Barry Melrose is out 16 games into his first season?
New Lightning ownership made it very clear it had done its homework in hiring Melrose. What has he done to warrant the Bolts pulling the plug after all of 16 games?
Yes, this team has been slow to come around.
Yet, there are several new faces brought together by a new ownership group and being put together by a new front office.
And Melrose is the fall guy for only 5 wins in 16 games?
If it were all his fault, shouldn't the new owners have seen the red flags during Barry's hiring process?
Co-owner Len Barrie spoke of Wayne Gretzky's praise of Melrose when they hired him. Is that praise worth only 16 games?
Even though the Lightning ended up with the worst record in the NHL last season, I didn't see it as a franchise in disarray.
What about now??
John Tortorella and Jay Feaster both lost their jobs when the new owners came in. They had a track record and history with this franchise and this community. Palace Entertainment gave the Lightning stability and it paid off with a Stanley Cup.
New Lightning ownership promised this franchise would be fun to watch.
After the Melrose firing...after the trades...after the fingerpointing...you can't buy this kind of entertainment.
Al Keck