On Thursday, the New York Islanders announced that they had named Rick Kowalsky, head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders, after Brent Thompson took a role with the Anaheim Ducks. On Friday, Kowalsky addressed the media.

On Thursday, the New York Islanders announced that they had named Rick Kowalsky, head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders, after Brent Thompson took a role with the Anaheim Ducks.

Kowalsky, who has served as an assistant coach in Bridgeport for the last two seasons, worked under general manager Lou 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 by a four-year stint as an NHL assistant coach for New Jersey (2018-2021).

"Being a head coach for such a long time and then a couple of years as an assistant there in the NHL and then stepping in that development role and really looking at players individually, I think as a coach, sometimes you focus so much on trying to win hockey games and how the team is playing within their structure and as a unit of five and I think that just gave me a little more perspective on focusing on the individual, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are and just gave me some insight into that," Kowalsky said. "And I think I really grew as a coach in that year or those couple of years.

"Obviously, stepping back as an assistant, you're in a little bit more of a, I think, a development role as well with individual relationships with players. But I think that's the biggest thing, is just really kind of honing in on each player understanding, like I said, what their strengths [are], what their weaknesses are, and then when you evaluate them individually, whether it's through video or communication in meetings, I plan to focus on those things a little bit more and, and not just be, 'Where do you fit in to the puzzle' as far as a player on this team."

Some opening monologue, eh?

Kowalsky could not comment too much about his coaching staff, which now has a vacancy due to his promotion. 

He did share that he expects goalie coach Chris Terreri to be back. 

Something many people may not have realized is that since Kowalsky got to Bridgeport, the club ran a two-man coaching team.

It was Thompson and Kowalsky.

"We went with a two-man system because we felt comfortable with it," Kowalsky said. "This is something we talked about two years ago in my interview process. Obviously, with our experience, both of us having some NHL experience, and Chris and Brent both felt really comfortable with a two-man system. 

"I think we're just going to have to really get into this pretty quick as far as what we're going to go with as far as the staff and assembling that and what it's going to look like, which honestly, we haven't even really...this has happened so fast in the last couple of days. We haven't been able to dive into that, but that's probably priority number one right now."

The Islanders organization has continuously seen their prospect pool ranked rather low. But Kowalsky has seen a ton of growth over his two years with the organization. 

"Well, I think there's been a lot of growth in a lot of these guys, obviously. You look at what came in this year with Iskhakov and Dufour, new, younger prospects that first year. I think Samuel Bolduc took a big step this year, Arnaud Durandeau, who's been around a couple more years, but I think it's a process in the American League, and I think these guys have all taken steps.

Kowalsky also believes that Bridgeport is getting younger.

"I think you got more young talent coming in here. I think there's no question we're going to be younger than we have been the last two years, and I think that's been progressive, kind of getting in some of these prospects, with more coming," Kowalsky said.

"So again, that's something I'm really excited about, is working with these young guys and helping them develop and potentially reach their goal of playing for the Islanders."

We will have a follow-up story, diving into what Rick Kowalsky said about certain prospects in the system.