COLUMBUS 3, ISLANDERS 1
Plus: final responses to your column comments
Three days ago the Islanders sent the message that they were okay with any of the other 29 teams in the NHL taking Jon Sim off their hands at no cost via the waiver wire. Tonight, Sim saw time on the Islanders’ power play.
Mitch Fritz had two extremely rough shifts (not in a good way) in the first period. He did not play in the second and third periods. Donald Brashear be damned on Tuesday when the Capitals come to Uniondale. Alexander Semin and Mike Green are back in the lineup. If Mike Sillinger’s groin injury is not healed, it would seem foolish to not call up a skating forward from Bridgeport. If you believe in the system, doesn’t the system call for rolling four complete lines?
Of course, coaches and a lot of experts will say this game tonight did not hinge on the play of a grinder like Sim and enforcer like Fritz. That would be correct. So let’s say this.
The Islanders lost tonight 3-1 to a Columbus team led in part by a 24-save, No. 2 star outing by Steve Mason, a year removed from his breakout performance for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. They also lost because they were primarily out-worked, out-skated and out-played.
I texted a highly-respected NHL man, in Columbus for the game tonight, for his take on the Islanders’ three best players tonight. He wrote back:
1. Andy Hilbert
2. Andy Joey MacDonald
3. Richard Park
His skate problems in the third notwithstanding, Blake Comeau seems to have earned some trust from Scott Gordon - an important development. As for that minus-8, has he had all the answers defensively? No. Comeau is a young player who joined a team in time for its slide and lost 9-2 on Thursday. Could not care less about that plus-minus.
In unrelated news, Bridgeport won in Norfork tonight, 6-4. Trevor Smith had a hat trick. Jeff Tambellini scored his first AHL goal of the season.
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On to the conversation from the Comments space about my column of Garth Snow and Scott Gordon firmly in place as GM and coach for a while…
A few of you discussed the potential packaging of some of the Islanders’ upcoming second round picks. A pair (or even a trio) of second round picks will not get you a frontline player, unless you also include your top prospect. And even that package would not get you an Ilya Kovalchuk. The only value of those picks as trade bait would be on draft day. Two second-rounders might get you a pick in the middle to late portion of the first round. In July, the Buffalo Sabres traded two second round picks to San Jose for 34-year old defenseman Craig Rivet.
Since the day Carolina canned him, more than a few fans have asked about the return of Peter Laviolette. Peter is a good friend. He is an excellent coach. His next NHL head coaching job should arrive next summer. His next NHL head coaching job, and probably the one after that, will not be with the Islanders.
Lots of people ask about the Islanders joining the Nets in Brooklyn. Friends, Brooklyn is not even happening for the Nets. It is not an option for the Islanders. You can hold me to that one.
This may start a fire, but the love letters about Ted Nolan and Neil Smith fascinate me. Here’s why: in their combined last 20 hockey seasons, they have been hired as coach and GM by one NHL team - the Islanders. In those combined last 20 hockey seasons, they have worked in those jobs for a total of two years and 40 days. For all of the merits of Ted and Neil, there’s something odd about that.
As for the complaints from some that they’re tired of hearing about the future, I honestly don’t recall discussion of building and developing from within in ten years. This last era was piece-meal, a little bit of this and that. A couple of decent regular season runs, one memorable playoff series, but it didn’t get it done. It didn’t work.
The subject of the Lighthouse Project was brought up. Of course, the long-term - make that also the near-short-term - health of the franchise depends it. I’ve written plenty about the Coliseum deal and will again after the holidays when the politicians do more work than photo-ops in front of Christmas trees and menorrahs. But I will say that while the team waits for news of a shovel hitting the ground (or not) next summer, nothing should alter their focus on a proper rebuilding plan.
There was discussion about Neil Smith’s role in the drafting of Kyle Okposo and whether that was the pick he wanted to make. It was Neil’s pick and he was very happy with it. He had only been with the Islanders a few weeks but took a leadership role with the first-round pick. It came down between Okposo and Everett (WHL) center Peter Mueller, who was taken with the next pick by Phoenix and had 22 goals last season and is 5-12-17 in 29 games this season.
Some readers think Scott Gordon is going to quit, their theory based on the disgusted, broken and beaten look he had on his face Tuesday night. Friends, his team lost 9-2.
Two ex-fans wrote they had given up on the Islanders. They wrote that on a blog called Islanders Point Blank.
Shoe wrote that he loved me, but the patience of many fans is “already thin” with Gordon and Snow and he wondered how bad it will be next year. I love you too, Shoe, but I’m not sure what you were expecting when everyone else predicted they had no shot to make the playoffs. I do agree with you that the true measure of “stability” is success. My use of the term was just to define that Snow and Gordon are not going anywhere anytime soon and I’d be shocked if the Islanders make a trade of top prospects or high draft selections for veterans in the near future.
Mrlbem wants to know why the Islanders fanbase is hurting while the New York Jets’ is stronger than ever. I’d submit two of many reasons. They play just 16 games a year, and no matter what team you’re talking about in the metropolitan area you simply cannot compare hockey to the National. Football. League.
Doug inquired about what I was wearing when I wrote the column - the current Islanders jersey or the throwback. I had to admit, that was pretty hilarious. But since he may be into this sort of thing, I’ll let him know I was wearing jeans from The Gap and a sweater from Eddie Bauer - a similar ensemble to what I was wearing the day before when I criticized Garth Snow for keeping Josh Bailey from Team Canada.
(In my entire life I’ve worn an Islanders jersey for a grand total of about two minutes. About a hundred years ago, we were setting up a Tom Kurvers photo shoot for the cover of the old monthly newspaper Islander News. With Kurvball running late, the photographer Bruce Bennett asked me to pose in his jersey so he could capture the sunlight right outside the Coliseum box office. It was the classic jersey, the one the Islanders won during the dynasty, the one the Islanders should wear all the time. That picture may still be somewhere in my mom’s house).
