MEANINGFUL GAMES? YOU BETCHA!
Islanders will be in the hunt for a playoff berth
So many people have picked the Islanders for 14th or 15th in the East - SI, TSN, ESPN, Dirk from Kukla’s Korner - but I just can’t see it.
A pick of last or next-to-last comes with the implication that, like Los Angeles and Tampa Bay last season, the Islanders will be way out of playoff contention by the trade deadline. Again, that seems foolish.
The Islanders may be an easy target for many in the national media that don’t pop their heads in the Coliseum very often, but this sometimes clouds judgment. Two years ago, in the wake of the Neil Smith thing, a big-time NHL broadcaster picked the Islanders last in the East. I traded a few emails with my friend:
“Let me get this straight. The Islanders didn’t lose anyone, and added Witt, Sillinger, Kozlov, Poti and Simon. You don’t think they’re going to be better”?
“Oh, I don’t know. That whole GM thing…”
“Dude, the roster is set. The GM wears a suit in a suite during games. If the Neil thing didn’t happen, where would you have picked them”?
“Probably around 8th.”
Too bad. That’s exactly where they finished.
****
Look, I don’t know if the Islanders can keep it going for six straight months and find a way in. (This site has also been bombed with emails and comments about how the team really needs to tank its way into the Tavares-Hedman sweepstakes). But in a league where even “struggling” teams hover around .500 with overtime and shootout losses, to be blunt - you really have to blow to be out of it by Christmas.
The Islanders don’t blow. In fact, with all the obvious musts - DiPietro’s health, commitment to the system (I think even Scott Gordon’s already tired of that subject), some more-than-modest production from a few forwards - I think they’re going to be pretty good.
Picking the Islanders last means you’re certain the team isn’t going to get anything out of Guerin and Weight. Picking the Islanders last means your medical expertise tells you the 26-year old goalie can’t come back from surgeries, or you don’t think he’s at least among the top 15 goalies in the NHL. Picking the Islanders last means you believe Okposo, Tambellini, Sim and Hunter don’t have a chance of scoring at least 15 goals each.
Picking the Islanders last probably means you’ve never really watched Radek Martinek play…have stats that say Mark Streit got all his points playing forward in Montreal…didn’t hear or completely reject what Scott Bowman has said about Sean Bergenheim…don’t have the respect for Brendan Witt that everyone else in the game does…you get the point. Those Rodney Dangerfields in that cruddy old barn next to the Marriott can’t possibly compete.
I wouldn’t be so sure.
Do the Islanders have problems? Geez, plenty. For starters, they don’t have a superstar forward to carry them for weeks at a time. They do not have a bonafide No. 1 line: I doubt even the Islanders would argue that. They actually don’t have a typical fourth line; it’s more like two 2s and two 3s.
With Andy Sutton out, Witt is the only dman who might scare anyone around the crease. The team added Nate Thompson for grit and guts and all that stuff the farm system should have already had. They could use at least one more Thompson.
But even with all that, the team will be loitering around the 7-12 group when March comes around. Last season, the Islanders hosted back-to-back matinees on March 1 and 2, saluting the dynasty while the current team went bust - turning Craig Anderson into Terry Sawchuk. This season, they host back-to-back matinees on March 7 and 8 against the Devils and Phoenix. The games will be sold out because Gordon’s gang will still be alive.
If I had to put down cash, I’d say they’ll come up short in the final weeks of the regular season. This has less to do with Gordon making strides with his rebuilding team and more with facing Detroit, the Flyers (twice), Washington, Montreal, Pittsburgh and Boston down the stretch.
When it’s all over, you’ll have learned a lot about which kids are for real. Josh Bailey and the other 37 players the Islanders drafted in June will be a year older. There won’t be a Tavares or Hedmen at the end of the road, but it will have been a fun ride and worth every second you invested in it.
And who knows? With some blessings from the hockey gods, they could even make the playoffs. Enjoy.
2008-09 Eastern Conference Predictions
1. Philadelphia
2. Montreal
3. Carolina
4. New Jersey
5. Pittsburgh
6. Buffalo
7. Boston
8. Washington
9. Rangers
10. ISLANDERS
11. Ottawa
12. Florida
13. Toronto
14. Atlanta
15. Tampa Bay
Instead of your top 15, let’s poll everyone to see where you think the Islanders will finish this season in the East. I look forward to checking out the Comments when I arrive at The Rock Friday morning.
40 Responses to “MEANINGFUL GAMES? YOU BETCHA!
Islanders will be in the hunt for a playoff berth”
Please Wait
I don’t see us beating out Ottawa. So I’ll say 12th in the east.
I must be drinking the kool-aid, I say 7th.
I think DP recovers fully and we steal the 8th spot as guys become more comfortable in Gordon’s system.
I honestly come into the season every year with too much hope. I say 6th spot. I did drink tonight though.
No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people (or hockey pundits)….
Since any useful analysis of the Islanders potential would require actually “thinking” for a minute and making “assessments” the gut level, lazy last place predictions are rampant. This is consistent with the prevalent kneejerk responses to (pick your subject).
