LOGAN REPORTS: LACROIX OUT AS ASSISTANT
Schwarz resigns as conditioning coach
It was only a matter of time, but Greg Logan has it first. Assistant coach Dan Lacroix, inherited by Scott Gordon from Ted Nolan’s staff, is out. Strength and conditioning coach Chris Schwarz, whom I’d heard for a while would eventually return to his practice in Ottawa, has stepped down. As Logan reports, the move has zilch to do with the man-games lost to injury. No word yet on assistant coach John Chabot, the lone holdover from Ted’s staff. John’s a good coach, well-respected, appeared to have a solid working relationship with Gordon. Whether the head coach completely clears the deck, we’ll know soon. Comments.
98 Responses to LOGAN REPORTS: LACROIX OUT AS ASSISTANT
Schwarz resigns as conditioning coach
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bossy4president says:
I smell good ol #5 coming back as the new defense coach. Hope that doesn’t mean we’re going hard after Hedman. JT all the way Garth. Stay on course……
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admin says:
Take my word for it: Denis Potvin is not going to take a job as a full-time assistant coach…CB
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Rob says:
I just completed my nutrition and exercise science degree as well as passed my NSCA pt certification… Any chance I get the strength and conditioning job..LOL Put the word in for me CB….
I want to specialize in training undersized overpaid goal scorers who can’t seem to score goals and don’t want to take the body… -
Spartiarti - RVC says:
who cares if ted lands a job. Im glad the conditioning coach stepped down by i dont care if it did or didnt have to with all the injuries. My guess is it sure did.
Thing have to change. And as much im praying for Isles to get tavares, i really hope that DP Is healthy.
My predictions for next season.
1) isles will draft Tavares and he will he be everything you expect him to be.
2) Bailey will have great sophmore season
3) DiBennedetto going to be one of best players on Bridgeport and will be playing for isles at some point in season. -
kevin says:
interesting….didnt see this coming
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G. HOWITT says:
everyone jumping ship, they know the future MAY be lost without the project…
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RAmen says:
I hope it’s not Eric Cairns, who assisted at the Bridge during the AHL playoffs. Can we get some real veteran assistants who have experience with winning teams please!
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dan from va beach says:
according to logan “and it appears likely the Islanders will add a former defenseman with Islanders ties to Gordon’s staff.
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michael says:
i feel as if its short sited to say that the strength and conditioning coach stepping down had nothing to do with the mounting injury situation on long island. i think that might have had EVERYTHING to do with it altho in professional athletics they’d never throw someone under the bus like that..
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Oren says:
Its Gerald Diduck..lol
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alex says:
any chance of bringing back Mr Peter Loviolette as an assistant coach?
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Bob Beers?
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Scott S. from Long Beach says:
CB,
I know you’ve mentioned before that Gordon is a lock to be head coach this season, and while I don’t know if I’m a fan, I do agree he absolutely deserves another year to at least show progress. But my question is if you think after this season is he “owed” 1 more year? I know this is a major rebuild, but if it’s another disaster year, do you think they’d look elsewhere for 2010-2011?
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Warren says:
Now Mr.Snow, take your time and interview and pick the wise choice. As for ex-Isles you have many to choose. And remember this year 2009-10 is our year to chase the “CUP”
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Jon #2 says:
More blame game by Snow. He played the coach card last year and now a few assistants to top it off. Yes, we know none of this is your fault Garth.
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dave lEWIS
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Steve says:
No it’s going to be Dennis Vaske…
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Islanders1984 says:
it will be cairns, come on his all buddy Garth made him a scout, why not make him a coach. Forget the fact that he wasn’t that great of an NHL d man
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mike says:
Let’s bring Steve Webb into the Assistant Coaching mix. He will toughen up this team.
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Madchef says:
we should grab somebody that was a former player for the bench. would be nice to see.
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geduffer says:
Rob (#4)- In that case you should wait and apply wherever Mike (Twinkletoes) Comrie signs.
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Greg says:
at the very least if it is cairns, maybe he can show these guys what gritt and toughness is, or maybe he should them how to stick up for themselves and fight. Have a clinic.
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Vinny says:
Morrow is gonna be the new Defensive coach. He might have well been last year except in title, he was on the ice all the time for practice.
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Jon #2 (#16)-This move has nothing to do with the blame game. Dan Lacroix was a holdover from Nolan. The new head coach has the right to have a staff he’s comfortable with.
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Jimmy Mac says:
The decision to fire Lacroix would have been Gordon’s…not Garth’s.
