Comments on: GRETZKY ON THE REBUILD“I like what they’re doing.” But… http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but Independent, Daily Coverage Of The New York Islanders Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:46:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: HNLI Alex http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42422 HNLI Alex Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:31:14 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42422 No. It will absolutely not be worth suffering through this season without grabbing Tavares. Plain and simple. As much as I like what I've seen from some of the kids, there is no true dynamic offensive weapon in the bunch. Tavares is the best chance that this franchise is going to have to grab a guy like this at least until the arena is built. Maybe, and only maybe then will we be able to bring in big time free agents again. No. It will absolutely not be worth suffering through this season without grabbing Tavares. Plain and simple. As much as I like what I’ve seen from some of the kids, there is no true dynamic offensive weapon in the bunch. Tavares is the best chance that this franchise is going to have to grab a guy like this at least until the arena is built. Maybe, and only maybe then will we be able to bring in big time free agents again.

]]> By: Steven http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42389 Steven Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:37:16 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42389 Excellent points Patrick. I would love to add John T or Hedman but life will go on. Remember finishing last does not mean you automatically win the lottery. Excellent points Patrick. I would love to add John T or Hedman but life will go on. Remember finishing last does not mean you automatically win the lottery.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42368 Patrick Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:24:55 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42368 The Bruins are doing perfectly fine without an Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin type of talent...and I wonder who helped develop the young talent while they came up in the AHL? The Bruins are doing perfectly fine without an Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin type of talent…and I wonder who helped develop the young talent while they came up in the AHL?

]]> By: Steven http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42351 Steven Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:17:10 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42351 I'm not going to get sick over worrying if the Isles get the number 1 pick. There is nothing we can do and very little the Isles can do. They cannot tell the kids to lose. The kids are thinking about proving themselves and could care less about the number 1 pick. That's the way it should be. The Isles got a pretty nice player with Bailey at 9 so if the the Isles have the bad luck to drop to 3 they should still get a very useful player. Having said all this I still want the 1 or 2 pick. I’m not going to get sick over worrying if the Isles get the number 1 pick. There is nothing we can do and very little the Isles can do. They cannot tell the kids to lose. The kids are thinking about proving themselves and could care less about the number 1 pick. That’s the way it should be. The Isles got a pretty nice player with Bailey at 9 so if the the Isles have the bad luck to drop to 3 they should still get a very useful player. Having said all this I still want the 1 or 2 pick.

]]> By: Rick http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42332 Rick Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:05:05 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42332 I love what they're doing - Gordon had me going back & forth there for awhile, but watching this team over the past week has been so much fun, I'm officially sold. To answer the question: The Islanders must get 1 of the three headed monster that Chris created - Tavheduch. For as great as the young guys look (granted, JJ & Iggy only a few games) - we need 'that guy', and I'll be ecstatic with any of the 3 heads. Anything less will be a disappointment. Of course, should Snow be able to do what he did last year, stockpile the farm & introduce us to Josh Bailey, how could I be disappointed? I love what they’re doing – Gordon had me going back & forth there for awhile, but watching this team over the past week has been so much fun, I’m officially sold.

To answer the question: The Islanders must get 1 of the three headed monster that Chris created – Tavheduch. For as great as the young guys look (granted, JJ & Iggy only a few games) – we need ‘that guy’, and I’ll be ecstatic with any of the 3 heads. Anything less will be a disappointment. Of course, should Snow be able to do what he did last year, stockpile the farm & introduce us to Josh Bailey, how could I be disappointed?

]]> By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42330 19 ISLE in NJ 22 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:52:48 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42330 Worth it? No ... to suffer through all these losses without getting a "potential generational" player would make this season a disaster without a dividend. The only reason I've been able to stomach these losses was to see that the kids were progressing under the dark cloud of this season... but knowing that if they finished last .. at least they can draft a .320 hitting homerun hitter (Tavares) or a .300 hitting gold glove fielder (Hedman) ... if we end up with a Duchene ... ehhh ... OK ... it adds a bit of sugar to a bitter diet ... but make no mistake ... getting Duchene will not make it any easier to swallow this season .... and think how happy Rag fans will be if we draft 3rd or worse. BTW ... I think the Isles will finish 28th overall. The boys are just too good to finish behind the tanking Lightning and Thrashers. Worth it? No … to suffer through all these losses without getting a “potential generational” player would make this season a disaster without a dividend.

