Islanders Reshuffle Goaltending Staff: New Directors and Coaches Announced
In a swift move, the New York Islanders have made changes to their goaltending staff. Following the departure of director of goaltending Mitch Korn to the Predators, the Islanders wasted no time in making adjustments. They have announced that Chris Terreri, the AHL Bridgeport goaltending coach, will now assume the role of director of goaltending and scouting. Alongside this announcement, Sergei Naumovs has been hired as the new goaltending coach for the AHL club, while Piero Greco will continue as the goalie coach for the NHL team.
Terreri’s appointment as director of goaltending and scouting is not surprising, given his longstanding history with Lou Lamoriello. Their relationship dates back to the early 1980s when Lamoriello coached Terreri at Providence College. Terreri has been a part of the Islanders organization since the 2017-18 season, but his experience extends further. He previously worked for the Devils and their AHL affiliates in Lowell and Albany since 2001. With such a wealth of experience, Terreri is well-equipped to take on this new role.
The hiring of Sergei Naumovs as the new goaltending coach for the AHL club is an intriguing move. Naumovs brings familiarity to Ilya Sorokin, who had a disappointing season after coming over from Russia. Naumovs previously served as Sorokin’s goalie coach during his time at CSKA Moscow from 2018-2020, where Sorokin had his best two seasons in the KHL. This reunion could be just what Sorokin needs to regain his form and bounce back from his recent struggles.
Naumovs’ coaching career extends beyond his time with Sorokin. He has also worked with the Russian Olympic team in 2022 and has coached in Ukraine and Latvia before joining the KHL. His diverse experience and knowledge of different playing styles will undoubtedly benefit the Islanders’ goaltending prospects.
Speaking of Sorokin, his performance during the 2023-24 season was far from his best. After finishing second in the Vezina Trophy voting the previous year, Sorokin’s numbers took a dip. He recorded a 3.01 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage. In the first round of the playoffs against the Hurricanes, Sorokin started just one game and was pulled in the third period of Game 3 after allowing three goals on 14 shots. This underwhelming performance highlights the need for a fresh coaching approach, which Naumovs could provide.
The Islanders’ swift reshuffling of their goaltending staff demonstrates their commitment to addressing weaknesses and optimizing their player development. By promoting Terreri to a more prominent role and bringing in Naumovs to work with Sorokin, they are aiming to revitalize their goaltending department and set their players up for success. With Terreri’s experience and Lamoriello’s trust in him, along with Naumovs’ familiarity with Sorokin’s game, there is hope that the Islanders’ goaltending situation will improve in the upcoming seasons.
