HockeyBuzz: The Kings recently hired Pierre Turgeon as an assistant coach, to be their "offensive coordinator." Turgeon's role seems similar to what you did for LA from 2012-14 under Darryl Sutter. Like Turgeon, you were a highly-skilled player who came in with little coaching experience. How did you communicate your higher-level understanding of the game to players of relatively lesser skill?
Bernie Nicholls: I think he'll do well.
It's easier -- let's put it that way -- for a former player who has offensive skills, who has been successful. They can communicate well with the younger players. I think the younger players look up to them. They know you've been there before. They know you know what it takes. They'll listen to you for sure.
HB: Can you talk about your experience as a coach, seeing a play at a more advanced pace than someone you're trying to instruct?
BN: I think that's a problem you have a lot. Not to [single out] Wayne Gretzky, but when Wayne coaches, he sees things differently than the other players. For the most part, skill players see things differently. These other kids may not be able to do [what we want]. But at least they have an understanding of where we coming from, whether they can do it or not, that's just a different matter altogether, right?
HB: So what were some of the ways that you overcame the stereotype that great players don't make great teachers?
BN: For me, I thought it was fairly easy. I was fortunate Darryl Sutter just let me go.
I can point things out to a player. And he will see it, whether he can do it or not. But at least he knows where I'm coming from, he has an understanding. So he can take that with him the next time he's in that position. He'll see it a little differently than what he saw the first time because I made him aware.
HB: In 2012, you volunteered your services to Darryl, and scoring did increase. What was your impact on scoring for that team?
BN: Most of all, it was the power play. For the most part, these kids are very skilled, it's just the matter of giving them direction. Getting them in better position to score. I think one thing, especially on the power play, the power play is about movement. Player movement. You can't just stand around anymore.
With 5-on-5, you show them how to create a little more offense. If they're skilled, they will have an understanding where you're coming from. So they can see something they haven't seen before.
HB: What's something specific you may have relayed to a player to create more offense?
BN: I think it's more vision. We see things differently. They always say better players, the play slows down for them. For instance, Brett Hull. You come into the offensive zone, and Brett just kind of roams around. You gotta find quiet areas.
I always told guys who were playing with Anze Kopitar -- Kopitar's got the puck on the boards, he doesn't need help. He's big and strong. Nobody's taking the puck from him. So find the quiet areas so he can give you the puck.
HB: How can LA increase scoring next year?
BN: They do have a lot of talented players. But LA's not a high-scoring team. When they're at their best, they rely on goaltending and defense.
You can't create offense if you're not skilled enough. You play with what you're dealt. And for the most, LA isn't a high-flying offensive team.
They don't create a lot of [dangerous] shots. They don't have the skill players for that.
You look at who played with Anze Kopitar last year. He didn't have any skilled players playing with him.
Jeff Carter had Tyler Toffoli. It's very difficult when you're not deep offensively. Then you kind of have to make do with what you got.
HB: Would you predict Kopitar comes back strong next year?
BN: Absolutely. He's too skilled not to. But like I said, as skilled as he is, he doesn't have a lot of players to play with. It's pretty hard to do it on your own.
HB: I'm not sure how much you followed the regime change in LA this summer. They've emphasized getting more dangerous scoring chances. However, this summer so far, in terms of "skill" players, they've only added Michael Cammalleri. But if they don't have enough skill, how do they get these more dangerous chances?
BN: That's the problem, right? Every team wants to create offense. But not every team is the Pittsburgh Penguins either. They don't have the skill to do that. That's no disrespect to the LA Kings. They don't have a lot of skill to create a lot of [dangerous] shots.
HB: Bernie, I know you're involved in AllSportsMarket. Can you tell us more about that?
BN: It's the first-ever real money sports stock market. You can go on, buy shares in the LA Kings. You can buy shares in the New York Yankees. The Dodgers. It's performance-based. The team does well, your shares go up. It's not gambling. It's not like you invest in the Kings today and they lose, you lose your investment.
Every true fan would want to feel like they own a piece of their team. We've created a platform where they can.
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