Capuano as Jack Adams award candidate?
Islanders coach Jack Capuano, top, talks to his players during the first period against the New Jersey Devils. (Nov. 26, 2010) Credit: AP
Newsday's Arthur Staple thinks he's as deserving as Jacques Lemaire and I tend to agree.
I don't think Capuano will win, but I do believe he'll receive the ultimate nod of recognition: a head coaching contract.
Capuano has taken a downtrodden and dejected team and breathed life into the young squad. Since taking over for Scott Gordon in November, the team has reached .500 with a 22-22-7 record after last night's 4-3 overtime win. It is also entirely feasible that the Islanders could finish with three 30-goal scorers and five hitting the 20-goal benchmark this season.
Pretty remarkable.
Assume that GM Garth Snow has taken notice and will reward Capuano accordingly in the coming months.
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Two other must-reads from Arthur Staple, who is covering practice today:
On the Islanders long memory with Dion Phaneuf/ stance on team toughness and the fine work of goalie coaches Sudsie Maharaj and Mike Dunham this season.
