from Arthur Staple of The Athletic,
The New York Islanders hit the ice on Monday in Edmonton in a precarious spot. They have lost three straight, are 1-3-2 in the last six and left UBS Arena with echoes of Isles fans calling for the general manager’s head (that was Tuesday) and then the coach’s head (that was Saturday). We’re 13 games into the season and somehow it’s a very crucial four-game road trip already on the docket.
Perhaps Lou Lamoriello wants to listen to those fans chanting “fire Lane Lambert.” OK — what are your options? The Oilers, Monday’s hosts, just dipped into another team’s coaching depth chart in making the first coaching change of the NHL season, hiring Connor McDavid’s old junior coach Kris Knoblauch. Leaving aside what it means when a team (the New York Rangers) lets their minor-league coach walk free during a season to coach another club, this is an unorthodox fix.
As an aside: Bo Horvat’s junior coach, Dale Hunter, is still running things in London of the OHL. And Steve Konowalchuk, Mat Barzal’s junior coach, is an assistant with the Avalanche’s AHL team. Just saying.
But aside from Lamoriello running that curious playbook, who exactly is out there to take over midseason? John Hynes, late of the Nashville Predators and the runner-up for the Rangers job, is available. So is Claude Julien, perhaps. Same for Patrick Roy. If you’re hiring an experienced coach currently out of work, you’re not getting them cheap or short-term. So that’s a 2-3 year commitment without much of a proper search.
I went to see the AHL team in Bridgeport on Saturday - so I missed the latest fun. The fans are all talking about Casey Cizikas - who about an hour ago - seemed to double down on his comments about the fans....telling them to stay home (with regard to the Lou must go chants) And I wish he would have backpedalled a bit. The fan base LOVES Casey. So do I. Heck - he hasn't played in Bridgeport since 2013 and I saw at least five Bridgeport Cizikas jersies at the game on Saturday.
Problem is - there is no answer at Bridgeport for the Isles woes. Not yet anyway.
But a 4th line center ought to keep his trap shut, and the view of the UBS Arena denizens is that the "country club' is coming back together. Guys a little bit too comfortable with their position on the team.
My biggest fear is that this team will finish 9th and be a great 9th place team which means two things...You don't make the playoffs and you don't get an impact draft pick at 15th overall....unless Lou deals it away (again).
Let's see how they are doing on December 5th or so. Barzal just scored 40 seconds into the game ( 1-0 Islanders) so I will keep talking trash so they keep it up.
Away Games at EDM, SEA, VCR, CGY this week will tell a story. Winning cures all ills. But it's getting late early for the Isles....and the reason for pessimism is that almost all their games have been at home. If they go 0-4 - I think Lou has to do something. I am on the fence - but things are not pretty right now in the Isles groups I belong to and the over-reacting is fun to watch at times.
Watching Edmonton vs. the Islanders - just watching the laundry on TV and not associating with both current teams - makes me nostalgic for the 80's and the great rivalry between these teams. I was thinking about making a trip out there to see EDM and CGY - but the schedule maker spread the games out over 6 days instead of the back to back. Maybe next year! I love talking hockey with Canadian fans. We have some great fans here in NY - but a trip out to Western Canada someday is a dream of mine!
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