COMRIE’S PAIN-FREE TEXT
Tells PB he’s close; Return could spark transactions
Responding to a text message, Islanders center Mike Comrie told Point Blank last night that his hip is now pain-free and he is close to returning to the lineup.
Comrie took part in one Islanders practice (wearing a non-contact jersey) last week and has skated all this week at Iceworks.
“I’m skating hard right now and working out without pain,” Comrie wrote in a text. “I’m excited about skating pain-free and hope to help our team in the near future.”
The 28-year old center said his only concern was having enough practice time with the Islanders when they return from the current road trip. The team will likely just practice on Monday before hosting the Washington Capitals at the Coliseum on Tuesday night.
“Being off for a while I’m going to need to get some practice time in for my timing,” he wrote. That would seem to rule out a return for Tuesday’s game, but the Islanders will also practice next Wednesday and Thursday before leaving for a two-game trip to Minnesota and Nashville on Dec. 19 and 20.
This is important for reasons beyond the healthy return of one of the Islanders’ few playmakers (and better fighters). Having Comrie back in the lineup could be the impetus for the beginning of transactions before and after the holiday roster freeze.
ETC: Not that it would have made a 9-2 loss, say, a 7-2 loss, but did the Islanders’ coaching staff miscalculate playing Mitch Fritz last night when Penguins enforcer Eric Godard was a healthy scratch?
In a blog entry about Joey MacDonald standing up after the game, Newsday’s Greg Logan sneaks in this goodie when discussing the return of Rick DiPietro: “It appears the system is deeply flawed, at least the way the Islanders play it, as DiPietro is destined to discover soon enough.”
Next up: While we wait to hear of any news from Islanders practice, we are preparing yet another opinion piece on the front office and coaching staff.
44 Responses to “COMRIE’S PAIN-FREE TEXT
Tells PB he’s close; Return could spark transactions”
Please Wait
mAndy Sutton is not good. he does not play like a 6′6 defenseman should, as well as other flaws…
With regard to: The System —
Is the system flawed or do we just not have the personnel to implement it ? Up till Thanksgiving, this team was an enoyable watch playing this style vis-a-vis the Trap. What does everyone think?
With regard to Fritz - Fritz was one of very few players on the team with a “0″ in the “Plus-minus” column. Sillinger and Comeau were a minus 3. So if someone else skated for Fritzie - we lose 9-3 instead of 9-2 ? Fritz is a deterrent to the nonsense of the Ryan Hollweg’s of the world. Now if we could have dressed Bryan Trottier instead of Fritz, that is ok. Even Comrie. But I think you may be stretching it to point this out as a weakness of the coaching staff to play him. Good move.
Pat
Here comes our saviour…
This System is a myth. It was an excellent thing for an AHL, where players had a lot to prove in order to get noticed but in NHL it’s a different mentality. Why do we have Witt who is not a best skater in the world up and down the rink, like we don’t have forwards on this team? Then we have nobody covering our own crease area and McDonald or Danny are to blame for not making fantastic saves? In November Joey was a goalie of the month mostly because Islanders defence were able tyo block 90% of the shots and in the last 7 games, whicha are the worst Islanders performance in a long time, did you get a chance to see any body blocking anything? Goalposts made most of it. Please, call Laviolette, see if he is interested in a job.
Hmmmm… since I said Comrie looked like he was in considerable pain at IceWorks, he’s made a point of alerting the media a few times that he isn’t. Maybe he reads more than the gossip pages.
I said from the start and some coaches have said it as well and in the end the system will fail. Not because it works or dosn’t work, it is to DEMANDING for 80 games. And please dont say you need the right players because any system would work with the right players. We have always needed the right players (old story)We need Goal Scorers so our Kids can learn as well. Snow is failing to do the JOB!
Im tired of hearing about the system.
No system will work if you dont have the players to execute it effectively. Our players dont have the skill level to finish, score goals, or execute at a high enough level. We need to suck ass long enough to get high level draft picks. Enough of this .500 hockey crap. And i dont want to hear about Johan freaking Franzen being selected in the 8th round ( or whatever round he was drafted). Our scouting hasnt exactly lit the world on fire with our high draft pics which leaves little confidence in their draft picking prowess in the late rounds.
