OHL PLAYOFF LOSS “PART OF THE EDUCATION”
Also: Windsor GM calls JT best scorer not yet in NHL
A snapshot of the blessed young career of John Tavares shows two World Junior Championships, league scoring titles, shattered records and numerous other personal achievements. But if the 18-year old phenom needs adversity to learn from, all he has to do is remember the pain of losing in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs two months ago.
Tavares was acquired to help lead the London Knights of the OHL to the Memorial Cup, the national title of Canadian junior hockey. Instead, London ran into a powerhouse Windsor team and lost a bitter 5-game series.
“That one’s going to stay with me a while,” Tavares said on Wednesday after the formal hoopla of his introductory press conference at the Coliseum. “The loss was a big, big disappointment. I went to London to win a championship and we fell short against Windsor. They were a great team but of course we still have that pride that makes us think we were the better team.
“That’s the way it goes sometimes. Windsor earned it. Not everything in life is easy and pretty.”
The rival Spitfires, coached by former NHL tough guy defenseman Bob Boughner, shadowed Tavares throughout. They game-planned specifically around him. In a crucial Game 4 overtime victory for Windsor by a score of 5-4 in London, Tavares was kept off the scoresheet.
The Islanders’ first overall pick is accustomed to the in-his-face treatment. “Ever since I was a kid in peewee,” said the teenager, “I’ve had teams following me all around. You have to take it as a challenge and realize it opens up ice for your teammates. With experience, I hope to be able to do that for the Islanders. Against Windsor…just didn’t get the job done.”
Tavares believes he’ll learn from the growing pain of falling short.
“I was only with the Knights for a few months, but we were a close-knit team and the disappointment is as strong as if I played my whole junior career there,” said Tavares. “It’s part of the education, I guess. I took a lot from the experience of winning two golds with Team Canada. I’ll learn from this loss, too.”
*
POINT BLANK Q & A
Windsor GM Warren Rychel
In search of a different angle the day after John Tavares’s debut in New York, I called up Warren Rychel, the former NHL tough guy (1,422 PIM in 406 games) and current GM of the Memorial Cup-winning Windsor Spitfires. Rychel was very complimentary of Tavares and shared his insights on Taylor Hall and on fighting in hockey.
So how did your team stop Tavares in the OHL Western Conference Final?
It would be wrong to say we stopped him. You don’t stop Johnny T. As far as I’m concerned, he’s the deadliest scorer anywhere in the world who’s yet to play an NHL game.
Anywhere? A prospect somewhere else? Any of the guys in Sweden? KHL?
Anywhere. Opportunistic, that’s the word I’d use for John.
Okay, so how did you contain him?
He was our focus from the beginning of the series and before every game. We knew we weren’t going to keep him completely off the board. He’s just too good. The key for us was to stop him from running it up on us. We played London late in the year and we were trying to set a record for most victories in OHL history. Johnny T just dominated us and that was that.
We needed a more realistic approach. Because of the work of our players and coaching staff, Johnny did not have that breakout, superstar performance where he just blew our doors off. He scored, but we kept him somewhat in check. A lot of the credit goes to (Windsor centers) Adam Henrique and Scott Timmins, who did a fabulous job battling with him.
Did you try to intimidate Tavares?
Can’t be done. Teams and players have been trying to intimidate John since he was 12 years old! It’s never worked. You cannot intimidate him.
What about the team toughness factor? The Islanders currently don’t have a true enforcer and the rest of the conference has bulked up.
Well, I’m sure you know my position on that issue. Both (Windsor coach) Bob Boughner and I were fighters in the NHL. We believe in it 100%. Enforcing creates a safe environment for your skill players. And this is a business, too. Let’s face it, most of the fans absolutely love it.
Bringing in a top fighter who can play a bit is a must, whether it’s for John Tavares or anyone else. You’ve seen what’s happening around the NHL with teams beefing up. I thought the Islanders should have considered our guy for their system, Richard Greenop. (Note: the 6-4, 230-pound enforcer signed a three-year deal with Toronto on July 3). Needs some time to develop, but he’ll be a good one.
Around the time of the draft, so many Islanders fans were looking for a ranking of Tavares, Steven Stamkos and (Windsor’s likely 2010 first NHL pick) Taylor Hall. Who’s the best?
Impossible to say. All three are incredible young players, but they bring something different. I already told you what I think of Johnny’s scoring. Stamkos has amazing instincts, an ability to make plays you don’t see very often.
