GORDON NOT GO-GOING ANYWHERE
Those dying for stability now have it
If the Islanders lose again on Saturday in Columbus and fall to 10-18-2, it is a 100% certainty that Scott Gordon will still be their coach when they host Washington on Tuesday.
If the team does not win a game between now and the All-Star break, consider it a 100% lock Gordon will still be the head coach of the Islanders when play resumes.
If the Islanders do not win another game the rest of this season…okay, maybe it goes down to 99.9%.
You get the point. Scott Gordon is going to be coaching this team next season.
Islanders fans craving stability in the offices of the coach and the general manager, you have it. Fans longing for patience in the development of home-grown hockey players, you have it.
Nothing - not even a 5-1 loss at home to Atlanta, a 9-2 loss in Pittsburgh, everything in-between and everything that may be to come - will change that.
I could tag on one of those “Point Blank has exclusively learned” notes or cite numerous “impeccable sources.” You know where I used to work. I prefer to just say this: Garth Snow and Scott Gordon are your GM-coach tandem for at least the next 18 months, and probably much longer than that.
Although the team should benefit from a few earlier moves, the rebuilding of the Islanders began with the draft of 2008. The Snow-Gordon working relationship began in August. Their team was picked by everyone in the media and blogosphere (except their former PR director) to finish between 28th and last in the league, and that’s exactly where they are. The player payroll is just above the salary cap floor, and that’s exactly where it should stay.
Whether you like Go-Go’s scheme or not - whether you think it can work in the NHL or not - a commitment to a specific style of play was put in place. It will not change this season or next season. What will change over the course of the next year and beyond are the players playing it.
The only members of the 2008-09 Islanders sure to be on the 2009-2010 edition:
Josh Bailey
Kyle Okposo
Rick DiPietro
Trent Hunter
Frans Nielsen
Mark Streit
Of course there will be a few others. But if you’re talking sure things, it begins and ends with this half-dozen.
For Islanders fans waiting since 1993 for even a mere playoff round victory, the organization is no doubt asking a lot of its fan base. The Islanders Fan Pledge of Disillusionment: Bertuzzi-McCabe-Luongo-Jokinen-Chara-Heatley-Parise…there are no moves that can ever make it go away.
The Islanders are moving forward with Snow as GM, Gordon as coach and Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo and their first round pick in 2009 as the start of the foundation of their core. Kirill Petrov, Aaron Ness, maybe Jesse Joensuu and a few others can join in, but they’re all at least two years away.
The Islanders have needed patience and stability. They finally have it, whether or not you believe they have the right two men in place at the top. Only time will tell.
Gordon comes up with at least one head-scratcher a week - talking about the officiating after a 9-2 loss? - but in the big picture he’s a good hockey coach with a skill-deficient hockey team. Keep in mind, this is a lineup that in September was picked by 75% of its diehards on the official franchise message board to finish 13th, 14th or 15th in the Eastern Conference.
The 5-to-7-to-9 event at the June draft still smells like a man trying too hard, but overall Snow has done what the GM of a rebuilding team should do. Sometimes, as in the first 25 games of the season, that’s nothing. Sometimes, as in between now and the trade deadline, it’s setting the table. The buzz around the league this week is that Snow has been burning the phone lines to do just that.
If Snow and Gordon and draft czar Ryan Jankowski don’t blow it, the Islanders can go from without-hope to contention by the time easy negotiations begin with Okposo and Bailey on their second NHL contracts. That’s not a promise, it’s reality for any smart-growth team in the new-age NHL.
The request for your patience after all these years is a lot for the Islanders to ask. As fans, you hold all the cards. You get to decide if you want to take the ride.
Over the next few days, I hope to get to a piece on my personal feelings about the rebuild. Comments?
137 Responses to “GORDON NOT GO-GOING ANYWHERE
Those dying for stability now have it”
Please Wait
Thanks CB. Nice to (finally) have some stability. Now if we can only have ground broken on a new arena, we should be golden…
I just hope there is stability beyond the next 18 months. The team seems to go in two-year spurts. Getting to a third year for a coach will be a monumental signal of a new way of thinking.
I am getting the feeling Gordon may just quit. After looking at his face last night, I swear he was ready to resign.
I’m down for the long haul. With toronto’s 2nd rd pick we should have 3 of the top 35 players in next years draft. Throw in last years draftmixed with the kids we have now, the future can be very bright. If they do the right thing.
Nice job….Tired of reading : trade Comrie, Bailey stinks, Sim has got to go, Tambs is horrible, Sutton blah blah blah. Then in the next breath, we need Tavares. If the Isles got #1 and drafted Stamkos (the saviour), fans would be saying its a mistake with the start he has. Jeez, lets give this team a chance, and please stop knocking them for not trading Satan and Tank at the deadline for 6th rounders. Thats a joke…
I still think, stability or not, Snow still is garbage!
I like Gordon…I think he’s good x’s and o’s…I just don’t think you have to play overspeed 100% of the time without any regard to the score and the time remaining…I also like the direction that Snow is taking the team in and hope he never gets antsy and pull a Milbury with his stupid draft day deals of good young players for stiffs…and I for one am not disappointed at all that we have Bailey and not Schenn…gifted offensive playmaker, if he pans out that way, is ALWAYS worth more than a stay at home defenseman no matter how good he his…like the guy with the bowtie said in picking Mike Bossy, “go with the home ru hitter”
Hey CB, were there actually rumblings from people who thought Gordon was going to be axed, prompting you to make that post? If so, that’s ridiculous on their part! He is in his FIRST YEAR as Head Coach… when did the sports world become a land where instant gratificiation is necessary? Fans need to realize that a rebuild takes time, and switching coaches a few months in will not help the situation.
stability? Just another word for us fans to hang onto. Just like “System”. What a sorry excuse for an excuse. What a sorry looking team. 5 grand to watch Gordon shake his head all year? thanks guys!!
Continue to stock the system, and if you hear anyone offering first or second round picks for any or all of the upcoming UFA’s, take it.
This team is in serious rebuild mode, but still the bulk of our prospects are what I’d call “B+” types: 2nd and 3rd line players, with no true “A+” prospect in the mix (though Okposo, Petrov, and Bailey probably have a chance to step up).
The Isles still need those one or two gamebreakers they currently lack. They need their own Crosby or Ovechkin or Kovalchuk or Lidstrom.
Great, great piece CB. I have been waiting for this piece for so long, so that everyone on these boards can stop with the bashing. We got what we wanted, and we got it as hard as we wanted it. While we may never have the top two like Crosby and Malkin, we could have Tavares and Petrov and then a second line of Bailey and Okposo. You never know, right? Only time will tell what will happen in the long run, but to be honest, I do think we can add the names of Andy Hilbert, Richard Park, and Brendan Witt to that line-up that will definitely be around next year. The only way I unload Brendan Witt is if we are guaranteed a first round pick in this year’s draft as some part of the deal.
ok, how about this. i will trade our first overall pick to the rangers for Michal Rozsival? we can throw in kyle okposo if the rangers tell us it is not enough
Great article Chris, agree with most of your article, with the exception of who will be here next year, I believe Sean Bergenheim should be on that list, he could possible be the next Butch Goring. Thanks, Mark
Hey CB,
When you wrote the article what Islanders jersey were you wearing…the retro or the one they are wearing now…:)
STINK, STANK, STINKY AND STUNK
THIS IS JUST A MESS, AND ITS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.
