Who Could Be the Next Islanders Head Coach?
The New York Islanders shockingly fired head coach Barry Trotz on Monday. Trotz joined the Islanders in June of 2018, immediately after winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals. During his tenure as the Islanders’ coach, Trotz won a Jack Adams Award, won six playoff series (including the five-game play-in series against the Florida Panthers in 2020) and had a total regular season record of 152-102-34.
But the Islanders disappointed this season, and his players potentially were tired of his defense-first system. Thus, Lou Lamoriello ultimately decided he wanted a new head coach moving forward. So, with many different routes to go, here are a handful of coaches that the Islanders can consider.
Former NHL Coaches:
Rick Tocchet: Tocchet is one of the many interesting candidates. While one of the more experienced coaches available, he hasn’t won a lot. He took over the Tampa Bay Lightning job during the 2008-09 season and missed the playoffs. He did the same the following year before the Lightning removed him from the position.
Tocchet became the Arizona Coyotes’ head coach in 2017. Tocchet only made the playoffs once in four years — however, he never had much talent on his roster. His upset victory over the Nashville Predators in the play-in series in the bubble stands out. He parted ways with the Coyotes after the 2020-21 season.
Although his lack of playoff success may not engage Lamoriello, he is a very solid candidate.
John Tortorella: Tortorella is also one of the most experienced coaches available. His first head coaching job came with the New York Rangers way back in 1999 when he was the interim head coach for four games. He soon coached the Lightning for seven years and won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
Then, he coached the Rangers for five years, the Vancouver Canucks for one year and the Columbus Blue Jackets for six years. He was frequently in the postseason.
Last year, Tortorella left the Blue Jackets and became a television analyst on ESPN, so his future as an NHL head coach is uncertain. However, if he wants to return to coaching, he should definitely be a consideration for the Islanders.
Paul Maurice: The Winnipeg Jets are likely to consider the Manitoba-native Trotz as their new head coach. Could the Islanders go after a former Jets’ coach to replace Trotz?
Maurice has coached for a very long time, with his career beginning with the Hartford Whalers. He followed the team to Carolina in 1997, coached for the Toronto Maple Leafs and then returned to the Hurricanes for a few more years. He eventually arrived in Winnipeg in 2013. Maurice had success there, and, like Trotz, not all Jets’ fans were thrilled when Maurice was no longer head coach.
Claude Julien: If the Islanders hire a former head coach, this would be my prediction. Few options other than Julien have a Stanley Cup victory. Lamoriello also hired Julien in 2006 and made him the head coach of the New Jersey Devils for a year. Julien had a dominant 10-year run with the Boston Bruins, including his 2011 Stanley Cup victory, and made the playoffs twice in four years without the most talented roster in Montreal. The Canadiens let him go in 2020, but he is still a talented coach that can succeed with a roster like the Islanders.
Dave Tippett: Although he has never won a Stanley Cup, Tippett has a ton of postseason success under his belt. He took the Dallas Stars to the 2008 Western Conference Final but lost to the eventual Cup-winning Detroit Red Wings, and his Phoenix Coyotes went to the 2012 Western Conference Finals before losing to the eventual Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings.
The Edmonton Oilers were struggling when Tippett was fired in February, and he hadn’t won a playoff series in his first two seasons. It doesn’t help that his replacement, Jay Woodcroft, was much more successful, taking over and winning a series. Still, Tippett is a strong coach with a lot to offer.
Jeremy Colliton: As head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, Colliton’s upset victory over the Oilers in the 2020 bubble was the only high point of his tenure. But despite little experience, Colliton is familiar with the Islanders’ organization. He was a center for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2005 to 2011 and played 57 NHL games with the Islanders.
Mike Babcock: The Toronto Maple Leafs fired Babcock in 2019. However, Babcock called Lamoriello a “friend for life,” and perhaps, Lamoriello may bring his friend to Long Island.
Mike Babcock wishes the Leafs nothing but success going forward 👀 pic.twitter.com/u9QSEdfFtY
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 20, 2019
Joel Quenneville: One of the most legendary coaches of the century, Quenneville’s won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks. He recently coached the Florida Panthers and was 7-0 when he resigned after meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual abuse case. Will Quenneville ever coach again? That is unknown, but the Islanders have an opening, and Quenneville is unemployed.
Assistants and Other Options:
Lane Lambert: Lambert has worked under Trotz in Nashville and Washington before joining Trotz on Long Island. He has familiarity with the roster and can modernize Trotz’s style. Therefore, Lambert could be the guy.
Jim Montgomery: Montgomery became the Stars’ head coach in 2018 and had a strong first season that included a series victory in the postseason. He was fired a season later due to behavioral issues relating to alcohol abuse. He’s been an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues since then, making the playoffs both years. Now, Montgomery may be worthy of another shot at a head coaching job.
Ray Bennett: Between the Kings, Blues and Stars, Bennett has spent the last 20 years becoming one of the most successful assistant coaches in the NHL. Since 2017, he has helped the Colorado Avalanche become one of the NHL’s powerhouses. He’s never been promoted to head coach, but maybe his time is now.
Ulf Samuelsson: The legendary Swedish defenseman has been an assistant for some time now, spending some time with the Coyotes, Rangers, Blackhawks and Panthers. His Panthers have had two of their best seasons in franchise history with Samuelsson behind the bench. Samuelsson is another candidate who has been a proven, strong coach with great potential.
Mike Hastings: The Minnesota State University Mavericks have spent the last 10 years under Hastings as one of the best programs in college hockey. Hastings was also an assistant coach in Beijing this February. Despite no NHL experience, he could be a great NHL coach.
Nate Leaman: Another legendary college coach, Leaman has spent the last 11 years coaching the Providence College Friars. He won the College Championship in 2015, and also coached the United States’ team that won the 2021 World Juniors. Plus, Lamoriello graduated from Providence College in 1963.
Johnny Boychuk: Hey, anything is possible, right?
Brent Thompson: Please, no.
Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others
