Potential candidates for Islanders to replace Barry Trotz
Assistant coach Lane Lambert of the New York Islanders behind the bench during the first period on Feb. 10, 2019. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello is famously secretive about his hiring process. But here are some potential candidates to succeed Barry Trotz as coach (listed alphabetically):
Mike Babcock
Has been out of coaching since the Maple Leafs fired him in 2019. He worked under Lamoriello in Toronto and has called him “a friend for life.”
Pete DeBoer
DeBoer is still the Vegas coach, but he and Lamoriello have remained close even though Lamoriello fired him as the Devils’ coach the day after Christmas in 2014.
Claude Julien
Lamoriello fired Julien in 2007 — and went behind the bench himself — despite the Devils being in first place with a week to go in the season. Julien won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
Lane Lambert
The presumed favorite after being Trotz’s top lieutenant with the Islanders and a member of Trotz’s staff since 2011 in both Nashville and Washington.
Paul Maurice
Maurice has a sterling reputation after coaching 1,685 games for three franchises starting in 1995. He resigned from the Jets early this season, saying the team needed a new voice. That’s exactly what Lamoriello said he is seeking.
Adam Oates
Oates has not had a head coaching job since the Capitals let him go after a season-plus in 2014 (to be succeeded by Trotz). He then spent a half season co-coaching the Devils with Lamoriello and Scott Stevens after DeBoer was fired.
Joel Quenneville
A three-time Cup winner with Chicago whose 969 wins are second only to Scotty Bowman’s 1,244. Quenneville was forced to resign from the Panthers in October for his role in Chicago’s sex assault scandal involving video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. Quenneville must apply to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for reinstatement.
David Quinn
The former Rangers coach — he was hired because of his ability to relate to younger players — coached Team USA in the Olympics and will do so again at this month’s World Championships in Finland.
Scott Stevens
A longtime Lamoriello favorite whose last bench job as a Wild assistant coach ended in 2017.
Brent Thompson
Thompson, currently coaching Bridgeport in the AHL playoffs, first took over as the Islanders’ top minor-league coach in 2011, a job he’s held since except for a stint as an Islanders assistant from 2012-14.
Dave Tippett
Tippett has coached four franchises since 2002 and was fired as Oilers’ bench boss earlier this season.
John Tortorella
The former Rangers coach was out of the NHL this season after six seasons with the Blue Jackets, where he tempered his volatile personality.
Alain Vigneault
Another former Rangers coach who was fired earlier this season after the Flyers’ slow start.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
