so this is our new coach
clark_brooksBarry Melrose is now officially the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing the recently fired John Tortorella, under whom the Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
I don’t like it.
Having spent the last 13 years as a TV analyst on ESPN, promoting the mullet as a viable hairstyle 
and generally not being a hockey coach, in my opinion Melrose is as qualified to lead the Lightning as Willard Scott is to be the director of NOAA.
Of course, I should point out that it might be a good idea to ignore my opinion. After all, I once believed that signing Dave Andreychuk would turn out to be one of the dumbest things the Lightning had ever done.
(Cross posted at Ridiculous trickle of consciousness)
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June 26th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I’ve been seeing far and wide fan sentiment driven specifically by the fact he’s on TV. “Oh, awesome! Great pick up!” In some ways, this is driven by the hockey ignorant (I’ve had friends make that remark) who don’t know NHL coaches.
Meanwhile, with my hockey savvy friends and colleagues, it’s considered a joke. I thought it was a joke when I first heard of his hiring as a rumor in April. And now? We’re laughed at.
I don’t think there was anything wrong with Torts as-so-much the player personnel choices made by Jay Feaster (starting with the John Grahame #1 investment, moving down the line to Freddie-Modin-for-Marc-Denis and continuing a steady deterioration from there.
New ownership is taking a huge gamble with these opening moves (the rumored Lecavalier contract, Melrose, and whatever else is in store starting July 1st).
June 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
i’m not the puckhead that John is but Melrose did lead the kings to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993 (with the help of Gretzky). although i would have liked to see Torts stay Melrose does have a good deal of coaching experience and has won titles in the WHL and AHL.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
if i take a dump on the ice will it freeze or will the ice melt
June 26th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
First of all, Clark I’m way ahead of you on the “ignore my opinion” front. Steven, please take that somewhere else. As for me, I’m ready for change we can believe in and will start growing my Melrose Mullet this fall.