Barry Melrose Fired

SportsWorld · Post #1 » by **SportsWorld** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:18 pm

http://hockey.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar ... ose_fired/

RealGM Staff Report - Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach Barry Melrose has been relieved of his duties and Associate Coach Rick Tocchet has been elevated to interim head coach.

Melrose, 52, was named the sixth head coach in Lightning history on June 24, and compiled a 5-7-4 record this season.

“This was a tough decision to make,” GM 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.

“As for Rick Tocchet, we think this is a great opportunity for him and we believe he’s the type of coach who can take the team to the next level. Our players have a great deal of respect for him.”

WEFFPIM · Post #2 » by **WEFFPIM** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:21 pm

I wonder if the Lightning will supply Tocchet with his own sports book.

For a first year coach, and a team that, realistically, wasn't going to do much, firing Melrose 16 games in seems ridiculous.

Post #3 » by **ajaX82** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:23 pm

Obscene

He inherits one of the worst teams in the NHL, has a decent record, and gets canned 16 games in. 16 games in. What the hell can you do with a team in 16 games, especially a bad one? Especially with all the roster changes they made in the offseason

Im thinking there is more to this than we know. Barry prolly pissed off the wrong people

Post #4 » by **Snayr** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:34 pm

Wow? Didn't see this coming at all... we'll see if Tocchet is fired 16 games in if he has a similar record.

Post #5 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:00 am

I thought Tocchet was still with pheonix. When did he leave?

As for this firing, it is pretty disgusting. The guy loves the game of hockey, and wanted to coach again. You hire him, change the team in a lot of ways, and he gets off to a meh start early on, and you can him? I don't get it.

Post #6 » by **timd1218** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 4:59 am

ajaX82 wrote:Obscene

He inherits one of the worst teams in the NHL, has a decent record, and gets canned 16 games in. 16 games in. What the hell can you do with a team in 16 games, especially a bad one? Especially with all the roster changes they made in the offseason

Im thinking there is more to this than we know. Barry prolly pissed off the wrong people

He probably pissed off Recchi and Roberts. Both of those players had a very bad last few months with the Pens. Recchi hated Crosby and was just awful. He had no hands left and was constantly complaining. And then Roberts complained to the media about being a healthy scratch in the playoffs last year. Didn't sit too well with Shero and Therrien. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if them 2 got him fired.

Also, talk about a pathetic team. Where is their leadership. They have none. Malone was suppose to provide all of this leadership, and nothing. I'm glad the Pens got rid of all that baggage.

WEFFPIM · Post #7 » by **WEFFPIM** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:42 am

ajaX82 wrote:Im thinking there is more to this than we know.

Melrose said in an interview with ESPNEWS that there was more going on behind the scenes than we know. So there ya go, this has been building up essentially since the season started

Post #8 » by **Mr Swagtastic** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 6:24 pm

ajaX82 wrote:Obscene

He inherits one of the worst teams in the NHL, has a decent record, and gets canned 16 games in. 16 games in. What the hell can you do with a team in 16 games, especially a bad one? Especially with all the roster changes they made in the offseason

Im thinking there is more to this than we know. Barry prolly pissed off the wrong people

Yeah I was like WTF, I mean why would he get canned the Lighting have had their struggles but did anybody think they would be a force in the East so early. I predicted them to be in the middle where they are. Seems like he rubed somebody the wrong way or they had it out for him.

Post #9 » by **ajaX82** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:15 am

He wasnt exactly playing Stamkos a ton...im sure someone wanted that changed and Barry said he wasnt ready. I just see that playing out

burn1down · Post #10 » by **burn1down** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:52 pm

The wrong people are trying to make the on ice/hockey decisions. When you have a bad team, and you bring in an old vet coach to shape them up, and 16 games in with a half decent record, you drop him for (forgive me but its true) a totally unproven criminal. . . .
Just tells me the GMs and owners wanted some pull, Barry wouldnt give, so they bring in a puppet. Only way this makes sense to me

WEFFPIM · Post #11 » by **WEFFPIM** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:23 am

Bit of cruel irony. The new NHL.com commercial has Barry Melrose.

Swing and a miss

magicfan4life05 · Post #12 » by **magicfan4life05** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:49 pm

ESPN says he'll be back with them starting Jan 1, 2009.

Post #13 » by **timd1218** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 11:20 pm

magicfan4life05 wrote:ESPN says he'll be back with them starting Jan 1, 2009.

ESPN fails yet again for the 1,000 billionith time.