NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: Boston 7, NYI 2
Islanders must address Tambellini problem
As the decisions begin to pile up on Garth Snow’s desk - what to do with Josh Bailey today, how to adjust the roster if Kyle Okposo returns tomorrow and Mike Sillinger returns next week - add one to the list. This has now officially gone on too long with Jeff Tambellini, and the Islanders must get in fix-it mode immediately. There is one obvious remedy.
After today’s team-low 9:20 of ice (1 shot, 2 penalties) in a 7-2 loss in Boston, Tambellini now has 0 goals and 2 assists in 22 games with the Islanders this season, 1 goal in his last 52 games as an Islander. He has not scored a goal in his last 40 games. The idea that Jeff’s game can make the transition in the midst of an NHL season to a more Andy Hilbert-like two-way style is ludicrous. To be an effective player, Tambellini has to be reliable in his own end and contribute at least 15-20 goals a season. Neither is happening right now.
Call it a band-aid, but there is a partial solution. The Collective Bargaining Agreement allows a player to be sent to the minors for “conditioning” for two weeks - without having to clear waivers - if the player agrees to it. If they haven’t already (one has to believe they have), the Islanders must consider a conditioning stint for the left wing in Bridgeport.
Tambellini’s struggles may not have killed the Islanders up to this point, but today’s 7-2 loss in Boston - in which the 170-pound Scott Gordon student David Krejci powered his way to the kind of goal that Tambellini has not - really put his struggles under the magnifying glass. To be generous, there have been perhaps 5 games this season when Tambellini has made a positive impact. It is now at a point where even if you choose to look at this as the coldest of businesses, his value as an asset is now minimal.
Since Tambellini has a one-way contract for this season and for next season, the odds are slim a team would snatch him off the waiver wire if he was sent to Bridgeport the traditional route. Nevertheless, the team and Tambellini should work out a conditioning agreement that’s best for everyone. The left wing can play for Jack Capuano in the same system for two weeks in the American Hockey League, score a few goals, build up his confidence, value and everything else.
This has gone on far too long for Jeff, a very skilled player and a terrific young man I had the pleasure to work with. He’s Islanders royalty, but for reasons far beyond being his father’s son, Jeff deserves every chance to get it right here. I’m sure the last thing the franchise wants is to see a talented youngster thrive somewhere else. Still, Tambellini is now at a crossroads, and for two weeks of games the Islanders must have a better option somewhere in the farm system.
*
Two Steps Back: On Wednesday night the Islanders were one period away from reaching .500. Ten minutes after the Sid & Geno show had ended and the Penguins had come back to win the game, an Islanders fan was still in the Coliseum stands, his head in his hands but with plenty to say.
“What a setback,” he said, sitting in his seat adjacent to the tunnel where the players (and media) head to the locker room. “We close out this game the way we should have, we’re at .500, we’ve now beaten the Penguins and a bunch of good teams and all of a sudden XM, Versus, TSN and everyone else has us in the conversation about the other competitive teams across the league.”
Today the Islanders were down 2-1 in the third period when Manny Fernandez stopped Bill Guerin on a breakaway. Before you knew it, the score was 4-1 and Peter Mannino was making his NHL debut while Joey MacDonald was steaming on the Islanders’ bench.
The Islanders have made a lot of progress the last few weeks despite some major injuries and while learning a difficult, punishing (Ken Hitchcok’s word) new system. Even in their train-wreck moments, they’ve been a blast to watch and at times highly effective. On Wednesday night the Islanders were one period away from reaching .500. Now they are 9-12-2.
These last two games proved they are not ready to be considered in the top half of the league. In the marathon of the NHL season, there is still plenty of time.
*
ETC: An agitated Billy Jaffe in the final seconds of today’s third period blowout, as Michael Ryder was camped out in searched of a hat trick: “Somebody’s gotta put him on his butt in front of the net! I know there’s four seconds left, but you gotta do it. Do it for the kid in net, Mannino.”
Gordon called today’s performance, “Our worst game since the Buffalo game.” The coach said he pulled MacDonald because he is playing tomorrow at the Coliseum against Ottawa and he didn’t want the goalie subjected any more to the Boston onslaught and the Islanders not backing each other up.
Nate Thompson (almost 12 minutes) and Jeremy Colliton (10) - the only Islanders today at plus-1.
Weekly reminder: do not wait for a trade to change this team. All solutions will likely have to be found on the Islanders and Bridgeport rosters, and from players coming off the injured list. See you at the Coliseum tomorrow.
Comments.
Anyone on here still wanna say the Isles top 5 defense is as good as any in the NHL?
The defense is horrible! It has been for years. I think the last good defense this team had was the year before they traded Chara. Since then it has been soft, overrated guys, until the past two years where it has been small, soft, guys who mostly are 6th d-men or AHL players.
Garth Snow “We’ll call up toughness when we need it”. Really? HHHMM you haven’t seem to work it out to well. You just sent Fritz down the day before your team played one with 4 guys who can really fight.
I have been stating on this blog for over a week that MacDonald is tired and needed a night off. Gordon being a former goalie should have recognized this and not let Dannis get cold or play Mannino sooner.
This team is too small, not tough enough, not talented enough and doesn’t fit the system.
Jon Sim is the worst!
Did it do anyone good to see Lucic beating up the assistant captain Witt? Witt isn’t a good fighter. He can beat up guys like Malone or Komisarik(who is a great hitter but no fighter) but he shouldn’t be exposed to a guy like Lucic who can really throw.
We should all file a class action law suit vs. the Islanders because the commerical they have this season with the huge hits and them dominating fights is just a lie. One guy on this team is throwing hits and his name is Sean Bergenheim. Hunter hasn’t thrown his body around anywhere near his level of the last few seasons.
I want the top pick but want the team to be competitive, today was just pathetic, it was like an NHL team scrimmaging a old-timers team.
I am as frustrated as Jaffe at the Isles defense. He’ll be waiting a long time for this group of softies to do it. It just isn’t in their nature. It is why the Isles have to move some of the defense for different types (keep Witt, Streit, Sutton). When Snow was assembling this defense I can’t think he thought they’d be physical. They never have and never will.
Yes, if Tambelleni can get 2 weeks at the Bridge then please do it. That is the best move the team could make with him right now.