Some people just don’t have a clue.
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Sab says:
I always liked what Jacques Laperriere did for the ’01-02 Isles D-men…..I notice he’s no longer in New Jersey…is he a possibility or did he officially retire?
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Steve S says:
Al Arbour? LOL
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JayK says:
What the Logan story reminded me was that we had 400+ games lost the season before last as well. I had forgotten that.
Wow..that is just an amazing run of bad luck.
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(23) The coach not being comfortable with Nolan’s assistant sounds like an excuse to me. The team stunk but the GM and coach keep their jobs so lets fire a few assistants to show we mean business.
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Joe in Massapequa says:
CB, with the players knowing how the system works do you think they may train differently this offseason than they did last?
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Hockey1919 says:
I thought there was talk of Gordon potentially adding another assistant coach at the start of last season that never materialized, does this mean he’ll bring in two new assistants?
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Chris Mc says:
The team was bound to stink, they were starting over from scratch. You want to fire a GM with a plan and the coach he picked for his plan? So we can start all over with a new GM and stink a few more years? Come on guy, wise up. When assistant coaches get fired its usually bc the working relationship with the head coach is not good, for whatever reason
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coral springs isle fan says:
Who said you had to have a good NHL career to qualify for a coach in the NHL. Wayne Gretzky was the greatest player and he has had very little success coaching in the NHL. Dan Bylsma of Pittsburgh is one round away from the cup finals and I can’t say he was anything special in terms of an NHL player. Some of your thinking is ridiculous. Always so quick to find fault in anything the Isles do or are planning to do. I would love to see Goring behind the bench; although he seems to be having to much fun doing broadcast work and I would miss his input and passion he shows on the MSG broadcast’s.
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Strummer's Army says:
Thanks for your service Dan!
The conditioning coach needed to go. Man games lost.I think the Isles probably have to hire two coaches one for defense and one to replace Dan. Be interesting I really want excellent teachers brought in.
As much as Capauno deserves it I’d prefer to have him doing his work in Bridgeport.
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bob beers is the defenseman in question!
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IsleofNJ says:
Gord Lane !
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Bryan says:
Ray Schultz!
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phishstyx says:
Gordie Lane
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sean says:
Janne Niinimma
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KO21 says:
I am rooting 100% for Gordan and his system to succeed…It’s so much more fun to watch a system like this one…I think he’s very good at developing youngsters so he should be around at least until the team stops progressing…
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Kevin says:
Kasper lol
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doc says:
Some fans will never be happy. We were all crying for a entirely new coaching staff last year… now it’s SNOW’s blame game again… you can’t win.
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Isle_in_LA says:
I heard Kenny Johnson is sick of Sweden and wants to come back. Speaking of Kenny, I saw he played in the Worlds. Good to see he’s still playing.
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31 Joe in Massapequa on , Read Logan’s article…
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Paul says:
Scott Lachance
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I wouldn’t worry, smart Isles fans understand that Scott Gordan was brought in to develop young players into professionals so there is no reason the think of firing him unless the team just discontinued moving forward….
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Matt says:
I guess this could be a good thing. Nothing against the coaches that were brought in with Ted Nolan but maybe the team would be better off if Scott Gordon can bring in his own coaches.
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Exactly what geduffer (25) and Jimmy Mac (26) said.
An NHL coach picking his support staff (or an NHL GM picking a coach for that matter) is not strange or scandalous or the ‘blame game’ or whatever. The truth is that an NHL coach NOT picking his own support staff (or an NHL GM NOT picking his own coach) is what is actually strange. But, whatever… facts, schmacts- right?
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HilbertSnipe says:
Kenny Jonsson!!!! haha. I hope it is #5, but I doubt it.
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DonK says:
I’d go and hire the Rangers’ entire conditioning staff. Say what you will about the Blueshirts, but they lost about 25 man-games to injuries — rather than the epidemic of pulled groins the Isles went through. Snow needs to start from scratch in this area.
Not sure what Lacroix brought to the table, but an assistant not tied to the current coach on a 30th-place team doesn’t seem like a major loss. If Snow believes in Gordon, he has to let him choose his own assistants.
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therain93 -- terrier fan says:
Perhaps we can bring Messier in as an assistant coach ( ‘ :
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Walt says:
or Jeff Finley and Ray Giroux
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Bob Bassen says:
Before we lament too loudly about The Isles having so many man-games lost injuries, It happens a lot to every team in every type of sports. I believe that The Avalanche had more than the Isles, FWIW.
