Adam Minnick: What does it feel like, your first coaching job?

Randy Murphy:  It feels great.  Obviously I have a great challenge ahead.  To only have two years removed from being a player it is exciting but at the same time I realize I have a lot to learn and will really work hard this season.

AM:  Do you think spending most of your playing career at this level will help you be a better coach?

RM: I think it helps a lot.  It should be one of my biggest strengths because I am used to this element.  Often when you have a coach put in an element he is not used to, it take awhile for the coach and the players to adapt.

AM: As a player you were more on the offensive side of the puck, but last year you were in charge of the defense.  How much will that help you as the guy in charge of the entire team?|

RM: It will be a huge help.  To be quite honest, when you are playing learning the other positions doesn’t often happen since you are so into what your role is for the team.  Last year was invaluable and I can now confidently step onto the ice and tell the defense what I am thinking.  Dave Ellett has been a big help with him being an NHL defenseman for 16 years.

AM: What is it like to be the head coach in the same building with a banner hanging in the rafters that has your name and number on it?

RM: That is neat.  Not too many times can you play, have your number retired, and then have the chance to be an assistant coach and now a head coach with the same team.  Is really is special and unique.

AM:  You have played with a couple of the players before; how hard is it to coach them now?

RM: You can look at it one of two ways; either as a teammate or as a guy I am now coaching.  There is also the element of friendship you build as well.  It comes down to respect, where each of us has to respect the position we are now in.  I plan to use it as a positive, where I know what they can offer the team and they know what I can offer them.

AM: The goal this year was to get a little more physical up front to compliment the speed we had last year.

RM: I want to have a good mix.  It is hard to find a 6’4” highly skilled player to play here; they tend to play in the NHL.  I think you have to have a solid mix up front to be successful.

AM: You have a good numbers of players coming back from last year’s team.  How helpful is that since you were only named to the position 45 days before training camp?|

RM: It definitely helps.  The nucleus is in place and anything less than at least duplicating last season in my opinion is not a success.

AM: How important is it to have top-notch goaltending in place from the get-go?

RM: It is important to have solid goaltending for most of the season.  It is a bonus if you can get it right off the hop.  Sometimes you have to wait to see what happens in the AHL to find that top goaltender.  Going into this season we feel what we have in place gives us top-notch goaltending from Day 1.

AM: It was a whirlwind from Ray leaving, to the interview process, to you getting the job, to the start of the season.  What has it been like?

RM: It was very strange.  Ray kept me up-to-date on what was going on with Phoenix/San Antonio.  It was a fast four days from learning about Ray to being offered the head coaching position here.  The more I thought, the more I realized this is something I wanted.

AM: What was it like having to find your first assiantant coach?

RM: This is the first time in my life I was able to hire someone.  I have never had the lone vote in hiring someone for a job.  It was a big decision but one I am very comfortable with.

AM: What will the biggest challenge be this year?

RM: Keeping a pulse on my team.  We have to have 18 guys night in and night out that are on the same page.  I know there will be days when some guys are unhappy but we have to minimize those.  I am going to lean on our veteran leaders to help me get a feel of what is going on internally.  Get a feel when I have to push down on the gas or pull the throttle back.  This is where I think my playing days will help me quite a bit.