Strummer - Completley agree with you. This team is way too small and doesnt have a good fighter except fritz. This team absolutley sux right now. We need a fighter and lots more skill.. Sim is a bust he should be traded asap.
Sim blows, Tambellini blows, both should be gone immediately.
The only guys I enjoyed watching this game: Bergie, Thompson, Jackman.
We really need an enforcer, Milan Lucic isnt even a HW and he ran around the whole game, noone could answer that, noone stuck up for Jackman after the hit from behind, pathetic. If we are sending down Fritz, we need a different tough guy.
while we’re on it JON SIM was a waste of space today. he got totally out worked on the wing directly leading to a goal 10 seconds after boston made it 3-1. DISGUSTING play by jon sim who has yet to give islanders fans ANY reason to want to see him on the ice again. him and tambs can hit he road if u ask me. bring up comeau and trevor smith maybe..
well, lucic has not been tested to see if he can take a heavy but has the potential. we should draft someone like him inthe second round.
as I have said here and other places before, please spare us the revisionist history. Steve Tambellini was not Mike Bossy. Jeff Tambellini is not even Steve. there is a reason he was picked up for garbage.
oh, freddy meyer is small but hits like he is 6′3
Losing to the Bruins within itself is neither a crime or shameful. This team is about a year and a half ahead of the timetable we are on - to build a competitive team. Their young guys are really coming on. Krejci, Lucic, Bergeron ( only 23 !!), Wheeler, etc….. are part of a rebuild that is further along than ours. This is a pretty good team in Boston, and that is not why I am mad.
This team is going to be spanked a few times this year…..but I don’t like the way we just seem to run out of gas, and the way our team is physically manhandled.
And I am so sorry to keep bringing up Mitch Fritz……but if Tambellini has not scored in his last 52 Isles games, how could Fritz be any worse? I mean, I understand the decision to dress Thompson and Jackman……but I say that I would have scratched Tamby before scratching Fritz to have dressed Thompson tonight.
I am upset that we lost - but we clearly were both outclassed in talent and out hit and intimidated.
Best to turn the page….but I agree with Chris in both getting Tamby to Bridgeport while retaining his rights. I dont’ want to give up on him - but he has to get his game up to snuff at the nHL level.
So Chris, you say “The idea that Jeff’s game can make the transition in the midst of an NHL season to a more Andy Hilbert-like two-way style is ludicrous”? PHOOEY! That was my last shred of hope for him! In all seriousness, I didn’t know about that rule (so thanks) but I don’t think a conditioning stint is gonna do it for him. I think the poor guy needs a fresh start in another part of the country. And how can he build up his value in the AHL?
I agree the Isles HAVE made some progress in the last few weeks, as you say. But your best line was that they “were not backing each other up”. It’s like night and day when they do.
I’m not saying that the D played a good game today, but I checked the average size of the Bruins D vs. the Isles. Turns out they’re a whopping 3lbs heavier than ours.
The Isles were outskated in the third. Jon Sim couldn’t handle Krejci on one goal and Jackman forgot to cover his man on another. Just to mention two goals I remember. Clearly it’s a system mistake and with a less talented roster than most other teams have, the Isles can’t afford it.
But hell, it’s a rebuild. Back to dreaming about 1st overall and a big free agent frenzy to get us back next year.
Pat- Give up on him, he hasn’t gotten it up to snuff because its not there at the NHL level. He lacks the size, strength and grit to participate at the NHL level. With the lack of size, he lacks the ability to make plays and carry the puck so whats the point in him being here when this was a perfect game for Fritz?
Jon Sim hasnt played the same since he got knocked out by Mark Bell, hes washed up, time to hit the bricks.
John: Thank you for the “spare us” remark, and for pointing out Steve Tambellini was not Mike Bossy…CB
Regarding Tambellini …I didn’t see today’s game, but I did see Wedenesday’s game live at the Coliseum, and two Tambellini plays stood out for me…one was where he joined a two-player scrum along the RW boards and was completely ineffective in supporting Park in digging out the puck, causing the defenseman to pinch, get caught and create a 3-on-1 Penguin break the other way…the second was where he had the puck all alone just above the left face-off circle, had plenty of time for a good shot, and simply fumbled the puck because a Penguin started to close in from the boards…IMHO, he just looks AHL only, and the head-hands don’t work well enough together at NHL speed…waive him, 98% chance he gets through anyway…actually, with a one-way deal, you hope somebody takes him…maybe under a slower trap-type system he becomes a better, more useful 3rd or 4th liner…that would be better for him, better for us in the long run
I pretty much summed up all of my Islander thoughts on the previous thread… but I will add this on Gordon’s comments.
How do you ask your team to back each other up when you don’t back them up.
They have responded. But you have Hunter fighting… Bergy fighting! and hitting… Jackman gets crushed and nobody has the stones to run Lucic because you sent the only guy in his weight class to Bridgeport.
this is purely specualtion, but based on what he did to Kommie (who asked for it all night) he could have wrecked Witter. He should a measure of restraint.
What should have happened was right after the incident Sutton should have thrown with him… but this team doesn’t have that mind set… because their coach showed his pink panties…
That’s my spin on it anyway. I have always been the kind of guy that would have gone after Lucic whatever the size mismatch was… Hunter did it. Bergy has done it… Witt will do it… though he let Avery pee all over him over the last two years…
I really feel that Garth needs to call Steve and ask if he will take Jeff for one of his sisters… we could always use another Ice Girl… if they can’t find a deal for him, don’t waste him in Bridgeport… get him in a costume…
CB,
No Steve wasn’t Bossy, but Parrish wasn’t “garbage”.
NHL network showed the draft yesterday. I just caught a few seconds of it, but Burke and Snow seemed to have a “two can and a string” connection. Now that Burke is in toronto maybe Snow can get his old buddy Blake back on Long Island for Comrie. Similar salaries, both need a change of scenery. We’d even throw in Thumbellini. Even though we’d have to pick up the extra years you could make an AARP line with Weight and Guerin and free up Bergy to play with Okposo and Bailey.
Just a thought.
wow… way too much coffee and mother-in-law avoision today.
I need to go have a glass of wine and play with the dog… this game really got to me.
