THE POINT BLANK 2009 NHL DRAFT PREVIEW
Our look at the top 10 (or 11) for the NYI
The following 2009 Draft Rankings are posted today in advance of the start of the World Junior Championships in Ottawa on Friday.
These rankings of the top draft prospects are based on off-the-record observations and polling of NHL scouts and will next be updated around the NHL trade deadline.
(Ryan Ellis)
10. Ryan Ellis (D) – A former teammate of Josh Bailey’s in Windsor (OHL), the 5-10, 180-pound Ellis is the new age NHL defenseman. He’s not a bammer, but quick, agile and productive. Probably won’t be in the Islanders’ range of the draft, and they have enough defensemen of his size and skill-set anyway.
9. Nazim Kadri (C) – Possessing high-end skill and speed, the London, Ontario-born youngster of Lebannese heritage is starring for his hometown London Knights and becoming an intriguing prospect for scouts.
8. Jordan Schroeder (F) – Teammates with Aaron Ness at the University of Minnesota, Schroeder is a 5-9 burner with hands who might have been a third round pick in the old NHL.
7. Jeremy Morin (F) – A product of the USA Development program, this Auburn, New York native leads his team in goals and penalty minutes and is prized for his competitiveness and shot. Likely to play Canadian major junior next season.
Step up in class to 6, 5 and 4…
6. Evander Kane (C) – Playmaking center with Vancouver (WHL) could be a franchise pivot or a solid second-liner, depending on who you ask. Yet another small potential stud (5-10, 170 pounds) in a first round full of them.
5. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (LW) - The 6-1 Svensson is battling for icetime as a teenage power forward in the Swedish Elite League, but scouts marvel at his potential. One scout says his play is similar to Kyle Okposo’s.
4. Brayden Schenn (C) – Toughness and leadership in the same genetic package as his brother Luke but as a two-way center. Think Sutter. Brent Sutter.
Another step up to 3 and 2…
3. Jared Cowen (D) -The Spokane Chief is the top-ranked player in the Western Hockey League, a 6-5 shutdown defenseman with some offensive upside. Think Luke Schenn. Quite possibly better.
2. Matt Duchene (C) – Blazing speed and gifted hands. The Brampton (OHL) center is the complete package and is more than just a consolation prize for the team mising out on the Big Two.
Big step up to the boys in a class of their own…
1. (tie) John Tavares (C), Victor Hedman (D) – No, we’re not copping out. Here’s where we stand. While we heard about TSN’s poll of 8-of-10 scouts ranking Tavares over Hedman, we maintain that probably 20 of the 30 NHL teams rate Hedman as the better player. Naturally, all of them would kill to have either.
For the Islanders, we’ll take Tavares. As much as the purists understandably crave D, a go-to offensive star is a necessity for the Islanders – and we doubt they’d be able to sign one as a UFA anytime soon. And call us hysterical, but if the Islanders are fortunate enough to be able to choose between Hedman and Tavares, do they ever want to have nightmares when Hedman always has the less-lucrative option of playing at home in Sweden?
So for the Islanders, it’s the center from Canada. Whether the team agrees with us is another matter – one not even worth discussing for months.
Comments.
102 Responses to THE POINT BLANK 2009 NHL DRAFT PREVIEW
Our look at the top 10 (or 11) for the NYI
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Daniel says:
whether it be Tavares, or Hedman, I would be very happy. That being said, I definitely agree that Tavares would be the better fit for this team. We need something to be excited about, and Tavares would bring that to this team right away. Time will tell, but if this sort of consistent garbage hockey persists, it looks like we may actually have a bright future.
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larry says:
i say lets go ditka on this draft. since we are already gonna have one of the top two picks, lets trade our 3 second round picks and all the picks lower plus a top prospect aka okposo, bailey, or petrov for the other top 2 pick and pick BOTH tavares AND hedman……
IM KIDDING!! i would never want to see oakie or joshua tree go anywhere!
like everyone else says, id be happy with either or, and as it appears right now, looks like we will get one of them…
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thelosersNHL aka Hurrapop says:
While I’m all for building from the net up and drafting Hedman (given the opportunity)… CB you make a very good argument that we won’t be able to land a scoring UFA any time soon, hence drafting Tavares is the smarter move… I’m just saying
Merry X-Mas All.
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guerin13 says:
i agree with your reasoning on why the isles should select tavares (if you haven’t yet checked out the canada/slovakia highlights check them out for an unreal tavares goal). as much as i love hedman, tavares should be the pick. we’d be set at center for a long, long time and he would put this franchise back on the map. he’s just too exciting to ignore. btw, i really do think we’re going to pick up another first rounder at the deadline. could you post some info on some of the players that will go in the back half of the first round and in the second round?
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James says:
Let’s concede for the here-and-now that the Isles are picking in the top five; the Isles need to make a splash at the draft– and not a Milbury-trade-type splash or a trading-down-twice-for-the-guy-we-wanted-all-along-type splash.
