DALLAS – The temptation for most coaches would be to stick defenseman Chris Campoli into the lineup the moment he returned from his conditioning stint in Bridgeport. After all, Campoli lost his spot in the defensive rotation because of injury and not poor play, and his speed might be especially valuable against a hot team like Dallas tonight.
But Nolan chose to stay with the status quo for at least one more game, meaning a youngster like Bruno Gervais will be rewarded for working as hard to fill the vacancy that was created when Campoli went down with a groin pull. Nolan said Campoli would have to “earn” his way back into the lineup rather than having a spot handed to him.
You have to like the way Nolan establishes standards and a work ethic for his team and then sticks to it. Campoli was the last one off the ice in the skate this morning at American Airlines Center, and you know he’ll be raring to go when he gets the opportunity, most likely, at either Tampa Bay or Florida this weekend.
Although Campoli was sent to Bridgeport to rehab an injury rather than as punishment for poor play, he said it’s impossible not to appreciate what it means to play in the NHL when you have to endure the tough travel conditions in the minors. “You see how tough it is down there and how tough it is to stay up here,” Campoli said. “It makes you realize the work is never done because there’s always somebody there to take your job. It’s a bit of an eye-opener.”
So, he wasn’t about to argue with Nolan’s lineup decision. “He’s the coach, and you respect the decision,” Campoli said. “I’ll just keep working hard and we’ll see what happens.”
When Nolan was hired to coach the Islanders in June, one of the people many players called was Dallas enforcer Matthew Barnaby, who thrived under Nolan when he last coached in the NHL in Buffalo from 1995-97. Had Campoli asked yesterday what to expect from Nolan, Barnaby would have told him: “First and foremost, he’s a very honest person. He wears his heart on his sleeve and gives everything towards hockey. He loves coaching, he loves helping people and he’s a very competitive person by nature, but I think his main attribute is that he’s so honest.
“He’ll do anything to win, and that’s why guys will go through the wall for him. He’s a players’ coach that demands you work hard, but if you work hard, you’re going to be in his good graces. I think he cares about every single player that’s in that room. He gives everyone the same shot. You’re going to fall in and out of graces with him in an 82-game season, but the way he cares about everyone as a person gets them to play that much harder for him.”
It’s a process that takes time, but step by step, you can see the Nolan style starting to take effect with the Islanders. His handling of Campoli’s return is an example of the little things Nolan does that start to add up to create a real team.
BONUS BLOG: I meant to resume the blog yesterday after returning from a few days off, but a long travel day got in the way. It’s just as well because there were some interesting leftovers from this morning’s skate that won’t make it into tomorrow’s game story and notes and are worth sharing.
For instance, Dallas coach Dave Tippett had a great answer when I asked if it’s any more difficult to play great defense like the Stars are doing under the new rules in the NHL. “No, because we do it well within the rules,” Tippett said. “The rules weren’t changed just to allow everybody to skate free. The rules were changed to add honesty to the game, honest hard work.
“We probably have the best player in the game that typifies that in Jere Lehtinen, a three-time Selke winner. His game hasn’t changed because of the rules. He would never hook anybody or hold anybody. He uses work ethic to get the puck back and to check people. In the old days when I played, I was a good checking guy because I could latch on and go for a ride. But now you have to have honest hard work, and if a guy gets a step on you, you have to work to get that advantage back. Not hook him to get that advantage back.”
STORY PREVIEW: For Friday’s Newsday, I’ll be writing about the Islanders’ decision to allow every player the opportunity to bring their father or a mentor along on this four-city trip to Dallas, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Toronto. In all, 15 players invited their father or a mentor, such as Arron Asham’s youth hockey coach, to join them for an inside look at NHL life.
It’s a great idea, so, maybe it was a good omen when I happened to find myself sitting next to one half of one of the greatest father-son sports duos in America yesterday while attempting to send a story to Newsday from the Dallas airport. When I was ready to pack up my equipment and leave, I took a minute to introduce myself to Calvin Hill, the former Yale running back who played for the Cowboys and Redskins. In the past, I covered his son Grant when he was at Duke and in the NBA. Grant Hill is one of the real class acts you could ever meet in sports. I simply congratulated Calvin Hill for being such a good parent. It’s not an easy job, but it’s one worth doing well. Can’t wait to talk to some of the Isles’ fathers and mentors tomorrow.
