Yeah, because they have the best record in the NHL. Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the reason the Rangers are good, and not because their young defense corps is becoming the envy of the league. I'm sure it's not because Marian Gaborik is back to playing at an elite level.
- isles10289

Holy poop man. Are you just arguing for arguing sakes?

I hate the Rangers, but they've been banged up ALL SEASON. They played without Sauer, Staal, and Del Zotto for long stretches of the season. Their defensive corps is pretty average after those 3. Eminger, Strahlman, etc. have played big roles for them this year.
I'm not stupid, I know how good the Rags are, and they have a Top 5 goalie, but Tortarella is a damn good coach, there should be no argument there. He presses buttons sometimes, without a doubt, but he gets the job done, most of the time.

Yeah, because they have the best record in the NHL. Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the reason the Rangers are good, and not because their young defense corps is becoming the envy of the league. I'm sure it's not because Marian Gaborik is back to playing at an elite level.
- isles10289

That you can write this without thinking that maybe, possibly, good coaching might have something to do with a young D core knowing where to be and when and playing their positions well makes this debate not worth having. Not enough common ground in our positions for this go anywhere other than back and forth forever.

Hey man, I agree 100 percent with the things I've bolded. But, the coach has a lot to do with how the team performs, I don't understand how you don't see that.

If the team was winning with Capuano, and the guys you mentioned were performing up to the levels you noted, then we wouldn't have a reason to fire this guy.
And, the last thing I want is guys like deHaan, Donovan, Ness, etc. get developed by this coach...
- potvin05

Those guys aren't getting developed by Capuano; they are developing in the AHL. When they get to the NHL, they are expected to be professionals. Capuano should not have to be teaching these guys the game of hockey. The coach's job at the pro level is to represent the team to the media and the fans, and to keep all the players on the same page. But when guys like De Haan and Donovan get here, they shouldn't need to be "developed"; they should be ready to go. Which is the danger of rushing prospects, an entirely separate issue. Yeah, Nino was developing here this year, but he's not an NHL-er yet. Unfortunately, he couldn't be in the AHL, where he could develop. But that's a good sign as to when a team is rushing prospects: if they need to be developed, they should not be in the NHL.

Those guys aren't getting developed by Capuano; they are developing in the AHL. When they get to the NHL, they are expected to be professionals. Capuano should not have to be teaching these guys the game of hockey. The coach's job at the pro level is to represent the team to the media and the fans, and to keep all the players on the same page. But when guys like De Haan and Donovan get here, they shouldn't need to be "developed"; they should be ready to go. Which is the danger of rushing prospects, an entirely separate issue. Yeah, Nino was developing here this year, but he's not an NHL-er yet. Unfortunately, he couldn't be in the AHL, where he could develop. But that's a good sign as to when a team is rushing prospects: if they need to be developed, they should not be in the NHL.
- isles10289

Holy Christ, really? That's it, the learning stops? You have to be poopting me.
By this logic, a player hits his celing the day he enters the league.

I do agree with the rushing of the prospects dilemma though.

That you can write this without thinking that maybe, possibly, good coaching might have something to do with a young D core knowing where to be and when and playing their positions well makes this debate not worth having. Not enough common ground in our positions for this go anywhere other than back and forth forever.
- UIF

This is basically where I stand too. I'm procrastinating on a million things right now, so I'm out.

That you can write this without thinking that maybe, possibly, good coaching might have something to do with a young D core knowing where to be and when and playing their positions well makes this debate not worth having. Not enough common ground in our positions for this go anywhere other than back and forth forever.
- UIF

Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the difference between a 38 year old Steve Staios and Ryan McDonagh. Lol. I'm sure Tortorella is why Dan Girardi is so much better than Mark Eaton.

Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the difference between a 38 year old Steve Staios and Ryan McDonagh. Lol. I'm sure Tortorella is why Dan Girardi is so much better than Mark Eaton.
- isles10289

Why not compare the two guys you mentioned to Streit and Hamonic? Or, even McDonald? Kind of convienent to your argument that you mentioned Eaton and Staios.

Holy poop man. Are you just arguing for arguing sakes?

