The New York Islanders have terminated the contract of goaltending coach Piero Greco after a disappointing start to the season. This decision comes just six games into Greco’s seventh season with the team, despite a recent three-game winning streak. General manager Mathiew Darche has announced the promotion of Sergei Naumovs from the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League to fill the role.
Greco’s dismissal follows significant struggles by goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who has posted a goals-against average of 3.90, ranking second-worst in the NHL. His save percentage of .873 places him fourth-worst among netminders who have appeared in at least four games. Sorokin, currently in the second year of a $66 million contract that extends to 2032, had four top-10 finishes for the Vezina Trophy while working under Greco, including a runner-up position behind Boston’s Linus Ullmark in the 2022-23 season.
Coaching Changes and Team Performance
Greco joined the Islanders in July 2018, having previously worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His tenure with the Islanders was marked by both challenges and successes. However, Darche emphasized the need for a reset with the team’s goaltenders following a mixed record of 3-3-0 at the start of this season. Notably, the Islanders secured a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks prior to the coaching change.
In remarks about the decision, Darche stated, “Piero has done a great job for the organization for the last seven years. We just felt at this time it was the right timing to have a reset with our goalies… It’s my decision; it’s not on the player. I know had success with Sergei, and that’s where we went. It’s 100% my decision, and the goalie had nothing to do with it.”
Naumovs, now 56 years old, has a lengthy coaching background, including 15 years in the KHL before arriving in Bridgeport last season. He has a history with Sorokin, having coached him during their time at CSKA Moscow between 2018 and 2020. This connection may prove beneficial as the Islanders hope to invigorate Sorokin’s performance and overall team dynamics.
Injury Updates and Future Prospects
In addition to the coaching change, the Islanders announced that forward Pierre Engvall underwent ankle surgery, expected to sideline him for approximately five to six months. Darche also reported that goaltender Semyon Varlamov continues to progress toward a return from knee surgery, which could further impact the team’s goaltending strategy moving forward.
This coaching change is unusual given the timing, as it typically occurs later in the season. The Islanders, with their recent history and ambitions for playoff contention, will be looking to quickly turn their season around under Naumovs’ guidance. The coming weeks will be critical as the team navigates these changes and aims to improve their performance on the ice.
