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Tampa Bay Lightning name Al Murray their new director of amateur scouting

Steve Yzerman

Tampa Bay Lightning’s new vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman smiles answers questions during a hockey news conference Tuesday, May 25, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. Yzerman has spent the last 27 years as a player, captain, and executive with the Detroit Red Wings. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP

Even with smaller moves that seem a bit difficult to contextualize (maybe you’re an expert on the NHL/hockey’s best scouts, but I’m not), it’s still interesting to follow every bread crumb left on Steve Yzerman’s trail to make the Tampa Bay Lightning a credible franchise.

The latest front office move involved the Lightning adding a new director of amateur scouting, as Yzerman & Co. snatched away Al Murray. Murray spent the last three years as the head scout of Canada’s national teams. Here is more from the team’s Web site.

“Al’s vast scouting experience will prove to be a great asset for the Lightning as we move forward,” said Yzerman upon making the announcement. “We are pleased to have him join the organization and I very much look forward to working with him as he leads our amateur scouting staff.”

During his time with Hockey Canada, Murray was responsible for all player evaluations and selections for National Junior Team evaluation and selection camps as well as the National Men’s Under-18 Team. He also worked with regional under-17 programs. Murray won the Gold Medal at both the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships, and won gold at the 2008 World Under-18 Championship. He won championships with the National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team at the 2008 and 2009 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournaments, also winning the 2010 tournament earlier this month, defeating the United States, 1-0, in the Gold Medal Game.

Prior to joining Hockey Canada, Murray spent 12 years with the Los Angeles Kings, serving as director of amateur scouting. In that position he was responsible for the team’s amateur scouting operation, including scheduling, assignments, evaluation of talent and development of the final list of players leading up to the NHL Entry Draft. Before Murray was named to that position he spent six years as the Kings’ western scouting coordinator.

It’s been a summer of stark change for the Lightning, as they’ve changed their GM, coach, director of amateur scouting and various roster spots as well. Though calling them a Stanley Cup contender or odds-on favorite to win the Southeast might be a little bit hasty, a playoff run is more than reasonable considering the nice amount of talent on their roster.