The only reason I’ve been able to stomach these losses was to see that the kids were progressing under the dark cloud of this season… but knowing that if they finished last .. at least they can draft a .320 hitting homerun hitter (Tavares) or a .300 hitting gold glove fielder (Hedman) … if we end up with a Duchene … ehhh … OK … it adds a bit of sugar to a bitter diet … but make no mistake … getting Duchene will not make it any easier to swallow this season …. and think how happy Rag fans will be if we draft 3rd or worse.

BTW … I think the Isles will finish 28th overall. The boys are just too good to finish behind the tanking Lightning and Thrashers.

]]> By: Gary http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42317 Gary Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:56:06 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42317 It would be worth it no matter what. We've had a brutal season and I've witnessed most of it, but to tell these guys that their winning is pointless diminishes them as players and tells them that we don't think they're ever going to be good enough to be better. All of the yahoos who think that they should lose every game so that one of Tavheduch can come here should turn in their Isles colors and go put on a Rags jersey. Try to enjoy watching these kids starting to come of age rather than worry about someone who may never get here. It would be worth it no matter what. We’ve had a brutal season and I’ve witnessed most of it, but to tell these guys that their winning is pointless diminishes them as players and tells them that we don’t think they’re ever going to be good enough to be better. All of the yahoos who think that they should lose every game so that one of Tavheduch can come here should turn in their Isles colors and go put on a Rags jersey. Try to enjoy watching these kids starting to come of age rather than worry about someone who may never get here.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42298 Kevin Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:32:56 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42298 USA Today named Yann Danis the Goaltender of the Month for February..(Joe Mac in November, and now Danis). Very Interesting Goalie problem for next year w/ both UFA's... Islanders' Danis, Capitals' Ovechkin thrive in the clutch in February Islanders goalie Yann Danis makes a save on Capitals leading scorer Alex Ovechkin in January. Both were clutch performers in February. By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY New York Islanders goalie Yann Danis had a pretty short NHL résumé before January. Undrafted while at Brown University, the Quebec native was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in 2004 after being named Eastern College Athletic Conference goalie of the year. But he played six NHL games, all in 2005-06, during his four years with that organization. He signed as a free agent with the Islanders last July but opened in the American Hockey League because franchise goalie Rick DiPietro and backup Joey MacDonald were ahead of him. An injury to DiPietro led to a late October call-up, but he got two starts, one mop-up appearance and lots of time on the bench or shuttles back to the minors. But when DiPietro hurt his knee again in January, Danis got his chance because MacDonald strained his groin muscle in that first game back. Danis ended January with three consecutive wins, and his play in February earned him USA TODAY's Clutch Goalie title for that month. The computerized formula factors in shutout time, saves, penalty kills and the amount of time playing in a tie game to figure out who's best when the score is tight. Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin was the Clutch Scorer, edging Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, after having a hand in eight go-ahead goals. He also had plenty of help from teammates as the Capitals went 9-3-1 during February. Defenseman Mike Green and forwards Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom, finished in the top seven in the rankings. Danis went 3-4-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .951 save percentage during the month but could have had a better record if the Islanders got him more goals. Twice he lost 1-0, holding the Pittsburgh Penguins off the board for more than 57 minutes and the Tampa Bay Lightning for more than 53. He also picked up two shutouts in his last three games, stopping 40 shots in a 4-0 win against the New Jersey Devils and 31 shots in a 2-0 win vs. the Buffalo Sabres. "Pucks are just hitting me right now," he told the Islanders' website. "My positioning has been good; I think that's been the key to my game. Also, I think the guys are playing really good hockey in front of me." Clutch Goalies: Goalie, team Points Yann Danis, N.Y. Islanders 99.10 Tomas Vokoun, Florida 91.79 Pekka Rinne, Nashville 84.73 Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota 84.63 Martin Biron, Philadelphia 82.46 Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers 81.91 Chris Mason, St. Louis 81.71 Tim Thomas, Boston 76.36 Scott Clemmensen, New Jersey 76.15 Vesa Toskala, Toronto 75.25 Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton 74.71 Ryan Miller, Buffalo 73.82 Jaroslav Halak, Montreal 71.15 USA Today named Yann Danis the Goaltender of the Month for February..(Joe Mac in November, and now Danis). Very Interesting Goalie problem for next year w/ both UFA’s…
Islanders’ Danis, Capitals’ Ovechkin thrive in the clutch in February

Islanders goalie Yann Danis makes a save on Capitals leading scorer Alex Ovechkin in January. Both were clutch performers in February.
By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
New York Islanders goalie Yann Danis had a pretty short NHL résumé before January.
Undrafted while at Brown University, the Quebec native was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in 2004 after being named Eastern College Athletic Conference goalie of the year. But he played six NHL games, all in 2005-06, during his four years with that organization.

He signed as a free agent with the Islanders last July but opened in the American Hockey League because franchise goalie Rick DiPietro and backup Joey MacDonald were ahead of him.

An injury to DiPietro led to a late October call-up, but he got two starts, one mop-up appearance and lots of time on the bench or shuttles back to the minors. But when DiPietro hurt his knee again in January, Danis got his chance because MacDonald strained his groin muscle in that first game back.

Danis ended January with three consecutive wins, and his play in February earned him USA TODAY’s Clutch Goalie title for that month. The computerized formula factors in shutout time, saves, penalty kills and the amount of time playing in a tie game to figure out who’s best when the score is tight.

Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin was the Clutch Scorer, edging Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, after having a hand in eight go-ahead goals.

He also had plenty of help from teammates as the Capitals went 9-3-1 during February. Defenseman Mike Green and forwards Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom, finished in the top seven in the rankings.

Danis went 3-4-1 with a 1.62 goals-against average and .951 save percentage during the month but could have had a better record if the Islanders got him more goals. Twice he lost 1-0, holding the Pittsburgh Penguins off the board for more than 57 minutes and the Tampa Bay Lightning for more than 53.

He also picked up two shutouts in his last three games, stopping 40 shots in a 4-0 win against the New Jersey Devils and 31 shots in a 2-0 win vs. the Buffalo Sabres.

“Pucks are just hitting me right now,” he told the Islanders’ website. “My positioning has been good; I think that’s been the key to my game. Also, I think the guys are playing really good hockey in front of me.”

Clutch Goalies:

Goalie, team Points

Yann Danis, N.Y. Islanders 99.10

Tomas Vokoun, Florida 91.79

Pekka Rinne, Nashville 84.73

Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota 84.63

Martin Biron, Philadelphia 82.46

Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers 81.91

Chris Mason, St. Louis 81.71

Tim Thomas, Boston 76.36

Scott Clemmensen, New Jersey 76.15

Vesa Toskala, Toronto 75.25

Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton 74.71

Ryan Miller, Buffalo 73.82

Jaroslav Halak, Montreal 71.15

]]> By: jonw http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42290 jonw Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:16:07 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42290 Victor Hedman is your typical european player.Strong ,good skater,hockey smart and not that physical.Detroit proved you can win with players like that.That being said. The Isles should take Tavares with the first pick if they are selecting there.They need that type of play making ability and touch not to mention the buzz he will generate.But there is no need to panaic if they manage to fall out of the top 2 choices and see Tavares and Hedman go before their choice.I fully believe Garth can go ahead and do the same thing he did last year,which is trade down.take a look at the rest of the class and look them up yourelves.don't just take someones elses advice on how good they can or can't be http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11679There is no problem with garth trading down and selecting a player like Jordan Schroeder(who i feel is going to be a star in this league)and possibly picking up a #1 next year or two # 2's,if some other team is real high on Matt Duchene.Remeber this is a rebuild and 1 player doesnt win championships just see Dale Hawerchuck,Eric Lindros,Marcel Dionne,Wendel Clark,Phil Housley,Darryl Sittler..you get the idea. And please people when you see yourself saying that this team doesn't need veteran leadership like Weight,MaCammond or Guerin(not likely) ask yourself this.Who would you rather have loosening up the guys by taking them out to the bar after losing 6 of 8? 19 year old Josh Bailey or a 500 goal scorer like Guerin? Waht bout if the pp is struggling ? Can Iggy do a better job then say Doug Weight and his 1000+ points? what about when you need a big faceoff win? you feel confident with the Franz? Or would you rather see MaCammond take the slow skate into the circle.Hockey is not just about being young and talented.You need more Victor Hedman is your typical european player.Strong ,good skater,hockey smart and not that physical.Detroit proved you can win with players like that.That being said. The Isles should take Tavares with the first pick if they are selecting there.They need that type of play making ability and touch not to mention the buzz he will generate.But there is no need to panaic if they manage to fall out of the top 2 choices and see Tavares and Hedman go before their choice.I fully believe Garth can go ahead and do the same thing he did last year,which is trade down.take a look at the rest of the class and look them up yourelves.don’t just take someones elses advice on how good they can or can’t be http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11679There is no problem with garth trading down and selecting a player like Jordan Schroeder(who i feel is going to be a star in this league)and possibly picking up a #1 next year or two # 2′s,if some other team is real high on Matt Duchene.Remeber this is a rebuild and 1 player doesnt win championships just see Dale Hawerchuck,Eric Lindros,Marcel Dionne,Wendel Clark,Phil Housley,Darryl Sittler..you get the idea.
And please people when you see yourself saying that this team doesn’t need veteran leadership like Weight,MaCammond or Guerin(not likely) ask yourself this.Who would you rather have loosening up the guys by taking them out to the bar after losing 6 of 8? 19 year old Josh Bailey or a 500 goal scorer like Guerin? Waht bout if the pp is struggling ? Can Iggy do a better job then say Doug Weight and his 1000+ points? what about when you need a big faceoff win? you feel confident with the Franz? Or would you rather see MaCammond take the slow skate into the circle.Hockey is not just about being young and talented.You need more

]]> By: Richie66 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42288 Richie66 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:10:53 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42288 #133 I totaally agree, I think by this point the coaching staff knows who will be a starter next year, it time to call up all the guys who havent played in the NHL yet or who may be on the fence, their evaluation period should be now #133 I totaally agree, I think by this point the coaching staff knows who will be a starter next year, it time to call up all the guys who havent played in the NHL yet or who may be on the fence, their evaluation period should be now

]]> By: ny711ot http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42286 ny711ot Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:06:13 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42286 it would be a failure of collossal proportions if the isles start to win and miss out on tavares or hedman. i would send okposo comeau and anyone else able to play at bridgeport down by next week and call up the bodies that have not overly impressed or will likely sit during the calder run (fritz, bentivoglio, haley, colliton etc.). it has been great fun watching the development but it would be too great a cost to blow the draft. it would be a failure of collossal proportions if the isles start to win and miss out on tavares or hedman.
i would send okposo comeau and anyone else able to play at bridgeport down by next week and call up the bodies that have not overly impressed or will likely sit during the calder run (fritz, bentivoglio, haley, colliton etc.). it has been great fun watching the development but it would be too great a cost to blow the draft.

]]> By: Alex O http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/03/gretzky-on-the-rebuildi-like-what-theyre-doing-but/#comment-42281 Alex O Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:54:17 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=8387#comment-42281 I want to see a nice 10 to 12 game loosing streak with Kyle and the young corps scoring points and us loosing by one or 2 goals. That acomplishes 2 things, we get 1st or 2nd overall and the kids get invaluable experience I want to see a nice 10 to 12 game loosing streak with Kyle and the young corps scoring points and us loosing by one or 2 goals. That acomplishes 2 things, we get 1st or 2nd overall and the kids get invaluable experience

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