I hate the Rangers, but they've been banged up ALL SEASON. They played without Sauer, Staal, and Del Zotto for long stretches of the season. Their defensive corps is pretty average after those 3. Eminger, Strahlman, etc. have played big roles for them this year.
I'm not stupid, I know how good the Rags are, and they have a Top 5 goalie, but Tortarella is a damn good coach, there should be no argument there. He presses buttons sometimes, without a doubt, but he gets the job done, most of the time.
- potvin05

You're arguing just as much as I am. The Rangers are good because the team is good. Yes, Tortorella is obviously a better coach than Capuano, but that's not why one team is good and the other is bad. The Islanders will not improve until the on-ice product improves, so until that happens, it really doesn't matter if you fire Capuano or not. It's irrelevant.

Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the difference between a 38 year old Steve Staios and Ryan McDonagh. Lol. I'm sure Tortorella is why Dan Girardi is so much better than Mark Eaton.
- isles10289

no player has flourished more on the Rangers since John Tortorella has taken over than Dan Girardi.

Girardi is a non drafted NHLer who played some in the ECHL, now he is a NHL all-star, top defenseman on the Rangers.

Why not compare the two guys you mentioned to Streit and Hamonic? Or, even McDonald? Kind of convienent to your argument that you mentioned Eaton and Staios.
- potvin05

Ok, they are both better defensively than Streit. We have one defenseman that would be as good as the Rangers top 4. You'll notice the Rangers have no Jurcina's, Staios's, or Eaton's making up half of their top 6.

no player has flourished more on the Rangers since John Tortorella has taken over than Dan Girardi.

Girardi is a non drafted NHLer who played some in the ECHL, now he is a NHL all-star, top defenseman on the Rangers.
- jimbro83

Thanks Jimbro you would hae to agree that Torterella has a lot to do with your team success no??

You're arguing just as much as I am. The Rangers are good because the team is good. Yes, Tortorella is obviously a better coach than Capuano, but that's not why one team is good and the other is bad. The Islanders will not improve until the on-ice product improves, so until that happens, it really doesn't matter if you fire Capuano or not. It's irrelevant.
- isles10289

The On ice product will improve once Jack is gone and we get a real NHL coach

Thanks Jimbro you would hae to agree that Torterella has a lot to do with your team success no??
- kasperrko

I think so.

When he came here, he came with his "safe is death" mentality and it didn't work.

He has successfully developed a team concept that has enabled this team to be very successful.

whether it translates into some playoff victories remains to be seen.

But I am huge Torts guy.

The On ice product will improve once Jack is gone and we get a real NHL coach
- kasperrko

It really improved when they got rid of Gordon, too, like most fans said it would (sarcasm).

You're arguing just as much as I am. The Rangers are good because the team is good. Yes, Tortorella is obviously a better coach than Capuano, but that's not why one team is good and the other is bad. The Islanders will not improve until the on-ice product improves, so until that happens, it really doesn't matter if you fire Capuano or not. It's irrelevant.
- isles10289

If you think a coach has nothing, or, even very little to how the team plays on the ice, then you're right in the arguing department.
And, if that's the case, from my vantage point, there's no point in arguing.

Ok, they are both better defensively than Streit. We have one defenseman that would be as good as the Rangers top 4. You'll notice the Rangers have no Jurcina's, Staios's, or Eaton's making up half of their top 6.
- isles10289

Um...Eminger and Strahlman are both playing big roles on this team, because their top 3 young d-men have all been hurt for long stretches this year. I watch more than a handful on Rags games. Eminger and Strahlman are pretty average d-men having season's I would say are above average for them.

Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the difference between a 38 year old Steve Staios and Ryan McDonagh. Lol. I'm sure Tortorella is why Dan Girardi is so much better than Mark Eaton.
- isles10289

Yes, that was exactly my point. That Staios is the same as Ryan McDonagh. Well done.

It really improved when they got rid of Gordon, too, like most fans said it would (sarcasm).
- isles10289

Well when you replace the head coach with another coach who has no idea what the NYHL then you get the same result. If the Islander went ouyt and got themselves a real coach thingws would be different my friend

It's kind of funny that you people watch a season of this team, and your first issue is the coach, who never steps foot on the ice. These guys are professional hockey players; the impact a coach has really isn't that much. I'd much rather them address the defense and secondary scoring first, then worry about the coach. If they don't fix the team on the ice, it doesn't matter who the coach is because they won't win. AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE CAPUANO EITHER, but it's irrelevant whether he's fired or not until the team is better.
- isles10289

Got to heavily disagree with you there. No Torts for Rangers and no Hitchcock for Blues and no way those teams are in First place. Especially the Rangers, they took on the ideals of the coach and their whole system is why they win and why they are where they are.

