Tampa Bay Fires GM and Coach

It didn’t come as much of a surprise that the Tampa Bay Lightning have fired GM Brian Lawton and head coach, Rick Tocchet. New team owner, Jeffrey Vinik made the announce Monday morning.

The Lightning finished 8 points out of a playoff spot, 12th in the east. Assistant GM Tom Kurvers will take on the responsibility of hockey operations until they find a replacement for Lawton.

Before a new GM is named, Vinik will name a new CEO, who will then bring in the GM. They will need to really get moving on the CEO, as they’d like to have GM in place well before the draft in late June, and the July 1st free agency.