"Mike Sullivan and Scott Gordon aren't exactly marquee names in the NHL, but the next two candidates scheduled to interview for the Islanders' head-coaching vacancy this week might be the best fit for general manager Garth Snow's long-term plan to build with youthful prospects and the draft.

Sullivan sits down today with Snow, who spent yesterday interviewing former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella, who had Sullivan as an assistant coach last season. In keeping with the "small world" theme, Gordon, who was Sullivan's assistant with AHL Providence and replaced him as head coach at the end of the 2002-03 season, will meet with Snow on Wednesday.

Candidates on Snow's list who have not yet interviewed include former Colorado coach Joel Quenneville and Islanders assistant Gerard Gallant. Snow spoke with former Toronto coach Paul Maurice and former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley last week.

According to a team source, the interview process is expected to conclude within the next two weeks at the current pace. Tortorella's interview was said to have "gone as well as the interviews with Hartley and Maurice." Those three are the big-name candidates along with Quenneville."