LOMBARDI NEVER CONSIDERED BY NYI
Revisiting the GM hiring process of 2006
With the speed of the internet, history gets revised a little more quickly these days.
This is not inside information, just merely setting the record straight. The Los Angeles Kings did not swoop in and hire Dean Lombardi while Charles Wang looked for a new Islanders general manager. For the record, Lombardi did not “nearly” become the Islanders general manager. It never came close.
Lombardi interviewed with the Islanders and was highly recommended by hockey people inside and outside the team, but he was never considered a serious candidate by Wang.
Keep in mind, this was back in the Islanders’ “hockey committee” days. Wang knew Lombardi would insist on a traditional GM’s role. Lombardi – with a track record and without desperation for a GM job – would not go for that, which is why he accepted the Kings’ offer.
On June 8, 2006, Wang hired Neil Smith, who was desperate for the job and accepted the conditions of the committee (that is, until he went to work). Forty-one days later, Smith was replaced as general manager by Garth Snow. The committee concept went away quietly within two years. Today, final hockey decisions are made by Snow and Wang.
Comments.
62 Responses to LOMBARDI NEVER CONSIDERED BY NYI
Revisiting the GM hiring process of 2006
-
i4e11 says:
I’m sorry? Hockey decisions should not ever be made by Wang, a guy who knows nothing about the sport. Should Wang be consulted for money purposes? Absolutely. Snow can even lay it out for him. I never, ever want to hear that this guy is determining players that play for this team, because we’ll continue in perpetual mediocrity, or worse.
-
matt says:
exactly wang should never be involved with a hockey decision….money yes, just give snow the budget and let the gm make the plan…..if it were up to wang we would have a sumo wrestler as goalie…now we have a 15yr deal with dp.
No credible GM would ever work for Wang -
Brian B says:
I know its hard and we aren’t any good yet. But I like Snow and think he’s doing a good job. In a few years we’ll be a good hockey team.
-
Peter Mandzych says:
Charles Wang is the white elephant in the room and until he changes his stripes ????
-
steve says:
Hiring Lombardi would have been the smart thing to do. Luckily for the Kings, we don’t usually make smart moves.
-
EdTurner says:
“Today, final hockey decisions are made by Snow and Wang.”
and that is why the NYI S U C K!
-
Jim Clark says: Mr Wang came into the sport not knowing very much about hockey. The question is has he learned hockey in his decade of ownership? He’s a success in business, wouldn’t it be logical to assume he could learn hockey if he tried?
-
isles72 says:
I was carrying the other end of a heavy sofa(moving day)while glancing at the tsn ticker the day Smith was fired.
dropped it pretty fast
-
devon says:
Steinbrenner was usually dictating roster moves for the Yanks. He personally made the David Wells for Clemens deal. I don’t see the problem.
-
MSA says:
@8 If Bill Gates had opened a supermarket, there is no guarantee that it would have even stayed in business. Pretty sure it wouldn’t be a 100 billion dollar plus entity either…
-
Keanebeard says:
The idea that people are in some way unhappy with Wang seems pretty pointless to me. Without Wang, the Islanders wouldn’t even exist. They’d be a flailing franchise somewhere else in North America. Wang may not be that great at hockey decisions (a fact I can’t prove or disprove), but he’s the only reason they’re still called the “Islanders.” This counts for something.
-
Mario says:
SO WHAT!!!!!!
-
Mike from Philly says:
Devon – the difference is the Yankees win on a consistent basis.
-
Matt 85 says:
Do any of you own a company or a business? And if you do, or if you did, would you just let your employees make their own decisions without having any say? The guy is the only reason why the Isles are still on Long Island and hes been BLEEDING money ever since, and you guys expect him to just sit there and not have a say about what goes in within the franchise that he OWNS?
If you don’t like it, I suggest you go out and make a few billion dollars, then buy a hockey team that has been run into the ground for half a decade and then make them somewhat respectable again. I guess since Wang is such an idiot you guys should have no problem matching his success…
-
C.J. says:
We all knew this and we all knew this is why Charles Wang is an idiot.
-
Come on, some of you need to at least try and look at things objectively. There was a point in time when ALL of you didnt know anything about the sport. But after over a decade, did you still know NOTHING about hockey? I dont think so. It makes no sense to think Charles Wang still knows nothing about the sport after all these years. I think some of you need to think of a better angle to use when bashing the guy.
