FINAL CUTS
7 sent to Bridgeport; Bailey survives
(Another tough one for Colliton)
The Islanders have just announced their final cuts of training camp:
Forwards: Jeremy Colliton, Mitch Fritz, Tim Jackman, Kurtis McLean, Trevor Smith
Defenseman: Chris Lee
Goaltender: Yann Danis
This would leave the following. Lines are based strictly on today’s practice:
Jon Sim - Doug Weight - Bill Guerin
Jeff Tambellini - Frans Nielsen - Trent Hunter
Mike Comrie - Richard Park - Andy Hilbert
Sean Bergenheim - Josh Bailey - Kyle Okposo
Blake Comeau
Brendan Witt - Radek Martinek
Jack Hillen - Mark Streit
Freddy Meyer - Bruno Gervais
Thomas Pock - Brett Skinner
Rick DiPietro - Joey MacDonald
Injured: Chris Campoli, Andy Sutton
I would expect Mitch Fritz to be back-and-forth based on need for an enforcer. Hope to get an explanation by tonight on the decision to keep Bailey.
Gotta believe you have some thoughts. The Comment box is open.
68 Responses to “FINAL CUTS
7 sent to Bridgeport; Bailey survives”
Please Wait
Very interesting. I find it hard to believe that Comeau will be the odd man out. The last 20 games of the season he was the only one hustling and creating chances. If that is true i could see a game or two before Comeau replaces nearly every single person on the roster. Keep us updated on the Bailey decision. defintely sounds more PR than anything.
Couple of thoughts:
1) I watched the Flyers preseason game. Bailey looked nowhere near ready. I heard he was overmatched last night as well. I can’t even begin to stress my disagreement of keeping him out even though I am a huge fan of the kid.
I don’t understand what the problem would be if they just called up Colliton for 4th line play? He’s the quintessential 4th liner, IMO.
2) There is no reason at all why Comeau should be the scratch to start the season.
3) Nice to see Skinner and Hillen make it after good camps.
Great PR move to cover up the Draft Blunder !!
Bailey never got his chance to show his stuff. They have nine games to play him before his contract gets activated. Why not let him get that extra bit of experience now. That’s essentially what the Leafs and Blues are doing with their first rounders. Play nine games then head back to junior.
I agree with “Flex”. Unless Bailey gets 10 points in the first 9 games you send him down. Although I’d rather sit Hilbert than Comeau
Hilbert was a Gordon boy at Providence. Scratching him would be like Nolan actually playing him in a checking role.
What a disgrace.
How the hell is comeau the odd man out?? Please tell me that’s a mistake. It’s getting harder and harder to root for this team. It really is.
I’d sit Hilbert, Tambellini, Hunter or Comrie before I’d sit Comeau.
Unless he had a really bad preseason and camp, I can think of no reason not to be dressing and skating that guy.
someone, anyone please explain hilbert as anything other than a healthy scratch on this team. he’s like the doofus that everybody tries to feed goals to at the end of runaway games. i have never seen the like in the nhl. . .but comeau might sit instead of him. . .great.
My guess is that Bailey will have a nine game tryout and most likely return to juniors unless he really produces in that short period of time. On Comeau, we all appreciate his hustle, effort and grit but he’s never produced offensively as a pro on any level. He’s never even scored more than 12 goals in the minors. He had 15 points in sixty-something games last year and everyone wants him on the top line. He’s a good guy to have around and is probably a checking line forward or 4th line guy at his best. I know this goes against what everyone else here feels, but he’s a hard-working complimentary-type player. Last year Park was far more productive yet no one mentions that he shouldn’t be on the 4th line. Comeau will get plenty of playing time throughout the season but right now our biggest need (of many) is offensive production and Comeau just hasn’t shown he can create offense. Just my opinion. (okay, I ready for the nasty comebacks, just let’em fly).
snow is just trying to prove to the world that he was right about picking bailey. i wouldnt be surprised to see him spend the entire season with the isles.
i like the lines except 4 the fact comeau being scracthed that is just beyond me as were going through a youth movement and one of our better players is scratched…unless he had a terrible camp which i havtn read anywhere he deseveres 2 be there over hilbert
The Devs are going to abuse the isles friday night. Sending down Fritz and Jackman was a big mistake especially Fritz. This team is a joke and will continue too be one until they move to portland.