This team simply needs to acquire players who can play with speed, finesse and deal with and and dole out the rough stuff. That was the beauty of the Dynasty team. You didn’t need to worry about whether a goon could handle more than 5 minutes of playing time if you were playing Philly or Boston. You had Gillies, Nystrom, Gordie Lane, Duane Sutter, Garry Howatt. Some were obviously better than others, but they could all play. This has nothing to do with Gordon or his system. It’s on Snow to acquire these these types of guys. Instead, he appears to like drafting these small guys like Katic and Ness. There’s your problem. Yes, they’ve made rule changes to help the skilled players, but size still matters in this game.
Most of The Core -fans of this team,already know that tambellini has been a dissapointmnet for the Isles for some time now… Theres another glaring issue on this club…
The stubborn almost spiteful logic to keep offering up the likes of brendan Witt.. as a sacrifical lamb to the Lucic’s , Kaletta’s of the league…
This team was as mmuch about being physically wiped on the Ice in the 3rd period as they were on the scoreboard!
Gordons style is one with merrit, however i will say it again… he is less then impressive or is it Snow in his approach on how he handles Physically imposing clubs in this league…
If Fritz is considered un-able to keep up with 4th liners..?
(wondering how tghis decision is engraved in stone)
I mean they have never given him a chance to play a consistent 4th line for one game?
Either explanation of this points to Garth Snow…
He picked this Guy in the early summer!
Instead of going after any one of three or four bonifided 4th line tough guys who were available.
Its obvious we have no answer when a team decides to envoke their will on us!
its not about the talent right now on the Ice.
The outcome was inevitable today…
(no question Boston is more talented at this time )
the most dissapointing thing to me is the lack of youth that can play at a physical level and respond when they are being run out of a building.
They beat us every which way in the third..
Jackman hand selected a fight he knewe he could hang in kudos.. a team player…
Yet its obvious no one on that Ice surface could handle the 22yr old kid lucic…
The Islanders (Massaschusetts)
brain trust should model themselves after Peter Chiarelli.
Their provincial counterparts From New England!
Reality seems to always find its way to hit the NY Islanders & its fan base right between the eyes… Some of us knew this would be our biggest problem this year!
It Is!
Lets Go Isles.. Lets GO islanders!
p.s. some will disagree, thats fine, my peace of mind comes from those who understand the Islanders need a balanced team that answers all the fundamental aspects the game offers at this time.
Not just a new system that on days when it stops working there is no plan B.
A plan B to at least leave the rink with pride!
Good day all!
Hey, don’t worry too much about the Lucic hit guys, I am sure Jon Sim went over and yapped at him. I am joking. Just referring to the comment Snow made to Logan when Logan asked him why the Isles don’t have any toughness and he said they’d call it up as needed (a plan that doesn’t work) and that Jon Sim can really yak at guys.
I was up very late last night and slept until 2pm this day. So watching the full game it got worse, Mike Milbury was their hockey expert today? I can’t believe anyone would pay Milbury as a hockey expert. I wouldn’t let him talk to a kids pee wee team. How ironic he is the hockey expert today when the team he destroyed was playing Boston.
JPinVA the Isles are the only team in the NHL that would allow their guys to get pushed around and nailed that way. They are 3 years behind on what the NHL is all about. This isn’t the season after the lockout.
Sutton has a good 30lbs and 2″ on Lucic. Lucic is a much better technical fighter but your right Sutton was an obvious choice to defend Jackman but I think it is obvious he can’t fight. His hand isn’t right since he came back. He has been turning down fight invitations constantly. If you remember when the Isles played Ott, Neil drapped himself all over Sutton trying to keep Sutton from getting to the bench so he’d fight but Sutton woudn’t do it and Neil had it coming.
Ya know what is gonna be really ugly? When the Isles play the Caps. Brashear, Erskine, and several others. Brashear will beat up anyone no matter how small. He is a dirty guy. He put Thrashers first round pick Bognosian out this year. He so took advantage of that young kid. Wait until you see what he does to Okposo.
JPinVA, we always seem to agree but I don’t want Blake back. He is too old, has luekemia, is a horrible guy in the locker room by all accounts etc.
When they build up Tambs value they should move him but for a pick or younger guy. Blake won’t be in the league much longer.
Other then Schenn I can’t think of much on the Toronto roster that is of any value.
outscored 5-1 in the third …
8-1 in the last two games ..
All the while Godard took regular 4th line shifts.. and let Sutton know,
(yapped in his ear most of the third)
The pens would finish the job in all aspects as Fritz was glued to the Bench??
Weak!!
Lets Go Isles .. Lets GO Islanders!
If Tambellini is “Islanders royalty” …. then what the hell is Zach Parise? Remind me again why we passed on him?
Islanders royalty they should have drafted…CB
Didn’t know about this but it seems like a great idea cause he needs help now. Terrible 3rd period but it also shows why hockey is such a great but cruel sport. Billy almost scores on a breakaway to tie the game, then within another 20 seconds the Islanders are down by three.
They passed on Parise because Mike Milbury hated the Islander teams of the past and wanted to destroy all ties to them. You may remember when he first took over for years the Islander Alumni were not welcome around the organization. Only after Wang came in did he force Milbury to break that idiot policy. They selected Nilsson who seemed to break out playing with Yashin and Bergenheim until Ted Nolan came in and just didn’t like the guy. Nilsson went down to the AHL and posted good numbers. Snow then traded Nilsson to Edm to get Ryan Smyth for a handful of games. Nilsson last year scored just about as many points as Isles leading scorer Mike Comrie despite playing in fewer games.
Meanwhile Parasie has had a very nice career in NJ.
Any wonder why the team is as bad as it is and there is very little in Bridgeport other then Josenu, Marchinko, and Comeau?
John Tavaeres anyone?
According to Mike Milbury and Co. Zach Parise wasn’t quite NHL/NY Islanders material.
physically *whipped*..
P.S. cruel or not Bruins were going to prevail today… Just felt regardless the Islanders Could have left the Ice with more pride then they did…
Sutton with a Good Hand gets pummeled by the likes of Rupp last season…
I like Sutton & his size to play a Physical crease clearing game, when he has gas in the Tank .
Strummer,
Just do not think he qualifies a Top level fighter.(i’m sure you agree)
Keep em’ Honest Strummer, you do a
“fine job”,
with alot more patience then i have to drink the kool -aid!!
