Melrose lauds the Red Wings

Thanks to Southwest Airlines taking 40 minutes to get me my bags this morning, missed most of the morning fun at the St. Pete Times Forum. But I was able to hear coach Barry Melrose talk glowingly about the Red Wings. Melrose has a long history with the club with which he played 36 games over two seasons in the 1980s. He played four seasons for the AHL Adirondack Red Wings, and was a teammate of Detroit general manager Ken Holland. Melrose coached Adirondack for three years, winning the 1992 Calder Cup title.

"They are the model of every organization," Melrose said of the Red Wings. "Kenny Holland is the best general manager in the NHL. They're an aggressive team, but they have stability and don't panic, and I think that's great for other organizations to see. I think they are one of the five best organizations in the world in sports."

Olie Kolzig gets the start in net and Matt Pettinger gets into the lineup. Melrose said he wanted to try to generate some more offense with Pettinger, and he didn't want Kolzig sitting too long on the dispiriting loss in Washington.

Comments

[Matt]

Why should Vinny get more playing time?? He has become a perimeter floater who will not get his nose dirty. This team is simply terrible. Stop looking for some glimmer of hope. They are horrible!! There are about 6 guys on this team worth a damn and the rest are stealing money from the owners. They are routinely out hit, out shot, out worked and out smarted. Ashamed to call myself a fan of this team right now.

[McGz]

This blog sucks, its not letting me post any comments.

[Herb]

Sorry Brian I gave my tickets to tonight's game to a Red Wings fan because the last time I went to a Bolts-Red Wings game (the season after the cup win) in the 2005-2006 season, it felt like a Red Wings home game. I swore I would never take in another Wings game again for that very reason. The fact that the Bolts suck this year made the decision, that much more easier.

[McGz]

The team played well when they were skating as a unit in the first period. Controlling the neutral zone and utilizing short passes (a la Detroit) and the D up on the blue line. Then they got away from it when Detroit started pressuring them. It seems once they were scored on, the strategy changed. Detroit has a nasty PP, and I'm sure they win a lot of games when they score like that.

All in all it was better than expected and a glimmer of hope remains. Lets keep up the hard work and passion, the wins will come. Go Bolts!

[Don in St. Pete]

They are the cup champs. lest you forget. The first year after our cup win we were the darlings of the officials lest you forget. That being said the no call on the V4 play in front of the net after the no call when they're player dragged down Artyukhin was too much. Of course these minor plays are not why we lost. We made a game of it with the champs, and I think they know they got favorable treatment from the refs, and will continue to recieve the same favorable treatment. The same effort and comittment will lead to many wins though, if we can sustain it.

[Brian]

That is f------ disappointing. To see a sea of red jerseys in the stands tonight. What a dissappointing, state this is. I really hate the wings now. You guys call yourselves fans ? This is the worst f-------- game yet. The refs favored them. When you win you get calls your way. When you struggle, you get called against you. We don't want to win games, we don't try, it's b.s....I saw this team from cup contenders to a bunch of c/novice league barn league hockey players? What the hell is going on here? This is freaken b.s. Where are the loyal fans? Oh there is none, because it's a melting pot of a--holes with no loyalty to this state. They hate it, I hate this f=--=-- place.... Bunch of red necks. I spent 20 years here and it's a waste of time....Waste of time...This sucks..They raised electricity 25% on top of the high rates for insurance, the prices of homes here are terrible, the economy sucks here. One of the highest unemployment rates in the state. then I see a bunch of a@#$%$%^ red wing fans dominating the stands. This is just terrible. This is really sad to see us go through this.

[Brian B.]

Yea Bolts, way to underachieve... again.

[McGz]

Apparently I'm a spammer now...

LeCavalier played 16 minutes. Something mighty fishy goin on in mudsville. C-H-A-O-S.

[ben bolt fan]

The last game this team scored three goals was against New Jersy. Looks like Gruden is calling the palys now.
Does this make Melrose a genius?????
Again the refs alow a elbow for Detroit and let them get away with it.
Hey Detroit idiots that live in Tampa take your offical and move back to Detroit.

[ben bolt fan]

Another week shot by V4 from the safty below the circle. That way you do not get your nose dirty and might actully score a goal.
I predicted 7-2, so I am very happy with the goal tending this year. You wonder firing last years coach might have been the diference.