Greg wrote that the Islanders “have been rebuilding since Denis Potvin retired.” Actually, they haven’t - which may have been the problem.
Jon asks, “Why do the Islanders have to be terrible every year”? You’re right, Jon. They don’t. The main theme of my article was about how they can eventually be superb every year.
Another week, another Rangers shootout victory. Reaction to tonight’s Islanders game and everything else in Comments.
108 Responses to “COLUMBUS 3, ISLANDERS 1
Plus: final responses to your column comments”
Please Wait
Who hired Snow and Gordon as NHL execs before the Isles? Who would have ever hired Snow as a GM? No one.
Totally fair comeback, Jon…CB
Hey Chris, another week another rangers shootout win? waaa waaa stop crying. jealous that the rangers are going to the playoffs again when the islanders season has been over since november?
POTVIN SUCKS
8 shootout wins. shootouts dont win championships. ranger fans just jealous about how good potvin was.
4 Straight Cups
Wasn’t complaining about it at all, but I really appreciate you being on Islanders Point Blank right after a Rangers win…CB
The Islanders have to be really bad for at least 5 years to be really good. Look at the beginning of the dynasty. There were some bad years. Look at the Caps, Pens, Oilers. They were awful and now they are good. We should cheer for the number 1 pick for the next few years and be supportive of the team
Chris- Your Thoughts on Suffolk County coming into play in a last ditch effort to save the team if the light house fails?
Also- didnt realize how much of an impact Mueller was having already? Right choice over Okposo?
Your in Snow Shoes next June. You got the number 1 pick. Who are you taking? and can he honestly change the culture along with the 6 you have mentioned.
I think we have seen the end of the Mitch Fritz era here on the island. As much as I love having a goon and have fought to keep here, I think it’s time to say goodbye. It was painful watching him out there. If I didn’t follow hockey and I tuned in tonight and watched the game. I would think Fritz was a fan who won a contest and got to play in a real game with his favorite team. That’s how out of place he has looked. This is coming from a fan of old school hockey, who has a borderline man crush on goons. We better address this at the deadline or in the summer.
I watched tonights game and saw something I am seeing alot lately: 2 rebuilding teams with 1 of the 2 having a far better future than the other. The Blue Jackets have guys like Nash who is already a star and should be a superstar. They have goaltender with great talent. When I look at their roster I see a team that could be very good in 2 or 3 years. When I look at the islanders, I just don’t see it. We don’t have the depth of young talent to give anyone hope. The fanbase has been waiting for our own Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Malkin or Crosby, and we still don’t have it. Goaltender’s don’t generate the kind of buzz that a talented forward will. I say finish last and clean house. We need a GM that has a proven track record that people have confidence in. Let that GM bring a coach in that has a body of work under his belt. It’s time that NHL teams do what NFL teams have done which is work to find disciples of successful coaches (See head coach of San Jose). Love to see a guy like Steve Yzerman in my front office or the bench.
If they only had shootouts in the playoffs…..but they don’t…..so the Rangers won’t win anything
The most masked record in the NHL
20-11-12 8 wins by shootout, only 12 wins in regulation/OT. Hell we have 8 wins in regulation/OT and we are not very good.
Goals scored by a Ranger during regulation/OT play - 80
Goals given up by Ranger team during regulation/OT play - 87
Any Ranger fan that comes onto CB’s blog and wants to talk, please come. I’ve got some more masked stats for them. Yeah, Chris, myself and and every Isles fan here knows we stink, and we stink bad right now…..I think most are okay with it.
If stinkin it up means Tavares or Hedman, I hope we smell like garbage when April comes. I can only hope we get some more 1st and 2nd round selections in the draft too.
We are all hoping we are the Pens in a few years, young players all maturing at the same time and become successful….but you Ranger fans keep feeling good about your shootout wins
If they only had shootouts in the playoffs…..
Oh God. Watching Fritz out there in the first almost made my eyes bleed.
To the ranger fan above, most logical ranger fans i know realize that they are not as good as the record. I was at a ranger game a few weeks ago and heard rampant “Fire Renney” chants. Shouldn’t throw stones from inside a glass house, or in the rangers case, a straw house waiting to collapse under a 3 game losing streak through California this week..
Friends: I’d like to move on past the one Rangers fan. He’s gone now. Thanks…CB
The only stat that matters is the Rangers are going to the playoffs and the Islanders are the worst team in hockey. The Rangers are a stable franchise, while the Isles are a joke. And this is coming from an Islander fan.
This is true Ray, but as usual they won’t last long when they get there. While i’m in the griping mood, anyone else notice how tired the isles looked in the last 1:30 of the third? Guess the bag skate didn’t work that well…
I’d really like to see Trevor Smith called up
I hadn’t heard that the Isles were thinking of picking Mueller over Okposo. I didn’t know the players at the time of the draft so I gather it came down to taking the “power forward” or the faster, slicker player. Mueller looks like he’s going to be quite a pro while the jury is still out on Okposo.
So who’s the better closer? K-Rod or Putz? lol.
This season is lost, there’s no sense in complaining about it. Let the young kids play and then we’ll talk again in April.
If Lundqvist played in 2 1/2 games like DP has this year, I seriously doubt the Rangers would be a lock to make the playoffs either.
We have been decimated by injuries, many to key players that we counted on making us competitive this year. Yeah we are a joke, but I find some solace that we are joke with a few regulars out from time to time this season.
We have not played one single minute with the team that Snow/Gordon had projected.
Injuries are not an excuse, but lets not give too much credit to the Rangers.
They are about 5 seconds away from making a stupid trade to clear cap space so they can sign Sundin….for once, even with the lighthouse project up in the air, the team has a plan and no matter how badly we stink, I really think the plan is going to be stuck to.
I was off on my gut feeling with Bailey scoring tonight, but I want to take another shot.
Charles Wang seems like a smart business man. I truly believe if the Lighthouse project fails, he would look to remodeling the Coliseum before he were to just pack it in and sell the team to the highest bidder. I also think the NHL would do everything they could to keep the Isles in NY - the last black eye the NHL needs is that they ultimately failed in NY and went to Portland or Houston instead.
