Dear Coach Capuano

Dear Coach Capuano,

My name is Joe and I am a fan of the New York Islanders from way back. 

During my time as a fan, Ive been both fortunate, and cursed. 

When I was much younger, I was fortunate enough to witness an Islanders Dynasty bulit by Bill Torrey, overseen and nurtured by Al Arbour.  I watched the likes of players like Billy Smith and Mike Bossy aspire to greatness and bring pride to the Isles crest.  I watched a group of young men become a team, and then become four time champions.

I have also endured the Mike Milbury era where I experienced losing, terrible trades and the fishermen jersey that helped Ranger fans develop another chant aside from "Potvin sucks."  During that period, the Isles had many players, some good and some not so good file through a decade or so of embarrassing hockey to the fans of Long Island's team.

But I digress.  My reason for writing to you today sir is to ask a favor.  I know you have worked hard to get where you are.  A successful college career at the University of Maine and some nice accomplishments in the AHL and IHL before being named head coach in the ECHL and later added GM responibilities until that organization folded.  After that, you signed on with the Islanders as an assistant coach under Scott Gordon.  After he was fired and the Isles finished well out of the playoffs, the organization thought enough of you to keep you on as an assistant, and later as head coach for their AHL affiliate, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, going 133-100-8-14.  In 2010, Garth Snow named you interim head coach of the New York Islanders.

Since you were named interim head coach in the 2010-11 season, the Islanders finished 26-29-10, and in the 2011-12 season, they finished 34-37-11.  The team failed to make the playoffs and finished near the bottom of the league in both seasons.  I am aware of the budgetary constraints that some say were on the team until a new arena could be secured on the horizon and that your GM, Garth Snow had difficulty attracting high level free agents.  It was a challenge to get the most out of a little and compete with a young, but skilled team.  Since the Isles are rebuilding, most fans gave you and the organization some leeway.

In this, the lock-out shortened (2012-) 2013 season, the Islanders are currently 11-12-3 with 25 points.  That ranks them 22 out of 30 teams, but also means they are 10th in the eastern conference, just 3 points out of eighth position.  Now looking back, that's a reasonable position for this young Isles team to be in after the halfway point of the season.  I think Garth Snow has done a pretty good job with assembling a roster of good picks, serviceable vets and decent waiver pick ups that have had some success in games this season.  There have been some huge wins, strong comebacks and individual milestones reached.  Please accept my thanks for what positive things you have been able to help the team accomplish and contribute as coach.

While the Isles are ranked 9th in goals for with 2.88 per game, they are 29th in goals against, with an abysmal 3.38 allowed per game.  Special teams are pretty good, with their PP unit ranked 7th at 23% and PK unit ranked 17th at 80.2%.  John Tavares is ranked 10th in the NHL with 29pts and Matt Moulson is ranked 13th with 27 pts in 26 games played.  However, of all the league leaders, Tavares and Moulson have the worst plus/minus rating at -8.  This is where I am going with my letter to you.

As the head coach, you are supposed to provide the leadership and are the man in charge when it comes to team preparation and execution.  Your New York Islanders are very inconsistent. As a matter of fact, they seem unable to find consistency in their overall game.  Its almost like they forget or lose focus on the task at hand during the game.  This is troubling because I think that with consistent direction, honest efforts, an efficiently working D and when more than just the top lines are contributing regularly, the Isles could make the 4th of 5th spot in the playoff picture instead of the 8th.  Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible with you as their head coach.

You have shown me an inability to modify a game plan as the game and/or score spirals out of control.  You have not been able to get a handle on your locker room.  Your superstar center, John Tavares has exploded in frustration as the team shows a constant inability to evolve.  This was most evident when he sat alone, on the bench after the game vs. the Hurricanes on February 11th.  I know that Mr. Snow has J.T. signed until 2017, but I would hate to see him frustrated to the poit that he asks for a trade.  He is our franchise player and a way for the team to return to respectability.

