated, he won't be motivated.
'At this particular time, the players didn't want any part of anything. The players didn't perform the way they could. I don't think it was by design, I think they just couldn't get the intensity needed to play at this level.'
