Because there’s nothing the long-suffering Islanders fans deserve more than a GM instantly identified with the Bruins and Rangers. From the New York Daily News’ Peter Botte.
A famous former general manager of the Rangers has been in contact with Islanders owner Charles Wang about their pending GM opening. But his name is not Neil Smith.
Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, who served for several years as president and GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning after being fired by the Rangers in 1989, contacted the Isles last week and talked with Wang in recent days about replacing the soon-to-be-resigning Mike Milbury as GM, according to two people familiar with the situation.
Esposito, who has spent the last few seasons as a radio analyst for the Lightning, briefly was a teammate of Milbury’s in Boston during the 1975 season before Espo was traded to the Rangers.
Dallas Stars scout John Weisbrod, a former GM of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, also formally interviewed with Wang earlier this week as a potential replacement for Milbury, who announced Jan. 13 that he will resign after 10 tumultuous years as GM once a replacement is named.
In one Milbury-esque season as GM of the Magic, he fired two coaches (Doc Rivers and Johnny Davis) and traded young star Tracy McGrady. But one NHL executive who knows Weisbrod recently called him “smart, well-liked and a respected worker” and said he considers him “more of a hockey guy that worked in basketball, rather than the other way around.”
There’s no truth to the rumor that Wang has asked the Utah Jazz for permission to speak with Scott Layden.
This is all a ruse so that Milbury can trade the newly named GM, Rick DiPietro, and a first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Todd Bertuzzi. He just can’t let that model citizen slip away for good.
i can count on no hands the number of nhl games i’ve watched in the last two years, how does dipietro look? he was probably the greatest college goaltender i’d ever seen when he was at BU.
I haven’t seen too many Islanders games, but he’s definitely streaky. At his best, he’s among the top few young goalies in the league… maybe not up to Roberto Luongo’s level (which is an apt comparison since Milbury traded him to make room for DiPietro). Lately the Isles have lost 12 of 15 and he’s been hung out to dry, which may affect his status as the likely starter for the US Olympic team.
I still have not seen any BC hockey games, and since people camped out for Beanpot tickets, that will continue for the near future. Such a shame that I’ve witnessed the bulk of four seasons of Will Leitch’s favorite college hockey squad and none of a bonafide division one program.
surely bc isn’t selling out the kelly rink at conte forum? i can’t believe that’s possible. if tix are hard to come by go to northeastern or take the train up to lowell when the eagles visit.
I’ve been too busy for most games so far and was hoping to rectify that with the Beanpot. For some reason, no one in the English graduate program shares my enthusiasm for college hockey.