TAMPA, FLA. — Barry Melrose’s return to the NHL as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning lasted 16 games. Now the job belongs to assistant Rick Tocchet.
Melrose was fired today less than five months after he left the television booth to coach a team that finished with the league’s worst record last season.
“This was a tough decision to make,” 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.”
Tocchet was promoted to interim head coach. He was sentenced to two years’ probation in August 2007 after pleading guilty in a gambling investigation into a sports betting ring. Tocchet said he never bet on NHL games.
Tocchet rejoined Phoenix’s coaching staff in February 2008 after a two-year absence that included a suspension by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the league is not concerned about Tocchet’s promotion.
The Lightning have lost three straight games, dropping to fourth in the Southeast Division. Despite the presence of Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay ranks last in goals in the NHL.
Melrose is the second NHL coach to be fired this season — the Chicago Blackhawks dismissed Denis Savard after four games.
Out of coaching for 13 years, Melrose was lured back to the bench by new Lightning owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie as a replacement for John Tortorella, who led Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup championship.
Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. In his first season, he helped the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals, in which they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. He spent 12 years at ESPN before taking over the Lightning.
