JOEY MAC AWARD MYSTERY SOLVED
Plus: Notes on a weekend without games
With each day, the mystery grew deeper with a segment of Islanders fans. How come the Islanders did not honor Joey MacDonald for being the team’s Player of the Month for November? Is there a conspiracy involved? The subject was a matter of frequent discussion in the Comments area during the team’s recent road trip.
We dug deep and learned that MacDonald did receive his award. This season, the Islanders have not hosted on-ice pre-game ceremonies to honor the Sharp-sponsored Player of the Month. The team’s game ops crew records a “photo op” earlier in the day with the winning Islander and then broadcasts the footage on the scoreboard during a timeout in the game while public address announcer Roger Luce does the narration.
Islanders sources confirm that MacDonald did receive his Sharp Islander of the Month Award for November and that footage of the goaltender getting his award was shown during a game in early December.
On to the next crime scene.
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With the Islanders a whopping 19 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the focus changes with 40 games left in the season. Somewhat uncharacteristically – but welcome all the same – head coach Scott Gordon started talking about an emphasis on youth in the aftermath of the Islanders’ loss in Calgary on Thursday night. Greg Logan has all the quotes from Gordon here.
Doug Weight, heart-on-his-sleeve talker, made some frank comments to Logan about understanding the Islanders’ situation, but also this: “If I’m earning (icetime) and playing well, I would certainly expect to be on the ice.” I doubt we’ve heard the last of this subject.
So now the latest challenge for Coach Gordon is managing the delicate balance between not alienating older players who have done their part like Weight and Bill Guerin, while providing the younger players with the proper amount of icetime in the second half. This is not easily done. The simplest way, of course, is to try to move veterans in trades, but that’s not always the right solution.
As we’ve said, should be an intriguing next eight weeks.
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Today’s lineup at Iceworks for a 90-minute practice:
Comeau – Comrie – Okposo
Tambellini – Nielsen – Hunter
Sim – Bailey – Park
Bergenheim – Thompson – Jackman
Streit – Gervais
Witt – Martinek
Campoli – Pock
MacDonald
Notes: Bill Guerin was given the day off the ice, but worked out in the weight room…Officially, the Islanders would not declare Frans Nielsen and Nate Thompson set for Tuesday’s home match against Petr Prucha and the Rangers, but they appear to be getting closer…Rick DiPietro did not practice…Andy Hilbert, said to be closer, also did not practice.
Veteran Newsday scribe John Jeansonne was in for Greg Logan, who finally got home from Calgary via Ottawa late last night. John had a one-on-one with the head coach, so check out his coverage for anything I may have missed.
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Looking to see a live hockey game tonight? Go see Trevor Smith and the Sound Tigers as they host Hartford at 7:00 pm at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. Call 203.334.GOAL or simply get thee to the Harbor Yard box office.
After a 4-1 loss Friday night in Providence, the Sound Tigers are 23-11-2-2. Leading scorer Mike Iggulden (16-25-41 in 37 games) and defenseman Andrew McDonald (pushing for an Islanders job) were named to the Canadian roster for the AHL All-Star Game on Jan. 26.
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Hoping to listen to some hockey talk on the radio today? Check out “NY Hockey This Week” at 5:30 pm on 1050 ESPN Radio with Don La Greca and yours truly. More often than not, these weekly shows have been at least half Islanders-dominated. Last week we had both Doug Weight after his 1,000th NHL point and legendary broadcaster Jiggs McDonald. No word from the Islanders on a guest yet. But you never know, and we should have time to take a few calls.
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We could easily chew up the rest of the month on the Rick DiPietro discussion (and might need to!). I appreciate that more than 75% of the responses seemed to at least hear me out and I certainly understand all sides to the argument.
The standout nay-saying was the perception by more than a handful of fans of the team’s marketing of DiPietro. “His hype is greater than his play at this point,” wrote one reader. Another said he was tired of the team “thrusting DiPietro on him like he was the second coming of Terry Sawchuk and Billy Smith.”
Honestly, I don’t know about that. Rick signs autographs at the mall, has run a goalie camp for kids at Iceworks and shares one-fifth of the cover of this year’s media guide. Hype machine? Folks, it’s hockey in New York. Hype is a relative term.
