The New York Islanders have relieved head coach Jack Capuano of his coaching duties, effective immediately, the team announced. Assistant coach Doug Weight will take over on an interim basis.
The Isles have struggled considerably this season, sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference with a 17-17-8 record but are just eight points out of a playoff position. Their struggles are a vast departure from last season where they qualified for the playoffs and made it to the second round.
There was quite a bit of roster turnover during the offseason as the team let long-term mainstays Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin go. Their replacements, Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera, have not yet panned out.
GM Garth Snow released the following statement:
“The New York Islanders would like to thank Jack for his tireless work throughout his seven seasons with the organization as Head Coach. His leadership guided the team to the playoffs in three of the past four years, which included two straight 100-point seasons. He is a great coach and an even better person. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Capuano was the fourth longest-tenured coach in the NHL before his departure as he was behind the bench for 482 games, taking over in November of 2010. He had been with the organization in other coaching capacities since 2005. He sits second in franchise history in games coached as well as wins with 227, only behind Hall Of Fame coach Al Arbour.
As part of the press release, Capuano had the following statement regarding his ouster:
“It’s an honor to have served this historic franchise and its passionate fans. I’d like to thank Garth and our ownership group for the opportunity to be the Head Coach of the Islanders. I’d also like to recognize our coaching staff, training staff and players for all of their hard work.”
As for Weight, this will be his first NHL head coaching opportunity. He has been an assistant with the team since his retirement in May of 2011. The team will not be bringing in anyone from outside the organization to join the staff, Newsday’s Arthur Staple reports (Twitter link).
In a conference call with reporters, Snow noted that the team had decided they wouldn’t be brining Capuano back so they decided to make the move now. He added that they will begin their search for a new full-time head coach immediately and wouldn’t rule out naming that replacement before the end of the season, via NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika (Twitter links).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What about snow hope he’s next
how snow and weight are still employed is beyond me. I hope they clean house!!
How is snow still there
Jack Capuano isn’t the one who chose to let Kyle Okposo, who had great chemistry with Tavares, go. He isn’t the one who elected to not re-sign Franz Nielsen. He isn’t the one who signed Andrew Ladd & Jason Chimera. Garth Snow is. Those poor personnel decisions affected the team. They are the reason the team is struggling. How does Capuano lose his job, but Snow keep his? Snow should have been the first to go. This is all on him
Lol
Garth must go we need Neil smith as our g m and a new coach
It’s an absolute joke for the players to be boarding a train along with the fans after games. That’s triple A stuff and minor leagues. Kate Murray screwed them in the move and Snow couldn’t keep the roster together. Get rid of this poor excuse for a GM, get the get back to where our boys can call HOME and bring in some professionals to run this team. Snow should be held accountable too instead of using JC as a scapegoat. Still no wing for taveras. Remember Moulson, Parenteu, Okposo, This guys over his head.
I can see them firing snow in the offseason and really cleaning house