Jack Capuano has settled into the fact that he is head coach of the New York Islanders. With his daughter back at college and his son heading to prep school, it’s been a family filled, busy summer. “But I’m not going to lie to you. There hasn’t been a day that I didn’t think about the season.”

I asked what sort of preparations he was making for his first NHL training camp as a head coach.

“Well, sometimes you can over think it. But what I did do was spend a lot of time through video on things that in the first half of the season didn’t really go well, and the second half of the season how we executed the way we wanted to play and had success; to try to really get prepared for our coaching staff meetings, our for our meetings with the players; how we are going to build our foundation from day one.”

Technology is a great help in many ways but Jack prefers a more personal approach.

“I try to spend a lot more time in the locker room and on the ice, getting to know the players one-on-one. But I do think that video is a good teaching tool, whether its special teams, five-on-five play or individual plays or face-offs, you can bring these computers down to a lot of categories. I do use it, but the amount of video that I spend with the guys, I try to keep it short and to the point and use it for teaching. There are some things that we need to go over, to learn, but there are a lot of positives that we show on video as well.”

This may not be the first Islanders training camp that Jack Capuano has been a part of, but it will be the first that new Sound Tiger’s head coach Brent Thompson and assistant Eric Boguniecki will be attending. I asked Jack if that would present any special problems or difficult scenarios.

“No not at all. I’ve know Eric Boguniecki for a long time. Bogie played for me so that transition will be quite easy. I got a chance to spend time with Brent. The first thing I did was want to know what HE did, what HIS beliefs, philosophies and systems are and they are more-or-less similar to what we do here on the Island. So it’s going to be quite easy as far as that goes. I think both guys along with Matt Bertani, our video and skills coach, will develop these players right along and they’ll be in great condition and I think they’ll be ready when the time comes when they heed the call.”

Capuano coached the Sound Tigers for four years, I asked if he it was a little difficult to give up control of them to someone else. He smiled.

“You know, you think back when I was there and the players that I coached – a lot of them are here now. So now, through the draft and how Garth and Charles have built our program, it’s a new crop of younger players going there. So they can have the ability to stamp their own guys down there. Matt (Bertani) has been through it since I’ve been there. (He is the longest tenured member of the Sound Tigers coaching staff having been hired in July of 2008.) But I know Eric and Brent will do a good job and I’m excited to have all three guys down there developing our players.”

Along with a new coaching staff for the organization, they have also re-hired strength and conditioning director Sean Donellan. Considering the amount of man games lost these past few seasons, they knew something needed to be done. Donelan, who was with the organization from 1996-2003, will be working with Dr. Robert Leonard to develop a new program for the team which is far different from what they have used in the past.

“I think Sean has a great handle on what we’re trying to do. He’s a great communicator. We will go over on a daily basis what the players are going through, what they need, what my practice demands are, what his demands are going to be. As far as Garrett (Timms) and Jesse (Demers) go, everyone is on board. We’ve had great meetings. I’m excited about our new staff.”

Having someone as skilled as Donelan back in the organization may prove to be a key factor as so many players are returning to the Islanders from injury with extended recovery periods. I asked Jack if that would require any special considerations at camp this year.

“That’s a good point. It does.” He conceded. “I know Andrew MacDonald, had surgery at the end of the year, but at the same time, Andrew played a lot of hockey towards the end of the year. Mark Streit practiced with us towards the end of the season. But if you look at Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau, there are a couple of guys that from December or January didn’t play a whole lot of hockey. But, according to Sean, Garrett and Jesse, the progress is very good. They’re right on track. What I will do is sit down with our staff and our doctors and Garth and try to analyze training camp and how many exhibition games they need to play. So, I don’t micro-manage. I want to get all the information and data that I can and I will take what they give me and utilize it.”

I have been vocal regarding my concern for Mark Streit’s return. I asked if Jack felt there could be any mental issue for Mark with contact and heard an emphatic “Not at all.” I was then given a lesson in the character of Mark Streit.

“I think towards the end, he was getting stronger. Again, I thought Garrett did a great job as far as when to initiate contact. Towards the end, he did get a feel for it. But the one thing about a guy like Mark and his character and his leadership, I don’t worry about that all. I know what he brings to the table. I know how competitive and passionate he is about the game. So, I think that more than anything, he might have a little nerves to start, but I think he’ll be like nothing happened and jump right back in and be one of our top minute guys back there.”

Part 2 to follow

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