Melrose swaps mic for Tampa job

TV commentator Barry Melrose has ended a 13-year break from NHL coaching by becoming the new boss of Tampa Bay.

"They approached me and I couldn't wait to say 'yes'," said the former LA Kings coach, who replaces John Tortorella.

"Watching successful teams (as a TV commentator) just reinforced what I believe in and how I coached, and the way we're going to play here.

"There are reasons certain teams win all the time, and why certain teams lose all the time," Melrose added.

The Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004 but missed out on the NHL play-offs this season for the first time since 2002, finishing with a league-worst record of 31-9-42.

Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. In his first season, he helped the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Montreal.

He spent the past 12 years with US sports broadcaster ESPN.