Melrose takes the day off

Kind of an interesting scene outside the team hotel today as we began driving to practice in Coral Springs. Stopped at a red light, we look up and there is coach Barry Melrose waiting to cross the street and get back to the hotel. Strange, since the hotel is near the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and practice was about 20 minutes from beginning.

So we pull a U-turn and drive up beside him, and after he jokingly insulted my crappy rental car, said he had a meeting with the players and decided it was best to be away from the team for a day.

"Just for a day?" I asked.

He laughed and reiterated it was just for the day.

Apparently, Melrose called a meeting with the players, who were dressing for practice at the BankAtlantic Center and addressed two straight games of terrible first periods, and especially Monday night's effort that saw Tampa Bay fall behind 3-0 to the Capitals in what turned into a 4-2 loss.

Goaltender Olie Kolzig said Melrose gave the players "a good scolding," and decided to skip practice to give everyone a break.

"Maybe he felt it was just time," Kolzig said. "Maybe he just wants to get away from his bratty kids right now, and let us figure it out on our own. We got a pretty good scolding and tomorrow is another day. Just a day to get away, I guess."

Assistant coaches Rick Tocchet, Wes Walz and Cap Raeder ran practice.

"Sometimes guys get tired of hearing him and he gets tired of hearing them," Tocchet said. "Every coach does that. You need a break, have to get away from the team for a second. I honestly don't think it's that big a deal. It really isn't."

And, in fact, we have seen this before from coach John Tortorella. But Torts certainly let his assistants run practices when he thought the players needed a break from him or to use as motivation, which is what Melrose clearly was doing here.

As general manager Brian Lawton said of Melrose, "It's his job to motivate the players."

Anyway, Melrose was particularly angered after Monday's game because it was Kolzig's first game against his former Capitals team. Melrose questioned how teammates did not show up better for one of their own in a big-time situation. It was the second straight game in which Tampa Bay had a lousy first period and went on to outplay an opponent. Saturday against the Flyers, it was a victory. Monday against the Capitals, it was a deflating loss.

"It really comes down to everyone looking at themselves in the mirror and motivating themselves to get ready for the drop of the puck, and not go out there and get a feel for the game before you decide to take off," Kolzig said. "Smitty (goalie Mike Smith) has masked a lot of our problems in the starts of games so they are not as magnified as last night. maybe last night was what it took for us to all wake up and smell the coffee. That's why you play 60 minutes. The good teams are the ones that do it from start to finish."

Speaking of finishing, Wednesday night's game with the Panthers ends a five-game road trip on which Tampa Bay is 1-2-1.

"Hopefully, the boys will respond to it and get a big win tomorrow," Smith said. "A win tomorrow and it's not a bad road trip."

Injury updates: left wing Ryan Malone did not skate and still is listed as day to day with what the team is calling a lower-body injury. ... Right wing Evgeny Artyukhin (groin) skated.

Comments

Watched the Detroit game last night against the Pens. Watching Caps/Canes match right now. Did you know that forwards can actually recieve the puck going forward?? Yes, I saw it a million times, where the Defensemen pass the puck up the middle to forwards going forward. Damien alert Melrose to new rule. They also talked to two different guys that were coming off injuries and both of them talked about all the extra skating they were put through to get ready. Reminds me of Danny not being ready last year, and a certain Captain who looks like he left his legs on the ice late last season.

[léo]

I'm a say it again. Pro'bly gonna repeat it again'n'again but I'll do it:
FORGET PAT BURNS.
Tamper, Sharkies, Detroit City, Dalliss, Ottawer, Beantown, Joisy, MONTREAL even.
FORGET PAT BURNS.
Ok? Enough. Please. If his DOCTOR has not already convinced him; even if he is STUPID enough (which he ain't) to re-enter The Grind of an NHL coaching job, than WHOEVER hires him is committing the crime of Attempted Murder, which should be punisheable by law.
Great coach. Still great. As consultant. Not as coach.
As coach, he's finished. FINISHED. Listen to Leo on this.
You wanna coach? Where's Bob Hartley? Doesn't he have DETAILED FILES of the South East division?
Where's Ted Nolan? THIS "maverick" makes McCain look like Strawberry Shortcake. (Hey, Leo made a politico-NHL zing!) Waitaminnit...was it Palin? Which one was the maverick? Sorry, I muffed it. Dang.
Or how about a winning AHL coach? Lookit Boudreau and Anderson (who seems to be doing ok).
It's hard to find the right coach.
Harder than dumping one who clearly does not have the attention of the room and harder than admitting you goofed, granted.
But it can still be done.
P.

