Blue Jackets Name King Coach

NHL teams

"We're going to be a young team, a team that has to play above our heads to compete every night," King said.

King was 109-76-31 with the Flames from 1992-95, capturing consecutive division titles. But he was fired after the team lost in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year.

Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean had as many as 14 candidates for the job and King was one of the forerunners from the beginning because of his experience and patience.

"That's a really important thing -- patience," MacLean said. "You have to have a person who can handle the tough times."

King signed a three-year contract, but the franchise did not disclose the terms. The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday that the deal is worth $300,000 to $400,000 per year, and the contract's total value is in the range of $1.3 million.