Lightning fire Barry Melrose

[typewriterhill]

For those who don't read the NHL thread, Tampa's joke of an ownership group have fired Barry Melrose after a few games into his first year on the job.

 

[hockeybeat]

For those who don't read the NHL thread, Tampa's joke of an ownership group have fired Barry Melrose after a few games into his first year on the job.

Perhaps Strachan knew what he was talking about.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

They're 5-7 -4. That ain't grounds for a firing, is it?

 

[Armchair_QB]

They're 5-7 -4. That ain't grounds for a firing, is it?

If it is then Dave Tippett should be really, really nervous.

 

[hockeybeat]

They're 5-7 -4. That ain't grounds for a firing, is it?

Shouldn't be. They have 14 points in the NHL's worst division, six behind the Caps with only five and a half months to make up the deficit.

 

[KevinmH9]

That's too bad. I've always liked Melrose. I wonder if he'll just go back to ESPN or try to take a job somewhere else.

 

[slappy4428]

That didn't take long.. .

 

[bostonbred]

This is strange, although it's the NHL, the league where Claude Julien is canned while 16 games over .500.

 

[typewriterhill]

Melrose to be on ESPNews at 5:30 (if I heard the bit right)

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Sucks for my team.

Maybe it's good news for SportsCenter.

 

[typewriterhill]

Melrose and Barnaby should be an interesting tandem if ESPN wants to bring him back.

 

[mpcincal]

Wow, I know job security in the NHL is by far the worst among the major sports, but this is insane.

 

[DanOregon]

I never understood why hockey fires their coaches so quickly, until I read a story about soccer in SI where a soccer guy explained that coaches don't do much during the game. The players play, there really aren't many moves a coach makes during a game. I figure hockey is the same way. Most likely the GM felt the style of play Melrose was encouraging wasn't suited for the team he put together. Which is really odd for a coach just hired. That said, I wonder how much of an impact a coaching change really has besides making the GM feel better.

 

[cougargirl]

Rick Tocchet will be the interim head coach. Go forth with your illegal betting and Janet Jones comments.

 

[mpcincal]

Just read the story on SI.com. Is the GM the same Brian Lawton who was the No. 1 overall draft pick many years ago?

And, the Lightning was 11 games under .500 last year, I'm still trying to figure out how a 5-7-4 start under a new coach is "unacceptable."

 

[cougargirl]

Just read the story on SI.com. Is the GM the same Brian Lawton who was the No. 1 overall draft pick many years ago?

And, the Lightning was 11 games under .500 last year, I'm still trying to figure out how a 5-7-4 start under a new coach is "unacceptable."

I'm STILL trying to figure out how Denis Savard got canned four games into the season. The Blackhawks simply need some veteran leadership.

 

[JC]

Just read the story on SI.com. Is the GM the same Brian Lawton who was the No. 1 overall draft pick many years ago?

And, the Lightning was 11 games under .500 last year, I'm still trying to figure out how a 5-7-4 start under a new coach is "unacceptable."

I'm STILL trying to figure out how Denis Savard got canned four games into the season. The Blackhawks simply need some veteran leadership.

Because they had a better coach in the organization. I think it was totally unfair to Savard if they were going to do it they should have done it in the summer

 

[typewriterhill]

MPcincal - yes, same Lawton.

 

[Birdscribe]

After suffering through his ruination of the Kings, I came to the conclusion that as a coach, Melrose makes a damn good broadcaster.

That said, this is kneejerk to the nth degree and says more about Lawton and Co. than it does about Melrose.

 

[Drip]

One could use this firing as another reason why hockey STILL has yet to grab the American sports scene as a whole.