Why was Jack Capuano fired? Elliott Friedman says Steven Stamkos is why

The New York Islanders fired head coach Jack Capuano on Tuesday and named Doug Weight interim head coach.

NHL Network Insider Elliott Friedman believes that the firing of Capuano goes all the way back to the summer of 2016, when the Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed Steven Stamkos.

What does Stamkos have to do with this?

Well, Friedman said that obviously Stamkos is a great player, and the Islanders were making a huge push for him in the offseason, which is true. Insider EJ Hradek said that that's why the Islanders didn't push to re-sign Kyle Okposo until the very end when he signed with the Buffalo Sabres.

Friedman said that Stamkos signing with the Lightning created a 'domino effect' for the Islanders since they had planned on signing Stamkos. When he signed with Tampa Bay, the Islanders' plans went all out the window and this 'domino effect' eventually led to Capuano being relieved of his coaching duties on Tuesday.

Hradek said the re-signing of Casey Czikas also was part of the 'domino effect' for the Islanders.

Friedman also said that Capuano has a chance of becoming the first head coach of NHL's new Las Vegas franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, who will play their debut season in 2017-18. Friedman said that they could be looking for a coach, and Capuano could soon be on their radar.

The Islanders, who advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, are 17-17-8, last in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Boston Bruins 4-0 on Monday, in what created a state of wonder for many as Capuano was fired the day after a good performance by the team.

Friedman said that Stamkos had plenty of options, like the Islanders. Toronto was a great option, as Hradek added on that Toronto was a well respected organization, but Stamkos chose Tampa Bay, and that shook up the Islanders plans and created the 'domino effect.'


Capuano had a record of 227-191-64 in 482 games. He has coached the Islanders since Nov. 15, 2010, after Scott Gordon was fired. He had served as an assistant coach with the Islanders in 2005-06 and coached Bridgeport, the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, from 2007-08 until he was promoted.

The Islanders had back-to-back 100-point seasons under Capuano in 2014-15 and 2015-16. They defeated the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round last spring for their first Stanley Cup Playoff series win since 1993.