Is Tocchet's new hobby putting his job in jeopardy?

The title is from Puck Daddy's post yesterday asking if calling out Lecavalier is a new hobby for Tocchet? Let's delve a little deaper into this hobby of Tocchet's, shall we?

Yes Vinny's October sucked. Blah blah blah. Cue the trade Vinny stories. But um, hate to break it to you, he has a no trade clause and most likely a no movement one too. So, for now let's just hope that he has a better November than he did October.

But Tocchet has been yapping. He's been talking to the press, calling out the captain of the team, through the press. Let's take a little look at what has happened:

• He says Vinny's game has sucked. To Tocchet, it's not just the lack of scoring, it's his whole game, in his words "it's slipping"
• Tocchet drops Vinny to the 3rd line. A checking line. Vinny is not a checker. Maybe a little bit of a hit to the ego here for Vinny
• Tocchet says Vinny needs "passion" in his game
• Vinny refutes his supposed lack of passion, and says that maybe he needs to "work smarter [rather] than harder"

I know that Tocchet was just trying to do whatever he could be trying to "send" Lecavalier a message by demoting him down to the 3rd line. I don't think this move works for Lecavalier. Neither will benching your superstar, but I fear we're gonna see that one soon.

Calling out your player behind closed doors is one thing, calling him out regularly in the media is another thing. Is Tocchet trying the Tortorella approach?

One thing Vinny has that Tocchet doesn't have is that no trade clause. It's not often that the superstar gets traded just cause the coach doesn't think he's doesn't have enough "passion", so if Tocchet continues to keep up calling out Vinny through the media it would be more likely that Tocchet will get fired. Oren Koules is not dumb, he knows that he can't trade away Lecavalier since he's still the face of the franchise even if he could get Vinny to waive his NTC. In addition it will still be another year or two before Stamkos is ready to take on the role that Lecavalier has had for so many years, and a few more for Hedman as well.


















If we look at the team, the team doesn't look like an awful team. It's a better team than we had last year. Tocchet got a free pass last year because he took over for Barry Melrose, and by comparison he was better, but we're lowering our overall standards here. If Tocchet can't make the team that he has into a team that can put together some wins, come out with a consistent effort, than he will lose his job. I'm not the biggest fan of Tocchet, I think he's looks too much like a pug and like to use the term "dogging for the puck" too much. I think that there are better coaches out there than Tocchet.

Right now it's in Tocchet's best interest to find a way help Lecavalier get his game back or he's gonna be the one who's gonna be benched. Superstars don't get fired, coaches do. Since we all know Tocchet is a gambling man, what is the over/under for a change of coaching regime by, let's say, Christmas?

Lightning 1, Penguins 4 - Bolts LOSE

Ok, it's Sunday night and I am just getting around to my review of last night.

Despite what TSN says about a game tomorrow against the Rangers, there is no game until Thursday.








In fact, the Lightning never play the Rangers on a Monday. It seems they are confusing the Lightning with the San Jose Sharks, which is maybe what I should really start doing when I want to watch some decent hockey. The TSN writers also forgot that Wild has a D in it.

The Lightning were outplayed last night by the Pens. I only caught the 1st period but that was really enough for me. It was like they forgot to play hockey. No offense and just looked like they were trying to fight off each wave of offense from the Pens. It was crushing to watch.

While on the powerplay from a high stick from Drew Miller, Niitymaki over committed to a shot from Malkin, and with Ranger taking a walk somewhere instead of covering his guy, Guerin was able to easily stuff it in, 1-0. Later in the period, Gonchar lets a blast go from the point, which Niitymaki should have seen coming, 2-0 ending the 1st period.

Stamkos did score in the 2nd period from a rebound from St. Louis while on the powerplay. The Pens got goals from Dupuis and Rupp in the 2nd and 3rd period respectively.

GM Brian Lawton gave the team a verbal lashing after the game, which could be overhead by reporters, though the specifics were not released about what was said. It's pretty big when a GM talks to the team directly, though was this the best thing for Lawton to do? They did just lose to last years Stanley Cup Team. MAF hasn't lost a game yet this year. And is it Lawton's job to address the team directly or Tocchet's?