At least the Bailey/Bergenheim/Okposo (assuming they stay together) line should be fun to watch and analyze. Even though there’s no major surprises, for some reason seeing this on paper (or my computer screen) is reinforcing the primary question for the season - where will the goals come from? Here’s hoping for a lot of 2-1 wins.
Bailey is not a bad pick. period.
Surprised about Comeau being at the bottom like that. Did you see him play more than once or twice Chris and can you give us some insight on why he might be odd man out?
Why not let Josh Bailey try and be set up type center to start the year. If he plays it will not hurt his development. This team needs a spark and some excitement. If we lose without him why not lose with him.
Well just like i thought, Snow needs Bailey up just so people think ” oh wait Snow must have known what he was doing, the kid made the NHL”
Well Mr Snow Job, us Islander fans are not that dumb actually we are use to Lame PR Spinjobs by this team. Snow you cant fool us we know you messed up stop trying to feed us this crap . Bailey has no buisness in NHL this year, but you want to prove you did the right thing by trading down 3 times. Stop piling on a mistake by making another mistake. Have we not seen this before Islander Fans ?
1}Bertuzzi being rushed - how did that turn out? Traded then blossoms for another team
2]Connolly being rushed - Same thing happens if not for his concussions he would be a star
3]Redden rushed then traded cause they thought he was soft
Also now we know why he choose Gordan as his coach , no way no how Nolan has this kid on his roster. So now our GM has a puppet he can pull all his BS with without getting any static from.
Its Islander Hockey- Home of the “SNOW JOB”
Chris, Who do you think has the best chance of surprising us this year. Is it Tambellini, Neilsen, Comeau, Okposo or none of the above. Can anyone of these players approach a 20 to 25 goal season. If they got a bunch of playing time and don’t score what is the plan? Will we stick with these youngsters for another year if they don’t produce. These aren’t can’t miss prospects…we could be headed for a long decade if this plan doesn’t pan out.
If Comeau is a healthy scratch friday night and Hilbert is in the lineup I’m done with this team. WTF!!!!!!
Just thinking out loud here, but if Lee is injured, can he be sent down?
Um wow. People, Bailey’s most likely only going to get nine games. Let him get some experience under his belt. It’s not like it’s going to hurt the Isles. Geez.
One more thought..Not having that Steve Webb presence has hurt this team big time the last 2 years. We don’t play physical and therefore we don’t steal some games at home that we have no business winning Fritz at least could fire up the crowd and energize the team with physical play. It’s been missing since Webb that weirdo Simon doesn’t count. We have to play fast and physical to give us a chance to win. Big mistake not keeping Fritz
Rich, I understand your point but i highly doubt Mitch Fritz will steal us a game. Plus, how many people will be at the coliseum that can get fired up? I get to my share of games a year but unless it is opening night or a Rangers game or a ridiculous promotion the place will have too many empty seats. Sad but true. I hope it changes this year but there is no way of knowing at this point.
Without Fritz who is going to spark the 75 people at the game? Another small,soft,puchless team. Nice plan guys.
I cant believe no ENFORCER! This team SUCKS, they just got real BORING. Call me when we get a Enforcer i cant watch this garbage anymore.
never mind about Lee
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=251947&lid=sublink08&lpos=headlines_main
Experience Islanders Hockey.
People, I think the problem has been not having a goal scorer has hurt this team more, and what does every goal scorer need? its a setup man which what bailey is to Okposo…so the team just wants to see how they play together big deal? It wont matter since everyone in the world, fans and all have put this team in last place. Can we see one game before judging this team? No one knows for sure whats going to happen and obviously whatever does happen someone will be mad…So calm down watch some hockey and dont start stringing up Garth Snow just because of a few losses…(you can rip on Johnnette though)
Blake Comeau deserves a regular spot on this team! He was one of the few bright spots from last season!
