New York Islanders Coach Jack Capuano Fired; Doug Weight Named Interim

The New York Islanders have fired — “relieved of his duties,” in the parlance of our times — head coach Jack Capuano.

Doug Weight, assistant coach and assistant general manager, has been named to take over interim duties.

In a bit of rarity for announcements like this — coming off of Monday’s 4-0 win in Boston no less — the announcement includes quotes from both the general manager Garth Snow and the now-departing coach:

"It's an honor to have served this historic franchise and its passionate fans," Capuano said. "I'd like to thank Garth and our ownership group for the opportunity to be the Head Coach of the Islanders. I'd also like to recognize our coaching staff, training staff and players for all of their hard work."

Obviously, the relationship between Snow and Capuano is a long-running one. You get the feeling Snow never wanted to have to do this. Conditions have changed over the last year, with both under pressure in a disappointing follow-up to last spring’s playoffs, where the Islanders finally won a playoff series for the first time in 23 years.

Capuano and forgiving fans will always have that and other marks — Capuano leaves as the second-winningest and -tenured coach in franchise history — to remember his Islanders tenure by. He was coach since Nov. 15, 2010, when he took over for Scott Gordon on an interim basis, receiving the permanent (haha, no coaching gig is permanent) tag at the end of that season.

For now, a new chapter beckons. Snow will still be under pressure to reverse this season’s decline, with team ownership reportedly canvasing the league and looking to add a team president-type of overseer. The interim coach is part of the management that has seen them get to this point, so...expect more changes between now and summer with the pressure high.

More to come as this develops further.