Guy Boucher accepts coaching job with Swiss League club
Former Lightning bench boss had 97-79-20 mark in NHL
One-time Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher is following in the footsteps of some of his former NHL brethren by travelling overseas to work.
Swiss League club SC Bern announced Boucher’s appointment on Monday, stating a contract agreement through the 2015-16 season.
The Lightning fired Boucher, 42, last March with the team sporting a 13-18-1 record in the lockout-shortened season.
Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Boucher guided the Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate in Hamilton to the second-best record in the league.
He guided the Lightning to a 97-79-20 record over two-plus seasons, reaching the 2011 Eastern Conference final and falling to Boston 1-0 in Game 7.
At the end of his tenure, Boucher had lost some of the confidence of the players and had what was described as "philosophical differences" with general manager Steve Yzerman, including the use of star centre Steven Stamkos in late-game situations.
Jon Cooper, Boucher’s replacement, had Tampa Bay sitting second in the Atlantic Division with a 31-16-5 mark entering play Monday.
Former NHL coach Mike Keenan is the current bench boss of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, the team Paul Maurice guided in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League last season with before accepting the head coach’s position with the Winnipeg Jets recently.