[keith]

10 shots halfway through the 3rd?
Ajax you are so right....men against boys tonight. So many problem areas...its going to be a long season. Strange how goaltending, so bad since Habby left, is now one of the only strengths. Point fingers at coaching, management et al. I blame the guys with the skates on....no heart for the full 60, no creativity in the offensive zone, no transition from D etc etc etc.

[det 4 TB 2]

Tampa only has 4 shots on goal last period and a half. Oh no what is happening??? They were beating the champs and now they are losing. Maybe TB should make crappy ice and try to make it to OT 0-0 at home games?

[Derek H]

Change we can believe in.../barf

[ben bolt fan]

I hate Paul ranger. He is so soft and week on the puck. He is the teams worst blue liner.
Congrats to the refs to make sure the Crap Wings win this game.
S givr mr call were I could call that from the stands.
This team is maxed out on 2 goals for the game any way.

[ajax]

Ladies and Gentleman, tonight should not be forgotten. THe difference between good/bad hockey, the difference between winning/losing hockey. It is the difference between the 1st period, where the D held the blue line like tigers, and the second period where time after time Detroit forwards just walk into the zone, hold the puck and wait until they dominate the zone. It is so easy to see the announcers even have said it twice. I am sure Melrose can see it folks, I just don't know if he has got the talent, the experience etc to play it for 60 minutes. When doubt creeps in, when the legs are a little tired you start to play it safe and the dominoes fall quickly. Absolutely zero transition as the forwards are all way back, and the forecheck all of a sudden looks inept simply because Detroit can break it with a 30 foot pass to a forward with no one even near him. What a huge huge difference in the same team from one period to the next. It is amazing how long their forwards can hold the puck and no one even comes at them. Our forwards get mauled down low. Their forwards are on a walk in the park.
When it was 2-0, my only statement to the guys in the room? Can they keep up the blueline for 40 more minutes?? Not a chance.
My one constant observation of our D. How many times can Mike Lundin chase the puck to the boards and never ever ever come out with the puck. A child playing against men.

[Don in St. Pete]

A couple of questionable calls at the end of the period but the Bolts killed off a couple of PP and pur pressure on when they could. Our lone PP this period was terrible, but we're still doing a good job on the backcheck and of supporting our d. Kolzig has been huge. Keep fillin' up the net big guy we'll need you to come up big in the 3rd.

[McGz]

What team was that in black on the ice?

[Don in St. Pete]

WOW! Is this the same team that limped out of the opening faceoff the past 2 games? I see a ferocious forecheck, near total control of the neutral zone and a suffocating backcheck. I like the idea of splitting up the talent a little and spreading the defensive talent of the forwards as well. A special heads up to the line of Gratton, Hall and Artyukhin, who've drawn the assignment of Zetterberg and Datsyuk. We'll win a lot of games if we can continue to play with this work ethic and determination.

[PD]

Pretty solid 1st period.
Completly shut wings down and burried the two chances they got.

Great cross ice pass by Mezsaros to Jusi.

Bolts are taking away the O blueline.

Keep it up.

[boltcc]

It's gonna be ugly tonite

As far as tonight's game is concerned, let the carnage begin, because it will get ugly and ugly real quick. The Bolts are way in above their heads. I gave my tickets away long before the past 5 games because I can see that the Bolts have no chance. Good luck to those who go because it will be like a Wings home game. The Lightning fans will be outnumbered.

[Spooky]

Vinnie hasn't had much to work with as captain. He's seen a revolving door at the blueline, and we have no clue how he barks at the pups in the locker room. Somehow, I suspect he hates losing and wants to see more. I fault the coach and the GM this time. Boy do we need Ted Nolan as the general on the bench. He will give his captain assignments, and give the team a system to play under.

[danger]

I remember before the seaosn started hearing all sorts of promises from Melrose. "This team is going to be fun to watch". Nope. "This team is going to be tough to play against". Once every 5 games maybe. "This is going to be a hard working team, we're going to go out there and compete." Have you watched the last two games, Barry? Seeing as how I am just a fan I have no suggestions on who exactly should replace Melrose, but if your team isn't doing anything you said it was going to do....well then it's time to go back to being an analyst.

[Voice of the Turtle]

"Holland is the best Gneral Manager in the NHL."
-Barry Melrose

Is Barry looking for a job in Detroit or trying to send a message to Brian Lawton?

I don't think he's going to receive any awards for tact or diplomacy, but he may be right about Kenny Holland.

