It's final; Reese, Sullivan are done

This is more housekeeping than anything else, but Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett said Wednesday that former goaltenders coach Jeff Reese and former associate coach Mike Sullivan are now out of the organization. The only reason this is worth noting is the team had made noises in the past about keeping them on in some capacity, perhaps as scouts, as both had one year remaining on their contracts. Apparently, that consideration was a no-go.

Both Reese and Sullivan have been linked to other job possibilities. Reese was close to getting a coaching job with the Maple Leafs, but the details apparently could not be worked out. Sullivan is believed to have interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Thrashers and Islanders, and also was considered for an assistants job with Atlanta.    

Comments

[SM]

hockeygoalie-

On a personal note, I agree with everything you said. He is a friend and a terrific person.

[hockeygoalie]

Despite what anyone says, jeff reese is about a class act as you will find when it comes to a human being. No doubt he had some challenges working with the goalies he had, and in this day and age of "instant expectation" and "you are only as good as you played last night", Reeser had his hands full never knowing what Torts was going to do with his goalies. No coach can expect a goalie, or any other player in any sport for that matter, to develop confidence when you get pulled every time you sneeze the wrong way. The hockey families that know of the personal time and interest you had with our kids are very appreciative. Reeser, I wish you and your family well, though the results didnt appear recently in the columns that matter to sports fans and owners, you are a class guy that will be missed in the Tampa Bay community.

[SM]

Whether you liked Jeff Reese or not, the goalie coaches job is NOT to make something out of nothing. The greatest goalie coach in the history of the NHL would not have made ANY of the goalies of the recent past into anything more than what they were...average NHL goaltenders. Prior to and since their days with the Lightning, what have any of them done? In fact, many have faired worse (Khabibulin, Graham) since their days here. This is not a pitch for Jeff Reese. I will reference blogger, Coach Bill. He may have had a student who worked his/her butt off, yet could only obtain a B or C. Did that make Bill a poor teacher?

[Fay]

hey Reeser Just wanted to wish you the best of luck and say that you will be missed here in tampa bay. You helped tampa win a Stanley Cup and really helped the team out alot. Best of luck to you and your family in the future take care. fay

[Fogelberg]

Don, I'm pretty sure Mike13 was being sarcastic.

[Don in St. Pete]

Mike13, Sullivan was only here for 1 year.

[Fogelberg]

Stephen, not to pile on, but I don't understand how you perceive OK Hockey as "unprofessionally kicking out everyone"? Don't they have the right to bring in the people they want to run their business - steer their investment - people they trust?

The turnover of employees under a new regime is just an unfortunate, but rather common, aspect of the business/sports world.

Aside from how they handled the Boyle trade, which is still a he said/she said debate, IMHO I don’t think OK Hockey has done anything “unprofessionally” to date.

[Patricia]

Stephen, I also gather you have not seen our goalie in the past seasons!!

[Mike13]

Yeah man. Sullivan helped build this franchise. They should have never gotten rid of him!

[Boltflasher]

Stephen, I gather you have not been through an ownership change at your own employment...

[stephen]

Is anyone else sick of the way koules has come in and unprofessionally kicked out everyone from Ron Campbell to Jeff Reese. These are class act guys who helped form the lightning into perenial playoff contenders. It makes me sick how Koules just moved into Ron Campbell's office without his consent. I like the moves they made but does it have to come at the expense of the class of the organization.

[McGz]

Reese flopped around as a goalie coach just like how he played on ice. Good riddance. Though he didn't have much to work with the last few years. I think Sullivan was handcuffed by Torts. He was a much better coach in Boston.

[coach bill]

Right on Turtle. Torts was really hard on goalies,a position where psyche and nerves play a large part of their success. It's hard to "get in the zone" when your coach is dissing you in the press. Reese should have given some support to his charges( maybe he did but we never heard about it). Graham and Denis had alot more than they showed. I think Torts unnerved them to the point that they folded.Too bad Reese wasn't up front more and vocally more supportive.

[Voice of the Turtle]

I guess this is the time for people in town will start talking about these guys in the past tense (Sullivan WAS well liked by players...Reese always TRIED to help the goalies) as though they no longer exist. And, of course, there will be the obligatory and vacuous comments about "wishing them well."

The fact is that with the exception of the Bolt's golden year (2003-04), the Tampa goalies were very disappointing, and, apparently, Reese was not able to help them. Some will blame Torts for goalie abuse, but whatever could be done to counteract that factor was missed by Reese who always seemed to impress one as a strong company man. The company failed!

Sullivan sat to Torts' right and walked one step behind. His public persona was a quiet one in his first-and-last year in Tampa. Like a novice congressman in Washington, he watched and waited, but never seemed to (or was never allowed to) assert himself. Inevitably identified (or should I say "misidentified") as part of the earlier regime...down went Mr. Sullivan.

It might take a while, but these guys will probably land on their feet, and people will again talk about them in the present tense before ultimately having to wish them well again. But, that's the business, folks.