So, if for some reason they’re not in line to take Hedman or Tavares (I’ll take either/or), they need to shoot for Duchesne or Schenn. As much as a guy like Jared Cowen is needed, his selection won’t make the type of splash the Isles need to help invigorate their fan base.
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BringTheReign says:
If we finish in last place, what’s the farthest we can fall back in the lottery?
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Jax says:
2nd pick. You can only drop 1 spot
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cody says:
just dance
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flatpoint says:
Not sure I agree that the Islanders can’t attract a top free agent forward this summer.The salary cap will not be going up much, if at all next year, and all of the usual top spending teams will not have the cap room the Isles will have. Even hockey players take the most money sometimes!
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Jim says:
It would be nice to have Tavares. With 3 picks in the second round already, and probably getting another second at the trade deadline. We should see if we can package up a couple of them to move into the first round.
It would be nice to have a shot at Magnus, or Cowen.
How about we trade down for Duchene and try and pickup Magnus.
I would be very happy with this.
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brian says:
A new GM should be brought in to make this selection. Garth Snow should be fired. In the day and age of parity and a salary cap, there is no excuse for having a team this much worse than any other team. Two years ago the Isles made the playoffs, now they are a laughingstock again. Garth must be fired. People say he is rebuilding. Yeah, right. Tell that to Ryan Smyth. Tell that to the FA’s he admitted he tried to sign, but they went elsewhere. This is a forced rebuild, if anything. The futility is not an elaborate plan to be bad so they can pick first in the draft. No team should be an ambarrassment like this in order to pick first. The Isles right now are a sad, sad joke. What teams “rebuilds” with half the lineup 30 and over?
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bossy22 says:
So many possibilities with one of the top two picks. I would love to have either guy, but I’m going to play GM for a second. Ponder this trade:
To Florida:
NYI 1st overall pick
2nd round pickTO NYI:
Jay Bowmeester (has to be signed)
Hathan Horton
Florida 1st round pickWe get a young established franchise D-man. We get a first line talent in Horton and a top 10 pick in the first round. Makes a person go…hmmmmmm
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Marc says:
If Milbury was here, he’d trade the pick, with an up-and-coming defenseman, for Yashin’s twin brother. I, too, would feel much more comfortable with an experienced GM cleaning house & rebuilding, but since that seems unlikely we need to hope for the best.
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DEAD of the Dawn says:
Why must this team always look to the draft? What is the problem? Why does everyone hate this organization? Why as Islander fans do we indulge in self loathing?
I wear my colors all the time only to be called out by clowns who actually think the Rangers are a functional franchise…please
Life would be a lot less interesting without a team on the island.
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Vlad from Brooklyn says:
Tavares is the best choice. If he brings scoring to the team – it’s completly different ball game.
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kevin says:
first off, bossy we would win that trade and florida would want more. plus, we would need a guarantee that j-bo woulkd sign with us. brian, even with the cap ppl wont wanna come to this place where there is not much on LI and the ice and coliseum is terrible. where i play hockey ( the rinx in hauppauge) the rink is awsome and from what i heard from my brother ( he was in this vitra cup held in the colisuem) the ice is terrible and we can tell by watching the puck at games. so smyth may have said that but he left as did blake and poti and kozlov for probably less money but better oppurtunities. our only shot may be the sedin twins becuase they will want to saty together but even that is a long shot. tell what did garth do so bad that ppl hate him? even with an all-star coach do you think this team would be play-off contenders? i doubt it. anyway, id be happier with tavares over hedman but will take either. matt duchene looks good too. so does lukes younger brother who could be the better brother from scouting reports if he keeps his skill and speed plus grows into himself. other than him i forgot who they were sayingt he next milan lucic is but there is a guy simliar to him. if we can get another 1st rounder we should try and get taylor doherty. hell be taken in the 20′s or first person in the second round but we cant take that chance that he will be there waiting for us. ive been waiting for this draft since the last one and can wait! especially since this year it is so deep. GO ISLES
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mm30 posted this on tavares’s goal in the wjc.good look at other guys too. its tavares’s second goal. frickin’ awsome
http://watch.tsn.ca/featured/clip124202#clip124202 -
therain93 - terriers fan says:
First of all, going to the draft is the only way to build a team. Free agency is where you go to get the final piece.
Second, I too don’t understand why people hate Garth so much and I think your frustration simply clouds your judgement. This team is still largely built from the Laviollette/Nolan era. Give Garth time, he in no way should be getting the Milbury treatment that so many are willing to heap on him.
Third, I’d vote for Tavares as our pick.
Fourth and finally, I like Bossy22′s trade pitch to florida but I think we’d be handing over a few of the 2nd round picks too, in order to balance out that trade.
Happy holidays!
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o and another thing for those garth haters. dont ever bring up the smyth trade. in case you guys forgot, that was the best trade he could have made. how stupid can you get. we were not rebuilding. and he tried to get other FA’s but they dont want to come here which is why we need that lighthouse project done. until then we rebuild which JUST STARTED, so yeah we are going to have guys over the age of 30.