Just a thought………..whats wrong with packaging our 3 second rounders and maybe Bergy/KO for a legit young scorer—- Kovalchuk perhaps? Cant stockpile draft pick after draft pick
Bergenheim the next Goring?
I didn’t know Goring lacked a decent shot.
Seriously, when you are the Islanders, you cater to the weaknesses and get rid of the strengths. Smith wasn’t a great GM, but he was better than Milbury and FAR FAR FAR better than Snow. Could they have kept Smith (Cup Winner, worked with Torrey and other solid pro’s) as GM and had Snow be MENTORED into the role like Darcy Regier was?
Gorton is failing. Bigtime. Would the Devils hesitate to find a better coach?
Stability is something nice….when the organizatyion is operating soundly. Stability in freefalling chaos? We have NO BONAFIDE STAR PROSPECTS! Our team is scrap heap FA’s and borderline NHL’ers.
Insanity is continuing to do what repeatedly fails and expecting the same result. Lavy was our forever coach. Nolan was. We replaced both with minor league never been’s and are getting the same results. Milbury was GM for life but all the fans wanted him fired. Snow is on that path as well with his poor performance.
The one constant is the owner who rewards loyalty in scandal ridden CA and on LI. Well….there’s your consistency. No matter how bad, both will stay for being loyal suck ups.
Good stuff as always, CB.
Hope Richard Park will be on that list of keepers. Great on the PK - and just a very underrated player i believe.
Certainly putting our trust in in Gordon and Snow. Hopefully there won’t be too many nights like last night, but if it’s a means to an end, then so be it.
With a healthy DP. . Neilsen, Okposo, Bailey. . last years draft and this years #1 plus other picks - seems like they’re on the right track IF the guys at the top don’t eff it up.
15 years since our playoff series win - Isles fans deserve a winner for our patience!
Why do the Islanders have to be terrible every year? When fans start wishing for the team to lose so the team can pick first in the draft, that is just pathetic. How come the Devils, Detroit, Dallas in their day, Philly et al. never need to be bad to become good? The smart team pciked Parise, the dumb team picked Nielsen. But, oh wait, the Rangers picked Jessiman….so that makes everything okay according to the author of the site.
If you can turn three picks and a maybe for a sure thing All Star scorer….you do it, erz. A: look who’s picking and who his picks were picked oiver and B: look at it as surefire rather than hopeful.
Okposo will be good…..how good is dependant on how we manage his development (like we can develop our own picks? Puhleese!). Our future picks might be good or for that matter worthwhile. Kovalchuk or whomever we get would be surefire and proven.
I do it.
I can’t wait when February and March comes around. Isles should be playing better as they get acquainted with the new system (I would hope). Some of their young players will look really good…the Isles will still hold a pretty good draft pick…and we will probably like the trades snow makes. (Veterans for picks or prospects). We will get excited again and think this team is in the right direction.
CB, Please remind people that the following (Bertuzzi-McCabe-Luongo-Jokinen-Chara-Heatley) do not have a ring, so why do we lament getting rid of them?
Also, can we have the records of the Penguins prior to the arrival of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fluery?? I’m pretty sure Pitt was pretty stinky as well during that rebuild.
And yes.this next draft will bring even more talent into the system.
Biggest concern for me, and I’m sure many fans…we have to break ground on a new building. This franchise CAN NOT MOVE.
I could live with the losing if Nolan was the coach but I do not trust Gordon. Snow is no better. He fired Nolan to buy him some time. Sorry, but I can not buy into this program. I hope Wang is happy with his yesmen because he is one of the few that are.
Pete D nailed it. We can talk all we want about our great draft picks, a system, consistency, etc. No new building, and bye-bye, and it was exactly the same in Pittsburgh, Crosby/Malkin notwithstanding.
Jon:
“Why do the Islanders have to be terrible every year? When fans start wishing for the team to lose so the team can pick first in the draft, that is just pathetic.”
Read up on Mike Ilitch, a REAL hockey owner. Read up on Detroit’s fanbase when he bought the team. Detroit was HORRIBLE.
What made the team great? Mike Ilitch, yes, but as Yzerman said during his retirement ceremony (GREAT YouTube!), THE FANS DID.
Fans had it. the team was horrible and misguided and going nowhere fast. What happened? Fans stopped coming. Ilitch determined he ABSOLUTELY HAD TO get the best guys in place and turn the drafting, scouting and management of the team around. Professionalism, better lockerrooms, facilities and thus better players. They drafted guiys and picked up solid b-listers and Federov and the Russians came aboard and future stars were drafted and brought on SLOWLY, not promoted until 100% ready.
They won four Cups. Ilitch is loved. The Wings are an integral part of the Community. Coaches are proven and rewarded. THEY are stable. They do what it takes to win more than before. Four Cups.
On lighter news, we promoted our rookies and watch them spin like tops, we hire nobodies and make a mockery hire for GM and cut the scouting budget.
See the difference? One goes up and one stays on the bottom because there’s no where else to go but up…….if you can go up…….which we cannot.
I agree with everything, save I’d keep Park around as well. Dependable on face-offs, always lays it all on the ice and costs less than one of Wang’s ties.
Going to take another 2 years at the minimum for this team to be better than .500 and that’s expected.
The only person in management I seem to have any trust in is Janikowski, even if I spell his name wrong most of the time…he should be listed as a keeper as well.
Great blog entry!
I’ll go for the ride. But I’ll be miserable the whole way though. And I don’t anticipate any celebration when I get to my destination. The Isles haven’t gotten it right…yet. I’m not anticipating them getting it right. IMHO, the org is quite content with 12,000 fans on a Saturday and a 10-17 record. They are ok with it. IMHO, it’s not part of a bigger strategy, it is their lone strategy, keep payroll low, have 12,000 fans on Saturday nights. It IS Islander hockey. That’s the very essence of it. There really is no ride, per se. The real question is do fans want to sit beside the Isles at a bus Stop & watch other NHL teams drive by? Me? I’m game, when it comes to hockey I’ll sit with the Isles & be miserable than be happy rooting for another team. I’m like most Islander fans, I’m not normal.
If we get a new building and play the same and draft the same and have GM Backup and Coach Clueless…..why? Who cares about new digs when the team stinks?
What is important, Wang’s land grab or fan satisfaction (the answer is obvious).
Oh & Chris we had stability with Mike Milbury. Let’s not forget…10 years. The Isles were a model franchise of stability! It’s a tough call…I think wang & Garth are not very good at putting together a hockey team. But I’ll be stable & stand next to them I guess. It’s tough…I kinda know it’s not going improve, but I’ll just stand here & pretend like we are are the start of something…like a loyal fan I guess.
“Please remind people that the following (Bertuzzi-McCabe-Luongo-Jokinen-Chara-Heatley) do not have a ring, so why do we lament getting rid of them?”