[Ron]

Skp - excellent questions. You're right; yelling and screaming is one thing (sometimes necessary) and coaching is another. It's the latter that I'm not too sure about because by Melrose's own words, he's "not an X-s and 0's" type of coach. That has always concerned me, because in today's complex game, you have to have really tight strategies; it's not just about a coach trying to juggle lines, psych out his squad with one liners, and using different head tactics.

For all the criticisms, at least Torts did implement a SYSTEM and he did have STRATEGIES however quirky they may have been.

As for criticisms by some against fans who have given up, I can really sympathize with such fans. I've been a Lightning die hard since the football stadium days - and when Ludzig was coach, they routinely lost almost every single game, almost always by one goal, night after night. With the Cup we thought at least a consistent playoff team would eerge, and now, we're back to the old Ludzig days it seems.

It's really really hard being a fan right now :-((

[David]

Don't worry!

If things don't go well, another trade will be made!

Don St. Pete, the last 5 games the forecheck has been non-existant. Can't forecheck with out red line help. How many times do you see the 40 foot pass and our Defense is still 10 feet away from the guy. Tighten up the entire unit. The Defense is way way to passive, and this is safety not hockey.

[nickd]

For those who say get a new coach, ok fine...who? Is Pat Burns really going to pick up his phone and even halfway seriously consider an offer to come here? If there is the faintest whiff of truth (and there is that smell to it, ain't there) to these rumors about Barrie drawing up plays in the locker room, there is no way. Burns has too much self respect for that.

And after all the back and forth between Torts and the cowboys (and yes, I did think it was time for Torts to go) what coach is going to want to deal with this situation?

Is there anybody who thinks that Tocchet could handle being head coach, and handle almost constant BS from OK/Barrie and Lawton.

I still think there is more going on here than meets the eye. Melrose may not be a great coach, and is probably not the right coach for this team, but from everything going on, this teams problems start at the top and trickles all the way down to the players.

We've got a broken team here people and I have absolutely no idea how they are going to fix it. I'm keeping my tickets and going to the games, but I'm thinking I'm gonna be real lonely pretty darn soon.

[jiffy]

Look- I do like the Lightning, I really do. When the rumors started swirling about Melrose coming here I was not a happy camper. This guy is all about him. I went nuts when it actually happened. I sucked it up though am trying to get over it still, but it just isn’t happening yet. The team that was assembled was a hodgepodge of players. There are a couple of superstars in St. Louis and Lecavalier, a couple of old timers Recchi and Roberts, a few players that had “break out” type years last year in Vrbata, Hall, Malone, and a couple of steady type guys in Smith and Prospal.
I am sorry but nothing was done to improve the team’s worst position overall from last year- the defense. I am sorry but the games I have watched so far this year have not been nice to watch at all, except for maybe the Minnesota and Philly games. The “D” is just awful overall. This group in front of the net is not going to get a whole lot better. These guys are not very physical- unless they are taking a two-hander to someone’s back or getting the elbows up in someone’s face. Other teams always have guys parked right in front of our net with nothing stopping them. Same with guys coming out of the corners untouched and having free shots at our goaltenders while the defense stands around and watches. This is on pace to be just as frustrating as it was last year…
I hope I am wrong but, I really do not see the defense improving much more to be able to get these guys in the playoffs. Offense will come eventually but, when they play the better defensive teams and get into the 2-1 or 1-0 games I do not think we will win many of those.

[léo]

You can't blame the coach, Jake?
Funny how they're PRAISED for the team's success when they win the Cup (Babcock), bring a team out've the depths (Nolan), reorganize firepower (Boudreau) or align egos and talents under pressure (Carbo).
But it's NOT their fault when when their team is playing with no intensity? When they're playing below REASONABLE expectations? When they're UNDERACHIEVING? Not the coach's fault? Hm.
Disagree.
P.

