No doubt that Snow is in charge on Long Island

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

The Islanders' so-called "Committee" is dead. When it became obvious in the middle of last season that the decision-making process was too cumbersome, owner Charles Wang stepped in and clarified the lines of authority, placing general manager Garth Snow in clear control atop the hockey operations pyramid.

There was no formal announcement, but the change obviously freed Snow to act more decisively, as he did on Monday when he told coach Ted Nolan his services no longer were required. It was obvious during the draft and free-agent signings this summer that Nolan already had been rendered powerless regarding personnel decisions, while Snow felt sufficiently empowered to execute his aggressive draft strategy, trading down twice in the first round and amassing 13 picks.

Read the entire article here.

When the GM fires a coach, generally the pressure moves upstairs. So, Snow can expect to feel heat from the fans/media if his next hire doesn't turn out very well.

Nolan lost the confidence of prominent players

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

As injuries mounted and the season unraveled, another prominent player challenged Nolan's strategic decisions. The coach told the player that Wang was "running the show." Refusing to accept that explanation, the player, who did not want to be identified, went to Snow and arranged a meeting with the GM, Nolan and Wang, who denied interfering."

[Nolan] pretty much tried to say he didn't tell me that and [ portray] me as a liar," the player said. "I put my -- on the line, and it kind of made me see him in a different light."

Another key leader who did not want to be identified also had a falling-outwith Nolan and began to question the coach's methods. "He did some -- things," the second player said. "He wasn't listening to his assistants and he was kind of going the opposite way. Everybody knew that."

Read the entire story here.

If that was the case, then the writing was on the wall for Nolan long before yesterday's dismissal.

Nolan done on the Island

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

The two-year marriage of inconvenience between Islanders general manager Garth Snow and coach Ted Nolan ended today. Irreconcilable differences over the direction of the franchise led to a mutual decision by Snow and Nolan, who met earlier this morning at Nassau Coliseum, to part ways.

Nolan quickly gained popularity with Islanders fans in his first season when his motivational touch and hard-working style of play produced an eighth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and a playoff berth by a team most experts picked to finish near the bottom of the NHL. But last season’s playoff hopes faded because of injuries and a series of distracting internal disputes between Nolan and Snow, and several key players apparently lost faith in the coach’s methods.

Read the entire report here.

It was known that Snow and Nolan had been squabbling for a while now, so this move comes as no real surprise. In fact, it was probably the right move for the organization to make instead of bringing this controversy to training camp. The Isles need to make sure they hire a new coach who has a willingness to develop young players, as Nolan is considered a coach that prefers playing veterans.

Witt flattered by Islanders

From Greg Logan of Newsday:

Witt wondered, too, which is why the decision by general manager Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang to give him a two-year extension worth $6 million that will keep him on Long Island through the 2010-11 season is so meaningful. “I was surprised when they told me,” Witt said last night from his summer home in Florida. “I was like, ‘Wow.’ Most teams, the way they operate is they don’t make that decision until Christmas when they realize which direction the team is going, and they ask what you can get for them.

“Snowy has always complimented me on the way I play, the ‘warrior-type mentality.’ I appreciate that, and I appreciate Charles agreeing to do it, too. That shows a lot of loyalty, which you do not find in major league sports too often. It’s really nice. I’m honored. They didn’t have to do anything at all, but they chose to and that shows a lot of commitment to me.”

Read the entire entry from On the Islanders Beat here.

The Islanders obviously consider Witt and integral part of the team and have treated him as such.