Isles announce new head coach

[Doggy 130]

The Islanders announced AHL's Providence head coach Scott Gordon will take over the helm after the firing of Ted Nolan. He has steadily improved the Bruins over the past few years but I must say I expected either Maurice or Hartley to be hired. Hartley, mainly just because he used to coach Snow.

With the recent successful debuts of former AHL coaches like Boudreau and Therrien, I guess we can't be too surprised.

Link: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=246115&amp...os=topStory_nhl

[CloudConnected 0]

I didn't really expect Maurice to get the job, he's never really been that great of a coach. He's had some limited success, but I could see the Isles sinking with him.

As far as Hartley goes, it's probably best for him that he didn't get the job. The Isles will be a younger team and will go through some growing pains. I don't know how many more teams Hartley could stand to be fired from if he didn't do well. His success with the Avs seems like a while ago now, and it would be hard to say how long his stock would be up if he floundered with the Isles.

Gordon's the right choice here. I still don't expect them to be very good, but at least Gordon has experience developing players. He was AHL coach of the year last year, so he's worth a shot at the next level.

edited do to posting without my glasses on

Edited August 13, 2008 by CloudConnected

[Doggy 130]

Yeah. They definitey needed someone who would develop and nurture the young talent of the team. However, Maurice did that exact thing with the Hartford and Carolina and he did pretty well with the Jr. Wings in the OHL too.

I only considered Hartley at all because of the existing relationship.

Scott Gordon could prove to be the right choice, we'll see. I think it'll still be a few years until they're a playoff team though.

It is a shame for the Isles though, that their future talent is so uninspiring. They have some great wingers like Tambellini, Comeau and of course, Okposo but FA in net and on the blueline really. It's a pretty poor prospect pool when you consider the limited success they've had in recent years.