Isles GM Garth Snow Calls out University of Minnesota Coach Lucia

It seems that the New York Islanders signing of top prospect Kyle Okposo wasn't simply about filling the hole left by Chris Simon's suspension. At least, that is what the Isles would like you to think.

In the usual amount of class shown by the New York Islanders organization, GM "Party On!" Garth Snow took the low road, and criticized the University of Minnesota for their supposed failure to develop their top prospect to the Isles' liking.

"Quite frankly, we weren't happy with the program there," Snow told the paper. "They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that."

He continued, "[Okposo] just wasn't getting better - bottom line. And to me, that's the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn't happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch."

"Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we'd probably make the same decision," Snow told the Star-Tribune. "There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror. ... I don't think we'd be at this point if he was being coached properly."

Wow! Those are some pretty strong words pointed at Minnesota's hockey program and coach Don Lucia. NHL teams rarely criticize a junior or university team for the way their prospects are handled, especially when said prospect gets loads of ice time. Sure, many NCAA fans are rather jealous of Minnesota and their 'arrogant' style, but that has more to do with the program's success and mentality than their ability to develop prospects.

Whose side are you inclined to take? Minnesota has produced some very fine prospects over the past few years (Erik Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Blake Wheeler), and coach Don Lucia has won NCAA national championships in both 2002 and 2003.

Garth Snow? He's given his #1 goalie a rather stupid 15-year contract, dealt the house for a short-term rental (Ryan Smyth) who fled at the first opportunity, signed Brendan Witt for far too much money, and has pretty much won nothing of note in his career.

Sure, Okposo has struggled this season with just 11 points in 18 games (after a point-a-game pace last season), and Minnesota is only doing so-so with a 9-8-1 record, but does that really mean Okposo was being mistreated? Perhaps Okposo simply wasn't playing as well as he should have. Perhaps it's just a slump that players tend to go through every once in awhile. Perhaps Okposo let success get to his head and was more concerned about the $$$'s the Isles were waving in front of his face.

In any event, it really shows a lack of class and dignity for the Isles go to trashing a program with a fairly good track record. Few fans will hold it against the Isles for signing their prospect before he graduates, so why does Snow feel the need to throw stones?

As FanHouser Bruce Ciskie wrote on his own blog:

I get sick of hearing people criticize college coaches for not making kids "better" or "more ready for the NHL". That's not their job. The NHL is an afterthought for close to 100% of college hockey players. They'll probably never make it, and they have to come to grips with that and just work on being part of a team and trying to win. College coaches aren't paid to send kids to the NHL, AHL, ECHL, or any other pro league. They're paid to win games and graduate kids. If you are nothing but an abject failure in either area, you're probably not long for the job you have. No college coach has ever been fired because his program "didn't do a good enough job getting players ready for the NHL".

Exactly! Lucia is not under the employ of the NY Islanders and it's not his job to take orders from any NHL organization. This goes for pretty much any prospect not playing in the NHL or AHL.