Doug Weight returns home a NHL head coach
By @StefanKubus –
Doug Weight grew up in a neighborhood near 7 Mile Rd. and Gratiot Ave., just 10 miles northeast of Joe Louis Arena.
He played his youth hockey in St. Clair Shores, he played against Little Caesars at The Joe and, of course, carved a successful 1,033-game NHL career that saw him record 12 points in 32 visits to Detroit.
Now, in the historic building’s farewell season, Weight returns once again, but this time as the interim head coach of the New York Islanders.
“I have a lot of ’em,” Weight said when asked if he had any particularly fond memories of coming to The Joe growing up. “I’ve watched a lot of hockey here, played a lot of games as a youth, probably four or five games. College games (with) Lake Superior, coming back was very special, winning the CCHA Tournament was special in this building, beating Michigan in overtime. That was something, having my whole family, friends… and then every time I come back. My first game here was pretty special. I think my first faceoff was against Stevie (Yzerman), and I’m thinking, ‘What in the heck is going on?’ so I grew up watching these guys. It’s always special, I think it’s great for the city moving to a new building, but it’s always bittersweet I think when you say goodbye to a building that has not only been here for so long, but they achieved so much. They had so many great teams, great players that go through. This organization has been sound for so long, one of the best in sports, so those are some great memories not only for me but for the city for sure.”
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Weight, who is also the Isles’ assistant general manager, has filled in admirably since Jack Capuano was fired on Jan. 17. Since, the Isles have gone 5-0-1 heading into Friday’s tilt with Detroit. The Detroit native joined Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill (Sault Ste. Marie) and Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma (Grand Haven) as the only homegrown NHL head coaches currently in the league.
“The beginning has been great, that’s no secret,” Weight said. “It’s always a shocker when something like that happens within an organization and, first and foremost, from staff to the top-down, you take accountability for it, but one man gets the brunt of it so it’s a tough situation and we were close with Jack (Capuano) and that team liked Jack. So we had to take the positives out of it and we’ve had to move on.
Like Detroit, the Islanders are fighting for their playoff lives, as they currently sit five points back of the second wild card spot in a tough Metropolitan Division.
“For me, so far it’s been great, but there’s always gonna be ebbs and flows in this league that’s for sure,” Weight said. “There’s so many great teams. It’s gonna be a tough one tonight, but the cliché thing is, we’ve dug ourselves a hole so we have to take it one game at a time.”
Especially in The Joe’s final campaign, Friday night’s game marks the second-to-last trip Weight will make back to the building he frequented as a kid.
“I’ll always be a fan and especially of this building, so it’s very special to come back here,” Weight said. “I think we’re back two, three weeks, as well, so no tears yet, we’re here for business, but it’s always a special thing to have my family back.”