TWO WEEKS TO FORGET: Boston 6, NYI 2
As memorable as the wins vs. Detroit, Chicago & NJ
I was tempted to write this after the game yesterday, but held off. Now, after tonight’s season finale 6-2 loss to Boston, it’s official.
These final two weeks of the Islanders’ feel-good second half were a disaster. Disappointing. Troubling.
Respectfully, there comes a point when it’s no longer about injuries, lack of practice time, the Bridgeport shuttle and anything else you want to throw into the excuse machine. That point arrived this weekend, when the Islanders showed nothing on their Fan Appreciation Days to end the season.
In support of their 30th-place hockey team in this faded arena, the crowds were surprisingly large. Under no pressure but to give 30,000 fans a going-away smile, the home team came up shockingly small.
Buffalo, eliminated from the playoffs, crushed Carolina on Thursday and creamed Boston last night. The Bruins, with nothing to play for and with Zdeno Chara on vacation, walked into the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Easter Sunday and out-worked, out-played and out-everythinged the Islanders in front of their fans. Inexcusable.
The bottom line is this: go ahead, write off April. That includes today, yesterday’s fight-free non-event against the Flyers, the 6-1 loss in Pittsburgh, 9-0 all-timer in Carolina, scraping by Tampa Bay last Saturday at home, the 5-1 embarassment to Montreal at the NVMC and 5-3 defeat in Washington on April Fools’ Day.
Fine. Pretend none of it ever happened. Tell yourself it was all about the goaltending.
And then while you’re at it, burn the tapes of 2-0 in Detroit, 4-2 in Chicago, the home wins against Brodeur and the Devils and most of the feel-good wins that came before the April storms. Look it up: were the lineups from this weekend compared to those wins markedly different?
After today’s game, Scott Gordon blockered a question about any home stretch distaste souring his team’s happy second half recap. “I’ve got some thoughts on that,” said the coach, “but it’s time to put the season behind us.”
Fair enough. Gordon certainly knows his team better than anyone else. He is very optimistic about the direction of the team, and players like Kyle Okposo, Mark Streit and Frans Nielsen give him every reason to be.
Still, many fans and observers were labeled buzz-kills for not getting all lathered up about some of those second-half wins with nothing on the line. What do we say now? Were these last two weeks all about the goaltending? Were they simply the result of a thinned-out lineup hitting the wall?
The Islanders better hope so.
ETC: After Gordon mentioned in the post-game how the return of Rick DiPietro could make a huge difference next season, I asked the coach if he’s talked to the goalie recently. “He’s upbeat,” Gordon said of DiPietro. “I don’t have the specifics of a timetable for you, but we’re optimistic. Rick fully expects to be on the ice in mid-summer.”
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Comments.
83 Responses to “TWO WEEKS TO FORGET: Boston 6, NYI 2
As memorable as the wins vs. Detroit, Chicago & NJ”
Please Wait
Great insight, Chris. Somehow it is nice to see this squad come down to earth so the management can see all the work that really needs to be done. This starts with Tavares, hopefully.
I guess they really do suck. I’m glad I didn’t pay money to see them play this weekend. No effort. Thanks CB for a great year on the web. As other fans have said, you made an unbearable season exciting to read about.
Thank God it’s over. Nightmare season with scattered bouts of hope now in the can and we earn the right to pick at least first or second…here’s to hoping they don’t screw this draft up again, the last time they had the # 1 it set us back from then until now. Please Lord, let the rebuilding start in earnest now for real.
Those wins were insignificant. The Isles had nothing to lose and caught some upper-echelon teams sleeping.
Unlike you CB, I am not totally sold on nielsen. He had some nice flashes, but he also ended up with 9 goals in 58 games when he was handed top 6 F icetime.
Okposo, Bailey and Comeau stepped up and showed enough potential to be top 9 guys for the future. Nielsen needs to take the next step next season.
i will admit that I am pretty excited to see what Jankowski comes up with with potentially 7 of the first 90 picks.
