Breaking down early contenders for Islanders’ coaching job

A look at potential candidates for the Islanders’ head-coaching vacancy after Lou Lamoriello on Tuesday fired coach Doug Weight and GM Garth Snow:

Alain Vigneault: Having just been fired by the Rangers after five mostly successful years (with some veteran-heavy teams), Vigneault might be the most polished candidate available. The biggest hump would be convincing the Islanders he can develop young players.

Dave Tippett: It has always been a focus of Lamoriello to have a team that defends, and Tippet, with more than 1,000 games coached in the NHL, always had a defense-first mentality.

Sheldon Keefe: Lamoriello would enjoy poaching the 37-year-old Keefe from the Maple Leafs’ AHL farm team after Toronto moved Lamoriello out of the GM role.

Barry Trotz: Despite being just one win away from a Stanley Cup victory, the Capitals might decide not to give Trotz a new contract after this one expires at the end of the season.

Darryl Sutter: A low-key personality to fit Lamoriello’s wants, Sutter might be drawn off his ranch in Alberta to gun for a third Stanley Cup, having won two with the Kings. He could turn it into a brotherly bench with Brent, a former Islanders captain.

John Madden: The gritty two-way center who won two Stanley Cups with Lamoriello’s Devils has been coaching AHL Cleveland for the past two seasons.

Scott Stevens: Another former Devil, the three-time Cup winner once split the bench duties in New Jersey with Lamoriello and Adam Oates in 2014-15.