Islanders Roundtable: Is Capuano Right for the Job?

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Dec 8, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano behind the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Jennifer Lapka

I’ve written all I can write on Capuano in previous editorials and my opinion of him hasn’t changed other than feeling he’s negatively affecting the younger players.

I don’t necessarily know that he has the trust of the players either, when two of the three that left specifically stated that they wanted to see what another coach could do for them.

That’s not necessarily knocking Capuano, but it’s also very diplomatic of them not to call the guy out on the way out. That’s just the kind of people they are. I’d have to look into it but Okposo didn’t have good things to say about everything in general on his way out but that could be sour grapes.

There’s been no change in a futile power play, Nick Leddy and Travis Hamonic continue to play big minutes together with little success while Boychuk is under-utilized. Strome is at a wing after Snow acknowledged it wasn’t the position for him to be successful, and Barzal isn’t getting a fair shake because he can’t play wing.

I don’t think Capuano’s hockey intelligence is big enough to see the big picture and he closes his mind to players far too quickly. As far as replacements go, I stand by Travis Green and Ralph Krueger did a pretty tremendous job with Europe.