[PD]

Leo he's co coach with Len Barrie
That should work , right?

[Jake]

I am 28 years old and have played since I was 3. I have coached, ref'd and played highly competitive hockey up north, so there is my background.

So I am gonna weigh in on the coach situation. Other then the Steven Stamkos situation, where Barry just needs to play the kid, the team is NOT Barry's fault.

I dont care what anybody says, you CANNOT blame the coach for the way the team is playing.

First: He didnt destroy the team before the season
Second: He didnt sign the players that are here now

Give the team a chance. There has to be a period in which the players gel and learn to play the game as a team. But, more importantly, learn to play for each other.

In my opinion, its going to be more then half the season before we see them gel, but I dont think its going to be till next season that we REALLY see the team come together. Anything else at this point is purely conjecture. Remember, Rome was not built in one day, nor does a 2004 stanley cup team come together in less 15 games.

[léo]

I've kept quiet for a bit cuz me mum taught me not to say bad things if that's all I had to say.
So I let the Carle trade go by without sayin' nuthin'.
But THE COACH leaving the team???!!!
For a day, an hour or a week; that is UNACCEPTABLE.
Tocchet says it's normal and it happens?
BULL-spit on that! Bullspit! He's not leaving them while they're on vacation or to go see family members in need; he's leaving them IN SEASON, during PRACTICE!
This is disgusting behaviour! I'm up north and this really doesn't concern me but I personally find it disgusting. I'm shocked. Veritably shocked. I don't think this is what V4 had in mind by "change of air".
Lemme ask yehs somethin' (and this isn't a proposal to bring the guy back) Did TORTIE ever "walk away" from the team to "get away and simmer down"? Never.
If Melrose NEEDS to "get away" like this, it means that he's too weak.
That's right, I said it: Weak.
In other words: He is NOT an NHL coach. He may have been at one point, but he ain't one now.
...walking away from the team...
WHO'S gonna wanna play for him now? Would you?
P.

[Casper]

Nice catch Don.

I'm going back to other games on the dvr and try to spot the onset of the trend.

Why again, do we have a Tocchet?

Go Bolts!

[Ruthe]

Just the mere fact he chews the team out and then walks away is just more proof this team is in trouble. Seems like each day it gets worse!

[PD]

Global puck thx for that link to
http://www.motherpucker.ca
Looks like they have free NHL streaming from their site. Bonus!

Interesting that they source yet another credible rumour about Barrie going into the room between periods while Melrose goes out and tries to pretend to be coach.(and not just once)

Who would blame the players for just glassing over..the disinterest is rather obvious.

These owners are a joke at recruiting and at running a team. Others in the league see us as the laughing stock as if 71 points wasn't bad enough.

[Don in St. Pete]

A couple more observations from monday night. After reviewing some of the video from the 1st period, I realized the CrAPS were breaking our forecheck with a long pass to our left wing boards on each of the 1st 3 goals. Where was our 3rd man high? It seems that our forechecking scheme by design sends our left wing in deep each time. Why not alternate so the opposition can't count on using the same attack each time? I hope the coaching staff has rethought this strategy, although I understand the original reason they deployed it as we had Roberts, Recchi, Malone and Prospal on that side. Our most physical defensemen are all playing the right side, Mezsaros, Eminger and Lundin ( I never thought I'd use physical and Lundin in the same sentence )so I would think it would be to our advantage to have the puck coming up that side of the ice. Effort has to be better and with every team having the ability to win on any given night, the effort level can be the difference. GO BOLTS!

[Casper]

I hear Tortorella's laughter as the Joker in Batman, distant but growing stronger...

Melrose is almost out of motivational 'tricks' (most have been dismal thus far...) and our "Captain" is all about flash (trying admirably after off-season surgery and re-hab,) but is in point of fact, a dim bulb in the leadership depatment.

V$, it turns out, really DID need Tortorella inside his jock to keep him grounded and trying his best---shooting once in a while instead of persistently trying to find that perfect pass. (Uh, not only focused on Vince, but the whole Club shouldn't take LESS than 12 shots in a period or they don't freakin' get to go inside the locker room between periods!)

Lecavalier also seems to have taken nothing from the Dave Andreychuk experience.

