Islanders Coaching Moves: Richardson to Montreal, Korn incoming?

A few more New York Islanders coaching staff bits to pass on this week: Luke Richardson is definitely out, as on Monday morning he was announced as a new Montreal Canadiens assistant coach on Claude Julien’s staff:

“We undertook a process to select a coach with specific criteria in mind, and after taking the time to meet with several candidates, we’re very happy that Luke accepted to join our group. He has already been told that his role on our staff will be to work with our defensemen,” indicated Canadiens head coach, Claude Julien.

It’s good to see Richardson land a new spot, considering he joined his old friend Doug Weight’s staff with the Islanders just last year, no doubt imagining more than one disappointing year on Long Island. Richardson carries some real credibility in the league coaching ranks, and at one point he was on the radar around the league as a head coaching candidate.

Will he make a difference in Montreal? Did he get a real shot to make an impact with the Isles? It’s hard enough to sort out the influence of head coaches let alone assistant coaches, but it will be interesting to hear what differences there are on the Habs staff.

Meanwhile, some more potentially promising news on the goalie coaching front, as it sounds like an agreement with “goalie whisperer” Mitch Korn is ever closer, as Newsday’s Andrew Gross reports:

Again, the prospect of Korn joining the Isles has been in the air since Trotz was announced as head coach. Their partnership goes back through their time with the Capitals and the Predators.

Last year Korn, who runs many well regarded summer goalie camps across the continent, took on a different title with the Capitals as “director of goaltending,” apparently out of a desire to reduce his travel schedule.

Perhaps that lifestyle factor is a consideration in his talks to join the Isles. Also, organizational fit: Longtime Lou Lamoriello partner Chris Terreri still appears to be in the fold thus far; last summer Terreri was named Goaltending Development Coach and Goalie Coach for their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

However it shakes out, Korn would be a much-welcomed addition.