1) other than botta, who has his issues with isles management, no one is reporting that cappy didnt have any input (not to mention the guy STILL hasnt been officially hired)

2) as pointed out, the devils decisions come from up top as well....its done them pretty well.
- LetsGoIsles

Pretty sure Sweet Lou has a proven track record to back up his moves. Garth, not so much.

Its not about the coach himself. Its about the process that the team goes through to bring Thompson up. Its Garth making the decision, and it appears that he's making it unilaterally. It shouldn't be done that way. The coach should have significant input on who his assistants are. If you don't trust your coach to hire the right assistants, he shouldn't be your coach. I think it is demonstrative of the way things work in the Isles front office, and its indicative of why a higher profile, more veteran coach wants no part of the Islanders.
- Jethro09

And at this point its all still speculation.

i certainly would, doesnt mean id get that opportunity....

if you were a coach and your job was on the line BUT your boss wouldnt let you pick your own assistants, would you make a big deal about not having your own assistants knowing that if this job doesnt work out you may never sniff a hockey coaching job again?
- LetsGoIsles

Of course you would. That's the biggest reason why you would want your own guys no? Knowing your ass is on the line for maybe the last time you want to go in the trenches with your own hand picked guys not ones that were appointed by your inexperienced GM

There are 30 teams in the NHL. So far, Uncle Lou (track record of success) and Snow (no track record for success) have been the only 2 GM's identified that hire the assistant coaches. The other 28 teams?

I'll tell you what: when Snow gets to four Cup finals and wins three of them, he can hire all the assistant coaches he wants to with no input from the coach and no complaints from me.
- Jethro09

So you have intimate knowledge of how all 30 teams in the NHL hire their coaches. You are obviously in the wrong profession.

i certainly would, doesnt mean id get that opportunity....

if you were a coach and your job was on the line BUT your boss wouldnt let you pick your own assistants, would you make a big deal about not having your own assistants knowing that if this job doesnt work out you may never sniff a hockey coaching job again?
- LetsGoIsles

Cappy is not going to make a big deal about it. He has no leg to stand on. Truth is, if he gets canned and looks for his next gig, whoever is looking at him is going to know that he didn't hire his own assistants and they probably won't hold it against him.

There are 30 teams in the NHL. So far, Uncle Lou (track record of success) and Snow (no track record for success) have been the only 2 GM's identified that hire the assistant coaches. The other 28 teams?

I'll tell you what: when Snow gets to four Cup finals and wins three of them, he can hire all the assistant coaches he wants to with no input from the coach and no complaints from me.
- Jethro09

my main point is no matter what the Isles do or don't do u will find something wrong with it. If you think Burke is asking his coach who he would like as an asst. coach u are kidding yourself by the way. I get it.. until the isles start winning everything will be terrible.

This was just one of those stories that was a non event...and it is being portrayed as horrible. If this is announced it's a good young coach who fires up his players and is a good X's and O's guy. It's a good guy to have on the bench and probably is a big reason the assistant coaches were canned in the first place.

Of course you would. That's the biggest reason why you would want your own guys no? Knowing your ass is on the line for maybe the last time you want to go in the trenches with your own hand picked guys not ones that were appointed by your inexperienced GM
- Vukota

and what leverage does cappy have? hes clearly walking a tight rope...if he rubs GS or CW the wrong way, hes on the street looking for a job...its not easy to be confrontational when your ass is on the line

So you have intimate knowledge of how all 30 teams in the NHL hire their coaches. You are obviously in the wrong profession.
- PeteM

No I don't. But neither do you or anyone else on this site. Just as you're quick to insinuate that I have no business assuming that no other teams let their coaches pick their own assistants, you have no business assuming that coaches on other teams don't get to pick their own assistants.

I'm going off logic. Logically speaking, if your hiring someone to do a job, you're going to let them bring in their own people to help them do their job. It happens every day in business. Do you honestly think that the majority of teams' GM's in the NHL tell their coaches that they will hire the assistants for them without the coach's input? Do you think that's the norm?

Of course you would. That's the biggest reason why you would want your own guys no? Knowing your ass is on the line for maybe the last time you want to go in the trenches with your own hand picked guys not ones that were appointed by your inexperienced GM
- Vukota

The first time Bill Torrey was a GM was the Islanders.. he was very inexperienced at the time.
The first time Lou Lamoriello was a GM was the Devils.. he was very inexperienced at the time.

Pretty sure Sweet Lou has a proven track record to back up his moves. Garth, not so much.
- Vukota

He does now..