As for the notion that I defended DiPietro because I wanted to be in the good graces of the Islanders, that’s a fair throwdown, but wrong. Actually, I’m finding the silence liberating.
As for the idea that DiPietro and I are close, you do have me there. Yes, it is true – Ricky and I roll. He doesn’t love it when I bring my three little kids along when we go to Nobu, but we usually throw the boys in a town car back to RVC before Deeps, me and Strahan meet up with MC and Hilary at GoldBar.
The conversation continues in Comments. Tomorrow: a Lighthouse update.
65 Responses to JOEY MAC AWARD MYSTERY SOLVED
Plus: Notes on a weekend without games
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Strummer's Army says:
Bergy should be playing with Bailey not Sim. Enough of Sim already. I am beyond sick of it. Let Bailey have some talent on his wings. Interesting with Thompson practicing. I hope he and Nielsen are closer then we think to returning. Nielsen would be a huge boost to get back on the ice.
CB, do you think with guys coming back from injury the time that Snow starts making some of his moves is growing closer?
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Gary says:
CB, no matter how good a guy DP is, the biggest problem is the perception that is put out by people like one Isles fan I spotted in a diner one morning. This guy had a new third jersey with 39 in the usual spots, but instead of “DiPietro” on the back it read “15 year bust”. Unfortunately that perception is only going to be broken by Rick getting healthy and performing, consistently,like his talent would suggest that he can.
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kevin says:
u said thee and doug guerin btw. also, with sturm out for the year patrice bergeron out, could your guerin prediction come true? or were you just joking about the captain getting traded. and will garth start making moves early or just have gordon scratch players since we have extra? thanks. caught a laugh in the last paragraph
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shanahan didnt sign but he is with the devils per tsn
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Pat says:
Chris, thanks for looking into the “Player of the Month” thing – I think that its sad they no longer honor the player on ice/in person – but I accept the answer and “case closed”. A few of us had this question and if our respective ticket reps had just told us that they had changed policy about the on ice intro – case closed – but they never told us that. Even you say on the the blog that you had to “dig deep” to get that info.
About DiPietro, I am going to try to lighten up a bit on my issues with the situation. I understand he is great with the kids and does a lot for the community. So do all the third line players as well….. For a guy drafted # 1 overall in the Entry draft, and who got a 15 year contract, high expectations go with the territory.
I still think that I am right – and I believe that I said “William Smith”
– but I realize that like it or not, I am a customer of DiPietro’s for the next 13 years or so. Great thing about getting Tavares, it would give the Isles someone to market besides Rick.
My wish for Rick is that management and he see the wisdom in shutting it down for the rest of the year and recuperate from these injuries. Then, come back next year – win the Vezina and stick it in MY face !
Till then, there will be slings and arrows aimed at the Isles and DiPietro for a variety of reasons. Some of the criticism will be unwarranted. Some of it will. Just shut him down for the best interests of the Fans, the Team and for Rick.
Pat
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mrlbem says:
I will say this. Any critical discussion of Rick is fine as long is it is kept within the family, i.e, between Islander fans. But if some Ranger$ fans start talking smack about him compared to Lundquist, I will defend him to the end. These are family discussions, but if someone attacks a member of the family, any Islander fan worth his or her salt should have that player’s back.
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beatlebailey says:
the only family we are is the Adams family. I don’t defend anyone on Gilligan’s island. We deserve all of the ridicule rags fans are dishing. When you go into battle with a pea shooter you just shut your mouth. Hopefully in a couple of years we can start talking smack…lol
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With regard to post # 7 – RIGHT ON !!!!
If any of those FILTHY and VILE Ranger$ fans using Rico’s name in vain at Tuesdays game – a proportional response will be forthcoming. Within the family – “to thine own self be true” – outside the family – “Don’t tread on me”…..
I will always remember Rick taking on that Rag$ goalie in a pre-season game !
A lot of my frustration is that I just want a return to “hockey normalcy” where
* The visiting team always loses at Nassau Coliseum
* We destroy the Ranger$ and Flyer$ at will – and make them look bad in the process
* The Stanley Cup returns to its rightful home – Long Island.
