A press release from the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Jim Johnson has been let go as Norfolk Admirals head coach, and Cap Raeder has similarly been dismissed in his duties as goaltending coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
While the Raeder move does not surprise me — Guy Boucher bringing in his own people to serve and all that… The Jim Johnson move does. During the Lightning’s developmental camp two weeks ago, Steve Yzerman was quoted as saying that they (Yzerman and Johnson) were on the same page.
What changed in the last two weeks? Julien BriseBois, new assistant general manager for the Lightning and new General Manager for the Admirals. BriseBois was hired after the conclusion of the developmental camp… and new management wants to have their own people to work with. So it’s an understandable move int hat regard, but I’m simply assuming what the deal is by saying such.
In the end, the Ads will once again be under the direction of a different head coach — the fourth individual and fifth coach in less than a year. Last season’s volatility started with the firing of Darren Rumble as head coach of the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, replacing him with Johnson, who was promoted to the Lightning. Johnson’s replacement was Leigh Mendelson, up until Johnson was returned to the Ads in a last-ditch effort to make the AHL playoffs.
The search begins immediately for replacements for Raeder and Johnson.
