BREAKING NEWS: Point Blank Readers Recall Fritz
Just kiddin’: the Islanders recall enforcer Mitch Fritz
11:25 am, NVMC - Enforcer Mitch Fritz is on the ice with the Islanders at practice this morning at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The 6-8 Fritz is wearing a yellow practice jersey, along with hip surgery-recovering Mike Sillinger. Scott Gordon also has the following trios:
Hilbert – Thompson – Park
Hunter – Nielsen – Okposo
Tambellini – Comrie – Sim
Bergenheim – Weight – Guerin
What it all means right now, would be silly to guess. Okay, we will. Fritz will play Thursday night in Philadelphia, and one of the 8 wings will take in a game from the press box.
Now if the Phillies-Rays are postponed again tonight, any chance the NHL and Flyers move the puck-drop time – or move the game altogether? Just a thought.
58 Responses to BREAKING NEWS: Point Blank Readers Recall Fritz
Just kiddin’: the Islanders recall enforcer Mitch Fritz
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Joe says:
Made my day, I hope they dress him this time.
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Hilbert or Park definitely need to sit, Id like it to be Tamby but I just cant see it happening.
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Hotstick says:
GET RID OF HILBERT ALREADY !!I CANT TAKE WATCHIN THE GUY ANYMORE…YEH HE HAS HEART,BUT THAT ISNT AMOUNTING TO GOALS!THIS TEAM JUST CANNOT SCORE.WHAT OTHER TEAM IN THE NHL CAN GET 60 SHOTS ON GOAL AND STRUGGLE TO SCORE 3 GOALS??CAN THEY PLEASE BRING UP BLAKE COMEAU ALREADY?HE WAS ONE OF OUR ONLY GOOD OFFENSIVE PLAYERS LAST YEAR DOWN THE STRETCH.HE HAS MORE POISE N SKILL W/ THE PUCK THAN MOST OF THE GUYS ON THE CURRENT ROSTER!!
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To be honest, it would not surprise me if it was Bergenheim who sat during the game. Coach Gordon is impressed with his skating and hard work, but he takes dumb penalties and he is not providing offensively. They could easily shift Sim to the “top line” and then put Park in Sim’s place and Fritz in Park’s place. Regardless of whether or not Tamebellini is scoring, he is still skating, forechecking, and backchecking. He is just not fortunate enough to bury one in the back of the net just yet. I look forward to him burying one, so that maybe he can turn it around. All it takes is one goal. As for Hilbert and Park, I don’t care if they aren’t scoring, but that line with Thompson has been the best line we have, so there is no need to break that apart. Thompson was a great pick-up thus far, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Comrie traded before Thompson is demoted. Atleast one of them has heart!
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Cain says:
Maybe we’re seeing some changes based on the Captain’s meeting?!? Hmmmm.
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TuxTax says:
Bergenheim is one of the few that has provided offensive spark, Hilbert and Park are not goal scorers on this team, they are penalty killers. Tamby needs to sit, maybe that will light a fire under his ass for not being aggressive when going into the offensive zone and taking low percentage shots directly at a defensemans skates.
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bCarey says:
CB, follow-up question from your answers to my Lighthouse Project queries:
They intend to only renovate during the off-season? So this means that A. they will be playing in a building that for all intents and purposes will be under construction and B. it will take nine years to finish.
Phils-Rays will play tonight. I’ve been keeping an eye on the radar and it is pretty clear out there.
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Tim says:
Scratch Park? He’s been the best forward on this team. How many times has he set up Hilbert with a beautiful pass? I’d like to see Park play with someone who can put the puck in the net.
Does anyone else think Comrie should sit? He’s been downright awful. Move Park to center on that line and put Fritz with Thompson and Dilbert. Scratch Comrie for a game and watch him give a damn for a few weeks.
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I never liked Comrie. He would fit right in on the Junior Islanders though. He was a minus 21 last year, weak on the puck, zero stick handling moves and does anyone know of a website that we can look up his Empty Net Goals?
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mike says:
Fritz Thompson Park
…looks good to me.
On another topic, does anyone know when Michael Haley will be healthy? Not to get greedy, but I think a Fritz, Thompson, Haley line would be exciting/entertaining…
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UIF says:
I thought the Isles had a little something going when Neilson was out there last game with Hunter and Sim. I don’t know if that was just because they were in the middle of a line change, but those three looked like they controlled the play well together.
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And the headline is great, CB
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ISLESFAN99 says:
THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST MOVE BY THE ISLANDERS ALL YEAR.. HAHA FINALLY WE ADDED TOUGHNESS WITH SUTTON AND FRITZ.. LETS GO ISLES!!
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Pat says:
Let’s Go Fritz !!!!
Excuse me, Mr. Cote? – Mitch Fritz is here to see you.
Pat
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Ryan says:
woohoo we added a fighter, we’re going to win the cup!!!
please some of us are acting like this man is going to be a game changer. Whats he going to do go and fight the entire team? No he’ll play about 7 mins and fight Cote and that’s it. I’ll get excited about adding a player when it’s Blake Comeau or another top notch prospect through trade
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if that guy isnt a a descendant of the vikings i dont know who is.. the islanders should make him a bear fur jersey
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Ryan, he’ll prevent guys like Cote from cleaning the glass with Nielsen’s face. We’re 2-6 with no toughness and average about 7000 fans. What’s the problem?
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Chris TMC says:
I cannot believe that anyone would suggest that Richard Park should be in a press box. Parkie is great.
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AZS says:
There are many possible candidates that should sit …one person that doesn’t get mentioned is Sim. I was expecting him to be a pest – a hard skater …but he looks slow out on the ice and isn’t mixing it up out there physically …his one goal came at the end of a blowout …why not sit him for a game?
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What he will do is stand 6′ 10″ on skates and he will be right out on the ice if one of our boys gets laid out. And I hope he fights Cheap Shot Cote.
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ryan- stop being a little long island baby at least we have something to look forward to.have some drinks and get into the game
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Mike says:
The only guy who can’t sit is KO the rest of the team is talentless and it really doesn’t matter who sits!
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jax says:
Fritzy baby!!! Finally a reason to watch this sad,soft, talentless team.
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Mitch Fritz isn’t going to put people in the seats, I never said we don’t need to add toughness but at what cost? Fritz is a guy playing fourth line minutes in the AHL, who hasn’t even fought down there. Why not add a guy like Tim Jackman, who can fight and stick up for his teammates, but also won’t hurt the team.
Joe to call me a little Long Island baby is a little classless no? And if you all you look forward to is fighting at a hockey game then you must not be a very big hockey fan
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Wow, I’m not trying to start something here, but if watching Fritz for the 3 minutes of ice time he’ll see is the only reason you’re watching this team then maybe you shouldn’t even bother watching?
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Ryan,
Your logic is faulty. When I (or any “hockey fan”) go to an Islanders game, a fight is not “all” I look forward to. I also look forward to exciting goals, dazzling saves, big hits, etc. Most of all, I look forward to and Islanders victory.
This season, given that we’re rebuilding, the victories may be few and far between. While the kids are developing, and while DP is injured, the goals, saves, hits, etc. may also occur far less often than I, and most fans, would like. So what’s left for the loyal Isles fans to cheer for in the NVMC? A fight, that’s what. That’s why bringing Fritz up was a good move.
You may be right in that Fritz, by himself, may not bring people to the NVMC. But he should bring excitement to the people that show up. He should give the fans something to cheer about, which is more than Andy Hilbert does.
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Ryan, this guy manhandled Colton Orr a couple years back, TKO’d Rupp in pre-season and can throw some monster hits. He may not be the most talented guy and he, directly, wont put people in the seats. He will provide entertainment, if this team was less boring, more people would pay attention to it. Even when people are in the coliseum these days, the general feeling is that of boredom, thats not the right feel at a hockey game. Some old school hockey with Fritzy, Thompson and Sutton would make people happy.
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AZS, everyone here is watching this team. I doubt anyone is going to turn on the Isles to watch Fritz skate his three minutes and throw down with Cote. That’s what hockeyfights.com is for. But, for those of us watching these pansies play every night (and falling asleep half the time), it’s an exciting addition. Teams across the league employ enforcers, but not the Isles.
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So his one fight that lasts maybe two mins is whats going to bring excitement to the coliseum???
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Furthermore, do you see the reaction from people in the comments alone? Alot more happiness than usual.
