Rocky Thompson’s Replacement In Hamilton Could Already Be Inside Islanders Organization

With Rocky Thompson moving to the Islanders’ NHL staff, New York could look internally for its next Hamilton Hammers head coach, with Ian Laperriére emerging as a logical candidate.

PHOTO: Dennis DaSilva / New York Islanders

On Thursday, the New York Islanders officially unveiled the identity of their new AHL affiliate in Hamilton, introducing the “Hamilton Hammers” as the franchise’s next chapter begins.

Now comes one of the more important decisions tied to that transition: finding the right head coach to lead it.