JEFF TAMBELLINI GETS ANOTHER SHOT
AHL sniper/NHL ? at a crossroads
11:55 am, NVMC: Jeff Tambellini returns to the Islanders’ lineup tonight after watching the last two games from the press box. (Who sits is unclear at this time. Maybe Mitch Fritz, maybe more of an eye-opener).
Tambellini, a dominant goal-scorer in the American League, has just one assist in 8 games this season. There was hope this year would be different for Tambellini, who for the past two seasons averaged well over a goal every other game in Bridgeport but had just 3 in 54 games with the Islanders. Despite his pairing with Sound Tigers linemate and bff Frans Nielsen, the 5-11 left wing has not contributed much offense.
It’s getting late a bit early for the determined and likeable Tambellini, who was scratched the last two games when Scott Gordon opted to add an enforcer to the lineup. He does not always have to score, but to stick around he’s going to have to always do everything else.
I asked Gordon after today’s morning skate if he ever had a player in Providence like Tambellini, someone who lit it up in the A but failed to find his touch in the majors. Gordon told the story of Andy Hilbert, who scored 37 goals for him but had trouble breaking into the Boston Bruins lineup.
Mike Sullivan, then the Boston coach, had a crossroads conversation with Hilbert: if Andy wasn’t going to be a scorer in the NHL, what else was he prepared to do? “Andy committed himself to the defensive game,” said Gordon, “and he’s even more valuable to us now.”
As for Tambellini, Gordon asks, “What do you want to be - a half-million dollar all-around player in the NHL, or maybe a hundred thousand dollar scorer in the American League”?
Two-year, one-way contract or not, whether Jeff Tambellini is going to be that all-around player for the New York Islanders, we’ll probably find out over the next couple of weeks.
30 Responses to “JEFF TAMBELLINI GETS ANOTHER SHOT
AHL sniper/NHL ? at a crossroads”
Please Wait
May be one of the “enforces” from other teams need to reajust Tamby’s face once or twice, that he could answer with his anger and toughness in his game? He has to grow up already. He is not playing with AHL kids anymore.
Plus all the yongsters on the team need to practice their scoring finnish more.
The Nielson’s goal against Montreal was a perfect 100% finnish. This is what they need to learn.
After 2 games watching from the rafters, I think Tamby will give us a 2 point night ( 1 g 1 a ) and a much needed spark to end this losing streak leading to you know who tomorrow…
The idea with the 2 year, 1 way contract with Invisiblinni was to lessen some of the pressure. I think it might have gone the other way. He really needs to start impressing soon. I’m rooting for him, but my patience, with him anyway, is starting run thin.
Oh, and Comrie Must Go!
Unlike the AHL, there is a LOT less open ice to break free to score - that is his problem. He can’t find the open ice in the NHL.
Suggested Scratch: Mike Comrie.
Not sure what Tamby did in the offseason, but he didn’t really look any more filled out, and doesn’t really play any tougher than last year. If he is bigger and tougher than last season, then I stand corrected, but “determination” to me would have been working hard in that area for the offseason since he got thrown around easily last year. It’s not the shot or speed that’s a problem.
That’s funny that Gordon would use Hilbert as a comparison to Tambellini because I have thought that Tambs looks a lot like Hilbert out there, only without the defensive skills (mainly skating). Maybe that will be the direction Jeff’s career will go in as well, who knows. I hope he can show that he’s going to do whatever it takes to become a real part of the team. At the risk of starting to sound like a broken record, I hope Comrie sits tonight. If I saw the lazy play from him just on the TV, I can imagine how much more of it was seen by people at the games.
I wonder. Will Tambs be paired again with Neilson and Hunter? He could be on a line with Comrie and Sim, which would require Tambs to shoot more, since Sim goes to the net, and Comrie is more the “Play maker.”
Fritzy vs. Boll? Not sure if Boll will take that one.
I would sit Fritz tonight - and dress Fritz on TUE @ the RAT HOLE @ West 33rd Street. Let tonight’s game determine who sits on TUE.
Here’s hoping that Jeff Tambellini will get it going - starting tonight. GO TO THE NET JEFF !!
Pat
I can see Thompson vs. Boll or Dorrsett, Fritz isnt needed in this game, they dont have much toughness anyway so I can see him being scratched. Comrie needs two games out of the lineup for an attitude change, Fritzy better be in tom.
I think Fritz should play and Comrie should be benched. They guy makes too many soft passes and has not generated any offense.
I dont know if you can sit Comrie. I think that would really damage his trade value. Its hard to imagine they couldnt have gotten at least a 2nd Rd pick for him last year at the deadline. Way to go Snow!