Let’s pray that in the not-too-distant future – Rick DiPietro lifts up multiple Stanley Cups – the last game at the Old Coliseum and two or three more on the ice surface of the Lighthouse. ( we can win on the road if it goes 7 and its a road game !!)
Pat
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That guy in the diner is a damn loser and needs to find beeter things ot do with his time and money.
Guerin has a no trade clause.
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Hey Chris,
I noticed that MacDonald was listed as the only goalie at practice today on your blog entry. I was at practice and noticed there was another goalie there with a plain mask. I was wondering who that was.
Alex
Hockey Night on Long Island -
JayK says:
CB, is there a podcast of your show with LaGreca available anywhere? I’ve tried to find it, but can’t. Being able to listen to the radio at that hour is not always possible.
Also: what are the chances that Iggulden might ever get called up?
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Matt says:
Strummer, I agree with you. Why is Bergy always on the skedge line. I know he plays with an edge but the kids got talent and should be utilized a little better. It always seems like he is not getting the time he should. Like to see him on the power play a bit! Hopefully Gordon’s comments with Logan is some foreshadowing for that.
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Ugh! Why is Sim with Bailey again? Get rid of this guy already! I love when Snow said Jon Sim would make us forget about Steve Webb!!! LOL! Hopefully these aren’t the game line ups!
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Brian from Massapequa says:
It is nice that the show is actually available on the WEPN website
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Kyle says:
CB-
I read this blog EVERYDAY either on my computer or blackberry. This is by far the funniest thing you have said thus far:“As for the idea that DiPietro and I are close, you do have me there. Yes, it is true – Ricky and I roll. He doesn’t love it when I bring my three little kids along when we go to Nobu, but we usually throw the boys in a town car back to RVC before Deeps, me and Strahan meet up with MC and Hilary at GoldBar.”
Just wondering where Strahan came from…
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CB – I think it is really cool that you took my call during commercials at the very end of NYHTW even though it couldn’t air. Thanks man!
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Hey, don’t forget Snow’s comments about Sim when he signed him and constantly until recently about how Jon Sim was going to agitate and draw penalties on the other team? Hasn’t happened.
He seriously just needs to end that. Also, no more Sim on the PP if he is gonna be in the line-up, I’d rather see every other forwards get an opportunity there even Fritz if he is dressed.
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ny711ot says:
thanks for trying cb and i do read 10 times a day but for the normal person other than the fanatics like myself on this site…… man these are tough times to be an islander fan.
controversy around jmac getting the november player of the month award.?…
cripes we really have absolutely nothing going on do we..?
it’s lulls like this weekend where i really miss being in the mix. -
doc says:
Nobu is so yesterday CB…
DOC
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Sim on the PP is a joke. Another bizzare decision by our bizzare coach. I wonder if his thinking outside the box way of coaching got him the job? I could just see Snow interviewing him and saying to himself;
“Wow this guy is warped. I think he will probably make some out there decisions with the team. Well we said we would be consitent and we might as well all try ro re-invent the wheel, I think this is going to work!!!!!” -
chickendirt says:
I just looked at the schedule. Anyone thinks this thing is gonna get any easier any time soon may as well walk away now. If you’re complainin about the state of the team now you’re really in for a rough ride these next few weeks.
For the life of me I can’t figure out why there is so much whining and complaining. Everyone knew this team can not sign high profile UFAs. It’s probably better off for them that they can’t as a lot of the teams that attract them by the bushel wind up suckin anyways.
This team had to rebuild like this otherwise we overpay for more guys like John Sim. To do that we are gonna stink for awhile.
At least Snow had the sense to finally convince this team to go in that direction. For that, everyone here should be grateful.
And complainin about the Milbury days is a waste of time. Not to mention a lot of the players who are not here. They ain’t comin back.
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MiKe says:
Isles should trade Guerin, Weight and Comrie to Pitt for J Staal!!!
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effin5 says:
That was probably the only award we will get for the season and they can’t take 5 minutes to honor him before the game? Why is team becoming more about the “corporation” they are trying to turn this into? god forbid we get something to cheer about. I doubt DP would have gotten a filmed presentation if he had won it.
Has anyone seen a MacDonald jersey for sale at the Coliseum or Isles store?
