This will be my last post for a while as I take a couple weeks off to finish my vacation time leading up to the season. As always, thanks for all your support in making this one of the most successful blogs at the paper.

Anyway, former Lightning coach John Tortorella is expected to meet Sunday with Islanders GM Garth Snow about New York's head coaching position. The Islanders already have interest in Paul Maurice and Bob Hartley.

I have no inside information here, but from the outside looking in, this just doesn't seem like a good fit for either side. Of course, that means he will be hired. Still, look at the circumstances. The Islanders have a bunch of young players and older players and not much in between. It also is known Snow wants to see the young guys develop, and the main criticism that emerged last season about Torts was that the Lightning's younger players did not respond to his finger-in-the-chest approach. It also will be interesting to see how much control Snow is willing to give Torts. One thing that would be a huge pus for Torts is how good he would be in the community.

Tortorella can be choosy when it comes to a new job. He is getting $1.3-million to pay off the final year of his Lightning contract if he doesn't work, so unless the situation is perfect, there is no need for him to make a plunge with which he is not totally comfortable.

Assistant Mike Sullivan also is free to speak to the Islanders, though there is no immediate word on if he is a candidate.

As we have mentioned before, former assistant Jeff Reese seems headed for the Maple Leafs. Former roving goaltenders coach Corey Schwab has signed on with the Sharks as goaltending development coach.