Tampa Bay Fires Barry Melrose After 16 Games, Rick Tocchet Takes Over

Well that didn't take long. The Tampa Lightning, off to a disappointing start -- disappointing considering the absurd amount of money they spent this offseason -- have already decided to part ways with head coach Barry Melrose. Assistant coach Rick Tocchet will take over behind the bench, as reported by TSN.

General Manager Brian Lawton on the move:

"This was a tough decision to make," Lawton said. "Barry is a good man and we have a great deal of respect for him. We wish him nothing but success. However, the results were unacceptable and the players have to understand that we need to be better. Hopefully this change helps push them. "As for Rick Tocchet, we think this is a great opportunity for him and we believe he's the type of coach who can take the team to the next level. Our players have a great deal of respect for him."

The Lightning were a dismal 5-7-4 under Melrose, good enough for fourth place in the Southeast Division, only one point ahead of Atlanta. Their 14 points ranked 26th in the entire league.

New owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie spent the off-season paying free agents with Monopoly money, signing Ryan Malone to a seven-year deal worth $31 million, and players such as Radim Vrbata to a three-year $9 million deal. They've proceeded to treat the team like a fantasy roster, making moves seemingly for the sake of making moves.

Through the first 16 games, Malone and Vrbata have combined for just five points (three goals for Malone, two assists for Vrbata) while defenseman Andrej Meszaros has been held to just five assists after the Lightning claimed him to be an elite player in the NHL upon his arrival from Ottawa. Needless to say, things haven't gone as planned in Tampa Bay. Though, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone not named Oren or Len that Malone isn't living up to his contract or that Meszaros isn't an elite player.

The firing of Melrose comes just two days after the Lightning were shutout by Florida, which came a day after Melrose took the day off from practice because he, presumably, needed a break from his team.

Hopefully this means a return to ESPN for Melrose because, well, they need him.

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Washington Capitals' Tomas Fleischmann, left, of the Czech Republic, celebrates with Alex Ovechkin, of Russia, after he scored a goal against the New Jersey Devils during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, in Washington. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Fredrik Modin, of Sweden, right, goes after a loose puck in front of Buffalo Sabres right winger Ales Kotalik, of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y. on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 14: The Washington Capitals celebrate their second goal during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on November 14, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 14: Viktor Kozlov #25 of the Washington Capitals celebrates an assist on his teams second goal during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on November 14, 2008 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Viktor Kozlov

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