To me, this Organization is a bit of Heckyl&Jekyll…
The Ability to be innovative in allowing Gordon a chance to develop a new system that appears it can succeed at this level.
Yet The Lack of Planning or Implmentation of blending that system with a Physicallity that is once again a prominent part of The NHL.
Garth Snow…
Does he want to fight for a playoff spot?
Or Does he want a shot at a High Draft Pick?
Right Now I would say thats the most puzzling thing about this Franchise?
Later Fella’s!
Lets Go Isles.. Lets Go Islanders!!
Or should i say *Jeckyll& Hyde*
the mag-pie reference is not deserving of this club… yet it was damn good cartoon back in the day.. forgive that…lol
Lets Go Isles..
Good Evening & Night all!
Pride, I totally agree Sutton isn’t a top level fighter and Lucic despite the size advantage going to Sutton is capable of picking Sutton apart. Still in that case you have to fight. I am sure Sutton would have but isn’t physically able. What anyone else on the ice excuse was I am uncertain. Really not there fault it is Snow and Gordon’s for not addressing the toughness issue. Snow has been on the job too long for this to still be a problem.
Anyone else remember the good ol’ days when we had Cairns, Godard, and Asham?
I’d like to believe Snow is aware the playoffs aren’t too likely and pointless with this team anyway. Another first round exit isn’t going to do the orgnaization any good. I think he does know getting a franchise player out of this draft will be the best way to speed up the rebuild of the team on the ice and the arena they play in. However, he can add toughness without messing that up.
What will this year be known as the year that they blew plenty of 3rd periods and constantly got the crap beat out of them?
Steve Tambelini played a total of 107 pts for the Isles and got 49 pts. His biggest claim to fame for us was riding next to Potvin in the first cup parade. He did not even play 1 playoff game with us. We have been grasping at some connection to the past using Jeff. Why are they so afraid of losing him? We’ve traded away much better players for next to nothing. Are they afraid he will become a big 30 pt a year “scoring machine”??? And why is another Hilbert more important to them than getting a scoring winger? For years now I have become tired of hearing about grit. We don’t have grit, but we do have players who seem to skate in grit. We need talent. Stickhanders, pure scorers, and playmakers. Players who are exciting to watch and can give us hope. Wendy’s knows the state of our game when they give chii after 3 goals, in the old days it was 5( and later it was 6) and even at that they gave out lots of chili.
I agree with you Chris, a conditioning stint is THE way to go. Then after he gets going for a little while in BPT, give him one more chance to make something happen up here. To refrain from doing this and stubbornly continue the way this is going is nuts. The Islanders organization cannot WILL Jeff Tambellini into being a productive NHL player.
As far as the Sim bashing, it is RIDICULOUSLY exaggerated. This guys leg was in pieces last year, and he has come back and so far is on the scoring pace that they hoped he would be on when they signed him. Is he doing everything great? No- but holy crap, Im tired of people talking about him like he is some POS.
TMC, its the fact that Snow said he was an agitator. Hes not, he hasnt played physical in over 2 years and doesnt put up any numbers. Not to mention, his crap play has cost us goals this year.
Also, how many times can we say one more chance for Tamby? Nolan had the right idea, the guy isnt NHL material.
Hey, you know who loves Tambelleni? Crosby. They are very good friends and Crosby has a high opinion of him as a player. I know everyone would hate to see Tambelleni go there and put up strong numbers playing with Crosby in our division but I don’t care as long as the Islanders get a good return. Just thinking it is one logical landing spot for him.
He has taken abuse in front of the net and scored goals while doing it. He is not costing this team wins, he is getting back to his game after having his leg broken and being out of the game for an entire year.
Im not this guys PR person I just think the bashing is getting really, REALLY stupid. Jon Sim is Pronger and Ovechkin rolled into one compared to Tambellini… and was Tambs leg broken last season? Man!
36 Strummer’s Army on Nov 28th, 2008 18:05:34 said:
“I know everyone would hate to see Tambelleni go there and put up strong numbers playing with Crosby in our division but I don’t care as long as the Islanders get a good return. Just thinking it is one logical landing spot for him.”
LOL- like I keep saying, Tambellini isnt bringing ANY return at all, let along GOOD return. Why do you insist that there are NHL teams willing to give you something good for your garbage? The fact that you think that team is going to be frickin Pittsburgh is even funnier.
Don’t think we will get much of anything for him. Unless, Milbury is that you?
Wasn’t the score 7-2?
if tambellini were any good he would be showing it by now
TMC: The guy will bring return. How much is the question.
Jon Sim ain’t doing a damn thing except getting pushed around and playing out of position. He needs to go to and he can take Geravis with him.
You had me at Gervais…
oh, and Pit took our garbage from last year in Satan and Federtenko so they obviously like Islander castoffs.
lol Matt
Satan is a bit different than Tambyweenie
now jackman is a guy that wants it ..no islander royalty just a tough f that wants to get paid
What??? You actually think that is the same thing??? Tambellini = Satan? Holy crap lol. And WTH did the Pens give the Isles for either of them, anyway? NOTHING, thats what. They were UFAs, they didnt trade for them.
Tambellini has not done anything in the NHL- ever. NOTHING. Equating giving something good up for him with a team signing a player like Miro Satan makes you look you have absolutely no idea what youre talking about, Strummer. Seriously, you need to re-evaluate this whole line of thought.
JOE RVC on Nov 28th, 2008 18:33:11 said:
“now jackman is a guy that wants it ..no islander royalty just a tough f that wants to get paid”
Agreed, Joe… and a player that has obviously worked very hard to improve his game, as well.
Hard to watch them play like this. Need to make these guys accountable for their lackluster play. Send them down who cares if they clear waivers. Do it within the cap. I know its tough we are near the floor but make it happen. Don’t mind losing just can’t stand watching that sh!t! We don’t deserve to be put through that garbage. Haven’t we been through enough? Don’t give me the crap of “playing out of the system”! Those guys didn’t give a crap about themselves or more importantly the team as well as and especially us fans! The other night they were scared!!! That is hard to stomach. Straighten them out Gordon. No team should play like that. Don’t believe this crap about Boston should have won. Or of course Pittsburgh came back. You are all just as bad as the Canadian press saying sh!t like that!!!! We should be able to compete. AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!! LOL!