The system has nothing to do with this. A week ago, we loved the system. Gordon has nothing to do with this. He’s a good coach and he’s sticking to his guns. It has everything to do with the fact that we’re just not a talented group. This team consists of players that other teams don’t want. Think about it, we had to overpay players to get to the league minimum. What does that tell you? Were they signed to make a difference or where they signed because we had to. Snow has some hard decesions to make.
Paul, I don’t see much difference in Gordon’s style of play and Lindy Ruff’s style from two years ago that got the Sabres the President’s Trophy. Granted, that style was exposed a bit by Ottawa in the playoffs, but I’d take the excitement and deep playoff push of that Buffalo team over what we’ve seen over the years here.
The play is similar - quick transition, D joining the rush, all-in on the forecheck, pinching the D along the boards. The difference really is the horses in the race, I believe. Briere, Roy, Pommer, Vanek, Campbell, and Spacek are able to cover a lot more ground than Weight, Guerin, Hunter, etc.
The system maybe flawed. Maybe. The Isles have no talent, so any system probably would not work. HOWEVER, if other teams are making adjustments to ‘beat’ the Isles over-speed system, then Flash needs to make adjustments as well. IF Flash is over matched & can’t make the adjustments, then well the isles are over matched behind the bench. THEN maybe the ‘front office’ needs to make adjustments. I’m not expecting anything though, the Isles are an org that’s very, very comfortable losing. Is not an org where they lose sleep when they are 10-17. Snow & Wang slept like babies last night.
is this team ever going to turn it around? Yes I know they are in a rebuilding mode but the team totally collapsed. I had a feeling after they waived Sim this may happen. Clearly nobody knows what the future holds but I hope they dont start waiving more players. I am glad they decided to keep Bailey with the team when he should be with team Canada. I am sure he learned a ton last night right? He may want to get use to losses like that with this team.
I do think that Gordon has been too reluctant to make adjustments to the system. When the team kept blowing third period leads, I don’t understand why he was so unwilling to have them play a real trap to protect a 2- or 3-goal lead. It would take less out of the players and it would feed into what they clearly wanted to be doing anyway.
To the idea that we don’t have the personnel, that’s clearly true on some level; this is not a top-level team on paper. However, we were at least marginally competitive last year despite low talent level and a lot of injuries, and we were winning games this year not so long ago. I don’t believe that this team is SO lacking in talent that we should expect lots of five game losing streaks, just as I don’t believe that the team is so competitive that we should believe they can win five of six like they did last month. We’re left, then, to wonder what’s breaking down where, and it does seem like the coach and the players are out of synch.
as CB noted a week or so ago in a quote from Brian Burke… the team is either rapidly descending or rapidly ascending. Let’s not delude ourselves into thinking this group of players was Stanley Cup material. There are some very interesting pieces to that Stanley Cup puzzle already here but 4 or 5 guys don;t make a championship team… I’d rather finish last than be one and done in the playoffs. There must be lean times before good times and I welcome the prospect of having a Hedman or Tavares for the future. This team has done the 8th seed thing too many times in recent memory that keeps everyone stuck in neutral. I’ll keep cheering for the Isles because I know the future will get better.
I think the system is actually far from being flawed. I think it is the players in the system who do not possess the skill to play in this up-tempo system and maintain it. For example, if we were to bring in Gaborik and Hossa this off-season, I think this system devoted to skill and speed and constant pressure would allow each of them to put up tremendous numbers. However, replace those names with an aging Bill Guerin and a young and learning Sean Bergenheim, and you can see why they are struggling. This is no knock on Guerin or Bergenheim, as they are playing great this year, it is just that maybe the system has the wrong players in it this year. Give it some time before calling it flawed, in my opinion, as I really do think it can be a big success when used properly.
JKP - the difference I think is the last two years Nolan played a defensive style that was designed around keeping a team with marginal talent and speed in games, whereas Gordon wants more offense, speed and quickness. To me, it seemed the old team looked good in its own zone, but a little lost in the offensive zone. This team looks good in the offensive zone, but lost in its own zone. I think they just need to be more mindful of where superstars are at all times. Guys like Malkin and Crosby should never be as consistently wide open as they were last night.
Mark my words! The next problem is going to be Dipietro. Why, because when DP go’s into the net and does not play up to Star status you will hear the chants from the Fans for McDonald which is already a fan favorite and this will in the end cause Dipietro to break out his Baby Rattles and start a rift within the organization.just my opinion!
I have to point out that, while CLEARLY not the reason for the loss at all, I’ve never seen a team get more calls in its favor than Pitt. And not just last night. I watch plenty of hockey every night with Center Ice, and every time I put the Pens on, they’re on the power play. Maybe there’s nothing to that, but it sure seems like it to me.
I think they miscalculated the whole lineup. Comeau played 10:39 and was -3, Mitch played a little over 7 and was even, I dont see any mistake. The line of Jackman-Thompson-Fritz was the best line on the ice last night, it almost was like the Rangers line. MT was cheap, putting out his first or second line against them a few times but like the Rangers enforcer, Fritz actually was able to shut them down decently.
That was just as ugly as it gets last night.
I figured that our boys would have just a bit more PRIDE in themselves. I was wrong. They proved me wrong last night.
Unlike Sim, Fritz has literally fought his way into the lineup. Sim has shown the team and the fans that he is far too slow and doesnt have any skill. Also, what kind of agitator, I use that loosely, doesnt hit, yap or do anything?
Watching Malkin and Sid on the power play is a beatiful sight to see. The NHL knows this and so do the referees.
Paul, we can only hope. DP’s a cancer. He’s a good goalie at times, but not worth the baggage.
I am in Columbus and will be going to the practice shortyly…i’ll try and get you guys some info
why does there have to be ONE system…can’t you play aggressive overpeed until you get a one or two goal lead and then fall back into a trap? in football, you blitz and then fall back into “prevent” mode when you’re up by two or three scores…in baseball, you play “no doubles” and guard the lines when you’ve got a lead late in games…in basketball you fall back and don’t contest the ball in the frontcourt…why is only in hockey that you have to have one “system” that you MUST play all the time with no concession to the scoreboard? for years, Devils get a lead, go into the trap, and win….is it too much to ask for overspeed to take a back seat when we’re up and don’t HAVE to press?
DP is a cancer?
Is that why his teammates love him?
Is that why any fan or kid who has ever met him loves him?
Is that why he made the All Star Team last season?
Is that why his play at the end of 2006 was the reason people were talking about ths Islanders as the team no one wanted to face in the playoffs before he was kicked in the head trying to clear the zone?
He’s a cancer for wanting to play through injuries?
He’s a cancer for coming to camp in the best shape of any player year in and year out…even with a 15 year contract??
You DP haters have a short memory…this guy could have left via free agency for a truck load of money a few years back…instead he takes a below market deal to stay with this franchise and has been mocked for it ever since.
Give the guy a break!
Just to add…
Sean Avery is a cancer….
Well said Tony…..I guess its frustration talking
And tell me…..why is everyone so down on Comrie? He signed here, signed an extension, and is a decent player. Hes 28 for crying out loud. Led the team in scoring (ha)last year. Keep him here for the next few years. Whats wrong with that?
Chris Botta:
I don’t think the Isles miscalculated on playing Fritz. He got more ice and played well. The real point is he had nothing to do with the loss and there isn’t another player in the organization who could have taken his place and prevented the blow out loss.
I can’t believe anyone would call DiPietro a cancer. He is an excellent player WHO WANTS TO BE AN ISLANDER.
Couldnt have said that better myself Strummer.
DP a cancer????
The guy does his best PR work to get FA’s interested in coming to LI.
It’ll be a shakey start for him…again. but this time i have alittle more faith that he’ll do his best to contend.