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
I agree CB … I can’t see Denis playing second fiddle to a guy entering his second year as an NHL coach … I’d hope that if Denis returned to the organization … he’d work with the young defenseman / draftees in development … have Bryan work with the forwards … what a team … or maybe even as has been discussed … make Denis VP or President of the Isles … but does Denis really want to insert himself inbetween Garth and Charles … I have my doubts…
Anyway … it makes things interesting.
So CB … are there any good junior / AHL or University coaches available that are good player development coaches that might be interested?
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Is it safe to say that after the Isles have had over 500 man games lost to injury this year … and a ton the year before also that Chris Schwarz is burned out? After all … isn’t it his job to help rehab the players after injury?
I can’t say he’s to blame for most of the injuries … I’m sure a lot of the injuries may also have been the demands of the vigorous system … and perhaps it was a big chore keeping the players fit … and ensuring the players keep up their strength and conditioning regimine.
Good luck to Chris … but now what do the Isles do? They need someone really good to keep the Isles in top condition … and by rookie camp … those kids more than anything need to know what’s expected of them fitness wise.
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Peter says:
Islander fans do not see the glass as half full or half empty. The glass is shattered on the floor and the shards look inviting to slash one’s wrists with.
We could win the Stanley Cup and there would be people complaining that the Finals series went 5 games.
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isles72 says:
where does the quality of the ncvmc ice rank out of the 30 nhl barns ?
lousy ice could contribute to injuries
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Peter#58, while I agree with you on the fact that Islander fans are probably some of the most negative in the league, they have every right to be. While I always look at the positives, some people have trouble doing so. This organization has failed to win a playoff series since 1993. The fans are angry because positive results have been at a minimum.
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CB — Any idea who the former defenseman with Islander ties is that will be added to the coaching staff? Eric Cairns perhaps? He already is involved in the organization afterall.
Could it be Ken Morrow??? Afterall … he’s been around at times helping with the defense … I guess like the draft we’ll have to wait.
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Ritchie Pilon would be perfect
1) He was injured all the time so he would fit right in.
2)He hit with reckless abandon. -
Joe says:
That would be kind of cool to have Cairns, show these youngsters what a team player does.
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Webber says:
#7, I would agree that people were “jumping ship” if the ship hadn’t already sunk years ago. It’s more like too many of the new personnel and players have kept the ship at the bottom and hopefully unloading some of the dead weight will allow the ship to be risen from the depths.
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Priest says:
CB, is this what you were referring to in your Twitter tweet? Or is something else big coming?
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West Coast Fan says:
Bert Marshall… lol
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Bob Bassen (55): The Avalanche did not have more mangames lost to injury than the Isles, I dont believev it was even close. James Mirtle did a few good writeups on MGL at the end of the regular season, you could look em up and check them out if youre interested.
As far as the mentioning of Cairns goes, IF Gordon thought he was the best man for the job (which is a big if since this is all speculation) that would be good enough for me. And I agree with coral springs isle fan (34) that ones previous NHL career has little if anything to do with ones (potential) coaching career. Great player doesnt necessarily mean great coach, or vice versa. I think that the proverbial ‘valedictorian’ rarely makes the best teacher because, with the truly gifted, so much of their success is from inherent almost instinctual abilities as opposed to something that was taught to them.
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Dave Chyzowski says:
Joe Reekie
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Chris A says:
Mike (20) I would love that… but the Isles need some quality assistants to follow through on Gordo’s plan for NHL domination
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pbr says:
Guys — he didnt say former isels defenseman. he said former defenseman with isles ties… like Brad Shaw
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Larry says:
#15, that would be mistake #1, letting the GM pick an assistant coach. This is Gordons job to pick the coaches
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NYICHAMP39 says:
Demote Gordo to assistant and bring back Laviolette. He is a terrible analyst for TSN anyway…
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dk7937 says:
I wish it was Kenny Jonsson.. too bad he is still tearing it up in Sweden he was just name to the all-star team for the Worlds, another islander who leaves and finds success elsewhere
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Lou says:
Of course this had something to do with all the injuries. How many times did they misdiagnosis? How many times did they send players back to fast? I’m happy he is gone.
ChrisTMC, funny how in the past you had supported Gordon’s staff being prepicked.
But, whatever… facts, schmacts- right?
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steveO says:
#73 thats an upside for an isles fan to see..we developed him/them
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dalcy says:
Ken Morrow lives in KC? harbinger anyone? Eric Cairns would be fine. usually pedestrian players become good coaches.
