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

What'd I Miss???

TED IS DONE

On July 14, the Islander and their coach, Ted Nolan, decided to part ways. Nolan got a lot out of the team, but due to what was cited as "philosophical differences", they decided to end the tumultuous relationship and Nolan was the one to go.
My opinion...See ya! I am not shedding a tear for someone who wants to fill the roster with 18 grinders simply because they have heart. Someone who also would not commit to a youth-movement, which is something this organization has needed for quite some time. Coach brought a lot of good, but it seems now that he also brought a lot of bad. There are reports of times that he double-crossed players to make them look like they had lied. And there were times where he would simply ignore his assistants and/or management. Oh, and who can forget that home-and-home against the Rangers...you know, the Dubie-gate?
I, for one...and its mostly just me...wanted this. Ted is a veterans coach and the Islanders are a young team. Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, Tambellini, Bergenheim, Campoli, Gervais...all young kids. Teddy needs to coach a team like, say, San Jose. An older bunch that needs that guidance...or maybe its time for Teddy to stop coaching in the NHL. His last 2 stops have ended prematurely and maybe there's something to the "blackballing".
Don't get me wrong, I by no means wish anyone out of a job here, but I just think that Teddy wasn't right for this current Islanders team and they are better off finding someone who is completely on board with a rebuild and enduring some growing pains

IT'S NOW OR NEVER TAMBS!

Speedy winger Jeff Tambellini signed a 2 year deal with the Isles. He passed up a qualifying offer of $660,000, which would've been a 2-way contract for next year, and instead took a one-way deal for $550,000 next year an $625,000 in 2009.
Jeff has flat out OWNED the AHL the past few years, but his success has not translated to the big club. Many people, myself included, feel it was because of Ted Nolan. Nolan took Jeff and gave him 8 minutes a game...if that. I really never understood it and its part of the reason I am glad Teddy is gone. A player with the wrist-shot Jeff possesses should have no problem scoring goals at an level, and a lot of that time should be on the power play.
Jeff's chance has come now though. With the firing of Nolan, there's nowhere to hide if he fails. He is going to get top 6 minutes, along with rookie Kyle Okposo and another young player in Blake Comeau. In the past it was him being misused by coaches, or the fact that he was young and "needed more time", but I am cautiously optimistic this time. With the addition of Streit on the PP, Tambellini will have plenty of room to walk off the boards and fire a wrist shot..

BERGIE'S BACK!

Shortly after firing agent-to-the-holdouts, Mark Gandler, fan favorite Sean Bergenheim signed a 2 year deal, worth $1.725 million. The contract pays Sean $800,000 in '08 and $925,000 in 2009.
When Sean first filed for arbitration, I felt things could get messy. It wasn't long ago that Mark Gandler cost the young winger a full season in the NHL for playing a game of "chicken" with the Isles front office. He lost. And Sean lost a year of possible NHL hockey because of it. I called for Sean to fire his agent, and, I would like you all to forward your thank you letters to my office. Seriously though, I was happy to hear the news that he canned the agent and it seems evident that Gandler was the issue, because a few days after, Sean's locked up for two more years.
On another note, Sean is donating a portion of his salary to RexCorp Islanders Inspire, an Islanders Children's Foundation. This is something that the current Islander captain, Bill Guerin, started last season and is an incredible display towards the local community. I applaud Sean, Bill, and all other Islanders involved in this charity, as it is a great thing

FRANS NIELSEN SIGNS 4 YEAR CONTRACT

Perhaps the oddest signing was that of center Frans Nielsen. The fact that Frans signed isn't what the odd part, but its the fact that an unproven young center, who will fill a role that, frankly, a lot of people are filling on the Island, got a 4 year deal. Even more bizarre is the fact that it is a one-way deal, meaning he is all but assured a spot on the big club, beginning this year.
Frans' contract breaks down so that his 4 year deal is spread evenly. $2.1 million total means %$525,000 per season.

Personally, I like Frans Nielsen, but a 4 year commitment is far too long. He has spunk, and sure, his salary is very cap friendly, but for a team that barely is at the cap floor that shouldn't be an issue. Hopefully Frans puts up decent numbers, and since he will be on the 4Th line, barring an exceptional showing in camp an the preseason, I wouldn't be upset to see 1o goals and 10 assists this coming year.

Witt Signs 2 year extension!

