Ted Nolan's return to NHL coaching ended after only two years on Monday when he split with the New York Islanders over “philosophical differences” with general manager Garth Snow. The rift between Nolan and Snow grew last season when the Islanders failed to make the NHL playoffs. Snow said he felt the team was underachieving while Nolan countered that he lacked adequate personnel. The decision to leave was mutual. “The process for me was something that took a lot of time to come to terms with,” Snow said. “We all know we probably weren't all on the same page in certain areas. It wasn't going to work if two people aren't on the same page. That's why the meeting was healthy because we both realized that there were differences in philosophy.” After getting the Islanders into the playoffs in 2007, Nolan guided the club to a 35-9-38 finish last season. He finished his New York tenure with a 74-21-68 mark.