Send Tamby down for 2 weeks and see if he can get his confidence back. You can’t write someone off that is so young and has proven himself at the closest level just below the NHL (AHL). I think he has no confidence and is feeling the spotlight. Some time in the A could work wonders.
Totally agree with Pride N Passion above - Who says Fritz can’t handle the 8-10 minutes a game? I bet he hits a lot more guys and doesn’t cost the team anything…. or least not anymore than the current players. Granted Fritz is not the smoothest looking skater, but how many 6′8″ players are there to compare him to? Smaller guys are likely more agile and look smoother, but I think you are kidding yourself if you think 4th line players on other teams are any faster than Fritz in the skating dept.
I like Gordon, I really do. I like his system. But I like and always did like a coach that could kick a$$ better. I have always begged for a hard nosed coach for this team. Don’t even say Milbury my stomach is already a little upset from yesterdays feeding frenzy. Hard nosed coach with brains let me clarify. The one thing I don’t like about Gordon is he seems soft. We can’t afford to be soft. Whatever happened to the rallying call after the Nielson hit? Most have already forgotten?!?!?! Its one thing to get beat 7-2 or give up a 3-0 lead. Its a whole nother thing to get your a$$es kicked. Come on Gordon grow some balls my man before we have to fire another coach and make this orginization look even more dysfunctional!
First of all I want to thank the guy who linked “THE CODE” on this blog a while ago. I just read the first chapter, one of the better sports reads I’ve had in a while.
I’m with Chris about Sim. the timing of his Islander debut gave us the impression that he’d replace Asham… no freakin’ way. But he does play tough mins, but he’s a third liner at best. I’d much rather see him get 12 mins than Thumbellini get 5.
I totally agree that Sutton is not a thrower. His size puts him in the Eric Cairns league, but his make up (not the Mabelline type) just makes him a strong presence in front… he is what he is. Bad hand or not he needed to get his butt whipped by Lucic today. At least Jackman would have had some sense of pride in his teammates… the operative word being TEAM!
They have got some grit in Thompson and Jackman… add fritz and you have a fourth line you don’t really have to expect too much from. Let that ride for a while.
I obviously was kidding about Blake… I realize my sarcasm (”his old buddy”) isn’t obvious to everybody.
I respected what Blake did on the ice, but it was glaring that he was a….hmmm.. bad choice of words coming… cancer in the locker room.
What Blake brought to the ice is what Bergie is BRINGING.
A team will eventually turn into their coach… and I really don’t like what I see.
Arbour talked softly but carried a BIG STICK (Gillies/Nystrom/Howatt). Gordon talks softly and… well… I don’t think he understands anything about testosterone.
…and how many times is the ancient Bill Guerin going to have to scrap this year. Come on Snow… maybe the poor environment has NOTHING to do with the coliseum.
Nolan, once again laughing AT YOU from where ever he is… I wonder if him and Smith are on the phone right now having a good laugh at your expense.
Move this damn team to New Boston, China.
Here’s one thought… end it now… the next Islander coach is in the booth. Give Butchie another chance.
… I bet he’d do it for what he gets to talk in between periods… Because you know Wang isn’t going ot pay three coaches this year.
We need to start a BRING BUTCHIE BACK campaign…
Why do we need to trust the FUTURE in the hands of a guy who has never had a PAST.
This whole thing STINKS… and I’m tired of rooting for the New England Clam Chowders. You know… it’s not bad once in a while, but you don’t need it shoved down your throat every freakin’ day.
Send these guys packin’…
“Steve Tambellini was not Mike Bossy. Jeff Tambellini is not even Steve. there is a reason he was picked up for garbage.”
Too bad Garth Snow was too cluless to figure this out.
Snow calls out Nolan for not playing the young kids and uses Tambellini as exhibit A.
Snow fires Nolan and gives Tambellini a 2 year deal to prove his point.
Snow needs to come clean and do the right thing. It is too late for Nolan but Tambellini must go.
Bring Goring back? Wow, I’m a little perplexed by that one. I’m all for a “strong” coach(read above posts) but Goring? Lets not forget he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy that would send one of our tough guys out to kick a$$. I’m not joining that party. Gordon is showing he is a bit of a wuss though. I like his style of play minus the use your face as a punching bag part! Had enough of seeing our team getting their a$$es kicked. Its really quite embarrassing! Maybe Torts wouldn’t have been such a bad choice?
I do agree that we do need our OWN “identity”!
Good GOD no, JPinVA… and thankfully this organization (and Butchie himself) would never entertain the thought again.
While we are at it why don’t we sign our athletic goalie who has done nothing to a 15 year contract. Wait a second….
Satan was a horrible player. A guy with oodles of talent but no heart and as soft as they come. Snow could have resigned him but chose not to. They are pretty similar guys in that Tambelleni has tons of talent but lacks what it takes mentally at this point to be a success. So he and Satan are pretty similar. Satan put in a garbage year for the Isles but the pens picked him up because they know you put him next to Crosby and guys score. Many of you will remember Andy Hilbert had like 19pts in 19 games playing next to Crosby the season before the Isles signed him. He has never looked like that again.
We’ll find out who is right one day. If the Isles get something for Tambelleni or not but I admire that they aren’t doing the easy thing and just dumping the guy because any time you have a chance to get something in return you have to try to do that. He is a first rounder and had a few phenomenal AHL years. Teams know that.
I had wanted the Isles to trade him last year when his value was really high but they waited too long.
Right. Miro = Tambellini. Of course.
I have nothing against you personally, Strummer- but reading posts like this one makes me want to poke my eyes out lol.
And one more thing- I know its been mentioned at least 25 times on Point Blank that Miro had a NO TRADE CLAUSE. If you dont understand what that is, its OK- just look it up and learn, and enough with the “why didnt they trade Miro” stuff already.
I didnt say why didn’t they trade Miro. I said Snow could have resigned Satan prior to FA. Logan documented that very well and chose not to. Pit chose to sign Islander garbage.
I don’t want ya to poke your eyes out TMC. I wish the Islander players were as fiesty as you are today.
The point is no matter the sport, successful GM’s make moves when they are ready and almost never give up an “asset” for nothing in return, even if it is a low round pick.