Softest team in the league, I hope everyone gets run on Fri.
When Comrie has to drop the gloves you know this team is a joke. I wish I wasn’t a die hard fan so I could just forget about this team.
The lines were just based on one practice people.
CB - appears a scoop on Comeau as the apparent “odd man out” may get you more hits than a scoop on why Bailey stays with the team to start the season.
As part of that scoop on Comeau, maybe you can let us know if he pulled a “Campoli” - you know, figured his spot was locked up, so relaxed a bit during camp/preseason, and didn’t impress the new regime.
If I remember correctly, only Bailey, Comeau, and Okposo can be sent anywhere other than the press box, so even if Bailey goes to juniors, he’s replaced by Sillinger or Comrie, and no way Okposo is going to BP before Comeau (unless KO really, really craps the bed).
Sorry I should have said “no way Okposo is going to the PB (Press Box) before Comeau”
Comeau odd man out and Hilbert in??
No Enforcer on the Bench?
Let the Circus begin and they will be Smacked around!
Comeau in the press box, not a big deal- it won’t last- just ask the Tamby detractors!
Point is that Comeau was a bonus last year- I always got him mixed up with Colliton when they were drafted and started coming up through the system.
That Comeau blossomed last year is by management as a nice surprise to be sure, but knowing what they have in Blake is the biggest reason why they can afford to sit him in the first place!
Not knowing for certain if Tamby will respond is the bigger question- or if guys like Hilbert and Park can show more than just hustle and defensive prowess (read: penalty killers).
Mitch Fritz is a nice option, but I am afraid that’s all that he is- there are enough tough guys on the roster (Guerin, Witt, Sutton when healthy) to deal with the so-called middle weights and pests the other teams have- its not like Godard or Laracque will be grabbing Okposo for a fight… c’mon people, do you know your hockey???
This just keeps getting better every time I check this blog!
Hey people, let’s not make Comeau out to be the second coming of Christ…OK! He’s in the same boat as everyone else on this team. A bunch of average hockey players trying to play for a below average team. Let’s not fool ourselves!
I want the Isles to be a good team just like the next guy. But let’s call a spade a spade!!
Nobody is saying Comeau is the next big thing. But he has top 6 forward potential written all over him. Which is a lot more then any of the other youngsters we have besides KO. So too have him on the 4th line or press box is a joke. Kind of like this franchise. Nobody is saying the kid is awesome but he can be a very solid NHL’ER.
If just about every other team in the NHL has room for a heavyweight. Garth Snow saying there is no room on the N.Y. ISLANDERS is a f’ing embarrassment. Snow sometimes acts like a GM with no experience, Oh wait my bad….. I can’t wait until we trade down from the 1st pick next year for a bunch of 4th and 5th rd picks. Let’s face it until this team moves or Wang sells and the team stays with new owners who havea clue we are going to suck. End of story!!!!
Hilbert? …. Hilbert?…. fking Hilbert?
If “Dilbert”, Is In The Lineup on this saturday??? (playing over Comeau)
Then We are Screwed once again !!
Gervais taking the Ice is Bad enough,
(hopefully a healthy return of campoli will finish bruno on the island)….
I mean 5 or 10 more games of (BabY Bruno)
should finish him here?
I mean i refer to him ( Baby)
because he look’s like a child @ 24 ,
he plays like a child, alot of descisions he makes on the Ice appear as mentality of a child…
Perhaps most important to me, as we have waited for this supposed slick moving D-men to develop this supposed offensive up side we were told about when drafted?
He Competes like a Child, Physically!
(a Boy against Men)
Though with the strategy that appears to be in place now WE ARE SCREWED!!
The NY Islanders are still & always will be my team!
Yet”unfortunately” to me it appears in some aspects SNOW DOES NOT GET IT ON THESE TWO!
Argue about Andy hilbert to me as much as you want a 4th line penalty killer can be found or made in this league with just a little hard work by coaching staff and decent eye by scouting staff…
STOP TELLING US ANDY DILBERT IS A VITAL COG on this TEAM!
enough he’s more of a pet in the organization.. period!