Perhaps if they had been given the opportunity to play together, they would have…
DP doesn’t have a Cup Ring. Trade his sorry behind.
John Spano…new owner…big dreams…sstability. The guy has less in his savings account than most 9 year olds in Garden City.
Milstein/Gluskstern… new owners…big dreams… new Colley…Stability… Sell…sell sell… so we can buy the Washington Redskins.
Yashin…10 year deal… stability…CAPTAIN… the guy is consistently booed and bought out of his contract…. the decision is made by a FORMER TEAMMATE.
DP…15 year deal… STABILITY… Since the deal DP has had two major hip surgeries. can you play goal with a walker?
Garth Snow…it’s your team… Stability.. okay, so you dump smith becasue you don’t want to give him autonomy… but you give it to the guy who’s last job was your back up goaltender.
Scott Gordon…boy GENIUS…you have the job, don’t worry… STABILITY. Who knows… sure we gotta give him a chance, but can anybody say at this poin they have a feeling like we got the next Al…But I’ll reserve fulljudgement until the end of next year. YEAH RIGHT!
Well… the key word is “Stability”… how about ACCOUNTABILITY… because we’ve had STABILITY 7-12 times in the last 15 years…
What we really have is managed expectations. So the team isn’t completely off the radar…
UNTIL…
Charles Wang was forced to have the NHL take over operations as the US Government siezed all assetts of Former Computer Associates Founder.
three squares and 10 by 10…STABILITY.
That’s when the fun starts.
I think I’m one and done on this thread… happy friday.
maybe the isles have not won a playoff series in a long time, but ask the Cubs about winning. Last I saw two years ago Philly stunk and fired the coach and dumped a bunch of players as they were a laughingstock. Sure this team has some dead weight(no pun intended) but outside of the last few have been fun to watch. I will always support this team no matter. the attitude is different and it takes time to change a franchises culture, stockpile picks and get them to the nhl. Milbury never did that. why is snow so bad for doing the opposite. besides who else could an islander fan root for the rangers. gimme a break. listen I feel the pain of the fan that wants to win but I am confident they are moving in the right direction. as far as the lighthouse project well….
Blake Comeau needs to be on that list.
heh , if they had the balls to fire Gordon it would be one of the final nails in the coffin for this fan
and I bleed orange and blue
one day at a bleepin time is my only advice for these frustrating times .
If Gordon’s nerves can take it, he’ll be here. I like him as a coach. This is an OK year for him to learn on the job. It’s rather obvious the Isles aren’t going anywhere. Peter Laviolette learned how things worked in the league when he got the Hurricanes to the Cup. How did he learn? From the mistakes he made with the Islanders that led him to get fired in the first place.
Gordon is having a lousy season because he has a lousy roster. Just as the Isles will be better off in the long run from this season, so will the coach.
Sit tight Isles fans, this is just the beginning of a long ride.
No wonder they offered that two year season ticket package! At least there’s a commitment at every level. At least we have a direction whether you agree with it or not. At least we have ten wins this year. Gotta bring out the positives, because this is going to get worse before it gets better, no sense in complaining I guess. Cant wait to start reading the trade rumors, should be fun. At least we have something to look forward to in the immediate future.
Sad…that is what this comment board is, just obscenely sad. We ask for a rebuild, we get that, and we complain. We have what is deemed one of the best drafts out of anyone this past season, and people complain. We are allowing kids to play this year and because they are struggling a little, we complain. We are going to land a top pick in this year’s draft, and we complain. The reason there is so much negativity around the Islanders isn’t because they are playing bad, it is because the fans, like ourselves, are constantly bashing on them. We bash on our team more than Ranger fans bash on us. It has become quite sad. We got what we wanted, and I am pretty happy with how things are going. We will be good, and we are doing it the right way. Good riddance to all of those who say they aren’t going to be Isles fans anymore.
Diito what James said in post #10.
james and justin in post 10 and 11 basically said all I was going to say, although I would add Weight and Guerin to that list…need that veteran presences in the line up, and if comrie comes back and plays the way he should I would think about keeping him around as well
Mr. Gordon & Mr. Snow:
Rebuild: (verb) to repair, restrengthen, reinforce, etc…
Stability: (noun) state or quality of being stable…
Stable: (adjective) not likely to fall or give way; firm; permanent…
Ice Hockey: (noun) a game played on ice between two teams of six skaters each, the object being to score goals
just sayin’…
i think we all knew that it would get worse before it got better. i really have no complaints with what the isles are doing now. they have stability, are drafting well, a plan, and aren’t doing anything milburyesque. as long as they stay with this plan they’ll be fine in the long run.
I could actually applaud stability and have faith in the rebuild if I felt that it was being done by experienced, qualified people
Snow is a neophyte who is learning on the job. Doesn’t inspire much confidence, does it?
He is coupled with a rookie nhl coach trying to sell an ill fitting, unorthodox style of play.
Forgive me if I have grace doubts in the success of this particular gimmick.
A team which hasn’t won a playoff round since 1993 needs an experienced, proven GM and a coach with a sound defensive game plan. We have neither.
Hamilton islanders? sounds more likely every day. .
lets get this rebuild done fast.
re: post #45, i meant “grave” doubts.
my prediction is that we’ll wind up with 6 or 7 selections in the first 2 rounds of the 09 draft. the 08 and 09 drafts really should play a major role in getting this franchise to where it wants to be.
Honestly to everyone complaining about Gordon, not even scotty bowman could have this team anywhere close to the top. We are much more exciting with GoGo at the helm then Nolan and thats a plus. Gordon is the coach I believe will be bringing us further then any coach has since 1993, the man needs time. Its not his system thats failing IT IS THE PLAYERS
we have a good coach and gm
dps bad hips
The way I see it here guys, is that bring in more kids and get rid of some of the vets (as said in 10 and 11). Bailey needs to play more. As does Comeau, Tambellini and others. That is how they gain the experience, and with the leadership of Weight, Guerin, Striet and Witt, they will greatly benefit from them. But these kids cannot be sitting on the bench. Bailey played less than 3 minutes in the first period. He needs more ice time and learn to fight through the rough times.
I hate to say it: I agree with you. Patience is the word. They had to have patience in Washington and in Pittsburgh and in Boston. Now, all those teams are pretty hot. Our time will come. We have to stay the course. Snowy will move some vets for some pics in the next few months…
I actually really like that core of 6 that you listed as definites for next year. Those are all the guys on the team that I enjoy watching. Here’s to next year!
Patience with mistakes.
I’d be all for kids being fashioned into vets if we had a better team dynamic. We don’t. We have what we have and the kids are not being groomed enough to handle the tough times. Throw them right in?
We should have been patient with Okposo and Bailey, instead of rushing them into the NHL to fill seats. You can’t demand patience selectively. You have to demand results. Our picks….we showed no patience with their development yet we’re expected to be patient with Snow’s bad judgement?
I really have nothing to say except, this was a well written and well thought out piece. Even if I wasn’t buying what the Islanders were seeling at this point, after reading this I may be easily swayed. Thanks for this CB.