In April 1987, then-owner of the Devils John McMullen appointed Lamoriello president of the club. Lamoriello named himself general manager just before the start of the 1987–88 season, a move that surprised many NHL observers. He had never played, coached or managed in the NHL, and was virtually unknown outside the American college hockey community.

my main point is no matter what the Isles do or don't do u will find something wrong with it. If you think Burke is asking his coach who he would like as an asst. coach u are kidding yourself by the way. I get it.. until the isles start winning everything will be terrible.

This was just one of those stories that was a non event...and it is being portrayed as horrible. If this is announced it's a good young coach who fires up his players and is a good X's and O's guy. It's a good guy to have on the bench and probably is a big reason the assistant coaches were canned in the first place.
- niteislander

You don't think that Ron Wilson was able to bring in his own assistants or to had input? Same for Carlysle?

This has gotten out of hand. Regardless of what anyone else writes, I find it absurd that Cappy is the coach of the team and that he is not hiring his own assistants, the GM who never coached a day in his life is.

Cappy is not going to make a big deal about it. He has no leg to stand on. Truth is, if he gets canned and looks for his next gig, whoever is looking at him is going to know that he didn't hire his own assistants and they probably won't hold it against him.
- Jethro09

all the more reason for him to keep his mouth shut, hope garth and co. pick good assistants and hope it works out....if it doesnt work out cappy can say garth didnt allow him to pick his own assistants

Honestly I'm starting to get worried that JT will get upset and want out..
- Danformo

was he that big a supporter of Dean Chynoweth and Scott Allen?? LOFL



XxNYIxX

There are 30 teams in the NHL. So far, Uncle Lou (track record of success) and Snow (no track record for success) have been the only 2 GM's identified that hire the assistant coaches. The other 28 teams?

I'll tell you what: when Snow gets to four Cup finals and wins three of them, he can hire all the assistant coaches he wants to with no input from the coach and no complaints from me.
- Jethro09

Ok then if we cant point out that a successful franchise does it that way.. you cant point out that a successful franchise doesn't do it that way.... it goes both ways. It really isnt that big a friggen deal.

XxNYIxX

For whatever it's worth, Isles have had Grigorenko, Murray, and Dumba to the Island for visits so far. 4 more on the schedule per Staple.

PUT IT IN THE BOOKS!!!!

Just copy and paste the old hammer and sickle over the Isles logo

I'll probably have to change mine after Haley doesn't get re-signed.
- eichiefs9

LOL

I think Haley is history now that Blair Riley has been signed to a two way contract. Mind you, I'm a big Haley supporter but it seems like the Isles believe Riley has a bit more polish to his game.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see what Riley can do. I will miss Haley though.

and what leverage does cappy have? hes clearly walking a tight rope...if he rubs GS or CW the wrong way, hes on the street looking for a job...its not easy to be confrontational when your ass is on the line
- LetsGoIsles

Since when is wanting your own assistants considered confrontational?

You don't think that Ron Wilson was able to bring in his own assistants or to had input? Same for Carlysle?

This has gotten out of hand. Regardless of what anyone else writes, I find it absurd that Cappy is the coach of the team and that he is not hiring his own assistants, the GM who never coached a day in his life is.
- Jethro09

I'm with you and when you point out the continues flaws of this franchise you're looked at as a complainer

Ok then if we cant point out that a successful franchise does it that way.. you cant point out that a successful franchise doesn't do it that way.... it goes both ways. It really isnt that big a friggen deal.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Its not a big deal but its still comical

Since when is wanting your own assistants considered confrontational?
- Vukota

no one is saying wanting your own assistants is confrontational; however, going against the plan set by garth and charles would be considered by everyone as confrontational.

and again, considering he has no leverage, its probably best for him to take was is given to him and keep his mouth shut

The first time Bill Torrey was a GM was the Islanders.. he was very inexperienced at the time.
The first time Lou Lamoriello was a GM was the Devils.. he was very inexperienced at the time.
- niteislander

Point taken but I'm pretty sure they just didn't step into that role right from the ice. I would like to know if they had any low level exec jobs before getting hired, just curious

LOL

I think Haley is history now that Blair Riley has been signed to a two way contract. Mind you, I'm a big Haley supporter but it seems like the Isles believe Riley has a bit more polish to his game.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see what Riley can do. I will miss Haley though.
- SCLI

no one is saying wanting your own assistants is confrontational; however, going against the plan set by garth and charles would be considered by everyone as confrontational.

and again, considering he has no leverage, its probably best for him to take was is given to him and keep his mouth shut
- LetsGoIsles

Of course he is gonna sit there and take it because thats what puppets do. The same reason wang hired snow and snow hired Capuano. Puppets are easy to control. Why can't people see that as being a huge problem??

Since when is wanting your own assistants considered confrontational?
- Vukota

just to point it out yet again.. u are talking Botta's word for it that Cappy was not involved in this too. It is not like Cappy did not know the man or have a working relationship with him.