BOMBS AWAY!
Last season, especially after the trade deadline, I had capitulated that all was not well between Coach Ted Nolan and GM Garth Snow. There were many instances...some written about (Newsday, blogs, interview gaffes of those involved, etc) and some not too clear. One in particular I brought up was how TSN and other outlets seemed all think that Ted Nolan was going to be toast. That plies that someone is "venting" to the press. Therefore, suddenly the media was being played to put forth their opposing views. Later on, we had Ted Nolan bring up his "lame-duck" status to Newsday's Greg Logan. What it indicated was something under the muddy river of a season of disappointment. It was a warning sign that some sort of struggle was happening. And it wasn't the fetid powerplay, nor the waning offense.
As the mess of the season finally came to a merciful close, it lies still as a question over the summer. Yes most of us got wrapped up in drafts, open houses, free agency.
I knew there was an issue between the two. I cited it in this blog even when both were rolled out at the 2nd Open House to talk about the state of the Isles. Ted and Garth avoided one another until they were called up. Garth stood confidently, like one in control in front of the chairs. Ted positioned himself behind the chair. Some argued that this was not necessarily body language to one another. Could be Ted's being uncomfortable with the crowd. My thought is that he was uncomfortable with EVERYTHING. And what will follow in this blog is why.
I met several Isles brass at various events. I quickly used my access to chase this issue as the Isles shuffled their coach and GM to various events. I was told, plainly, that as far as 'some' people knew, they had not seen a thing between the two that said they did not get along. I did believe that as truth from a few, since not many are there with either day-to-day with the team. Some work more in the Plainview offices. And the rest of the summer, they hoped to sweep it under the carpet as the Isles then made news on differing fronts since.
That sweep quickly had the broom blow away . . .
As Chis Botta, former PR guru and Media Relations VP winds down his blog, which ends July 7th, he launched one final projectile into the fray. He cited several discords and behaviors for our perusal this past July 4th weekend. Volley number one occurred on the eve of July 3rd, as his blog playfully foreshadowed what would occur . . .
"I'll be speaking with Mike Ross and Mick Kern about the NYI. Finally, my dream chance to carve Garth up.
I'm telling you, this could be dangerous. It's one thing to try and be the semi-under-control former Islanders "executive" while writing this blog, but radio? We'll see."
He then proceeded to twirl a knuckleball down many fans gullets in his XM Radio interview instead focusing on one blazing issue that still has not been rectified:
That the relationship between Ted Nolan and Garth Snow is still frayed and that many have soured on Ted especially with some antics in March as the team headed south.
The Isles fans on many websites all were uniformly reminded in one great wave. Some had previously convinced themselves that this issue was just something that was much about nothing or solved. On Friday, the Isles fan collective conscious was snapped back to reality like a wet towel snapped on a bulbous rear-end.
It is not solved. And the rift is far deeper and gone for far longer than most have realized.
Botta followed this up by delving deeper in to the issue
with his blog called
Code Ted over the weekend. In it, he cites that the biggest thing this summer, that somehow has been forgotten by many, is the status of Isles coach Ted Nolan. That the Isles must make a decision on his role. That things have been left quite in the lurch between the coach and management.
In the blog, he lists several issues and instances that bespeaks, at least to me, Ted's unhappiness, burgeoning reluctance and the giant schism with Isles management. It's a great read and I recommend it highly.
And the Botta's blog forced me to move faster on a piece I had planned for later this summer . . .
Down Into The Rabbit Hole
For those who are still in a fog about the whole thing, one large pivot between the coach and GM has to be the multi-million dollar man. No, not Ted DiBiase. (Old School WWF reference warning)
Ted Nolan got tired of the Rick DiPietro coddle-fest. Where an all-star goalie came back from an all-star break clearly injured, and a team management sat idly without ever asking some deep fundamental questions to him as his play regressed. Obviously the coach was concerned and harbored some resentment and was peeved that his star goalie desired AND expected to play every game.