The Islanders have signed stay-at-home defenseman and fan favorite Brendan Witt to a 2 year extension, keeping him on the island until the completion of the 2010-2011 season. He’s only going to make 6 million over the 2 years, 3 each, which is an absolute steal for a defenseman who gives up his body and shuts down the top line of any team...ask Malkin.
The Islanders named Witt an Assistant Captain October 5th, 2006. Last season, Witt played in only 59 games due to injury, but with the amount of commitment he has shown in the past, you would have to imagine that if the team were in the hunt for a playoff spot, he would have played.
I love this move. Witt is the type of guy the fans love, teammates respect and opposing teams fear. Maybe they don’t fear him going end to end ala Bobby Orr, but rather the fact that Witt is going to shut their teams star down.


Here is what Brendan had to say (as per the Islanders website):

My family and I are excited to stay on Long Island for the next three years. We love the community and our fans, and I couldn't be happier. I want to thank the Islanders organization and the fans for making Long Island our home.

This brings me to my second point. Why are the Islanders able to resign players to extensions, especially an extension for significantly less than they would get out on the open market as a UFA? I am not complaining, I am simply asking because you constantly hear people say that the Island is an awful place to play and nobody wants to come, yet Witt, Hunter, and Martinek all sign extensions for below market value. I simply think people look at the outside of the Coliseum and read things about Charles Wang and Snow and draw inaccurate conclusions. Living on Long Island is great...if you can afford it and clearly that isn’t a problem for a professional athlete. Perhaps there is a misconception about the fans...after all, 8000 people a night is lame, but IF these UFA's come and the team starts to win...its one of the loudest rinks around.


Back to Witt, in two years with the Islanders he has three goals and 18 assists for 21 points and a +6 plus/minus rating. On a team starved for goals, him being a +6 is a testament to his strong defensive play. He is ''a warrior" according to Garth Snow and I'm certainly glad he'll be around to protect DiPietro's fragile head...which is a whole 'nother topic

Bergenheim Headed for Arbitration

Winger Sean Bergenheim in going to have his salary decided by an arbitrator. After apparently getting the advice from his agent, the much beloved (only slight sarcasm) Mark Gandler, Sean and the Islanders will have a meeting with the 3rd party in order the reach a conclusion. The nature of the process is for the Islanders to present their case why Sean shouldn't be paid as much as Sean's agent feels, and Gandler is going to argue why he should. Few times in the past have things gone as amicably as Trent Hunter's arbitration hearing last season, which of course we know led to Trent signing on for a 5 year extension. In Islanders history, the worst case i can recall is Milbury making then Islander goalie Tommy Salo cry at a hearing...pause for laughter...

Here is what Greg Logan to say about the Bergenheim situation:

I asked his agent about it recently, and there was no progress two weeks ago. The Islanders have made a qualifying offer, and I will be surprised if it doesn't go to arbitration. That doesn't mean there will be bad blood. Mark Gandler, the agent, said that as long as the Isles hire a counsel to make their case instead of having the GM testify, everything will be fine.

My take on that is perhaps Gandler feels without the GM present, he will have an easier sell on the arbitrator...maybe say that Sean is a former 1st round pick and that he has shown steady improvement in his two full seasons...ah yes, only 2 seasons. Why is that? Well on the advise on Gandler, Bergie held out for a one-way contract for more money at the beginning of the 2006-07 season and due to Islanders policy, since he was not signed by the time training camp started,
he would not be allowed to sign that season. Maybe it is time for Sean to get a new agent? Just my two cents.

Lets look at this realistically.

In the year of the holdout, Sean started in Russia, playing only 9 games before going to Finland and playing 36, putting in 16 goals and having 17 assists for 33 points and 80 penalty minutes. Sean's stats were O.K. last season. In 78 games he had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points and 62 PIM. Hardly worthy of a bank-breaking deal. Now i know Bergie's role will be increased on this season's squad, especially with the organizational youth movement, so you cannot think the arbitrator will award him the same salary of $500 thousand. I think Sean can be compared to Jon Sim, who was injured early last season and missed just about the entire year.

In 2006-07, Sim had 17 goals, 12 assists, 29 points and 60 penalty minutes, all while playing the game in a similar style to Sean. After that year, Jon signed with the Islanders for $700K. Sean has more offensive upside and i think him being a first-round pick will help his case. He hustles night in and night out and you will never call him a drifter. I think all these things considered, Sean gets awarded somewhere between $950K - $1.125 million in arbitration.

I really do like Sean and think he brings a great amount of grit and energy to the team, i hope that much is clear in this post. What i don't like is the game his agent continuously plays and the amount of problems he has already caused Sean in his young Islander career.