-
dmen77 says:
Well said Matt 85
-
mrlbem says:
Wang has run the damn franchise into the ground for another decade after that. Just because someone is a nuclear physicist doesn’t mean they know jack about, say, accounting. Does Mike Illitch makes hockey decisions? Are the Devils’ personnel decisions made by anyone other than Lou? A good owner is someone who is smart enough to delegate the hockey decisions to a professional. That’s been the problem here, in a nutshell.
-
Strummer's Army says:
At the time, Lombardi was my top choice for Isles GM based on his history. If I remember right he was also the most vocal about how bad he wanted the Isles job. I don’t blame him for not getting involved with the Committe. Be it Wang or whoever the hell was the owner when they decided to send Milbury to meet with Parcell’s and the Isles had like 11 coaches this team seems to constantly want to reinvent the wheel when there is no need to.
Being a business owner, I admire people who think outside the box to solve problems but Wang seems to do it for a thrill or to show he’s smarter then everyone else. Thus far, it hasn’t turned out like that.
I haven’t studied Lombardi’s success since joining LA. He inherited some top talent and some high draft picks in good years. He appears to have made the most of them. Snow has done a decent job but he too feels the need to constantly prove himself smarter then everyone else (i.e. having a smurf defense and team when no when else does, having zero toughness when everyone else does etc etc etc).
-
stevedepot says:
Charles Wang should not be making any hockey decisions.
-
Brian says:
why would need Lombardi who knows the game inside and out when we can have Garth Snow who people still can’t take seriously?
keep raising those ticket prices Wang and putting the failed product on the ice!
-
eastonhockey says:
Even if Wang didnt insist on the “commitee” aproacy they couldnt of hired Lombardi because the Isles would of offered Lombardi minimum wage for a GM..which is what Wang Pays every coach and Gm he has ever hired since buying the Islanders.
-
Mike-
Isn’t that the point? Is Steinbrenner some kind of great baseball mind? I doubt Wang is negotiating directly, but rather one of many involved in the decision making process. You think Wang traded for Dylan Reese? I feel his influence is overstated. -
Staten Islander says:
The Yankees got resurected when Steinbrenner was on suspension and Gene Michael could do his stuff. Maybe if Garth wants to go and find Howie Spira….
-
The Bagman says:
I don’t have a big problem with Wang making decisions. I remember an episode of the West Wing where one of the staffers said that if they couldn’t convince the President to do something within 10 minutes, they didn’t belong in the Administration. If the hockey people can’t “manage up,” then they should find someone who can.
That said, it’s pretty hard to find an example of Wang “doing things differently” that worked out. Keeping Milbury for so long, the committee, the DiPietro contract…is the man finally done trying to reinvent the wheel?
-
nobody says:
OK, let’s get real here…
1. No one in can really think CW is an idiot…far from it.
2. If you just got done with MM wouldn’t you want to be involved? Clearly most people here don’t own a business or report directly to someone who does, because if they did, they would know that being involved doesn’t necessarily mean being the decision maker…maybe he wants to simply here the rationale and not be the passive recipient of horrible hockey decisions with no rhyme or reason.
3. Lombardi hasn’t won anything yet, and he has has THREE years finishing 14 or 15 in his conference as he rebuilt the team, and in year FOUR spent $$ on FA. Sound familiar??
4. For those who endlessly complain about our payroll as if payroll determines success…I ask again, how are the Rags, Flyer’s, and Maple Leafs doing? Please, let’s not make it seem so simple!!!Let’s move on….
-
Vrinqueens says:
Lomabardi, Flyers and Leafs.. At least they’re trying to win by signing free agents and not shopping from the bargain bins of the NHL. Having the lowest payroll in the league every year and screaming rebuild!!! Is like pissing on my leg and insisting it’s raining, not working anymore.
-
YabbaDabbaDooDoo says:
Wang is a liar and a thief.
Go Google Computer Associates and learn the truth about your billionaire wunderkind.
Ya dupes.
-
Vrinqueens, we’re better off coming in 30th last year and in the low 20s this year. We got Tavares, maybe Seguin this year. We needed franchise players. That’s how the Pens turned it around. There’s nothing good about finishing 9th with mercenaries.
-
Blizzard says: …Lombardi wouldn’t have fit into the committee system instilled at that time. Neil smith didn’t for that matter. Im gonna give Snow a little benefit of the doubt here. Next year will be crucial. There needs to be significant improvement and a playoff birth next year or Snow’s head will be called for. And with good reason.
Interestingly there might be a more willingness for FA to sign as the Islanders core of young players develop further and the team becomes more relevant. The question is will Wang let Snow spend what will be necessary.