I would normally say bring on the kids from bridgeport, but with capuano down there in charge of development, and how well the sound tigers are playing, I am hesitant to jump behind bringing in Smith, Iggulden or Joensuu…I will say that in NHL 09 for PS3, I have Joensuu centering a line with Park and a guy named Eric Nystrom I acquired from the flames
I had heard the same thing about Smith being upset over Okposo, about Smith being too new to change the mind of the Committee (I got that info from the esteemed poster B.D. Galoff on a message board)
“Neil Smith just followed the scouts lead. He was too new to change the committee’s mind at that point. It was Okposo, if he liked it or not.”
Thankfully, I really like Okposo even though Mueller looks better. I like good character immensely.
Anyhoo…..Chris, did you hear Jaffe’s comment about the immense value goalie Mason got when he was able to play for Team Canada? Loved the irony. Great experience for Mason, but Bailey….?
My colleague B.D.’s report is inaccurate. Yes, I heard The Jaf say that, two nights after he played up the he’s-a-pro angle for Josh. I know what Billy meant, though. Pretty sure his feeling is once the NYI committed to Bailey as an NHLer, they should keep him at this level…CB
Interesting to point out that the most important stat is that the Rangers are going to the playoffs and the Isles are not. The Isles are rebuilding, and it is irritating to see all of these Islander fans piss and moan about the fact that Isles are awful right now. What did everyone expect? Does it matter that the Rags are going to the playoffs? No. If Ranger fans want to talk, how about we talk about the early 2000s when the Rags had huge contracts and ZERO playoffs, but the Islanders made the playoffs for four straight seasons. Funny how people forget that fact.
This season is not lost. The development is what is important. Right now the Isles are in a slump… big surprise with the current roster? No KO, no Neilsen, no DP, and our PP constantly sees Hilbert, Park and Sim. I like the effort of Hilbert and Park, but they are not the kind of players that will up the rank of the Isles PP.
I have said many times what CB stated tonigh: This system needs to role four lines. Fritz must go!!!! This team already looks like it has played 100 games. The more Gordon shortens the bench, the worse this team will be.
This is going to be a very long season, folks. Think 50-60 points, tops.
Hopefully, that’s bad enough to get a premium pick (Tavaes/Hedman). That’s the only way this team is going to improve.
But I think an issue that has to be explored now is whether this team is quitting on itself and its coach. Has anyone seen the “overspeed” system recently. It’s more like “overwhelmed” — which is what the Isles have been in the last couple of weeks.
Tonight’s game had no effort at all. They were outplayed by a mediocre team, largely because they were outworked in every phase of the game. They looked like a team that didn’t give a —- whether it won or lost.
Gordon is losing his locker room. I’m not sure what he can do to get it back. It may be time for a post-holiday sale of veterans to make room for some of the kids in Bridgeport.
Well, thank you Chris. It’s just a shame Bailey won’t have this experience to build on. To draw from in the future.
On this recent post….I don’t know if he’s losing his lockerroom but if he is, he’s gotta be replaced, and we all have to weigh in our minds that another coach we want here has lost TWO lockerrooms, which is a death knell for a coach.
from Connpost ” Here’s the semi-interesting bit: Of the 24 Bridgeport game-winners that came with less than five minutes left, Smith is the only one who has scored more than one… and he has four of them. “
fritz is playing 2 minutes a night while trevor smith has scored 8 goals in six games. something doesn’t add up.
I agree with bringing up a player from Bridgeport but disagree with not playing Fritz against Washington. Jon Sim can enjoy the popcorn that night. The Isles most likely won’t win the game no matter who they call up from Bridgeport so if they are gonna lose I don’t need to see them getting their butts pushed around too.
I am no Andy Hilbert fan but I must give him credit for his continued good play.
dmen77,
I believe the Devils have been without Brodeur for quite some time, and are in the midst of a torrid winning streak, 9 out of their last 11. It’s not all about Lundqvist being in, DP being out, let’s face it…
CB, you say that you haven’t heard discussion about the future in a long time. It was you who recently posted the now infamous quote from Milbury, “we’ve been promising the future for a long time. The future has finally arrived” (Or something to that effect.) I think the opposite of what you say is true. There’s been TALK of rebuilding for years now, but we’ve never had a plan. Never had a front office who’s been willing to stick to an approach, for better or for worse. Like him or not, you have to give Snow credit for having a plan - THAT’S something the Islanders haven’t had in a LONG time.
I don’t think I linked to the Mike quote, but I agree with your point…CB
Is there any way that if we finish with less than 60 points, we can get both the first and second pick???
I didn’t see the game tonight but I figured tonight would be the one where the Isles could get at least one point. This team is worlds different from when they went on that little winning streak in November.
Anyone know if the team with the worst record in the draft lottery is guaranteed to pick no lower than a certain number?
The veterans look so frustrated. As they should when their team is in a slump but we have seen some uncharacteristic penalties from Streit and Witt these past few games.
Garth Snow needs to go.
This team need John Tavares in the worst way right now. We need a star.
You could only drop back 1 spot. Isles finish last the worst they could do is pick 2nd.
Since this rebuilding process is gonna take several more years, I might as well at least enjoy the new Islanders 3rd jersey and merchandise. I think on Monday, December 15th, the Islanders team store has the new Dipietro bobble hips and knees doll. Can’t wait!
2nd, unless teams 7-15 win, then they’re guaranteed first.
so coming in 30th is ideal, 29th through 25th is essential otherwise, but 24th gets you Tavares, 23rd gets you the other kid who might be better than Tavares and coming in 30th gets Snow that unknown small shifty Massachussets kid who has to work on his shot to become the second liner he’s projected to be.
