Blackhawks Daily: Did the Hawks Spur a Coaching Change–Again?

Oh, the Chicago Blackhawks are a miserable 14-30-2 and we’re finally coming out of a week’s worth of subzero temperatures and snow. It’s January in Chicagoland so it’s the little things in life that continue the momentum that eventually gets us all through.

How about the Blackhawks motivating a team to make another coaching change? Back in December, it was the St. Louis Blues brooming Craig Berube after the Blackhawks came out victorious 3-1. Now it’s the Islanders, opting to send Lane Lambert away and bringing in the always entertaining Patrick Roy as the team’s next bench boss.

Our friends over at NYI Hockey Now have you covered, and also opine that the Blackhawks had a hand in the Isles’ decision to make a change.

From Andrew Fantucchio:

Lambert’s last game as head coach of the Islanders came Friday night, an overtime loss to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks to cap off a disappointing four-game road trip without a win and only a single point. Since returning from the NHL’s holiday break, the Islanders are 3-7-2 stretch and with a goal differential of -17.

To light a fire under the team once again, Lamoriello brought in a person who certainly knows how to light a spark as the team’s new head coach; Patrick Roy.

No, the Blackhawks won’t be a team that will win a lot of games. But they’re still impacting the league.

Blackhawks In Case You Missed It

• Oliver Moore continues to light it up since returning from the World Junior Championships
• Frank Nazar is the 1A in the A/B argument of Oliver Moore as the Blackhawks top prospect
• The Blackhawks beat the Islanders on Seth Jones’ first goal of the season

Hockey Now Network

• Boston Hockey Now: A little historical flair in the Boston Bruins victory on Saturday
• Detroit Hockey Now: Detroit Red Wings prospect Marco Kasper has a five-point weekend for the Grand Rapids Griffins
• Montreal Hockey Now: The Montreal Canadiens give the Bruins a run for their money but can’t keep up in the end
• Pittsburgh Hockey Now: People are missing the point in all of the trade talk surrounding Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel

More on the Islanders Coaching Change

• What led to it: A disappointing loss for the Islanders against a team that should have been a win
• The change: The Islanders send Lambert packing–hire Patrick Roy
• The aftermath: Patrick Roy should bring a needed spark for a reeling Islanders squad