Just Like I Said It'd Happen...

Islanders Hire Scott Gordon as New Head Coach

As I so boldly predicted in my previous entry, the Islanders have hired inexperienced(NHL-wise), but successful, AHL Coach of the Year Scott Gordon. Um...i really don't know what to say. I hope Coach Gordon doesn't take my remarks about him not being what the team needs as a slight(as if he would ever read this, but just to cover my behind). It was only my opinion that the Islanders, who are in the beginning stages of a youth-movement, or a rebuild as some would say, should hire a coach with NHL SUCCESS on his resume. A coach with said success would know what is expected and what it takes to be a winning team at the NHL level. BUT...I am just a fan...not the GM.
So here is what GM Garth Snow had to say about coach Gordon, as per the Islanders home page:

"Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason. Through his work in the minor leagues and most recently with Providence over the last eight years, he has gained an impeccable reputation. The entire Islanders organization looks forward to working with Scott."

Last season, Gordon led the Providence Bruins to an excellent record of 55-18-3, so maybe I have a reason to be optimistic. Maybe I just wanted a big name to come in and save the day, but maybe this Scott's chance to show us all what he's got and what has made him so successful.
So, from me to you Mr. Gordon, and on behalf of all Islanders fans...welcome to New York...now lets get this thing moving.

List Dwindles to Three....

According to sources, Islanders GM Garth Snow has narrowed his list of potential coaching candidates to three. The list consists of, in order of which I would like them to be hired, Bob Hartley, Paul Maurice and Scott Gordon.

With all due respect to Scott Gordon, I do NOT want a rookie coach...sure he has been at the AHL level, but that's not what this team needs. The Islanders need a coach to HELP mold the youth into a strong nucleus for the years to come, they don't need a coach to come over and grow on the job as the kids do. Sorry Scott, but this isn't your time.

Paul Maurice and Bob Hartley are both the best of whats left, with Bob Hartley being the winner in my eyes. He was booted quick last year, after an 0-6 start, but he has proven he can come in and help develop young stars. Maurice also helped shape the Hurricanes team into serious contenders with a mix of youth and experience. However, Maurice had an ugly season last year in Toronto...marred with big contracts on players not performing(JFJ's fault, not his) and stars getting hurt, the Leafs finished with a 36-35-11 record.

Newsday reports that Snow will make his decision during the week, but we shall see. I just hope that Garth realizes the youth movement doesn't mean we need a young inexperienced coach with ZERO NHL EXPERIENCE...Make the right choice Garth...hire Hartley. This public service announcement has be paid for by the Bob Hartley coaching campaign...just kidding, but i'll accept a percentage

The Search Begins...

Isles Coaching Candidates (Alphabetically)

Marc Crawford has spent 13 seasons behind the bench as an NHL head coach. He got his start in 1994-95 with the Quebec Nordiques. As a 33 year old, he led Quebec to a 30-13-5 record and the following season he led the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup with young stars such at Peter Forsberg-22, Sandis Ozolinsh-23, Owen Nolan-23, Joe Sakic-26 and Adam Deadmarsh-20. He has a career record of 470-361-103-53, with a winning percentage of .555. Marc finished last season with Los Angeles at 32-42-7 and grabbing 71 points. The Kings are somewhat similar to what the Islanders have this year, except maybe not as young, and not as much veteran presence...OK so maybe they're nothing alike? Crawford is one of my top choices, with Hartley edging him out. I like Crawford's experience and at 46 he is still a young enough coach to stick around through the tough parts of a rebuild and the reap the benefits of the homegrown talent.

Gerard Gallant has coached part of 3 seasons in the NHL, all in Columbus. He last coached in 2006-07, and lasted only 15 games, going 5-9-1. His best and only full year was the 05-06 season. Gallant an the Blue Jackets went 35-43-4 for 74 points. I am really not sold on Gallant as being a good fit for the Isles. He is relatively young, turning 45 in September, but his track record is abysmal. Give me the spot. I was 13-4 coaching Bethpage High School back in 2000-01. I know he dealt with a lot of drama over in Ohio, especially with Zheredev, but it just seemed he was over-run by the kids. Rick Nash wasn't living up to his potential and Gallant didn't seem to do much to help mold him into the stud he was last season. Maybe I just want a big name, or maybe I'm right and Gallant isn't the fit.