This one goes out to those of you saying that we should not be complaining and that we are rebuilding: I doubt I speak for myself when I say that fans would accept that we are rebuilding if we put a lineup of skilled young guys out every night that skate their tails off to keep their NHL jobs. Instead, we have a group of young mediocre playmakers and another group of old slow defensmen and yet another group of veterans that try hard. If you are truly rebuilding, you don’t sign guys like Doug Weight as much as I love him. You don’t bring back the Jon Sims and the Andy Suttons of the world. A rebuilding team being managed properly would have found a way to grab Nikolai Zherdev when he was out there and be out there courting free agents out of college and selling them on the Islanders because of the availability of playing time. Instead we have a bad mix in a system they are incompatible with, and frustrated fans, players, and management.
there’s a rumor going around that the rags are about to waive prucha to help clear cap space for sundin. if they do i hope the isles put in a claim. he would get major minutes right off the bat here. i don’t understand why he sits on the bench at msg.
Renney is an idiot thats why Prucha sits…
In response to Jon (#31), the team that finishes last can choose no lower than second overall (barring a trade-down…hehe).
Although it stinks to be this bad for a year or two, the rewards are almost always greater down the road than being mediocre, getting the 6 or 7 spot in the playoffs every year, and getting bounced early.
If Tavares or Hedman were on the Islanders roster right now, would either of them be able to save the season & get the team into the playoffs? I mean, singlehandedly? said the overtired man tongue-in-cheek
I think this is just the regular December slump. We see this every year and they play this inexplicably every time. With different teams but the same stupid, half assed, non-thinking type of play!
Question: When someone is waived and not picked up by a team, aren’t they usually just sent to the waiving team’s AHL affiliate? So for Sim to play would that mean there was no one staff thought merited being brought up in his place? Or was that comment about Sim just a dig on Gordon/coaching staff/Snow (team?)(all of the above lol), CB?
It has become apparent that even some of the teams better Vets like Witt perhaps don’t fit the system (unless he is playing hurt). With that, the only players I believe are untouchable are: Okposo, DiPietro, Bailey, Neilsen, Hunter, Petrov, Streti, Josneau, Bergenheim, Harmonic, Neimi, Ness and perhaps Comeau. Other then that if the deal is right they can be dealt. If handled right the team could be much improved next year. Not saying top 10 in NHL but much better then this year.
Dare I say it - tonight’s effort was worse than the Pittsburgh game on Thursday night.
No heart, no hustle, no desire, no nothing. Blake Comeau and maybe Trent Hunter were the only Isles who had a game worth mentioning.
I love the comment from the poster who says Fritz looks like he won the contest to play a game with his favorite team. He’s so lost out there. Please, end the experiment. For all of you guys who want a goon, I would officially like to start the Bring Back Arron Asham Movement. This is your modern day “enforcer” - a guy who can skate, contribute and fight. He’s welcome on my fourth line anyday of the week and I think it was silly of the Isles to let him go for what little he costs and how much he brings to the rink.
And I’m sick and tired of all the bitchers and moaners about Snow and Gordon. You whiners will be the first ones to praise Snow and Gordon (if he makes it) when this team turns it all around in a few seasons because they stuck to the plan of putting the pieces together from within. I wonder if all you Snow bashers were calling for his head when he pulled off the Smyth deal when we were in the midst of a playoff run. Didn’t hear too many complaints then.
You bitchy moany people are the same ones who complain year after year about finishing 8th, barely, and getting bounced in five games. How do you fix it? Well, when your cupboard is bare and you keep striking out in the free agent market, you blow it up and start from scratch. Welcome to life in the new NHL. This is how you build a new dynasty.
Are you Snow and Gordon bashers so delusional that you think this team is a trade away or a coaching change away from going on a tear and winning 11 of the next 12? Seriously? This team is going nowhere, and nothing it going to stop it except for what’s within the organization. Did anyone expect anything more? If you did, please pass the Kool Aid because I want some of what you’re drinking.
Kudos to Snow for having the balls to put a plan in place and stick with it for the long haul. I don’t see him buckling under the pressure of building the Isles back into a respectable franchise in this league. I would say he’s probably right now the most hated exec in the NY sportscene right now, but if our prospects pan out, five years from now, all you whiners, bitchers and moaners will revel the man as a hero the likes of Bill Torrey. And I’ll call you all hypocrites, because that’s just what you’ll all be.
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Rebuilding is a strange thing. It seems to be a hit or miss thing in hockey… Pitt missed for a long time till they got crosby and malkin…columbus and florida hasn’t gotten it yet…atalnta still hasnt gotten it even with kovalchuk. You look at the teams that have been pretty successful with rebuilding you see nashville…minnesota…ottawa….boston..teams like that who have been pretty good the last few years but couldn’t take that next step for a championship. Then you got the teams like the Red Wings and Devils…teams who have been so stable for so many years and so good…..and they obviously did a great job of rebuilding. Hopefully 10 years from now we can look at the Isles like we do those teams…or even the teams like nashville, minnesota etc. who could be a few moves and a good run away from winning a cup.
But one thing is certain…it takes time
Give Snow and Gordon a chance for those of you calling for their head French Revolution Style. Gordon’s an NHL “virgin” so to speak and can only do so much with what he has…and he doesn’t have much at the moment. Okposo is out, Bailey is 19, no Frans, no comrie, no DP. The fact that they don’t lose by 7 every game is a miracle…think of who they’re playing: Fritz, Jackman, Sim, Pock, Joey Mac (who has been very good for the most part don’t get me wrong). This year is not going to be fun for us as fans, but have some faith that our struggles will bring us a big name forward (Tavares, please god pick John Tavares) in the draft, another deep one and that Garth will make some picks this year to help us, and that those from last year will help us soon too. The Penguins were just as bad, but they’re looking pretty good right now. Don’t jump ship, just be patient
cb
How do you think that that the Isles record will impact the Lighthouse project?
What political figure will back a non competitive team as the center piece of the project?
I fear that the continuing lack of results, poor crowds, etc. will cloud the thinking of the Town and County people that call the shots.