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The PolishPrince says:
Although my first choice would have been Hedman I find myself leaning towards Tavares, a first line sniper which this franchise sorely needs. That being said, NY Isles will probably finish with jussstt enough points to miss out on both of the top two.
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Just keep on losing! Tavares over Hedman. Need scoring and a player for fans to go watch. Do not make that Florida trade.
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TP says:
Post #13 by Brian says it all. EXACTLY!
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DavidNYC says:
Tavares’s second goal against Slovakia (link posted above by Kevin) is really amazing. He has to be out pick, I agree with CB’s reasoning.
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Pat says:
I get the feeling that Tavares would sell more tickets. We can use cap space to recruit help on D….or trade for it.
Need that elite scoring forward. Went to the game last night – and we put more distance between us and Atlanta.
Hedman would be a terrific prize if we pick 2nd and Tavares is taken.
Pat
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Blockness Monster says:
Maybe Garthy can trade all of our round 2s for another 1st rounder. One can hope!
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Both Tavares and Hedman are franchise changing talents…
With that in mind, and also knowing that defenseman like Hedman don’t grow on trees, I would still take Tavares.
Tavares would completely re-energize the fan base and would be a draw to potential free agents down the road. You could always over pay for Bouwmeester this summer and you’ll have your franchise #1 defenseman as well.
All in all Tavares is the pick regardless.
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Rick says:
When you haven’t had a legitimate goal scoring threat in over 10 years (Sorry all you Jason Blake fans, but his 40 goals were a FLUKE), with the last one being Ziggy Palffy, when you consistently struggle to score more then 2 goals a game, you need OFFENSE.
Sure, Hedman might go onto a fantastic NHL career, win 3 Norris Trophies and be considered one of the best d-men in the league. But we need someone who can put the puck in the net. We need someone who is so talented that some free agent says to himself ‘Yeah, the building is crap but man, I’d love to be on a line with THAT guy’. We need THAT guy. We need Tavares.
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Tom says:
Snow can get A LOT of future 2nd rounders if he trades down to get the player he always wanted. Youth is important, the more you have, the better. Trade down Garth, your a maverick! Don’t let those pesky scouting reports get in the way. YOU TRADE DOWN!
You know you love Kane. Get the player you want Garth. -
Brian G says:
Tavares should be taken 1st no matter what
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the bomber says:
we will come in last. we will lose the lottery to tampa. they will draft tavares. we will take hedman. he will say “no way i go to that place where has been’s and never were’s go to die in anonymity.” he stays in sweden. lighthouse deal is KO-ed Isles are sold for scraps and moved before the crook owner goes to jail….
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Isles72 says:
To play the system that Gordon wants, you need scoring. Tavares fits that bill. I love Hedman, and I believe in building from the goalie out. Maybe the Isles have a shot at JayBo or maybe even Komisarek. This team needs offence. Tavares is just what the doctor ordered.
Think about it Tavares, Bailey and Neilsen as the first three centres, with Park or Hilbert as the fourth. Not bad. Park and Hilbert have been the Isles best players this year and play Gordons system well.
Also, this team needs a new captain. I love Guerin, but he needs to be more vocal. Why is it that we hear from Park and Witt in the papers, and very little from Billy.
Give Snow time. You don’t rebuild overnight. Never mind the Flyers. They had some good pieces in place already (Richards and Carter). If Garth sticks to the plan, and then adds the right free agents, this will work.
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AZS says:
Taking the Sweden factor into consideration, plus the Isles lack of star scoring potential in the system I don’t know how you don’t take Tavares. While no one can predict the future, when a player is mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky and Lemuix – you take him and don’t look back …
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LOVE THE ISLANDERS says:
I WANT TAVARES. I ALSO WANT TO TRADE WITT FOR A # 1 PICK AT THE DEADLINE. TRADE WEIGHT FOR A PROSPECT OR 2. ALSO TRADE MARTINEK FOR A #2 OR 3. ALSO COMRIE FOR A 2 AND A PROSPECT. THIS WILL MAXIMIZE AND GET YOUNGER FOR A FULL REBUILD. LETS GO ISLES!!
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I agree with post 35. The younger we get the better we get.
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I like what “Love the Islanders” is saying also, but there’s no way the Isles will get what he wants for those players …
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witt was -5 the other night. gordens system makes his trade value drop hourly.
good luck getting more than a third rounder or a floundering prospect (we have plenty of those) for him. -
BrassBonanza says:
It would be awesome to see Tavares in Uniondale no question about that; just think of the music when he lights the lamp “It only takes a minute” “Whodunit” “The Ghost of love”….. But the #1 overall pick has to be Hedman. Players like Hedman are just not easy to find. And we could sure use a D-man with his skill set. He is a tree, that can skate and move the puck with the best of them, guys his size just dont have hands like that. Did anyone see him play in the WJC last year? He backboned that team to the championship game; albeit they lost to a team with Tavares, although he wasn’t the same type of player as Hedman was, in my estimation. I even believe scouts liken him to a more developed Chris Pronger, and that aint bad. Just think of Hedman and Komi on the same blue line next season! Very wishful thinking I suppose, but Tis’ the Season.