Strummer Satan had a no trade clause and he exercised it(don’t really know why). Satan did have a off year but he has scored between 20-40 goals since 97′. I do agree with you on most occasions but this one, no way!! I think we could get “something” for Tambellini just don’t think too much. Who knows maybe Tambiweenie will turn into something? I am doubting it at this point at least on our team unfortunately. Everybody has players they don’t like mine is Comrie(I can’t stand the f@&king guy), yours is Satan. Satan didn’t play well under Nolan’s grit and character BS because he is not that kind of player(he has talent!!!) But we cant really compare Satan to Tambelinni. I hope you are right and we get a decent return for him but I don’t remember Jason Krog fetching too much and I don’t even know how many AHL scoring titles that guy has!!!
Little late on that one!
When the carnage ended, Gordon only could marvel at the team iced by the organization he served for eight seasons as an AHL assistant and head coach before taking the Islanders’ job. “They are a bigger team than us,” Gordon admitted. “From front to back, they’re as big a team as we’ve played all year. That’s something that, for us, probably got exposed.
OK BUT THAT IS THE CHOICE THAT YOU AND GARTH SNOW MADE.
MATT, not saying decent return just saying a return.
There are a lot of guys on this team I don’t like for many reasons. It’s OK it’s a tranisiton year. I just want them to compete and not get pushed around this year.
I feel the team is in many ways heading in the right direction but my hope is we don’t see many of these players next year.
Gordon is the “King of Back peddlers”. Man he should just stay away from post game interviews…
Strummer, they signed UFAs- just like every other team does. Miro is not “garbage” in anyones mind but yours.
62 Strummer’s Army on Nov 28th, 2008 20:23:38 said:
Thank you, Strummer. And like I said, they way I feel really isnt anything personal against you lol. I just think youre living in a dreamland thinking that the Isles are making any trades, let alone making a trade for something “good” for Tambellini. Better players that have proved more than Tambellini has get waived all the time.
“I don’t want ya to poke your eyes out TMC. I wish the Islander players were as fiesty as you are today.”
With you on that. Alot of them have no back bone. Some of them I think have just had it with this club. At this point I can’t blame them I hate to say.
I’m down with losing but not like this. The last two were embarrassing!!
all i have to say is, they better WAKE THE F#*CK UP,TOMORROW!
*can anyone offer info about promenade seats? I got ‘em for my birthday for tomorrow night and i just want to know the perks. thanks.
TMC, your the one saying “good” return. I’m just saying return. In the end maybe they won’t but if Garth is growing as GM he’ll find a way to build up his value enough to get something.
I think Snow’s last draft was a good one.
I like Gordon the coach (except for the sissy issue).
Thus far, except for the draft picks none of Snow’s trades have worked out at all. If he is going to become the GM we need how he manages all the assets that don’t fit longterm is going to be a true test of his skills.
Sparky comes up and sits on your lap and combs your chest hair in between periods. I have no idea just kidding. Sens will come out strong tomorrow after dropping 2 to us. Just hope Bailey is in the line up!
Strummer’s Army on Nov 28th, 2008 18:05:34 said:
“I don’t care as long as the Islanders get a good return.”
Vut now you say that you didnt even say that, I did? This is going nowhere- its pointless to discuss something with someone who doesnt stand by what they say. I dont want to argue about what you said Strummer, its right here for anyone sho is interested… so Im done.
Miro/Thumbellini… come on… really?
Miro IS an NHL goal scorer, Thumbellini has scored an NHL goal. That’s pretty much where the similarity ends.
Butchie is a stretch, I know… but Butchie knows where all the good restaurants are in NHL cities… and he knows how the game is supposed to be played. Gordon is getting some on the job training thanks to the Islanders…THAT’S IT.
At least Lavy had a cup of coffee in the NHL.
I’m not sure if Butch would entertain the idea or not. i know the Isles wouldn’t because they haven’t made a good decision in 20 years.
goring’s last stint was under the glorious Milbury regime… NOBODY had success while the Milbury was associated with the team. Even Lavy, who got the team to the playoffs didn’t fare too well with Osgood, Yashin and Peca… What did Goring have to work with except the vortex that was RICK DIPIETRO as a rookie and the SUCTION that was left from dealing Luongo away. Leading scorers were marius and hammer… He was there as a pillow to mute the sound as Milbury shot the organization in the head with the whole Dipietro fiasco.
I’d love to get Chris’ spin on the Butchie experiment.
The guy won three championships (albeit not in the NHL). But two of them were for the ISLANDERS… and don’t forget the four cups he carried over his head.
The only thing gordon has had over his head in the NHL is GUILT and REGRET.
It wasn’t a trade but I thought the Streit signing was pretty good. I do agree that hopefully Snow learned or will learn how to maximize his return just like Mr. Mike Milbury did!!!!!
right but the interpretation of good return is where you misunderstanding me. For me a good return for Tambelleni is any kind of pick. Your thinking I mean good player or top prospect. I just want something for him.
Plenty of guys who blow on this team, we’ll see what if anything Snow gets for them.
Let the Goring proposal go please. You are giving me gas.
I don’t want to see Goring again as a coach. Great player, great guy, yes, he did build championship teams. Goring is the ultimate team guy. He knew he was taking a bullet for the organization when he chose to coach the Islanders. The team was pathetic, even worse then now. They said Goring had to get them through the really hard times and then they fired him.
I feel bad they didn’t give him more to work with because I doubt he’ll ever get an NHL coaching job. It was probably such a bad experience for Butchie he doesn’t want one.
Tambelinni as a packaged deal might get something. I think he would just be thrown in to get rid of him though. He would then win an NHL scoring title and the cup with whomever we traded him to.
I see that there are a lot of opinions here as to which players are to blame for this mess the last few games. But am I really the only one one who has had enough of Campoli? He seems to rush every play and chance he gets with the puck. He passes to no one in particular, and often up the boards to a waiting opponent at the blue line. I can’t stand watching him anymore. Package him with Tambs and hope to get a bag of pucks and some Zamboni parts in exchange!
Hey … the good news is that we can all watch EPIC ENDINGS on MSG and once-again, relive the the early 80’s. Let’s face it, it’s only success you will witness on Coliseum ice for a while.
I actually like his game and the way he has been jumping into the play. He has had some lapses the last couple but not as blaring as some others on this club.
