You seem to convenienly ignore his run to the cup finals in Buffalo and his Jack Adams award. And yes, he "squeaked" into the playoffs with a team that had no business getting into the playoffs, with Andy Hilbert, Richard Park and Josef Vasicek as his go-to forwards and Wade f-ing Dubliewicz in goal.

When you say he's not the "answer", what does that mean? He's not the answer for the isles? For Buffalo? Because I can assure you, Buffalo will play much better going forward with Nolan at the helm than they have so far. Most players who play for him sing Nolan's praises constantly. I don't hear that about Cappy from others who have played for him at any level.
- Jethro09

I'm not ignoring it at all, he had Hasek in net and a very talented team, which later without him played just as well or better. His jack adams trophy was from 96/97! 16 years ago! How is that even relevant?

With the Isles, we had a better defense than we do now in that year, plus we had a goaltender in DP that, like it or not, was playing better at that time than anything we've had since. He had one good enough year with the Isles, and one sub 500 year before he was let go.

His overall coaching record in the NHL spans a whopping 4 years.

I am sure he will be back Thursday. He probably wants to rest it. Although it would be interesting to see how this team plays one game without their captain.
- mighty13duck

That's just cruel, man.

If his play was better he wouldn't be on the third line. If he plays with urgency and doesn't float he wouldn't be in the doghouse
- Dan Petriw

Lets be honest here. Grabner was doing just fine at the beginning of the year. Had one bad game and then demoted. Meanwhile guys like Bailey get a pass when they are invincible on the ice. Bailey has been just as invisible then Grabner

I'm not ignoring it at all, he had Hasek in net and a very talented team, which later without him played just as well or better. His jack adams trophy was from 96/97! 16 years ago! How is that even relevant?

With the Isles, we had a better defense than we do now in that year, plus we had a goaltender in DP that, like it or not, was playing better at that time than anything we've had since. He had one good enough year with the Isles, and one sub 500 year before he was let go.

His overall coaching record in the NHL spans a whopping 4 years.
- Isles_since_6

Mark my words: the Sabres will show great, tangible improvement this year under Nolan. The guy can coach. 4 year NHL resume regardless. Watching what he coached to the playoffs with the Isles should tell you all you need to know about Nolan's coaching abilities. Maybe they had RDP playing well, but they also had forwards like Hilbert, Park, Kozlov and Vasicek playing significant minutes. No JT's, no stars of Ny kind.

Lets be honest here. Grabner was doing just fine at the beginning of the year. Had one bad game and then demoted. Meanwhile guys like Bailey get a pass when they are invincible on the ice. Bailey has been just as invisible then Grabner
- kasperrko

You dont notice bailey at all. He literally does nothing out there. Nothing good nothing bad. It's like he isn't even playing.

BTW I've let Bouchard out of my dog house and let him go for walks now once a day. He's earned that.

Until hes leading the league in points and goals ahead of Crosby and Ovi
- mighty13duck

Not funny

Lets be honest here. Grabner was doing just fine at the beginning of the year. Had one bad game and then demoted. Meanwhile guys like Bailey get a pass when they are invincible on the ice. Bailey has been just as invisible then Grabner
- kasperrko

I agree with bailey he is next to get moved down. I just am not the biggest Grabner fan and to some extent Bailey too, I'd move either to get a dman

You dont notice bailey at all. He literally does nothing out there. Nothing good nothing bad. It's like he isn't even playing.

BTW I've let Bouchard out of my dog house and let him go for walks now once a day. He's earned that.
- Isles316

His play has been noticeably better and he was flying last night

Kabanov back on the Sound tigers... did very well in ECHL by the way..

JT not at practice...
- niteislander

I've been watching the stats and it looked like he was getting it done down there. I mentioned it before, but has anyone else noticed that Corey Trivino is actually playing for the Isles' ECHL affiliate now? I wonder if it's sort of an under-the-radar way for Snow to see what he had in a second-round pick that became extremely controversial for off-ice reasons.

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick's injury appears to be serious, he has been sent back to LA and coach sitter just said its groin or hamstring related

Kings goalie Jonathan Quick's injury appears to be serious, he has been sent back to LA and coach sitter just said its groin or hamstring related
- Dan Petriw

You think these coaches would know what part of the body it is that their player points to that's hurt. What a maroon

NYIslanders ‏@NYIslanders 57m
#Isles lines at today's practice: Martin-Nelson-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Grabner-Regin-McDonald; Boulton-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Hopefully that's not the lineup/lines that take the ice Thursday or it'll be a long game.
- UIF

Wow. That looks like a pre-season game line up. God help us.