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Witt has value to a good team. Tons of teams would like him for the playoffs. He would be really nice on a better team. He is definitly worth a #1 if Foote got a #1 last yr. We would get a very late #1 maybe from like SJ or a similar team.
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Dan says:
Draft the guy that lights the lamp… Thats what this team needs!!
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Alex says:
Tavares should be a no-brainer for Snow. As great as it would be to have #1 Dman like a Chara, Pronger, or Lidstrom for years to come, wouldn’t you think that a dynamic center of the likes of Getzlaf, Spezza, or Crosby would make this team that much better? Not only will they put plenty of pucks in the net, but a center this special will elevate the game of all those around him, bringing out the true scoring potential of the youngsters we’ve pinned our future hopes on. If Crosby can make Andy Hilbert a point per game type of player, picture what Tavares can do for Okposo, Comeau, and co. Sure it’d be great to have a Dman who can actually clear bodies away from MacDon- I mean DiPi, as well as lead a good breakout and fire some pucks into the net, but picture a 1-2-3 punch of Tavares-Bailey-Nielson down the middle. A center like this doesn’t come around too often. If we were able to get our hands on Hamrlik and Aucoin when we were last this bad, I’m sure we’ll be able to sign a top pair defenseman to complement Streit once we’ve shown some real offensive potential.
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Natural scoring machines are hard to come by and the NYI haven’t had one in many years. Tavares, Tavares, Tavares!!!
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frank nyc says:
People need to lay off Garth a little bit. As someone said earlier
most of these guys are left over from the old regime. Yes the islanders are bad right now but they are doing what is neccesary to be good at some point. People are sounding desperate again, they are sounding like Milbury supporters. They will build through the draft, period. Eventually they will sign free agents in the future after the lighthouse is built. Until then be patient. I know its hard after watching this for the past 15 years but now is different. Now there is a plan. You have to be bad to be good. Look at the Blackhawks, they were horrible. They picked up kane and toews because they were bad. Now they are good. I favor Tavares by a mile. They desperately need a good young scorer. With okposo, bailey, comeau and tavares you have a serious foundation for the future. go isles. -
Kevin Fitz says:
Witt does not get a first rounder. He gets a third. The only player on our team that is tradeable and MAY get a late first round pick is Weight, but that’s even pushing it. I don’t think people on this board realize the value of first round draft picks. You don’t give them away for players of Witt’s caliber. He is a good player, but nothing spectacular. Players like Hossa and Campbell get first rounders at the deadline. And those were not even early picks, they were both late first round picks.
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kevin fitz, witt can get a 1st becuase stay at home defenceman are hard to come by. weight can def get a first cuz he is almost a ppg. his age doesnt make a difference because like hossa and cambell, his contract is up at the end of the year
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o and of course they were late first rounders because they were traded for cup contending teams. as will weight
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Jared says:
I wouldn’t trade ALL of the 2nd rounders. We could still get a good player in the 2nd. Remember, not all good players come from the first, and not all 1st rounder are automatic superstars.
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I will GAURENTEE you that Witt does not get a first round pick. Not a chance. Look at the history of trades made for first round picks. There are no players of Witt’s caliber in them.
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dude Brendan Witt is a warrior. I love the guy. But you do realize he is minus 17 in 22 games this year and nobody is giving us a first rounder for him right now, right??
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I am not saying that Witt is hands down worth a first rounder but was Ryan Smyth worth our first round pick and our last two first rounders at the time? I would make that trade over again (based on the teams direction at the time) but just trying to determine a value for Witt and Weight in my head. If a team thinks either player will complete their roster and be the final piece that will drive them further in the playoffs, then their value goes up I think based on timing and specific need of the buyer.
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IslesFan in Bkny says:
I would not trade Witt! First Garth must be above salary cap floor and if we are able to trade pair of old-timers like Guerin and Weight we are already 9 mill under … If Comrie wants to resign for another year or two do it… Get Tavares and go for Kovalchuk…
I LOVE THIS TEAM! Happy Holidays!!!! -
Makela24 says:
Perfect Scenerio would be for Tampa to finish #2 behind us. They are loaded with forwards and will want Hedman. As a result, by seeming as if we would take Hedman, we may be able to get something out of them to trade up to #1 from #2. That way we get soemthing along with Tavaras. So if you are ruding for us to get #1…best is if Tampa comes in behind us.
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Healy says:
Just from the pure point of winning back the fanbase and keeping the team on Long Island, the pick HAS to be Tavares.
Which is likely to get the fanbase more riled up? Monster defensemen or highly skilled sniper? I agree both would be exciting to watch but they don’t exactly blare the horns and play music for every big hit
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Quagmire says:
Happy Holidays, Chris! Thanks for providing the best Isles coverage in existence. This team is down, and has been for a while, but hopefully the future will be better. There are many loyal fans who will be here for the duration.