Our guy Taylor skates better than maybe anyone you’ve ever seen. I’ve been around the game a long time, and I’ve seen few like him. I can’t tell you how many times he comes back into the defensive zone, out-skates an opponent and takes the puck back. He’s a special player who’s going to have a great NHL career. They all are.
Comments.
88 Responses to “OHL PLAYOFF LOSS “PART OF THE EDUCATION”
Also: Windsor GM calls JT best scorer not yet in NHL”
Please Wait
A lot of attention on this youngster. A lot to live up to. I hope he can handle all the pressure and attention.
“Best scorer not yet in NHL.”
That includes Taylor Hall.
So this guy is saying JT is better than Hall. Hmmm.
CB,
Please immediately forward the question and answer regarding team toughness to Messrs. Snow and Wang.
Thanks, mrlbem.
I am curious, as I have not looked much into it. Who is the projected top defenseman for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft? Although we could have a shot at Taylor Hall, I see Garth trading down to land his stud defenseman considering JT will be number one, Bailey number two, and Nielsen number three. While I would think long and hard about acquiring Hall, we still need that number one defenseman. This is all taking into account that we land the number one pick again, obviously.
All I can see is that interview said two things:
1) JT is going to be a very legit scorer in the NHL and make an immediate impact.
2) The Isles desperately need en enforcer with a little bit of skill.
No offense, but Joel Rechlicz does not have much skill unless he becomes a tim jackman type project where he approves drastically over the summer. Again, I would consider sending two picks to Pitt for Godard, say a 5th and 6th round pick.
are we all forgetting rechlicz is 22..i think their is some room for growth
Room for growth is different in the case of someone who’ll be used as enforcer like Rechlicz on a veteran team vs our situation - a young team of up and coming players who would be better suited with a veteran enforcer who has a history with some of the leagues tough guys and get enforce without having to drop the gloves.
Awesome! This kid is the real deal.
I think the GM makes a very good point as well as you did earlier CB. The Isles need some scoring help for John. This is an obvious statement, but its more about why we need that help. Otherwise we’ll have a Darcy Tucker/Alexei Yashin fiasco all year long with Tavares. Very encouraging words though. To hear that these teams game plan around Tavares and he still puts up those kind of #’s is impressive to say the least. After hearing those words from Windsor’s GM i am more inclined to accept a contract for an older player who can take some of the scoring burden off of Tavares. He wont be able to do it all alone at the NHL level.
Im sorry, but i believe it was actually shayne corson who shadowed yashin that whole toronto series.
Taylor hall skates up the wing passes to John Tavares, he shoots he scores!!!!!!!!
One can dream cant one
Yes I know they are both centers
Snow will most likely bring in some vets, including a bouncer. Seems like he is waiting out the craziness, limited cap space, a glut of UFA’s remain with not many places to play, the GM’s now hold the cards.
The remaining players are taking haircuts to play in the NHL. Otherwise, off to the KHL…
The Leafs look like they are trying to revisit the Broad St bullies.
I think there is room for growth for Rechlitz as well. So let’s let him grow…in the AHL. In the meantime get a true heavyweight. Nice stuff about JT. I’m really looking forward to seeing this kid this season.
Good job Botta of setting Islander fans up for the Taylor Hall sweepstakes. Remember this article as the first of many regarding the drafting of Hall because looking at this Islanders roster, the Islanders will be competing for the 30th overall title once again.
Gordon is a big fan of Rechlicz. I can see him pulling JR to the side, presenting to him the opportunity and need in the Isles org. for a pest/enforcer type, and Rechlicz works hard this off-season to take the position by improving his hockey skills.
I hope.
Looks like an enforcer would have to be brought in via trade. Garth could increase his trade chips by signing a guy like Alex Tanguay and making guys like Tambellini expendable.
To hell with Taylor Hall. We got our # 1 pick. Let’s start turning the corner NOW.