If the barn was full for every game, a winning team and a waiting list for season tickets, then the case for expansion etc would be much better.
It was easy for the Hartford political forces to walk away from the Whalers because of the poor results and a poor attendance record. There was no negative impact on Rowlands etc when they moved.
CB - I enjoy this blog at least as much as I enjoy watching the Islanders (well, this year anyway), think it’s ridiculous that anyone thinks Gordon’s such a lightweight that he would quit after a rough part of a season. The only way you can look at this year is as a benchmark for the next 1-2 years. If I’m a coach with a reasonable degree of support from management, I certainly don’t WANT a bad year, but as long as I’m getting the effort & the players are following the system, then whatever it is, it is — and we build on it NEXT year. The Jets analogy is apt — follow a 4-12 year with an 8-8 or 9-7, then have a legit shot at playoffs = VERY happy fanbase….
Did anyone see the play where (I think it was) Comeau was coming up along the board (opposite side from where the bench is), almost to the blue line, and he sent a pass to Guerin. Guerin turned AWAY from the puck and started skating to the bench as soon as Comeau let go of the puck. Guerin had his BACK to the puck and was looking at the bench and heading in that direction. The puck went RIGHT BY him and he did nothing. He was 50 feet from the bench and they were about to go into the offensive zone! I think it was the 2nd or 3rd period. WHAT was THAT about???
KP - spot on. The simple fact is there’s no winning with a large portion of this “fan base” and you’ll have a lot of people who will complain about every move this team makes. I have no doubt in my mind that if, for example, Bob Hartley were hired and the team had the same record, every comment on here would be about Hartley getting his job because of cronyism and how Snow’s a moron and they should both be fired and oh why didn’t we go with an accomplished AHL coach with something to prove like Scott Gordon.
The team, as currently constructed, doesn’t have people who can finish. Therefore, while they’re good at creating chances, you don’t see the results on the scoresheet most of the time. Rebuilds require time, and we’re in season 1 of it - a single good draft won’t catapult us back into the Cup Finals. We all wish it would, but let’s be thankful the ship actually has a rudder and there is an overall strategy dictating the tactics. The winning will come as the Islanders continue to see what they have and build smartly.
(Idle thought - Satan infuriated me for large portions of the last 2 seasons, but is anyone else wondering what he’d look like in this system?)
Nick,
Satan is a great finisher with great hands, but he doesn’t skate well and isn’t sound in his own zone, which means he’d be in Gordon’s dog house from day one. Why do you think he’d thrive in this system?
I don’t necessarily think he would. I always thought Nolan didn’t utilize him well, especially last season (Satan scores at least half his goals on the powerplay between the faceoff circles, so…Nolan puts him on the point. Brilliant idea!). I was merely thinking about having someone who could finish on the team, and Satan’s success this year in Pitt vs. last year made me think of it.
Honest thought - what about looking into Max Afinogenov? He’s fast, he can finish, and he’s so far in the doghouse in Buffalo he’d have to improve dramatically to reach Nolan/MAB (As per Newsday Blog rules, SHOTS!) territory. He might not cost much and his salary would allow the Isles to move more vets. Not necessarily endorsing it, but he’s very available. Thoughts?
It certainly is pretty depressing. And if the Islanders move to Vegas or wherever, I’m not going to lie to you, I’ll probably become a Kings fan, my two years in Los Angeles having prepared me to follow another franchise hellbent on depressing its fanbase.
I have to believe that there are 3 reasons the Islanders will not be moved:
1) Tradition - This is not like the Nordiques or the Expos or the Charlotte Hornets; this is a franchise that ruled NY for nearly half the 1980s. Letting 4 Stanley Cups become the Toronto Aboots or the Winnipeg WhoGivesaFucks or the Houston ItNeverSnowsHeres would be tantamount to the Lakers going from a city built on a lake to a city built on a desert, er…nevermind that last point.
2) Big Market Loss = Embarassment for the NHL - The NHL is already embarassed enough. Its national TV deal is with a network that two years ago was called the Outdoor Life Network. It simply cannot afford to lose a franchise in a market as massive as NY. Granted, the Islanders aren’t quite NYC, but they’re pretty gosh darn close to it. I think the NHL’s gonna do everything in its power to keep the Atlantic division the way its been since Patrick lost its namesake.
3) Long Island Ingenuity - This is not some blue-collar, working-class, manufacturing town (as though there are any of those left in the US.) This is one of the wealthiest regions in the entire world. I gotta believe that there are enough Long Islanders with money (nobody from Dallas allowed…) that won’t let this team move, even if Charles Wang gives up on it (which I don’t think he will, as CA and Neulion have plenty to gain from a local professional franchise.)
Bottom Line: I’ve rambled alot, maybe I’m a bit too optimistic, but I want to believe. And I don’t think I’m alone. My father, who’s literally never watched hockey in his life, except when I’d force him to in my younger days and of late when we’re near a television, would probably vote to support the Lighthouse if it came to it. Like I said, he doesn’t care about the Islanders; if anything he’d root for the Rangers just to spite me. But the point is, he, and most Long Islanders, recognize the significance of the franchise.
To summarize…I gotta believe.
I gotta believe because if I don’t, I might actually have to worry about things that matter to people who aren’t willing to pay $160 to watch their team get the shit kicked out of ‘em a few nights a week.
What I meant to put at the end of that is this:
Why do you guys “gotta believe?”
I gotta believe (because it’s 100% true) that negotiations for the Lighthouse are moving forward. Barring something unforeseen, construction SHOULD start somewhere between April and December. Once the TOH approves the final scope, the County negotiates the LEASE for the site (Wang WILL NOT own the arena or the land), which should largely be a formality. It just has to be done in that order because they have to see what’s being built in order to make a fair payment for it.
