WHAT WILL GORDON DO?
Hiring of assistant coaches is major on many levels
Islanders Point Blank on Twitter
The hunt for a pair of assistant coaches does not rival the Tavares-Hedman-Duchene decision, or the minor issue of The Future Of The Franchise On Long Island, but I’m still very intrigued by the mystery of who will complete Scott Gordon’s staff.
Assistant coaches are often forgotten men, at least until their power plays go bad. When losses mount, they get their share of the blame. When a team contends, all they read and hear about is how much of a genius the head coach is. But when you’re coming off a 30th-place season and have a roster with many youngsters, a coaching staff of teachers, communicators and tireless workers is essential.
At the risk of making too big a deal of this, I believe these hirings will say a lot about the leadership of Garth Snow and Scott Gordon - who I’m told are making the hirings in concert. Here’s where I thought the hunt was three weeks ago. Here’s what I know now. Be warned: all I know is who is not getting the job.
It doesn’t appear that Rob Murray - Gordon’s right hand man in Providence and now the head coach of the AHL B’s - is joining his friend on Long Island. That move never made sense. Why would Murray give up a head coaching job in the AHL to be known as “Gordo’s guy” here?
No doubt Murray watched the ascension of Dan Bylsma from AHL assistant to AHL head coach to Stanley Cup Final coach of Crosby and Malkin in under two years. (I will have more on the story of Bylsma, a one-year Islanders assistant, on a slow news day down the road). Murray was very wise to stay exactly where he is.
Jack Capuano is not on the short list at this point. Looks like he’ll stay as head coach in Bridgeport, where he has been hailed for his work with several young players.
Eric Cairns has received so many compliments by Islanders prospects, potential draft picks and his own colleagues that it’s tough to picture the big man leaving his position as a scout and talent developer. Cairns seems to have found his niche, has an important job and should stay there.
A text to the Islanders for an update on the status of assistant coach John Chabot was returned with a note: “A decision has yet to be made on John.” Murray staying in Providence means Chabot is still in the running.
The Islanders whispered to Greg Logan a month ago that they were interested in hiring a coach with experience as a defenseman and with ties to the Islanders. I assume they told Greg this because they had someone in mind. Maybe it fell through, maybe it didn’t.
I still can’t see Ken Morrow coming over full-time from Kansas City. I’ve not heard anything about Dave Lewis coming in for an interview, which is a shame if true. Maybe it will be Dean Chynoweth, who has been outstanding as GM and head coach with Swift Current of the Western Hockey League.
The Toronto Marlies just let go of their head coach: two-time Islanders Cup-winner Greg Gilbert, a former head coach in Calgary. They also set free Gilbert aide Jim Hughes, a Long Island man who has been an assistant focused on defense over the last decade with the Bruins, in college, the minors and at the U.S. development program.
Something to watch: the Islanders need at least one more strong presence on that bench, someone to play the good cop/bad cop role with Gordon, or reverse. Some head coaches are gun-shy about adding a big personality because they’re insecure about hiring potentially their own successor.
The Islanders have had several fine assistant coaches just in this decade. Jacques Laperriere, known as a master teacher of defensemen, was on Peter Laviolette’s staff for the turnaround. Peter also had Greg Cronin, a brilliant motivator and strategist. It’s no surprise Cronin went to Northeastern and turned a lame program into an NCAA tournament team in record time.
In his first season, Steve Stirling had the luxury of picking the brain of Jeff Jackson, the legendary college coach who has navigated Notre Dame as a powerhouse. In his second season, Stirling hired Bylsma, Capuano and Brad Shaw.
Stirling’s always been an easy target because he was a gentleman and didn’t have good body language on TV after the opposing team scored. Anyone with their eyes open during Stirling’s year with Bylsma, Capuano and Shaw knows the real reasons for their failure. Mike Milbury lost Kenny Jonsson, Adrian Aucoin and Roman Hamrlik in their primes and replaced them with Alexei Zhitnik, uh, Brad Lukowich, and…well, that was it. Amazing how good coaches can go so bad. Amazing how smart Bylsma’s gotten in the last few months. (Even Dan has a sense of humor about it).
