Gary Roberts signs

VETERAN ACQUIRED FROM PENGUINS SATURDAY

“When meeting the media and our fans last week in Tampa we talked about not leaving Steven Stamkos alone,” owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said. “We talked about being aggressive at the start of the free agency signing period. We think Gary’s signing today represents a great first step for us. He brings the Lightning leadership, tenacity, grit and experience and he will be great for our young players, especially Steven. He will be tremendous for the locker room and his ability to play different roles at the forward position will be beneficial to the team next season.”

A 20-year NHL veteran and former Stanley Cup Champion, Roberts played in 38 games with Pittsburgh last season. The three-time NHL All-Star recorded three goals and 15 points with 40 penalty minutes, and also played in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games recording two goals and four points.

Melrose named coach of 'Ning

JUNE 24, 2008 -- TAMPA BAY – Barry Melrose has been named the sixth head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was announced by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie.

“We are very pleased that Barry signed on to become the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Barrie and Koules said in a joint statement. “We believe Barry offers just what this team needs and it starts with his ability to get all 20 players pushing in the same direction and playing at 100 percent night-in, night out. We like his enthusiasm and passion for the game and we know the fans of Tampa Bay will take a liking to him.”

A winner at every level he has coached, Melrose spent three seasons (1992-95) as the head coach in Los Angeles, leading the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 1993. Melrose, 51, began his coaching career in 1987 when he led the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers to a 44-22-6 record and the Memorial Cup title.

Known for his no-nonsense approach and ability to develop young players, he also coached the Seattle Thunderbirds for the 1988-89 season and the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League for three seasons (1989-92). Melrose guided the Red Wings to the Calder Cup championship in 1991. He also served as the team’s general manager during his final two seasons.

“I’m obviously excited to be back in coaching,” Melrose said. “I’m especially looking forward to the opportunity to work with great players such as Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and Steven Stamkos; they’re all such talented and exciting athletes. Most of all, I have missed having a dog in the fight each season, especially at the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

During his 11 years as a player, Melrose played 300 career games as a defenseman in the NHL with Winnipeg, Toronto and Detroit (1979-86), recording 10 goals, 23 assists and 728 penalty minutes. He skated in seven Stanley Cup playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, assisting on two goals and recording 38 penalty minutes. He also played three seasons with Cincinnati in the WHA (1976-79).

Melrose most recently served as NHL studio analyst for ESPN and ESPN2. Melrose appeared regularly on ESPN2’s NHL 2Night, the network’s NHL news and highlights program. He also provided reports for SportsCenter, appeared on ESPN Radio and was a regular contributor to ESPN The Magazine. From 1996 to 2002, Melrose also called regular-season and playoff games for ESPN and ABC Sports (2000-02). From 2003 to 2004, he provided studio analysis for ABC Sports’ NHL telecasts.

In January 2004, Melrose became part owner of the Adirondack Frostbite of the United Hockey League. Born July 15, 1956 in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Melrose was sworn in as a U.S. citizen in 1998.

Lawton new VP, Hockey Ops

LONG-TIME PLAYER AGENT JOINS LIGHTNING MANAGEMENT TEAM

JUNE 25, 2008 -- TAMPA BAY – Brian Lawton has been named Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was announced today by owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie.

Lawton, 42, spent the past 14 years as a player agent, representing prominent NHLers such as Mike Modano, Mark Parrish and the Lightning’s Jeff Halpern, to name a few. A native of New Jersey who grew up in Rhode Island, Lawton was drafted first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1983 and he skated in 483 NHL games for Minnesota, the New York Rangers, Hartford, Quebec, Boston and San Jose.

“As a former NHL player who is very accomplished on the agency side, we believe Brian is a perfect fit with the team we are assembling here in Tampa,” owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie said. “As stated, our No. 1 intention is to win hockey games in both the short term and the long term and the management team we are putting together is focused on working as a single unit to procure and develop players within a system that will be successful for a long time. Brian is focused, driven and goal-oriented and he will help us as we strive to reach those goals for our team and our fans.”

Having served four seasons as his team’s player representative for the NHL Players Association, Lawton put that knowledge to use when he retired by becoming a player agent. He started his own firm, Lawton Sport and Financial, in 1994, and became a prominent agent, negotiating more than $300 million in player contracts.

Named three times to The Hockey News’ list of the “100 Most Powerful People in Hockey,” Lawton eventually sold his business in 1998 to Octagon Athlete Representation, one of the United States' largest sports agencies. Based out of Minneapolis, Lawton became Managing Director of Octagon’s Hockey Division. With Octagon Lawton built the second largest hockey agency in the NHL, with clients that included Bret Hedican, Keith Carney, Ryan Miller, Ryan Malone and Kari Lehtonen.

“I would like to thank Oren and Len for what I think is a wonderful opportunity here in Tampa,” Lawton said. “The team has some terrific players in place and a very bright future. I enjoyed my career as a player and then as a player agent, but I have longed to get back on the team side of things. Having the opportunity to be back in an environment where winning games and championships are the focus really gets the competitive juices and energies flowing again. I look forward to working with our management, coaches and players as we strive to bring the Stanley Cup back to Tampa Bay.”

A graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Lawton is noted for being the first U.S.-born hockey player chosen first overall in the NHL draft. He represented the U.S. on several occasions, including the 1982 World Junior Championships, the 1983 Men’s World Championships, the 1984 Canada Cup, the 1987 World Championships and the 1988 Canada Cup.

2008 Western Hockey Network

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