Weight tabs Richardson as Isles assistant coach

Former Teammate to Assume Head Coach’s Old Duties on Bench

May 18, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Former NHL defenseman Luke Richardson was named an assistant coach on Doug Weight’s staff Thursday. Richardson and Weight played together in Edmonton for three full seasons. AP Photo by Chris O’Meara

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Doug Weight knows the importance of having a good assistant coach to bounce ideas off of and to get in his players’ ears when he is too busy to do so.

The Islanders’ new full-time head coach, who served in that capacity under Jack Capuano for the better part of the previous six seasons, on Thursday officially named former Edmonton Oilers teammate Luke Richardson as his assistant coach for the 2017-18 season.

“Luke brings a tireless work ethic and outstanding character to our organization,” said Weight, who shared the ice with Richardson in Edmonton for three seasons from 1994-97.

Richardson spent four campaigns as head coach of the American Hockey League’s Binghamton Senators from 2012-16 after serving as an assistant with parent-club Ottawa from 2009-12.

He also coached the Canadian National Team to the 2016 Spengler Cup Championship, and a runner-up finish as an assistant during the 2016 Deutschland Cup.

The 48-year-old Ottawa native played in 1,417 regular-season NHL games from 1987 to 2008 with six different teams, totaling 201 points (35 goals, 166 assists).

The defenseman added eight assists in 69 Stanley Cup playoff games. Richardson won gold with Team Canada at the 1994 World Championship and added a silver medal in 1996.

But now, he’ll be taking orders from Weight, who guided New York to a breathtaking 24-12-4 mark after replacing Capuano as head coach on Jan. 19.

Richardson’s new boss explained last week on the team’s web site that he planned a culture change of sorts for the Isles, who fell a single point shy of capturing their third straight playoff berth this past season.

“I’m going to make some changes starting in training camp, starting on our culture, starting on my first words to each player,” Weight explained. “Camp’s going to be tougher than it’s been. Camp’s going to be a different look, and we need to have a better start.”

Richardson will doubtlessly be asked to do more than just fire up the troops here in Brooklyn.

The Islanders have a core group of veterans, a cache of up-and-coming highly touted prospects and two quality goaltenders — Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss — between the pipes going into their critical third season in our fair borough.

“He’ll have his hands on every aspect of the team, including our systems, skill development and team culture,” Weight noted of Richardson’s responsibilities.

“Luke’s coaching experience, including four years running an organization as head coach in Binghamton, make him an excellent addition to our staff.”

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One of Richardson’s first games behind the bench alongside Weight will come on Sept. 22, when the Islanders take on the arch rival New York Rangers in an NHL preseason game in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The team announced Tuesday that Webster Bank Arena, home of the Isles’ AHL affiliate, would host the parent club for an exhibition contest for the sixth time since 2011, including last October’s meeting with the Washington Capitals.

One of the players Islander fans should be most intrigued to see skate with the big-league club later this year is 19-year-old center Matthew Barzal, who is enjoying a breakout season with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.

The Isles’ first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft was recently named the WHL’s playoff MVP after guiding the T-Birds to the league title by amassing seven goals and 18 assists in 16 postseason games.

Barzal has already seen a couple of games of NHL action from this past season, lacing them up with the Isles in contests at Washington on Oct. 15 and here in Brooklyn vs. Montreal on Oct. 26.

Though he only managed 20 minutes of ice time during those two appearances, the NHL neophyte and T-Birds’ team captain learned plenty of lessons about what it takes to get to the next level, and excel there.

“When I was up with the Islanders, the game moves at such a fast pace in the NHL, I tried to play a more up-tempo game instead of always trying to slow it down,” he said.

“I learned a little bit from [team captain] John Tavares when I was down there,” Barzal added. “Just watching how he leads, by example. I tried to do that all year [here in Seattle] and just tried to lead by example and work hard.”

Barzal’s playoff journey isn’t over yet.

By virtue of their WHL title, the T-Birds will now get a chance to play for the Memorial Cup championship against the winners of the other junior hockey leagues.

“It’s pretty special,” Barzal said. “Losing last year in the [WHL] finals and coming back this year and winning it all just feels so good. Every guy on that team has worked so hard and I’m proud of everybody, it’s been a great ride so far and we’re looking forward to the Memorial Cup.”