Vincent Lecavalier: love the guy but he's just one fella and we still need Captain, a REAL Captain, and desperately need a coach.
And NOT a goalie killer either....so there, JT.
Pat Burns, pick up the d@mn phone!

Lord, we need some help. I'd have not had a snit and gone away from the team until I ran these guys so long and so hard their toes curled up inside their skates and couldn't take them off. Then they'd BETTER take that sh*t out on the other club or tell their agent/parasites to move them.

Please don't make me break my TV over a mid-season Brad Richards type effort against the Stinking Panthers tonight.

Over the wall on every shift, make the other team say, "Oh Sh*t."
Every game, one at a time.
Win.

Go Bolts!

[PD]

Little matter of the Panturds tonight 1st Pete.

[pete]

They will get smoked tomorrow night... I wonder how bad the beating will really be? If the Bolts "coast" around they'll get a serious azz beatings vs the Wings tomorrow night.....

[billie]

It's deceiving when coaches say we outplayed a team in the second and third period after falling behind in the first. Often, what's happpening is the team in the lead has changed their style and is playing a more controlled bend but don't break defense that makes it look like the other team is playing better. In reality, they're not. It's just lipstick on a pig. The bottom line is the Bolts are getting beaten at the start of the game and, in hockey, that's what counts most.

[Globalpuck.com]

Motherpucker.ca has an interesting musing on his site right now. What can I say....I haven't liked one single thing that I've heard about Len Barrie. Seems like a complete idiot which isn't good for a "hands on" type of owner...

[Tampa Wine Guy]

I would love to go back to 2003 and see the comments on the blogs at that time (if they existed). I seem to remember a team trying to find their way. A lot of talent, and very few goals being scored. That continued into early January, then they proceeded to go on a tear that didn't end until June 7, 2004. I'm sure a few of you remember.

I'm not expecting a repeat, but there is simply too much talent on this team. The season hasn't gotton away, I remain optimistic this isn't a terrible team. Shoot as you must all of you who think I'm too far into the Koulaid.

Let's go Lightning, beat the stinkin' Panthers tonight!...TWG

[PD]

Tack /RBC patience is great except not here and not now in this economy.

If they are out of it by Dec it will have huge financial implications with the franchise.
The place will be empty and Koules did all his spread sheets based on a winner and full houses.

He has no deep pockets, they are in fact renting the franchise from Palace.

Thats why Lawton is freaking now.

[Puck68]

This season's Lightning are neither a good team or a bad team...they're not a team. Yet. To give Kolzig the lack of effort is inexcusable. I don't need a W every night, but I do need effort in return for my support. (I'll love the Bolts no matter what, but you know what I mean.)

I can't stomach hearing how "quiet" our team is. This is hockey! Forget who's in the stands or behind the bench... play with passion for your linemates and the rest of the guys up and down the player's bench. That's a team.

Our roster has skill. We have knowledgeable coaches. Playing for each other starts inside the locker room, behind a closed door. And it's not all on V4 and MSL. The other veterans need to get loud. Gratton was our captain - step up. Recchi, Roberts... you've been there. Kolzig's saying the right things. Malone's been playing with passion. There's potential for a great TEAM. Character needs to step up first, then the skill can take it from there.

Tonight I'll be watching our second pass out of our zone. More cross-ice nonsense or half-hearted dump-ins, and it's gonna be a long night.

No matter what, though, Go Bolts!

[rbc]

losing does not bother me, this is basically a new team with a new system, it will take time for the team to gell. I will wait and be patient, that being said, it's the effort that i will not forgive, you go out and play hard and compete and lose, fine you tried and will never complain. This team needs to get nasty and start hitting and making people hurt, that's not the coach, that's the players, don't mind losing, want effort, show some pride.

[James]

1. The 2008 Tampa Bay Lightning are simply NOT a good team

2. They may well be a terrible team

3. They sure are hard to watch every other night these days but I'll still do it... hoping V4 and M$L wake the F up.

[Tackleberry]

All above have good theories. The only thing we can do is wait to see what surfaces.

Maybe some players will not work out with this team. The style of the coach (for lack of better terms) will not mesh with their own style.

Maybe the coach does not have confidence in some of the star players??

