NY Islanders Replace Goalie Coach Six Games Into Season Amid Struggles

The New York Islanders made a surprising coaching change early in the 2025-26 NHL season by firing longtime goaltending coach Piero Greco after six games, despite a recent three-game winning streak. Sergei Naumovs, promoted from the Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport and with prior experience working with star goalie Ilya Sorokin in Russia, has been named as his replacement. General manager Mathieu Darche emphasized that the decision was his alone and not influenced by players, aiming to reset the team's goaltending amid Sorokin's struggles, who has a 3.90 goals-against average and .873 save percentage, ranking among the league's worst so far. The Islanders are seeking to stabilize their defense as they face roster challenges including injuries to key players like Pierre Engvall and Semyon Varlamov. This move signals the franchise's intent to be competitive in the Metropolitan Division and improve their standing in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. The coaching change was also supported by Patrick Roy, underscoring the organization's commitment to helping Sorokin regain his elite form.