With a big offseason ahead for the New York Islanders, they will replace a key figure in their front office. The member who they will need to replace is in the form of goaltender director Mitch Korn. Korn who was hired in 2018 for the position will head to the Nashville Predators. He retains the same role with them and reunites with Barry Trotz the man he’s spent almost his entire career with.
Reunited….
Mitch Korn now a former #Isles employee.
Rejoins Barry Trotz (now #Preds GM) as Predators director of goaltending, leaving same post he’s held with Islanders since Trotz was hired in 2018.
Korn has previously worked with Trotz in Nashville and Washington.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) May 29, 2024
Who is Mitch Korn?
A loss for the Islanders front office is a gain for the Predators. Well for the last six seasons he had been the Islanders goaltender director. While he might not have been on the ice everyday with the goalies, he had a big hand in their development. He was noticeable at training camps working with the organizations goalie depth. When he wasn’t on the ice he was helping in the film room. Before his time with the Islanders he spent 16 seasons as the goaltending coach in Nashville. Under Korn, Pekka Rinne was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2011 and 2012. He then went to the Washington Capitals, spending four seasons with them. He would win a Stanley Cup there in 2018 with Trotz. In Washington under Korn, Capitals’ goalie Braden Holtby won the 2015-16 Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the National Hockey League.
What does this mean for the Islanders?
It means that Piero Greco, the club’s goalie coach will have to take on a bigger role with the team. Moreover, it means that Patrick Roy who was a legendary goalie himself, could be more hands on this offseason. This is a big change in what needs to be a big offseason for Ilya Sorokin. The teams franchise goalie is coming off his worst season since coming over from Russia. He played to the tune of a 2.99 GAA, .905 SV% and did not look like himself. It is especially big when he is set to begin the first year of an eight-year deal worth $66 million ($8.25 M AAV) next season. Korn has been here every season since Sorokin came over so it will be a big adjustment for him. Whether its Greco, Roy or an outsider the Islanders now need to find a new trusted voice for their goalie of the future.
Main Photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
