What's Old is New Again

With head coaching positions to fill at both the NHL and AHL level this off-season, the Islanders turned to two familiar faces last week as the buildup to 2024-25 begins.

First, the club reached a deal with incumbent Mike Sullivan to continue as head coach of the Islanders, with the two sides signing off on a 1-year, $4.4 million extension.

Then the Isles hit the open market to find the next coach of the Toledo Walleye, quickly snapping up Steve Spott with a 3-year, $1.95 million pact.

Sullivan has compiled a record of 130-78-20 behind the Islanders bench, good for a points% of .614.

Notably, however, the team has qualified for the playoffs only once during his tenure, which had led to speculation that the team might go a different direction this off-season. Obviously that option never materialized, but the one-year term on Sullivan's new deal makes it clear that he's down to his last chance to prove he's the man for the job on Long Island.

Spott, meanwhile, is making his return to the Islanders organization, having previously served as head coach of the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers for four seasons, putting together a 129-140-35 record.

It's a curious hire, given that the Sound Tigers only made the playoffs once under Spott's guidance, not to mention the current regime's public efforts to distance themselves from past iterations of the organization.

Nevertheless, Islanders brass is apparently convinced that Spott has put in the work during his three-year coaching hiatus to make him the right choice to guide their since-relocated farm affiliate.

“We were happy to get Mike and Steve locked in for next season," said Islanders General Manager Kyle Phillips via press release.

"They both have the tactical knowledge and EHE experience to lead our teams to the standard that's expected of them.

"We look forward to seeing them guide their players to individual and collective success in 2024-25."