Lightning schedule 'major' announcement

By foxsports
Published

The Tampa Bay Lighting plan to make a ``major'' announcement amid reports that Guy Boucher will become their next head coach.

The former coach of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs reportedly agreed to take over the Lightning after turning down the job with the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this week.

The Lightning declined comment on reports out of Canada that Boucher is the choice of Tampa Bay's new general manager Steve Yzerman. The team set a press conference for Thursday in Tampa.

Boucher would replace Rick Tocchet, who was fired April 12 after a 34-36-12 finish left Tampa Bay out of the playoffs for the third straight season.

In his first season as a professional coach, Boucher led Montreal's top farm team to the second-best record in the AHL this year.