The New York Islanders hired Scott Gordon, the AHL coach of the year, on Tuesday night to replace dismissed head coach Ted Nolan.
Gordon emerged as the choice of general manager Garth Snow after an extensive search following Nolan's departure on July 14 and agreed to a multiyear deal with the team.
Oddsmakers clearly feel that Gordon has his work cut out for him. Oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Islanders a 66/1 long shot to win the 2009 NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Bodog has also made New York 30/1 long shots to win the Eastern Conference Championship.
The youth movement has begun in New York and it’s going to take time until Gordon can build a winner.
In five seasons with Providence, Gordon went 221-141-20-27. He was an assistant with Providence for three seasons before taking over as head coach, and coached in the ECHL before that.