Tampa, FL (My Sportsbook) - Barry Melrose will reportedly take over for John Tortorella behind the Tampa Bay Lightning bench within the next few days. The Toronto Star reported Friday that the former Los Angeles Kings coach will be named as a replacement for Tortorella, who has yet to be fired by the Lightning. Melrose, who is currently a featured NHL analyst for ESPN, has not coached a team since he left the Kings in the 1994-95 season. In the 1992-93 season, he helped guide the team to its first and only Stanley Cup Finals appearance, which the team lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens. However, Los Angeles failed to make the playoffs in the next two seasons. Tortorella led the Lightning to a Stanley Cup championship in the 2003-04 season, but the club was bounced in the first round of the next two playoffs and finished this season dead last in the NHL, earning the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. Since taking over at the start of the 2001-02 season, Tortorella has posted a mark of 251-252-20-41 and a 24-21 mark in the postseason. |