I gotta believe I’ll be attending a groundbreaking ceremony next year, and that we’ll be watching this team in the Cup Finals by 2013.
saw DP at his brothers college hockey game in Mass this past weekend. I went up to him and told him this is bad.. we you back asap… his response “i know. trust me, i want back so badly”
at least there’s something to look forward to still…
Honestly, what’s the harm in shutting him down for a few more months, or even the season? He’s had 4 major surgeries in 2 years; let the man get himself 100% so we don’t have to worry about the next 12 years of the contract.
Exactly.
Let the defensemen enjoy a few more games where they don’t have to worry about the goalie stealing pucks from them. DP come back 110% or else!
i think the only question left for this season is “will we be buying hedman or tevares jerseys in june?”
I agree with Chris that Gordon and Snow are in no danger — not this year and probably not next year, unless the franchise totally falls apart.
But this is a team that doesn’t even look like it’s trying. That’s what everyone should be concerned about. It’s one thing to lose — I think everyone who reads this blog expected a well-below-.500 record. It’s another to get outworked in every aspect of the game, which is what has been happening for the last couple of weeks.
If I’m the Isles, I start trying to move some older guys who have value. I go to Guerin/Sillinger/Weight (maybe Witt, though he signed a new deal), and ask if they want to be traded to a contender. If so, I go work out deals.
Oh, and BTW: Mitch Fritz has to go. A player who gets 2 minutes of ice a night should not be in the NHL. He spent most of one of his rare shifts in the first period standing and watching the Jackets play. Inexcusable. If you want to play in this league, work is a prerequsite. He has done nothing to show he deserves an NHL job.
Rangers had 4 players 30 and over in last night’s lineup.
The Isles had 7.
The Rangers had 10 players 26 and under.
The Isles had 5.
But, the Islanders are rebuilding, while those damn Rangers just keep collecting those gosh darn shootout wins which we would never accept!!!
I get it.
Great post, Ray (#61).
I’ll just say that I look at things in an optimistic, glass half-full way but I really have bad vibes about the Isles staying in NY. I don’t see the Lighthouse project happening given the deteriorating economy and the job/revenue losses in NY.
Just a note on CB’s last comment above. Jeff Tambs just scored the first goal of his “conditioning” stint in Bridgeport. How many games has he played down there so far? I mean if they are playing the same system in the ‘port and it took JT say 6 games to score his first do we honestly believe he’ll EVER bloom in this system? Not to take this too far off topic but it doesn’t look good for Tambs IMHO.
Even highly-respected NHL men in Columbus are obsessed with trying to change Joey MacDonalds first name!!!
Hey,
Are the Tavares jersey’s being sold at any of the Islander stores, being out here in Jersey you don’t get much. What number is he going to take. BTW, I think Trevor Smith is the guy they should vall up.
Nick, groundbreaking can’t take place between April and December. Given the fact that they are going to thoroughly renovate the existing Coliseum, it has to start soon after the season is over. If it doesn’t start then, it has to wait a year. I don’t really understand how this works, except to assume that there are steps you need to take when the Islanders aren’t playing, and then when they are, you move on to other things. But if approval from the town came in, say, September, you can’t break ground for months. Delays aren’t measured in months; they are measured in full years.
Thank you Chrs TMC… I was going to ask “Who the heck is Andy MacDonald” ’cause I’m not quite awake yet!
You’ve only worn a jersey for 10 minutes? Shame. I take it your custom one is still under glass. I wear one whenever I’m watching games at home. (any team’s game…)
Chris
Oh, I wasn’t expecting anything more than I am seeing. My point is, when taking a step back and looking at the big picture, it is easy to say, “Isles are rebuilding, be patient”. However, when you watch the team night after night getting their butts kicked, it isn’t so easy. I am sure those 2 are safe this season no matter how bad the team is. However, if this team is as awful all of next year as it is this season, I am pretty sure many of those preaching patience now, will have had enough. If Wang is one of those…..
That was my point, not that I expected a better team this season, because all you have to do is look at the brutal roster.
I’m disappointed that Bailey is not playing in the under 18 tourney.
1./ I’m sure he wants to be there… he would never say it.
2./ It would help him to become a greater leader. Lots of pressure.
3./ It would not hurt the Isles.
4./ It would help Canada win a Gold.
5./Lets him play with Taverse, Kane, and other potential Isle draftees.
6./ Give the kid a lift. He needs it after playing with this team.
Ray - post #61 - As much as it hurts me to say this as a 33 year Islander fan, you hit the nail right on the head. Rebuilding, reschmilding, we have a long way to go -a very long way. However, I would be a bit concerned over winning shootouts, when there are none in the playoffs.
Love the comment about Fritz skating like a contest winner, he did look slow and lost out there. Every time the camera catches Gordon it looks like his head is about to explode and steam is coming out of his ears. I’ve tuned in to every game this season and aside from Jmac’s usually stellar efforts it’s getting harder and harder to believe. Bag skate exhausted an already exhausted team. Great idea coach. Here comes Ovetchkin ready or not. . . .
Could it be that, the way Hilbert is playing, that the Isles could get a decent prospect or pick for him at the deadline? WOW
team looked tired , chasing their tails for most of the game
the entertainment value was 0 which is similar to what is was like after the all-star break last year
whats incredibly annoying to me today however is the fact that tampa and atlanta both have 22 points along with our isles
let us finish last overall in peace will ya tb / atl
well hilbert leads all forwards in blocked shots by like 6 or 7 and he is a ufa next year so its possible he can get traded to a team with a crappy PK but i doubt we get anything higher then a 3rd. prob a 4th since he is actually dong well
CB - great column, thanks. My posts earlier in the week were not meant to focus on a “love” for Nolan, although I think he did a really good job here. It was more to point out that after a training camp, pre-season and 30 games it is fair to say that this so-called Overspeed system is definitely NOT effective. Perhaps we don’t have the right personnel, perhaps we need DP to cover up for the mistakes (even as well as JMac has played), but I am still not convinced that this style can be successful for 82 games of 60 minute NHL hockey. I really like Guerin, but didn’t he say something to the effect of “last year, when things went bad we didn’t have a system to fall back on”. So what’s the excuse now that we have a so-called “system” in place? The players wanted the coach gone, wanted a system in place, but with a similar level of talent we are a LOT worse than last year. I agree with the rebuild and the long-term plan, but with the amount of veterans on this team we should be a lot more competitive currently, the injuries non-withstanding.