Comments (30)
hey calvin was never home much. his mom did it all. go shake her hand
Nice entry Greg.
I hope there's lots of coverage for the stars game. Isles looked very good. But the talk shoudl be about DiP. I hope he plays like this at home. It'd be a great story for DiP to tell someday as a champion goalie how booed he was when he first started playing in LI.
Afterall, remember Tino Martinez's reception in the Bronx when he tookover for Donnie Baseball?
I'm looking forward to the father-mentor article.
It seems like a really intriguing idea and I'd like to know how the players and mentors enjoy it.
Great work, Greg.
nolan has a lot to learn about coaching.--why us
This father-mentor thing is a complete rip-off idea stolen straight from the Minnesota Wild. The Wild did the exact same thing on their road trip last week, bringing their fathers along. Why is this not mentioned anywhere by either the Isles or Newsday -- because Newsday drinks the Islanders PR Kool Aid! I'm an Islanders fan, but I can't take this organization seriously anymore. They're a joke in every which way, from the episodes this summer with the sham of a GM search only to fire Neil Smith a month later, then hire Garth Snow within hours, to the DiPietro contract, to the "Ricky" dance with only his American-born teammates after he gets a rare win (see any similarities between his dance and the Jose Reyes, David Wright dance after a Mets win). I can't take this organization anymore. You can see right through it and I don't like what I see.
Mike-
Give credit where credit is due. I'm right with you on some of the criticisms, but as a father, I can say that being a good parent means acknowledging and reinforcing when your kid does something right and not just highlighting what they do wrong. As a fan, I can apply the same principles.
On the father/mentor trip--I don't care if the Isles ripped it off from another team; it's still a great thing to do.
nolan has a lot to learn about coaching, bob? thanks for proving that you are a complete idiot! bob must be a rag fan! thanks for all the laughs bob!
Nolan is doing a great job. To say he didn't assemble this team is only a partial truth. He was on board bringing in Witt, Sillinger, Simon and Poti. I think we'll see a surprising turnaround in Uniondale that will hopefully put a stop to the negative comments from the peanut gallery.
I just want to say that Greg Logan's Islanders coverage has been excellent. I'm really happy that Newsday has come through and provided the readers with timely, insightful coverage by an excellent columnist.
nolan is overmatched.he is very negative.watch him walk his shoulders are always slumped.dump him now while we still have a chance
I agree. The coverage has gotten much better. Lets just hope Newsday keeps it up for the season.
All the naysayers need to stop. The Isles are playing great hockey right now! Im sick of all the negativity towards this franchise right now. Im a season tix holder and I could not be more happy with my team right now. I didnt give up on the mets in the Art Howe era, and Im not giving up on the Isles in the new Snow/Nolan era. Were a good team and LI'ers need to start supporting and appreciating what Wang is trying to do here (even though he may not be the sharpest skate on the ice.)
Mike, you need a chill pill. Who cares who had the idea first? It was nice it was done. Go back to rooting for your Rags.
Newsday? Fathers and Sons and Russian literature? Who cares. Howie Rose mentioned the Isles didn't invent this. What matters is that the Isles were great, won 3-0 against a tough team, and are thus far proving the "experts" wrong on many counts.
"DiP to tell someday as a champion goalie how booed he was when he first started playing in LI.
Afterall, remember Tino Martinez's reception in the Bronx when he tookover for Donnie Baseball?"
That is an absurd statement. DP has been here for 6 years...he is getting booed because he has played horribly, not because he took over the position for a hero.
Your statement is not worthy of an argument. My bad. It is only deserving of harsh ridicule.
"I just want to say that Greg Logan's Islanders coverage has been excellent. I'm really happy that Newsday has come through and provided the readers with timely, insightful coverage by an excellent columnist."
hahahaha!! he is still learning the game.
and mike you have issues man - onyl celebrating with american born players?? you have obviously never played hockey at any level.
