In the 24 hours subsequent to Jack Capuano‘s firing, the Islanders have already spoken to Gerard Gallant and the search is now underway. Here are five of the best options on the market for the Islanders’ vacant coaching position.
Front office overhaul
It’s no secret that the New York Islanders are looking to improve their front office leadership.After seeing George McPhee depart for the Vegas Golden Knights’ general manager position, the Islanders are short on notable executives.
News broke in December, when Arthur Staple of Newsday reported it, that the Islanders were seeking a “big name executive” to become the new team president. Ending that search in a hire would end GM Garth Snow’s dual role as both president and GM. Snow was named team president when he was named GM. It appears that he will only have one of those titles at season’s end.
Having a head coaching vacancy adds even more uncertainty at the organizational helm. Interim Doug Weight has had a long and successful career within the NHL as a player-turned-coach. He has an exclusive bond with John Tavares, having played with him when Tavares first entered the league. However, there are some pretty accomplished options out there. Is Weight the long-term answer, or is he just keeping someone’s seat warm?
Here are five potential candidates:
1. Gerard Gallant
Who else at number one but the first guy the Isles will interview?
Gerard Gallant’s firing earlier this season was criticized widely within NHL circles, especially so since the Florida Panthers just posted a record season last year. Panthers players felt guilty themselves, speaking nothing but praise for their former head coach.
Gallant’s Panthers won a franchise high 47 games in 2015-16, good for a 103-point regular season and their second-ever Atlantic Division title.
Despite being ousted in the playoffs by the Islanders in six games, many considered the Panthers to have been the better team in the series and that they were only bested by spirited performances from Thomas Greiss and John Tavares.
According to Arthur Staple, the Gallant conference was already developing before Capuano was fired:
It’s hard to image a circumstance where the Islanders would not at least discuss the coaching position with Gallant in light of Capuano’s firing.
2. Bob Hartley
If you’ve been following Big Red’s Isle Cast on YouTube, then you’ll know that Bob Hartley is considered the best choice for the New York Islanders, and why not?
Hartley has seen and done it all during his tenure as a head coach. He is the first Jack Adams winner on this list.
Hartley started his NHL coaching career with the former Quebec Nordiques. Hartley stayed with the organization through it’s move to Colorado and led the Hersey Bears (Colorado’s AHL affiliate at the time) to a Calder Cup in 1997. He was then promoted to head coach of the big club in Denver.
Hartley’s four years with the Avalanche (1998-2002) were capstoned by the Avs winning the 2000-01 Stanley Cup. His Colorado teams won four straight Northwest Division titles and went to the Western Conference Finals each season.
When he was hired by Atlanta, he reinvigorated a lost Thrashers team leading them to their first (and only) division title in 2006-07 and their only playoff appearance as the Thrashers.
His career then took him to Calgary, where he would gradually coax a young Flames team in 2008-09 to their first playoff series win since 2004.
Hartley took home Jack Adams honors as the NHL coach of the year with Calgary in 20145-15.
Success has been prevalent in Hartley’s career. He is a prime candidate to bring the Islanders back to contention.
3. Doug Weight
It’s still very early to have an informed opinion on Doug Weight‘s tenure. We’ll know his impact after about 10-15 games behind the bench. For the well-being of the Islanders, it’s probably in their best interest to hire someone from outside the organization, but to discount him as a candidate altogether is unwise.
Doug Weight knows the team better than any other eligible candidate, and maybe, just maybe he could be what the Islanders are looking for.
Despite only having one game coached (and winning that game 3-0), Weight is one of the most decorated players in NHL history, having been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
On top of his 1033 career points in 1238 games, his 2006 Stanley Cup win with the Hurricanes, he has also played in 97 career playoff games. Weight captained the Islanders for his three years here. He was John Tavares’ first NHL captain and his influence left an impression on the burgeoning superstar.
4. Claude Julien
The Boston Bruins are in the middle of a mild slump and Claude Julien could suffer the same fate as Jack Capuano.
Claude Julien took the Montreal Canadiens to the second round of the playoffs in 2003-04, his first full season as an NHL head coach. After being dismissed by the Canadiens, Julien was hired by the Devils in 2006.
Julien had locked down the Atlantic Division title for the Devils but was abruptly dismissed by the Devils with three games left in the 2006-2007 season.
The Boston Bruins reached out to Julien and during his first year with Boston, he led them back to the playoffs after they missed the season prior.
Despite some setbacks in the seasons prior to the 2010-11 season, he coached the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup win since 1972.
In total, Julien has coached the Bruins to four division championships, a Presidents’ trophy in 2013-14, two Stanley Cup Finals appearances and one Stanley Cup.
5. Marc Crawford
Marc Crawford is another grizzled vet who would be an ideal fit for the Islanders.
Crawford broke into the league during the 1994-95 season and immediately found success with the Nordiques, taking his team to the Conference Quarterfinals. That team was eliminated from contention, but in his first season as an NHL head coach, Crawford became the youngest in that position to have won the Jack Adams award. He still holds that distinction.
The Nordiques were relocated to Colorado the following season. Crawford’s 1995-96 Colorado Avalanche won the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship
Crawford left the Avalanche and joined the rebuilding Canucks halfway through the 1998-99 season and would help make them a playoff contender.
He would help set a (then) franchise record of 104 points in the regular season, beating out his former team for the division title.
Despite some rough stints with Los Angeles and the Dallas Stars, Crawford’s career rebounded after coaching the ZSC Lions of the Swiss League, leading them to the 2016 Swiss Cup. He currently serves as an assistant coach to Guy Boucher on the Ottawa Senators.
In reality, all of these options bring very diverse tactics to the Islanders bench.
Regardless of who the Islanders’ next president is, this list is their pool of most likely (and qualified) candidates.