Randy Carlyle fired

[Singin the BLUES]

Leafs finally let him go...

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Randy Carlyle.
Carlyle leaves the Leafs after a 91-78-19 record with the club. The Maple Leafs currently sit fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 21-16-3 record this season.
Assitant coaches Peter Horachek and Steve Spott will assume the coaching roles for the Maple Leafs in their next game Wednesday night against Washington Capitals, the team announced.
“I want to thank Randy for all of his hard work and dedication,” general manager Dave Nonis in a statement said. “It’s never an easy decision to make when changing your leadership but our team was not trending in the right direction and we felt an immediate change was necessary.”
The 58-year-old has spent parts of four seasons with the team after taking over from previous Leafs head coach Ron Wilson with 18 games remaining in the 2011-12 season, leading them to a 6-9-3 finish in his first year.
His most successful year at the helm would be the following season when he led the Leafs to a 26-17-5 mark in strike shortened 2012-13 and more importantly, the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2003-04.
They would ultimately suffer a shocking defeat in Game 7 of their opening round series, surrendering a 4-1, third period lead in the final 11 minutes of regulation and falling in overtime to the Boston Bruins.
The 2013-14 season looked promising for the Leafs who were looking to build on their playoff appearance, but a lengthy losing streak during the stretch run, which included key losses to the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, would cost them a post-season position and eventually Carlyle his job.
The Leafs extended Carlyle’s contract by an additional two seasons following the 2013-14 season. He had one year remaining on the three-year deal he signed after taking over for Wilson, keeping the Sudbury, Ont.-native under contract until the end of the 2016-17 season.
Before coaching the Maple Leafs, Carlyle spent seven years as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, including leading them to a 2007 Stanley Cup Championship.
Carlyle was the 16th man to have both played for the Maple Leafs and then taken on the reins as the team's coach.


http://www.tsn.ca/maple-leafs-fire-head ... e-1.175898

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

I used to watch Steve Spott play for my team in the ECHL.