Do you think Gordan has this team on the right track? I know he can only cook with what Snow puts in the kitchen, but.....your thoughts?

Couple of ways of viewing this.

One of the things, I've learned from being behind a bench is that most players like an uptempo game. They like to get out there and "run" so to speak. In this matter playing for Gordon is similar to playing for D'Antoni for the Knicks, to a degree (although Gordon DOES stress a modicum of defense at least). In short, most of the kids love playing for him and he does get a decent effort out of them on most nights.

Now is effort enough in judging Gordon based on the fact that he has little with which to work? Well, I don't know. The squad has a tendancy to cough up leads in the third period alot. Now, no doubt alot of that comes from having raw players out there who are trying to learn how to win. However, one can't help but wonder if such a frenetic forechecking system is an underlying cause to the team's failure to close. Other teams can sit back and withstand the initial thrust of the Islanders in the first period or so knowing that the Isles will have shot their proverbial load early in the game and will be primed for the taking once they've stopped playing on their adrenaline come the third period. I think players who have been to the mountain top, players such as Bill Guerin, realize this and would prefer to play elsewhere.

In conclusion, Gordon may be perfect for a bunch of precocious kids looking to compete in the NHL against the best players in the world but I don't know if his uptempo game will have a down the road success given the nature of this sport come crunch time both within a game itself and within the quest for its ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup.

Personally, I'd let him come back next year, but I wouldn't throw him an extension.....yet.

Agreed,I would give him atleast another year pending who is out there available?
What Huge names are worth a look?
I wouldn't mind seeing Brent sutter here or maybe Bringing Barry Mellrose out of the booth.
Just saying Isles fans......Hockey humor eh?