Isles name Gordon new coach

August 12, 2008   ·   Hasan   ·   Jump to comments

After a month-long search to replace the deposed Ted Nolan where speculation centered around big names like previous Cup winners Bob Hartley and John Tortorella, the Islanders surprisingly (or not, depending on your perspective) decided to anoit 45-year old Scott Gordon their next head coach.

Your first question is probably ‘Who?’  Well, Gordon most recently coached at Providence (Boston’s minor league affiliate) for five seasons.  Providence led the AHL in points last season but lost in the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs.  Before that he coached in the ECHL, and in his playing days was a goaltender for Boston College and on the ’92 US Olympic team. 

According to Newsday, GM Garth Snow had a list of eight candidates including the aformentioned Hartley, but settled on the only one without any professional coaching experience.  Snow describes the new coach as being ‘adamant about playing a tight defensive system’.

Perhaps Gordon is the right choice for a young team that is looking to rebuild (again).  Or perhaps the spirit of Mike Milbury is still haunting an organization that’s been rudderless for years.