Maybe there are animosities between the players??

Maybe the players have not found their motivation (as a team)?? Like Coach Bill said, they dont have the will to execute.

Maybe the players are looking out for #1 because they feel the ownership may trade them. Maybe some of the players DONT want to be with TB??

Players will have off nights and slumps. Right now, unfortunately, most of the Bolts are in a rut. The short-lived Lightning 'empire' crumbled last year and now it is being rebuilt.
I'm still giving ownership/coach until Dec. Fair enough time for them to get something going.

[Lisa]

Things are going to come together. I just know it. With so many new players and so much switching around things are just a mess. Vinny will step up and so will the rest.We Must BELIEVE!!! Go Bolts!!!

[Brian]

Hey everyone Dan Boyle just had a baby with his wife. Congrats to Dan !!!!!Man we could use him right now.

[Goalman]

Someone needs to take Vinny's stick and play popsicle with him. He needs to be told that he is the Captain and his play and leadership is inexcusable. If he can't take the heat, then he should give up the C.He's a great player,but I think he's messing with his own head.Get over it. Stop the pity party and play hockey. Be the leader that everyone thought you could be. Its not words you need,its deeds. And ,oh yeah, get Marty off the point and put him down low where he belongs.

[nickd]

As much as I didn't want Melrose in here to begin with, I have a hard time saying that the Bolts problems are with coaching. Two things wrong with this team and they are very interrelated.

1. They don't play as a team...at all. They don't seem to care about each other and MSL and V4 are not showing the type of leadership they should be. There are a very few players that seem to be motivated to play well, and they are not the top line guys. What did Melrose say? He's never seen a team that is so quite and passionless. That's something, considering he's played, coached and owned a hockey team.

2. Hard to play together and get to know each other as a team when you're worried about who is the next one out the door. Again this has nothing to do with the coaching, it's all about the management. It's a revolving door, and that is on Lawton and OK/Barrie.

I never on the day he was announced as the new head coach thought I would say this, but I actually feel sorry for the guy. I know he didn't have a great success rate in LA after their cup run, and most of that was the quality of players he had, but come on, there was never any indication ever that the biggest problem with his team would be getting the guys to play tough and play together.

Anyway, I'm hoping our big guys start stepping it up and leading by example. Win or lose I'm still on board.

[Don in St. Pete]

Coach Bill is right! The problem is not skill or lack of coaching, it's the lack of will to execute. It made me sick to my stomach last night to watch MSL and V20 scrapping all over our end of the ice trying to steal the puck from the CrAPS players and there was V4 skating around in circles up at the blue line waiting for an outlet pass. Isn't the center supposed to be down in the slot helping cover forwards in front of the net? Backchecking is simple. Hustle back, pick up a man and give your goalie the best odds possible. It doesn't mean coast back to your own end and hope the goalie can stop a 3 on 1 or 4 on 2. It's about heart, and respecting the other guys in the room and the crest on the front of the sweater. The coach should not have to talk a player into working hard out on the ice, in the offensive AND defensive zones. The coach's job is to get that little extra from the player when we're a goal down going into the 3rd or a grittier effort when facing a tough defensive team. I thought Vrbata played by far his best game last night. We definitely missed Artyukhin the last 2 games. I hope he can come back soon. Let's see a little heart tomorrow night. BTW, I think the game is showing on FSN tomorrow night. GO BOLTS!

[D]

The Bolts outplayed the Caps after period 1? Really?! Ok, maybe 2 and 3 were a little better but that isn't saying much at all. It looked like last-place slop all the way to me with the Caps coasting to an easy win.

Hey, That road hump slowing us down came in the form of yet another trade. Momentum buster for guys trying to gel.

[Boltflasher]

As far as motivating and pushing Vinny...do I hear Torts snickering in the background??

[olin]

..excuse me, tomorrow nite's game

[olin]

....Chic, sometime's I am thinking it can't be fixed, sad to say at this point with everything OK is trying, doesn't seem to work. Here again, tonite's game is only on radio. I don't have center ice, is really too bad. Sorry to be pesimistic, but think this is not a good direction. Then again maybe OK hockey might be thinking to move the team out of tampa. But that doesn't seem logical when he has listed his cailf. home and bought in tampa.??? So why can't this team play somewhat consistently...gotta be a reason. I agree it need's to be fixed...