Turnovers and uninspired play or "passengers," as you call them are examples of bad traits that reveal themselves game in and game out.  What is even more disconcerting is when you admit in post game interviews that you "have no idea," what must be done to fix it.  Seriously?  How about you connect with your players.  Talk with your vets, get to know your prospects and take a general interest in the pulse and personality of your team.  There will be times you must motivate them and there will be other times you must settle them down and keep them focused on whats going on.  I think you have failed with each and every point I have made in this letter quite often in games this season. 

I think a change is needed to help the Islanders take their next step.  I think that "change" is an experienced and successful NHL level coach who has wisdom to enact all the things I have mentioned when they are needed.

That coach doesn't leave goaltenders in net who aren't getting team defensive support or might be off their game to be peppered and humilaited.  That coach doesn't take time outs at foolish points in a game or pull a goalie with too much time remaining.

My point in this letter isn't personal.  Its more of an overwhelming frustration that Islanders fans have endured for far too long.  When we watch the current team struggle to maintain their proficient play, we get angry.  When we watch them continuiously meltdown or fail on maintaining a necessary compete level, strong team defense, protection in their own zone, bring physical play, fore or back check, we see a pattern of complacenecy that leads to a losing culture. 

That is unacceptable to us.  Since you will most likely not be fired by Garth Snow, please consider what is good for the team, the fans and the organization.

The fans deserve the best chance available for the Isles to win.  If your best answer is that you have no idea how to correct what is wrong with this team, please stop leading it. 

Step down and help us go in a different direction.

Thanks,

Joe Bondi

Fan

Isles Notes:

Today's lines:  Moulson-Tavares-Boyes, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo, Joensuu-Aucoin-Ullstrom, Boulton-Reasoner-Cizikas.

Defensive Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Hickey-Visnovsky, Martinek-Streit, Finley-Carkner.

Matt Martin & in McDonald are not on the ice for practice.

Jesse Joensuu and Matt Carkner are travelling with the team to Florida.

**

On Monday, March 11th, the New York Islanders "returned" F, David Ullstrom to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  In 19 games, Ullstrom has 2 and 3 for 5 pts and a -2 rating with 1 game winning goal.

On March 12th, Michael Grabner has a shoulder injury he suffered during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  He has been placed on IR retroactive to March 10.

On March 12th, Jesse Joensuu was on the ice for Isles practice at Iceworks.

Forwards:  Moulson-Tavares-Boyes, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo, Joensuu-Reasoner-Aucoin, Martin-Cizikas-Boulton

Defensive Pairings:  MacDonald-Hamonic, Hickey-Visnovsky, Martinek-Streit, Finley-Carkner.

David Ullstrom scores the game-winner for the BST on the power play!! Final score in OT, 3-2 Sound Tigers!


On March 13th, the New York Islanders recalled F, David Ullstrom.

 **

Per Neil Best, Islanders finished last season averaging 0.21 percent of new york area homes. This season they are averaging 0.47, up 124 percent.

Per Chris Peters, " Austin Czarnik, Anders Lee (NYI), Riley Barber (WSH), Jacob Trouba (WPG), Danny DeKeyser & Brady Hjelle named 1st team All-CCHA."

Per @coreypronman:  In OHL East Conf. coaches poll Isles Strome named best stick handler, best passer, smartest player & best shootout player.

Per New York Newsday, "Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano wants to turn Nassau Coliseum into a scaled-down arena with 8,000 to 12,000 seats for family shows, concerts and minor league sports."

Mangano released the plan Tuesday in a request for proposals to firms to redevelop and operate the Coliseum and is expected to unveil it formally during his State of the County address Wednesday night."

Bruce Ratner will bid on Nassau Coliseum per a Post article.  Based on our review of the arena and the marketplace, we believe that the [Coliseum] can be a viable entertainment venue" per Ratner.

Keep in mind if Ratner does win the bid for the Colisieum, it is possible that the Isles would probably be more able to break their lease and play in the Barclay's Center.

Sound Tigers Notes:

Sound Tigers...WIN!! David Ullstrom on the doorstep open net with the game-winner on the power play!! Final score in OT, 3-2 Sound Tigers!

Player News: The Sound Tigers & forward Chad Costello have signed a mutual release agreement, releasing Costello from his AHL contract.