Just one week after being fired from his post as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, Kirk Muller is back behind the bench with the St. Ricky Rubio Suns Jersey . Louis Blues. The team announced Tuesday that Muller is joining the Blues to work as an assistant coach with Ken Hitchcock. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger adds that Muller has agreed to a two-year contract. Muller was 80-80-27 in three seasons with the Hurricanes. Carolina finished 13th in the 16-team East this season. Muller, 48, made six All-Star teams during a 19-year career with six clubs, most notably New Jersey and Montreal and won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1993. Muller also worked as an assistant coach with the Habs from 2007 to 2011. He had never been a head coach in the NHL and was in his first season coaching the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL when he was hired during the 2011-12 season to replace the fired Paul Maurice. Ray Spalding Suns Jersey . Speaking with TSN 1050 following Brendan Shanahans introductory press conference, the Leafs GM also addressed the clubs perceived leadership issues and the type of working relationship that can be expected within Torontos front office. George King Jersey . -- Floridas smothering defence returned to form just in time for the third-ranked Gators to keep their winning streak going. https://www.thesunslockerroom.com/Elie-Okobo-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- DeMarcus Cousins had 25 points and 16 rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings snap a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Chicago Bulls 99-70 on Monday night.MALMO, Sweden -- Brent Sutter seemed to be in a nasty mood at practice the morning after Canadas biggest win so far at the world junior hockey championship. The veteran coach was barking orders and slamming his stick at missed plays on Wednesday, as if his team had lost the night before instead of pulling out a 3-2 victory over the defending champion United States to take first place in its preliminary round group. But the shouting had a tactical side. He didnt want his team feeling too good about themselves heading into the single-game knockout part of the tournament. Canada plays its quarter-final on Thursday against the Swiss, who finished fourth in the other group but who have shown they can pull off upsets against teams that take them lightly. On paper, its a game Canada should win handily, but that may be what Finland thought when they lost to the Swiss in a shootout in their final round robin game. "Theyre a disciplined hockey team," said Sutter. "Theyve kept games close. "Theyre in this position for a reason. Theyre a very structured team. Youve got to be disciplined in your game when you play them. You cant get frustrated." Canada beat the Swiss 4-1 in an exhibition game Dec. 23, profiting from five power plays to build a 2-0 first period lead. At one point, there were four Swiss players in the penalty box. Despite the loss, the Swiss came out of the game feeling good about their chances. "We know their players now," said Swiss goalie Melvin Nyffeler. "Theyve got a pretty good power play. "Last game we lost because they had so many power plays. Now were looking forward to playing them and lets see. In hockey, anythings possible. We have a chance against anybody." Canada went into its showdown with the Americans needing to win in regulation time to take over first place. They did it with a two-goal third period and some brilliant saves from Zach Fucale. But a day later, Sutter made sure to remind them they havent won anything yet. As well as Canada played against the Americans, he said "I dont want to see it slip. "When you get to this point, every game is like a Game 7. We have to make sure our emotions are in control and our details are good. It doesnt matter who your opponent is, you have to be at the top of your game. Weve got to practice like its for keeps. You cant just turn a switch on." Finishing first was a bonus on paper as it gave Canada a quarter-final against Switzerland and, if they win that, a semifinal against either the Czech Republic or Finland. The Americans now must face Russia in the quarter-finals and, if they manage a win, play the winner of Sweden-Slovakia in the semis. Sutter understands what it takes to win tournaments. He guided Canadian teams to gold medals at the 2005 and 206 world juniors without losing a game. His record at the tournament is 15-0-1. Canada improved from game to game as it built a 3-0-1 record in the preliminary round, and the coaching staff was active. Through three pre-tournament exhibitions and four round robin games, lines have been juggled and re-juggled. Centres play on the wings aand move back to centre. Cheick Diallo Suns Jersey. In Curtis Lazars case, you play left wing, right wing and centre in the same tournament. "Youve got to think the game well, have a good hockey IQ, and make sure you have a third guy high all the time," Lazar said Wednesday. "Im just trying to better myself so I can be prepared for all these situations." Sutter said there isnt time in a tournament to build chemistry on the ice. Players have to adapt immediately or changes will be made. Nine of the 13 forwards are centres on their club teams, so five have to play on the wings. "Its a matter of finding what theyre most comfortable with when theyre playing wing," said Sutter. "They cant all play centre, so who they can play with as pairs and threesomes to feel comfortable? "Its been a revolving door. Theres not really a plan in place. You just have a feel for your team. If somethings not working, youve got to change. You dont have time to let it progress over a month. If somethings not working or someones not playing well, you have to change it up quickly." There were two moves of note against the U.S., moving Lazar off left wing to the right side, and switching Frederik Gauthier from the wing to centre, where the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect used his considerable size to win some key defensive zone faceoffs. Sutter had particular praise for Lazar, who has scored in consecutive games while still playing well defensively. "We started him on left wing because thats where he finished the game before, but we talked after the first period," he said. "He was having a bit of difficulty at that position, so I moved him back to right wing and he got his game back to where it was before. "Hes most comfortable on right wing or centre ice. Hes been one of our best forwards, if not our best, so we have to make sure hes feeling comfortable." He had similar praise for 18-year-old Sam Reinhart, a centre who has played mostly right wing. "He plays 5-on-5, power plays, penalty killing, 5-on-3," he said. "He and Curtis, as far as forwards go, have been very adaptable and have been our most complete players in that they can be put into any situation." At practice, Reinhart skated with centre Bo Horvat and captain Scott Laughton, while Lazar was with centre Nic Petan and 16-year-old Connor McDavid. Gauthier centred Kerby Rychel and Josh Anderson, while Jonathan Drouin was between Taylor Leier and Anthony Mantha. Charles Hudon missed practice to treat a shoulder injured in Canadas 5-3 win over Slovakia on Saturday. "It doesnt really matter where we play because were all pretty different," said Laughton, a centre playing on left wing. "We all dont really know each other. "Right now, weve got four complete lines that can work and all have size, so I think were pretty set on the lines right now." Petan and Rychel both signed entry-level NHL contracts this week -- Petan with the Winnipeg Jets and Rychel with Columbus. "I was pretty cool," the diminutive Petan said. "It was a good New Years present." ' ' '