For a while. That is pretty optimistic considering we might not even have a team in a while.
does anyone know if the msg show about hockey endings will be a weekly show or just a one time show
About 10 weeks till Pitchers and catchers.
Thank God!
Blaming campoli is like blaming the assistant equipment manager. He’s a third pair defenseman.
Let’s face it the pieces are not all that bad… Our expectations need to be managed a little better.
The only players I see right now that are not playing up to what our expectations should be are Tambellini (it would be hard to expect less from him) and Comrie (who is just damaged).
Other than that, the top forwards are what they are.
Hunter was having great success with Nielsen.
Nielsen was starting to take control.
Okposo isn’t quite there yet, but I am not going to throw him under the bus for that.
Weight has been a pleasant surprise mostly because of the spark plug that Bergy has been and his relationship with Guerin. Remember the Sim thing didn’t work out too well. Nobody was saying what a GREAT SYSTEM Gordon was running when Sim was on that line.
The problem isn’t the individual pieces, IT’S THE PUZZLE.
I love the stuff that CB posted the other day about what other scouts and coaches said about Gordon’s “system”.
It’s a joke. What they should have said is, “We really like playing the Islanders because it keeps us on our toes for when we play real teams”
If it had any merit other coaches would have been using it. There is nothing NEW in the NHL…
Gordon gets his guys to cover 200 feet for 40 minutes then sulks when they can’t skate in the third period. EXCELLENT SYTEM.
It is entertaining… until part of your system becomes hiding under a table while there is a bar fight going on.
Is there any chance Kenny Morrow would take a full time stint as an assistant…
Is trottier in the equation as a successor for go-go (as in go-go dancer) gordon… start sending your resumes now!
Much like Milbury, Milbury Jr will be starting the coaching caroursel as soon as it becomes apparent that he hired a woman to coach an NHL team.
PS… Logan is pretty sure Bailey is here to stay. Awesome… let’s hope Gordon doesn’t get him KILLED.
Jesis… some of you say things that are just awful. AWFUL.
PPS: 10-10-2 is NOT .500. Overtime losses are STILL LOSSES. 12-10-2 is .500 with two BONUS POINTS. Doesn’t seem like much, 35-35-12 is not getting you into the playoffs where more than half the teams are playing.
You have a better chance at .500… 41-31-10… 92 points would have you playing meaningful hockey in April, but no guarentee into the tournament.
Just wanted to bring that up.
Sim was lazy on the 3rd and 4th goal. He waited for the puck to reach him and didn’t get it into the Boston zone… and then Boston turned up ice and scored… and on the 4th goal… he didn’t stay with his man.
I thought his game was all about hustle. He doesn’t do anything else really so the bottom line is…
He’s not a good fit.
DOC
And I like that the OFFICIAL ISLANDERS WEBSITE doesn’t even mention that the Islanders LOST a game today.
DOC
It was a day game. They were destined to lose. But Tamby needs new scenery.
JPinVA,
If Nolan were here Bailey would have been benched after he took a penalty in his 1st game and would have never seen the ice …Nolan is gone - get over it!
Gordon’s system is fun …still doesn’t have all the players needed, but it’s clearly aggresive and effective when properly played. When the team wins everyone’s on here singing praises, then when they lose everyone gets all crazy …the reality is this team was picked to finish last, and considering that we’re rebuilding, we should hope they do. Bailey is clearly showing he more than belongs and despite the lack of scoring Okposo is showing he’s got a bright future as well …Snow and Gordon have been doing a nice job …
AZS,
that’s BS, and YOU know it. Name a player that rode the pine with Nolan that is excelling now.
tambellini… come on, puleeze.
Nielsen… had his chances, and was injured. this is better for him than Nolan’s sytem… no doubt… but who’s to say he wouldn’t have been given a chance with Okposo and Hunter.
Bergy… he was there last year making contributions. But they had a little issue of TANK.
Comeau… what mistake did he make? Where is he?
thompson wouldn’t be here… he’s a Gordon guy.
They most likely drafted Bailey becasue of Nolan. He wasn’t playing with Gordon’s son. They probably don’t have him on the radar if it wasn’t for Nolan.
I’m over Nolan, but it’ll be a long time before Snow is not held accountable for destablizing this team AGAIN!!!!
And my opinion hasn’t changed since day one. I have said that the new “system” can be entertaining… but I’ll maintain that Gordon is a conditioning coach at best. He’s coaching the damn practice squad for speed drills.
There isn’t enough talent to make thid thing work, but do you think Ovechkin would be a better player in the GO GO.
Crosby… a better player covering 200 feet of ice.
Yeah… we gotta live with it… and it is entertaining when it turns lemons into lemonade… but when it turns men into women… NOT SO MUCH.
I take that back, that’s an insult to women.
I like Gordon’s “system” but I am really getting sick of saying it, almost as bad as Nolan’s “Nolan Type Player”. It is entertaining to watch, no doubt about it. Nolan’s team was about as exciting as watching worms hump. Glad hes gone I know some will disagree but oh well…
The only problem I have with Gordon is the guy is a pu$$ey. Plain and simple. He is one and in turn the team is behaving like one. There hasn’t been a game where we have taken over physically. We no longer finish checks. I have actually witnessed our players hold back from making a great hit. Even Hunter who has been among the league leader in hits for a few years isn’t hitting. This I find disturbing and attribute it to Gordon. I had a serious problem with the Nielson hit and can’t seem to let it go. The guy is horrible with the press with his constant removing foot from mouth comments(I never pull goalies, he didn’t go in because he was cold). Other than that he has a very entertaining style of hockey except these 3rd period collapses.
Does anyone remember Jason Wiemer? He was brought in after the 2002 playoffs to add grit and toughness. He added nothing, absolutely nothing to the team, and was dispatched elsewhere in short order. I mention Wiemer because Sim reminds me of him. The substance doesn’t live up to the hype. When all of our decent free agents were defecting, Sim was the big signing in 07. Seems like he was a Nolan-type player and not such a good fit for Go Go’s system.
How can you say those players were given a shot with Nolan? That guy would give -39 Comrie more time than Bailey. How about Nolan’s guys, Simon, Comrie, Hilbert, come on man mute argument. Bailey would be on the bench or going back to juniors(which he still might). Hilbert would be on our first PP unit. Gervais woul be running our PP. Bergenheim got such limited ice time with Nolan even though most of the time he was our best player. If Nolan was so great like everyone says than why didn’t anyone else pick him up?
