Interim coach Lorne Henning was merely there because someone had to be there as the team played out the string. Milbury has already interviewed Nolan, Robbie Ftorek, Kevin Constantine, Jim Schoenfeld and Bryan Murray, all of whom have extensive NHL coaching experience, and Milbury says he might add more to the mix. The Isles have a 25 percent chance of landing the top pick in the draft lottery. Scouts say Kovalchuk is more ready to make an immediate impact than Spezza, as the Canadian needs to work on his skating, but Kovalchuk is also said to have a monstrous ego and is difficult to get along with. The Islanders have your average slew of restricted free agents, none of whom will make an impact either way, and Milbury knows it.
Nobody's secure here.
There is nobody untouchable on the team. Wang has made it clear the Islanders are going to spend money. They need lots of help everywhere. But considering the Isles had the worst goal production in the Eastern Conference with 190, going after a big scorer, whether its Roenick, a trade for Jagr, or maybe even getting into the Joe Sakic sweepstakes, will at least give Islanders fans a reason to show up in the fall. Inc. All rights reserved.