Economy: Bad
International relations: Real Bad
National political outlook: There Ya Go A’gin
Why is Big Oil making record profits and health insurance rising 20% a year while the middle - and even upper-middle class is drowning? Look, over there, Britney Spears Nude!
How ‘Bout them Islanders? Circus. Last place.
Oops. Forgot my prediction. After much insightful analysis
- 9th battling until the last week.
…..they’ll do better than many expect, hovering 6-7th with a month to go and finishing 8th.
Agree with you CB, except from the fact that Ottawa and Carolina are going to switch places. I thought they looked more mean and nasty in the final game versus the Pens, and that’s what they been lacking the last couple of years. Add Mike Fisher and you have a contender for the cup. Goalie is the question mark though.
As for the Isles. They’re going to rely on KO, Tambs and Comeau living up to it and DP. If not they’re going to lack 50-60 goals and should look for talent up front via draft the next couple of years.
I’ve got the Isles 11th in the conference. I can see the team struggling early in the season and clicking in February for a late-season push, the way Edmonton’s done the last couple of years. It won’t be enough, though.
For reference, I’ve got the Caps winning the conference behind 75 goals from AO, Lightning taking 6th by winning half their games 7-6, and the Sens at 14 after a complete goalie meltdown. Also, Laviolette’s the first coach fired on the Canes’ way to Tavares and the Panthers squeak in for the first time this millennium on the strength of their D, probably the deepest defense in the conference.
Looking at the opening night lineup in Newsday, and all I have to say is…. THIS IS A REBUILDING TEAM? The entire first line is over 30. If Sutton was playing, 4 of the 6 d-man would be over 30. Even the younger players like Tambs, Bery, Nielsen et al. will all be 25 years old this season. The only youth is Hillen and Ok.
Well said Mr CB. All awesome points made regarding how anyone can just flat out say we’re going to end up in last place? That remains to be seen, and yes we do need a little help from the Hockey Gods..lol! I think 10th is a fair shot, I’ll go with that too.
Someone mentioned how is this a rebuilding team when the first line is over 30? Rebuilding doesn’t just focus on age of a player, that’s only part of the rebuild, it’s about the team as a whole, lines, newbie’s, who to put on what line with who? also having a New coach and getting use to his way of play is part of that process as well.
THANK YOU, CHRIS. VERY WELL COMPOSED. YOU ARE RIGHT, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. GRET POINT ABOUT WITT BEING A DETERRANT.
I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR THEORY THAT WE DECLINE AT THE END. THIS IS A YOUNG TEAM, WE SHOULD BE GETITNG BETTER AT THE END, NOT WORSE. UNLESS, GORDON DESTROYS EVERYONE IN PRACTICE.
BIG GAME TONIGHT. LET’S GIVE ‘EM HELL!
… AND YES RADEK MARTINEK IS ONE OF OUR BEST PLAYERS. A WELL KEPT LONG ISLAND SECRET.
tampa isnt going to finish last in the conference again, they’ve added way too much talent to do that. there’s also no way that the isles finish ahead of ottawa. i see this team finishing 13th, just like last year(ahead of toronto and atlanta this time).
If there annual chrismas swoon doesn’t happen making the playoffs isn’t out of the question. 6 through 8 doen’t scare anybody.I can see our favorite team slipping through a crack. But so what. Another first round thumping? This year is all about taking foward steps and building a foundation for the future. Go Isles!
just an FYI: You say that the Islanders have disclosed that they have a new goal celebration song. You have informed us, Chris, not the Isles. If you go to THEIR WEBISTE AND SEARCH FOR NEW GOAL SONG, YOU WILL SEE AN ARTICLE FROM 2005 REINFORCING THE FACT THAT FANS WANTED TO KEEP THE HEY SONG. I REMEMEBER THAT CLEARLY. THAY ASKED US… DEY SEEMS TO THINK FANS WONT CARE. LIEK BD GALLOF SAYS, FANS ARE WELL EDCUATED NOW, AND WE DO CARE.
After a season of hanging around a late season wilt will put them at 12 -13
CB,
I usually look forward to reading what yo have to say but after reading this piece, I must respectfully disagree completely. I guess time will tell who will be correct between you and I.
I consider myself as strong an Islanders fan as there is, but, let’s be realistic, picking the Isles ahead of Ottawa, simply shows me that you have done this with jest, the Sens will finish around 6th in the conference…and there is no way that Carolina will finish ahead of Washington.
The Isles will finish no higher than 14th in the east and 28th in the league. Not being negative, just realistic. There is a serious lack of pure talent on this team right now and that will not change over this coming season.
I for one will not be lamenting the lack of production that will happen this season, I am not hoping for them to tank either, but this team will be in the hunt for Hedman and Tavares come June, and this team will be that much better for it in the long run.
Short term pain for long term gain.
Easily the least talented team in the Atlantic and maybe the East. The lack of scoring will catch up the team over the 82 game season. Hopefully I’m wrong but I see this team finishing between 13-15 in the confernce and bottom 5 in the league.