Notthatdumb,
Pardon me for not meeting your highly intellectual standards for mirror analogies between contemporary professional sports personalties. I hope you're having a better day than your post seems to indicate.
There's nothing wrong with what I said. Tino was booed, later loved. DiP was booed, perhaps he too shall be later loved. So please come off your high horse and stop trying to insult me via the internet. Comments like yours are better served in person only.
Go Islanders.
P.S. With regard to the Islanders ripping off the father/son idea: It most certainly is in print that they Islanders GOT THE IDEA from Minnesota. I will see if I can find it again and post the link for Mike and hopefully he'll hate the Islanders PR approach less after that.
Mike, what is your problem? "They stole the idea". "The Ricky Dance" Oh, and nice dig on the Mets, what was the point of that? Are you a closet Yankee fan too?. There is nothing wrong with celebrating after a win. I prefer that over no response at all. Hey, the Rangers salute the fans, are they stupid too?
Bob - Nolan has a lot to learn about coaching? What are you talking about? The team is playinggreat since the opening road trip.
DP is in his third full season. He spent the other half in Bridgeport. Stop your booing! If you can't, head to the Garden where the white trash hangs out.
DiP is now in the process of stringing together some excellent performances. Let's keep it up!
One of you asked what my problem is ... My problem is this team is a joke any way you look at it. No I'm not a Rangers fan, I'm an Islanders fan ... or should I say, I used to be an Islanders fan ... Now I'm just a hockey fan in general. Look at what this organization is marketing itself towards -- the non-hockey fan and six-year old children. It doesn't market itself toward the true hockey fan like all of you and myself. My favorite teams were the 1982-83 team, the 1991-92 team and the 2001-02 teams. I'm employed by a well-known organization that the Islanders wouldn't be around without from day 1 to today, I know what I am talking about. This organization is a sh!t show. You guys jump on the bandwagon when they win, jump off when they lose. I will never support this organization the way it's being run right now ... NEVER! Sure I follow them, read these Newsday/Isles PR stories. But that doesn't mean I think that they're on the road to success or that I'm rooting for this joke of project of theirs to work. In fact, I KNOW they're on the road to failure. They're literally run like a circus, with clowns, tight-rope walkers, elephant dung, the works. This franchise is a joke as it's being run right now. Put that entire 2001-02 team back together from Peca to Scatchard to Webb all the way down to Van Impe back together and let's see how much MORE fan support they get. That was a team that everyone was glued and the TRUE Islanders fan couuld fall in love with! To hell with this current team. No playoffs, I guarantee it ... Wow, I'm really going out on a limb with that prediction.
With "fans" like you, who needs you? Enjoy your trips to the City.
I'm employed by a well-known organization that the Islanders wouldn't be around without from day 1 to today, I know what I am talking about.
hahahaha....so you are the guy who fills my coke and gets me a pretzel! thanks buddy!!
He wouldn't know how to press the button that fills the cup.
Hey Ted:
How will Campoli ever "earn" his ice time if you never play him???
He lost out on an injury and now we're going with old retreads????? Let's work in those young guys and forget about saving your NHL coaching career.
I agree Miggsey. This is par for the course with the Isles. How will they ever learn to play in the NHL when they aren't given a chance.
In a league where powerplay specialists and puck moving defensemen are crucial, I don't understand why Campoli should be scratched. Am I missing something? Did he cross the owner, GM or coach? I know that I'm just a frustrated fantasy owner but it doesn't look good for the franchise.
Shooter and Miggsey are right on. Where is Campoli???? Can someone check Ted's cigarette package and see what he's smoking. Never mind your career Ted; play the proven young guys.
Please go here
http://www.petitiononline.com/nhl66/petition
and sign the petition that thousands of other real hockey fans have already signed protesting the new UGLY jerseys
PLEASE RPOST EVERYWHERE HOCKEY FANS MAY READ
Right link
http://www.petitiononline.com/nhl66/petition.html