New York Islanders: 3 head coach candidates to replace Doug Weight

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Here are several candidates the New York Islanders should consider to replace Doug Weight as their head coach

It didn’t take long for New York Islanders President of Hockey Operations Lou Lamoriello to make an impact on the Islanders. On Tuesday, June 5, the Isles announced general manager Garth Snow and head coach Doug Weight have been relieved of their duties. Lamoriello will take over as the general manager.

This is a huge and necessary change for the Islanders. It proves that they’re serious about needing to change the way things are done in the organization. Most importantly, pending how they fill the head coach vacancy, it likely helps the Islanders’ chances of re-signing captain John Tavares.

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The Isles will have to strike quick, as NHL free agency begins in under a month. There’s no way Tavares will sign an extension without knowing who will be at the helm behind the bench. The Islanders can’t afford to botch this hiring. And there are some quality guys available. So let’s take a look at three potential candidates for the Islanders’ head coaching job.

3. Alain Vigneault

The good: You can’t deny Vigneault’s track record of success. He’s taken two teams to the Stanley Cup Finals (Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers). Vigneault is highly respected around the league. Though his methods are questionable at times, he wins games, which is what teams care about.

Vigneault makes sense for a team like the Islanders who want to win now. He’s also familiar with the challenges associated with being a head coach in New York.

The bad: Moving forward, the Islanders are going to have to get more out of their young players. Vigneault has proven this is not his forte. Because of his track record, the Isles will unquestionably be interested in him. That said, Islanders fans should be rooting for their team to stay away from him.

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2. D.J. Smith

Current role: Assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Other notable roles: Oshawa Generals (OHL) head coach (2012-15)

The good: Lou Lamoriello marches to the beat of his own drum. Most front office people prefer veteran head coaches to rookies. Lamoriello hasn’t shied from hiring first-timers in the past.

Re Sheldon Keefe/DJ Smith: Lamoriello hired two first-time NHL head coaches while running the Devils: Brent Sutter and John MacLean.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 5, 2018

Smith has yet to be a head coach at the NHL level. But it’s worth noting he had a lot of success with the Oshawa Generals. They won the championship with him in 2015. So Smith wouldn’t be new to being a head coach.

He also has ties to Lamoriello, having worked with him while with the Leafs. It’s crucial for the head coach and the general manager to work together well. If Lou likes Smith, that’s a significant advantage.

Smith has coached Michael Dal Colle, the Islanders’ 2014 first-round pick. Maybe he can help him improve his game and become a regular NHL player. Smith has also coached Islanders defensive prospect Mitchell Vande Sompel.

The bad: The Islanders have to nail this hiring. Are they willing to take the risk of hiring Smith? Also, it’s worth noting junior hockey success as a coach doesn’t guarantee NHL success. Some coaches are better with kids than adults. It’s worth considering if Smith falls into that category. But his time with the Leafs should help alleviate those concerns.

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1. Either Barry Trotz Or Todd Reirden

The Washington Capitals have a difficult decision to make. On one hand, current head coach Barry Trotz’s contract expires at the end of the Stanley Cup Final. The Caps didn’t extend him after last season and kept him in the dark, so maybe he wants to move on. On the other hand, the Capitals also have Todd Reirden, their associate head coach.

Whichever of the two isn’t coaching the Capitals next season would be a great fit behind the New York Islanders’ bench. Trotz needs no introduction. He’s been in coaching for over 30 seasons. Trotz has coached the Nashville Predators and the Capitals.

Before this postseason, his biggest flaw was never winning the big game. Trotz’s team has erased that concern by advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Along the way, the coach outcoached some darn good coaches, including John Tortorella, Mike Sullivan, and Jonathan Cooper.

Reirden has been an assistant for many years, most notably with the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s highly respected and the Caps have repeatedly refused to let teams interview him. This suggests the Capitals see Reirden as Trotz’s replacement.

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It’s hard to guess what will happen. Maybe Trotz is ready to move on. If he is, the Islanders should give him a call. But if Trotz stays, they should give Reirden a call. Because if Trotz is staying around, Reirden might get tired of waiting and resign.

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