Kowalsky Named Head Coach of Bridgeport Islanders, The Need to Develop Top-Six Talent

With former Bridgeport Islanders head coach Brent Thompson heading to Anaheim to join their NHL staff, the New York Islanders have announced that Bridgeport assistant coach Rick Kowalsky has been promoted.

With former Bridgeport Islanders head coach Brent Thompson heading to Anaheim to join their NHL staff, the New York Islanders have promoted Bridgeport Islanders assistant coach Rick Kowalsky.

Kowalsky, who has served as an assistant coach in Bridgeport for the last two seasons, worked under Lamoriello for nine years during his tenure in New Jersey before these last two with Islanders. Kowalsky served as the Devils' ECHL head coach for four years (2006-2010) before becoming the AHL head coach for eight years (2010-2018), followed with a four-year stint as an NHL assistant coach for New Jersey (2018-2021).

With now an assistant coach vacancy, could we see former Islanders Johnny Boychuk and/or Dennis Seidenberg, both employed by the organization in player development, get assistant roles?

Regardless Kowalsky and his staff have a challenging task ahead of them.

Over Thompson's 10 total seasons at the helm in Bridgeport, he was a scapegoat for certain players never living up to expectations.

However, if you look at the Islanders roster right now, 13 players played under Thompson at some point in their development.

However, there is a standout.

Although Anders Lee and Brock Nelson became top-six players, the Islanders struggled to develop others into that role, like Oliver Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom.

Where Thompson did shine was developing his backend, as Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are No. 1 defense-pairing players, while Scott Mayfield turned into more than just a bottom-pairing player. 

But Thompson can't take all the credit, as those players flourished when Barry Trotz was brought in, in 2018. 

With 22-year-old defenseman Samuel Bolduc developing in his third year in the AHL (he played 19 total NHL games in 2022-23), he has a strong chance of winning the final defense spot alongside Scott Mayfield if Sebastian Aho doesn't beat him out for it.

Bridgeport's next head coach's focus must be getting some of these forward prospects to the NHL level, but not as just "depth forwards." 

The jury is still out on 2020 draftee William Dufour, who had a kid's cup of coffee at the NHL level this past year, playing in one game against the Boston Bruins -- a game he should have never played in.

In 69 games with Bridgeport, Dufour lit the lamp 21 times with 27 assists in his first professional season. His focus this off-season was likely on his skating, as that's the one thing holding him back from being a future top-six forward in the NHL.

Ruslan Iskhakov, a speedy winger, didn't get a chance with the Islanders this past season but was an AHL All-Star in year one, finishing with 17 goals and 34 assists in 69 games. Standing at five-foot-nine, the 22-year-old's biggest issue is honestly surviving on the rink. If he can power through hits and stay healthy, he has speed which the Islanders severely lack, and has the hands that the Islanders lack in their top-six. 

After winning OHL Player of the Year this past season, the 2022 fifth-rounder Matthew Maggio played three games for Bridgeport with an assist. 

The 22-year-old has the hockey IQ, the leadership, and the skating ability to continue where he left off, not to mention the finishing ability, which he did 54 times in 56 games to end his OHL career.

Although 24, Arnaud Durandeau did get a chance at the NHL level this past season, playing in four games for New York with no points, but showed off his defensive prowess. He likely is at the top of the call-up list going into the 2023-24 season after 24 goals and 31 assists in 68 games for Bridgeport. 

You can listen and watch Stefen Rosner talk New York Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert.