Terrible Bizarre Losers Maul Melrose

Analysts are trendy. On television, they are knowledgeable. They posses unique insight. Unfortunately, reality never mirrors expectations. With Barry Melrose, I predicted the aforesaid would continue. However, this is ridiculous.

On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning fired Melrose. Associate Coach Rick Tocchet supplanted him. “Although we'd all like miracles ... that's not going to happen,” said General Manager Brian Lawton. “Players are going to need some time to understand what he's trying to get at. I think we're a higher scoring club than we've shown. To be dead last in the National Hockey League is not something that I'm excited about. But more importantly, philosophically, it's not the direction I want to see our club go in.”

During his career, Melrose logged an 87-110-35 ledger. He accrued one Western Conference championship. In 1992-1993, he was 39-35-10. In 1993-1994, he was 27-45-12. In 1994-1995, he was 16-23-9. Upon his firing, the Lighting stood 5-7-4. “This was a tough decision to make,” said Lawton. “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. Myself, certainly the players and the rest of our staff, we all have to take responsibility for this as well. It's a difficult job. Ultimately, you have one person that's paying the price for a lack of deliverance on performance for a number of people, or a team in this case.”

“I asked for a sixty minute effort every night,” said Melrose. “I don’t think its to much for a guy making millions of dollars to play like that. I don’t think that’s out of the ordinary and no I didn’t get that from the players. The problem is I wasn’t able to get them to do it. That’s what coaching is about.”

Tampa Bay’s decision is asinine. The Lightning were not perennial contenders. They were worthless. John Tortorella reinvented them. Melrose would have resurrected them. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay overvalued themselves. Owners Len Barrie and Oren Koules warrant condemnation.