Nolan-type player;
Boring
not talented
can’t pass
can’t shoot
falls on good ice
misses net
see Andy Hilbert
Seriously, can everybody calm the F down? We had talk about winning a few rounds in the playoffs in the midst of the winning streak, and now after 2 straight losses the crying has returned in full force.
This is a team with below-average NHL talent with a few young players (and a young coach) that we’re hoping to see grow. Sadly, that entails stretches of looking like world-beaters and games like this afternoon’s. Take a deep breath and stop using such limited samples as reasoning for either fitting them for Cup rings or wanting everyone traded/fired.
As for Tamby, though, my patience is wearing very thin. Send him to the Bridge, call up Comeau or Trevor Smith, and see what happens. He’s had many chances. And I think a few people here misunderstood the point about the Snow/Nolan thing regarding Tamby. Nolan was playing him maybe 5 minutes a night and benching him at the first sign of a rookie lapse. The point is giving him a CHANCE to prove whether he belongs or not in this league. Nolan never gave him that, and now that Gordon is giving him the chance we’re seeing he might need serious work before becoming a valuable NHL player. It’s about giving opportunities and then judging the players on what they do with those opportunities.
Perfect example, by the way, of the randomness of the NHL draft - EJ Hradek’s analysis of the first round of the 2003 draft claimed Tamby was the best player the Kings drafted. They drafted some scrub named Dustin Brown in that round too. Oops.
I just had to jump in here to grab No. 100. Man, some of the same people celebrating after 5 outta 6 are now going nuts. Clamoring for Nolan, ripping on my Vancouver story 10 days later, thinking Tambellini could bring something back in a trade, asking for the return of Butch Goring. Wild, wild stuff…CB
damn, in one minute I lost No. 100!
Jon Sim had a bad game but is on course for 15-20 which is what we thought. He is a -6 though. I think that the club blew him up a little too much! We were expecting a little too much!
No Nolan please. No Goring please. Love to get something for Tambiweenie just don’t see it happening. And I think we just need to get Gordon liquored up on whiskey before games so he wants to kick some a$$!!!
Weimer was way better then Sim. He could at least fight (not saying he was great just way better then Sim).
Weimer was a decent fighter. Not bad at all. Problem is that when we hear we are “going to forget about Steve Webb” we were expecting something different!
I was referring to Sim with that ridiculous comment Isles Brass made(Snow)
93 doc on Nov 28th, 2008 22:15:04 said:
“And I like that the OFFICIAL ISLANDERS WEBSITE doesn’t even mention that the Islanders LOST a game today.”
http://islanders.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=Recap&gameNumber=323&season=20082009&gameType=2
There you go, read up.
oh snap:0
it’s time for tamb’s to go. he’s not an nhl player. i don’t think a stint in the ahl will help him. my guess is that the isles waive him soon and he winds up playing in europe. he’ll probably do better in a more wide open, less physical league across the pond.
I hear there is a really good girls under 16 league looking for a new winger….
First of all, just threw Goring out there to fetch a reaction. Got it.
Secondly, my issue with Nolan has almost NOTHING to do with Nolan. It has always been about losing the continuity that the organizaton needs.
YES, Nolan had his faults. Lavy had his faults, Stirling had his faults, How about Shaw… why wasn’t he given a shot?
I like the “like watching worms hump” line… good stuff. But Nolan type players… went to the playoffs the first year with future outcasts Blake and yashin…
Nolan wasn’t god’s gift to the NHL, but he brought STABILITY and team play to the organizaton, and if Wang didn’t turn it into a circus…maybe… just maybe… him and Smith would have made this team something in three or four years.
But that’s in the past…AGAIN… and we are looking at another 5 years so we can be right here again in two years when everybody else realizes that this guy can’t coach his way out of a paper bag.
that’s just the way it goes.
Hopefully when some of the pieces are in place a real coach will be willing to take over the Hamilton Ice Bandits.
I don’t think ANYBODY wants to see Nolan or Goring or any other coach… WE just want to see (as Nick said) this guy grow [a pair] and become a good coach… and maybe learn that running your dogs ragged in the first leg doesn’t win the race.
It’s not a system, it’s a tempo, and sometimes you have to mix in a few slow dances so you don’t have to go home before they cut the cake… and somebody else is dancing with his hands on your wife’s butt (LIKE TODAY)
…and not ripping your story… really loved that. But you have to admit that thought crossed your mind.
We all love this team. But when guys look at this “system” there is nothing new. It’s like an NBA coach saying he invented the press because he plays it for the whole game.
Well… Nolan went into the four corners for 60 minutes… somewhere we need a compromise.
As long as compromise doesn’t mean playing in the corners for 60 minutes. I’d honestly rather watch them lose. Bailey staying, CB just posted!!!!
Blake scored 40 that year don’t think you can call him an outcast! We just didn’t want to give him a 5 year deal. In retrospect thank God we didn’t!!!
CB,
If you are still up reading htis stuff, did you see the Gordon video that the Boston feed put on the air during the
game.
You know stuff like that is okay to put out when the guy has found some success… but when he’s your guy, and he moves on, and he went through what he did in Jersey… man that is just a kick in the nutz.
I’d like to get your spin on that.
I can’t believe the Scott Gordon bashing on this board…first NHL job and he’s coached the team only 23(!) games…and the team’s a somewhat respectable 9-12-2…yet people want to can him already? yeesh…everyone knew this roster was in transition mode…may I remind people that the “experts” had us applying for admission into the AHL?
If there is a God, can we get a real coach like, say, Ted Nolan?
I guess there is a God…..and a Devil, because when we get good people, we lose them for nothing or worse.
Zhitnik. Smyth. Osgood. Satan/Fedotenko.
Theology in hockey. We think it can’t get worse and we go and hire Gordon to make a lame roster exciting by having a slow lineup pay a speedy game with skill being paramount to it’s success yet our skill is dependant on has beens, never weres and never will be’s. We shun fighting. We have size that doesn’t hit and hard shooter who can’t score and big guys who don’t crowd the net and a defense that funnels opponents into the middle rather than push them into the boards.
So we have an owner with money as his best attribute (no knowledge of hocke