If the Kings had new spring in their legs during their first practice under interim coach Willie Desjardins on Monday, if they moved through his drills with more purpose than they had shown in the weeks leading up to John Stevens’ firing, it’s because they were motivated by guilt as much as by a desire to please the man who will try to salvage what has been a drearily unsuccessful season.
When Darryl Sutter was fired, players barely restrained themselves from publicly singing “Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead,” at the top of their lungs. Stevens’ dismissal was different.