Originally published Monday, May 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Seattle native and lifelong angler Mark Yuasa blogs on fishing in the Pacific Northwest.
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Lightning make Tocchet full-time coach
The Tampa Bay Lightning made Rick Tocchet their full-time coach Monday, lifting the interim tag and giving him a multiyear contract.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made Rick Tocchet their full-time coach Monday, lifting the interim tag and giving him a multiyear contract.
The former NHL star took over in mid-November after Barry Melrose was fired. Tampa Bay went 19-33-14 under Tocchet.
"Now I'm on the clock," Tocchet said. "I'm ready to go. We have some great pieces on this team. I think we have a lot of players here that can do the job. I'm excited."
Hurt by injuries, the Lightning missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Tampa Bay used 50 players, including 22 defensemen.
Owner Oren Koules wholeheartedly endorsed Tocchet. The Lightning did not announce exact details of Tocchet's contract.
"It's something we're proud to do and wanted to do," Koules said. "He's a character guy. He's absolutely our guy."
Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton said assistant coach Wes Walz, goaltending coach Cap Raeder and video coach Nigel Kirwan also will return for the 2009-10 season.
Associate coach Mike Sullivan has an offer to stay with the team, but was given permission by Lawton to look for another NHL assistant or head coaching position. One potential destination for Sullivan could be joining the staff of New York Rangers coach John Tortorella.
"He wants to weigh all his options," Lawton said. "It wouldn't shock me if we had to move in another direction."
Lawton, after a postseason review of the organization, decided not to bring in other candidates for Tocchet's position.
"Under a difficult situation, he did a great job," Lawton said.
The current Lightning roster includes key performers Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier from the 2004 Stanley Cup championship team. Lecavalier has been mentioned in trade speculation for several months.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article
Print view
Share
UPDATE - 08:47 PM
Bud Withers: Pac-10 "very seriously" looking at expansion
Seattle physician Brian Krabak will do more than treat injuries at Winter Olympics
NEW - 08:11 PM
BBC vet Arlo White, 36, to succeed Kevin Calabro as Sounders FC play-by-play broadcaster
NEW - 08:13 PM
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes what he sees, keeps mum on Walter Jones
NEW - 06:57 PM
Boys swimming state leaders
Open Houses
|
Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:
|
nwautos
Associated Press Study: Fatal crashes down in Washington Last year Washington's roads were the scene of the fewest fatal crashes since 1955. According...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Five reasons to stick with a job you hate -- for now
Post a comment
- Steve Kelley | My treatment of Bedard has been unfair
- Is Washington's tax exemption on bullion a gold mine?
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- Super Bowl ads: Betty White, Bud Light, big laughs
- Man found shot dead in pickup truck in Seattle
- Alaska Air dropping Jones Soda beverages, going back to Coca-Cola
- Sex, drug rumors swirl about N.Y. Gov. Paterson
- Lewis-McChord soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old over alphabet lesson
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- Husky Football Blog | Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year
- Republicans may be no-shows at health-plan summit 274
- Pac-10 expansion to get consideration over next year 239
- State Senate votes to clear way for tax increases 212
- Obama: GOP and Dems together can spur job growth 208
- Fort Lewis soldier charged with abusing 4-year-old, holding her head in water 193
- Lee undergoes foot surgery 170
- Rivals names Martin one of Pac-10's best recruiters 143
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year 126
- Tobacco ban in Seattle parks affirms citizen right to breathe smoke-free air 81
- White House mocks Sarah Palin from podium 77
- Seattle is first U.S. stop for Picasso exhibit
- 747-8 soars smoothly on first outing
- City, Vulcan push higher South Lake Union height limits
- Commentary: Microsoft's creative destruction
- Snap out of your photo funk: How to make sense of all those piles of images
- Belltown boulevard could be completed by early next year
- Wine Adviser | Oregon's quality pinots join the bargain ranks
- All You Can Eat | Portage chef Vuong Loc takes Cremant space in Madrona
- Jerry Large | Learning not to copy China
- Rigorous college-prep classes skyrocketing in Washington state