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I agree with going after Kovalchuk. This is all based on how we finish though. If we come in last and win the lottery (HA! ya right this is the Isles! No way we win it right??) then we can go draft Taveres and use him a bargaining chip when negotiating with FA wingers, like Kovalchuk and Garborik. Garth goes to them and says both of you come here and you have your first line center for atleast the next 7 years. Just a thought, but there is no way with our luck we win the lottery.
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By the way – even if we finish 1st or 2nd, the Isles luck is that we will lose the draft lottery (e.g., Kovalchuk). What is the most places that a team can fall?
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No Gaborik. Please!!!!! Send him to Rags so they’ll choke on a salary cap. Blueskirts Suck! Especially yesterday…
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jon says:
i’d trade the pick and try for Duchene and another pick and a prospect…not being sarcastic.
Isles have WAY more needs than a #1 centre or #1 defenseman.
Tavares is a bigger name because of his stats as a 15 year old. No doubt he’s a solid player but Duchene is arguably just as good.
So I ask you, would you rather have Bouwmeester and Duchene and a 2nd rounder? or JUST Tavares? (Bouwmeester was just an example)
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I’d rather have Tavares
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Would rather have JUST Tavares by far. This organization needs some credibility. It needs that big splash that will cause the media to say “the Isles drafted a great player there, they are on the right track” instead of having them say AGAIN “the islanders always zig when everyone else zags”. I was fine with Snow restocking the cubbard last year but this team needs that growing superstar to supplement the minor stars of Bailey and Okposo. Might Tavares be a bust? Possibly, but its more likely that he is not and the Isles need to start injecting some hope into this rebuild. The Isles need a reason for the fans to show up beyond hope of next year.
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Said it before, will say it again – when given the chance to draft a kid that’s mentioned in the same sentence as Gretzky and Lemuix – you take him and don’t look back …
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Gotta agree completely with AZS … I’ll be back later with my take… but AZS is spot on… Tavares is a generational player … blows Stamkos out of the water.
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Gotta be Tavares!
OK, not getting Tavares is NOT the end of the world…….but GETTING him IS likely the point where “the worm turns” for this franchise.
The biggest thing that can happen is still in the hands of Kate Murray.
Lighthouse is the key. Otherwise – we are drafting Tavares for Kansas City.
The only good thing if the Lightning finish ahead of us – is that I can envision them taking Hedman….having Stamkos picked last year. I dont’ see ATL passing on Tavares.
Pat
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Erik says:
I think if Tavares is drafted it would improve the chance of Petrov to come here within the next couple seasons and give us a nice 4-some of talented young forwards (Okposo, Bailey, Tavares and Petrov) plus guys who have an opportunities to be decent NHL forwards (Figren, Rahkshani and Joensuu).
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Especially after seeing that unbelievable goal he scored against Slovakia yesterday, I’m firmly in the Tavares camp. AZS is dead right, you don’t trade this pick for ANYTHING if you have a chance to take him. I also agree the Lightning would want Hedman more given their situation….However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself. There’s a lot of hockey left, and you never know what could happen between now and then.
I hope we see progress on the Lighthouse and the rebuilding project in the next year (I’ve heard nothing but good about the Lighthouse, which as other people understand is the key to this whole thing), and I wish everyone here a wonderful holiday season.
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Strummer's Army says:
Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and a New Year filled with joy, great health, and all the desires of the heart to all!
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mrlbem says:
I have this vision of us trading Witt and Boston’s No. 2 to a team on the bubble desperate to make the playoffs for that team’s first round pick. Witt gets hurt his first game there and the team he’s traded to takes a nosedive. End result–We get two picks out of the top 5. Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to All.
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Wizard of Isle says:
Garth’s mistake was not trading assets last year for 2nd, 3rd or 4th round picks. If he valued them during draft, why wouldn’t he take them for the likes of Tank, Miro and Vasicek. I’d package players at deadline to attain higher draft picks. Maybe a Guerin/Weight or Witt/Sillinger gets us the 1st rounders we desperatly need.
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DanNOLA says:
During the winning streak of November, I was all for saying “to Hell with the pick, I want to make the playoffs!”. Now, I’ve regained my sanity. I can’t help but think that Tavares would be the best thing to happen to this franchise in it’s current state besides the Lighthouse getting approved. CB was right in his “Gong Show” blog. Unlike the Millstein fiasco and Spano debacle there are acutal progressions being made to make this franchise the best it can be. All I ask is for the players currently on this ice to do is show some heart and ome true development, Snow to draft Tavares, and Kate Murry to get the Lighthouse done!!!
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Wizard, the only problem was they were in the middle of a winning streak and sniffing the playoffs. Most of us knew he needed to blow the team up and rebuild then, but we also know the nature of the Isles’ fan base. Could you imagine the screaming last year if, in the middle of a winning streak with an outside shot at the playoffs, they traded all the vets? Besides, if Christobal Huet only got a 2nd round pick, it would’ve only been a few 4th or 5th round picks. The crying and screaming would have been deafening, even though I agree it was the right thing to do.