Today Cristodero is reporting that the lines are being switched up (again) with Tanguay being demoted down to the 3rd line with Halpern and Miller. The top line is Lecavalier, St. Louis and rookie James Wright, and the 2nd line is Malone, Stamkos and Steve Downie. The 4th line will remain the same with Fedoruk, Konopka and Veilleux.

Just for the record, the Lightning have not won a road game yet, and Vinny hasn't scored in 14 games.

Next game: Thursday in Tampa against the Sharks

Lightning This and That

Just some stuff before the season starts:

• The Lightning signed free agent LW Mitch Fritz to a 1 year contract. He's a giant who stands at 6'8", and was undrafted will be report directly to the Admirals. The former Kelowna Rocket made his NHL debut with the Islanders last season.
• Mike Lundin and Matt Lashoff cleared waivers and were both assigned to the Admirals. Lashoff got a verbal lashing from Tocchet today, with Tocchet saying "I don't think he came into camp vying for a job,". Ouch. But Cristodero points out that if they get called up, because they only make $105, 000 each, they don't have to clear re-entry waivers.
• The Lightning keep increasing the Swedish love by teaming up with IKEA. And clearly, the next logical step, since we also have Ohlund and Hedman, would be to have a Swedish Night! No word yet if pickled herring or swedish pancakes with lingonberry syrup will be served though.

And from the man who loves press conferences:
Burke says that the Canucks shopped Burrows, Bieksa and their 1st round draft pick for Hedman at the draft. Gillis denies this. Since I love both teams, I could really go either way on my opinion if it did happen, but I am happy that it didn't.

Lightning and Lemaire

The Lightning is apparently still interested in bringing in Lemaire as a senior consultant, but the team has yet to offer a contract or even discuss the parameters of the position. So really in other words, this is gonna take as long as Tocchet's removal of "interim".

I still don't understand why the Lightning would want to bring Lemaire in. He is known for the trap hockey that the Wild has played since he has been coaching there. Yes he has been able to get the Wild to the post season, but never far a long with the trap style. Rick Tocchet wants to play an up-tempo style next season, so what how will Lemaire help with his consultation? Maybe he can offer points about how NOT to play hockey. The only reason I think the Wild fans put up with that style for so long is that they were afraid that if they stopped buying tickets, *poof* and their team would disappear again.

Tocchet is now HC Tocchet...What were the odds?

I'm a little late with the news I know, but I've had a rough day yesterday with the Canucks' playoff dreams being crushed. But I'm back to life now...

So Tocchet is now named Head Coach Tocchet. The contract is said to be a 2 year deal worth $550 000. He took over as interim HC after Barry Melrose was fired and since then has the led the club to a record of 19-33-14.

"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." -TSN

The Lightning waited this long after the season ended to announce this because they wanted this to highlight their Lightning Open House last night.

So is this a bad gamble? Well no not really. The deal is only a 2 year deal, not the 3 years that is normally offered to coaches. The salary is on the low end of the scale of average coaches salaries, but then again, he's never been a head coach before (only an assistant in Colorado and Phoenix) and his record is 19-33-14. He was the only interim coach this year that didn't improve the record of the team dramatically...like Dan Bylsma and the Penguins, or Quenneville of the Blackhawks, or Clouston of the Senators....should I go on? Actually if you want the numbers check out this post by Mirtle over at From the Rink. In addition, the Lightning still have 2 more coaches on their payroll since they had to pay 1.3 million to Tortorella for his TSN panel services and the Mullet Melrose cost the team about 2.25 million over 3 years (or did they withold the mullet's money?)

Tocchet still has a lot to prove, and this year will be his year. Unlike last year where there was no real training camp, just an 80's mullet camp of scrimmages and some play fightning. This year Tocchet has said he wants players to come to camp in top shape, he wants them to be ready. So with a team that will be in shape, and another high draft pick, we'll see how Tocchet's first year as HC will bring.

Lightning Resigning Tocchet

TSN is reporting that the Lightning are close to signing Tocchet to a 3 year contract extension...