It’s nice to see REAL hockey guys give JT so much praise. Must be making the Toronto people go nuts…its funny to see all the comments on TSN from people saying JT is a bust and he sucks….that’s prob why Toronto is beefing up. We need to get a guy to protect JT against teams l.ike Tor, wouldnt be surprised if that Fat schmuck Burke told his guys to take a run at JT.
before last season started all i wanted was John Tavares and wanted them to lose everygame for a chance at drafting him. I know that Taylor Hall is in that same class but i do not think that i can do this again, i cant spend a whole season rooting for losses then deal with the nerves leading up to the lottery, then wait 2 more months wondering if Garth is going to do the right thing or make me hate my passion for the Isles, but obv. getting Hall beats finishing in 10th or 11th in conference b/c of garbage time wins
A team finishing dead last in the standings two years running has less than a 25% chance of getting the #1 pick in both years. Please, let’s not make this season about Taylor Hall.
Agree about Hall—-we spent 4 months salivating over Tavaers, havent even enjoyed the summer yet, havent watched the rookie year from Tavares and already its Taylor Hall…….jeez!!!
CB, this was a great read!Everything I have seen , read or heard about JT screams winner. It is now up to Snow to surround this kid with the talent to succeed and the muscle to give him room to develop.It is critical that this kid not get pounded and discouraged!I think he has a chance to be really special on Long Island. The draft is nice , but we also need to pick up a few players if we want to keep talent here. Let’s not forget that Okposso may be free to leave way before Tavares.We have to keep the momentum going!
Agreed Weat Coast fan # 20. I dont want to hear Taylor Hall mentioned this year. We have our franchise sniper. Its time to get out of the bottom. I am hoping for a skilled forward Garth.
Great stuff as usual CB. Thanks for your hard work in all that you do for us Isles fans.
Paul
#20
sorry to correct you. if a team finishes last, they have a 25% chance of WINNING the lottery and picking first and the actual percentage of picking first is 48.2% because the most a team can move up in the draft is four positions, so only the bottom five teams have a chance to secure the first overall pick by winning the draft lottery. There are 14 teams (non playoff) in the lottery so when you factor in all their percentages of winning the lottery and how much they can move up, that’s what gives you the actual percentage of 48.2% of retaining the first pick if you finish last.
20 - The Islanders finished last in 09-10 and had a %48.2 chance of getting number 1 and they got it. If they finish last in 09-10, they would have a %48.2 chance of getting number 1. The results of 08-09 would have no bearing on this year. The odds would be %48.2 of chance of getting number 1.
Wow, starting the Taylor Hall War Drum already are we?
jk
Any chance we can get an interview w/ Bailey after the prospects camp?
The Pens drafted 1,2,1,2 in four consecutive years. If another awful season is in the cards and it brings Taylor Hall or whoever emerges as the number 1, so be it.
“Cant be done…You cannot intimidate him.” Thats great to hear cause every team will try. Bossy couldn’t be intimidated either which is an important part of being a great goal scorer, not comparing JT’s ability to #22 of course…The kid has more poise and focus at 18 then I will have at any point in my life, very impressive.
One thing to note about the Windsor team… they were also trying very hard at the OHL trade deadline to land John Tavares… but the Knights won out. I expect Tavares to shine this year… especially on the pp… he is absolutely deadly… and with guys like Streit… Okposo and Weight out there as well I expect the team to be more competitive and striking more often on the pp then they have in sometime.
Hale (6): Yes, there is tons of room for growth when it comes to Joel Rechlicz- and I believe in him, too. But I just dont think he is at the level (yet) of the tough guys that this team will run in to constantly, especially in the atlantic division! That is not an insult to Joel at all. What I hope is that Joel sees a good number of games with the big team this season, I just hope there is someone else there as well who will make sure it isnt all on his 22yo shoulders.
About Jackman: He showed last season that he is becoming a genuinely valuable 4th line player- with more hockey sense than I think anyone expected. Massive improvements in his skating and fighting, and his overall confidence. Tim was top ten in the entire league in fights won last season, I think that some of the people who talk about him do not realize that. But, that doesnt mean that he should be the Isles tough guy. That isnt Tim, Tim is not an enforcer he is just tough- and he is more valuable playing an energy role and getting things going than he is jumping into an enforcer role.
One other thing: I know a lot of people miss the team having guys like Cairns, Webb, Godard… I love those guys myself, but lets remember how we got those guys:
Cairns: Rangers’ 3rd round choice in 92. Claimed on waivers by the Islanders from the Rangers in December, 1998.
Webb: Buffalo Sabres’ 7th round choice in 1994- but they didnt keep him. Invited to Islanders training camp and was signed as a free agent with the NY Islanders in October, 1996.