Why did my post get erased…. #69.
also hilbert is on pace for 19 goals and 34 assists. 43 pts. thats better the comrie last year. if desperate maybe a 3rd and def a fourth IMO
24 assists. my bust.
Jim on Dec 14th, 2008 10:36:13 said:
“Why did my post get erased…. #69.”
The one talking about letting Josh Bailey playing in a “under 18 tourney” (even though he is well over 18)? It is right there.
any news on the 2 college players. i agree with newsday on there ways to fix the isles. thougt it was funny they had an article on it. agree with both sides. but seriously, any news because we could use all the young talent we can get and it makes it easier to get rid of the vets. they will be looking for top money so if we give it to em’ we can actually do some damage at the deadline.
Avery is available, just sayin.
You fans need to relax, how can you compare this team and its stage of rebuilding (demolition) to that of the Blue Jackets which are now in year 3 under Hitchcock who have been terrible for 8 years and already have their developing star (Nash). The Isles made a decision to build and step one of that plan was to get the Top pick in the 09 draft. I can’t understand why anyone would have a problem with that. While we wait for Tavares or Hedman we can get solid NHL minutes for Bailey (and Hopefully Okposo) I give Snow credit for manning up and taking this path as it is not an easy one. I ask you to support their effort in making this team a dominant frachise and not a mediocre one.
Re post 81, considering this blog reported that Avery and the Snowman almost came to blows I don’t see Avery in Blue and Oraange ever. Gotta agree with post 82 with one exception. I personally am very willing to be a fan of a losing team (my return to the Islanders fanbase came during the ‘97 - ‘98 campaign so I can handle a crappy team). However there has to be a plan they stick to AND the team MUST put forth an honest effort. Last nights effort didn’t qualify as such IMHO.
CB…any reaction to the two page spread in Newsday on how to fix the Islanders by Logan and Staple
Time to let the kids play! Sim clears waivers, and two games later he is skating on the first PP unit. Obviously, someone feels we don’t have much to work with on the current roster; why not reward the players who are performing in B’Port? Shouldn’t building for the future include gaining experience for the future Islanders, not wasting valuable playing time on someone that we (or no one else at the moment) wants?
Rebuilding-Shmebuilning. We gotta stop looking for reasons and start addressing problems. How can you rebuilt the team wich has lazy players who don’t care. Lust night the effort was a tiny bit better, but NOT ENOUGH. CB is 150% right: “they were primarily out-worked, out-skated and out-played.” And I don’t think “everybody knew the team is going to suck this year” is the right attitude for us and for the Team.
Vlad, I agree with your last point there. From my perspective it wasn’t an attitude for the team, I’m just shocked that we all knew what we were getting and yet some fans are treating it like a capital offense that the team is what we expected it would be. We are currently too close to the cap floor to simply jettison guys with larger salaries. The only way to do it right now, on December 14, is to take back salary, and that’s antithetical to the rebuilding ideal. I think it’s definitely a youth movement when we have guys down in the AHL who are young and performing well enough that people would like them to be called up. I’d love to give them some time to work together down there and bring up whole lines if/when the sell-off happens at the trade deadline. I 100% agree with the above post comparing us with Columbus - they’re in year 3 of a commitment to a system with a good coach, good goaltending, and a developing young star. We’re in year 1 of a commitment to a system with a prospect base largely unready for the NHL (Petrov, Joensuu, Smith, Ness, Trivino - who scored a big goal for BU against BC and has been looking sharp, FYI) and an all-star goaltender on injured reserve. We weren’t really sold a bill of goods here at all; we knew going in that our team would consist of vets signed for both tutoring and salary cap purposes and young kids who’d so far earned their shot. We have that (Bergenheim, Bailey, Comeau, Nielsen and Okposo when they get back, Tamby if he can put it together) with some guys knocking on the door. This is one of those years when we need to get by on little victories (young kids’ development, more chips in another deep draft) and hopefully one big victory (groundbreaking).
Also, to answer the Lighthouse related question - they could theoretically, from my understanding, tweak the schedule to allow construction to begin later in the year if necessary, it might just mean the order of some things will be reversed. If they can get the shovel in the ground in late August, that could still be fine because the NHL is allowing us to play on the road through October, so that gives 2 months to get some of the interior work done. Aggressive? Sure. Doable? Sure.
CB
Correct me if im wrong but….Al Arbour AND Scotty Bowman could both come out of retirement and be behind the islanders bench at the same time…and I would guarantee 2 things…
1-we would still LOSE and suck
2-people would still post on here saying how he coaches SUCK and are has beens…
Here is my stat of the day: the Islanders are 6-4 with Radek Martinek in the lineup and 4-14-2 when he is not. We’ve got to find a way to keep this guy healthy. He is extremely underrated and valuable to this team.
my brother plays juniors and he saw DP with 2 hot girls and josh bailey both going to the trainers room this morning. nothing important but i thought it was cool.
Doug Weight, approaching your 1000th career point… you suck.
Bill Guerin… the best captain we’ve had this century… you suck.
Mark Streit, maybe the best PP blueliner we’ve had in… I won’t invoke the legend here… becasue it wouldn’t matter.. YOU SUCK.
trent hunter… You work hard every shift, and are having a pretty decent year… you suck.
Sean Bergenhiem… your skates hit the ice in motion, and they never stop… you suck.
Mike Sillinger… you win 65% of your faceoffs and two years ago carried the team as the third line center… but you suck.
Brendan Witt… for two years you made grown men envy your body of work as a warrior on ice… but… yes.. you suck.
Andy sutton.. you have more 3 inch purple reminders of what a slap shot feels like this season than anybody in management had in their CAREERS… but you suck.