Well unless i see a “miracle” on saturday,
(meaning these lines really make an
impression on the game & the Fans)
forget about any ticket package for me, more like back to the couch and yelling into the tv for another year!
Was that Wench Johnette right????
“OH my God”,
Cant Believe I just said that!
Forgive me.
Ahh, She’s still just a mouth piece for Dolan in my eyes!
Last point i agree with killer on this point ..
Alterior motives other then right logical choice for Bailey.
( A PR Job to make Garth look Good to Wang)???? Hmmm I wonder?
I mean to me unless he really “dazzled”
in Camp or Pre-season?
(No mention of this from CB)
Then correct choice for this 19 yr old kid who can be a big part of our future,
is a darn easy one to me.
Send him Back to finish last year of Juniors.(Captain the team for last year)
Natural progression to most nhl club’s
Simplified…..
#1. Spring @ Bridgeport if they make it to playoffs.
#2 A game or 2 in the nhl at the end of the season. (to our club nothing simple)
Thats the bottom line baby c/mon garth!
P.S. Unless We are Playing Finesse’ teams?
(One out of 4 teams in NhL right now are without full time enforcers).. check out the rooster’s!
THEN WE ARE A SOFT CLUB PHYSICALLY AS WELL!
Forget about Scraps….
whos going to throw the body on this team other then witt &hunter?
Fritz should play at least 5 of every 10 games minimal..
the nhl style of play this year will dictate that !
Wow all Camp & pre-season Taught our Coaching staff & Gm, that this is our best option?
Hey all I know is,
This Overspeed Thing better work.
Or at least show signs it can work with the right Talent level infused!
(more drafts & free agents)
Other wise along with a possible,
Long Season?
A Season of more empty seats at the place they used to call.. “Fort Never Lose”..
Glory days… they’ll Pass you by
Bruce springsteen hit it right on the head!
We shall see?
Lets Go Islanders 2008-09′!
Good Luck, you may need it
No real surprises here other than maybe leaving Comeau as the odd-man out, of course that could change too before Friday. I think you will see Bailey play a few games, maybe the full 9 if he is doing well and then get sent to Junior. Fritz should be used as they have stated all along… a part time heavy weight. If NJ plays the Isles tough on Friday, then look for Fritz to be in the line-up the next time. Once rivalries start to heat up over the season, we should see Fritz up for games. Do I agree with it? No, but I bet that’s what happens.
Either Bailey is ready to contribute in the NHL or he isn’t. It appears, at least by his stats, that he isn’t. A 9 game tryout may or may not hurt his development. But it will certainly hurt the Team’s already small chances of winning, if he isn’t. More importantly, he directly hurts his linemates, who are counting on a NHL-level playmaker to get them the puck.
We can argue about the ceiling potential of Bergenheim and Okposo, but they are definitely bona-fide NHL players today. Having a prospect “only” play for 9 games, definitely hurts their progress this season. Even Hilbert, with Bergy and Okposo would make more sense than Bailey.
he said thee may be the lines, based on todays practice.
no way they will scratch comeau. as for bailey i just dont know about this move. hopefully they will just keep him up here for 9 games and thats it. if they keep him up longer i believe it would be very dum on theyre part. he needs more time.
Well reading these responses to to the lines BASED SOLEY ON TODAYS PRACTICE all I can say is way to over react. May be Comeau was just the odd man out today while the coaches took a closer look at some others. If he is a healthy scratch on Friday then I`ll reserve my judgement until I`ve seen his replacement play a few games.
Well just like i thought, Snow needs Bailey up just so people think ” oh wait Snow must have known what he was doing, the kid made the NHL”
Well Mr Snow Job, us Islander fans are not that dumb actually we are use to Lame PR Spinjobs by this team. Snow you cant fool us we know you messed up stop trying to feed us this crap . Bailey has no buisness in NHL this year, but you want to prove you did the right thing by trading down 3 times. Stop piling on a mistake by making another mistake. Have we not seen this before Islander Fans ?
1}Bertuzzi being rushed - how did that turn out? Traded then blossoms for another team
2]Connolly being rushed - Same thing happens if not for his concussions he would be a star
3]Redden rushed then traded cause they thought he was soft
Also now we know why he choose Gordan as his coach , no way no how Nolan has this kid on his roster. So now our GM has a puppet he can pull all his BS with without getting any static from.
Its Islander Hockey- Home of the “SNOW JOB”
No wonder you left this team Chris B……
Okay, just got back from my kid’s hockey game to 47 comments. Phew! I’ll address some of them in a post tonight. I spoke with Scott Gordon late this afternoon. Also, I’d chill on Comeau for a bit. A little early to over-react. And please, please, please watch the profane or offensive comments…thanks…CB
This looks worse and worse the more I look at the roster, scarce talent, no toughness, yikes! I hope Tavares and Donald Brashear are in this teams future. This is craptastic..
Awesome Chris, looking forward to see what Gordo told you and what your take on it is.
Calm down everyone. 8 of the top 9 picks in the draft this year are starting out the season on the NHL roster. 9 games will not hurt Bailey’s growth, like it wont hurt Schenn’s Filatov’s, Pieteranglo, etc…
Why the over reaction when a game hasnt been played.
Wait until after Saturday’s game then cricicize or praise the regime as you see fit.
Excellent job as always Chris. It is a pleasure to come to this site and read your multiple blogs daily.
I wish everyone would stop overreacting about Comeau being the extra forward in today’s practice. Tomorrow’s practice could see Okposo as being the extra forward, does that mean he will be scratched opening night? Friday afternoon we will probably know who is scratched, until then, the negative reactions need to stop already. The season hasn’t even started yet.
As for Bailey, I see this move as a no-brainer. If the organization is committed to youth and we are not very successful this year, the veterans will be dumped at the deadline. It makes much more sense for Bailey to play 9 games with the vets on the team now than come up at the end of the season when conceivably, most if not all of these vets could be gone.
Here’s to hoping we strike lightning in a bottle and Bailey tears it up and stays with the team all season and all the kids have productive years.
Not that CB gave me permission to answer for him, but I am going to try and address the Comeau uproar. The lines that Mr. Botta listed (I believe) are his informed conjecture based upon who has been playing with who during today’s practice and during the recent exhibition games. I don’t think that Coach Gordon (give the man some respect) announced his lines, rather he/the team announced who was being assigned to Bridgeport. Therefore for people to assume that Blake Comeau will be in the press box is jumping the gun. Let’s see what happens on Friday and Saturday and then bash away. On a personal note, I believe that Andy Hilbert will be waived when Mike Sillinger returns from I.R.
CB… sorry, heat of the moment comment.
Realizing Kids read this, I apologize for that!
Still, I believe alot of hockey people would see my points as “valid” ones.
Will refrain from this point on!
If PB meant Peter Botte made a New York Islander practice for the Daily News that’s the biggest shock of the day by a mile along with the club actually sticking the word New York into a release on Lee.
The rest of this is off base and folks should be thrilled with the depth and competition for jobs here because a lot of players can perform at this level.
So Garth Snow and Scott Gordon kept Bailey not to look bad because Filatov is ready?
Filatov played his first game thursday and missed all of camp with a leg injury and had only one shot.
But Filatov is NHL ready based on preseason while Bailey must go back?
I assume PB meant Point Blank
I strongly believe for the first time in a LONG time the Isles have the right coach and many of the right players. Ever since the Niel Smith draft they have been drafting well. I like the roster overall but unhappy with several aspects.
1)The Isles will never win anything with Hilbert on the roster. How is he listed ahead of Comeu?
2) Fritz and Collotton need to be in the line up. It is time for Comrie and Hilbert to leave.
3)For the 2nd straight year the Isles appear like they are going to suffer heavy amounts of injuries. If this occurs then it tells you the training and/or medical staffs need to be replaced.
4)This is still not a very good defense. It is also too small and not tough enough. Keepers are Witt, Streit, Hillen, and Sutton. Camps, Geravis, and Martinek are way too injury prone and need to be dealt now while they still have value.
5) Garth Snow’s career was ended because teams know they can run Islander goalies without repurcussions. This has not changed since. Yet, you have a goalie who is your franchise you refuse to protect. Go get guys like Kevin Bieksa from Van to protect Rick.
6) We need way more toughness. We need to get rid of guys like Hilbert, Park (age and position), Comrie, Sillinger (at the deadline he’ll bring a good return), martinek, Camps, Geravis. More toughness.
When SNow addresses those issues the Isles will be very good. I think the Isles will surprise teams this year.
Also, I’d just like to add, THE RANGERS SUCK!
I agree that the line pairings will likely change between now and the opener. I still don’t get the Comeau uproar. I think you get a hard working guy who gives his all but is limited offensively. Last year he had 8 goals in 51 games and his minor league stats tell you that he really has never been much of a scorer. At least give these other guys an opportunity and plug Comeau in where needed. I understand some folks’ unrest about possibly playing Hilbert over Comeau (although I do think Hilbert does work real well with Park on penalty kills). But other than Hilbert who else should really objectively sit….Tabellini-got to find out if he can cut it here?, Sim-need his intensity and offesnsive potential, Berganheim?, Comrie?, Park?, etc. Obviously we need to find some offensive upside. Comeau will play, he’s a known commodity and while limited offensively can provide a particular role. However, we must first find out about the questionmarks. Also, it does little harm to give Bailey some time with the big club, he may suprise, but if he’s sent down what’s been lost. I’m old enough to remember a 19 year old Bryan Trottier making the big club his first year and suprising a lot of folks, so role the dice and see what happens. Some you folks are so negative its depressing, maybe I’m overly optimistic but I’d at least like to see Gordon coach a few regular season games before we ride him out of town on a rail. Let’s go Islanders.
Islanders will be the most BORING team in the league. We cant score and we ARE the WEAKEST team in the league. Great combo Garth, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Do you really expect people to pay to watch this team?
strummer… here here with you on about every point!
This is a “soft team”.
regardless of system,vision, mentality!
No one is Looking for a Goon Team.
Save the feedback from an era’ gone by.
What is obviously lacking is a well rounded team?
i.e.(grit toughness)
Regardless of how limited we
are talent wise,
the managment of this club refuses to addresss the lack of physicality.
IT appears they believe the talent & strength on this rooster can master the overspeed theory??..Please!
If we had the Pens forwards, Habs,flyers, caps, sabres,…
then we could implement this system with a chance at success NOW!
(instead of using this as a coaching expirment that just might work in the future)
.. I have nothing bad to say about Scott gordon,
how could you? (he’s yet to coach a game)
I actually think his system has some meritt to it. (worked @ the ahl)….
I just think with the current blend on this club they will need to grind out wins as well to stay even remotely relative in the playoff picture.
I mean how will we match the afore mentioned clubs that have all this
“SPEED” & “SKILL” in their line up’s in the Eastern Conference?
where is all this speed in our lineup coming from?( when you name names reply with speed & skill..
point is “Pride” as we work on the passion
aspect while we attempt to re-invigirate this sleep walking franchise!
Bottom line……..
As we wait for the club to grow into what is envisioned by Snow & Gordon..
Where are The “Steve webb’s” of the team?
Where are the “Richie Pilon’s”of theTeam?
where are the Mick Vukota’s” of the team..
(sorry to be redundant yet you get us)
even
Eric Cairns, was by far a skater that was fleet of foot.
yet you could “Never question his “Heart”.
Nor His ability to protect his own guys.
we loved cairns still do!
They had all summer to get some one like him.. its obvious their philosophy is not gteared to this approach.
