Golden Knights might have interest in ex-Islanders coach Jack Capuano

By STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

In this Jan. 6, 2017, file photo, New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano reacts after the Colorado Avalanche scored a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. The struggling islanders fired Capuano on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, ending his tenure in the middle of its seventh season. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Donald Bowman, general manager of the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, left, presents Golden Knights owner Bill Foley with a rooster nicknamed “Stanley” at Thursday’s Chinese New Year celebration with the NHL expansion team which will begin play this fall. Looking on is Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak. Photo by Steve Carp/Review-Journal

Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien motions to an official during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

FILE – In this Nov. 8, 2015, file photo, New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano looks toward the ice during the first period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in New York. It’s coach firing season in the NHL. Well, actually, that’s every season. Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, became the fourth coach fired this season and the second in a week after the St. Louis Blues canned Ken Hitchcock. The Islanders last month fired Capuano and the Florida Panthers in November axed Gerard Gallant, who infamously was left outside a visiting arena waiting for a cab. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

FILE – In this Jan. 6, 2017, file photo, New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano reacts after the Colorado Avalanche scored a goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Denver. The struggling islanders fired Capuano on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, ending his tenure in the middle of its seventh season. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

FILE – In this April 5, 2016, file photo, New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano stands in the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Washington. The struggling islanders fired Capuano on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, ending his tenure in the middle of its seventh season. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

In this Dec. 3, 2016, file photo, St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock watches from the bench during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in St. Louis. It’s coach firing season in the NHL. Well, actually, that’s every season. Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, became the fourth coach fired this season and the second in a week after the Blues canned Hitchcock. (Billy Hurst/AP)

In this Jan. 24, 2017 file photo, Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien, right, stands with assistant head coach Bruce Cassidy, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Boston. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, the Bruins fired Julien, who was in his 10th season as head coach, and named Cassidy interim coach. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien looks up at the scoreboard as Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller (86) is congratulated after a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Boston, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. (Charles Krupa/AP)

FILE – In this Feb. 15, 2016, file photo, Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant talks to center Jonathan Huberdeau (11) during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sunrise, Fla. It’s coach firing season in the NHL. Well, actually, that’s every season. Claude Julien of the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, became the fourth coach fired this season and the second in a week after the St. Louis Blues canned Ken Hitchcock. The New York Islanders last month fired Jack Capuano and the Florida Panthers in November axed Gallant, who infamously was left outside a visiting arena waiting for a cab. (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

The options continue to change for the Golden Knights in their search for a head coach.

Claude Julien’s firing by the Boston Bruins on Tuesday might have put him on general manager George McPhee’s short list, which reportedly includes Gerard Gallant and Jack Capuano and perhaps Ken Hitchcock.

The Knights have talked with Gallant, and indications were Thursday they had talked with or were preparing to talk with Capuano, who was fired Jan. 17 by the New York Islanders.

Knights owner Bill Foley would not confirm or deny the report, first reported Thursday by Newsday. Foley, who attended a team function Thursday to celebrate Chinese New Year at Mandarin Oriental, said he is familiar with Capuano.

“I like him,” Foley said. “I think he’s a real quality family guy. He’s a quality coach who the players like to play for and a quality person. Gerard Gallant is the same way.”

Capuano, 50, coached the Islanders from November 2010 until last month. The Cranston, Rhode Island, native was 227-192-64 with the Islanders and took the team to the playoffs three times. His postseason record was 10-14, and the Islanders won only one playoff round, last year against Florida.

McPhee said the Knights were well aware of the available coaches, including Julien, who won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011 and was rumored Thursday as a possible coach for the Montreal Canadiens if they fire Michel Therrien.

“There may be new names to consider, but our main goal hasn’t changed,” McPhee said. “We’re looking to hire an experienced coach who has had success and who can lead the Golden Knights.”

Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.