TAMPA, Fla. — Barry Melrose was hired as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, returning to the NHL after 12 years as a television analyst because he wants to be “on the inside again.” He replaces John Tortorella, who was fired June 3.
Tortorella was dismissed four years after leading Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup championship. The Lightning missed the playoffs this spring for the first time since 2002, finishing with the league’s worst record.
Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. He helped the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first season. He joined ESPN as an analyst in 1996.
“I wanted the challenge again. I wanted to find out if I can still do it,” Melrose said. “I miss it.”
Footnotes.
The NHL indefinitely suspended Ducks owner Henry Samueli following the billionaire philanthropist’s guilty plea to a felony count of lying to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Commissioner Gary Bettman said the NHL will review Samueli’s status after he is sentenced Aug. 18 and determine the length of his suspension.
• The Bruins signed defenseman Mark Stuart to a multiyear extension.
• The Hurricanes re-signed forward Tuomo Ruutu to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million.
• The Flyers acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Predators for forward Triston Grant and a seventh-round pick in the 2009 draft.
• The Maple Leafs put forward Kyle Wellwood and goalie Andrew Raycroft on waivers.
The Associated Press
