So Long Ted

In a remarkable turn of events this off season, the New York Islanders and Ted Nolan have decided to part ways. It's interesting and classy that the Isles have adapted the "part ways" philosophy, which allows Nolan to keep some dignity after being removed before his current contract expired. It is also interesting that for the second time in Nolan's coaching career, he has lost a job after crashing heads with his own team's GM.

Ted Nolan did something remarkable in his first year on Long Island--he took a team that was supposed to finish near last in the NHL and led them to a playoff berth. Even though the 2007 playoff run was largely due in part to collapses by Montreal and Toronto, Nolan kept his team close enough to steal the 8th seed if and when Montreal and Toronto faltered. However, the 2007-2008 season was a different story.

The Islanders were strangely inconsistent over the past season. There were times when us fans believed the Isles were capable of beating some of the best teams in the NHL, yet there were plenty more when we believed the Isles couldn't beat the Albany River Rats. Long before injuries claimed the seasons of Mike Silinger and Rick DiPietro, the Isles often disappeared throughout the season. Who can forget the 8-1 shellacking by the Maple Leafs in the first few weeks of the season? Who can forget a power play that failed to adjust over the course of a season after every team in the league sat and waited for Marc-Andre Bergeron's blast from the point? Who can forget all the "rookie mistakes" from all the rookies that led to benchings while similar play from veterans went unpunished? I sure cannot.

It was no secret that Ted Nolan preferred his veterans over his younger players. And it's not all that strange that he did. But when those players failed to perform, the Isles organization clearly felt that it was time to give the Tambellinis, Bergenheims, and Comeaus more of a shot than Nolan had previously given them. And since it appears that Nolan still refused to buy into that philosophy, Garth Snow undoubtedly made the right decision in letting Ted Nolan walk.

Where does this leave the Isles? With one man: John Tortorella. At least that's my pick for the Isles next head coach. Everyone loved to talk about what a good motivator Ted Nolan is, so why not replace him with a coach who is perhaps even more well known for his ability to motivate his players. Tortorella is definitely not the players' coach that Nolan was, but I think that's the right fit for this team. The Isles need a tougher voice in the locker room--someone who will discipline the younger players at such an early juncture in their careers and someone who will not let lackadaisical play from the veterans slip under the radar.

Party on Garth.