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#73… Kenny had success here. Not much team success, but he was named to an All-Star team (but got hurt and didn’t go, IIRC). He was considered by a lot of people to be one of the leagues underrated stars.
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matt says:
I hope its Morrow and not Cairns, god help us…
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It has been said here, and elsewhere that the conditioning coach had nothing to do with the man games lost, but how true is that? Maybe he wasn’t the sole reason for the man games lost, but it couldn’t be “nothing”.
Potvin would be an awesome defense coach, but I wouldn’t mind Eric Cairns. Maybe Cairns can teach Tim Jackman how to fight.
I’m not surprised that some coaching staff are leaving/being replaced/whatever. Gordon played with what the Islanders had, and now it is time for Gordon to assert his control over the coaches. I just hope the Isles get a defense coach because someone needs to fix that defense.
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I could see ken morrow being a defensive coach..cairns can be fighting coach..bossy can be scoring coach…might we have a coaches coach. To coach the coach on the game..all these coaches and for what, the players don’t listen anyway…
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MJS says:
I’m pretty sure that Cairns would be more than adequate as a coach. He sure wasn’t a stud defenseman, but from reading articles about his interactions with the kids on team it seems that he has a good rapport with them.
As for the whole issue of whether Snow of Gordon picks the new coach, I would imagine it would be both of them. Sure Gordon would likely be allowed to make the final choice, but it would only make sense if it was done with Snow’s blessing. Hopefully now that Gordon is picking his coaches we will see more cohesion on the staff.
I’m glad the team is going to have a new strength and conditioning coach, if only because the team will be trying someone new. Something or someone had to give regardless of the cause of the injuries.
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Railbait says:
I’ve always enjoyed watching Eric Cairns play. I’ve also met him and he is a great guy. I think he’d do a great job, if he’s selected. That being said, I think Ken Morrow would bring tremendous knowledge to the position also.
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Yashin for Pres says:
Sorry to change the subject but with Bostons loss what pick are we at in the second round?
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Mark in Ottawa says:
Can it get worse ?
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BTBoss says:
I think all round other then 1st goes by standings
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Nick says:
I’ve been watching the Stanley Cup playoffs closely and these teams have the look of serious contenders. Our team seems fragile in comparison. Not sure what the difference is, but I was thinking that developing guys like Jackman will be important if we land JT and play in meaningful games anytime in the near future.
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Isle be Damned says:
they should just let him hire his own staff. that goes for any head coach in any sport. i hate it when GMs insist on being a part of that process.
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Isles08025 says:
It’s going to be Morrow, but I wouldn’t mind Cairns. My wife got me tickets in the second row way back when and man, watching Eric and Zedeno as a pair was AWESOME. The look in his eyes WOW, miss that.
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gary9-19-22 says:
I generally like the idea of keeping you x-players in ones organization. Look at Yankees is spring training or all the Canadiens hanging around. Howver, since we have not done anything as a team since 1993 and not been a top tier team since 1986 we don’t have a history of great players who did great things. Why is B-Trotts and Morrow so valuable? Because they were great and can teach. I liked Cairns, tough guy, fun to watch, but he was average on a terrible team.
Bring in a coach that can coach. No first timers, no people without a proven track record.
Let’s not lose focus. We cannot pick players, make trades, pick coaches, scout or train athletes. What we can do is keep the pressure on the TOH to get the LH project started.
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Brian in VA says:
David Harlock ol’ #6 I believe! Lets go Canes and Hawks!
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bob l says:
isnt cairns a scout for us now? hardly a reach to see him coaching then…
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To Reply to #12 who said: “(alex) on May 14th, 2009 15:57:28 said:
“any chance of bringing back Mr Peter Loviolette as an assistant coach.”////// To Reply to Alex, No, there is no Chance of bringing back Peter Laviolette..He hasn’t been out of coaching long enough to take a demotion..Also, Gordon would not want a Young guy like Peter who already has a Stanley Cup, to be over his shoulder & have the Media Speculating about him replacing Gordon the 1st time the Isles have a long Losing streak…I like Laviolette too, but it would never happen.. -
Matt Scordato says:
ok, where is jari gronstrand when you need him?! Chris, help us out.
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Hou-da!
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Thomas32 says:
All these D-men , and NO ONE mentions Tom Kearvers?? lol. I actually liked Tom’s play ALOT in the 92-93 season.
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Could the Isles ties be former Isles D-man Gord Dineen? He coached the Chops butI don’t know if he’s still their head coach?
Any chance of Ted landing another job somewhere?