That said,
it appears with this current level of talent,
even if i and others are wrong. we will eventually be mastered on the Ice.
lets for the sake of argument say
they do surprise with the ole’ timers stepping up & the Kids emerging ?
whos got their back soon as the rest of the leagues Coaches & scouts figure it out & say
Yea, “the Islanders are a surprise this year better then we thought”….
though theres one way to slow them down,
(complete Game wise if you get this)
Just keep up a heavy forecheck,
take the body at any time, & intimidate the kids whenever possible..
dont worry “witts” not that fighter he used to be
(nor should he role he plays needs to be on the Ice not the Box)… I get it!
and fritz is in Bridgeport we will wory about that next game .. re-active in stead of pro-active..
weak philosophy period!
Entertainment is all in the eye of the beholder.. yet unless the Islanders
shock this life Hockey guy & fan?
then I think we are heading for the lottery with a front row seat to Taveras or Hegman..
(with limited or no entertainment) 4 now!
I guess as i bemoan the writing on the wall this year?
if this last prediction comes true,
its certainly not the worst thing that can happen to our Team!
then we can see if they get it right next summer;)
Lets Go NY Islanders..2008-09′
(for better or worse)
THIS TEAM SUCKS. WE ARE NOT EVEN SMART ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ENFORCER. I AM PISSED OFF… SNOW AND GORDON ARE APARENTLY DUMBER THAN I THOUGHT. I COULD DO A BETTER JOB., ANYWAY LETS GO ISLES EVEN THOUGH WE SUCK!
Eric Cairns , Was “NOT” a skater of the fleet footed variety… sorry had to correct that .
Pride-N- Passion NYI Hockey~:
That is not a response to Bottas articvle, its a post from either your blog or from a message board. At least take out all the strengely-added line breaks next time so we dont go all cross eyed reading it lol.
lol.. you got it buddy!
1.Andy Hilbert? REALLLYYY? Hilbert is probably a better hockey player than Fritz.. But I think most of us believe Fritz would have more of an impact. With Rupp, Clarkson, and Brookbank in the Dev’s lineup, we’re going to get bullied, and bullied bad. Brendan Witt is the only one on the current roster that can scrap, and he’s way too important to be sitting in the box 5 minutes at a time.
2. Why in the BLUE HELL is Comrie on a line with Richard Park and Andy Hilbert? Comrie is BY FAR our best offensive weapon. He showed that with his creativity last year, while also leading our team in scoring. Richard Park was has never been known at the NHL for putting up points (Even though he had a 41 goal season in the A in 98-99) and Hilbert has no finish. Defenses won’t be worried about Park or Hilbert, and all of the attention will be placed on our best offensive player, Mike Comrie.
3. If Sim-Weight-Guerin is our top line.. Oh boy. Weight has something to prove, Huerin still can score and has some wheels, but John Sim should never be on a top line.. Ever.
I just put cash in my bank account so I could buy tix for the Isles- Sabres game, but if this is how Gordon thinks it should be.. I might just weight until I can get a free game from my friends. I love the Islanders, I will always love them.. But I haven’t seen a second round since I was 6. I’m now in my senior year of college. That is sad. Our arena is a dump, and this franchise had so many damn questions marks it’s not even funny. I really am trying to be optimistic, but the fact is we’re going to have a REAL bad couple of years a head of us. I would like to think we’ll be at least somewhat competitive on a nightly basis, but that might be a stretch. We have to build around the youth, but right now we’re feeding them to the wolves. No enforcer, unproven coach, injury prone goalie (We still love you Ricky) Already two key d-men out until November, maybe a worse offense than last year.. It’s going to be a rough October. I think I’d be optimistic if I said we had 25 regulation wins this season.
Do they show Soundtiger games on TV anywhere? I think i would rather watch AHL games than NHL games. Team Softee just will not cut it for me. No Enforcer no contributions from my wallet. This “NEW” NHL along with our lame GM and owner have really made the Islanders the worst watch in the game.
Thank God for Hockeyfights.com
I might have to start watching Ranger games to get a taste of what it used to be like to enjoy rooting for a good TOUGH Islander team.
I AM COINING THE PHRASE ( AND GIVING MR. BOTTA IT’S RIGHTS):
OUR 4TH LINE:
PARK - COMEAU - HILBERT
“THE LITTLE LEAGUE LINE”
OR L3 - LINE