Doug Weight has been on the other side of this. With the same team, even. He was with the New York Islanders when they changed coaches from Scott Gordon to Jack Capuano in November of 2010. He understands that a move like that often comes with a short-term boost -- all the things you hear about: There’s a wake-up call, a new voice, a renewed focus.

It also doesn’t last long, unless there’s meaningful change.

By Weight’s estimation, the Islanders probably enjoyed that new-coach boost during the five games they won before the All-Star break.

“It was gone going into the Washington game,” Weight said, pointing to the first game after the break. “It’s five days off, everybody is gone. ... It’s settled in, they’re used to me.”

So now, this is when you measure what the Islanders are under the new coach. Are they improving? Is there enough there to go on a playoff run?