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3 possible candidates for New York Islanders’ head coaching vacancy

By Brad Berreman

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 02: New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight speaks at a post game press conference after a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at Barclays Center on March 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 02: New York Islanders head coach Doug Weight speaks at a post game press conference after a 6-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at Barclays Center on March 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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With Doug Weight being relieved of his duties, here are three candidates to be the next New York Islanders head coach.

The New York Islanders made a couple big changes on Tuesday, with head coach Doug Weight and general manager Garth Snow being relieved of their duties. The recent hire of Lou Lamoriello as President of Hockey Operations surely put Snow on the hot seat, and Weight only lasted one full season behind the bench. Lamoriello will take over general manager duties, and Snow and Weight will apparently remain with the organization in some capacity.

Snow had been the general manager since 2006, but the team only made the playoffs four times in his tenure with just one postseason series win. The Islanders went 24-12-4 when Weight took over in the middle of the 2016-17 season for Jack Capuano. But a second straight season out of the playoffs this year seems to have finally sealed Snow’s fate, and Weight’s by connection.

Lamoriello now has two big priorities on his agenda. Islanders center John Tavares is the top unrestricted free agent available this offseason, and he was reportedly pleased by the hiring of Lamoriello. Now a search for a new head coach is coming, with re-signing Tavares as an important and critical element in that. Lamoriello has said he doesn’t view the Islanders as a rebuilding job, which should be music to the ears of any proven candidates to replace Weight.

With the NHL draft and free agency coming before we know it, here are three candidates to be the next New York Islanders head coach.

Mandatory Credit: Graig Abel/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Graig Abel/Getty Images /

3. Sheldon Keefe

Keefe has been the head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for the last three seasons, with a 150-63 regular season record (.704 win percentage). The Marlies are in the Calder Cup Final right now, with Game 3 of that best-of-7 series Tuesday against the Texas Stars.

The Marlies are the AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s notable because Lamoriello just left that organization, after nearly three total years as general manager and then as a special advisor, and so he probably has some familiarity with Keefe.

Keefe was a potential candidate for openings with the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars during this year’s primary hiring cycle. The Islanders creating a later than usual opening for their job should work to their benefit, alongside Lamoriello’s presence, if Keefe is ready to make the jump to the NHL as the Marlies’ playoff run winds down.

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