That’s was quick, wasn’t it? From TSN.ca:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have relieved head coach Barry Melrose of
his duties and named associate coach Rick Tocchet interim head coach.”This was a tough decision to make,” Executive Vice President
& General Manager Brian Lawton said. ”Barry is a good man and we
have a great deal of respect for him. We wish him nothing but success.
However, the results were unacceptable and the players have to
understand that we need to be better. Hopefully this change helps push
them.”
Update – Melrose on his firing:
Tap of the stick to Kukla for the Melrose clip.
11 Comments
Heh, I’m sure Tocchet didn’t bet on that happening so soon…
well this stinks. i was really hoping i’d get a chance to see the great mullet in person at some point this season.
Short term thinking at its worst. Why not fire the under-performers instead?
Barry doesn’t deserve this.
And I have no respect for Gamblin’ Rick Tocchet based on his refusal to be a Cap years ago.
Tampa’s ownership continues to dig deeper holes. First they screwed up their cap load, now they’ve fired the coach because he insisted on honesty, effort, and accountability. It seems their intention is to create a team of overpaid, mediocre has-beens. Which will suck for Mike Smith.
poor olie
Gratz on the players for the ‘Nings getting another coach canned. You could feel it coming.
That was a terrific interview… his personality was an asset to the game, and will be missed.
At the same time, as a supporter of one of the Bolts’ division rivals, I’m gleeful that Tampa’s management didn’t give Melrose the chance he deserved. What coach who was out of the game for 13 years can be expected to be perfect after just 16 games? Tampa’s ownership is a mess, and given their talented lineup the Capitals and their fans should be happy about yet another Tampa mistake.
Agreed. And that of course is the source of my weak pun attempt in comment#1.
Melrose wasn’t a good coach to begin with, which combined with his decade-plus absence from the game to make him the most inexplicable head coach hiring in recent memory. It made his firing, however, very predictable.
The real story here for me is that the Tampa Bay Lightning now have a coach (whom it sounds like will stay on) who has plead guilty to running a casual gambling ring. It’s likely he isn’t the first NHL coach to do so, but it’s still on the dicey side.
The best news of all is that the new ownership of the Lightning continue to play with their team like a couple of fantasy hockey owners – owners who stink at fantasy hockey. Very, very good news for the Caps. Vinnie LeCav starting to get 21+ minutes a game again? Not good news.
I have to disagree with you there. I think Vinnie is one of the main people that Berry was singling out with his comments about lazy play. Vinnie has always played lazy and doesn’t like to play two-way hockey, more minutes will only mean more lazy minutes with some flashes of quality performance.
If you think back a year ago, this was our boys, and we were chanting “Fire Hanlon” in the stands. Our boys responded to the firing with some feelings of responsibility, I don’t see that from TB, for Torts or Melrose. This has only taught the TB players that if the coach is working you too hard, and making your life a little uncomfortable, just don’t try, get some of your other teammates to not try and the coach will be gone shortly.
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