I might be going out on a limb here, but I think that most of the fan hostility is a manifestation of fear. While nobody wants to remain a bad team, I think fans attitudes would not be so back and forth between annually fighting for that 8th playoff spot and fighting for that #1 overall pick if we knew that this team would remain on Long Island for the long haul. Fans might be more patient if we knew the team would still be here if, and when they hit their upswing. The final nail in the coffin would be to continue to support the team during these rough times, only to see them relocate as things begin to turn around. I think many fans expect that this is what will happen.
dp, snow has us on track to rebulding. gordon system works but doesnt have talent to win. in case you havent noticed, were in rebuild mode, so that means were going to suck. f you think were somehow going to go undefeated the rest of the way, you got another thing coming buddy.
I’m here as long as the team is. That doesn’t chance.
But what bothers me is we still take chances on hit-or-miss old vets that may or may not find their game, and do not fit a rebuild, but we don’t take any chances on young players that are hit-or-miss who could fit the idea of the rebuild. I was really hoping the Isles would have taken a chance on Tuomo Ruutu when he was put on waivers by Chicago. Very highly regarded when drafted, but had some injury trouble. He seems to have just needed a change of scenery. Ditto Wellwood, although he’s doing better than I think anyone could have forseen. Bernier was traded for a bag of pucks by the Sabres. These are young guys with some upside…they could flop or flourish, but taking a chance on one or two of them, while giving up nothing or very little, would have been a good step towards getting younger and faster immediately. These guys would then be late 20s, in their prime, by the time our young draft picks are ready to step in.
I don’t mean to say this looking through the rearview - I’ve supported picking up younger players that have since flopped, too. But we only seem to take these chances with old guys, and I don’t understand that seeing how we’re trying to get younger.
Is this what were looking at for the four lines of the opening day roster of the 2011-12 season?:
Figren – Tavares – Okposo
Tambellini – Bailey – Petrov
Hunter – Nielsen - Comeau
Park – Thompson – Bergenheim
UIF, other than Guerin and Weight, who on this team fits your profile of an old vet we took a chance on? I don’t count Sillinger because he’s been here a few years and you’re never taking a chance on a character guy that wins 75% of faceoffs. Who else on this team? At the time I thought Weight’s deal was a no-brainer and to this point I think he’s proven himself.
This rebuild is garbage! A better name for it is “We can’t sign or draft a decent player.” Case and point the Isles are 14th in the NHL in average age 28.1 yrs. old.
Once again us Isles fans have been misled again!
Yes another 15 years of garbage. Man I am pumped!
SNOW BLOWS!
I’ll agree with you there. Passing on Mueller for Okposo might come back to haunt as well. Bailey has been fine so far. The goals will come. It’s not a fantasy league where all that counts is points. What does he have 8 or 7 assists in 15 games is pretty good for a 19 yr old in his first season. With all due respect to Mr. Botta just because he thinks Bailey should have went doesn’t mean it was the wrong choice. I’ve said a million times and people who have played a sport will tell you. You get better by playing against the best. How is dropping down to a tourny with far less talent going to help him?
Brian- In fairness to the Isles most of these so called older players were here before they stareted to with youth. Let’s be fair. Besides weight who have they signed that fits what you are talking about. If they were smart they would move Streit. By the time this team is ready to take that next step he will be on the down side. They could get a boatload for him at the deadline.
A rebuilt takes time and ugly games like last night. All this means is we are one game closer to the number one pick which we need.
CB, add Bergenheim to those 6 and that’s it!
“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”-Hunter S. Thompson
As long as they dont get rid of prospects and current young producers, then I am sticking with this team. I have had enough of grizzled vets. I want a young and exciting team that plays like a team. And please for god sakes stop bashing the system…if you thought last night or any other night this season was overspeed than we are sorely mistaken. Last night they gave up before they even stepped on the ice. It was a sham I know, but accountability stems from the top, so I think guerin has to grow some balls here and light a fire. Once the whistle blows the coach has little to do with how the team performs. It has to do with leadership on the ice the captain cant take stupid penalties, and if he is gonna take a penalty make it a good one and pick out crosby and start wailing on him. Other than that, I will watch my Islanders win or lose because I love the game of hockey and I love my team.
I am happy with the decision to rebuild. Of course, I want to see the team win, but I am sick and tired of finishing 8th and getting waxed in the first round. The only thing worse is to finish in 9th place - JUST out of the money.
We are a Kate Murray decision away from either having a future or not. Amazing to me that a town supervisor seems to be the ones holding the cards about the whole Lighthouse thing.
Without that, we are developing a Stanley Cup Contender for a different city ( see Nordiques, Quebec and Avalanche, Colorado)
Personally, I hope we lose every game - except those against the Rag$ - by one goal. Each game should have the other team get a 4-0 lead - with us getting three goals in the third and having one waived off with 20 seconds left in Regulation….so we can bitch at the REFS for the reason why we lost.
My vision is that in a short to mid term range - we start DESTROYING other teams at home, beat the Rag$ at will - win multiple playoff series and win a few cups.
Won’t do that with out an elite player. They aint coming here -so we have to lose our way to victory long term - I cite the year the Pens tanked the season to earn the right to draft Mario.
Good quote.
Hips- Excellent point. You made me take a step back and think about it. I apologize for taking my anger out on you earlier. I just get frustrated with some of the posts. I love this team and I just want them to be good again. I’m sure just like yourself.
I think people are forgetting that just because we are in a “rebuilding” phase doesn’t mean we can’t sign players in the offseason or make some trades for some really good players. I know a lot of people don’t like Snow being GM who was just a goalie a few years ago…but he’s not an idiot. He has a plan…and that’s much better than a GM without a plan. But at the same time, he knows that there are going to be sacrifices…such as losing.
If Snow has the ability to get a big time player that he feels can really speed up the rebuilding process…I feel he will do it.
Be patient people…no one expected us to go anywhere this year.
bCarey - It doesn’t matter how they’ve turned out. That’s not my point. I like Weight as well. But they sign Weight, Streit, and extend Witt, all over 30, in a year where they were trying to “rebuild” and get younger. Understand, I’m not saying I don’t like all of these guys. I’m fine with signing them, and Streit in particular has been very fun to watch. It’s more the young people we did not even consider signing when we could have had them for nothing other than their price tag. I just find it a little odd that we passed up on two young centers with upside just before signing a 37 year old center in a year where we were trying to get younger. In the years ahead, when this team is competitive again, is Weight still going to be around? No. These other guys could have been, and would have been hitting their prime years to boot. It would have been a chance, since they both have injury history, but definitely no more of a chance than Weight. Sorry if I’m not clearly saying what I’m trying to say…
CB, I’ll take a break and go back to work after this, but I have to say that I think Keith in comment 61 hit the nail right on the head. That is a well thought-out point and I think there is a lot of truth to it. I think a lot of us are afraid that they are leaving.
Hello, everyone.
Rip on me, the blog, the team, I do not care. Adhere to the Comment guidelines or it’s over. If you have logged in with a fake email like ublo@aol.com, I cannot send you a friendly request. If you are taken down and want to try again, send me an email.
Besides the maximum of posts, a reminder that you are also not allowed to taunt a fellow reader.
A handful of readers are not going to be allowed to dominate the Comments and make this their own message board.
Hope you understand where I’m coming from. Thanks…CB
Thanks Jax……I have winning and stability and pride as my goal with this team……and my greatest wish is a final END to the annual summer joke-of-a-team-headline winning streak the Isles have. If you think about it, every year we have the worst opinion rating of all hockey teams because we regularly go out of our way to do the idiotic.
So just building a team to win is my idea of right. Nothing else. I have little faith it’s being done well right now and want better as we all should.
So I won’t spend one dime on the franchise to voice my displeasure. I want the best of what I can get when I spend money.
btw…
Snow did not pass on Mueller and draft Okposo, Neil Smith did.
Snow passes on Luke Schenn, Nikita Filatov, Colin Wilson, Mikkel Bodeker and drafted Josh Bailey.
But also took Kirill Petrov….
Honestly I’d take Bailey and Petrov above all the above players….especially if we suck enough to get Tavares or Hedman.
unfortunately Mike Milbury and prior ownership never had the patience to follow through with building a strong prospect core…it was always trade the kids to bring in instant help. Like it or not Snow is doing the right thing….we all knew there were going to be plenty of games like last night this season….but with the decent start we had…we let ourselves believe that we were better than we really are.
Stay the course….draft another stud in June and we’ll start to see the results pay off.
I’ve always said…I’m willing to sacrifice this season for the greater good.
Thats why i did the 2 year ticket plan….build this year….see the dividends next.
No, UIF, that makes perfect sense. I understand where you’re coming from but I still think it’s important to have a veteran presence and that’s why Snow chose to pursue Weight over some of the younger guys you mentioned.
CB is laying down the law. have a good weekend, folks.
“doesn’t anyone give a shit about the rules?!?”
–walter sobchak
I don’t understand why some fans are surprised that the Isles stink so bad … they are right where they should be with the talent they have.
The more and more I watch this team and Gordo’s coaching style the more I see this season as a rehersal for seasons to come. He’s in effect weeding out the players who cannot adapt to his ‘em … “system”.
In the 30 years I’ve played hockey I’ve never used overspeed 100% of the time … it was always a tactictic to pressure the other team when they have a long shift or if they’ve settled back on their heels.
What the Isles really lack is skill / talent. A team like the Pens can pick apart the Isles at will when the Isles choose to use Gordo’s forecheck in such a mannter. JPinVA brought up such instances in a previous thread… he was spot on.
I am usually watching these games the next day and have the benefit of reading everyone’s posts as I watch the games on my DVR. Sometimes I forward or rewind to a specific time of the game just to see what others mention.
It’s ironic that sometimes we have different opinions of the same plays … but we have to keep in mind one thing … We all for the most part accepted the rebuild … lets just take it for what it is and deal with it.
Nick … you know I have your back bud … I saw what you wrote in BD’s post game thread … excellent. I think we all support the crest … and want Wanger to succeed to the benefit of the Isles … What happens to Wanger happens to the Isles … and I sure hope Wanger succeeds to benefit the Isles … and for no other reason.
Wang won’t just upgrade NVMC. It makes no sense for him to do that. He will continue to lose money with the lease the way it is. Best scenario. He gets the the Deal sells the team to somebody who knows a thjing or two about hockey and every body makes money!!!
Tony……correct me if I’m wrong, but Snow was named GM after that draft, Smith was not happy with the Okposo “consensus” pick and the impetus for Smith being fired was his inability to do his job as GM without approval from the owner?
And the 2007 draft we had Snow trade the first (Smyth) and 2nd (Zednik) rounders?
Snow did that, the Committee did Okposo. Snow did Bailey. We’ll see if things improve or remain the same as they have for quite some time……eight years to be exact or disappointing drafts.
Thanks Chris, I guess if we knew the new building was going through it would help as well. Going through these seasons too many times in the last 15 years - which results in really low attendance -always brings up concerns that the team will move and that is the worst thing possible.
I and many will always go but when they are competitive you can feel the energy return to the building….but when you know you’re competing for the first draft pick 30 games in…it’s tough to think we will get the crowds to go….it seems at that point the move converstions start….again
I will be patient. Just hope that the ticket sales people will be as patient because it is going to be hard selling tickets until we can start to win and build up a feeling that we can actually hold onto a lead or come from behind. We need skill and talent. Players to get excited about and who will be there to give us hope every game until the clock expires.
Jax….I’ll give you better: He gets politicians to do renovations, does not own the building but is given a stake in the revenue as it is tied to the team (ALL Coliseum revenue) like Ilitch did in Motown, he BUYS OUT SMG like he’s been able to (money he spent on Yashin buyout spent on SMG buyout?) and can turn a profit with this team easily.
And a caveat: Wang’s funding also guarantees a revenue stream from parking and concessions if he can negotiate worth a darn.
My best case. taxpayers win and Wang wins and Wang is not glued to the team like he would be if he owned the building. The County just pays him back via several avenues or lump sum if he should sell……which Nassau County would not like him to do in that situation.
Which means more glue between NY and Islanders for the move-a-phobics?
i think islanders fans have been patient enough. we are the joke of all professional sports, like it or not. trade comrie & witt for some 09 draft picks.
if the Nets build the arena in Brooklyn is it crazy to think that would be an option for us?
DP….i never read anywhere that Smith was upset about the Okposo pick. I read that Smith didn’t like the Committee….but never about Okposo.
Smith was credited with making a good pick…most hockey people think Okposo was a very good pick and a top prospect. I have no idea what he’d be so upset about….it’s not like the committe told him to take a guy ranked in the 3rd round or something.
As for Snow trading the 1st and 2nd in 07….that was considered a very weak draft and the Isles were in 5th place in the conference and on the rise when he made those trade and until DP suffered the concussion against Montreal
Hips- I’m down for either. I just want this team to stay. I’ll be devestated if they left.
for anyone looking for an antidote to last night’s spanking at the hands of the Penguins, dig up John Tonelli’s OT goal against Pens in 1982…it’ll turn again
on YOUTUBE
Ah, Tonelli 1982. What a goal. And since we’re all into the nuamces of the game, when your watching the clip, check out the (1) blocked shot by Langevin, (2) the blocked shot by McEwen and (3) the sweet pass by McEwen to spring JT on the breakaway.
Bertuzzi-McCabe-Luongo-Jokinen-Chara–all were given ample time and chances to prove themselves on LI and they crapped the bed. Good riddance to them all.
Heatley-Parise–hindsight is 20/20.
I never thought twice about any of them.
Tony Tony Tony - They were kids when they were traded. They weren’t given time to do anything but fail. Those were all horrible moves. Plus everybody knew Heatley was going to be a stud. As far as Paraise goes you could say the same thing. Everybody knew except Milbury
Jax, Call me a fan now.
LOL!!!
