I tried to really stay away from this topic because I felt it was something everyone was talking about and from day one, I’ve tried to make this site different from all the other Islander blogs out there. Nonetheless, I am happy to see Gordon behind the bench. It was either him or Paul Maurice that could have cut the mustard for me and for two reasons.

I never was a big fan of Marc Crawford, just for the simple fact that I think he was put in good situations and was a by-product of the players he had, especially in Colorado, where anyone could have coached that team to a playoff birth. Then when things looked tough in Los Angeles, he wasn’t nearly as successful, which then sold me on his ability, or in this case, lack there of.

Bob Hartley is very similar in the case that he got a very good Atlanta team to give up on him and the Isles need someone with some marbles, who is going to get them in gear. Someone like Scott Gordon, who will rustle feathers, but with positive intentions and someone who doesn’t put his needs ahead of the team. Someone dedicated to a cause and not a stop before going somewhere else. Gordon already has a good coaching resume, but will cement it on Long Island and will either make or break himself over the next few seasons. That’s something Hartley wasn’t capable of here. If you ask me, he’s already broken.

Plus, he looks way too much like Mike Bossy. It’s kind of scary actually. If you’re ever bored, take a look at the two of them side by side. Twins.

I liked Maurice for the job because of his experience of taking a team with mixed talent and age to the finals a few years ago. He showed a lot of moxie that year with Carolina and I thought he would have been a good fit with the Isles.

However, Gordon got the job and like I said, I don’t think it’s a bad choice at all. Greg Logan also made a great point of acknowledging the fact that, Gordon, Snow and Rick DiPietro are all goaltenders from the same part of the country, which should make the communication factor one that should be very different from last season. Because of that, I don’t expect to see many “eye brow-raising situations” this season.

It’ll be about the development of these kids, rather than on the problems between the coach and GM.

The way it should always be.

Photo by the AHL