Yeah because if Sim played instead of Fritz it would have been 10-2
I personally don’t think it’s the system as much as the fact that we don’t have the players to play it to it’s potential. It takes time to build the team with the type of players needed to play this aggresive system …but I think in time it will be shown to work …once we get rid of the dead witt …I mean weight on this team …
Unfortunately we all think that if a player “wants” to play here he is a good player. A lot of people on this site have loyalty to players who simply do not deserve the recognition. To say DP’s contract is a bargain is laughable. The guy has some serious injuries. I don’t know if anybody here works in the health field but if you think this guy is going to come back from knee and hip surgeries and be fine without recurring sh!t you simply are ignorant. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! He has talent but be honest with yourselves, this is going to keep happening throughout his career. Comrie sucks. He sucked last year. He sucked before he was “injured”. Don’t care if he led the team in scoring he also led the team in some other catagories that weren’t too flattering. I refuse to think a player is decent because he wants to play here or he signs an extension, that does not justify my allegiance.
I know Witt hasn’t been playing like himself lately but the guy is all heart and one of the better shut down Dmen in the league. How anybody can glorify DP and Comrie and bash Witt is beyond me. The guy is a soldier.
These “Tim” type comments are not actual Islanders fans, Id bet on that. There is no way that an actual fan of this team who knows anything about them and isnt a complete idiot would say something that disgusting about a player like Rick.
I think using the word Cancer with DP is kind of Harsh! However is contract is NO Bargin and is sort of like a Yashin Senerio! Look there is no question that DP has alot of say with Management (look where Nolan is) And if DP does not play well when he comes back you will hear it from the fans (i go to most games a McDonald is a fan Favorite)the Fans will turn on Dipietro you will see!
c’mon guys, I thought we were past calling each other “idiots” and stuff like that.
Frankly I don’t think it matters who’s in net — if people are left open in front of the net the way they were last night, goals will be scored. Let’s suspend the DP debate until he’s back, and we can judge him then.
Guys….do you really think MacDonald will continue to be a if he keeps giving up goals like the ones he’s been giving up against Atlanta and Pittsburgh?
I like Joey MacDonald but he is not a #1 goalie. Rick DiPietro is a #1 goalie.
and Paul….Yashin was making superstar type money and not playing up to par…DiPietro is about at the league average and his salary will not go up and we are only in year 3 of his contract.
Please don’t ever use DP and Yashin’s name in the same sentence.
Angry Petes Brother on Dec 12th, 2008 10:18:05 said:
Im tired of hearing about the system.
No system will work if you dont have the players to execute it effectively. Our players dont have the skill level to finish, score goals, or execute at a high enough level. We need to suck ass long enough to get high level draft picks. Enough of this .500 hockey crap. And i dont want to hear about Johan freaking Franzen being selected in the 8th round ( or whatever round he was drafted). Our scouting hasnt exactly lit the world on fire with our high draft pics which leaves little confidence in their draft picking prowess in the late rounds.
Excellent post, but stretch it further:
They draft key guys going with the BEST player available regardless of position.
They carefully monitor the kids until they’re ready beyond doubt.
They let them graduate the top level and give them a shot at training camp. They are meticulous and demand 100% NHL ready.
Playoff standout Darrin Helm played exceptionally despite only 2 G 2 A and was a lock for a job in ‘08-9 on any other team……but the Wings, with an open spot or two, decided he had more work to become good enough to meet his potential.
And BTW, DP is not “loved by all his teammates” and has been like a cancer at times, a puck hog, a coach killer in so many ways but not bad enough to worry. He’s not a cancer, but he behaves a lot like he was one. The debate is pointless, the guy is Jesus Christ in technicolor pads……so let’s adore him.
The transactions that need to be made when Comrie & Gervais comes back:
Put Sim on Re-entry waivers, then send him to Bridgeport.
Put Nate Thompson on waivers and send him down.
Put Pock on Re-entry waivers then send him to bridgeport
Call up - Mike Iggulden & Trevor Smith and give them a shot on this team.
Hopefully when Comrie returns, he will bring some determination with him. I like Comrie, but he didn’t show much when he was here earlier. Maybe injury related.. But I hope when he returns, along with Okposo, they can provide some offense.
Btw, CB, any details on who might be going where with these Transactions?