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Post by BadCompany on Jul 18, 2006 14:43:24 GMT -5
Hired Neil Smith as GM a month ago, fired him today, and replaced him with... Garth Snow, the team's backup goalie...
(yes, yes, they say it was the owner who did it all, but it has to be Milbury)
I guess if Gainey doesn't work out, we can always replace him with Abby...
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Post by franko on Jul 18, 2006 15:00:17 GMT -5
Over the last three weeks, Smith worked to make quick improvements to the Islanders lineup by adding free agent forwards Chris Simon, Mike Sillinger, and Andy Hilbert, as well as defencemen Brendan Witt and Tom Poti. TSN/CPWell, there you have it . . . improvements on the Islanders? Can't have that, now,c an we. Must be a nightmare for the Isles' fans . . . every day they wake up and Mad Mike is still around. Sort of like SInden and the Bruins.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 18, 2006 15:24:43 GMT -5
Wang and Milbury deserve each other...unfortunately the players and fans deserve better.
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Post by Andrew on Jul 18, 2006 15:28:38 GMT -5
It sounds like it was the owner Charles Wang's decision. The article makes little mention of Milbury and has no comment from him. I wouldn't be surprised to see Milbury step down if this is the case.
Regardless, what a dumb move. Smith put together the 94 Rangers team. Snow has no front office experience, and probably little or no education. Enthusiasm isn't enough to make a good GM.
Sad for the Isles and their fans. Funny for everyone else. Maybe the Leafs'll give Healy the reins in Toronto after JFJ.
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 18, 2006 15:37:14 GMT -5
What the hell is going on down there?
Smith out, Snow in as Islanders' GM
18/07/2006 3:54:28 PM
Slightly more than a month after he was hired, Neil Smith has been fired as general manager of the New York Islanders.
CBC Sports
And the man replacing him is just months removed from donning a blocker and trapper with the Islanders last season.
Goaltender Garth Snow was named Islanders' GM in a surprise move on Tuesday. The 36-year-old veteran, who played 20 games with the club last year, has no previous management experience. He has retired to take the job.
Smith, 52, was hired as GM on June 8, along with new head coach Ted Nolan. Smith replaced longtime Islanders GM Mike Milbury, who became vice-president of owner Charles Wang's sports properties.
Free-agent signings
Smith had been active in the free-agent market this month, signing standout defencemen Brendan Witt and Tom Poti as well as free-agent forwards Chris Simon, Mike Sillinger and Andy Hilbert.
Smith was GM of the New York Rangers from 1989 to 2000 and built the 1994 squad, captained by Mark Messier, that captured the Stanley Cup for the first time in 54 years.
Drafted as defenceman
He was fired by the Rangers after the 1999-2000 season and most recently worked as a hockey analyst for the Outdoor Life Network, which broadcasts NHL games in the United States.
Smith, by coincidence, was drafted as a defenceman by the Islanders (204th overall in 1974), but never played in the NHL. After several seasons in the minor leagues, he was hired by the Islanders as a pro scout.
When he was hired as GM in early June, Smith was happy to be returning to his roots.
"I'm thrilled to be back home again where I started," he said at the time.
Smith also spent time as a scout with the Detroit Red Wings.
with files from the Canadian Press
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Post by franko on Jul 18, 2006 15:51:48 GMT -5
I'm still checking my calendar . . . it isn't April 1 already, is it?
It's like Bill Murray's Groundhog Day for Isles' fans -- an ongoing April Fool's Day.
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 18, 2006 17:28:05 GMT -5
Are there any coveted young defensemen in their system that can be had for a young superstar forward in the making?
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 18, 2006 18:34:08 GMT -5
It sounds like it was the owner Charles Wang's decision. The article makes little mention of Milbury and has no comment from him. I wouldn't be surprised to see Milbury step down if this is the case. Regardless, what a dumb move. Smith put together the 94 Rangers team. Snow has no front office experience, and probably little or no education. Enthusiasm isn't enough to make a good GM. Sad for the Isles and their fans. Funny for everyone else. Maybe the Leafs'll give Healy the reins in Toronto after JFJ. It makes no sense. I can only think that they first offered the position to Rejean Gump and he turned them down. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jul 18, 2006 18:48:35 GMT -5
Are there any coveted young defensemen in their system that can be had for a young superstar forward in the making? Funny thing is...which of Wang, Mad Mike or Snow would be taking that call and making that decision? What the heck does Snow know about player assessment, he was likely getting ready to hit the gym to gear up for some practice shots shortly. Yikes. |
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Post by jkr on Jul 18, 2006 18:57:56 GMT -5
Regardless, what a dumb move. Smith put together the 94 Rangers team. Snow has no front office experience, and probably little or no education. Enthusiasm isn't enough to make a good GM. . Should we tell Isles fans about Rejean Houle & how well that worked out.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2006 19:07:32 GMT -5
40 days! Just over a month! This type of move is just unfair. If I'm Neil Smith, I'm pissed.
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Post by seventeen on Jul 18, 2006 19:11:46 GMT -5
Who cares?...get on the phone and lets fleece them. Garth Snow? The experienced one. Can't wait to see him throw a tantrum during a game.
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Post by PTH on Jul 18, 2006 22:22:45 GMT -5
Holy cow.
