Tuesday
Jun242008
Melrose Taking Bolts' Reigns?
Tuesday · Jun 24 · 2008 | 1:47 PM PDTI apologize, I know this has nothing to do with jerseys or logos, but this is one of those times when I'm writing just because I have a blog and an audience. As a lifelong Tampa Bay Lightning fan I can't help but...
...huh?
Yeah I know it's been rumored for a while now so it's not exactly news but it's official today and I'm — I don't know, I don't have the words. It's just weird.
I'm curious how fans from the rest of the league view Barry Melrose becoming the Bolts' new coach. What do you guys think of this development?
Do you think his years as an ESPN analyst will give him a better perspective on coaching the game? Or is this the setup for the bad joke I think it is? (You know, the punch line being another last place finish.)
Reader Comments (19)
Go Capitals!!!
See: Toronto Blue Jays - Cito Gaston
yeah everyone thinks hes a good fit for the bolts
gretzky said he treats the all stars like vinny well and uses role players
in the news conference one of the owners said he called rob blake (played for melrose in la) he said hes the best coach and pesron hes worked with
also hes gonna bring exposure to the lightning
hes famous to anyone watches sportscenter,and theyll probilly show the highlights because its a ex analyst
so i think its a good movr
Gotta give the guy a chance. I mean there's nowhere to go but up for the Bolts. Figure that with the new ownership and their aggressive stance at targeting free agents, along with prospal back in the fold that the team can be good enough to compete with or without melrose.
I think you've got bigger problems in Tampa besides Melrose - i.e. the new ownership group. They seem to be the sort of owners that will put their stamp on everything in the organization (i.e. Daniel Snyder with the Redskins, or Al Davis in Oakland)... in other words, they look and sound like meddlers. Tampa needs some guidance on the ice from smart hockey guys who don't have to worry about the owners second-guessing them - or worse, making moves without including them.
Sorry, Chris, your Bolts now have a bad coach to go with their bad logo. At least you get Prospal back and with the exception of him pretty much disappearing from the ice during the playoffs, he was a nice addition to the Flyers this year. Thanks for the rental!
I'm not sure how he will turn out as a coach after so long off, but I am really going to miss him as an analyst.
Look on the bright side, at least you got Stamkos.
marketing scam. If he couldn't win with Gretzky he wont win with anyone else
He took over a Kings team that was on the rise and had Gretzky and took them to the Finals. You could say he was just riding the coattails of the previous coach. He then promptly ran the team into craptacular mode and they fired him and traded Gretzky. I say cover your eyes for the next 2 seasons until he is cut loose.
Look at the bright side if they do finsih last again next season you have a great chance of drafting John Tavares. Then you will have Stamkos and Tavares on the same team for the next 15 years plus. Go Blackhawks!!!
Barry was a successful coach before he became an anaylist. I think this is a pretty good hire, time will tell.
It's not like Melrose doesn't have experience...
I think this is a good pick. I'm going to miss him as an analyst, but I think he's a good guy for a building team. He won the Calder Cup as a coach in the AHL I think.
At the very least, he can now put his money where his mouth is.
Finally, the best mullet in hockey history comes back to the ice. I hope he does a good job.
Barry rocks!
Melrose will lead the Lightning to a first round exit, unless the goalies are even worse. Smith is good, Ramo has potential. And, then theres that offence. Lecavalier, St. Louis, Prospal, Jokinen, Halpern(at some point), and Stamkos. Then Boyle and Ranger leading the defence. Things look better for Tampa now.
If he keeps that mullet living in the Florida heat, he will officially overtake Stephen Segal as the biggest bad ass with a mullet.