What will Gordon do? We should know by the end of the month. Assistant coaches don’t have to be headline-makers, but here’s hoping these important hirings are not met with a shrug.
Comments.
34 Responses to “WHAT WILL GORDON DO?
Hiring of assistant coaches is major on many levels”
Please Wait
Honestly I have no favorites for assistant coach. Id like to just see guys who know the x’s and o’s and not just have someone hired for his name or ties. That said I think John Chabot has to go. I like him a lot, but I think we need to severe all ties to the Nolan days and start looking foward.
Mike Milbury—the gift that keeps on giving. Sort of like an overfed bird.
You’re right, Dave Lewis would be the perfect choice.
If the Isles are serious about their commitment to Gordon, they should let him pick his own coaching staff, period. As a supervisor myself, I can attest to the importance of being able to trust your staff. When you don’t, you spend way too much energy on other issues, and you can lose focus.
And besides, having your own staff means that you (and the staff) have every incentive to get things right, because everyone benefits from success.
I believe the Isles need to hire two assistant coaches. I don’t believe the new hires have to have ties to the Islanders, it makes for a nice press release but more important the coach is an excellent teacher of the game and master motivator.
Chynoweth and or Lewis would be excellent hires but not because they are former Isles because they are very skilled at their craft Brad Shaw would be a good guy to bring back if available.
Botta said Cheveldayoff isn’t leaving his current position so he’s out.
I wonder who else is out there in terms of quality assistant coaches?
I guess Dunham’s job is safe and same for Sudsi. That might be an area the Isles could upgrade. Roland Melanson has done an amazing job in Montreal.
One thing I find important is at least one of the hires has to be an aggressive guy. If Dean Chynoweth was on the bench when Mottau cheap shotted Nielsen last year I am sure he would have been enraged and encouraged Gordon to get justice and the same for the other numerous instances last year.
steve stirling was fired in germany this season(iserlohn roosters) to soft call the GM. now he has signed in italy hc fassa.
i have no idea who is the assistent coach next season. but i’am sure snow made the right decission .
I still think he was the worst coach we ever had
I’m guessing the Isles D-man connection is former Iowa Chops coach Gord Dineen
I think he would be a great fit.
I would keep Chabot and hire another coach also. I would like Dave Lewis. Also any mock draft cb.
Get rid of both goalie coaches they suck.
all I ask is to bring someone in to work very hard with our powerplay and penalty kill. obviously strong special teams will help this team move foward.
I can tell you right now i pray to god Cronin does not go anywhere. I go to Northeastern and he and (former goalie) Brad Thiessen are the reasons we have a good hockey team… if Cronin left now, with this team on the verge of a major breakthrough, people will b very upset! GO HUSKIES!!!!
What about throwing Craig Ludwig and Wayne Flemming into the mix with Greg Lewis Dean Chynoweth and Dave Lewis?
To be honest … I have no idea who of the mentioned coaches would make a good assistant coach. I saw Greg Gilbert was let go this morning as CB mentioned … I don’t know if he’d be open to a home coming … or even if he’d be good for the Isles. I think who ever is going to be an assistant coach should be a GREAT teacher and motivator … those 2 criteria are vital for this Isles team.
Which of those guys have those qualities in spades? I have no idea.
stirling also had the leading men’s pair figure skaters in yashin and kvasha…those two sure did look fabulous doing figure eight’s on the ice…still though stirling wasn’t a good coach but he did have a pile of $hi! to work with
Maybe they should hire JOE SACCO, ouch. Bad move AV’s! They should have gotten Lavi, he would have been perfect there! We should hire Trevor Linden and Gin Odjick as assistants. Leadership and grit!
I think that Bill Guerin should be offered an assist coach position if he retires after the finals. Maybe Greg Walters whos an assist coach of the Sarnia Sting.
its all coming together… finally… is all i can say.