Mr. Melrose better check with his connectioons at ESPN because he is beginning to sound AND act like a guy on his way out. Could Rick Tocchet be any happier? Sorry to say, Barry looks like he's way over his head.

[Nan]

Hey Ross, rumor has it that Verizon is supppose to start carrying Center Ice which did have the game on last night.

There is certainly trouble in paradise but who is causing it? Is it Lawton with his zillion defensive trades and overriding Melrose on player personnel moves? Or do the players have problems with Barry himself? It doesn't sound like the latter has been an issue.

It takes time and patience to build a team and it does not appear that Lawton has either. Sounds like Melrose wants that time given to him. Torts use to say it should take 3 years to build a top notch team. Do these owners have the patience for that? Does Lawton?

Good luck against the Wings tonight! Just play hard is all I ask! Please!

[Kincaid]

Only someome protecting the clueless Cowboy would want Lawton fired.
He has zero authority other than ordering the paper clips and opening Lenny's beer.

[Ross in Zephyrhills]

Anyone have Verizon Fios? If so, were you able to watch the game last night? What channel? My Sunsports channel had the Magic game. FSN Florida listed the Bolts game, but poker was on instead. Anyone know what gives? Is there an alternate channel?

[Goalman]

Lawton has made some really bad decisions. He should be on notice. As far as Barry praising the Red Wings, now is not the time. We still all remember the snide comments about the Lightning when Barry was a TV star. This team lacks desire and plays with no purpose.That usually smells like coaching or lack of it. Vinny has been a bust as Captain and I will say for the umpteenth time ,get Marty off the point. The team appears to be playing the way they did when they wrote off Torts. It only says to me that there is something terribly wrong internally on our Bolts.We can't get Boyle back,but we need someone like him. I said in another blog at a different site that wwhen the Caps were in LaLa land last year they gave Hanlon the boot and brought in Boudreaux. We are at that point in this season. As I said in the other post. My Team, My Town, MY GOD!

[Larry David]

Lawton is the problem.

[dealhall]

"They're an aggressive team, but they have stability and don't panic" reads to me that Melrose is saying Lawton panics and has created an unstable environment. Which is very true. The "aggressive" emphasizes disagreement with Lawton statement about not needing an enforcer in the East. This is the 2nd time Melrose has publicly taken on Lawton. Bad Trouble in Paradise! I think Lawton's departure is needed. The sooner the better for the players, the fans and the franchise.

[boltcc]

Not to beat the dead horse, but maybe they should have waited a season or so before trading Boyle instead of dumping salary on defense.
Red Wings have always had STABILITY and class..We don't have that yet.

[Casey Fraites]

I am just frustrated I feel like the New York yankees thinking that it can fix this team by throwing money at it? I like Coach Melrose but they keep churning players to save money and we seem to losing position in future drafts. I think this them is under achieving for the talent that this team has I feel like they built this team forward heavy, and letting go of Dan Boyle and Brad Lucowitch have made Sanjose better and us look like we are in a five year plan. I hope OK hockey can get Brain Burke in here and fast to save this sinking ship

[Bill Berg]

I stated to give new management 20 games, but after 15 it is looking very sad and sorry team and management and seems like players have no energy,drive, team work or desire to compete. They better get it together soon or the building will be empty and new owners will go broke. START TONIGHT WITH NEW ATTITURE TEAM,GO BOLTS!!!

Against the Lightning, though, Osgood has yet to be beaten, going 16-0-0 with a 1.80 goals-against average and three shutouts in 18 appearances. Though he has not played in Tampa since Dec. 17, 2005, he's won all seven starts there, recording a 2.28 GAA.

This could get UGLY EARLY.

Good point Adam. We don't HAVE a Captain. Not since #25 has the team or fans heard from a real leader.

[Larry David]

Lawton should be fired.
The manner in which he makes deals is reason to say Take a Hike.
Lawton has demonstrated a LIMITED ability to make deals, that right there tells guys like VC only trash will be coming to Tampa.
With no hope comes no effort.

To anyone suggesting Halpern should be considered as a candidate for the "C", think again, he's a perennial LOSER.
Always has been and always will be.
I don't care how hard he works, he's a Munson/Mush. Bad Luck.

[Adam]

Damian,
It is a bit puzzling to me....why does it seem most of the quotes you provide are from Recchi? I would think the quotes should come from the captain. It is easy to assume the team's captain has been in hiding or avoiding the media. I hope I'm wrong..but his play on the ice seems to strenthen this assumption. Can you advise? Thanks.