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Westfall says:
Its depressing that its not even Christmas and we’re debating who we’re going to take at the draft. Does anyone remember Eric Lindros and all the hoopla in his draft year? How many Cups did he win? ZERO. Tavares isn’t the panacea to all our problems. We need to change the culture of LOSING. I love this team and hate admitting this, but (along with Tampa) we are the laughingstock of the National Hockey League. I hope that the all of the players currently wearing the logo start taking this personally and show some Islander pride for the rest of the season…..then we can talk about the draft.
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#72 all we have to look forward to is the draft. secondly lindros was awesome until he got to many concussions. Tavares is not the savior but he could be a big piece to making us a good team. Coupled by a few others young guys we could definitly be good in 1-3 yrs. What else can we hope for???
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A “must watch” is linked to today’s Gallof blog. He’s “elfed” the Islanders organization. My only concern is that Ricky reinjures his knees and hips doing some of the moves. Too funny.
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Tavares would advance the Isles’ youth movement a full year or two … it takes about 2 – 3 years for a drafted player to have a solid chance at playing in the NHL … JT steps right in and takes aim at Sid the Kid’s and the Great One’s records.
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Regarding trading the vets for picks … It is way to early to place a value on a player for a pick … first off our vets would have to fit a contending team’s needs … and the need for one team may be more urgent than the need for another team .. thusly a certain teams may have a higher or lower value for one of our vets.
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The draft: Other than drafting Tavares or Hedman which would require a 1 or 2 spot at this point …. the rest of the draft is kinda fluid …. and it would be premature to guess where the Isles would draft if they aren’t drafting one or two …. so assuming the Isles get the first pick …. I’m going to say Tavares is a must.Tavares is a generational player … he’s got all the intangibles you look for in any hockey player … plus he can do the things that you can’t teach easily … he has a scorers touch, Einsteinesque Hockey IQ, and makes those around him better. Can you see him with Petrov or Okposo? Also … he’d open things up even more for Josh Bailey as the #2 center… he’d make the Isles a very dangerous young offensive threat … Tavares just has IT … stuff you can’t teach.
Hedman … sure … he’s a phenomonal defenseman … he’ll have an all-star laden career … but … he’s not going to fill the renovated NVMC like Tavares will … also … Tavares’ North American demenor will be more media friendly and marketable … Jagr and Forsberg for all their emmense talent never were able to capture their full marketing potential …. seeing the same thing now with Ovy vs. Crosby … who is better now … really? And who gets all the attention?
I could be wrong.
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanakkah to all my fellow Islander fans…He Nick … what ever happed to your St. Nick handle that you used last year on Logan’s blog? LOL!
CB Enjoy your trip … have a Happy and safe one.
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All the draft talk and I start looking forward to it. Hoping for the best for the Isles.
But then I worry… DP coming back, Silly, Neilsen, Sutton.. everyone who has been injured gets healthy, the Isles FINALLY figure out the system with some consistency, and they then find themselves in the middle of the ‘out of the playoffs’ pack… and get a mid-level 1st rounder.
As much as I want the team to win… I want them equally as much to lose because they will be better off for it.But Im scared.
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beatlebailey says:
Keep stuffing our stockings with coals boys..we need Tavares..Ho Ho Ho!
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Dadi says:
My list:
1.Hedman
2.Tavares
3.Duchene
4.MSP
5.SchennAnd Chris…all the best to You and Your family
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admin says:
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all from my in-laws’ home, a place far, far away from New York and where there is no hockey. United Airlines lost our luggage so I have an excuse to continue not shaving.
Thanks so much for the kind notes the last few days. I hope everyone has a wonderful week with their families…CB
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Mike says:
The same Luke Schenn that the IDIOT snow passed on?the Luke Schenn that is logging 20+ minutes a night. Don’t worry snow will screw up the first overall pick because he clearly knows what the rest of the NHL doesn’t? That is why they are DEAD last in a 30 team league.Until Wang Snow and Gordon are gone forget about winning!
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Joe says:
Lets change “lets go Islanders” to “we want Tavares”
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Reading many of these posts makes me sad. You all have your hopes on a kid that I simply do NOT see the Isles being in a position to draft. I think that you are all setting yourself up for a huge, HUGE disappointment.
And here is why. Comparing last season to this season, at the same date:
Joey: 12 games 4 or more goals against.
Rick: 05 games 4 or more goals against.Joey: 11 games 2 or less goals against.
Rick: 20 games 2 or less goals against.Joey: 4 games 5 or more goals against.
Rick: 2 games 5 or more goals against.I am not saying that Rick is going to make this team amazing… NOTHING is going to make THIS team amazing. But as long as he is healthy, he IS going to win more games… and he is coming back soon. The teams that are “battling” for last place do not have the injuries the Isles have- this is them WITH their star players!!! When Rick comes back, I just dont see the Islanders losing at the pace we have seen over the first 30 something games. They are going to win more. LOTS more? Probably not… but just enough so that last place is no longer “reachable”. That is why I just dont see them drafting this kid- unless they either win the lottery or trade up a few places.