CB could you do a peace on those players who’s contracts are up, who will not be resigned and where the Islanders project to be in the salary cap floor?
-
Jon in Chicago says:
Seems to me like Tampa Bay is doing a tank job. They are 2-10-1 in their last 13 and have dropped into a tie with the Isles for 13th. That’s the last team that deserves a top 3 pick. What they need more is a new coach and a legitimate goaltender.
-
Jack says:
I agreewith #32
How can any team with Vinny, Marty and Stamkos lose soooo many games???
Tank 2years in a row! -
That is why the Islanders are just a mediocre hockey team at best!!!!Charles Wang is not a hockey person….And Mad Mike put the screws to him to make a bad situation worse….So here we are today….Hopefully management is learning from the mistakes of the past!
-
steve says:
can i be a stoopid billionaire too? everybody is worried about size.. you can buy size fellas, the leafs purchased a nice big, mean nasty blue line this season. and they are full of awe, as in awful. size with talent, that comes from picking very high in the draft.
08-89 26 wins and 61 points. with 10 games left, 29 wins and 68 points in 09-10. just some silly facts. younger team, better prospects. sorry nay-sayers, the team is getting better. still plenty of cap space. point to ponder..
rangers signed 1 player, and elite goal scorer who has scored 20% of their total goals. we have the room to do that. ramgers are maxed out payroll wise. NO PLAYOFFS
second point, already made prior. tampa bay. 3 elite fowards, 1 very good rookie defender, near max payroll, NO PLAYOFFS.you’d rather be the rangers or lightening? maybe the no picks Leafs? time, and progress. we have seen progress, give them time. and an arena deal wouldn’t hurt. sadly, it seems unlikely, but imagine a world where RDp comes back healthy, and plays well. that would be a massive improvemnt in just freeing up available money.
-
ralph says:
as long as wang is owner snow is gm and gordon is coach this team is not going anywhere plain and simple
-
Glen S says:
# 36 I’ll agree with 100% after this summer. This summer is huge who they draft ,top 5 and who they sign and or trade for.If in my opinion they don’t add at least 5 or 6 new face’s then i will agree with you 1000%. Boy I hope your wrong, but it’s becoming clearer by the day that, CW might be here for the real estate and the real estate only. Has he lost a ton of $$$ in the last eight or ten year’s,yes he has. Could he have walked away YES, but he didn’t and hope the reason is that he really care’s about the TEAM and not the land it play’s on.
So the next few month’s will be very important as to what the TOH come’s back with in there plan’s, IMHO if the town come’s back with a scaled back plan say 35 to 40 % less then CW want’s I think it may get done. If they come back and say 50 to 60 % less then I say it’s DEAD PERIOD -
me says:
This is why the team is in the gutter. Wang is not capable of making hockey decisions and Snow was and I believe still is too inexperienced to run a team properly. It doesn’t take much to do very little in the offseason and have the team finish in the bottom tier and draft the top players available.
-
Viper says:
# 33 agreed on the tank job, but it is now 3 years in a row!
-
Dave says:
Unfortunately #36 you are correct, all the kool aid drinkers are going to say wait until this summer Snow will sign x,y,z after we draft a top pick. Same story every yr with the same ending, we are lucky they actually picked Tavares and not someone off everyones list.
-
Matt S. says:
i wonder what it feels like to have a GM that’s not a joke. Maloney, Milbury, Snow…. the three stooges of Hockey.
-
I have watched the isles play some pretty impressive hockey in the past week. They are young, and will only get better and stronger. I am not that impressed with some other teams I have seen this year. If we can get a top 6 pick and add some (talented) size in the off-season, we can do great damage next year. Don’t forget, we are at the minimum salary cap==so we are one of the few teams that can even afford a solid player. I will give Garth and Wang the benefit for now, after all they have control over the team I love.
-
To #37 and those who agree….so do I. This year isn’t about adding one guy from the draft and one or two FA’s. This is about replacing….upgrading Weight, Geravis, Tambelleni, Jackman, Hunter, Park, and all the other crap on the team. The defense alone needs at least 3 new faces and probably 4. As impressive as MacDonald has been I’m not 100% sold. Hillen and Streit are the two defenites. So when people talk about 6-7 new faces I agree.
What I’d like to see next season or most likely the one after (not including new draft picks)
Joenssu Tavares Okposo
Bailey Nielsen Petrov
Moulson Schremp Martin
Bergenheim Gaustaud Comeau/ReichleczStreit Hamhuis
DeHaan O’Bryne
Scott/Carkner HamonicDiPietro
Roloson
Koskonen
Nilsson
Poulin
Ridderwall -
german islesfan says:
No Wang = no Islanders. Lombardi who?? i’am happy with Snow.
