December 21, 2007
Isles GM Rips Lucia
CHN Staff Report
With people searching for answers for why Kyle Okposo left Minnesota for the NHL in mid-season, New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow provided some incendiary reasons.
In a phone interview conducted by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Snow, a former four-year goaltender for the University of Maine, placed the blame entirely upon the coaching ability of the Gophers' Don Lucia.
"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."
Lucia, in his ninth season as Minnesota coach, won national championships in 2002 and 2003. He has taken the high road, choosing not to directly respond. Instead, in a statement sent through the school's publicity office, Lucia said he is proud of what the program has accomplished.
Okposo was the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft after a 40-point freshman season. After a torrid start, he cooled down following the World Junior tournament. This year, he started off slowly, with just one goal in his first nine games, before scoring six in his last nine. He recently left for the Czech Republic where he will again play for Team USA at the World Juniors.
When pushed, Snow continued to criticize Lucia.
"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."
Garth Snow isn't worthy enough to carry Don Lucia's clip board!
Dec 21 2007, 2:36 pm by T Weber, Burnsvill, MN
Snow's comments are way off-base. Lucia is probably second only to Herb Brooks in the quality of coaching he has provided for Minnesota (and that gap is closing). Lucia won two NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003 and recruits many, many players that end up in the NHL. Clearly he knows how to develop players. That Okposo may be failing to develop is probably more the fault of Okposo himself; his self-centered style of play has never really fit in with the "team-first" concept Lucia espouses.
Snow says that Lucia should "look in the mirror." Snow should do the same. The college ranks do not exist just to provide grist for the NHL mill. Snow's comments, and the blame he needlessly heaps upon Don Lucia, are nothing more than a cynical attempt to mask his brazen thievery. Snow is the one who should be ashamed of himself.
Dec 21 2007, 3:03 pm by Dan H., Apple Valley, MN
It is no wonder that the Islanders are in last place with a GM like Snow. H ehas no idea what the hell he is doing. To say that kind of stuff about Coach Lucia is just disgusting. He is one of the best coaches in College Hockey right now and I would not want any other coach to coach The Gophers. HE KNOWS WHAT THE HECK HE IS DOING!!!!
Dec 21 2007, 3:10 pm by Mike Sauk Rapids MN
Even "Gopher Haters" respect the accomplishment of this Program.. Name one school with a history that can Match the U's
Dec 21 2007, 3:13 pm by Mike, Duluth
This guy (Snow) comes out of a program (Maine) with a high number of recruiting irregularities. One should expect then as a NHL GM he would have no scruples, raid a college team mid-season and then complain that the team and it's coach are not preparing players to suit his needs. Who the bleep does he think he is. And just how much is he paying college teams to groom his future thugs? Nada. Keep your mouth shut, Snow, and keep your nose in the NHL where it belongs.
Dec 21 2007, 3:34 pm by
This is going to really turn sour when Okposo fails at the NHL level.
Dec 21 2007, 4:20 pm by JB, Houghton
Congratulations to Lucia for, as the story says, "taking the high road" by not engaging in verbal volleyball with Snow. Okposo is gone, and no amount of talk (trash or otherwise) will change that. Coaching teams to consecutive NCAA national championships speaks for itself. Let Okposo go... wish him well... and get back to the game.
Dec 21 2007, 4:44 pm by Nelson, Lansing MI
It is a sad day when college hockey has to look at who will stay for four years so that with maturity you can take a run at a title. Hats off to the U for getting the top recruits in the nation. But when they went back to back they were senior led, Koalska, G. Potulny and the one sniper all teams need, Vanek. Now, O'Brien, Johnson, Okposo, Kessel many others from the U and many others from college hockey are one and done. I hate the Sioux program because they are so good and a natural rival, but they suffer the same if not more than anyone else when it comes to being a feeder program. Who from Denver left early when they went back2back...nobody, senior led teams. Lucia will probably have to be less of a recruiter and more of a groomer of four year players...like his kid, Tony, he will play four years and be a great leader with skill developed at the U his Senior year. Screw Garth Snow.
Dec 21 2007, 5:05 pm by Rob, Brainerd, MN
Garth Snow is an idiot. Not being coached properly? College Hockey does not exist solely for your free amuzement Garth. So playing him on the first line, power play, and penalty kill wasn't enough? Asking him to pass the puck once in awhile is bad coaching? Okposo is overrated, plain and simple. Now Snow can deal with him. Good Riddance.
Dec 21 2007, 5:29 pm by JM, Minneapolis
Don Lucia is a great coach and a class act and a two-time national champion.
Garth Snow learned at the altar of Shawn Walsh, who, lord rest his soul, was unscrupulous as all hell. Kyle Okposo just may not have been cut out for the whole college experience - now, though, he can't go back if it turns out he wasn't ready to jump yet.
Dec 21 2007, 5:47 pm by R., Maplewood NJ
Garth Snow is still bitter because he lost in the national championship game in ot when he played for Maine.Lucia's record speaks for itself and I'm a goofer hater.GO SIOUX.
