Assistant coach Gerard Gallant will not be part of new coach Scott Gordon’s staff after all. The team just announced that Gallant will serve as a “special consultant” to general manager Garth Snow this season.
The move is a sudden one, considering that rookie camp begins Monday in Syosset, and the veterans report a week from today. According to a team official, Gallant’s new duties will include some scouting. In the club’s release, Gallant said: “I’m excited to work with Garth, which at this point in time will allow me to spend more time with my family and even get a chance to watch my son [Jason] play junior hockey.”
The reason for the move is unclear at the moment. Gallant was the top assistant on former coach Ted Nolan’s staff last season and had responsibility for running the power play, which ranked 29th in the NHL. Despite that poor performance, the former Columbus head coach was not blamed by Snow and actually received an opportunity to interview for the job that eventually went to Gordon. His son plays for a second tier junior team in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, where Gallant will be based.
When I interviewed Gordon yesterday for a feature that will run Sunday in Newsday, the new coach gave no indication of any changes in his coaching staff and expressed confidence in his ability to work well with all of Nolan’s holdover assistants, including John Chabot and Dan Lacroix. In fact, Gordon said he knew Gallant previously. At this point, it’s uncertain whether Gordon will add another assistant to replace Gallant so close to training camp, but it would be surprising if the Isles don’t try to add someone with NHL experience.
Comments (17)
Good. This is the first step to Gordon getting his own people in there. I am happy that Gallant remains employeed as I hate to see anyone lose a job. Gallant was an awful PP coach so it is a good thing that they move him into another position. Everybody wins in this situation............Sir William
With Sillinger unlikley to start the regular season this opens a spot at center. Perhaps Walter, or dare I say Bailey (if he sizzles in camp). What does everyone think?
PS I reiterate, do not respond to the trolls. the correspondance here lately has been embarrassing to say the least. several of the regulars here have allowed the rags fans to drag them down to their level. Ignore, ignore ignore.
Ditto Sir William
Now we gotta find a center to replace Silly
Yep, too obvious that Steady posted as LMAO when he used "wee one". He rants about always using his same sign on while he is also "FACTS", "TRUTH", "LMAO" and obviously countless others. Those same handles also post on the Rags blog, but "he would never post on another teams blog, never". Too funny!!!! How he can continue to be taken seriously is hilarious.
The truth is out there Steady my friend and you are a fraud. You rant and rave on here and try to bully but the truth is revealed. You post under different names all the time. So remember the ice and oranges "KT" when you tell us where you're sitting opening night.
Too funny, too funny. See ya Steady, FACTS, TRUTH, LMAO and your other logins. See ya "KT". Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!
I thought Nielsen was signed for this exact reason (Sillinger not ready to play)....
Also, anyone think Garth offered Sillinger a spot on the coaching staff if he would just pony up and call it a career? Will be interesting to see if they replace Gallant with someone with "NHL experience" as Logan put it.
Hope you all have had a great summer, couldn't stand the crap on here of late, but looking forward to this year's roller coaster ride - Wheeeee!
Even with Nielson we still need a fourth center along with Weight and Comrie
Spinner, why wouldn't Park take on that 4th line center role? You gotta imagine it would shake out as:
1st line C: Comrie
2nd line: Weight
3rd line: Nielsen
4th line: Park
You have Bailey waiting in the wings, but unless he shines so brightly and pushes Comrie or Weight, I think Park is the logical choice.
Gallant was not an "awful" special teams coach, he was not being listened to by his coach as the season went on. Remember, earlier in the season when the team was not ravaged by injuries their special teams really werent bad.
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You have Bailey waiting in the wings, but unless he shines so brightly and pushes Comrie or Weight, I think Park is the logical choice.
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Rob Hennigar is also a center waiting in the wings... I think its possible that he gets serious consideration if he has a good camp.
We're going to need a goalie, you watch. I'm not buying that DP will be ready for any significant playing time anytime soon. Two hip surgeries at his young age and he was on crutches during the summer. Hope Mr. Wang took out a good insurance policy on that 15 year contract
Can they find someone who can solve the power-play? Please.
Why would Newsday waste space on preseason Isles crap? Until we have a real team, coverage will be scant.
Since Steady and Alex appear perpetually bored, they should suffice as pathetic entertainment...
Gillies, that does not stop them from doing preseason crap about the hockey version of the "Evil Empire". Oh that's right...they are now owned by the same company...silly me.
Guys, from SI.com. This is ugly and shows what the rest of the league thinks of DP. Can we move him now?????
"New York Islanders
Does Scott Gordon have any experience with working miracles?
It says here that Gordon, the former bench boss of the Providence Bruins and 2008 AHL Coach of the Year, will prove to be an inspired choice to guide the Isles. He knows how to mold young talent, his in-game management skills are highly regarded, and the guys in the room like to play for him. Long term, he's ideally suited to help offset the cartoonish antics of owner Charles Wang and his crazy cronies.
But unless Gordon can tap into some pseudo-divinity, this season's mash-up of hobbling elders, not-ready-for-prime-time players, and prima donnas is the Eastern Conference equivalent of Job. Trials and tribulations lie ahead.
Gordon's biggest challenge will simply be holding it all together while he waits for the team's prospects to develop. Rehabbing the NHL's most flaccid offense with Anaheim flop Doug Weight as the No. 1 pivot is a task akin to feeding a starving multitude with two small gefilte fish and five barley loaves, but ground can be made up on the power play. New QB Mark Streit should help keep the puck moving at least, and rookie Kyle Okposo adds a physical dimension down low that was missing last season.
Gordon's real test may be how he utilizes Rick DiPietro, who has needed hip surgery each of the last two seasons. DiPietro is expected to be healthy by opening night, but there's a specter of fragility that lingers over his crease, one that conflicts with his stated desire to play every night. Given the backup option -- Joey MacDonald -- Gordon may want to grant DiPietro his wish. But with his health history and a personality that tends to be a distraction when he's not working nightly, it'll be a delicate balancing act.
Gordon knows what he signed up for. Here's hoping he's up to the challenge. Flood, fire, plague, pestilence, crop failure and boils surely await."
Yikes, yikes and yikes!!!!! And some of you guys would take DP over Lundqvist?????????
With regards to Silly being out, look for Walter to take the fourth line role, since he's on a two-way contract, so when Silly comes back healthy, they can demote Walter without going through the waiver wire.
Hey "Oh Boy"
What does Muir from SI know about Isles personalities in the locker room? He doesn't follow the team. He was told to rate the Atlantic division and he sucked it up. The only beat writers to follow the Isles is the now Rangers favored Newsday.
Hey "Oh Boy"
What does Muir from SI know about Isles personalities in the locker room? He doesn't follow the team. He was told to rate the Atlantic division and he sucked it up. The only beat writers to follow the Isles is the now Rangers favored Newsday.