Honestly, with all the injuries and callups, I’m surprised it took this long for this team to get plastered a few times. They played so tough for so many close games it’s pretty unrealistic to think they could keep it up. I’m really surprised they kept it up as long as they did.
it’s been a long season and now that it is over I along with the rest of our fan base can only hope that better things will come next year and beyond. look, i am not saying that i expect this team to win the cup next season but can we please compete for 82 games and hopefully in the end for a playoff spot? i went to the game tonight and really just don’t know where to begin to complain, it probably is not worth it. anyways, chris, great job on the blog and i really look foward to being a poster and reader. to all the fans, have a great summer and hope to see you all at the coliseum next year.
god bless
Man that was a long season. And 2009-10 doesn’t look like it will be much different. Here’s to Garth, doing the right thing come draft day (taking Taveras first overall; if the Isles have the #1 pick) and staying the coarse. Build thru the draft. There are only 3 or 4 players on this current roster who may be on a playoff contender in 2011-12. If it’s done right it will take time. Short cuts don’t work.
I think that this was a team that finally gave up, and that’s disappointing, but maybe human nature. I am not exactly angry about it, but I’m not happy either. Perhaps like the players, I am just happy to see this season end. Hopefully, next year will be better, but I’m not counting on it.
goaltending - none, not existed. Danis or MacDonald is not an option for the next season.
CB, you’re being a bit hard on the young team…All teams go into slumps, peaks and valleys…I think its all lesson’s in development…They will learn from these bad times, I hope..
Listening to Butch Goring during the game, you get the player’s perspective on what it’s like playing for a team like this, at this point in the season. I think there is credence to the aspect of human nature taking over and realizing there is nothing to play for. I don’t think that excuses any one, but I still think it’s a valid point.
It was a long season for a lot of the kids. They ran out of steam down the stretch and it showed. It’s no coiencedence that the team stunk when the kids faded. It happens they’re kids and they will get stronger. I can’t kill them for that. No excuses needed CB they gave it all for a long period of time. Big night coming up for this team….
Thanks CB for the work this season. You made this DREADFUL season fun. I for one don’t see optimism here guys. The lighthouse is falling apart and this teams success depends on it. Costs will be cut and another long season is full-steam ahead unless SERIOUS progress is made. You guys can drink the koolaid all you want in terms of moral victories this season aka close losses and the kids progressing. I really didn’t watch much. From what I saw was nothing to get too excited about. I think we are about 5 years away and if the lighthouse is DARK; then its curtains for us. Oh well lets hope Snow doesn’t screw it up, because Tavares or Hedman cost too much in terms of salary, because that is why I believe Josh Bailey was drafted and pick traded to ninth so the Franchise did not have to overpay for a Filiatov or Schenn.
I think the goal tending was bad over the last 10 games or so…
#13 How can you get excited, if you don’t watch?
It wasn’t that long ago when you and the media were saying “The Kids Are Alright”, it was almost a mantra. I think this team will be alright.
Thank god its over, now its tavares!
Brian in VA.. are you serious with this crap? Jesus. Talk about grasping for straws.
Tough end of the season. Hopefully Tuesday night gives us what we have been crying for since December.
(13) Rookie contracts are set as a cap, drafting Bailey had nothing to do with money and everything to do with they liked Bailey and needed the extra picks to accelerate the rebuild.
CB,
That’s what you get when you give $ 2.2 million to washed up centers when you should be taking that money and giving it to young players like Gilroy.
Doug
Chris thanks for making this season so interesting with your great blogging. Not sure I’d be following everything so closely at this point if not for your insight and pb. Learned a lot about the team, the future and the lighthouse soap opera so for that a hearty thanks.
Sad way for a forgettable season to end. Agree with previous post… Maybe it was good to come back to earth here and take a hard look at what still needs to be done.
Looking forward to Tuesday night and hopefully a great draft… Along with a healthy ricky getting us much closer to where we want to be come the fall.
Chris I disagree….
