The New York Islanders have promoted Rocky Thompson to assistant coach. The 48-year-old joins the NHL team's staff after leading the AHL's Bridgeport Islanders to the playoffs. Thompson brings extensive coaching experience from multiple leagues.
The New York Islanders announced the addition of Rocky Thompson as assistant coach. Thompson, a Calgary native, spent the past year as head coach of the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. There, he guided the team to a 34-30-3-5 record and their first Calder Cup Playoffs appearance since 2022. This marks his first role on the NHL club's staff. Thompson previously coached the Chicago Wolves in the AHL from 2017 to 2020, posting a 113-71-29 record (.599 winning percentage). That tenure included two Central Division titles and a run to the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. He also assisted the Oklahoma City Barons from 2010 to 2014, reaching the playoffs each year, including Western Conference Finals in 2012 and 2013. In the NHL, Thompson served as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2022 to 2025 and as associate coach for the San Jose Sharks in 2020-21. Earlier, he led the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup victory in 2017. Before coaching, Thompson played 10 professional seasons, including 566 AHL games across several teams. The Calgary Flames selected him in the third round of the 1995 NHL Draft, and he appeared in 25 NHL games with Calgary and Florida.