New York Islanders: Doug Weight’s Time May Be Running Out

The New York Islanders have simply too much talent on their roster not to make the 2018 NHL postseason. If they fail to make the playoffs this year, head coach Doug Weight could be out of a job.

No one questions Doug Weight‘s motivational skills as head coach of the New York Islanders. He is only a handful of years removed from being an NHL player himself. Isles players, especially the younger ones, listen to his words as if they were gospel. Weight’s earned their trust, and rightfully so.

Amidst a tumultuous season marred by injuries and underachievement, the New York Islanders are miraculously still in the hunt for a wild-card berth in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Even after embarrassing back-to-back losses to the Florida Panthers at home and the Maple Leafs in Toronto, the Isles are still very much alive.

The first quarter of the season was all peaches-and-cream for the Isles. Everyone on the team was productive, and even more importantly, nearly the entire roster was healthy. Then Islanders players started dropping like flies.

New York Islanders Free-Fall From Grace

As fans, we’d like to fast-forward through all of December and January. Except for a stringing together a few wins here and there, any head-start the New York Islanders afforded themselves with their hot start was all but negated by an awful two-month stretch.

As the calendar turns to February, the New York Islanders are faced with an uphill battle. If that battle is lost, Doug Weight could be the one who takes the fall.

If the Isles can’t even get themselves fired up for a game when they’re just a point out of a playoff spot, the blame falls directly on Weight’s shoulders.

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At least Doug Weight’s been open to change in the face of mounting injuries and very poor play. Weight, as well as everyone else who follows the Isles, knows a roster shake-up is desperately needed.

As evidenced by his choice to stick with Anthony Beauvillier on the second line when Andrew Ladd returned last night, he’s still got a good feel for this team and what it needs to succeed.

Will Doug Weight remain at the helm for the New York Islanders?

Unfortunately, New York is a “what have you done for me lately” town. Other than the seemingly impervious Garth Snow, if you don’t win in New York, you’re outta here.

No one, including myself, wants to see Doug Weight be the one to take the fall for an underachieving group of New York Islanders players.

Considering the amount of adversity this team has faced this season, it’s unbelievable that the Islanders are still in the hunt for a postseason berth. A lot of the credit for the Islanders resiliency should go to Doug Weight.

Next: Time For Isles to Recall Josh Ho-Sang

Indulge me, if you will. If the New York Islanders miss the playoffs this season it’s more-than-possible Doug Weight will lose his job. But if the Islanders make the playoffs, will he get anything more than a write-up in the New York Post for the job he did keeping this team afloat?

Probably not. That seems like a double-standard to me. Let’s Go Islanders.