Fired Tampa Bay Lightning coach Barry Melrose says players didn't want to play for him

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Barry Melrose, fired as Lightning coach Friday, said he believes his dismissal was in part sparked by players voicing displeasure with him to management.

"I think the players didn't want to play for me," Melrose said Saturday during an interview on Hockey Night in Canada. "I'm not a guy who sings Kumbaya around the fire. I'll let you know if I'm not happy with you.

"And obviously, a lot of guys didn't like to be held accountable with this team, and obviously, they went to (owners) Oren (Koules) and Len (Barrie) and said they don't like this style of coaching and 'would you get rid of him.' I don't think there was any secret about that."

Koules said in a text message to the St. Petersburg Times on Sunday, "It's absolutely not true."

When general manager Brian Lawton was asked Friday if players had come to him with reservations, he said, "Nobody came to me on this issue."

Melrose said "the players have the power" on the Lightning, "and they exercised that power" with his firing.

"Now they can play who they want and how much they want and when they want and (not) demand a lot of them," he said. "Everybody's happy in Tampa right now."

Comments on this article

by Bill	Nov 19, 2008 3:24 PM
Melrose thinks they wouldn't play for him because he was tough? Does he know anything about their last coach? He was a terrible choice for the job in the first place. Bring back Torts...at least he could actually win a Stanley Cup!

by dave	Nov 18, 2008 8:37 PM
melrose has no clue on being a coach, maybe saturday night adult league, glad he is GONE!!! crybaby barry dolls should be sold

by dan	Nov 18, 2008 7:35 PM
why belive melrose? he obviouslt did not realize players 'now' want instruction and direction, through out the game , he shouted play good. players said ok where and what? etc, melorose had no clue on pinpoint direction, now he's sore,poor baby

by tom	Nov 18, 2008 4:06 PM
Motivation by imtimidation does not work at the pro level. if his accusations are true this team is in a sad state of affairs.

by joe	Nov 18, 2008 4:05 PM
Its not your fault the team sucked under your rein,Barry.By-by.

by Jeff	Nov 18, 2008 3:54 PM
This guy has no hockey sense. On ESPN he always heaped praise on the wrong guys. Now, unfortunately, the lightning is full of the wrong type of players. This idiot ruined the team.

by Corey	Nov 18, 2008 3:44 PM
Wow - how things have slid downhill since winning the Cup - which I was there for. Bring Brian Burke in to run the franchise, he's available, and let Lawton learn from one of the best.

by Carol	Nov 18, 2008 3:43 PM
I feel as though Barry's right about them not wanting to play for him. It looked obvious to me that was the case & I feel for him.

by SF	Nov 18, 2008 3:17 PM
Good ridance. Absolutely cringed when they hired the mullet. Going to take some time to build both player & fan trust in this mess (too many changes, too fast), but haven't forgotten you boys. Hang in there...

by Pat	Nov 18, 2008 2:16 PM
as martin said, the losses aren't the worst part about tampa..the behind the scenes management of the team and building as a whole is suffering this year and continues to lose more and more hard working people

by Danny	Nov 18, 2008 2:16 PM
Looks like the "New" NHL kicked melrose in the butt. Players are asked to go play the best they can no matter who the coach. Somethings wrong in Melrose's head!

by TA	Nov 17, 2008 5:17 PM
This is NOT Town team hockey, These players are getting paid to go out and play the best they can no matter who is the coach. If that is what happened this team is lost till new ownership.

by Martin	Nov 17, 2008 4:08 PM
What the fans don't know is how bad the problems are with the internal personnal, with all the people leaving the business side of the Lightning hockey is even worse than the wins, or lack thereof on the ice...

by Martin	Nov 17, 2008 4:08 PM
Barry was right, the players sure played like they didn't care, and the owners lieing? Ask Dan Boyle...

by hockey nanny	Nov 17, 2008 3:41 PM
It is sas when anyone loses their job, but the team was not responding to Barry's style of play, something had to be done, wish him luck where ever he goes.

by Tim	Nov 17, 2008 3:16 PM
HAHAHAHHA.. you were too hard on them ??!! After playing for the "AntiChrist" and winning the Cup for him you looked like a day at the beach !! Get over yourself , MulletMan .. And I use the term "AntiChrist" as a compliment ..

by Gene	Nov 17, 2008 2:16 PM
No one was harder on the players than Torts. Shows that Barry wasn't even do his job as a TV analyst, never mind a coach if he thinks he can say this and people will believe it.

by Geografer	Nov 17, 2008 2:15 PM
Right - that's it. I forgot they played all those years and won a cup with Torts sitting around singing Kumbaya with them. It had nothing to do with you publically calling them out 2 games into the season. Man up and take some responsibility yourself

by Jeff	Nov 17, 2008 9:26 AM
The one thing I am happy about is that this guy is gone. He never should have been brought aboard. Melrose is all about himself and this is the kind of things to be expected from him. Bye Barry!

by ben bolt fan	Nov 17, 2008 9:26 AM
Hey melrose you should have never been hired in the first place!!!!!

by Josh	Nov 17, 2008 9:26 AM
That's sour grapes or the truth. I'm pretty sure management has shown that they are ok with lieing. But I also think that The Mullet should have been fired after the first game.