I think Guy Boucher of Drummondville, CHL should get a look. He is an incredible motivator and a tireless workhorse. He is going to be a great NHL coach.
After the way Bill Guerin slacked off the couple months before he got traded he shouldn’t be offered anything by the Isles. I lost a lot of respect for him then.
Greg Cronin was a bright coach and a cool guy as well.
Lets get one thing straight: Steve Stirling was NOT a good coach. Not by NHL standards. He was in over his head as the Isles coach and only got the job because Milbury wanted to hire a company “yes” man to coach the team after he fired Laviolette for no good reason at all.
As far as the coaches go, I think Gordon should be able to choose whoever he wants, but should hire a former defensemen to run the “d” and a power play specialist to run the special teams. I think Snow should let Gordon pick his own coaches, but should insist that no coach he hires have a bigger, stronger personality than Gordon’s.
Whats Steve Webb up to these days? His height (or lack of) would fit in perfect next to Gordon behind the bench. What about a new goalie coach? Any update on the status of DP’s health? Boy do we need to figure out the goalie situation for next year or what.
Hire Botta, he has a win NOW attitude!
Does Cronin somehow prefer the NCAA schedule? I’m surprised he’d rather be coaching college than the AHL or NHL. I’ll admit to knowing very little about what makes a good coach, but he seems to have made a good impression on everyone everywhere he’s coached.
The 2005-06 team was pretty bad, but that doesn’t mean that Stirling was a good coach who got a bad rap. One way or another, he lost the team. I’m also unimpressed with the fact that his 03-04 team, which didn’t have Lukowich as the #3 d-man, lost six of six games to a bad Ranger team and ended up squeaking in with the 8th seed because of it. If they didn’t have to play the presidents trophy runners-up and eventual champs in the first round, maybe they could’ve built some momentum and done some damage.
This is a wait and see on the assistant coaches positions but it will be good positioning for the coaching staff to be together and on the same page. Hopefully sooner that later!
Focus on special teams play and developing the youth and the answer as to who is the best choice will surface during the interview process. Gordon is also a video guru of sorts so preparation will be important.
Gerry Hart
What about Rick Green? Damned good player and had experience on the powerplay>
I still think having a good team with good players is the answer….
I have to believe if Dean Chonoweth was to leave a GM/Coach position to be an assistant….it would need to be for a well respected experienced coach that he could theoretically learn alot from. OR a job where is locked in as the future coach.
I don’t see how the Isles assistent job appeals to him. He be better off waiting until the next time the Isles head coaching vacancy inevitabley opens up.
Gord Dineen or Greg Gilbert seem more likely to take the job if Isles were interested.
@10, the PP will look a helluva lot better next year after JT and KO net about 30 PPG’s
i would love to see David Marcoux as goaltending consultant. He teaches strong fundamentals, and allows your athleticism to bail you out after the fundamentals fail. not the other way around, which seems to be DP’s style. Maybe he stays healthy if his fundamentals are sound, and relying less on his athleticism
How about adding Craig McTavish and Barry Melrose as assistant coaches? Hmm?
Lovin: I don’t think DiPietro makes a choice between making an athletic save vs. a fundamentally sound save. You just make the save. I guess I understand your point… but how do you differentiate between the two? Was Hasek fundamentally sound or incredibly athletic? What about Tim Thomas more recently. Flopping all over the place… not very fundamental but he was one of the top goalies the past two years.
CGS: I hope that was sarcastic about Barry Melrose and MacTavish. Probably couldn’t be any two worse choices.
DOC
Guaranteed with the politics of Snow and Gorton, would it not be logical the coach wants someone 100% subserviant to Gordon? A “non-threat”? I just get the feeling that the team dynamics are awful. Chris? Does Gordon have Snow tinkering and would it be logical to assume he’d want his coaching staff to be 100% behind him? Especially given the “don’t blame the system” items we read about last year?