Also, see Tipett in PHX.

st. louis has something glaring that we do not..they have a defense
- NYI78

And two goalies ranked top 5 in GAA and sv%

Yeah, because they have the best record in the NHL. Yeah, I'm sure Tortorella is the reason the Rangers are good, and not because their young defense corps is becoming the envy of the league. I'm sure it's not because Marian Gaborik is back to playing at an elite level.
- isles10289

And why do you think their young defense corps are good? If you know something everyone else in the league doesn't, then maybe all teams can be convinced to drop their coaches and just let their professional players govern and train each other.

I know the players won't quit (or at least I hope they don't) but I hope despite their best efforts, they lose every game going forward. That will guarantee them the bottom three finish they need to have a chance at the top overall pick and at worst they'll pick no later than 4th. Once again under Snow, the only thing to look forward to in Isles Country is the June draft. And the draft will be all we can look forward to in '13 if Snow doesn't re-tool this team over the summer from the coach down to the stick kid.

I'm not thrilled about Capuano either, but at some point, you have to look at the players. The Islanders keep firing coaches and nothing changes. So firing or not firing Capuano will not help this team win; it will be irrelevant. Until the team has some talent, through prospects, free agency, trade, or whatever else, firing the coach will do nothing.
- isles10289

Absolutely true. but, bringing in inexperienced, AHL-level coaches is no way to solve the coaching problem. Cappy is clearly not an NHL caliber coach. The Isles have hit and missed on coaches for two decades now. THe only good coaching hires they've had since Arbour retired were Laviolette and Nolan. No other coaches have had any success here.

Every once in a while you get lucky and get a good hire from the "A" (Laviolette). But too often, the guys coaching there are there for a reason and they're not NHL caliber (Gordon, Cappy, Stirling, etc.) If this team wants to be taken seriously and wants a coach to maximize the on-ice talent, they need to hire a veteran coach who has a track record of success at the NHL level. The Isles can't keep rolling the dice by hiring inexperienced coaches.

Yes, I do watch the games. I also watched the games under Scott Gordon. And Ted Nolan. And Peter Laviolette. Firing Capuano and bringing in another coach will not make this team win games. Having better players on the team will help them win games. Not having Steve Staios, Mark Eaton, and Milan Jurcina on the blue line will help them win games. Maybe getting some secondary scoring once in a while will help them win games. Replacing Capuano with someone else is a sideways move. So, while I said I'm not thrilled with Capuano either, I don't really care if he's fired or not because it won't make our defense tighter or our offense more prolific.
- isles10289

Absolutely. But simply bringing in better players, but having a coach like Cappy who is not NHL caliber coach the team of better players won't get this team winning either.

Cappy has done a bad job of coaching. Although the Isles and the fans as a whole have a habit of overhyping and overvaluing the team's prospects and players, there was more talent on this team this year than a bottom-three finish. There was more talent on this team offensively that the third-lowest scoring team in hockey. Good coaches find ways to get the best out of the players they have to coach. I don't think the players Cappy has are top quality, but he has more talent than a bottom five team.

Its not just players this team needs. Its coaching, players, an arena, an better GM, better owner, etc. They should get better players but also get a better coach.

Doug Weight > Capuano, any day of the week. It's obvious the players have little respect for Capuano. The Tavares grabbing the chalkboard thing, might not seem like much, but, wow, who does that to the head coach. Weight or even Scott Allen make a lot more sense to me on a lot of levels.

First, Wang has to break mold, and try to overpay to get a coach here. Keenan or Murray would be a good start. Capuano cannot be the coach next year.
- potvin05

Doug Weight may be ">" than Cappy, but any number of veteran NHL coaches are ">" than Weight. Mark it down, if Cappy is fired and Weight is named head coach, he will be just as ineffective as Gordon and Cappy before him, maybe even more ineffective, since he's never been a head coach at any level before.

Just because someone is (was) a good player doesn't mean they're going to be a good coach.