Remember what Im saying as you pencil Tavares into lineups for next season… I think he WILL be in a lineup, but that he is going to be in an Atlanta jersey. And all of you will be in the exact same spot next summer as you were this past summer. You will know everything about Tavares just like some of you could tell me last year what Stamkos had for breakfast or what size skates he wears, but then when the Isles cant get him you wont even know about the players that WILL be available for the Isles to draft… because you will have spent all this time harping on a “savior” fantasy that I just don’t see taking place.
I think you are setting yourselves up for a big letdown… because if Rick DiPietro can make a save on the last day of the season that get the Islanders to OT, and that point puts them into 28th overall in the draft lottery, he is going to make that save… I would bank on it.
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isles72 says:
I have to agree with post 83 .
as exciting it is to be in the hedman/tavares spot right now I still think the isles will finish ahead of tb / atl in the overall standings pushing us down to the #3-#5 slot .
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dmen77 says:
Merry Christmas to all!!!
Just a quick reaction to post #83….
IF and I say IF Ricky comes back and starts stealing wins for us, that is when you will see the firesale start and we’ll unload the veterans. Snow may try to take on someone’s big salary to stay over the cap floor but taking on one veteran and dumping 3 or 4 will not make this team any better.
Also, Ricky will not be playing every night as in years past. MacD has proved he is a capable NHL goaltender and will probably see close to 1/2 starts the rest of the way.
What do you think Ricky wants as he is here for another 12-13 years?
- Winning a few games down the stretch and getting to pick 3rd-5th and missing out on a franchise player
OR
- Unload the veterans, play the young kids, draft in the top 2 and all but guarantee we get our next superstar
Again, there is no way we finish out of the bottom 2 this year, not even with DP coming back soon.
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Just for you, 19 Isles. I guaranteed victory over the Sens the day before Thanksgiving last year and said if they won I’d post as Saint Nick through Christmas. I could’ve tried that this year and never would’ve been right….
TMC is definitely right, that a healthy DP makes this team a lot better than it’s looked lately. However, I also want to ask the converse of this question: Since it would take multiple miracles to make the playoffs and make any noise this year, what’s the harm in taking our time with DP? Would keeping him in rehab until sometime in February be better? I want to see him back, but I also want him to be healthy for the rest of the contract. I’m not getting my hopes up for Hedman or Tavares, simply saying if I were in the position I’d take Tavares and there’s a lot of hockey left.
We’ll see how it shakes out, but I see no reason to rush DP back to action.
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DP will not save this season. Goaltending has not been the problem. The D is horrible and we can’t score so instead of losing 4 -1 we might lose 3-1 instead. I would just sit him the rest of the season and let him come back next 100% healthy.
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I dont see even one person here who said that goaltending WOULD “save the season.” Nobody is talking about that, I know I wasnt, what I WSA talking about is the idea that the Isles will finish last overall. Im sorry, if you think that the Isles arent going to win any more games after Rick gets back than they do without him, I think you are sorely mistaken… and even a few more wins is all its going to take to make all the difference down at the bottom of the standings.
As far as the oft-suggested notion of sitting Rick for the rest of the season, etc: The Islanders are not going to NOT play a healthy Rick DiPietro. Its not going to happen.
Merry Christmas
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TMC, they already did that in the beginning of the year.
If you ask me, theres no point of bringing DP back anyway, let the injury-prone, franchise goaltender come back in a losing/useless year and re-injure himself. Nope, let him come back next year when we have a guy like Tavares to show some offensive talent. For the sake of the franchise, they need to tank this year, does anyone recognize the amount of revenue a guy like Tavares would bring? Not only does it draw fans but guys want to play with that (even if the coliseum doesnt get done).
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Is Kirill Petrov playing for Russia in the World Juniors starting tomorrow? I have seen him listed on the roster on some sites (TSN) and not on others (some dedicated blogs). Anyone know for sure?
Also, will any of the games be seen on cable (in NYC)?
I see TSN listed our own Jyri Niemi in their top 10 NHL drafted prospects to watch in the tourney.
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Yes he is playing. He had an assist against USA in an exibition the other day. TMC- I wasn’t referring to what you said earlier and I never said DP wouldn’t stal a point here or there all I was saying was he will face the same problem JMAC see’s every game. Plus he has had 4 surgeries in the last year and a half. Why not sit hm this year and let him come back fresh and healthy next year. He will still have 12 more years to go on that comical contract of his. Merry Christmas too you as well.
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agreed jax
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GasMD says:
Not to belabor the point about Garth Snow’s genius plan in last year’s draft, but anyone paying attention to what Cody Hodgson is doing in the wjc warmups? Well, merry christmas everyone!