I totaly agree with a comment from a prior fan that Gordon will probably quit before the contract is over. His face showed that last night. I thinks the problem is the assistan coaches. The power play is to damn patient and keeps losing thw puck. Very rarely other than Hunter is there anyone in front of the net whether it be a power play or 5 on 5. Normally I would turn the TV off at 6-1 but actually stayed so I could watch Malkin and Crosby toy with this team. Was kind of hoping they would have scored 12 or more goals. Yes that David Volek OT goal against Pittsburgh is an old memory now any getting older everyday.
We’ve all lived through crooks for owners,awful coaches,Milbury(nuff said),horrendous drafts and seasons so ho-hum reaching 500 for a day or two was reason to celebrate. I for one am ready to lose and lose badly for a year or two if it means coming out on the other end a strong, young,athletic contending team. I hope Wang has the same fortitude and determination as I do. If not…see you in Hamilton or KC or wherever Wang decides to send the team we love.
They might be moving foward? but by the time they get there the only ones who will even give a crap will be there family members. Who in there right mind would waste a cent on this team? I have even stopped watching them on tv. This franchise is dying a slow death.I was watching High-school hockey from Minnesota last week and it was more exciting and the players seemed to have more talent then the crap we call a team.
One of the things we as fans are guilty of is comparing the Isles to other Isles players of the past … like McCabe, Bertuzzi or even players that were passed over at the draft like Heatley… The one thing we aren’t doing is comparing our current crop with the young stars of today… That is the important thing… those other guys are gone and passed their primes … yeah .. they have ZERO rings as someone pointed out … but I think the point another poster was trying make was collectively what they could of done for the Isles in the early part of this decade … including Luongo of course…
But alas … that didn’t happen … and we have to compare our kids with the new stars of the NHL … because that is who they will compete against … they can’t compete against the Isles prospects of years past … it does no good to make that comparison.
I think the Isles’ kids have promise … I just hope it was a good thing to throw KO and JB into the meat grinder at such a young age … I hope it actually accelerates their development and doesn’t stunt it. Time will tell.
Stability is fine as long as the people chosen to grow with were the right choice. Hopefully we have the right group. I know some of us have our doubts but if anyone on here thinks that firing Gordon is a good choice think again. That would only further the unstableness and negativity from around the league. We (myself included) all have to buckle down and prepare for a long bumpy ride here!!! It is kind of nice to hear that Gordon is not going to get fired if you ask me. I’m still trying to figure out whether I like him or not honestly but firing him is the wrong move. I hated the whole Nielson incident, its going to take me a while to get over that!!!
have we all gone insane? can this be labeled a youth movement when there is only one keeper dressed and that keeper would be better served at the wjc. is this a youth movement when we have seen little or no progression in play from the guys who were to be the foundation, tambellinni, gervais, campoli etc.? this is a team that is suffering from either burn out or tune out…burn out from the inability to play the SYSTEM for 60 minutes or tune out from the players who know it cannot work… there is still enough time to salvage the progression of this team….and the answer is laviolette…otherwise at the end of 18 months as per cb we will likely realize that OVErSPEED is for the birds, the players refuse to lay it on the line for gordon, Snow is incompetent, we lack the talent to progress and our beloved ISLES are playing their hockey in Portland. i for one do not want to wait for that disaster…these are desparate times my friends and i do not want to wait for nassau county to be our savior.
Overspeed, go-go, left wing locks its all carp in my opinion. The essence of coaching in the nhl is to define roles, adjust to the talent and conditions, motivate players to overachieve and ensure the guys on the ice are willing to sacrifice to win…ask yourself this .even when this team has been mildly succesful has the team showed pride, have they sacrificed for one another, is richard park a pp specialist. Despite the challenges with injuries, the team has not executed the SYSTEM. Wouldnt common sense say adjustments to the SYSTEM should be made. Gordon has done an absolutely abysmal job. he has added no value to a bad situation….Laviolette was the guy and would still be the guy if not for MM and his love for the opinion of veterans who are no longer here anyway…..get him back while we still have the chance…..
Bitch, Bitch, Bitch, CB has layed it out correctly. These are the plans for NYI into the future, live with it or lump it. The dynasty went thru these same growing pains and look where they got. Those first years looked very similiar what we have now.
Chris
You know I love you, but I think you completely missed the boat on this one.
As an earlier poster stated, stability has to be synonymous with success. If you define stability as keeping someone in place for a long period of time regardless of performance, that is the very definition of mike milbury’s reign of error.
After 25 games, many are already thin on patience with the gordon/snow alliance. You are saying gordon and snow are safe this year and next. At this rate, can you imagine the level of dissatisfaction by the end of next season?? This is what I thought to start with. After 2 miserable seasons of failure, few coaches are safe these days. Unless the isles hit the FF button on the rebuild, I highly doubt gordon sees year 3. And that isn’t instability, it is accountability, which is what i think most of us REALLY want to see.
I support Snow, Gordon, and the system. Not saying everything is perfect or all their choices have been right but no GM or coach is. Snow’s past year of FA signings were good, so was his draft, his trades thus far (other then for picks) has not. I hope he has learned and will add the type of players this team needs.
Unfortunetly it looks like this year will be harder the we even thought it would but the good news is they are finally on the right course and will be better as a result, even though we all wish it was now.
Even better then that we now have this website!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sincerely hope that Gordon is indeed “learning on the job” rather than “in over his head.” It’s been a little bit hard to tell of late. If Gordon grows as a coach because of all this, then great. But if we’ve got the wrong people involved, “stability” is the opposite of what we should want.
Having lived through the worst (1st season) and best (4 Cups) before moving west, let me clarify that the talent level on the early Isles was awful. Fortunately, they had a great leader as Captain (18-Ed Westfall whose number should have been retired by the Isles long ago) and drafted well. Note that many of the Red Wings key executives over the past decade started their careers with those Isles.
I am pleased that Snow, after getting burned by Smyth, has learned the way to build a team is through the draft. Once you have a solid base you can add a few pieces by trade or, in this day, as free agents. Remember when Radar was brought on as Coach, he had limited experience as a Head man, but he learned from some of the best, just as Gordon has.
The key will be to stabilize the whole situation which cannot happen until either the Lighthouse project is approved and Wang knows he can get back much of what he has spent, or it is killed and Wang sells the team, which probably means they move somewhere else. If you were Wang would you shell out big bucks trying to buy a championship when everyone knows that the arena you play in is the worst in the league. Back in the day, the NVMC was called “Fort Neverlose” and the fans were passionate, knowledgable and loud. The arena rocked from the time “Jethro” was shouted during the anthem until the Isles had blown out the opposition. Now it is the Mausoleum. Those great days can return, but it will take time, patience, excellent drafting, money and even more patience. Having stability at the top is key to making it work in the long run. Torrey and Arbour did not have to worry about their jobs as they were doing the right things and the ownership, Roy Boe, knew it. Give Snow and Gordon at least 3 years of working together before any decisions are made to change directions, yet again, and we all may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
I like what I am hearing about some of the kids, both those on the big club and those on the farm. Hopefully, we can get a true stud in the ‘09 draft’s 1st round and find great values in later rounds. We need a total rebuild, but have to have some veterans who want to help build the future knowing they will not be a part of it, just as Westfall, Jean Potvin and others did at the team’s founding. GO ISLES! Sorry for the long post, but I felt it was important.
