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Tocchet Steering Bolts With Steady Hand

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2009

TAMPA When Rick Tocchet was promoted — I guess we'd call it that — to head coach of the Lightning on Nov. 14, we can all agree he was handed a basically impossible job. The circus stunt experiment with Barry Melrose had been a disaster. The roster was an incompatible mess of ill-matched players, and no one was sure what could be done to fix it.

That's why Tocchet was given the title of "interim" head coach, although maybe Melrose should have had that designation as well.

The season could have become a complete meltdown, but that hasn't happened. Nearly three months have passed since Tocchet took over, and even though the Bolts are 13-17-7 since the change there are signs of purpose and order on Channelside Drive.

No one realistically believes that means a playoff berth for this season and it doesn't mean all is well with the roster. But the Bolts are playing a little better and it seems likely Tocchet will be back next season to see the rebuilding through.

"I can't believe they haven't taken the interim tag off already, to be honest with you," winger Mark Recchi said. "I just don't see anybody coming in here and doing a better job than he has done. He has made everyone accountable and the way he has handled this says a lot about him and it says a lot about the players in this dressing room.

"He is our leader. He has done a terrific job. Even if only half of us are here next year, he has earned this job."

When Tocchet took over, it was made clear there wouldn't be a decision on a permanent coach until after the season. That was smart. It took pressure off Tocchet to win immediately and allowed him time to shape his team.

It started with attitude and attention to detail. Vinny Lecavalier, for one, noticed the difference.

"At the beginning of the year there was a lot of stuff going on, but not any more," Lecavalier said. "Toch and the coaching staff are really trying to make it so that when we're in the locker room we're talking about hockey and not anything else that goes on outside. We're thinking about our game, our next game, and go out there and practice hard. They've done a good job."

The Bolts actually climbed to within telescope distance of a playoff spot — OK, so they needed the Hubble Telescope — but not so long ago the thought of even uttering the "P" word would have been absurd. I won't go there now, even though the official party line is that the current six-game home stand could set the Bolts up for one last P charge.

Realistically, the final 29 games of the season is more about setting the tone for next year. The circus will be long gone from the Forum and Tocchet presumably will have a full off-season and training camp to prepare for that, along with a roster with more balance and depth.

Tocchet's bluntness reminds you of John Tortorella, although without the sandpaper edge Torts often used. It's interesting to think that when Melrose was brought in last summer, part of the thought was that he would be more nurturing to young Steven Stamkos.

That didn't work too well, though. The Bolts still believe they have a future superstar in Stamkos, but now Tocchet has emphasized instruction and conditioning for the lad rather than burden him with unrealistic expectations too soon. It's all about building for the future, which is the only approach that will work with Stamkos.

It's also the only approach that will work with the Lightning.

"He's a very direct coach. He tells you like it is and he's fair. That's why guys respect him," Lecavalier said. "You've got a guy that played the game, who played it the right way and played it hard. He wants every player to be honest, to play hard and play our system. That's why we've begun to have a little success."

There is much work that remains before this team is truly ready to win again, but at least a semblance of order has been restored. As an organization, the Bolts made too many mistakes heading into this season, but Tocchet is one they seem to have gotten right.

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