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chris k says:
Has anyone watched the Islanders over the past 10 years? If you have,there really is no decision to make–you take the player who has the ability to put the puck in the net(something not seen here in ages}
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Yan Danis or Peter Mannino
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Dmarie says:
I have to say I agree with TMC, I think most of you are setting yourself up with hype about getting the top picks.
Will they play Dp again before year is out..absolutely! and it stands to reason with him in Net,(not taking anything away from what Joey mac has done, he’s been incredible) but you stand to win more games with your number goalie, esp in good health, and that being said when Dp comes back said will happen.
Tampa isn’t it good shape either as well as a few other teams out there, in ways its a close calling, even though many say the islanders are the worse, but looking at numbers, in some cases its pretty darn close. We’re in bad shape on so many levels, its easy to target this team, rebuilding a team and forming new foundations takes more time then I think most of you realize.
I’ve said this many times, forget about this team being contenders for anything, at least for the next season, maybe even two, you have two choices, you either sit back and enjoy the wins that come our way, keeping fingers crossed we get some good picks for the future build, watch has they attempt to form an Or stop watching this team until…? -
hanging by a thread says:
“chris k – you take the player who has the ability to put the puck in the net(something not seen here in ages}”
Seems like an easy decision right? It is. Some like to make things seem more complicated by talking stats and systems and all kinds of …uh, stuff. In this case, it’s very simple. If they can get Tavares, they have to. For several reasons, but first and foremost is that goals win games, something that’s become a foreign concept to us.
Has anyone watched the Islanders over the past 10 years? If you have,there really is no decision to make–you take the player who has the ability to put the puck in the net(something not seen here in ages}
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UIF says:
I’ll say it’s not a given that the Isles will win more with Rick. TMC, first off, The stats are not entirely helpful because the two seasons have seen two different coaches with two entirely different styles. Everyone here says all the time that Nolan played a “boring defensive style,” so it stands to reason there’d be less goals scored against.
But I won’t argue at all that a HEALTHY Rick is far better than Mac. What I will point out is that it is not a given that Rick will ever be the same goaltender after double hip surgery (throw in the knees too, while we’re at it). I’ve said before that Jocelyn Thibault has mentioned a few times that he has never been the same after he had surgery on his hips, and if you saw him play in Buffalo last year, it was plain as day that his side-to-side is nowhere near what it used to be. I really hope Rick is the exception there, and that this type of surgery has progressed to the point where that won’t be a factor, or at least a lot less of a factor – maybe this mystery machine in Minnesota will help there. But as of right now, I don’t think any of us can say with certainty what will happen when DP comes back. If he’s back to the way he was, then I agree with you – and hopefully that’s the case.
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Michael Olivo says:
Hope people are watching the world juniors in between the isles game tonight. John Tavares has 2 goals and an assist through 1.5 periods. Looks great, love to have him here.
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Miss Evelyn Hanson. says:
From Miss Evelyn Hanson
N0,38 Rue Des Martyrs Cocody
Abidjan,Cote d’IvoireDearest Respected One,
I am Miss Evelyn Hanson, 19 years old and the only daughter of my late parents Mr and Mrs Roberts Hanson, my father was a highly reputable business magnet(a cocoa merchant dealer) who operated in Abidjan the capital of Ivory coast during his days, it is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad year 12th Febuary 2004, though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time.
God knows the best for me, my mother died when i was just 4 years old, and since then my father took me so special, before death came and steal him away from me, may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
When he was alive he told me that he deposited a trunk box in the custody of one famous security company here in Abidjan Cote Divoire that contents the sum of Seven Million United State Dollars.(USD$7.000,000)for safe keeping in a metalic trunk box, which he said that he did not disclose the content of the box to the security company as money but it was registered as family valuables for security reasons.
He furtherly told me that he deposited the trunk box in my name,which i am with the deposit certificate that the security company issued to him the day he deposited the trunk box in their custody.
I am just 19 years old and a university undergraduate which i stoped furthering my studies because of my uncles wickedness,really i don’t know what to do now, i want a realable and a trustworthy person overseas who will assist me financially and morally to get this trunk box from the security company because it is the only hope of my furture surviving, this is because i have suffered a lot of set backs in my studies as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast,conbined with the humulations and sufferings that i oftenly received from my uncles, honestly the death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life up to this date.
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards, your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded, now permit me to ask these few questions:
1 Can you honestly help me as your daughter or sister?
2 What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the trunk box is delivered to your country?
3 Can you help me come over there in your country to live once you secure the trunk box so that i can further my studies?
Please consider this and get back to me as soon as possible thruogh this email addrees below for more details: evelynhanson_333@yahoo.co.jp
Thank you so much and may the Almighty God be with you for coming to rescue me from this urgly situation,
My sincere regards,
Miss Evelyn Hanson.
The transfer problem might be a reason to pick Tavares over Hedman given the tragic circumstances for Cherepanov and teams may stray from Euros especially Russians because of that and the KHL so Canadians and Americans are the safer picks to make if there is a decision to be made.