Rene Gnam 11,140,423 Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100412/ap_on_sp_ho_ne/hkn_lightning_coach_gm_fired The Tampa Bay Lightning have fired coach Rick Tocchet and general manager Brian Lawton after missing the playoffs for the third straight year. Team owner Jeff Vinik made the announcement Monday. The search for a new GM will begin immediately, and Lawton's replacement will hire the coach. Vinik said in a statement that Tampa Bay's hockey operations department "needs a fresh start in order to help us fulfill our goal of being a world-class organization." Tocchet became interim coach 16 games into the 2008-09 season and was given the head coach position in May 2009. Lawton assumed the general manager post on Oct. 22, 2008. Since winning the 2004 Stanley Cup championship, Tampa Bay has not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs. I thought they'd keep Tocchet. Link to post Share on other sites
BigLebowski 1,486,402 Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I"m all for Lawton being shitcanned. I'm surprised Tocchet was. Link to post Share on other sites
Christoph2060 18,164,945 Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I"m all for Lawton being shitcanned. I'm surprised Tocchet was. This. Link to post Share on other sites
Rene Gnam 11,140,423 Posted April 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 I thought they'd retain Tocchet because he did get the team to work together until Lawton stupidly fired our D coach. Then it seemed that everything fell apart. Perhaps V felt Tocchet should have done better in holding them together. Or, perhaps he feels a clean slate is best. Link to post Share on other sites
Edski 250,000 Posted April 12, 2010 Report Share Posted April 12, 2010 It's the clean slate idea, but I'm not so sure that if a new GM though Tocchet was a good fit that he might not be re-considered. It's really about Vinick wanting to let the CEO pick the GM, and the GM pick the Coach. Lawton was just a fucking putz who was actively trying to undermine the coach. And when the writing was on the wall I think he started trying to undermine the franchise. I doubt he's going to get another chance as GM in the NHL. Tocchet will get another chance to coach I think. Link to post Share on other sites
Hooptie Wagon 250,002 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 A new owner is gonna want to bring his own guys in. Link to post Share on other sites
Y O I 250,000 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 A new owner is gonna want to bring his own guys in. To what city? Link to post Share on other sites
oma 250,000 Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 · Hidden Hidden Hate the idea of starting from scratch again - Link to post
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