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Those two minutes will be more exciting then the next 58 that’s for sure.
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Ryan, did you watch the Carolina game? Getting shut down, noone was happy, Thompson fought and gave the fans and the team a spark. Thats what hes supposed to do, if you want to watch a team that is soft and not going to win, watch Toronto, its surely not what I want to watch. If you are going down, why not go down with a fight. You keep emphasizing he wont help them win a cup, well, the guys we have now arent going to help that either.
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Also, we have a couple guys that dont seem to want to play, this is a wake up cal lthat they will be replaced, thats exactly how it should be handled.
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I’m with you Joe 100% These guys act like Fritz will be holding us back from the conference finals……
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Ryan: CB’s (clever) title to his post says it all: the fans want Fritz. Why not give them (us) what they (we) want?
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See you people keep missing my points. I’m not saying we don’t need to add toughness or have an edge. I would rather see them call up a guy like Jackman, who will defend his teammates and fight, yet he won’t be hurting the team on the ice and could take a regular shift. And Joe as you said Nate Thompsons not afraid to drop the gloves. Plus Andy Sutton is coming back and the team is missing the ultimate tough guy in Brendan Witt.
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Ryan: Sutton and Witt are tough, not “tough guys”. They are too important to fight, Witt had 1 fight last year, Sutton’s max is 6. Guys that play 20+ minutes shouldnt have to be fighting all the time. Thompson is 6’0 and can only go with MW’s. Jackman is a good team guy but loses all of his fights. A guy like Fritz, who can take on anyone, and wont hurt the team if he plays for 7 shifts is not a bad idea. The fourth line isnt supposed to be a major contributor, they are the energy line. Wheres the first 3 lines? Maybe thats what you should be angry about.
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Ryan, you’re missing the point. Jackman is not a heavyweight. Neither is Thompson. Sutton just got back fron hand surgery so don’t expect him to drop the gloves anytime soon. Witt is tough, but he is not a great fighter . There is a big differense between the two. Jackman is just a bigger version of Hollweg (punching bag)Fritz is a true heavyweight. He might be a career AHL’ER but he is all we got. You can thank Snow for that.
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Willis says:
I’m hearing people say sit Tambellini but if I’m the coach I’m weighing more than who isn’t producing. Tamby might just need a little more time. He’s not causing penalties. Bergy has a great spirit but might need a little discipline, from a standpoint of a teacher/coach. Nip bad habits in the bud whenever possible and with Fritz coming in its the perfect time. I can’t see sitting Park or Hilbert who are two great penalty killers and can be a necessary part of helping keep the Isles in games.
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So basically what I’m getting out of all of this is the Islanders can lose the game but you guys will be happy cause Mitch Fritz beat Riley Cote in a fight???
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We’ll be happy that Sean Bergenheim isn’t the one who has to drop the gloves. Get a f’n clue.
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What we are saying is that Fritz replacing anyone of our 5th line players is not going to decide the game. Most fans would like to see a tough guy on the roster. You know kind of like 29 other teams that have one. Why do you guys act like Fritz will be replacing a gretzky and will get 20 minutes a game. Who watch Hilbert falling all over the ice for 5 minutes a night when we can have Fritz roaming the ice like Doc Holliday for 5 minutes. It’s a no brainer.
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Maybe you’ll understand when Cote gives Okposo a forearm shiver and we have someone to respond to that. Do you not understand the role of an enforcer? It’s more than just the fight.
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Willis, I don’t know about Tamby. I do think he should stay in the lineup just so there are no more excuses about ice time, not getting a chance, etc. But most of this year, including a couple of times during the Ranger game, he races an opposing player to the puck along the boards, and then pulls up at the last second. For a guy fighting to establish himself to do that is maddening. To Neilson’s credit, he may get pushed off the puck, but at least he’s not afraid to get in there and try to do the dirty work, or at least go to tough areas to try and make something happen.
Just doesn’t look like Tamby’s toughened up at all after his experiences last year.
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UIF: couldn’t agree more about Tamby. He needs to play bigger.