20 Questions with Islanders 2008 draft pick Kevin Poulin

With the Islanders 5th round choice, 126th overall, they chose big, Canadian goaltender Kevin Poulin. This past season, Kevin played for Victoriaville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and participated in the 2008 CHL Top Prospects Game.

Islanders goalie coach Sudarshan "Sudsy" Maharaj on Kevin:

Kevin is a very big, athletic goalie from the QMJHL. He played for Team Canada at the Under-18 Championship a year ago. He will be attending the Canadian development camp this summer which is a recipe for good pedigree. This is the type of kid that will make the big saves and dominate at times.

Recently, I was able to get in touch with Kevin and he was nice enough to take time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of my questions.


Q - For those who don't know, where are you originally from and where do you call home during the off-season?
Kevin - I was born in Montréal and now I live in Longueuil. It [is] on the south shore of Montréal.
Q - How early did you start playing hockey and how old were you when you started playing goalie?
Kevin -I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old and I became a goalie when I was 11 years old
Q - How important of a role do your parents play in your hockey career?
Kevin -For me they are the most important thing in my career. They are always supporting me and they are there for me.
Q - Who was your favorite team while you were growing up?
Kevin - I was a Montreal Canadiens fan
Q - Who was your hockey Idol?
Kevin - My hockey idol was Patrick Roy
Q - Do you style your game like him or anyone else?
Kevin - Yes a little bit, but I’m more like Roberto Luongo.
Q - What is your favorite number (to have on your jersey)?
Kevin - My favorite number is 38, but it doesn’t mean anything
Q - Do you have a nickname?
Kevin - Pou
Q - What is the strongest point of your game? What is something you may look to improve on?
Kevin -my strongest point is I’m a big goalie; aléthique, and flexible. What I need to improve is my consistency.
Q - What is your most memorable moment of your young hockey career so far?
Kevin -When I went to Notre-Dame in Saskatchewan when I was 14 years old, we won two tournaments and the league championship and we only lost 3 games during the whole [time]
Q - What was the draft process like? Was the combine difficult? What kind of drills/exercises did they make you do?
Kevin -So after the years, you receive a letter to tell you that you are invited to the combine so you train all week until the combine. At the combine you have to pass some interviews with team who [are] interested to have you. After the two interviews, you have the testing, [where] you have to push yourself to the maximum. So, yeah it’s difficult. After, you go home and you go to the draft and get drafted.
Q - How do you feel about being drafted by the New York Islanders?
Kevin - I hear a lot of good things and I know the goalie coach Sudsy so I was pretty happy
Q - Do you know much about the organization?
Kevin - I know the goalie coach Sudsy and they have a young team
Q - Do you have any friends on the team or on any of the affiliated teams?
Kevin - I know Corey Trivino, I play with David Toews with team Canada I met [Travis] Hamonic at the combine.
Q - Have you ever been to New York? Or Long Island?
Kevin - No
Q - What are your plans for the coming season? Where do you hope to be playing?
Kevin -I‘ll play with Victoriaville next season and hope we will go to the mémorial cup!
Q - What sport would you be playing other than hockey?
Kevin - Golf, I used to play football and rugby
Q - What is your favorite hockey movie?
Kevin - Les boys 2, it’s a French hockey movie it very funny
Q - I am a goalie myself, obviously not at your level, but I know I have my superstitions. What, if any, are yours?
Kevin - I always take a nap at the same time [and] eat at the same time. When I am at the rink, I tape my stick, go in the stands, listen to some music, go for a stretch and get ready, but all in this order.
Q - What is your typical pre-game meal?
Kevin - Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken

I just want to thank Kevin again for taking the time from his busy schedule to answer my questions. You can all see Kevin, and the rest of the Islanders prospects, at the prospect camp, July 14th through the 20th at Iceworks in Syosset.

Former Islanders Sign and an Oops

Former Islanders Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko have each signed one year deals with the Eastern Conference Champion, Pittsburgh Penguins. Miro, coming off a year in which he scored a career worst 16 goals, signed a deal worth 3.5 million dollars. His salary with the Isles in 07-08 was $4.485 million. Fedotenko was signed to a 2.5 million dollar deal, after making $2.9 million.

Another former Islander leaving is Josef Vasicek, but hes not just leaving the Island...hes headed to Russia. Vasicek signed with Lokomotiv Yarosavl of the KHL. http://allhockey.ru/news/32906/ follow the link, but be warned...i have no idea what it says. Its in Russian.

As for the oops...