I'm guessing that Neil Smith had some "orders" for the summer, and he didn't respect them, he was too busy trying to actually improve his team.
But according to different media outlets, it's not clear if Smith resigned or was fired or what exactly. I'd guess that Smith realised he was going to have Milbury looking over his shoulder all the time, and he wanted out, and Milbury wanted someone he could influence.
Garth Snow ? He might be ready to become assistant coach or scout or something, but no player is ready to become GM right off the bat...
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Post by Cranky on Jul 18, 2006 22:39:31 GMT -5
Well.....
I met some very powerful man running mutlibillion dollar coorporations. As much as we like to put our GM and company on a pedestal, they are shoe-shine boys next to those guys.
Garth Snow? Fleece him while we can.
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Post by Roggy on Jul 18, 2006 22:46:57 GMT -5
No one has mentioned LaFontaine bailing out as well, handed in his resignation after the press conference.
Snow's salary for the next two years (750K) counts towards the cap due to him signing the contract after turning 35. Saw some Islanders fans hoping Yashin retires to take LaFontaine's job so they can dump his salary.
Trivia: The only other two people to jump to GM duties after playing the previous season? Serge Savard and Bobby Clarke. Garth Snow is in pretty good company.
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Post by MC Habber on Jul 18, 2006 23:26:56 GMT -5
No one has mentioned LaFontaine bailing out as well, handed in his resignation after the press conference. Maybe he figured he was next. I certainly wouldn't want to work for a guy as looney as Wang. |
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Post by Polarice on Jul 19, 2006 6:07:06 GMT -5
The only reason Snow got hired to be the new GM, was because nobody else would have taken the job under those conditions.
Could you imagine that happening to some like Pat Quinn!!
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Post by jkr on Jul 19, 2006 7:00:24 GMT -5
No one has mentioned LaFontaine bailing out as well, handed in his resignation after the press conference. Lafontaine's resignation says a lot. I always thought he was a very classy individual. If he bails out then you know it's a mess in Long Island. |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 19, 2006 12:50:29 GMT -5
After two days, Charles Wang just fired Garth Snow and Hired Connie Chung as the new co-GM.
Wang-Chung.
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 19, 2006 12:57:55 GMT -5
After two days, Charles Wang just fired Garth Snow and Hired Connie Chung as the new co-GM. Wang-Chung. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...rimshot! |
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Post by Skilly on Jul 19, 2006 15:43:31 GMT -5
I read an article today written by Ira Podell of the Associated press that suggests that the reason Wang (not Milbury) fired Neil Smith was over the hiring of an equipment manager.
Apparently, Wang has it set up so that everybody in the front office staff reports directly to him and they have very specific job duties. Smith didnt like that set up, and was perturded when he found out that the hiring of the equipment manager was in fact Ted Nolan's job. As GM of the Isles your only duties are making trades, scouting and contracts (Wang's words) .... but everyone reports directly to him.
I am starting to think it wasn't Milbury as these years at all....
*All around the Milbury bush, Neil chased the Teddy ... pop goes Charles Wang!!*
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Post by Forum Ghost on Jul 20, 2006 16:49:36 GMT -5
I really, really feel sorry for Isles fans.
With the hiring of Smith, it seemed as though there was finally light at the end of the tunnel but after only a month, they are once again left in darkness.
I couldn't stop laughing when I heard that Garth Snow was taking over from Smith. And the hug that he gave Wang at the press conference was a moment to remember. They should've played it in slow motion while singing "Why do birds suddenly appear"...
Long Island is a mess. There are 29 teams looking to fleece Garth Snow. I would hate to be in his shoes.
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Post by Skilly on Jul 20, 2006 22:18:00 GMT -5
Did anyone else see Daryl Sutter introducing his newest acquisitions to the Calgary media today?? He presented Jamie McClennan with his jersey turned to the media and said "And in case anyone is wondering Jamie is not the new GM" .... CLASSIC ;D
Even other GMs think it is a joke .... they will all be lining up at the NYI door rubbing their hands .... gimme gimme gimme
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Post by cigarviper on Jul 21, 2006 9:43:46 GMT -5
To add to the mess, it seems it's possible that the signing of Witt, Simon, Sillinger and others by Neil Smith could be withdrawn because Smith didn't sign his GM contract. Stay tuned.
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Post by franko on Jul 21, 2006 9:52:04 GMT -5
To add to the mess, it seems it's possible that the signing of Witt, Simon, Sillinger and others by Neil Smith could be withdrawn because Smith didn't sign his GM contract. Stay tuned. Does this mean Wang is off the hook for his salary? Instead of a paid 4-year vacation all he did was work for a couple of months and then escape from 40 days in the wilderness? |
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Post by insomnius on Jul 21, 2006 13:58:49 GMT -5
Some people have too much money....
Compounded by the last name Wang and the potential for humour is endless...
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jul 21, 2006 16:39:44 GMT -5
Some people have too much money.... Compounded by the last name Wang and the potential for humour is endless... This Wang certainly isn't a softie. |
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Post by Forum Ghost on Jul 22, 2006 13:17:07 GMT -5
Did anyone else see Daryl Sutter introducing his newest acquisitions to the Calgary media today?? He presented Jamie McClennan with his jersey turned to the media and said "And in case anyone is wondering Jamie is not the new GM" .... CLASSIC ;D LOL. ;D ;D |
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