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Marco Sturm now appears done for the year for Boston too, Mr. Botta my have been onto something.
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yeah strummer i wrote about that (#4) and patrice bergeron is out with his second concussion in 14 months so maybe snow will trade guerin there and i dont know why he would decline
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Will C says:
Snow will trade Comrie Guerin and Weight to Toronto for Jason Blake and 2011 5th rounder. Get 1st overall and trade down to #47, where we “truly get what we wanted” In reality I think the Isles should try to bundle some 2nds for a mid 1st and draft Patrik Roy’s Kid. Worth the gamble
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Willis says:
Congrats to our AHL All Stars.
Question: Why would trading Veterans not be the right solution? Isn’t that what you do in a situation like the Isles’?
LOL on that last part..:)
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Who took my smiley faces!
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I miss Robert Reichel. Ideally you need a guy at the current position of the rookie to teach them. We are so deep at young centers it makes sense to keep weight to teach them since sillinger is done. But if the right pick comes along you have to move them. We reallt need to utilize Trots and such for the development of our guys. Then you can wheel and deal and still have mentors. Remeber, HELP THEM DEVELOP! Not force something down their throat like we ruined Bertuzzi.
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o-town isles fan says:
cb: seems everyone is looking for your take, a la Up All Night, so here is one more: what are the chances that go-go (shoot, 2-0 Rangers…) has been asked to play Sim a little more in hopes of showcasing him for the trade deadline…as coach go-go suggested waiving Sim in the first place, and you don t go from the waiver wire to PP time without some kind of intervention from the snowman…your thoughts…
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Justin says:
Hat trick for Filatov tonight. I’m not gonna say it..nope..too easy…
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rob says:
By the way Filatov has a hat trick tonite – it looks like he might be the one who got away
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I was just thinking a week or so ago (before I even realized that we had this weekend off) that the NHL would be smart to put a CHL-style schedule in place. By that I mean have teams play prodominately on weekends, at least 2 of Fri/Sat/Sun. Then they could play a bit more than the kids do during the week, at least one, occationally 2 games. The CHL does it for a different reason (school) but at the NHL level it still makes sense. It would be better for attendance (weekday game are hard to get to for a lot of people), more desireable for networks and better for fans overall.
To have a team go from Thursday to Tuesday without a game is beyond ridiculous.
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did Filatov have a hat trick?
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Joe G says:
Unreal.. Filatov with a hat trick. It looks like we will have the 1st pick in the 2009 draft this year but with this joke of an organization from Milbury to Snow, how many think Snow will draft a goalie or some other no name and pass on Tavares? What a joke, thank god for the Yankees because this gets harder and harder every year watching this organization go backwards.
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GasMD says:
LOL! Once again, Filatov=Stud. And for all of you who say it’s too early to tell, look at our track record in the draft and current record and tell me why I should believe otherwise.
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In addition, having Filatov would take the sting out of possibly losing the 1st pick in 2009. Even if we end up with worst record, we only have a 50% chance of getting the first pick. Having Filatov in our pocket makes Hedman more palatable.
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Brian B says:
oh my god…Filatov had a hatty…oh no. so did Mark Parrish. Congrats to him…give him more than this game to prove something. Bailey may be better…and lets see if Petrov or those other 2nd or 3rd picks (whatever else we got) turn out good.
I also recall everyone wanting stamkos so badly and were so upset we couldn’t win the lottery…hows he been doing?
CB…give us a little scouting report on Iggulden.
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DanNOLA says:
Filatov had a hat trick tonight. So what? Mark Parish had a hat trick in his first game back with Dallas. Whoop-dee-doo. Should we have not “let him go” too? Give me a break, it’s one friggin game.
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Yeah, because we have a terrific track record for finding those gems in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Go check our last 10 drafts and take a prozac. Petrov isn’t even projected to do anything for another 2 or 3 years. BTW, how many hatties for the islanders this year? I don’t want potential 2nd liners and character players from the top of the 1st round, okay? The only saving grace is we won’t face Filatov 5 times a year like we do with Parise.