I said the Islanders had 24 one way contracts...that is incorrect. A person much closer to the information than I, misunderstood the logistics of the contracts qualified to the RFA's. As it stands:

Blake Comeau is on the last year of an entry-level deal

Frans Nielsen, Jeff Tambellini, Bruno Gervais, Ben Walter and Jeremy Colliton have all been qualified on two-way deals.

Kyle Okposo is beginning the first year of a 3 year entry-level deal. As many of you know his contract did not kick in last season because he only played 9 games...the maximum amount he could without the contracts starting.

One last note:

Brad Boyle is headed to San Jose, along with former Islander Brad Lukowich. Figured I would throw this up here since the rumor of him shipped to the Island has been out there lately.

The deal works out like this:

Boyle, Lukowich to the Sharks and Tampa gets fellow defenseman Matt Carle, blue-chip defense prospect Ty Wishart, a 1st and 4th round pick in the 2009 draft. Seems like sever over-payment to me, especially with 2009 being labeled another incredibly deep draft. I'm certainly glad the Isles didn't do make a deal for Boyle if this was the price.

Free Agency Begins

In the hockey world, July 1st often is a time of hope, especially for teams that feel they are on the cusp of greatness. Free agents all around the league get to pick the team which they feel will have a chance to achieve the single, most difficult task in all of major sports...lifting Lord Stanley's Cup. This season was no different, with many big names going to big markets. The New York Islanders, however, are finally committed to a rebuild. Sure we have all heard GM's of the past mutter the word "rebuild", but few have seemed to actually put the plan in motion.
It started earlier this off season, with GM Garth Snow and his scouting department at the draft. By trading the number 5 pick, the Islanders we able to stock up the farm system with some promising young talent...kids with...potential. Ah yes, that lovely four-letter word...potential. OK, so its 9, but after years of being fed the word, Islanders fans have unfortunately become all too accustomed to it not panning out, so it may as well be four letters.

Back to the "Free Agency Frenzy", as its so cleverly been labeled

In 2007-08, the Isles were absolutely painful to watch on the man-advantage. Finishing the year with a 14.6% success rate ranked them in a tie for 28th with Colorado...out of 30 teams. If we're being technical, they were 29th because of the fact they had fewer goals. That being said, GM Snow made his first move of the free agency period at around 8:00 pm July 1st, signing power play specialist defenseman, Mark Streit to a 5 year, 20.5 million dollar contract, which carries an annual cap hit of a $4.1 million.
Mark was an integral part of the leagues best powerplay last season. On the year he had 13 goals and 49 assists for a total of 62 points. On the powerplay alone, Mark used his cannon of a shot to register 34 points, including 7 goals.

This coming season, the Islanders are planning on going with a team filled with fresh, young faces. Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, and Sean Bergenheim are just a few of the bunch, but with that mix the Islanders felt they needed some veteran presence. Sure, the team has Suitcase Sillinger and Bill Guerin, but the team just felt the crop of youthful centers could use some leadership and could learn quite a bit from a slick play maker. At about 6:30pm on July 2nd, Doug Weight signed on with the Islanders for one year. The deal has a base salary of 1.75 million dollars, but through bonuses, the total can reach $4.3 million. Due to the current CBA, the cap hit is for the total $4.3 million. In years past, a teams bonuses would not be put against the cap until the following year.
Doug Weight is the ultimate professional. Anywhere he has been and anybody he has interacted with will tell you so. But on top of that, the 4 time NHL All-Star and former Cup champion will be there to help mentor young centers such as this years 7th overall pick, Josh Bailey. Throughout his 16 year career, Doug has totalled 265 goals and 704 assists. There is a lot he can pass on in the locker room for sure.
The Islanders also continue to stock the farm club with other signings throughout the past few days. Yann Danis, a goaltender who played in the Canadiens organization, was signed to a one year, two-way contract. Also signed were centers Mike Iggulden and Kurtis Mclean, forward Mitch Fritz, defensemen Brett Skinner and Chris Lee, and goaltender Peter Mannino. Both Iggulden and Skinner were AHL All-Stars in 2007-08.

On the trade front, it looks quite possible the Islanders may move a defenseman and/or forward, having 24 one-way contracts, which is one over the limit. There is also a tiny rumor that Garth Snow may be interested in Dan Boyle of the Tampa Bay Lightning. In order for that to happen, I would assume one or more of our current defensemen would be on the move. Boyle is a solid 2-way player, coming off an injury-plagued season in which he still managed 25 points playing in just 37 games.

more on things as they come out