Thanx Iceman for the memories !!!! I remember those days very well, just wish it wasn’t soooooo many years ago…..
CB
In todays would of business, never say NEVER.
I believe you are wrong, and that economic forces could change the management team. The results on the ice do have an impact on the financial position and if we continue to loose and play poorly, then the crowds will decrease to a minimum level and all the other revenue streams decrease.
I am one of those who purchased a two year package, fully expecting the team to be less than a cup contender this year. However, I did not expect to see games where there was a lack of effort. I also expected to see more youth, not a team with an average age of almost 29 years. That was not the sales pitch. All the summer adds were Comeau and Okposo
As an aside can you explain why we signed Pock and Thompson. What message did that send to the Sound Tigers? Forget It?
we havent even started the rebuild, not with all of these 3rd and 4th line 30+ year olds on the team. Remember the penguins sucked big time for 3 straight years to get those top picks. Next year will be year 1 of a 4 year rebuild
Pock was a gamble, Thompson was a Gorton type player. Filler. If we have this season as a write off for the mentoring of kids, why are there not more kids up? Kids we want as a team down the line?
Where’s Figren? Trevino? Smith? Comeau (before callup)? They had more time to develp than Okposo or Bailey and are/were integral parts? Where are our young defensemen?
The rebuild is not being done well, and the message sent to fans is not entirely true. It looks more like cheap, sell tickets as best as we can and blame the players for the system, not the coach for a system not meant for these players.
Perhaps we should go all out if Snow makes his trade he’s warning us about and dress more top prospects as we’ve shown being ready is not a requirement for being in the NHL on Long Island.
I do think it’s go cheap and use Bailey/Okposo as the sales pitch. We settle on every player, the GM, the coach and it shows. Wonder how things would look for our future if we strove for the best we could in every level?
If you lived through 1972-1973 and 1973-1974, there was a logicical arc toward a 3-game upset of the Rangers in the 1974-75 playoffs. Billy Harris (28 goals for a 12-win team), Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin were allowed to develop immediately on ice. However, I’m not sure if Gordon or Snow have half the idea of what Torrey and Arbor envisioned—an incredible vision when you consider the owner was Roy Boe (the Wang of his day) and having to give an enormous amount of revenue to the Rangers for opening a franchise on “their” turf.
It’s an embarrassment to professional sports in general to have 3/4 of the team full of young kids that do not belong in at the top level just YET.
Snow’s plan was to start rebuilding and he did so with the number of early round selections he made at the draft. He signed Weight for leadership and signed Streit to shore up the defense and build from the net out….most NHL championship teams are built that way in recent years.
DiPietro had two surgeries, was not ready and needed another surgery. We’ve had multiple injuries on defense and now we have injuries to some of our young players that are key to our future.
We all know the Coliseum is out dated and it’s horrible to drive there. If there was a train station within walking distance of the old barn, I guarantee there would be 2500-3000 more butts in seats each home game, regardless of day of the week.
We have no idea on where the Lighthouse project is going, but we do have a plan for the on-ice product which is being stuck to.
Let me ask everyone - If we had 12-15 young guys on the team this season and they stumble badly, where’s the upside? How is the team made better? If they stink, their value decreases.
Veterans on this team is a plus for two reasons:
1. They provide leadership to the youngsters and help the team stay somewhat competitive
2. They are excellent assets to have for the trade deadline when their value is highest and can be dealt for youngsters and additional picks
I don’t understand what everyone is complaining about. We got crushed by a great young team who was in our same exact position a few years back. Stick to the plan and we will build a solid winning foundation the right way.
Let’s just hope the politicians see the same thing and approve the Lighthouse project so that winning foundation is beneath the old barn!
Patience is a virtue. Most people have none.
cb… quick question… i don’t know if anyone asked this yet… do you think that if weight keeps up this “almost” a point a game streak going until the trade deadline, they “might” be able to get a 1st round pick, if not how about a 2nd rounder?
Well it looks like you are going to get your wish and be in the running for the top two prospects, I really would prefer the team play competitive hockey. As a fan I have been patient this long so what is another three years? Kessel, Rhett R, Jonesu, Ness, Harmonic and Petrov will make this team a contender in 3 years. As far as Bailey, it does not look like he wants to go into the corners and grind or get his hands dirty. He needs to start playing harder and with more grit.
Overall this team has played hard and been in games most nights. Other than a few games Gordon has the team competing on most nights. I believe his system is designed, for the most part, for players who are not yet on the Island. The re-build is in process. Just because some older players are currently holding down the fort does not mean they are not re-building, much of the pieces are not NHL ready yet. Hopefully they will be in the future. There was general consensus that the only way to make this franchise viable for the long-term was to begin the sometimes painful process of re-stocking the farm system. The team has a couple of real stinkers this week and no-one can understand why (almost comical). If any of you have ever coached a sport at the high-school or collegiate level you know that there are no quick fixes (especially when there has been mismanagment and neglect for so long). I, frankly, have chosen to take the long view and look for areas of development throughout the whole Islander system and truly beleive they are finally going in the right direction.
The problem, clearly, is that we are a minor league fan base trying too hard to sustain a NHL team at insane price levels. A new arena and several obscene contracts would only give this management team the false hope that they could once again fill their new home at jacked up prices. The reality, in our hockey community, is that no matter what they build or who they bring in, people can’t afford more than a couple of games a season! Do you really sincerely believe that “if they build it, we will come”? Not if it means dropping half a mortgage payment to take your kids to a game.
I say take this Islander Team, put them in the AHL, where they belong, and drop ticket prices to $10 a game and pack the joint.
I have no problem with a rebuild, but I am worried about the future of the franchise. As several others have pointed out, there are plenty of other young players in BPort who have been there a while and deserve shots at this level, while Okposo and Bailey can have the chance to develop. I wholeheartedly agree that Bailey should be in Canada right now.
You want prior examples? How about a few kids we threw right into the fire before they were ready. Let’s see how they turned out.
Tim Connolly - now an injury-prone headcase.
Bryan McCabe - sloppy defenseman who can no longer find a job (and don’t yell that he was Toronto’s #1 for a while - that’s just because Toronto’s D really really sucked).
Todd Bertuzzi - another headcase/mugger who ends up on a different team every year or two. He was brought up as “the next Gillies” and now he’s a third-liner.
We have to tread very carefully with the youngsters or else they’ll end up falling out of our “system” and have to be traded, and we’ll be right back where we started. Yes, I’d love to see Bailey score some goals and get more minutes, but if it sacrifices his mental health and stability, then I’ll gladly see him play 5 minutes a game while some vets get more playing time and he learns what it takes to make it in the NHL for a long time.
