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Bolts Bring Back A Familiar Face To Fill Out Staff

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

TAMPA - If it seems like it took the Lightning a while to rehire Mike Sullivan as associate coach, that's because it did.

More than a week after his name surfaced as a candidate for a position under interim coach Rick Tocchet, the former John Tortorella assistant started his new job Tuesday.

Sullivan said he wanted to make sure he was the right fit for Tocchet and General Manager Brian Lawton. He was a teammate of both, along with new fellow assistant Wes Walz, during an 11-year NHL playing career.

"The important thing is for the coaching staff to be on the same page so we send the same messages to the players and there's clarity in the concepts we're trying to implement," Sullivan said.

Sullivan is a former Boston Bruins head coach (70-56-15-23, 3-4 playoffs) and was head coach for the U.S. men's team at the 2007 world championships in Russia.

After the world championships, he became part of Tortorella staff in Tampa Bay for the 2007-2008 season. He was not retained when Tortorella was fired in June.

Although he interviewed for other NHL jobs, Sullivan decided not to rush back into the league. He has been coaching his 16-year-old daughter Kaitlin's 19-and-under team near Boston.

Lightning veteran Marty St. Louis hadn't heard that the hiring was official when he was approached after Tuesday's preparations for tonight's home game against the New York Rangers, and he sounded pleased by the news.

"He's got a good knowledge of the game and he's a fun guy to be around," he said. "You surround yourself with good people and good things happen."

Tocchet said Sullivan's familiarity with the Lightning's holdover players will be helpful, but a greater contribution will be his grasp of the league.

"With him, it's the knowledge of the Eastern Conference," Tocchet said. "And he's good with the 'D.' He breaks down film really well. He does all the right things. He's going to be a very valuable guy to our staff."

Sullivan fills the slot created when Barry Melrose was fired and Tocchet was elevated on Nov. 14. He'll oversee the defense during games, while Walz will also have bench responsibilities.

The addition means a new job description for assistant coach Cap Raeder. He'll become goaltending coach and oversee their development throughout the organization, while spending about 10 days a month at AHL Norfolk.

NOTES: G Mike Smith, who was held out of Sunday's 7-3 loss to New Jersey with a nagging nerve problem, practiced Tuesday and said he thinks he'll be ready to play tonight. He'll probably at least dress, since the Lightning sent backup G Karri Ramo to Norfolk. D Lukas Krajicek (lower body) also expects to play. ... W Matt Pettinger hurt his knee during practice when he hit a rut and had to be helped off the ice. "Sometimes with those knees, you come in the next day and it can balloon up," Tocchet said. "Other times it can be nothing." ... The Lightning traded minor-league center Wyatt Smith to the Phoenix Coyotes for future considerations.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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