The deliberate makeover of the Islanders’ AHL outfit took a needed step ahead Monday as Rocky Thompson was named head coach in Bridgeport.
The 47-year-old Thompson spent the final 5 seasons within the NHL, three as an assistant coach for the Flyers and two as an affiliate coach for the Sharks.
Previous to that, Thompson was a head coach with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, successful a championship with the latter and reaching the Calder Cup Closing with the previous.
The Islanders are in determined want of a turnaround with their minor league membership, the place the complete teaching employees was let go after an embarrassing 15-50-4-3 report this season that included simply 4 wins at dwelling.
After former GM Lou Lamoriello traded away first-round picks in 4 consecutive drafts, the tradition and the usual at Bridgeport have been allowed to atrophy.
Now, the Islanders maintain the highest choose on this week’s draft and produce other rising prospects in Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson and Isaiah George.
Whereas it’s potential — if unlikely — that none of these 4 begin subsequent season in Bridgeport, the scenario can’t be ignored any longer.
“I believe in developing in a winning environment [in the AHL],” new GM Mathieu Darche mentioned at his introductory press convention. “It doesn’t imply you’re gonna win yearly. The AHL’s one of many hardest locations to teach as a result of you will have your accidents, you will have the NHL accidents, there’s varied elements, groups commerce draft picks, you don’t have as many prospects.
“I believe in developing and winning. The AHL will definitely be a focus for me. Your players have to be ready cause let’s face it, every team needs players called up during the year.”
