New York Islanders Mitch Korn Will Be Busy As Director of Goaltending

The New York Islanders hired Mitch Korn as their Director of Goaltending, a position he held under head coach Barry Trotz when the pair were in Washington, winning the Stanley Cup last season with the Capitals.

If there was any team that needed the services of Korn, it’s the New York Islanders. They gave up an NHL-worst 293 goals last season, which is the most given up by any team since the 2006-07 Philadelphia Flyers gave up 297.

While it remains to be seen if the signing of Robin Lehner from Buffalo is an improvement over former New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak. But with the appointment of Korn, it’s clear that the Islanders are going to give him the best chance to succeed.

Here are some reasons why I think Lehner will thrive under Mitch Korn.

Korn’s CV

The New York Islanders must be salivating over Mitch Korn’s resume. He first began coaching in 1991 with the Buffalo Sabres, where he helped mold Dominik Hasek into a four-time Vezina Trophy winner and a one time Hart Trophy winner and Jennings Trophy winner.

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From there, Korn would move on to Nashville in 1998, where he worked closely with current New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz. He oversaw the development of future goaltending stars Thomas Vokoun, Pekka Rinne and journeyman Chris Mason. Rinne’s goals against average never went above a 2.77 while Korn and Trotz were there and his save percentage was never lower than a .902.

Trotz and Korn then moved on to Washington. In 2014-15 they began their careers with the Capitals defeating the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out in a hard fought seven game series with the New York Rangers.

While in Washington, Korn mentored all-star Braden Holtby, winning a single season record-tying 48 games (shared with Martin Brodeur) in 2015-16 and was awarded the Vezina Trophy, something the New York Islanders hope Korn can replicate with them.

Just two short years later, Korn and a Trotz guided the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship over the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.

It wasn’t long after Trotz was named New York Islanders head coach in June that he would try to gain the services of Korn. By now you’ve seen his resume. You know the effect he’s had everywhere he’s gone.

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You’re not in the league as long as Korn is without the success he’s enjoyed. Even though the New York Islanders may not have the sexiest goaltending tandem in Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss, they are in great hands with Mitch Korn directing them.