-
I was hoping Lombardi would be our GM when he was available, but Wang likes to outsmart himself sometimes. He admittedly knew nothing about hockey but continued to make many key decisions that should have been made by a hockey person.
-
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t lost complete faith in this team. I’m curious to see how things work out this summer. Honestly though, this team needs to take the next step and sprinkle some quality free agents around our young core.
-
Brian G says:
The Islanders need to spend money to make money…spend some money Wang…they need 2 Defenseman and 2 Wingers
-
MorDraftPicks says:
Uh……that kid, Donnie Maloney didnt do such a bad job out in the desert, now did he?
-
Shane from Nova Scotia says:
SNOW has a plan. He hasn’t deterred from it. In three (3) years we’ll know if he was right or wrong. Give him the opportunity to see it through. In 2013, you can call him a genious, or a bum. I’ll be able to agree or disagree at that point. Let’s GO ISLANDERS!!
-
To #43, “Strummer’s Army”. You’ve put COMEAU/ Reichlecz, as your projected last player on the 4th line next year. I know we are cheering for the same team, but have you even seen BLAKE COMEAU the last 20 games.??? He is a KEEPER. Show him the respect that he has EARNED.
-
JtorBust says:
Wang will never spend money , not while he is still paying Yashin, DP, Bates, Milbury and I think he has some of Mo Vaughns too. We may have the most cap space but we have an owner who spends the bare bone minimum with a 1/4 of that going to players not on the ice. Build it they will come….
-
DLR says:
Shane–Comeau has been one of our better players. But, on a legit hockey team, he is no 1st or 2nd liner and debateable 3rd.
-
What two UFA wingers would you suggest? Take a look…not pretty.
-
NoSoIslesFan says:
I agree with you #50, Comeau has been playing out of his mind recently. If anyone has earned a permanent spot on this team into next season it’s Comeau. Everyone else on your list #43 I agree with as well but I wouldn’t be counting on that bum DP. We could sit here all day and talk about the possibility of DP coming back at some point but honestly has he given us any reason to believe that in the last 2 seasons (when he was supposed to make his grand come back)? No not all all, in fact all he has done is play maybe 2 or 3 three games and get injured. The fellas down at the OTB wouldn’t bet on a horse with a bum leg to win a race, just like I’m not betting on DP to come back to the NHL at all.
-
SCLI says:
“Today, final hockey decisions are made by Snow and Wang”********
What committee made this decision? -
DLR on Mar 22nd, 2010 11:00:51 said:
Shane–Comeau has been one of our better players. But, on a legit hockey team, he is no 1st or 2nd liner and debateable 3rd.
****************************************
Completely correct. Comeau has shown spurts of terrific hockey thru out his career only to revert back into a shell for long periods. Until he can become more consistent, he’s still a question mark. If and when his game comes together, we’ll be looking at a solid 3rd line hockey player. Nothing more. -
50 in 50 says:
Lombardi and Smith couldnt be Wangs’ puppets. Why do you think Gordn has been around for so long. Charles wants to be the Master Puppeteer and we are the audience…
-
Points taken. My point is, that COMEAU is not the last player to make this team next season. There are many playoff teams who would take him solid third line, with a shot at second and a lot of penalty kill time. He is a nice surprise this season. The negativity is killing me in ISLESNATION. WE are on the way up.
-
Charles WANG has lost millions. Like me, he’s still here. Give him a break.
-
Mike from Sarasota says:
As someone who was pulling for Lombardi to get the job at the time, this is a depressing post.
-
Tom says:
IF Charles B. Wang made quality hockey decisions I doubt you’d hear any Isles fans complain. I don’t think any Charles B. Wang disciple can argue with the results the last 10 years. Pretty poor franchise as of right now. Somebody’s got to answer for the losses. His team, his way, his losses. Whatever happens, happens.
-
Hockey1919 says:
Let’s be realistic, Lombardi may be a better GM than Snow, but he went to the Kings because they already had a better infrastructure to begin with. It’s not like he and Snow are competing on equal footing or starting from the same place.
Because of Lombardi’s resume he didn’t need to take the first available position or pretend to be able to work in a comical committe, whereas Snow based on his resume (or lack thereof) had to take the Islander job. Hopefully now that Wang has his “hockey” guy in place he give Snow leeway to make the “hockey” decisions.
Oy, reading this brings me so much pain, CB. What did Isles fans do to deserve such pain?? haha