Why Islanders fired Nolan
Posted: Tuesday July 15, 2008 05:52AM ET
Ted Nolan fired himself the first week of March when he picked against Rick DiPietro for both ends of a home-and-home series against the Rangers. Forget any and all of the mitigating circumstances existing at the time that might have made backup Wade Dubielewicz the rational choice for either or both of the matches, for the moment the head coach crossed the franchise goaltender, he crossed the line. GM Garth Snow talked again and again about "philosophical differences," in explaining why Nolan was dismissed yesterday after two seasons behind the bench in which the Islanders were much more competitive than they had any right to be. It wasn't a Snow job, there was a conflict between the front office and the head coach on the age-old issue of cultivating kids as opposed to leaning on journeymen veterans, but Nolan's failure to recognize the sway that DiPietro holds within the organization represents the true philosophical divide that got him fired.
Rick DiPietro, Len Redkoles/Getty Images
Comments (37)
Granted DiPietro gave the Isles a fighting chance during seasons when they wouldn't have had a prayer otherwise, Snow is holding him in way too high of regards.
nyr35 | 07/15/08, 08:21 AM
Report Offensive CommentWang = retard, Snow = retard, DiPietro = retard. Wow, this organization really has it going. At least DiPietro can stop a puck or two, but he's overrated imo.
And now there's rumors about Torts going to the Isles? Seriously? Now there's a nice mismatch. He's even more "my way or the highway" than Nolan. Torts is a great coach but he needs a GM and owner that let him run his race. I can't really see that happening with the current hierarchy in Islanders..
Dashiva | 07/15/08, 08:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentThis is why the Isles have s*cked for so long and why that won't change any time soon. The coach makes game decisions, the GM makes personell decisions. Nolan is a good coach. Snow a first time GM. Paleeze!
LetsGoPens | 07/15/08, 08:38 AM
Report Offensive CommentOk kids today's word is dis functional..can you say "dis functional"?
Peter Goezinya | 07/15/08, 08:46 AM
Report Offensive CommentNolan has never learned that you don't cross the guy who hires you. It is almost comical. He tries to undermine the guy that hires him time and again.
Back to the OHL for you, Teddy Bear.
joec | 07/15/08, 09:17 AM
Report Offensive CommentIn pro sports it always comes back to ownership. Wang is a terrible owner, therefore the Isles hire terrible people who perform terribly. Pretty basic.
Capsfan | 07/15/08, 09:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Isles appear to be very very messed up.
TenRingsSTL | 07/15/08, 10:08 AM
Report Offensive CommentSeems the Isles have just been snowballing bad decisions since Ricky boy got that contract.
DurkDiggler | 07/15/08, 10:25 AM
Report Offensive CommentLike those two games would have made any difference (no offense Isles fans)
DP was probably injured too.
OtherOne81 | 07/15/08, 10:30 AM
Report Offensive Comment"Why Islanders fired Nolan"
Why? Because Small Wand is a p*rick! One of the absolute worst owners in the league (I believe top honors still belongs to the Leafs). And the fellow with his nose buried between Small Wang's cheeks is an insecure idiot! That's why!
DCruiser | 07/15/08, 10:41 AM
Report Offensive CommentGood point otherone81, 2 more Ws wouldn't have prevented the ship from sinking, anyway.
Plus, the coach should (almost) always be favored over players. Ted Nolan is not a bad coach, the ownership and management is lousy!
cmh_phx | 07/15/08, 10:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentIs the GM now blaming Nolan getting fired because he didnt play DiPietro when the Isles werent going anywhere? IF the Isles played the Devils all year they'd make the play-offs,but they cant. Something smells fishy here. I cant wait to hear Nolans side of the story.
bostongm | 07/15/08, 11:03 AM
Report Offensive CommentNolan's story will be similar to Mike Smith's story, bgm: the organization is owned and managed by idiots.
DCruiser | 07/15/08, 11:22 AM
Report Offensive CommentWho cares...honestly...its the Islanders...
togocats | 07/15/08, 11:33 AM
Report Offensive CommentMaybe the Isles just want a mouthpiece for the organization. Like the scene at the end of Animal House with Kevin Bacon screaming "don't panic, everything's okay!"
LetsGoPens | 07/15/08, 11:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentHuh... and I thought he slept with Garth Snow's wife. Do you think that Snow straps on those lacrosse pads that he used to play with every day at the office?
The Duke of Awesome | 07/15/08, 11:41 AM
Report Offensive CommentDepietro is OVER RATED and if this is really has anything to do with a goaltender choice the the organization is about as F-ed up as the MN T-wolves. Snow like McHale is beginning to show that just because you could play the game..doesn't mean you know anything about how the game works.....
slapshot27 | 07/15/08, 12:09 PM
Report Offensive CommentI hereby nominate Charles Wang to step behind the Isles bench next season!! Boy, talk about a farce...
rhmf93 | 07/15/08, 12:19 PM
Report Offensive CommentWhy not just hire Snow to coach too? Who would even think about taking this job if the reason Nolan got into crap was not playing DiPietro 2 games.
LetsGoPens | 07/15/08, 12:26 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe irony is that Snow (a backup goalie) was mad about Nolan playing the back up goalie. The Islanders are starting to make Toronto look like a well oiled machine.
DurkDiggler | 07/15/08, 12:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentAdd a comment
Remember to keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed. More Guidelines