Ryan: here is the point that I (and I believe others) have been trying to make: in an ideal world, we would be treated to many exciting Islanders victories on the scoreboard. Given our team, that’s just not going to happen this year (but hopefully we’ll position ourselves to make a run at the playoffs next year). If we’re not going to win, I (we) think it’s a good idea to dress a guy like Fritz, who will bring excitement to the arena, who will deter opposing teams from taking liberties with our guys, and who can punish players who are not deterred by Fritz’s mere presence on the ice (or bench).
I understand your point about Jackman. The problem is that while Jackman may be a better player than Fritz, he is a much worse fighter. He instills no fear in any opposing player and is therefore ineffective at preventing other teams from taking advantage of our smaller/younger/weaker players. That’s why I’m happy the Isles decided to bring up Fritz, instead of Jackman.
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Ryan: I will still be mad about a loss but at least there will be someone who shows fire on the ice.
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Pride-N- Passion NYI Hockey~ says:
it’s about time !!
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Strummer's Army says:
I agree Hilbert brings nothing to our roster and never has. I don’t understand how they can talk about winning when they have players like him on the roster.
I am happy Sutton is coming back and also that Fritz was called up. I hope this time they insert him because if you remember he was up for the Florida trip and not inserted. Hopefully they monitor this site and are going to play Fritz now and keep him in the line up.
Doesn’t seem to be much trade talk involving our boys. I do concur I’d like to see Comrie moved on.
Snow has a tremedous opportunity with the vets he has to get a healthy return in moving them to playoff teams. I hope this year he makes the most of it.
I think of the past two years where he seemed undecisive and we ended up getting nothing for guys like Satan and Blake. Not saying there was a huge return being offered but there was a good prospect for Blake according to Logan. If you got a 4th rounder for a guy like Satan who they had no intention of keeping then that would have been better then the nothing they got.
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You do know Satan had a NTC right?
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kevin says:
hes not replacing park i hope. you guys no he is our assistant captain. who would sit there assistant captain
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Bench Hilbert. End oof Story. He scored his 1 goal for the year.
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UIF, you’re right about Tambs’ stopping short, or aversion to touch, how could I forget when it is so frustrating to see. Not sure how a coach would think but many people seem to think Bergenheim is causing penalties so I went with that. Personally if it was a choice between sitting Bergenheim or Tambellini I sit Tambellini no contest. But that’s just me.
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Angelo says:
Tambie seems to play too softly and scared to get dirty. How many times has he sped up the wing with the puck without even thinking of making a move to the middle and ends up just taking a soft wrister from a terrible angle close to the icing line? I don’t think benching will light a fire under him. Introverted as he seems, a benching might just crush any little confidence he has left. IMHO, saintly patience is the key for him IF he really has what it takes. He needs to get TONS of encouragement.
Deep down, though, I don’t think he has the guts for this level.
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I do remember he had an NTC but I figured he would agree to waive to go to a playoff team so he could continue to play and make addition money in the playoffs.
Everyone on here seems to feel Tams time is running out. Snow said the table was set for him to succeed this year and I agree. He is a former first rounder who produces big time except on the NHL Level.
I think it wise to move him before his value really sinks.I really enjoy Botta listing the teams scouting the Islander games. Recetently we have seen Montreal(who we play soon), Pho and Det consistently at our games. I have checked the rosters and while there are a few good young centers on Pho that I don’t think they will part with I am interested to know why they are shadowing the Isles so much?
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You figured wrong, Strummer. There was no reason for Miro to waive that NTC, it wouldnt have benefitted him at all. It would have just uprooted his family and allowed the Isles to pick where and when he was sent- while he was playing injured, no less! Instead, he waited until FA when he was healed, and picked where he wanted to go. AND he would up on one of the best teams in the NHL, playing with the like s of Crosby.
Think- if you were Miro, playing injured and with a family, what would YOU have done? Exactly what the real Miro would up doing.
But no matter how many times this info is presented, there will always be people angry that the Islanders didnt know a way to magically trade him… I know, becuase Ive read it time and time again from various Isles fans!
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Also- about your idea that Tambs needs to be moved now before his value goes down: That time came and went. The Isles are giving him more of a chance now, and I am OK with that idea, but Tambs has no trade value anymore. Someone might pick him up for nothing off waivers, but that is it.
i hope it’s tambellini who sits. for the most part i think that he’s looked clueless on the ice not only this year but last year too. i really don’t think that he’s an nhl player. i’m really curious to see fritz fight, err i mean play.