Nolan won. That's what matters. All the nonsense about "systems" and stuff like that is what people look at when a coach can't win. Obviously, Nolan had a "system", it just wasn't as structured and regimented as a lot of other coaches.

And as far as "kids" go, who did he have to play over bad vets? It wasn't as if he had a lot of kids to play. Nolan had Frans, Comeau and A-Mac. The farm system under MM and Smith (for 40 days) was decrepit. It wasn't like he was handed a team like the Isles are now, loaded with young players with talent that are clearly better than veteran options available anyway.
- Jethro09

Don't forget Tambellini

Don't forget Tambellini
- PeteM

and the youngster Richard Park!

I've been watching the stats and it looked like he was getting it done down there. I mentioned it before, but has anyone else noticed that Corey Trivino is actually playing for the Isles' ECHL affiliate now? I wonder if it's sort of an under-the-radar way for Snow to see what he had in a second-round pick that became extremely controversial for off-ice reasons.
- UIF

I wonder if Kabanov's return to the Sound Tigers indicates perhaps another player getting promoted. In other words, could Strome be getting ready to make the jump?

Mark my words: the Sabres will show great, tangible improvement this year under Nolan. The guy can coach. 4 year NHL resume regardless. Watching what he coached to the playoffs with the Isles should tell you all you need to know about Nolan's coaching abilities. Maybe they had RDP playing well, but they also had forwards like Hilbert, Park, Kozlov and Vasicek playing significant minutes. No JT's, no stars of Ny kind.
- Jethro09

I totally agree with this

Mark my words: the Sabres will show great, tangible improvement this year under Nolan. The guy can coach. 4 year NHL resume regardless. Watching what he coached to the playoffs with the Isles should tell you all you need to know about Nolan's coaching abilities. Maybe they had RDP playing well, but they also had forwards like Hilbert, Park, Kozlov and Vasicek playing significant minutes. No JT's, no stars of Ny kind.
- Jethro09

IMO Rolston was a hilariously bad coach so removing him is an improvement, however with that lineup and Nolan I don't see much room for improvement.

IMO Rolston was a hilariously bad coach so removing him is an improvement, however with that lineup and Nolan I don't see much room for improvement.
- Isles_since_6

Does Nolan trade for his son now???

IMO Rolston was a hilariously bad coach so removing him is an improvement, however with that lineup and Nolan I don't see much room for improvement.
- Isles_since_6

He will get them playing hard every game. He will motivate them. That is what a coach does. Unfortuantely we don't have that type of coach here

I wonder if Kabanov's return to the Sound Tigers indicates perhaps another player getting promoted. In other words, could Strome be getting ready to make the jump?
- keaner17

Yes and he will be playing with Boulton

I really like these lines with a healthy roster

Nelson JT KO
Vanek Frans Bouchard
Grabs Regin (Strome preferably) Bailey
Martin Cizikas Cal

I really like these lines with a healthy roster

Nelson JT KO
Vanek Frans Bouchard
Grabs Regin (Strome preferably) Bailey
Martin Cizikas Cal
- mighty13duck

This lineup is going to drive Spiartini (sp?) crazy

I wonder if Kabanov's return to the Sound Tigers indicates perhaps another player getting promoted. In other words, could Strome be getting ready to make the jump?
- keaner17

Could be? I'd really like him to come up once and if this ship gets righted. I'd rather he come up in a good situation not trying to help fix a problem.

Could be? I'd really like him to come up once and if this ship gets righted. I'd rather he come up in a good situation not trying to help fix a problem.
- Cptmjl

Kabanov's return to the Sound Tigers was only a result his quality play, and thus, guys being sent down to Stockton. http://www.soundtigers.co...ID=22700&ATCLID=209305848

He will get them playing hard every game. He will motivate them. That is what a coach does. Unfortuantely we don't have that type of coach here
- kasperrko

to be totally clear - I see the difference between Rolston and Nolan with that lineup as a 50 point season vs a 56 point season.

That team is crap, will be losing Miller at some point, possible Ehrhoff as well, and Nolan isn't that good a coach. My opinion may be in the minority, but I'm standing by it.

http://www.hockey-referen...e.com/teams/NYI/2007.html

Isles roster and stats for Nolan's best season as our coach. We had a goaltender with a 919 sv% and 5 shutouts. We had 6 20 or more goal scorers. Blake's overachieving year with Yashin, Satan with 27. Ryan Smyth.

All that and barely made it into the playoffs and a quick first round exit.

He coached the Isles two years, if we'd lost that shootout in 2006/2007, he would have been out of the playoffs both years.

Sorry, just don't see him as an upgrade at coach, and I despise Capuano.