I think that this last game, if it were not for that 3 goal outburst would have only been a 1 goal game. except for that 9 - 0 game, i just dont know what to say about a team that is still young. Half of them are still geting used to teh Gordon style even though they are used to it in Bridgeport, this is the NHL so much quicker and more grueling (harder hits, better goalies)Maybe the need a little more time?
If you lose that many games to injuries and some guys like KO came back for a game or two when maybe they shouldnt have, because there is nothing in it except padding personal stats…so maybe they are still injured?
maybe some of our guys had nothing to play for and were stressed out from all the games they had to cover or overcompensate for others that were injured by doing to much? (even though other guys were called up from the bridge)
They seem to me to have more competitive and good games in the second half rather than the first Chris….maybe it is me though
didnt mean to sound like you are wrong but i try not being a homer, but at least this looks better than the MM years and all those coaches (sans Lavy)
Peter the Nut
This team is a long way from making the playoffs. It is good that they showed their true selves these last 2 weeks. Need a goaltender badly. How long is Gordon signed for? Hopefully they are patient with him.
Yeah, they threw in the towel last week. I’ll give them a pass on the past few games…
My concern is although they at times looked like a group who grew together; the young kids definitely stepped up in the second half - how much of it was teams looking past them and us getting their “B” games when our kids were fighting for their jobs… Teams didn’t exactly come to the metro-area and circle the Isles game; and we didn’t often face their #1 goalies that I’m sure they saved for the NYR and NJD… Just a thought…
During the game Billy, Howie and Butch were talking about the upcoming draft and said that if the Isles select JT they should maybe consider making him a winger instead of a center. CB do you think that would be a wise move if JT is selected?
We finished 30 points out of 10th place, in a league where 26 of 30 teams finished within 3 games of .500 we were 21 games under.
This is not a team close to a playoff birth, even with the goalie.
I think there is a lot of truth to what #13 said about the draft last year and their decision to move down. I am not in agreement with the doomsday assessment of 5 years out, but clearly there needs to be a sense of urgency for Wang to get the LH deal done in some capacity. Snow has set this year’s draft up so they can once again get a ton of picks in the early rounds and kudos to him for doing so. I just want PROGRESS!
The Islanders didnt draft Baily to save money……you guys are a little ridiculous. They wanted more picks, and got a solid player in the first round. In the end it will be a good move. Unless Filatov turns into Kovalchuk which isnt likley.
With the Flyers losing today, it gives Pittsburgh home ice advantage. Conditional pick for Bill Guerin has a chance to become a third. It is a relief the season is over, on TV Billy Jaffe said it is more important how the Islanders start next season so the last few games really don’t bother me that much though it would have been nice to win the last one.
Look I wasn’t trying to bring you guys down with my post. Its just the way I see it. Look lets draft Tavares and get this thing going. BUT and its a big BUT (no pun intended!) a resolution must come to a head soon for this franchise to move forward in terms of the LH. Look if I was Wang I’d say I want a definitive answer in ONE WEEK or else I will take another Direction. The LH has been hung out to dry for what 2-3 years resolve it or get a new Direction. My hope is LH or QUEENS. I would be extremely saddened if TOH caused the Isles to be exiled…
The silve rlining to the finish is I think any questions about our goalies being NHL quality were answered. The idea that either of these two can be an Islander next year has to be off the table.
Our priority should be getting a veteran goalie that can play if DP gets hurt.
Maybe just maybe it is the SYSTEM which sucked the life out of this team towards the end.
#32 - absolutely agree, but wouldn’t be surprised to see one of them (or even both of them) back next season. They will say that MacDonald won the Save of the year NHL award and therefore deserves the contract extension.
In reality they both SUCK big time.
When you wipe away the excitement of the race for the #1 pick the year was a disaster. There were long stretches of this season where this team didn’t compete! I don’t think it is a coincidence that April was horrible, since we played the top teams and they plastered us! But this is the right direction! We just need players! We did see some positive growth from Okposo and Comeau. I think the jury is still out on Nielsen and Bailey. We need offensive talent desperately! I also worry that last years draft, trading down from 5, may have been a mistake. Moving down to 7 I could live with, the trade down to 9 was un necessary! We passed on Schenn, Filatov, Boedeker ,Wilson and Hodgson for Bailey and Ness moving to 7 and then down to 9, for more unproven players. When they write the story of the 2008 draft, we may have picked the worst guy in the top 10! I hope not. This year is a no-brainer #1 Tavares, we lose the #1, you pick Hedman #2, end of story! Anything else will be a hard sell! Enough of experiments and project players and could be’s or wanna be’s. We need players who can play ! Happy New Year!
This roster is going to be very much the same next season. Add Tavares/Hedman and maybe one free agent signing (I doubt a big-time name) and I would bet MacDonald or Danis will be backing up DiPietro when the season starts. Can they improve..sure. Will they sniff the playoffs…doubtful.
Echoing everyone elses comments, this season was rough to say the least. Needless to say, I hope Garth and the boys stay the course and build through the draft. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we can do this if we are patient. I will take another season or two of this in order to right the ship. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for us come October 2009. Keep the faith…Let’s Go Islanders!
Another disater of a season comes to an end for the Islanders which has become way to common. Lets really hope Snow knows what he is doing, if Tavares is there at # 1 you choose him, if not you take Hedman. Do not get cute, do not give us reason to curse out the franchise anymore. We need to start seeing progress, no more excuses about not signing FA’s. We understand the rebuild but adding the right FA’s is key adding to our crop of draft picks and moving this team along.
The arena situation is a dark cloud hanging over this franchise and our next big problem. The LH is dying in front of our eyes. C.B, has there been any info on Queens? I know they have extended the invite to the Islanders, I really hope Wang will look to them if the LH Project dies.
Let’s hope they wake up and don’t bring back, MacDonald or Danis. Maybe Dublielewiez; or they can pick up someone on waivers like they did with Osgood. There’s got be someone out there who’s better than these guys. Let’s all hope DP is health.
Can I ask a question? Does anyone think Queens is viable? NY just built 2 new stadiums and with the economic downturn, I can’t see a new arena being built. Maybe if somehow the nets get involved, but just for the islanders? It’s a nice idea, but they are about to pull the plug on Brooklyn, I doubt a new areana would go up anytime within the next 5-10 years in NYC.
I think the LH is dying on the vine as well
While this season was bad, bad, bad…it feels better than the mid to late 90s. There was no hope back then…I won’t even get into the uniform issues.
Here’s to the draft lottery, smart hockey decisions, DP’s health, and some strong summers from the kids.
CB:
As a 25 year Isles fan this is one of the worst 3 or 4 seasons I can remember. Only those seasons where the team payroll was $15 million were worse. Besides having the leagues worst record, there is such an uncertainty regarding the teams furture in NY. Throw in what seems to be a high school training staff, and what else is there to say. I can’t buy that after two consecutive seasons of over 500 man-games lost to injury, that it is purely a case bad luck. As much as I can’t stand the Ranger$, they get it right when it comes to training and conditioning.
This game blew, what a shame.
I also have to add, todays game was the first time Ive ever left a game with more than 2 minutes to go. I left half way into the third. Gordon went down like a fairy today too, why not put rechlicz out there? He didnt put him on the ice the entire second period.
you are what your record says you are. simple as that.
Does anyone think if would be best if the Isles get the second pick? This way, there is really no decision to be made and can never be second guessed? I also think Tampa Bay takes Hedman. Colorado I’m not sure who they would take.
Lets hope the softies like Tamby are not here in the fall.
Im sick of watching listless hockey.
#48, jeff tambellini will be back next year. as will andy hilbert and nate thompson. guys who kinda skate around and watch.
How anyone can actually get excited about the draft beyond our top choice is beyond me. Outside of the very, very few surefire picks, that can step into the NHL in 2-3 years at the most, the hundreds of others need a whole lot of work, growth, beefing up, maturity, etc., which can take a bunch of years. Awesome, we will have a bunch of picks–but, we’re mostly getting exciting now about players on the Isles and Bridgeport that were drafted a bunch of years ago (with Bailey the notable exception) and who are only now easing into the transition to the NHL. It’s not like we have an empty farm system, but I want to see those guys mature.
Maturation and NHL viability are, to me, a bit more exciting than the crapshoot of kids many years before their prime. The NHL draft is like the MLB draft….in baseball, you may get a stud in the first round, but you probably are going to care a lot more about the maturing prospect in AAA or rising through the system.
The problems of the mid-90s, for me, weren’t so much about the losing, but about having actual talent mature that we couldn’t re-sign and had to trade away, due to owner/GM mismanagement or stinginess. I really don’t mind losing per se, but I want to see our guys mature and get good, and get treated with respect by the rest of the league. A Cup would be amazing…but sustained respectability, for me, would be a far more impressive achievement.
This team right now lacks consistent goaltending! The forwards and D will develop but Class “A” goaltending will put a new face on this team and make that progression a bit more fluidic. The kids need to know they have a solid netminder back there!
Hopefully Ricky comes back strong.
CB, How many bones are left in the Human Body for Ricky to have issues with????
Hilbert, Tamby–ugh, we have to not get too nostalgic about folks we watch. Sure, they work hard, but are the producing? If not, are they maturing? Tamby and Hilbert always seem to be allllllmost ready to turn the corner…then don’t. We have to raise our standards–we need them to produce, or that’s it. If they were let go, what would the Isles miss? How many 4th liners do we need?
Chris,
Any reason why DP was not around for the post game jersey auction give away? I thought it was weird and was wondering if there was any reason for it?
Ho hum, oh well, see you in October? Danis better go back to the AHL where he belongs, and MacDonald better figure out how to be a good backup goalie to DP. DP better work his arse off this summer and get all of his bones in the best shape ever.
Here’s to the 48.2% chance of drafting Hedman first in June.
Finaly got home from the last game of the season. Worst game I’ve ever saw in Coli live. No effort, no hustle, no fan appreciation. Very disheartening… Hope to be rewarde with Tavares in a lineup on Tuesday…
They will need to sign at least one big name to make the cap.
One of the goalies from this year will be back.
I will take either Tavarses or Hedman.
We do need offence.
If we draft Tavarses we need to sign Komi.
If we draft Hedman, we need Gaborik or Cammi.
It hard… you don’t want to sign long term, but looking at Franzen’s contract… it’s horrible.
The rest of the team will fill in.
But we do need to sign about 10 million worth of free agents this off season.
i have full confidence in snow, janikowski, and gordon. draft tavares or hedman (6-7 220 and hes only 18? holy crap!) if you keep one goalie keep danis. sign camallerri, hope to god ricky’s healthy, sign komisarek.
it will be a fantastic next season. 5 picks in first 2 rounds, awesome!
love this blog, love this team. wanted a final win but dont judge anyone at all, thank god it’s over!!!!
#52, until management understands that taking guys who the other 29 other teams don’t want and putting them on our roster is not the proper way to build your team then finally maybe this team will start winning. we have 2/3 of our 4th line locked up next year in Jackman and Park. add one more 4th liner and end it. tamby is no more than a 4th liner. the same goes with hilbert and thompson. make your choice.
Thankfully, this embarrassing season is over. I managed to sneak out of my house before dessert today with my girlfriend to head to the game, and man it was brutal. Buy 1 get 1 free or not, this game wouldn’t have been worth it if both seats were free. When they scored I wasn’t happy, I was just relieved they weren’t going to be shut out. I loved how some psychic fans were chanting, “we want Tavares” as if we had won the lottery and Garth said we were picking him first overall. I am 23 and have been an Islander fan since I was about 6. Watching this team inspired me to play hockey which lead to me playing in College, and have become a part of my life, but this season was almost too much to handle. Hopefully we are turning the page because I can’t handle many more efforts like today for much longer.
Tambellini is a joke and shouldnt have played the minutes he did today.
I am not as negative as CB about the last 2 weeks. There are a lot of younger guys on this team and they tend to hit walls this time a year. Plus Danis and MacDonald have never had this much playing time in their careers. The work load just got to them a bit. Plus KO and Streit were out for a lot of that time. This season is over, no need to harp on it. Build on it.
CB,
Perhaps too soon to know the fate of this blog, but I certainly hope it continues at least another year. It’s really gone extremely well, not just as a good insight into the season, but the game itself. Been a solid read and a site Ive checked regularly. I probably would have been much more frustrated with this season without your frequent input on the team.
#57 I hope that Park can elevate his game a bit, start scoring a few more goals. In my mind, he could peak as a 3rd liner, and leave the 4th line to guys more like Jackman and Thompson. Maybe that is just fantasy, but I think that’s what the team hopes too.
To me, goaltending is the biggest issue, more important than finding some offense. I imagine its really difficult to generate any momentum when you are down 3-0, 4-0 after 1 period. The goalie’s job is to keep the game within reach, and I don’t have confidence that either of our guys this year can do that on any consistent basis. I hope Ricky is the answer, I still think he can be one of the best, but there needs to be a viable backup plan.
Duchene 57 games 79 points
Tavares 56 games 104 points
if the Islanders are considering taking Duchene over Tavares, maybe they do think Duchene is the more complete player?
After the Detroit game my friend texted me and said draft Tavares sign a free agent and we can make the playoffs next year.
I wrote him we will finish in the bottom 5 the next year and maybe contend for the 8th spot the year after that but most likely not make the playoffs for at least another three seasons.
This is going to be long and painful.
CB-You know I am a big fan and thanks for all the hard work.
absolutely was the goaltending have to up grade that position not Mcdonald or Dani to many soft goals. Okposo really played well 2nd half of the season
So glad it’s finally over. We get a nice reward for it all but that was getting really tiring.
I’ll be ready to torture myself some more come October. This is a much needed break for all of us although I have a feeling we’ll all get the hockey itch come mid July.
I think the team will be in post season contention next year. Doubt they make the playoffs but they’ll be in the mix.
Chickendirt, completely agree with you as much as I would love to day dream about the playoffs next year. Not going to happen. And god do we need another goalie.
I really dont know how DP is going to come back from all those injuries. Hell I had ACL/MCL surgery in July and I was told to not do any contact sports or board sports for a year. Sure I can run, bike, swim, but shit I hope our goalie is one tough cookie to get back.
We really need to get rid of Tamby, as much as I like Hilbert, I wouldnt mind seeing him hit the bricks either.
Forgot to add earlier: great work CB, hope you continue this for years to come.
i think i’ll be prudent and wait till… let’s say… next year… before guessing how they will do. why the rush to slam next year or pray for it? it’s like presidential elections… never ends… once one is over… speculation starts up for the next round. what the hell… i say we squeak into playoffs with a healthy dp, a free agent signing over summer, a new lh project on the way and it’ll be obama vs. palin in 2012
I’ve tossed this into comments before, but the construction of this roster combined with gordon’s system, allows this team to compete with certain teams very nicely. Finesse teams like detroit, jersey, tampa and chicago will have trouble with this system. These teams also have older slower d-men that don’t work as hard as our kids.
Teams like the flyers, washington, boston, and carolina are going to kick our tails all over because they play with passion and fire that melts our team to mush.
This is the way it is. We will be better next year. At least, we hope.
There are a couple of guys I would love to see go - Hilbert and Thompson being two of them. They are absolutely useless. We need some good 3rd and 4th line guys like Wrecker and Jackman, but don’t we have enough already? Let’s get some real talent in here…
Chris, I know there’s going to be lots more coming from you, but I just want to throw in a word of thanks for all the good work you’ve done this season. This post is a great example of how much insight you can pack in.
What a stench I have after going to that game? Can you guys get me anything yo last the summer until the exhibition game in Kansas City? Dani giving up a super soft goal on the first shot to Ryder? Gervais not clearing away Kessel? Tim Jackman who strangely got a contract offer can’t even get a shot off on a breakaway? Dani giving up 4 goals on 15 shots, McDonald comes in and quickly gives up a goal?
As Eddie Garcia and Doug Strohlhan on the Foxsports Puck Podcast about the Doug Weight resigning “Didn’t Ted Nolan get fired because he wanted to play veterans”?
Before the game I saw a woman carrying her young child around. The kid had a sign around his neck “My first Islanders game”.If I was a public-minded person I’d call the County Human Services to have her arrested for child abuse.
CB- I have to agree with you there …. these are two weeks to forget… we ALL wanted the Isles to land the 30th spot for gaurantee of Tavares or Hedman … nobody is going to deny that … but I wanted a better showing down the stretch … something for us to hold onto over the summer that gives us hope for a brighter future.
The last 2 weeks were just a bitter reminder of how far away the team is from competing with the top teams in the league.
Brother Rat brought up some important facts. Its fine to get nice prospects … but most are a few years from cracking the NHL lineup .. and a couple more from making a difference. The Isles need to sprinkle in some young veteran FAs.
Is Gordon the guy to lead this team to the playoffs? Can anybody HONESTLY say that Gordon added value to this team… HONESTLY. If we are 5 games below .500 at Christmas, give us all a present and get rid of Go Go.
Please replace some of the FOURTH line talent we have with 1st or 2nd line talent. Please do not re-sign Andy Hilbert. Nate Thompson does not belong in the NHL. If you want to give guys like Joensuu and Iggulden a fighting chnce to make the roster next year, that’s fine… but please at least make an attempt to sign a few quality free agents.
Snow did a great job last year signing Weight and Streit… he needs to add two more players this year, a top two draft pick, and allow some of the talent (Okposo, Nielsen, Bailey, Bergenhiem) to mature a little and the team will be fine. But I really don’t think Gordon is the man to coach this team. I don’t have a problem with giving him another year (40 games) while the team matures, but please don’t make this a bond that can’t be broken… and sometimes it’s just better to say goodbye early in the relationship.
Why would you want to get rid of gogo, when by your own admission, we have tons of “fourth line talent”. Al Arbour couldnt make this team win 5 more games. Get some PLAYERS!! Even if we draft Taveras, it will take 3 years or so for him to possibly score 30. KO is the only person currently on this team that can score 30. Sign some damn free agents or make some old fashioned trades!!
Does anyone realy care we lost last 2 games.
Save being upset if we dont do anything next season when lineup is back.
If we have DP, Sutton and Hunter back and they we lose. Then i would be a bit more concerned.
We need to add another good DMAN, a Scoring foward and a good Enforcer.
I’m a little confused - we have a roster that is as bad or worse than anything the late 90’s threw out, and your disappointed about their play the past 2 weeks?
Lol - Detroit was the proverbial blind squirrel (to steal a phrase)…great game, but no one should mistake that as anything more than the hockey universe burping - loudly. This team stinks - I say that with a mix of affection and regret, but it’s true - and any expectations of something greater with this group of players is wishful thinking.
As far as I’m concerned, year one of the great rebuild was a great success: This team has been torn down - now let’s see if Party Hard Garth can put Humpty Dumpty back together again…
Hi CB - I know this is probably not the place to air a grievance unrelated to the past weekend, but don’t know where else to go. As a long time resident of the 300 section at the arena, I feel short-changed. Not only did the guys not show up over the weekend, but the “fan appreciation” line was bogus. If anyone can explain how biddling Hundreds and Thousands of $$$$ for a game worn jersey appreciates the fans - maybe the childrens foundation, not the fans. I feel that this was an elitist move on the part of the organization. I’ve been told that random drawing of this event was “unfair”. Excuse me - I’ve paid over $1000 for my seat for this year - We up in the 300’s can’t be bidding for a jersey for the price of next year’s ticket. What way do you want it - me paying for a seat or bidding for a jersey, it can’t be both. So now I feel doubly cheated - the effort on the ice and the “special presentation” for those with the bucks to get a jersey. How is bidding money showing fan appreciation. I just don’t get. Sorry for raving and ranting, but I am totally frustrated. Again, apologizing for using this excellent site to vent. P.S. Tom Alfano seems a politico now on the Lighthouse bandwagon. The middle of April is upon us and suppposedly we will know if this is going to happen. Then maybe I can make an educated guess to Chris Dey’s letter asking me to pay in advance for yet another 2 years - when I am still paying for the first two. Help - the ice is melting and I am going under.
Joey (76)
I ask the question, “Is he the guy?”. Any good GM is going to look at the season and ask that question.
Some good definitely came out of this season. I liked the fact that they were able to utilize AHL talent throughout the season better than most clubs because they played the “same system”.
The style of play was more entertaining than it had been in recent years, even though the talent level was not at it’s highest.
The bottom line is, can Scott Gordon WIN at the NHL level. I’m pretty sure anybody could have finished last, talent or not.
I just hope that next year he is looked at with that question in mind. That’s all. I’ll be rooting for him.
#79 - Making fans bid on jerseys for fan appreciation night? Even if it is for charity that is pretty low. Some teams have random autographed pucks for $35 with proceeds going to charity instead. How does asking for more money show appreciation? Bad PR move from where I’m sitting. Would CB have approved such a bad idea?
(47)… So, you’re “sick of watching listless hockey”, are you? That’s interesting, because a comment like “Lets hope the softies like Tamby are not here in the fall” makes me wonder if you’re really watching the games in the first place. Would we all love it for Tambellini to turn into a 20-30 goal scorer? Hell, yes. Next year would be nice for that, actually. But to call him “soft” after how he changed up his game this year says to me you’re not exactly paying attention. Is he the second coming of Clark Gillies? Of course not. But he did just finish FIFTH on this team in hits, behind only Jackman, Witt, Hunter, and Streit. Those were the only 4 guys who had over 100, btw - and Tambellini had 99. FIFTH on the team. And that ain’t team PR, either, but actual NHL stat. Subjective, sure, but actual NHL stat. Look it up.
Pretty obvious some of you just need to keep bitching and moaning about ANYTHING, so you latch on to something regardless of whether it has any merit, now or ever. And I said it after the Carolina game, but I think it’s pretty funny how many of you are now whining about the last two weeks after how long you were openly rooting for YOUR TEAM TO LOSE in the weeks and months preceding.
Karma’s a bitch, ain’t it?
I knew going into the season that we would do badly and I understood and tried to roll with everything. I never rooted for them to lose but I knew having that 1 or 2 pick would be a help in the long run, so I kept my mouth shut. But secretly, I hoped that they would finish the year on a high note, thus giving “hope” for next season. Well boy was the end pathetic. I don’t mean just in goals, because a high note for me could be just seeing new things from some of the players. And sure enough, in that last game Jeff Tambellini was looking like he was finally feeling comfortable and I could see a few times where he went right to get the puck away from a guy and sent it off smoothly and precisely to a team mate “without thinking”, and was also hitting with focus. Okay, that’s one thing, but honestly that is about all the good I could even find in those last games. And that sucks. Because first, TAMBELLINI??? THAT’S who I end up noticing, of all people? And then, that feeling of “ohhh great, some of them didn’t feel like playing” is back. We’ve been thru that. I can’t stand that. It’s lazy. It’s disrespectful. I am personally insulted by that. And now I don’t trust that these will be the guys to take the team into and through the playoffs in the future. And I lost some of my passion for the team. And for next season.
It just sucks ending that way. I never thought these guys would be like that.
Sorry for that CB but I had to vent and I’m pretty sure no one will come way back here and see it anyway. And I couldn’t even talk about it until now.