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tradethewholeteam says:
poop
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Joe Thornton had seven points in his rookie season and he turned out to be a pretty good top overall pick. Stamkos will be a very good player, he’s on a bad team right now so it will take some time. I’d take the guy on my team in a heartbeat.
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rickisajoke says:
Mark Parrish is a journeyman player in this league. Filatov is 18 YEARS OLD! He has a hat trick in his 6th NHL game and 4 goals on the season. 4 goals in 6 games for an 18 year old? That’s a big deal. Comparing it to Parrish is just stupid. So, stop making dumb comparisons to try and defend Snow and the other morons who run this team.
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Pritchett54 says:
The last Islanders draft pick to score 15 goals for the Isles was Ziggy Palffy. That is insane. I bet Filatov scores 15 this year. He now has 4 in 6 games. Maybe we will get the first pick in 2009 and trade down 3 times to pick up some 2nd rounders that will never skate for the team.
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Damns, rick, you beat me to it with that argument. Thanks.
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chara was in the second..
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Garth Snow at this years (2009) draft. ” We had to draft a goalie in the first round this year because we need someone to take over for dipietro when his contract expires in 13 more years”
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Snow is not even dumb enough to pass on Tavares or Hedman. “With the first pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the New York Islanders select John Ta—-oh wait, we have traded the pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Ryan Smyth.”
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Any one who defends Garth Snow hasn’t been paying attention – lets get down to the facts – he was a backup goalie who took over for a respected NHL Exec. in Smith and has given us nothing at all except one good Smyth trade – then he couldnt even build off the momentum of making the playoffs that year. We have either drafted terribly or traded away stars the last 15 years – we had a chance to take a STUD named Filatov – he shy’d away from it – no matter what anyone says – it was SNOW who ran Nolan out of town – Nolan was the best thing our organ EYE zation had going for us – Snow is on a power trip – and is a cocky SOB – trust me ive had to deal with him before – and Wang isnt smart enough to realize it – he also hired Gordon so that we had a guy who is a company guy – a yes man over better candidates – he hated how Nolan spoke about his feelings and knew Go Go wouldnt – sorry for it being so long but i had to vent – Go Filatov
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isles99 says:
it just behooves me that snow thinks he is smarter than everyone else. before last year’s draft, i wanted nikita filatov, cody hodgson, and colin wilson, in that particular order. snow, being the smaarta** he is drafted bailey, who projects as a second line center with character. although bailey is a nice guy, he was projected to go around 14th-16th. snow could have even traded down from the 9th spot and still gotten bailey. here’s the thing, when there’s a supposed home-run hitter, you get him. don’t tell me this bs about “replenshing the system”. that’s a bunch of bull since i beleive you should pick QUALITY over quantity. granted i only knew about these guys from internet clips, but anyone moron can tell who clearly has talent.
ps. to who the filatov haters who said he was too small; ever heard of st.louis, derek roy, pavl datsyuk, henrik zetterberg (all guys under 6 foot) small can make it the new nhl. by the way, parrish is in the twilight of his career whereas filatov is just startting so when has it become reasonable to compare parrish to filatov? -
Hey kevin. Read my argument carefully. I said 10 years ago. Chara was in the 1996 draft. Also, I believe he was a 3rd rounder. And, he was traded for the pioneer of long term deals.
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since im pissed that filatov is doing what he did the in world juniors and the nhl now,let me add this: it was NEIL SMITH who drafted kyle okposo and not garth snow. and since i was out for a couple days, let me add this as well:
botta, i love what you do man but im going to stick firm to my belief that you wrote the dp article to get in the team’s good graces. i can’t beleive a ton of people what bought what you were selling because if you look at ricky’s stats in his career, hes not that great that we should treat him like he’s patrick roy or brodeour. granted dp wants to play for this organization and all but my displeasure with him is regaring the management and not dp himself, although dp isn’t all that he is made out to be either. and the stats back up my argument so i have a legit argument as well which you pointed out others didnt have. -
isles316 says:
Chill out on Snow guys. He came in here with a horrid prospect system and this rebuild should have started the day we traded for Yashin.
As for Snow being arrogant, what boss or manager do you meet in any type of job isn’t? Most good ones are. -
Any chance we get Scotty Bowman in here to fix this? Nah, any owner who would keep Milbury around for as long as he did has absolutely no clue along with the moronic contracts to yashin and dipietro.
