Islanders Name Toronto’s Piero Greco NHL Goalie Coach

The New York Islanders announced that Piero Greco has been named their new NHL goaltending coach. He follows Lou Lamoriello from Toronto to the Island.

Greco spent the last four seasons as head goaltending coach for the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Marlies have had lots of team success and good goaltending during that time, though it’s hard to separate any individual causes since that has come amid the Leafs investing heavily in all areas of the AHL team.

Regardless, it’s a promotion and new opportunity for Greco, and represents another departure from the staff former Islanders head coach Doug Weight put in place last summer. Fred Brathwaite, Weight’s goalie coach, is the latest departure from that staff to be confirmed, according to Andrew Gross of Newsday.

What about Korn?

As recently as two weeks ago he Islanders had been reportedly in talks with Mitch Korn for a goaltending coaching/advising position of some kind. It’s not yet clear whether Greco’s hiring signifies moving on from those talks, or if Korn might still join in some still-unannounced capacity.

Korn has a long-running relationship with new head coach Barry Trotz that goes back through Trotz’s tenure with the Capitals and with the Nashville Predators. Before last season he changed roles with the Capitals to director of goaltending, a move reportedly meant to reduce his travel and load. So, room for both, or moving on? We’ll know soon enough.

Regardless, add Piero Greco to your vocabulary and post-loss rants.