New York Islanders Shake Up Coaching Staff (Report)

Since the New York Islanders removed the interim tag off Doug Weight there have been little talk about who will accompany him on the bench next season, but now it seems that we may have some traction.

Arthur Staple of Newsday reported that the New York Islanders will not be bringing back assistant coach Bob Corkum for the 2017-2018 season.

Corkum had been a part of the Islanders coaching staff for the last three seasons after having worked as an assistant coach at the University of Maine.

The move will leave at least one spot open on the bench and Staple believes the Isles will fill that spot with Luke Richardson. Weight and Richardson were teammates for five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

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After a 21 year NHL career as a player, Richardson joined the Ottawa Senators coaching staff as an assistant under John Paddock. After three years he was named the head coach of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.

Richardson and the Senators agreed to mutually part ways after this past season after it was clear he wasn’t in the running for the Head Coaching job left vacant after Dave Cameron was fired.

Richardson was the 7th overall pick in the 1987 NHL entry draft. He played with the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Flyers, Blue Jackets, Lightning, and Senators.

Richardson’s experience as a player and a coach served him well behind the bench in Binghampton, where he molded the Senators wave of youth prospects like Mark Stone, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Mike Hoffman.

The hope is that his appointment can push the Islanders core of youth players to the next level. It’s certainly something that has been lacking for years with the New York Islanders. They’re still trying to get the best out of Ryan Strome among others.

Young players like Ryan Pulock, Josh Ho-Sang, and Matthew Barzal will almost certainly be with the team next season. Richardson’s coaching experience will help Weight continue to adjust as he goes into his first season as the Islanders head coach.

Next: Doug Weight Wants A Culture Change

This overall seems like a small, but important move by the Islanders to assure that Weight is getting all the help he can get. This is only the beginning of what will certainly be an offseason filled with moves for the New York Islanders.