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I used the word “Hype” last night in a discussion about Dipietro. Hype can mean a lot of things. In this case it means that anytime you watch another broadcast every announcer of opposing teams talks about DP like he is Brodeur or a top elite goaltender.
His stats are average, his play is too inconsistent and his play hasn’t warrented the accolades that he has recieved. That isn’t DP’s fault but the guy simply needs to play better and/or stay healthy before the fanbase can gain major confidence in him. I think that is fair to say. -
goislesgo105 says:
Big deal Filitov had a hat trick tonight and has 4 goals in 6 games. ………We’ve got JEFF TAMBELLINI !!!
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Will C (#27) If Garth ever traded ANYTHING for Jason Blake, I would need a difribulator. And never ever think our GM isn’t a VERY smart man. That would be a mistake.
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it bothers the crap out to me that if snow wanteed character, he didnt choose hodgson either. hodgson was an alternate captain for team canada at the juniors. granted we haven’t seen what hes done at the nhl but he has done more in the onl and juniors that bailey has ever done. i know hes played more years but if you compare the time bailey spent in the ohl and measure him with hodgson at about the same time, hodgson is better. with all the decepttion, straight-out lying, and incompetency this management has shown, im beggining to wonder if i should bother at all with this team anymore.and while im ranting about snow, charles wang needs to learn you don’t run a hockey team as you do a business (computer associates). the committee thing a couple of years ago was a disaster. these are fundamental mistakes that shouldn’t be made at all let alone corrected. i swear, sometimes i wonder if I could run this team better than these guys.
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Yeah CB, I too am dying to find out how Iggulden’s doing. Do you think he can become the savior of this franchise?
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The point of the Parish-Filatov comparason is that anyone can have a great game. Everyone is getting soooo pissed because a draft pick we decided not to pick up had a great game. When Filatov has a Stanley Cup over his head before us, then your point will be valid. Funny, when Baily makes a great pass and looks good out there, people say nothing but good things about him and take it easy on Snow. A week later when Filatov has a great game it’s burn Snow at the stake.
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Sexier than Usher usher says:
I can vouch because I’ve actually seen CBotts and Deeps out at GoldBar. No women though…just Piazza. (Insert Dice Clay… “OHHHHHHHHHH!!!”) LOL!
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DanNola – I think you have summed up this Filatov discussion, better than I possibly could right now. For those with the NHL network, this Vancouver – San Jose game is a fun watch.
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RayB says:
I’m curious as to where all the Rick Bashers and Islander Conspiracy Theorists were when Trent Hunter got the October Player Of The Month and he didn’t get any pre-game recognition. Only after Joey Mac won in November, and didn’t get an pre-game applause did it become an issue.
There are plenty of things to question in Islander World. THIS is not one of them!Pierre Salinger all over again!
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Marc from Troy says:
Ooh. Thank goodness that mystery has been solved. I can start sleeping at night again.
The guy in the diner who pissed away a couple of hundred bucks to… um… make a point?… is a moron of epic proportions.
(Apologies in advance to CB for what’s to follow, since I know I’m not supposed to be taking shots at other posters, but I can’t take this any more.)
Which leads nicely into my final comments, re: isles99… oh, so YOU wanted Filatov, Hodgson, and Wilson, but Snow had the audacity to think he was smarter than YOU? Well, you must be smarter than him, since you seem to know definitively that Hodgson has more “character” than Bailey, just because he wore an A in a tournament that Bailey didn’t even play in. I guess the FACT that Bailey was going to wear the C if he got sent back to his junior team doesn’t mean anything, though. But you think YOU should be running this team – you might just have to look up “behooves” first.
I’m not going to waste my time getting upset about this any more, but anyone who thinks they can already definitively declare the Isles’ 2008 draft a “bust” – after all of one-half of the following season – needs to either get a clue or just go back to posting on Rangers message boards.
CB, you have Campoli and Park listed as a D-man pairing. I assume you mean Campoli and Pock… but, just for entertainment’s sake, I would love to see Park play D in Pock’s stead. I don’t think we’d lose much defensively, at least.
thanks for the catch…CB