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The Jack Capuano Conference Call (pt 1) |
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Sunday 10 am: Once the news of Jack Capuano’s contract extension hit Twitter, the next few hours were a rush of information one-upmanship.
The conference call ID code came out in triplicate. It was scheduled for 11:30 am. I checked the clock. I had about 50 minutes to think of questions and clear my desk enough to close my office door and hide. I searched for the phone microphone for my recorder that I bought at Radio Shack. I knew I had it just a day or so ago. I tore apart my purse, my briefcase, my tote bag and every drawer in my office -- twice. It was nowhere to be found.
Crap.
At 11:26 am I closed my office door and picked up the phone. If you’ve never been on one of these multiple-user conference calls, it’s an experience. You get one shot to say your name for the recording. Don’t mess up as everyone else on the call can hear when you “join the conference” or have “left the conference. “ So if you are caught saying something like “Oh, you’re kidding me.. Dan Rappaport,” all 25 participants will hear you.
Sadly those automated announcements obliterate the actual call -- over and over again. So for all those who joined the conference call late or left early, there were huge gaps where you couldn‘t hear what Jack Capuano was saying.
Kimber Auerbach introduced Jack who thanked Charles and Garth and after that you couldn‘t hear anything he said. I’m assuming he is happy to now know his fate and be able to tell the media they can now shut up.
The floor was opened to questions and the first one to begin was Katie Strang (who joined the call about fifth). While she started to ask here first question she had to stop as more “has joined the conference” announcements were made.
Note to MSM -- if the call is supposed to start at 11:30 am, how about you call in at 11:25 and listen to the same techno loop music I did for five minutes. How about it? Be on time.
Katie’s first question was directed at Garth Snow asking what made him confident Jack was right for the job. His answer revolved around Jack’s familiarity with the players and ability to change the atmosphere in the room after they had lost their confidence and a record number of games. She then asked him at what point did he know he wanted to bring him back.
“As our players gained confidence and performed at a high level and our team started having success on the ice, it became apparent to me that Jack was the right coach for this team.” Okay, so you can guess what point that was.
I found it pretty funny that all the reporters who know the NY Islanders policy of not divulging contract information tried every which way but bribery to find out what the deal actually is. It was entertaining to hear Katie ask “Garth can you give us an idea as to your commitment to Jack moving forward.”
“Uhhh, well… Jack’s our head coach.” Commitment enough for you?
Her questioning turned to Jack and she asked if he had any hopes of sticking in the job after taking over in November. He said he felt he could get the most out of the roster since he coached most of them in Bridgeport.
“Not once did I ever really think of the future of where this was going. It was my goal to obviously move forward and try to win hockey games and try to get this team in the post season. I’m not happy that we fell short of that.” Hey, Jack. You were two points behind the Devils at one point and everyone thought THEY'D make it to the post season.
After a pause she asked him if he felt he could take this team into the post season. I would love to hear any coach not answer “yes” to that question.
“I think that the way we played down the stretch, 25-21-8 in our last 54 games, and 15 - 12 after the All Star break, we talked after the All Star break about how we wanted to finish the season; how everybody was being evaluated at that time and we started to play a certain way. I think the guys deserve all the credit. … I feel very strongly moving forward. I know it’s an old cliché and a lot of people say that, but we’ve got a young group of guys in here and if we continue to make the strides that we’re going to make, there’s no question I think we can be a post season team.”
As Brian Burke always says, anything less than making the playoffs is failure. Katie asked Jack if he would be disappointed with his effort if they don’t make it next season. He explained the difference between coaching and developing in the AHL and what is expected in the NHL.
“But the bottom line is to win hockey games and that’s what we plan on doing.”
With more than 20 people on the call, after the Newsday reporter was finished asking her questions, I was surprised that we were asked if anyone else had questions. If there weren’t’ any other questions, why would we be on the phone and waiting?
And then the flood gates opened. Peter Botte once again attempted to get the terms of Jack’s contract revealed. DENIED!
“Jack, what do you think this team needs going forward?” A question that could be answered? Maybe.
“I think it’s a situation that Garth has always been open with me as far as, we talked a little bit down the stretch about what this team may need so I’m sure that conversation will take place. I don’t think -- we’re just a few pieces away from where we need to be and we’ll have that conversation moving forward.”
(What’s that Jack? Was that two thoughts or one? Are you or are you not a few pieces away from a play-off team? After trying to find the answer to that for three days, I gave up and came back to writing this. )
Jamie Stewart from News12 asked what Jack learned about himself and the team.
“It’s a situation where you try to get better every day as a player and as a coach there’s no question. You learn about the players, and as I said, it was an easier transition because I knew about the players on and off the ice. For me, I had the confidence. If I didn’t think I was ready to make this jump on November 15th, I wouldn’t have put this organization in that situation. I gained a lot of experience in the ECHL and obviously the AHL and it wasn’t the ideal circumstances, but obviously it’s something that you wait for and was extremely happy I got the opportunity from Charles and Garth.”
While Jack Capuano is just another in the long line of AHL coaches making the jump to the NHL these past few seasons, his edge is his long-standing relationship with Garth Snow and his knowledge of many of the players in the Islanders system and currently under contract for next season.
However, while the thing that most made him suitable for the position was his familiarity, I’m hoping that doesn’t turn into a detriment when players such as Mark Streit return to the line-up. What about that key free agent we should be “sprinkling” in over the summer? Will Capuano have familiarity with him?
Jack will succeed or fail based on his style alone. His easy-going personality and willingness to not forget this is a game and games are supposed to be fun may help him coach the newest rookie to the most seasoned of veterans. The proof will be in the season. Jack has proven he can at least be competitive and noteworthy using a roster full of kids, now he has to prove he can take all the ingredients he’s given and turn it into a winner.
Not an easy task considering the amount of obstacles he will need to overcome, but as Garth Snow said (and so many of us believe) Jack is (currently) the right man for the job.
As the Stanley Cup commercials tell us…. History will be made.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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