While we’re on the topic (sort of) of the fan base, can someone answer this question: Why is our fanbase so decimated while the fanbase of the New York Jets is stronger than ever. The parallels between the Jets and Islanders are similar except that the Jets have been historically lamer than the Islanders and the Jets’ competition for fans, the Giants, have been much stronger than the Islanders’ main competition for fans (that overrated team which plays in Manhattan). If a team’s performance is the barometer of attendance, then the Jets shouldn’t have any fanbase whatsoever. However, the Jets do–the Islanders do not. Why?
116 Darthziggy on Dec 13th, 2008 09:15:47 said:
“Bryan McCabe - sloppy defenseman who can no longer find a job (and don’t yell that he was Toronto’s #1 for a while - that’s just because Toronto’s D really really sucked).”
WHAT??? If you paid any attention to McCabe you would not be saying this. Bryan McCabe has a job- and in only 19GP he has 12PTS- 4G and 8A. He is also a +8!!! Caber is having a very good season and the fans are very happy with him.
Plain and simple, the team needs stars. Not 3rd liners which we currently have. STARS. Yes as fans, we can be patient, but lets get real. The names here everyone talks about over and over are not SATRS. KO might be a 2nd liner. Baliey also. Lets all take off our Islander glasses and see what we are missing. STARS !!
Sorry joey. Thanks for the info on McCabe. I stopped caring about him when he was still with the Isles, and haven’t watched much of Florida this year, so I didn’t realize anyone bothered to pick him up. I still hold that he’s damaged goods, though, and could’ve been so much more if he wasn’t forced to be a captain in his early 20s (not that it’s an impossible job, just saying he wasn’t ready for it).
And I meant thanks to Chris, not joey - sorry for the confusion.
hey cb we should have a poll on who we should target in the offseason. lets face it, everyone is concerned about next year and whp we should get in the draft and offseason. theres fighters available. bg stars like the sedin twins and zetterberg,hossa,franzen,j-bo,komiserek, caamalari and more. if bill, mike, doug and other mike go, thats a lot of salary walking away that needs to be spent ( depends on who gets traded).
Don’t You Mean Sno-Go (as in no-go) as opposed to Go-Go? It’s much more fitting for this organization, don’t ya think?
Just Wondering.
“Patience is a virtue. Most people have none.”
Virtue? I agree!!! Hahahahaha
The Isle’s desperately need a big time, consistent young goal scorer so needless to say they will either draft a defenseman or “grinder” type of guy in the next NHL Draft.
Isn’t it always the way?
All ive been thinking is who are we going to draft in 09?….tavares as the #1 center…or hedman as r franchise dman…or even the european leftwinger who can mayb play with okposo and bailey in the future…idk
Petrov was a 3rd rounder for a reason. There is a very strong possibility he doesnt even come re. I don’t understand why its assumed hes definitely coming.
because christey brinkley is going to sweet talk him here
I wouldnt mind having a 30 minute a night, rock, on the back end….
The Isles have been rebuilding every few years since D. Potvin retired…. 20 years of being patient. The team has made it to the 2nd round once in 20 years. Maybe it’s time to try a new approach. Instead of rebuilding, how about modeling the current Isles after the 1994 Rangers. Plug in the holes even if it’s just getting veterans for a 1 season contract. Lets fans experience something positive for a change by having playoff success.
Fair enough, Darthziggy. I am a pretty big fan of Bryan McCabe, and I know what he is doing because I not only like him but he is on my fantasy team lol.
Oh, and Greg: I dont think that any team can do now what the Rags did in 94 because you can no longer use piles of money to buy entire lines from other NHL teams.
Lets face it put a fork in this franchise…they are done. new arena? Not happening not in this economy.Wang/ nice guy, not a clue about Hockey. team? Has beens and never was. Snow? decent backup goalie….How he became a Gm is the reason we stink. Wang says jump… Why not hand the franchise to Neil Smith? You can’t operate on pennies. best bet? Try and piggy back into Brooklyn with the Nets.(If they can get their Arena completed). MORE REVENUE. Brooklyn on LIRR, easier than the Meadowbrook.Plus all those new Brooklyn fans. 3rd jersey?
fans on LI will only support a winner.This franchise is embarrassing. SAD BUT TRUE>
Oh yea…..Gordon’s system….there’s a reason teams don’t play pressure hockey for 3 periods….they can’t. we are gassed buy the 3rd, and our blowing leads have shown that. he came cheap thats why he is the coach….
Actually, if you lower expectations, you lower the anger level of the fanbase.
“We’re Rebuilding!”
Yes, with a few kids, the cheap vets we overpay and the lucky-to-be-in-the-league leftovers. Rebuilding. Bailey, Okposo and thekids who aren’t cutting it (Bergy will I HOPE and Comeau was not welcome before).
So Gorton is the perfect guy to deflect criticism from this team. A high speed system for a team with little speed. The results can’t be questioned because “we’re rebuilding.” I think this is your answer Germaine. Inadequate in all aspects of the organization. One common hand in the process for eight years.
Good last few posts around here.
I’m just so tired of being an abused Islanders fan. I’m tired of being constantly told (every year)just how bright the future is.
I’m tired of being taken for granted. I’m tired of being treated like I have no idea what’s really going on.
I’m tired of being handed a bill of goods that is consistently not up to NHL standard.
I’m tired of hearing “look out for this player” “he’s got a tremendous upside” Only to be disappointed after a season and a half.
I’m tired of passing over goal scorers for “grinders” and defensive-offensemen. I’m tired of “strong in the corners” guys (yes, they have importance) but at the sake of truly gifted snipers? All we ever get are mid-level, not going to mess up too badly but not going to excel players on the Isles. The names and faces change every year but the player is always the same.
I’m tired of the never ending blandness of the Islanders.
I’m tired of pretending that we have an elite goaltender.
I’m tired of just pining away for what used to be. I’m tired of only getting to really truly smile about the Islanders when I think back at the glory years of long ago.
I wish real honest to goodness hockey people were running the team. No offense to the people in the organization, I do not know them personally but I figure they are fine men but it’s just so tiresome now.
Why don’t things Ever really change for the Islanders?
It’s just a thread of sadness in Islander fans lives.
The people who made the 1980 US Olympic team were former computer executives, ya know. IBM I believe. We won gold without genuine hockey people, so I wouldn’t worry.
But seriously, we have a team of bad ideas that are glued together with option B’s. We talk the bad ideas up in hopes that the bad ideas will sound like genius when it all boils down to our never being good enough save one long forgotten season in 2001.
We just have a bad idea GM hiring bad idea coaching and bad idea draft picks (when we had better options) and VIOLA! Small, weak or just not good enough is the order of the day. Nobody is good in the corners and at the net as well, nobody is hard hitting and capable of moving the puck as well, just no dynamic players aside from our has beens Guerin and Weight. (Hunter is a solid B player who can’t fight or skate to save his life unfortunately)
We really, REALLY need the gems of the draft and need to stop drafting also rans. Hopefully Okposo and Bailey can be solid enough in the future, not just future Bergy’s or Nielson’s.
From your article…Nothing will change that? How about when fan attendance keeps dropping lower and lower? So low that the team won’t be able to support itself anymore. The fans won’t put up with this crap much longer.
Mr Botta is part of the Islanders PR spin pain train, so that’s why you get this type of drivel.