LA Kings Keep Coaching Staff Intact, Promote John Stevens To Associate Head Coach

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — The  Los Angeles Kings have promoted John Stevens to associate head coach and re-signed assistant coach Davis Payne and goaltending coach Bill Ranford.

The Stanley Cup champions announced the moves to keep coach Darryl Sutter's staff intact Wednesday.

"Our coaching staff has been an integral part of the success of our team the last three years," said General Manager Dean Lombardi.  "We are extremely pleased that they will remain part of our team and continue together as we strive for excellence."

Stevens is a former head coach in Philadelphia. He briefly served as the Kings' interim head coach before Sutter was hired during their 2011-12 championship season.

Stevens had been mentioned as a candidate for offseason job openings in Vancouver, Pittsburgh and Carolina.

Payne is the former St. Louis coach who joined the Kings' staff in 2012 after their first title.

Ranford played parts of 15 seasons in the NHL. He has spent the last eight seasons coaching the Kings, who won the Jennings Trophy for the league's best goals-against average last season.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)