Dec 21 2007, 11:39 pm by
I've been actively rooting against gopher hockey for forty years, but the comments by Garth Snow are misguided and adolescent. Like Woog before him, Lucia has been unfairly criticized. They coach, and put players on the ice. It is the players who need to perform. Blake Wheeler for instance has improved every year. By all indications, Kyle Okposo seems like a great kid, it's unfortunate his current employer has nobody's interest in mind but his own.
Dec 22 2007, 12:00 am by J Evans, Woodbury
I've been actively rooting against gopher hockey for forty years, but the comments by Garth Snow are misguided and adolescent. Like Woog before him, Lucia has been unfairly criticized. They coach, and put players on the ice. It is the players who need to perform. Blake Wheeler for instance has improved every year. By all indications, Kyle Okposo seems like a great kid, it's unfortunate his current employer has nobody's interest in mind but his own.
Dec 22 2007, 12:18 am by J Evans, Woodbury
lucia is one of the best coach's the u has ever had right behind herbie and wooger garth snow is an idiot and kuddos to lucia for not answering this b.s.
Dec 22 2007, 12:42 am by sarge, north st paul
This sounds like Okposo whining to me. He gets sick of playing in Minnesota, decides he wants out of college hockey, complains to Snow about Lucia, and Snow backs him up. What does Snow have to lose? He drops a couple lines in an interview, makes Kyle the victim instead of Minne. He gets the superstar player he's wanted, Minnesota and college hockey lose out. And it makes everyone else in the league want to jump pro. Just what the NHL wants.
Dec 22 2007, 12:57 am by Matt, New York
I've been actively rooting against gopher hockey for forty years, but the comments by Garth Snow are misguided and adolescent. Like Woog before him, Lucia has been unfairly criticized. They coach, and put players on the ice. It is the players who need to perform. Blake Wheeler for instance has improved every year. By all indications, Kyle Okposo seems like a great kid, it's unfortunate his current employer has nobody's interest in mind but his own.
Dec 22 2007, 2:00 am by J Evans, Woodbury
One, the Isles are not in last place and secondly, Lucia started this by calling the Isles out and saying that he was not happy with the position they put Kyle in. None of us know how this went down. Kyle could have asked to get out.? They talk every week and Trottier has been to school to see and talk with Kyle. Sounds like a lot of sour grapes in these comments.
Dec 22 2007, 8:44 am by Peter, Ann Arbor
Minnesota and Denver going back to back, Wisconsin in 06 and Michigan State in 07 were all led by senior laden teams with leadership and players who had been developed over a couple of years...The NHL has turned college hockey into a prima donna breeding ground...something needs to be done...I am a HUGE Wisconsin fan so i obviously hate the Minnesota Squirrels...while not having to face Kyle Okposo wont bother me, the game of college hockey is suffering when jokers like him pull stunts like that
Dec 22 2007, 6:18 pm by
In reply to comment above... Michigan State was not "senior laden" in 2007. MSU had just 5 seniors, accounting for just 7 goals collectively all season. Their senior captain (Lawrence) was a walk-on. MSU had no national scoring leaders, no All-Americans, no Hobey Baker candidates. But they DID play as a TEAM. The Gophers will learn that Okposo was not their entire team... he was just one player. They may even become a better "team" without him!
Dec 24 2007, 9:13 am by Nelson, Lansing MI
Whatever Snow's intentions, it was poor form for several reasons. First, if there is a genuine concern, airing dirty laundry like that is unprofessional and unconstructive. Second, Snow seems to have the selfish idea that Coach Lucia's only job was to shape Kyle Okposo (who, in turn, was one of the most selfish players in college hockey last year). And third, Snow doesn't seem to believe that Okposo himself has any responsibility in his own development. Snow should be ashamed of his rant, but I seriously doubt he is. [I originally posted this in the "Looking for Answers" column but thought it might actually serve better here.]
Dec 28 2007, 11:37 am by Chris Haake, Grand Forks ND
Snow's unprofessional behavior is disgusting. I would think that a former player would know when to say something and how to say it without coming across the way he did. The bigger issue to me is the possible precedent being set by yanking a player from a program in the middle of the season.
Dec 31 2007, 8:07 pm by Brandon, Beezy Point, MN
College Hockey and the NHL need a definitive line in the sand to preclude this kind of stuff from happening. It hurts both parties. Can you imagine an elite NBA prospect bolting from his college basketball team in the middle of the season to join a pro team?
Situations like this give the entire sport of hockey a black eye.
My suggestion---a player signs as a scholarship athelete---he makes a two year commitment to the institution---regardless of the sport. The NCAA needs to have a universally accepted line in the sand that all professional sports teams know they cannot cross.
Jan 1 2008, 1:28 pm by Will M. La Crescent, MN
The NHL is a suffering franchise of foreigner-born players, who rarely are on prime-time television- where the big bucks are made. College hockey makes business sense- it recruits more fans who ultimately pay the bills- Snow should look at the NFL and not piss in his own bed. Universities develop individuals, minor league hockey develops a few stars and a lot of aimless could-have-beens.
Jan 2 2008, 12:41 pm by David P, Minneapolis MN
OSHIE FOR HOBEY
Feb 12 2008, 4:53 pm by SARGE, MN
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