Joey Mac… you’ve stood on your head and kept your team in almost every game… were one of the three best players in the league last month…in spite of being out shot(legit scoring chances) by 10-15 shots a night…yes… you too suck.
Andy, Richard, tim, Blake, Josh, Kyle and even you two.. Chris and Freddy… we see you … and you SUCK.
That’s the only reason I can see that this team can’t win more than a PERIOD against 6 of the worst 7 teams in the league.
Snowy… tremendous job… We’re right on schedule with your plan… we’ve completely met expectations…becasue.. EVERYBODY KNEW WE’D SUCK…I hope you can get rid of all these suck ass players that you got stuck with. I am fully behind your coaching choice as he evokes nothing less than full confidence in his abilities and his funtional methodology.
I couldn’t be more sure that in 2-3 years Hedman or Taveres will be skating around the refurbished coliseum with the stanley cup raised well above their heads.
Great post CB… especially about Smith and Nolan not having jobs for more than 26 months out of a combined 20 years…
You really needed to put that one in YELLOW highlighter.
You know what those two MEN have that NOBODY in this organization has right now… PRIDE.
This franchise will not blossom until the likes of Baily and Okposo are at least 23….so…..
Guerin, Weight, Sillinger, Sutton, Witt, Martinek, and maybe even Park = at least 7 possible extra picks in next years draft.
Add that to the regular 9 rounds, plus those extra second rounders, we’re talking at least 15 picks next year.
Develop the so called keepers — unload the have-nots.
The team has not had a rebuild since before the cups. Build now.
I think this rebuilding program would be a lot easier to take if we had one, just one, youngin’ making obvious strides this year. For a little while, it looked like Nielsen would be the one. So much for that. Maybe Bailey and Okposo, hopefully. It’s hard for Bailey to put up good numbers when we have no one who can convert his passes.
Getting John Tavares (hopefully) will not turn this team around next year…Correct me if I am wrong but didn’t the Pens not make the playoffs Crosby’s first year? Also I know for a fact that the Caps didnt make it Ovechkins first year…All I am saying is that it takes time and more than one player…The Pens and Caps only made significant jumps when they got Malkin and Green to compliment their stars…next season looks like it will be patien…be patient, meet me at the lighthous
moose getting tavares doesnt equal playoffs but it helps. its going to take at least 2-3 years and we know it.unless we make a huge splash in the free agent pool then we wont get into the playoffs.
People are still missing this point: I don’t think anyone has a problem with a rebuilding project if it actually is one. You do not rebuild a team by signing Doug Weight and Bill Guerin. You rebuild a team by bringing up players that can compete in the NHL and working toward acquiring players that other teams have lost hope in (Nick Zherdev for example). I love that they have a plan to build through the draft and restock the minors, but it is time for Snow to start taking offers for our veterans. The vets we have are valuable to other teams.
Totally agree with #91. This team has mediocre players who can play this game no worse than half of the NHL. For some reason 10 games in a row they’ve failed to show up.This team plays pathetick hockey and Great Go-Go Coach can’t do anything about it? PLEASE… He lost this team and I doubt he’ll be able to find his way back in till he’ll get fired.
Anyone want Sean Avery? j/k
Everyone talks about the Luongo, Heatley, Spezza days and we imagine what that team would have been 3 years after that…well now we need to stand pat, stink it up and draft the next Heatley, Spezza (tavares, Hedman, or some Unknown 16 year old in canada); then we can see what that team will be with Bailey, Okposo, Petrov, Trivino, etc..in other words 3-4 years at the very least. I am not sure what you want this current team to do. Is it realistic to ask them to lose just enough to be the worst in the league, yet still be good enough to compete EVERY night? no way! Like Burke said you are either ascending or descending rapidly, there is no in between! Right now we have to deal with a salary floor and that requires some Vets to be here. I think Weight, Guerin and Sillinger can all help in teaching our kids as well as taking on some minutes while our kids develop or are unfortunately injured..
Lets just hope this Lighthouse deal works so they will be here for us to watch this team rise again!
The quantity of “L”’s is literally making me sick. Gordon looks like a deer caught in the headlights. Long time fan…signing off.
Since Wang likes the idea of management by committee, I say get Torrey and Arbour hired on as special consultants to the committee !! After all, isn’t that what Scotty Bowman is doing now ?
NEWSFLASH: They know hockey
ok doug sign off but dont come back
CB, you wave off Brooklyn, we wave off The Lighthouse. What you really mean is they both have as good a chance, but that Brooklyn is the Nets problem. Well, neither you or I are the owners, but what might be needed here is a little vision. Maybe Mr. Wang should consider adding basketball to his portfolio. Really? Two words. Arena Football. Or maybe combining with the investment consortium that is the Nets. Anyway it would be nice to hear serious pondering before there is nothing to ponder in the future.
Doug- cya - sorry you couldn’t take the lows for the eventual (and hopefull) highs
That’s he attitude.
Your cable bill goes up and up and the channel selection, let’s say, is worse every year and you are just NOT happy but really want the promise of cable.
You’re:
a: blindly faithful and pay up and demand to all it is the best
b: turned off but stick with it in case
c: Find another provider who cares about the customer’s needs
d: give up (but may return if it is worth it again).
Hmm…..many want us to choose A. I choose B because Wang might sell if he can’t do his little land grab and fleece taxpayers. Leave the guy alone for choosing D.
Seems to me that Doug won’t mind if we get on him a little for leaving. After all, he’s signed off hasn’t he?
If Scott Gordon lost a clubhouse consisting of THESE players, it’s no loss. Most of these players will not be on the roster next season anyway. As the season progresses start paring down the roster of these “malcontnets”. Firing the coach will not help this team maintin stability and commitment to a plan, something that’s sorely been lacking around here.
CB - How about a piece on what the Isles rebuild is, and why they are doing it the way they are, to shut up all the fans who want to fire everyone.
Every team goes through funks. A few weeks ago we thought we were giving away our top pick because of how well we played. Stay the course.
Make them understand.