Ted Nolan may not particularly liked the team that Garth Snow left him with from the summer before. Perhaps not liking his forced number 1 center, Mike Comrie, purportedly. And then equally miffed when upon a trade deadline where he was assured that the team would remain mostly intact, is missing a few players, including one close friend. And that center is then signed for another year. Obviously Hillary Duff was happy. But I'm not getting that warm fuzzy feeling from the coach. Meanwhile, he is forced to play players who he feels doesn't even belong playing in the NHL. And get limited minutes because of it.
The trade deadline itself seemed to be the fulcrum that launched the two to be at complete odds, and the sinking thereafter only exacerbated the situation. From what was merely a distant and isolated relationship then turned worse. Kind of like a Christy Brinkley divorce hearing.
But there is a history between the coach and GM even from the last free agency period where Ted was mostly in the dark to the day-to-day. He was told: "Don't worry". And then Alfred E. Snow managed miss every planned move. Then days later, finally those perhaps not even on Garth's board in the first place were targeted.
There is certainly an extreme distance between the management and coach these days, including the draft where Nolan never had any input on Bailey. Both sat on different sides of a table.
During the season, especially towards car-crash of an end, the Islanders coaching staff had no clue on who was even called up or down until they showed up to the morning skate. And is a long list proving a virtual ocean between coaching to the day to day operations of a team. Basically there is no asking nor even informing them of anything.
So there is a fundamental disconnect between coach and GM. Even if we throw away the conjecture, projection, experiences and observations of others & hearsay, we can all see there is something, at least at base. Like an A-Rod marriage.
So, one has to ask the question . . . Why?
Is it inexperience of Garth Snow? Or the impatience and entitlement that Ted Nolan thinks he should get? Or a bit of both? Perhaps the two simply do not like one another?
Whether you've read Botta's blog, read my blog, Newsday or have read messageboards like IslesCountry, HFboards, or Islandersmania....you've also read the countless tales that have hit the media hay.
Dubie getting that second game vs the Rangers, raising those eyebrows of the punchy GM. Lil Ricky getting more time to deal with loss or just an excuse to rest someone overplayed and harboring injury. Someone who was not focused nor at an acceptable level. Yet Garth was a goalie himself and should know when a player is injured and not nearly his best.
Let's look at the entire trail of Ricky's play post all-star game. All these aforementioned issues were shouted by fans. BY FANS. They aren't the coach nor GM. Yet, not a one was surprised when....GASP! Ricky was finally shelved for being....injured. That whole episode still boggles my mind. How could management not see this. Why did a coach finally have to get into a push/shove with the GM to finally make clear that a goalie situation was apparent.
Let's also not forget the last issue between Garth and Ted. Where Dubie is given a disappointing two-way contract after succeeding in the pinch once again. Instead, Snow throws Dubie under a bus about his game-shape and coaching lacked faith at the season's start. Now, Garth, is speaking for Nolan? And, above all, how is that even an appropriate statement for a GM to a regular player?
Nolan, once again, quickly put his foot down on that wasn't the case, leading to Newsday finally getting a deeper sniff of the divide. Meanwhile, Dubie never got a fair deal from Long Island and headed to Russia. Did Dubie reap what the sour relationship sowed? Was he another pivot, and finally taken out between the two purposely by the GM? Was a game played here? Is this whole episode proof positive on how a divide between the GM and coach affects a team?
As Botta says in his own blog, this is not all about Ted Nolan. There is blame to go around. This is certainly the case. Because this is also on Snow, Dey and Wang's feet. Or at least whoever comprises that precious committee that is supposed to be this cohesive unit that is an ingenious addition to hockey business. This committee seems as useful as a hunk of wood. Nobody has made an attempt to bridge this schism of dysfunction and bad feelings between a coach and his GM, and we sail onward towards next season with not one iota resolved.
This is not Botta throwing Nolan under a bus. Nor Garth. This is Botta pinning down a piece that is still not solved, that the Isles were trying hide or at least diffuse perceptions this summer. Instead, this July 4th, Botta dropped a heaping load of reality and observation by a former insider who is not fooled nor swayed. Several of us of the Blog Box tried to chase the story, but with Botta's resignation and subsequent PR confusion, we ended up having to put it on a backburner. After Friday's XM interview, I had to wipe off my own notes and words on the subject that constituted this very blog. Some of which I spoke to several at the draft party about. So several people new what was coming.