Former Atlanta Thrasher and Colorado Avalanche coach Bob Hartley is a top candidate of mine. While he was ousted after just 6 games in Atlanta last season, losing all 6, Hartley is a Stanley Cup winner. In 2000-01, he led the Avs to a 52-16-10 record, piling up 118 points. This Avalanche team had youngsters such as Chris Drury (24) and Alex Tanguay (21), as well as a mix of seasoned vets. Also worth noting, Bob's Avalanche finished in first place the first five seasons he coached there. He has amassed 329 wins in 10 seasons as an NHL head coach.
I really like Hartley. After a game, he was asked what he thought Marion Hossa and Marion Gaborik were doing when seen before a game in the hallway...Hartley's response was, "Probably talking about back-checking." How great is that! Bob worked well with the youth in Atlanta as well, but the Isles lack a top-3 pure goal scorer like Kovalchuk. He did manage to get Atlanta to the playoffs with extremely shaky goaltending as well. I think Hartley tops my list

Paul Maurice began coaching when he was only 29 years old in Hartford...for the Whale. In that 1995-96 season, he had 5 players who were older or the same age as him on the team. That season ended in disappointment, as the team could only muster 66 points on 29 wins. Maurice's best years would be ahead of him in Carolina and his first year in Toronto. In the 01-02 season he led the 'Canes to 91 points on 35 wins, and in 06-07, took Toronto to 91 points on 40. Last season was a disappointment for sure, but I wouldn't exactly put it on Maurice. The Leafs were just awful. He could thank JFJ for that.
I wouldn't mind a young coach in this case, he's still only 41, because of the amount of experience and respect he garners. The Maple Leafs just didn't perform last season and it cost Maurice his job. Maybe that works to the Islanders benefit?

Joel Quenneville has been a successful NHL coach for the past 11 seasons. Over that time, Joel has led his teams to a record of 438-283-77-41, which is a .592 winning percentage. Joel started back in 1996-97 in St. Louis, finishing that season with an 18-15-7 record. His best year was by far the 1999-00 campaign in which he led the Blues to an amazing 114 points, going 51-19-11. The past two seasons in Colorado, Quenneville has lead the Avs to identical records of 44-31-7...that's pretty strange on its own.

Mike Sullivan coached the Boston Bruins to a combined record of 70-56-15-23 in his 2 seasons there(03-04 and 05-06). His first year was the best of the two, going 41-19-15-7 for 104 points. That team included youngsters such as Patrice Bergeron, then 18 and Joe Thornton, who was then 24. Mike hasn't worked in the NHL since the 2005-06 season. I'm not looking for a coach who has very little experience to come along and take the job when we need an established coach to get things headed in the right direction, right? Right.

50 year old John Tortorella has been a head coach in New York before...for 4 games. With the Rangers at the end of the 1999-2000 season, Torts went 0-3-1 for one point. I was probably very upset for John and the Rangers, but he got on his feel again and won a Stanley Cup in 2003-04 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team which was lead by some youth, such as then 23 year old Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier. In his 8 years as an NHL head coach, he has compiled a record of 239-225-37-38.
Last season was difficult for Tampa and finished with the Lightning having 71 points and a record of 31-42-9. Despite his struggles last year, I think Tortorella could be a good candidate to help mold the future of the Islanders. He was there to help mold Vinny into the superstar he is now in Tampa and helped develop Brad Richards into the elite center he is as well. Maybe Torts could light a fire under a certain Jeff Tambellini and the kid will kick it into overdrive...finally? Eeeeeeehhhhhh!

The final candidate on my list is 34 year old Chuck Weber. Chuck has no NHL experience, but has had pretty good success with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. In his first 2 years being a head coach he compile records of 37-29-6, followed with an outstanding 52-12-5 record. I don't really know much about Chuck, and to be honest, i don't want him here. I am not being rude or mean, but i would think most Islanders fans would agree that we want a coach with NHL experience to help mold the youth, not develop along with them.

Gervais Signs 3 Year Deal!

Defenseman Bruno Gervais has signed a 3 year, one-way deal after declining a qualifying offer. The deal is set to pay him $2.2225 million dollars. Another signing that is set to give the kids a shot. In his 2007-08 campaign, Bruno had 13 assists with no goals while playing 60 games.
I like this...a lot. Garth said he was going to give the kids a shot, to see what the organization has and what it needs. All these one-way signings assures that the kids will play, and play a lot.
Bruno hasn't yet lived up to showing the signs of being an offensive defenseman as he was in Bridgeport, but most defensemen don't peak at the age of 23...they develop later than forwards. Are there freakish exceptions? Yes, but Niklas Lidstrom developed into an all-time great. Im not going to list all the d-men who have busted out late, or early for that matter. This is a good move because it gives Bruno a sign that he was wanted and is believed in. Three years isnt that long, and he will still only be 26...aahh to be young again. If given the proper settings, i think Bruno and Campoli can be the dmen who step up big time on the second powerplay. Camps was great last year until his injury...I thought he was breaking through. Bruno, well, had a tough year for sure.
I am happy Bruno signed for 3 years and this is the a great price if Garth felt it was needed to move him...not that i hope that happens