If the new guys don’t score we will be out of playoff contention come Thanksgiving. If we get at least two 20 goal scorers from Okposo and or Tambellini- Nielsen we will contend for playoff spot. Simple as that
I strongly disagree with those who say we’re finishing higher than 12 or 13. I also really, really hope they’re wrong.
A franchise develops either through the draft or free agency. The latter option isn’t open to us. So we need a few good drafts if we’re to turn around. Getting the 5th pick last year (and leveraging it into quite a few strong prospects) was one of the best things to happen to the Isles in a while. Where would we be if we finished 8th last year?
Where would the Pens be if they didn’t select first in 2005? Would a few extra wins have been worth the difference between Crosby and Bobby Ryan?
I’m going to cross my fingers and hope we finish dead last so we have the best shot at landing Tavares.
Isles Fanatic is right: short term pain for long term gain.
BTW…Britney Spears looks pretty damn hot in that pic. Is she off the Ho-Ho’s and Malt Liquor diet?
It just wouldn’t be a hockey blog without Canadians ripping on Americans, thanks Joe.
I love the optimism here, and I hope you’re right, but…
Blake Comeau, Sean Bergenheim, Frans Neilsen, Jeff Tambellini, Kyle Okposo, Andy Hilbert, Jon Sim, Josh Bailey…
Bill Guerin and Doug Weight aren’t getting any younger. Mike Comrie is a consistent under-achiever.
I just don’t see how they can put the puck in the net on a consistent basis. I’d like to see it…I just don’t.
The people who are bombarding you stating their yearning for the team they love to abandon all integrity and teach the young players of this organization to be LOSERS should be ashamed of themselves.
Tavares can kiss my ***… I dont care about some kid who isnt an Islander and will NEVER BE an Islander. At all. I care about the team I love doing things the right way and creating a positive winning atmosphere.
Thank GOD our new coach would be as disgusted with this kind of talk as I am.
Oh- and I see people asking where is all the youth. where are they? Besides the ones that are here, they are in college… in Europe… in Russia… and they are all coming here soon. Why else do you think that guys like Guerin and Weight are here? They want class acts like them to get the right attitude going on here, and then as the youth movement players are old enough to play, they join in. Lets have a team that is ready to do things the RIGHT way when they do.
Might be wishful thinking or just plain stupidity but I think OUR TEAM is going to surprise us this year. Despite the abysmal showing against the Panthers last Monday, I am going to place them 8th in the conference. Remember, we’re not the only ones playing with a lot of kids and no team is exempt from the injury bug - we might actually have the best depth coming from the minors should injuries become a factor conference wide.
I’m absolutely not saying I want them to lose…who wants that? I’m just saying that things are not as optimistic for this year as was implied by the original post.
7th place. i’m calling it. see you in april.
CBotta- You should ask bloggers to read entries prior to posting thiers. Encourages greater discussion. We are all fans so there wil be minimal disagreements. And, some constructive criticism for you- you should interect more with your bloggers.
Thanks again!
***THE COMMODORE***
Isles Writer- NYFANSONLY.COM(2000-2004)
Chris TMC, right on!
A little optimism never hurt anyone.
Can we see these guys play a few games before we write them off?
FANTASTIC site, CB. Thank God hockey’s on tonight.
Oh and challenge for 8th, finish 10th.
Again, I’m not writing anyone off.
I’m not trying to be a kill joy.
Just playing a little devil’s advocate.
I hope you’re right.
Anywhere between 12th and 13th and that’s being nice!
I won’t predict where they may finish in the East, but at the outset, I would think most fans would consider a finish of 5 to 10 games over .500 a very successful season. I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
-Chuck, from your mouth to Gods ears my friend!
Those of us who have been there since 1972 have been going through this media forecasting bit with disgust for 36 years so for you newbies repeat after me
Forecast 1 Rangers favored to win the cup sells newspapers
Forecast 2 Islanders favored to win the cup does not sell newspapers
I am holding out hope for a playoff berth, but all I really want to see this year is guys like Nielsen, Okposo, Tambellini, Comeau, etc. really take that next step in their development and become NHL players, not ‘the young guys’.
12th - But I see the gap from 7-13th being very small 6-8 points top to bottom especially with all of the 3 point games and the balance in the east.
Has anyone predicted FIRST in the East yet?
No?
Okay, I will.
Now someone put another shot of Jamesons in my bong water, please.
Why wish for anything less?
It is really sad that it has been 25 years since we won a Stanley Cup and the best we can look forward to is finishing seventh in the conference. YAYYYYY, YIPPPPEEE, Just saying Chris….Lighhouse project dies..the Islanders move. That is the reality anyone who thinks different is fooling themselves. If Wang really wanted top-notch talent he could get it here. Open up the wallet and pay. Blow people away like the METS had to in order to compete with the Yankees. Wang doesn’t want to lose more than he already is with the suffocating Coliseum lease and dwindling attendance. The hopes of this franchise either rest with some beatneck politician or Bergenhiem and Tambellini scoring 40 goals. Which do you think?
No Comment!
Kukla’s Statement on DP!
14. New York Islanders: Does anybody think Rick DiPietro will play out his 15-year contract?
There might be some truth to this!