Meanwhile, some have reportedly heard from Ted Nolan more than just what Botta cited in his blog to fans of Open Houses or interviews. Words of "whatever THEY decide" are just a tip of the iceberg. According to some, there is far more than simply disassociation going on here.
Some have even said that Ted thinks this year is his last and that Bryan Trottier might be being groomed to replace him to work with this youth movement. And with that youth movement, Nolan is not convinced they have enough to compete currently. Most of all, he is not happy with his "lame duck" status. Ok, of course, nobody likes going on the record with yours truly on all this. But this is not the first time I've heard it. So there it is....just the same. And even if calmer minds and talk have happened since...things are still not well. For the proof is that the Isles have made no extension offer to Ted Nolan.
Either he is the guy or he isn't the guy. Ask yourself this . . .
When is the last time you saw a lame duck coach in the NHL? And if you did, how did that situation go?
Add whit to all this hubbub, Nolan has almost been ham-handed in his handling of media. Most of the time, leaving hounds to smell blood. But, is that by accident? Or perhaps on purpose? Or just indicators of a personal and private war between the two.
No . . . this issue is far from over. No, the Isles might not agree and play nice, shuffling out each both GM and coach, both stiff yet, with a benign visage, to ply that there is nothing to all this. But, the giant abyss of public relations and communication on the Islanders still lies in complete disarray. So, it won't be easy. We are still sitting waiting for official press releases over surgeries this summer. So, don't expect a feel-good tale of both together like Oscar Madison and Felix Unger anytime soon. This Odd Couple needs more than just couples counseling. Something needs to give.
And a question remains directed to the upper management of the NY Islanders. That question is: why haven't they solved this? What is the delay? Is Ted Nolan being plied forward as fallguy to what will likely be a disappointing season on the Island? So he can be removed with little fanfare or criticism to an oft-maligned organization who is afraid to rock the boat? Why does this situation persist and persist?
Is Ted going to be fed to the lions of discontent and frustration as the Isles languish poised for a high draft pick with a poor finish? After all, this team sits with a few 2nd round picks next season. Is Long Island suddenly Cleveland in a Major Leagesque scenario? Or just poorly maintained by a brass and owner who is not quite in touch with how things really are?
OR, somehow will the purported Hatfields and McCoys of hockey come together for a final year that actually surprised everyone by actually succeeding to grow and do well, despite the almost comical disconnect beneath? Hell, anything is possible.
Meanwhile, some have said, they cannot believe that the media that follows the Isles have not leaped onto story with more aplomb last season. That they have never seen a bigger disconnect between GM and coach on any sports team. Yet, nobody seems to seize on this, somehow appeased by the vacuum of no information coming from the organization. This, too, baffles me. But then again, there is only one beat reporter for the Islanders.
So is the Titanic really sinking? Or are some trying to rearrange to lounge chairs on the poop deck? Or perhaps some will say we haven't hit an iceberg at all? Only time will tell of who is right and who is wrong on that little debate. Lots of questions.
Hold on to your hats for the answers.
Meanwhile, nothing will change. It is likely that all will be propped up as fine, and rolled on out next season, saying that they don't know what all the fuss is about. But just wait. All will be revealed once the pressure mounts.
The Bottomline
What is most important to all this is not purported issue between coach and GM. Or even the effort to keep a smiling family friendly face this coming season as the two snarl from each side of Charles-in-Charge. Sure, it might get messy. But tell me this, fellow fans... When has anything gone down gone down easy in Isles Country? Well besides the Isles powerplay, that is.
No, despite the raging typefaces that will emit the emotions, logic and dispositions, there is something more important in all this . . .
What is most important is how a PR guru can, with a wave of his hands over a keyboard, touch off an ongoing debate along the digital ether of vital issues. Someone not dissuaded by the fiction being presented by those company men or women. That Point Blank, his blog, turned into a unique voice of a hockey insider, who is intimately knowledgeable of the inner mechanics that most fans, writers and bloggers only can glean, project or inquire about.
And that curtain is closing tomorrow.
- BD
Join the Discussion:
»