Back from four days at the beach and I see the gang here has kept things simmering.
Naturally, having literally unplugged from the world of the NHL, I don't have any sensational news to deliver, and I was assigned to chat with Joe Torre today at his Safe at Home Foundation golf outing at Trump National this morning, so I'll keep this short for now.
Assume you've heard the news of today's ousting of coach Ted Nolan by the Islanders front office, a relationship that had by many accounts, been strained since during late last season.
The main rifts that I was aware of were between Nolan and Rick DiPietro and Nolan and Garth Snow, the GM who wanted to give more ice time to the youngsters and play a more attacking style.
But Newsday's Greg Logan has plenty on his blog. My take: If you're rebuilding, getting the right coach is critical. Greg indicates that former Thrashers coach Bob Hartley might be the leading candidate.
Here's what I do know that's happening this week: The release of the regular-season schedule. That's Wednesday or Thursday.
I'll be scouting around on the Rangers front, so stay tuned....
Comments (8)
So, just how serious is the Radulov situation? May be some tough times coming up for Rangers' fans. If Cherepanov has a so so season will the Rangers be willing to guarantee he'll be on the roster opening night in 2009? But, if he has a great season Avangard will have no problems way outbidding us. Seems like our only hope is the kid just has to play in the NHL.
Zherdev's situation is no less concerning.
You need SKILLED players to play an attacking style! Snow is Milbury 2.0
Breaking New... Garth Snow hires Bill Guerin as the new coach of the Islanders. When asked about the hiring of a rookie head coach, Snow admitted that no other coach wanted to come to LI and indicated that if this does not work out, there is always a chance Doug Weight will be hired.
Steve - any word on Dawes and Sjostroms qualifying offers?
Nolan fired, LOL. I mean, he was a great coach. He did a great job with what he had, and they fired him. Just another sad moment in the Islanders last 20 years of futility!
And how any Islander fan can deny what I just wrote is beyond me.
That team is in trouble. Didn't they just hire that man to help rebuild the team? Don't the fans call the players Nolan Type players? Why would another losing coach be plucked from the "where have they been vault"? Are they now telling the fans that yet another rebuild is happening? Why are they not screaming for Snow and Wang's heads on a stick? Oh, thank goodness! It's only a matter of time before they're shipped off to Hamilton!
hollweg to leafs for 5th rounder yessssssssssss hes gone
Sad to see Nolan go. Truth is though, he did not want to coach a rebuilding team. Doesn't mean he wouldn't of, just to honor his last year of his contract. He turned TB down in 99/00 because he didn't want to coach a rebuilding team. He was not the right coach for us at this stage of things, rebuilding by our youth. Not sure who is, just hope that Snow hires the best coach available for the job, and (god forbid) not a yes-man.