Lightning hire assistant coach Wayne Fleming, release two others

First-year Tampa Bay Lightning coach Guy Boucher added valuable experience to his coaching staff on Friday with the hiring of veteran NHL assistant Wayne Fleming.

He also did some house cleaning, letting go of coaches Jim Johnson and Cap Raeder.

Fleming, 60, has been an NHL assistant for 10 seasons, last season with the Edmonton Oilers under coach Pat Quinn and previously with the New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames. He also was an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 1992 and 2002 Winter Olympics and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

"Wayne is a well-known person in the world of hockey," Boucher said in a statement. "He has an extensive resume both in the NHL and internationally. Wayne brings new information, ideas and a wealth of professional and NHL experience. He is familiar with a number of our current players, having previously coached (Vinny) Lecavalier, (Marty) St. Louis and others. I needed someone with experience as well as an open mind and he certainly fits that perfectly."

Boucher, 38, is the youngest head coach in the NHL. Earlier in the week, he announced the hiring of his assistants last season with Hamilton of the American Hockey League, Daniel Lacroix and Martin Raymond.

Fleming will be primarily in charge of running the penalty kill. During games, he will split time with Raymond on the bench and as the "eye in the sky," communicating with the bench from above.

Johnson, who ran the team's development camp last week, finished last season as the head coach of the Norfolk Admirals, the Lightning's minor-league affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Raeder was Tampa Bay's goaltending coach.

"We'd like to thank both Jim and Cap for their service to the Lightning and Admirals organizations," general manager Steve Yzerman in a statement. "As we continued to assess the coaching situations for the two teams, we elected to move in a different direction with both of these positions. We wish both men all the best as they move forward."

Johnson was a Norfolk assistant at the start of last season before taking over as head coach in January. After leading the Admirals turnaround, with a 15-5-1-1 record under his guidance, Johnson was at the center of a controversial move. Then-general manager Brian Lawton promoted Johnson to the Lightning staff and fired Wes Walz without the consent or knowledge of then-head coach Rick Tocchet. Johnson finished out the season with the Lightning but did not help out on the ice with the rest of the coaching staff. Eventually, he returned to finish the season with Norfolk.

The search for a new head coach for the Admirals will begin immediately with new Norfolk general manager Julie BriseBois and Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman leading the search.

Raeder, who also took part in the development camp last week, worked the past two seasons with goaltenders in Tampa Bay and prospects in Norfolk. Raeder joined the Lightning when Barry Melrose became head coach after the two worked together when Melrose was head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

A search will begin to fill Raeder's role.