I think Comrie is hurting his own trade value. He seems to make alot of sloppy plays that lead to turnovers.
great! - hilbert, tambs, anyone else you can include in this bucket, mr. gordon? We could get a whole roster full of these types and make gath’s offseason decision making easier…..
Blitz…scratching Comrie may send him a message but it would kill his trade value down the road. Especially if he sits for more than a game.
Sorry J Islander, did’t read your post until after I posted mine. But I see we agree!
Fritz will be in tonight and my guess is tomorow too. Take this game to send a message to someone else that didn’t perform on Sat (a large number to choose from. In the meantime, reward Fritz for doing his job to a tee on Sat. Team up 3-1 and Laraque tries to get some momentum for his team. It backfires as Fritz wins the tilt and Isles score shortly after for a 4-1 lead. Maybe they should have thrown him out there again in the 3rd to spark something? He couldn’t have done any worse!
I like Tambellini and hope he’s going to step his game up. I agree with most everyone else though, Comrie needs to go. He makes soft plays all over the place, and he just doesn’t play with the sense of urgency you would expect from someone at his level. If I’m going to watch my beloved team lose ALL the time, I want to at least see everyone on the ice trying. its incredibly frustrating to follow a team as closely as some of us do, and see some of our players on the ice doing nothing night after night. We need a team of Park, Witt, and Hunter clones.
SCRATCH COMRIE
….sorry for the caps CB
Tamby’s back in the lineup, lets see Gordon roll 4 lines and maybe they will be able to keep the pace for 60 not 40 minutes, and won’t look so clueless in the third period. Just to reiterate, if Fritz is going to play then he has to be able to play a regular shift. I don’t see anyone else they can sit unless there is an injury we don’t know about. Oh wait there probably are.
325CPA-
All enforcers play 5-8 shifts per game, thats the way it is in todays NHL. The Isles should get their guys playing so people can stop talking about Fritzys shifts, which dont hurt us at all and provide some energy for a flat team.
LOL @ All the “scratch Comrie” requests. Like it or not, Comrie is one of the best chances the Islanders have to score goals. Or do you forget who led the team last season? Im not happy with the guys either- but for gods sake look at the options here.
@ Chris TMC - This Comrie is not the same player that he was at the start of last season. He has no fire in him. I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact that he is not on the top line but he needs something to wake him up.
I like Tamby but he need to wake up. Or he’ll be looking for a job soon!
“Fritz isnt needed in this game, they dont have much toughness anyway so I can see him being scratched.”
?? Check your facts. Columbus is one of the tougher teams in the league and are second behind Anaheim with 13 fights.
Torres is going to be running around tonight, especially if Fritz isn’t playing.
Scratch Comrie. Do you think going scoreless and -2 is going to help his trade value? Who cares? Send a message.
Guy, Im probably the biggest Fritz supporter on this board. I hope he does play but realistically they have a couple of lightweight/middleweights, Boll/Dorrsett/Torres arent going to drop the mitts with Fritz and I dont think Fritzy is going to take the bettman package if they are hitting, Sutton/Thompson can easily handle those guys. Fritz WILL however be needed bigtime tomorrow!
adam - scratching a guy with the intent as a wake-up call, ie. Tamby, does not hurt the players trade value, especially if the player gets the message: he starts producing.
NYI should NOT be worried about his value in March, they should be concerned about his CURRENT production to this team.
Oh my! I wasn’t aware that Comrie HAD any trade value. Well, I wouldn’t want to mess that up here. Hopefully no other GM’s are reading this. But just in case…Man, I hope the Isles don’t ever trade Comrie. He’s the best player we have.
Oh, and Comrie Must Go!
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Chris on Nov 3rd, 2008 14:38:49 said:
This Comrie is not the same player that he was at the start of last season. He has no fire in him. I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact that he is not on the top line but he needs something to wake him up.
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Dont get me wrong, I absolutely agree with you that Comrie isnt looking good at all- and what he was last year wasnt even THAT great lol. But the Isles probably wouldnt benefit from scratching the guy- as sad as it might be, he is one of the Isles top goalscorers. And I agree with you that changing position and his line are big factors in this change.
But he’s not doing anything to HELP them, Chris TMC. Why should that get rewarded (by allowing it)? He WAS one of the top goal scorers but we aren’t seeing the same Comrie this season. Who’s to say he’ll be a top goal scorer now? And really, for me it all goes back to why should he be allowed to play when he is so obviously dogging it, and maybe hindering offense/defense? What kind of a message does THAT send?