Lightning GM Brian Lawton has shot down reports that interim coach Rick Tocchet is already guaranteed to be behind the Tampa Bay bench next season.
Tocchet replaced Barry Melrose on Nov. 14 with the Lightning off to a 5-7-4 start. Tampa Bay was 21-31-13 under Tocchet heading into Saturday night's game against Carolina.
On Saturday afternoon, multiple reports said the Lightning have already decided to remove the "interim'' tag from Tocchet.
"All those reports are premature,'' Lawton said after Carolina took a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes. "Rick's done a good job, but it's premature.''
Lawton said the original plan was to evaluate Tocchet's performance after the 82-game regular season is completed, but he acknowledged Saturday that the process "could be accelerated.''
"Rick's had a real calming effect,'' Lawton said. "I like what he's doing. This is his first opportunity to be a head coach and he'll be judged on his body of work.''
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