Comments on: Panthers 3, Islanders 2 Power play flourishes, Isles still fall short

By: TM

TM — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:47:57 +0000

Dommy - you must work for NYI as your response is as much of a joke as them not being heard on radio is. Minor league all around. Just 1 more reason NYI is always last in attendance. Great way to reach the fans not paying to be heard on radio. Loser(s).

By: Marc from Troy

Marc from Troy — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:08:36 +0000

To Jim (17)… Forgive me missing what, I’m sure, is a tremendous analysis of something that happened last night, but just what the hell are you talking about?

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:05:13 +0000

As far as drafting Hedman vs. Tavares … I vowed not to think of them till after game 60 … but comparing one with the other and what they will bring … both would improve the Isles’ prospect farm vastly … and both would bring something the Isles need desperately … offense and defense.

Tavares is my pick over Hedman for one major reason … marketing … and easier transition to the NHL … defense takes an extra year or two … and being Hedman is playing in Europe … he’d need a lil extra time to adapt to N. American game.

Neither Tavares’ or Hedman’s futures are set in stone … but from all the reports I’ve read on both of them … they are catylistic franchise players in wait.

The Isles would be fortunate to have either one of them … but I think it’s still way to early to start buying a Tavares 91 jersey or Hedman jersey… I’m just happy to see Josh and the rest of the “Hungry Hungry Hippo” playing crew improving every game.

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:57:08 +0000

Thanks for agreeing Bystander … examples of Stud defenseman … Lidstrom, Chara, Pronger, Rob Blake, S. Niedermayer, Phaneuf and Chris Chelios and B. McCabe in their primes .. and even S. Souray … or some retired players such as Denis Potvin, Ray Bourque & Kevin Hatcher … Those are STUD DEFENSEMEN!! Captain material too.

Sure… to me anyway … there is a place for specialists such as the pure offensive defenseman … or the shut down defensive defenseman in a sub-catagory of Stud defenseman … players of the offensive / playmaker type … like Rafalski, Streit, Boyle, Green, & Markov … and the bringing a world of hurt, stay at home crease clearers such as …. Komisarek, what Luke Schenn will be, enemy #1 Mottau, Witter in better days, and young bombers Steve Montador & Shane O’Brien …

Isles of the past like Adrian Acoin, Bryan Berard (1st tour) would be Semi-Studs in their respective catagory … old school world of hurt defensemen like Kaspar, Rich Pilon, Ken Morrow & Gerry Hart … brought their own brand of pain to the opposition … and all would be considered shut down defensemen.

I know … there are some big names I left out … I was just bringing up names off the top of my head as examples.

By: MSA

MSA — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:38:25 +0000

Bystander…when I said I am no expert (on Wang paying for radio coverage), if you bothered to read the rest of the post, you would have seen I made the exact same point you did.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:08:41 +0000

Bailey looked great!!!

By: bystander

bystander — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:24:29 +0000

“Streit a defensive stud? Maybe my definition of stud defenseman is a bit off … but to me it’s a defenseman that opponents fear when he’s on the ice … someone who brings a world of hurt with a body check … and anxiety when the puck is on his stick in his offensive zone.”

The man is good solid player, better than a ton of people realized.
But I totally agree with Mr. 19 ISLE. I’ve always thought of a stud D-man as an anchor and mover in his own end first, but who can also get the puck out and pitch in offensively when it’s there. Streit is competent in his own end and valuable overall, but not in that mold. There really aren’t a lot of true stud D-men. It’s a rare commodity. That’s why Hedman is so appealing and Tavares not the no-brainer to me as with most people.

By: bystander

bystander — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:12:59 +0000

“How is it Wang has a gazillion dollars for the Lighthouse but won’t pay to have the games heard on radio?”

“TM… so you now want Wang to pay more money out of his pocket for you guys so you can hear better on the radio? ”

“I am no expert, but I do not think Wang would pay to have the game on the radio. ”

huh? normally, radio stations bid for the rights to carry a team’s games, right? they pay the team, not the other way around. a team that has to pay a radio station to carry it’s games is in seriously bad shape.

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:03:03 +0000

Nobody mentioned this … but in watching last night’s game I could of sworn that Howie called Nielsen on the give and go and the goal originally? How could he screw that up?? Maybe I was wrong … I watched the game on Tivo at midnight and was half asleep.
***********
Streit a defensive stud? Maybe my definition of stud defenseman is a bit off … but to me it’s a defenseman that opponents fear when he’s on the ice … someone who brings a world of hurt with a body check … and anxiety when the puck is on his stick in his offensive zone.
************
Witt is a -30 on the worst defensive team in hockey with the worst defensive system… he also came back from injury … Witter is not the type of defenseman that goes below the tops of the offensive zone face off circle … unless it’s in defense of a teammate … I think Gordo needs to adapt his system to accomodate shut down defenseman … those are the guys that keep the opponents from scoring.

By: JPinVA

JPinVA — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:50:02 +0000

I think JMAC played pretty well in his first stint, but Danis has played even better. I don’t understand changing the HOT goalie at that point… except we don’t want him having a 37 game winning streak so we can finish 9th.
Streit is a top notch “D”, but the team needs to upgrade at the position. they also need to get a little bigger throughout the lineup.
This year they need to improve the bottom six with some size. (Hilbert, becasue he is a UFA, especially).
Hopefully they will be getting one or two prospects for the top six like Figren, so maybe losing the draft lottery and being “stuck” with Hedman wouldn’t be a terrible thing. I’d shackle Cairns to his ankles for a year though, the kid needs to be a little tougher. (Most of us said that about Chara as well…so… what do we know).
What a great goal by Zednik… In the FL postgame he did not look happy at all.
Revisionist History: When Nolan was here the FATHER TRIP was his idea, now it was Snow’s idea.
CB, who’s idea was it? It was a great one. Though, the man crush Howie has on “Dancing Stan” is a little much.
I hope three years from now the same thing doesn’t happen to Al Arbour night.
If either of you guys have access to that group of dads, that could be some great stuff for this blog.

By: joey303

joey303 — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:45:45 +0000

Have to dog Logan a lil. He described in Newsday today Hunters goal. Said Bailey lost the faceoff, Hunter picked it up and backhanded it past Vokoun. Lost the faceoff?? How about, he lost the faceoff, stayed with the puck, bulled his way around the Panther guy, and put in a humongous effort, diving and poking the puck towards Vokoun. That was not only a great highlight film play by anyone, but by an 18 yr old in the NHL??? Priceless !!! Give kudos, not just “lost the faceoff” Sorry, just had to say it

By: Dan from Westchester

Dan from Westchester — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:29:09 +0000

Never thought I’d say this - but actually missed Danis! Thought Joey was pretty shaky last night.

Surprised at how well PP did without Streit. One of Campoli’s best games of the year. Gervais had too many giveaways and one of Martinek’s weaker games.

Don’t think I’d miss Pock if he never played another game for us.

Bailey’s best game as an Islander! So much more aggression from him and his passing is sweet.

Thought they actually outplayed Florida in the 2nd and 3rd. Don’t think this team is as far away as we think they are. .