[coach bill]

I'm not a negative person. I'm with Don and support our team. BUT- we have a problem that I don't think is related to "skill". Our leadership is suffering. Our coaches and players( Cs and As) have to establish some sort of direction for our team to follow. Am I saying "Dump Melrose"? Not yet.

[skp]

melrose needs to evaluate his approach. i hear him "motivating" his players through the media, and i hear about him yelling and screaming and running punishing them with drills, but i haven't heard alot about running plays or practicing technique....is anybody working with these guys on fundamentals? has anybody shown them film of HOW they failed to play a complete game and HOW they are hanging their goalie out to dry?

yelling at players and running them ragged to teach them a lesson is one thing, but is anyone actually showing them how not to repeat the specific mistakes they are making?

just because they're pros that doesn't mean they coach themselves - they need specific feedback and they need to be reminded of the system and how they are doing relative to it. i don't hear about that, all i hear is barry pacifying fans by letting them know how much he's been yelling at his players.

[Boltflasher]

To nonamed above: disagree, a previous coach called out players by name, very unprofessionally, to the press. Current coach simply says: "some guys are not playing very well right now"...absolutely nothing wrong with that statement,....other than being an UNDERstatement...

[Boltflasher]

Amanda...good comment, agree. Hey, they're gonna take the 1st period off, then I'm taking the morning off while you guys work...

I have no problem with it, agree with Melrose on this one. Sounds like he's sick of it too...

I am sure coach is losing the respect of the players by bad mouthing them every single day to the press. Not good for the long haul. They are men, treat them with respect and lead thru tough behind door leadership.

[Hockey Chic]

Well I am rather glad that the coach showed some emotion and decided that him and the team needed some space. Its a good thing.

I am also glad that he addressed the first period woes as it is becoming something of a habit. As if they are tired of getting paid to play hockey. I am not speaking of all of them and msl cannot skate for the entire team. He has had his moments as well.

Whatever the problem is lets just fix it. I cannot take another year like last year and neither can the rest of the fans. Fix it, analyze it, do what you have to do, just make some progress and the fans will be patient.

It is unrealistic to expect you guys to win them all, but it is not unrealisitcs to expect an honest days work for a large amount of pay. Come on guys pull it together.

It seemed like you guys were pulling it together and now it seems we hit a road bump or a hazard in the road.

I want this team to succeed and so do most of the people on this site. Lets get er done and phatom can call me what he.she wants, but I will NEVER EVER EVER stop pulling for this team.

I believe in the Bolts do you belive in your selves?

Lets stop pointing fingers and all chip and lets see some heart out there.

Go Bolts!!!

[Nan]

Kolzig is right in that Smitty's outstanding performance has been masking the otherwise poor performance of the rest of the team. When you are the goalie for the Lightning, you are left back there by yourself and have to be able to stop anything and everything on your own much of the time.

Melrose needs to motivate them, for sure! Has he so far? Not well enough, obviously!

[chris]

Adios Andrzej (must be a gator fan)
Way to go Joe
Hopefully once (if) they quit the revolving door team will gel, until then don't see too much real change. Sign of bad team is playing to level of opponent instead of setting tempo.

[Amanda]

Why shouldn't Melrose have the day off? The boys took most of last night off.

dont let the door hit you on the way out

[Andrzej]

A new ownership, coach, manager, and the players. The rest, including inconsistency, lack of motivation, inaccurate passes, shooting instead of passing, and ill-considered transactions remained the same.

After 15 years of rooting, farewell TBL.

[Joe]

Honestly I just really hope all the guys can get there heads in the game. it kills me to see people on the ice working hard and then you see at least 2 others always lagging behind, or just not getting there at all. I am still a lightning fan and will ride this ship through its highs and its lows.

also been meaning to ask everyone how do you all feel about Hall i really like him alot. you dont here to much about him but i feel like he is rarely on the bad end of a play and from what i see he is always fighting to get in on the play or brake a play up before it can develope. just like to here what a few of you think :)

[HockeyBay.com]

Well its kinda easy to explain: Caps are a better team.. duh

See Roberts 2 goals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnTsmhuFxI8