ON COMMUNITY AND LIVING YEAR-ROUND ON LI
Did Mike Bossy spend his summers here?
In his TSN poll expected to run on Monday, Bob McKenzie will report a near-unanimous ranking of John Tavares as the No. 1 player in this year’s draft. Today, Greg Logan quotes Snow as saying his staff’s view on their unnamed first overall selection was “pretty much a unanimous decision.” Is it possible only the Islanders’ scouts are unanimous in their choice of Matt Duchene or Victor Hedman? LOL.
Look, it seems pretty clear that Garth is using this back stretch to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. We all look forward to the day when everyone in Islanders Country is on the edge of their seats during second, third and fourth-round playoff games.
Snow is also talking a lot about character as the draft nears, telling Greg:
Good people do great things. We’re going to select a player who will spend significant time in the community here. Whoever we select is going to fit personality-wise. It’s going to be a family.
Hey, did you see who was the Ontario Hockey League’s Scholastic Player of the Year?
Look, that would be wonderful, an Islander who becomes a perennial all-star and humanitarian – and fit in perfectly with Scott Gordon’s system! But I have to tell you something. Like a lot of you, I grew up here. Me and my buddies did not care less when Mike Bossy spent every summer back home in Quebec.
The “community” thought was a lovely one by Garth, but there’s no way he’s basing his decision on the first overall pick on it. Look at it this way: when the Islanders select John Tavares, you’ll think, “Wow, the Islanders think the world of JT as a player and a person.” Awwww…
Then there’s the thing from Snow about his players spending “significant time” on the Island. Again, a really sweet notion. But I ask you: does anyone sit around worrying how much time Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom or – heck – even Winnipeg’s own Darren Helm spend in Detroit?
No one has been more committed to Long Island than Rick DiPietro, who established his year-round home and spends the majority of the offseason here. But DiPietro is a big enough sports fan to know that just living on Long Island, being gracious with fans and supporting charities isn’t going to get him the benefit of the doubt. He needs to win.
We loved it when Mike and Lucie Bossy spent the spring on Long Island. That’s because Boss and the Islanders were still playing hockey.
Comments.
47 Responses to ON COMMUNITY AND LIVING YEAR-ROUND ON LI
Did Mike Bossy spend his summers here?
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westfall says:
I’m repeating this post from the last thread because it is appropriate to Chris’ latest:
Lets have a few lessons on leadership: this myth that Duchene is more of a leader than Tavares is crap. The WJCs are always a big deal in Canada, but this past year’s was even bigger being held in Ottawa. The folks at Hockey Canada, who have proven they know a thing or two about building a team, named Tavares the CAPTAIN. Then the tourney starts and Tavares just about single-handedly brings his team back from a 3-0 deficit against the US and winds up winning the MVP of the whole tournament. That’s not leadership??? Second myth regards the comparison being made between Duchene and Steve Yzerman. Stevie Y ended up being a great leader in addition to an outstanding player, but it took him a long time to develop those leadership skills. In fact, when the Wings were swept by the Devils in the ‘95 Finals, people said that the Wings would never win the Cup with Yzerman as captain. It wasn’t until 1997, when Yzerman was 32 years old and surrounded by other great players that Detroit finally won the Cup. This is not to knock Stevie Y, but just to point out his kind of silly to compare the leadership qualities of two 18-year olds.
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isles99 says:
i agree with jethro above….i really hope yu’re right cb….i checked the link…duchene had an 85 avg in high school…cb, i graduated from cardozo high school a while back…that would have placed duchene in like the 300th rank out of 800 kids…..so i dont put too much emphasis on his scholastic award as it means absolutely nothing to me……if in fact the isles pick duchene because of his service to the community and his 85 avg, im done man….heatley, spezza, gaborik, lunogo, jokinen, yashin, chara, etc. were bad enough….but picking a player becuase he has an 85 avg in school and he volunteers over TH BEST PLAYER, that would be the ultimate slap in the face to me and everyone else. that will be it for me.
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jethro09 says:
I want everyone to think back to June 2000. That year, the Isles won the lottery, Dany Heatley and Marion Gaborik were the consensus #1 and #2 players in the draft. Instead of going with conventional wisdom, the Isles (specifically Milbury), decided to cut against the grain and reach for DP at #1 overall, when DP had not been considered the top player in the draft at any point. The rest is history. The Isles passed on Dany Heatley who is a dominating scorer and because they drafted a goaltender, they traded Roberto Luongo and “underachiever” Olli Jokinen to Florida for…Mark Parrish and “underachiever” Oleg Kvasha.
This draft is shaping up to look just like the 2000 draft. The Isles have the #1 overall selection and there are two players, JT and Hedman, who have been the consensus #1 and #2 for this draft for the past year and change. But, the Isles in their infinite wisdom, seem enamored with a player who has never been seen as the top player in the draft by any reputable scout or scouting service and run the risk of taking that player (Duchene) #1 overall. I see an ugly repeat of 2000 potentially playing out on Friday night. I hope I’m wrong.
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tim says:
you hit the nail right on the head, CB. the community thing is great, but you don’t base the number 1 overall pick on it. in fact, it shouldn’t even be used as a final “deciding factor.” unfortunately, it does sound like something chuckie would do.
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Dan C says:
We don’t want a saint in the community. We don’t want a choir boy. We want a franchise player.
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Mikey says:
Character is important because it often determines if the player has what it takes to maximize his potential and deliver when it matters most. If the Isles pass on JT, it will be because they believe he does not have the drive and determination to become a complete player. It’s impossible for me to say if that’s accurate because I’ve never met the man.
As CB correctly stated, however, there is no need to overvalue a player’s potential impact on the community or his teammates. We are trying to win a Stanley Cup here, and that’s all that really matters. We DO NOT need a team of 20 Bruno Gervais type guys (intelligent, funny, and dedicated to community service). If Garth wants to build a family, I encourage him to get married and have children. The Stanley Cup is the most important objective; win the cup, and all the players will feel like brothers.
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IsleofNJ says:
CB,
Any chance of you asking Lou over in NJ who they would take #1 this year? They certainly seem to know a thing or too about drafting right….. -
doc says:
you said it Mikey…!
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CB quick question. John Tavares made team Canada last year as well as the year before, where he was the second leading scorer in that first year. matt duchede didnt make team canada last year (you posted an article that said he had a houlder injury) well that article was wriutten 4 months ago! its a copout by duchene. my question is why wasnt duchene chosen to team canada the first year tavares was chosen that is in 2007? you have another excuse for that duchene?
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Let’s be honest… Duchene wins that scholastic award more because of his “HOCKEY” talent than his scholastic and altruistic virtues.
I’m sure there are smarter, more community oriented high school hockey players in Canada. But he’s probably the highest profile.
No knock on Duchene… I’m sure he will be a great pro… and a gentlemen off the ice.
Give me Tavares!!!
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jonw says:
Happy fathers day CB and all the other fathers out there
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Frei says:
Incompetent GMs pick hockey players based on anything other than how well they play hockey.
Remember the pages-long spread here about how much of a nice guy Bailey is? About how many pucks he’s gonna throw over the glass? About how many 5-year old girls will be lifelong Islander fans until they’re at least 12 years old after catching all those pucks? I must have been the only one to notice that it offered nothing at all on how he’s going to be a great or even good hockey player. That’s probably because nobody of any real consequence believes he will be either of those things. But, it doesn’t really matter, because hes a Nice Guy.
I guess I’m the only person around here who’s only real interest in a hockey team is seeing it win games.
At least once this is over, and the final insult has been dealt in the form of Duchene or whatever circus-act stunt it will be this year, it will be very easy to walk away for good, because it will be the right thing to do for intelligent fans no longer able to tolerate incompetence, mockery, losing, or the cyclical desecration of a once-proud franchise.
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bergie20 says:
larry brooks thinks we’re going with tavares. i have no idea what to expect. i can’t see the community angle factoring into snow’s decision making. that sounds like a smokescreen to me.
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Tool123 says:
Chris Campoli was very into the LI community and did functions for the Isles and the fool asked to be traded. So this Community and character in choosing players is a load of crap.
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#11: Right. I’m getting tired of this “character” B.S. Character is important, but its not the most important quality to assess when picking a player you expect to lead your franchise to a championship one day. There’s an important quality called TALENT that’s a little more important. If two players are equally talented, then I would opt for the guy with better character. But where talent is not equal, as is the case with Duchene v. Tavares, then “character” can’t be the deciding factor in who to take.
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YellowHat says:
All the guys on here who keep saying “if you are not gonna support the isles if the dont take JT, leave now. We don’t need you bandwagon fans.”
Guess what – You Need Us. The Isles need everyfan, especially bandwagon ones. Those bandwagons have been mighty empty lately and that is what will cause Wang to keep losing money and either sell or move the team you “real fans” love so much.
If they take JT I will not be jumping off the bandwagon. I will be indifferent to the team. I will not spend a dime of the isles until they prove they are worth it. By passing on JT it will just be another in a string of inept decisions by this teams management. I will be done. You can go spend your money on a Duchene jersey. I am sure some bum will love it when you give it to charity after the isles move to KC. -
JD says:
Amen, CB.
I for one am sick and tired of hearing how nice and special a player/athlete is. Big effin deal. Honestly, I could care less. I want winners, and if they have an attitude, are a bit arrogant, short with the meia types…or spend their offseasons elsewhere, then that’s fine with me. I don’t hang out with these guys. They won’t be sharing my apartment with me. They most certainly won’t be raising my unborn children. They are just athletes. Can we bring the focus back to that, Garth?
JT = goals and boosted ticket sales, and the last time I checked we need more of those.
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beatlebailey says:
My daily nightmare: With the first pick of the NHL draft the NY Islanders select, pauuuusseeee,MATT DUCHENE – cut away to the coliseum as the live shot shows hundreds of people puking in the coliesum aisles – fathers and sons crying and asking why why why? and sparky and the ice girls announcing “Get your Matt Duchene authentic 3rd jersey on sale now!!!”
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Jimmy Mac says:
You want character… try being a superstar at the age of 14.
Try carrying the weight of Canada on your shoulder’s @ 18 years old.
Try being the best 18 year old in the world and still as humble as John Tavares.
He know’s what it takes to be a pro.
Do you think he is going to screw up after being in the spotlight for so long.
If he steps out of line… his uncle will knock him back so fast, he won’t know what hit him.
JT is mature beyond his years.
Friday night is going to be the first day of the new and improved NEW YORK ISLANDERS.
Here’s to JT and his future on the Island.
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barry says:
Asked if his personnel staff was divided. Snow said, “No , it’s pretty much a unanimous decision.”
That quote by Greg Logan alone makes me believe Tavares is the choice. You can’t tell me that after months of scouting that Matt Duchene has become the unanimous pick among Snowjanks and company. How can Duchene, the flavor of the month become the front runner. It simply just makes no sense! No other poll or scouting service has Duchene ranked 1st.
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great point yellowhat…..i just want to add that how are we bandwagon fans…..what have the isles won since 93 to tell us that we’re bandwagon fans….that tells me some of the people here dont even know what a bandwagon fan is….some great “real fan” you are!!
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AK says:
Duchene was cut from the WJC team in favor of I believe Evander Kane. If the Islanders take Duchene, the franchise will never ever recover from a mistake like that. They might as well move to another state because there won’t be many left who will root for them to stay on Long Island or New York for that matter.
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Irish Isle says:
“Good people do great things”
And how many hat tricks did Mother Theresa score in her career?
“If the Isles pass on JT, it will be because they believe he does not have the drive and determination to become a complete player. It’s impossible for me to say if that’s accurate because I’ve never met the man.”
Yet when Dougie Weight met JT for breakfest he could tell how hungry JT was to be a great player, a player that would be remembered over time.
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Mike from Philly says:
So bascially we are basing our pick on the kids personality and love for Long Island rather than picking the best available player. Is this what is has come to? What happened to winning hockey games and Stanley Cups. What a circus….
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Steve says:
JT is good people too…
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Fist of Gillies says:
“pretty much unanimous” is an oxymoron.
“unanimous” cannot be qualified.
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Andrew Ryan says:
I would first like to say that CB, you are amazing lol. I agree 100% that we will all hear Gary Bettman calling up John Tavares as the First Overall Pick of 2009 to the/our New York Islanders.
Secondly, I would like anyone who has doubts or fears of the VH/MD crisis to take a look at JT’s player profile and you will see that he is just as much of a community man and a giver-backer lol as MD may see to be. Not only did he represent his Uncles NLL team as ballboy when he was younger but he also gave back to the community with his time spent working at the Special Olympics. O yea and he was named Oshawa’s Scholastic player of the Year in 07-08.
Let’s also take a look into the fact that this kid still put up hugeeeeeeee numbers with an injured shoulder. think of what else he could have done.
433 NHL points in 247 games…..o man how sweet would that be to see
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Mike79 says:
Here is the downfall of the Snow lead Isles.
“Good people do great things. We’re going to select a player who will spend significant time in the community here. Whoever we select is going to fit personality-wise. It’s going to be a family.”How sweet Snow…I guess that you would not of drafted Smith, Nystro, Howatt, Gillies, Trots etc….not exactly the nicest guys in the world. We want a winner, not this family crap.
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Madchef says:
this is how desperate we need to pick JT…I ask my brother another isles lifer who they should pick, and his response is the have to pick JT even if he doesn’t turn out to be the best of the three. THe isles fans need it. He backs the statement up with I know I can believe I am saying this.(We desperately need a savior, now believe me I know one player wont do it for us but he can inspiration and leadership by action can go a long way) JT is the pick unless something so lopsided drops in their lap…which never happens
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@Yellohat….bandwagon? Please explain when they actually won even one playoff round? They are lucky that they have an fans at all.
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Vukota"The Mick" says:
AMEN JIMMY MAC,
I rarely post on this blog, but I must say Chris you do a fabulous job. I’m Islanders fan from South Jersey and I have been planning on attending the draft party for the last month. Now I’m not so sure. I want to clarify one thing. I love this team. I’ve been a fan since 1976 and I bleed Islander colors.I’ll be the first to admit that I havent study these prospects at length. I’ve seen Tavares and Hedman play during the World Juniors. All the experts predict that Tavares is an elite level goal scorer, which is what we need. All this hubub about Duchene is somewhat suspect in my book. The one quote that sticks out is “Tavares will score you 40 goals, but Duchene will win you a cup” I would venture to say that you would need a Tavares type player on Duchene’s team to win a cup as well. One player does not win you a Stanley Cup. A team is a collection of players that score, check, grind, fight, kill penalties and so on.
I can’t wrap my head around the Islanders not drafting Tavares. He’s the number one rated prospect, the team is hyping this draft party to no end knowing how the fans feel regarding Tavares, the team needs a sniper and an identity. And the fact that about 85% of the fans want Tavares and the other 15% want Hedman. But as we know this is the Islanders and anything can happen. I want to go to the draft party, but I know that if they don’t draft Tavares I’m going to be livid, and then I’m gonna have to drive for 2 hours back home in a really pissed off mood. IF I stay home I can shut off the TV and be livid in my own house. To be honest with all of you I’m scared. I have no clue what Snow is gonna do. But isnt it just like our beloved Islanders to not take one of the 2 players that have been hyped for this draft for the last two years. Should I stay or should I go? Any advice people?
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Isles_Goal says:
It’s amazing what this organization’s priorities are. To think that the community comes first before what a player can do on the ice is mind boggling. How about what a player can do to help win and what they can do for a MISERABLE fan base? How about what they can do for your SUFFERING customers? How about what a player can do for a franchise that whines about losing $20 million a year? How about what a player can do to put asses in the seats and build-up the season ticket fan base? How about putting a WINNER and franchise player on the ice for a team that is SUPPOSEDLY rebuilding?
As a season ticket holder I am at the end of my rope…and I’m tired of this organization tripping over itself and shooting itself in the foot. One step forward and two steps back. I am tired about hearing that the building is the reason why elite players don’t wan’t to play here…when i fact you have one right under your nose that could potentially be passed on…because the community comes first. I have news for you Snow…you can’t force players to live here all year round. Hockey players are good natured to begin with…they will support the community no matter what!!!
Additionally, we’ve had players here before that have been great in the community…but wanted the hell out of here…because this organization doesn’t know their ass from their elbow…and HAS NO CLUE ON HOW TO BUILD A WINNER!! This is not about the building folks…it’s about the people building the product that plays in the building!!!
I really hope that the riot police is at the Coliseum on Friday…beacause it could get really ugly…when Snow sets this franchise back even further.
Furthermore, If the Islanders pick Duchene after promoting the crap out of the draft party, knowing full well what the overwhelming majority of the fans want…they should be ashamed of themselves for misleading fans and playing with their emotions. I would not want to be part of the sales force trying to sell ticket plans after this debacle.
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Strummer's Army says:
First off Happy Father’s Day to all!
Living in Florida and not being able to attend the draft party I watch on TV. It would be wonderful this year if they network didn’t get a lot of mileage out of cutting to the scene of the NVMC where people are booing and walking out (like last year). Granted Bailey was the right choice last year.
What I want to see is the NVMC packed to the rafters, fans going crazy with happiness and cheering their team. That is the image I want projected for the Islanders this year.
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Dave H says:
Why is it when words like character, and community are mentioned by Snow, so many people think he means someone other than John Tavares ?
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Joe G says:
#21 normally I would agree with that but you have to take this into account. The New York Islanders do not have a positive draft history nor do they know how to evaluate good talent. Aside from Okposo, there recent drafts have been horrendous ex-passing on Parise, the Heatley Gaborik debacle,trading down 5 spots to draft Bailey with Schenn and Filitav there. The evaluation that the Islanders were a better team with Dipietro in goal rather than Luongo. It just goes on and on so when Snow says that they were all in agreement with the pick, i could see the incompetents all liking Duchene over Tavares. With this team nothing surprises me.
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Yashin was great for the community..
he gave us carol alt to look at
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So Matt Duchene is a “complete player”. So if he scores 30 goals 30 assists, kills penalties, plays good defensively that would be enough justification? What if Tavares scores 45 goals 45 assists but doesn’t kill penalties or is not as strong defensively? Sorry Matt Duchene lovers but I will take door #2. This is why there is a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th round in the draft, so that teams can draft good defensive Centers who can kill penalties and defend against the others top players. Those players are called 3rd line Centers.
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Jzimm says:
In Duchene’s defense, it is VERY RARE that a palyer makes the WJC team, and/or plays with regularity, in or before his draft year. Having said that, Tavares made the team the year before his draft year AND in his draft year. He played a substantial role in 2008 and a major role in 2009. He’s the best player in the draft, please take him. I have no doubt that Duchene will be a good player, but he won’t be better than Tavares.
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TimQ says:
Just win and you can live wherever you want. Having players live locally only matters when the team sucks and the organization has to go out of their way to sell the product. Win and the product sells itself
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miket239 says:
I just read about this scenario in Newsday. I’d love to see the Isles somehow grab Landon Ferraro, yes son of Ray, with their 26 pick in rd 1. Perhaps by trading up afew.
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I’d also like to know, with all the fuss and hype, is there a JT fan club yet?!!? LOL
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Billy-no-not-Jaffe says:
Look, Duchene is no bum.
He is a bright, class kid who can play some hockey. But he is not the top skater available in this draft…….John Tavares is!
Make it simple and take the top player.
Duchene is in the top grouping along with Hedman, but Tavares is the the pick. That is why we have the #1 pick. We don’t use on the #3 player. -
islandersfan4ever says:
if Snow doesnt pick Tavares, he will be public enemy #1 on Long Island.Do the right thing for a change!GARTH:Give us JT!
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anthony c says:
I had a dream last night, a dream that made me come back to LI. And it was the middle of october, the isles have gotten off to their best start since the 2001-2002 season with a record of 5-1-1. And you know who had been lighting up the scoreboard for them in each of those 7 games #91 John Tavares. Every night on sportscenter and the NHL network you see Tavares, just dancing on around d-men and goalies burying the puck and feeding it off to his teammates. Then I woke up and realized it was sunday morning, and we are still having anxiety attacks, and paranoid thoughts of snowjob taking duchene. Garth all I can say is take Tavares or your gonna be a marked man the second you get back to LI. Cause their will be a ton of islander fans looking to skin you alive. And i’m not making any threats. Making threats over the internet will get you in a hell of a lot of trouble. I’m just saying what you should expect since their is gonna be what around 17,771 people at the draft party. And the one thing that will be selling the most is beer.
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“just read about this scenario in Newsday. I’d love to see the Isles somehow grab Landon Ferraro, yes son of Ray, with their 26 pick in rd 1. Perhaps by trading up afew.”
No thanks, I want the Isles to trade up and get Zach Kassain. Why? Because Kassain is big & nasty, which is exactly what the Isles need.
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Hockey1919 says:
Character plays of the fourth line, Talent plays on the first line. Pick the best hockey player available.
I’m only going to repeat this one time (on this thread, anyway): If Garth Snow takes Matt Duchene over JT and Hedman #1 overall on Friday, it will be the biggest mistake the Isles have made since the colossal mistakes of the 2000 draft. The Isles management will never live it down and the fans will be crushed, especially in two years when JT is scoring buckets of goals a season, Hedman is QBing a killer power play and Duchene is “playing a good two-way game”.