Doug Weight closed the book on an excellent 19-year NHL career on May 26, but the four-time All-Star center isn't bidding farewell to the Islanders just yet.

Weight, who appeared in just 54 games the last two seasons as captain of the Isles because of shoulder and back injuries, will remain with the organization as an assistant coach and a special adviser to GM Garth Snow, the team announced.

"I knew the writing was on the wall and it was something I was going to have to face," a teary Weight said during his retirement press conference, according to the New York Daily News. "Saying goodbye and never playing again, it's terrible. It's tough. It's a sickening, sad feeling.

"But it's also a new chapter to hopefully the greatest chapter of my life."

The 40-year-old Weight amassed 1,033 points in 1,278 NHL games, making him the sixth-highest points producer among American-born players. He also was a four-time All-Star with Edmonton and St. Louis, a member of the U.S. World Cup gold-medal team in 1996, a three-time U.S. Olympian and a Stanley Cup champion with Carolina in 2006.

"His playing career speaks for itself," Snow said. "And his value to this team's young core has been immeasurable."

Weight told reporters he mostly will be in charge of the Isles' power-play unit on Jack Capuano's staff while also working with Snow in various front-office matters. He also acknowledged that he's "leaning more toward the management side" than a coaching career.

"It's going to be an easy transition for me," Weight said. "I'll be at every game and will feed off their energy. I am not worried about the dynamic, at all. ... I honestly believe this will be a playoff team next season and I'm thrilled to continue to be a part of it."

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
Making it look mean? Some might not see it as a highlight, and the NHL certainly did not, but the Islanders will most be remembered this season for a brawl-filled bloodbath right out of "Slapshot" at Nassau Coliseum against the Penguins on Feb. 2. Nine days after winger Blake Comeau was concussed on a blindside hit by Max Talbot and Rick DiPietro had his face split open in a goalie fight with Brent Johnson, the Isles exacted some revenge, but it came with a price in both dollars and reputation. Fourth-line goon Trevor Gillies was suspended nine games -- one shy of another ban he was slapped with later in the season. Rookie Matt Martin also received a four-game sentence and Bridgeport call-up Micheal Haley engaged in three fights -- including with Johnson. The Isles also were fined $100,000 for not controlling their players.

TURNING POINT
The youthful Isles opened the season with nine points in their first six games (4-1-1) and appeared poised in the opening weeks to accelerate GM Garth Snow's rebuild. But then the massive injuries the team endured -- beginning with serious ones to key components Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo at the end of training camp -- became too much to overcome. The Isles couldn't stem a 1-17-3 slide through mid-December until it was too late to save coach Scott Gordon's job or salvage the season. A second-half push got the Isles back within single digits in points of a playoff spot, but despite many individual improvements, they finished again with a bottom-5 record in the league. They also finished with the most penalty minutes in the NHL, with more than 1,500.

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