Nothing funny about what's going on in Uniondale
The old sitcom 'Gilligan's Island' had two lead characters that gained laughs through slapstick comedy. But what's been happening with the New York Islanders of late is not amusing. Charles Wang can be playing the part of Alan Hale's 'Skipper,' and Mike Milbury may remind us of 'Gilligan,' the character made famous by Bob Denver. But the laughs are on themselves.
That program had its seven castaways. The Islanders were one short. Prior to the recent events, there were six people running the show. Wang, Milbury, Ted Nolan, Neil Smith, Bryan Trottier and Pat LaFontaine. Milbury was moved from the General Manager seat and reassigned within the organization. Wang hired Nolan as his head coach and then Smith as the new GM. That was the first 'head scratcher.' What usually takes place is the GM is brought in and he picks the coach. Especially someone with credentials like Smith. Please remember that he built the 1994 Stanley Cup champion New York Rangers.
The same press conference on June 8th announcing Nolan and Smith's hiring also had LaFontaine being named senior advisor. But, lo and behold, barely a month later a shake-up has taken place. Smith was fired by Wang and LaFontaine handed in his resignation following that announcement.
Smith apparently had reservations about the front office flow chart and expressed such to Wang in meetings over the past few weeks. Wanting to correct a mistake, Wang decided to go in a different direction. The newest GM is the former back-up goalie, Garth Snow, who immediately announced his retirement and switches from the locker room to the front office. Strange move, to say the least.
LaFontaine must have come to the conclusion that he didn't want to have his name associated with all this transition and instead became part of the confusing changes.
Wang has made attempts to right the ship since he has been here, but the majority of his moves have backfired. This entire fiasco has not helped him in any way and it will be a long time before it goes away. Free agents and current Islanders have to think long and hard before signing long term deals to play on Long Island.
So what is left of the ashes from the fallout? Milbury is still part of the organization, a rookie GM is allegedly in charge, and the glory days of the Islanders dynasty seems like ice ages ago.