Godard: Undrafted- traded to NY Islanders by Florida for Florida’s 3rd round choice in the 2002 Entry Draft.
Im just making the point that none of these guys were picked up as FAs on a frantic July 1st. The Isles got those guys by doing the kinds of things that Garth is IMO more likely to do. And, it also took a number of years before those guys had an impact on the big team. I think that we would all benefit from remembering that as well.
I hate to make comparisons but Ive been watching hockey a long time and this kid exudes Messier, Yzerman, Trottier and Sakic. He really does. In my opnion, JT is a more complete player than Crosby. Crosby needed Malkin. JT wont need anyone. He will make everyone better. You just know it. You can sense it. He has that look in his eye and he isnt even suited up. He is chomping at the bit. This kid is a gamer.
Why not, Pitt has Malkin and Crosby, Hall would great with Tavares.
We have added what to the last place team in the league to tell us we have turned what corner?
Tavares, thats it. Nice but Im a realist, I dont think we will be last but with our history of injuries and no big additions…..
You can kill me all you want but reality is reality. I want to be wrong of course but lets not buy the hype too much. Even Crosby had a terrible first season the next year (drafted Staal 2nd over all in his first season)
Justin Marques (post #4, at the moment), the 2010 draft-eligible defender who is getting the most attention at the moment is Cam Fowler, who will be in Windsor with Taylor Hall this season. I’ve read that many folks view him, highly touted Russian forward Kirill Kabanov and Taylor as the top picks available next draft. Another defender, the QMJHL’s Brandon Gormley, is also quite highly regarded.
They don’t need to finish dead last again, but finishing out of the top 3 would be a problem. There are other very intriguing names in the 2010 draft other than Hall. Kirill Kabanov, Teemu Pulkkinen, John Merrill, Cam Fowler. People need to understand that this team will maybe be a playoff team in 2010-2011, and will hopefully be real a contender a couple of years down the line after that. Enjoy watching the youngsters as they hopefully grow this year, and treasure every one goal loss as it helps the chances of buidling a powerful, young and cheap(at least for a few years) nucleus.
If we don’t take Tanguay or anyone else of note, would we be totally off base to assume that the Islanders payroll is somewhat…limited…until further notice? For a team that has nothing except Tavares, Okposo, Streit and 3 or 4 other marginal talents, it seems that standing pat on last years 30th place team is a bit…nonsensical should it be in any other context outside of fiscal conservatism. We’re already discussing next year’s draft and it’s July…That’s no fun.
I Guarantee the islanders make the playoffs this year if they have a healthy goalie. Guarantee
“that one’s going to stay with me a while”
especially because that might be the last playoff action Tavares sees for a while…
Ah, playoff losses are part of the education. Got that. Should I feel better about sending our guys down to get stomped in the Calder Cup playoffs, eh? Let’s hope somebody learned something.
Taylor Hall…Taylor Hall…Taylor Hall.
It starts today…
Who will Garth take with the #1 pick in the 2010 draft…lol.
Hopefully this year we can finish higher, and just win the lottery.
I’m tired of losing. I don’t want any talk about next years draft and Hall. Let’s be positive for a change and begin looking forward. Everything else will work itself out.
We need a BIG MAN to protect the talent we have now. Guarantee everyone in the league will be hunting for JT and trying to test him.
Juniors is one thing, the NHL is a whole bigger fish bowl, with some pretty big fish in it!
The line about he thought the Islanders should have considered his enforcer prospect (meaning FA from juniors which would mean a very small contract) for their system but he signed with Tor tells you all you need to know. Snow doesn’t believe in enforcers or fighting. I’m on record as saying it. He’s turned into a little sissy since be became GM. He can talk all he wants and try to say the right things to blow smoke at us but his results tell you what he truly believes. They keep saying they need to get bigger and tougher but outside of signing Rechliecz give me one solid example?
Tor added Exelby, Komisarik, Buchamin, Orr, and the prospect mentioned above.
You all already know what Philly has and then they added Pronger and Lapierre.
Pit wasn’t satisfied with just Goddy so they added Rupp.
Rangers added Boyle and Brashear and tried to add Niel as did Tor.
Snow added Roloson (a very solid goalie signing). Jeremy Reich is an Ahl player who is a middle weight and emergency recall at best. I believe actions over words any day Snow.
So while the entire NHL is in an Arms Race Snow and Gordon are sitting on their butts pretending their Switzerland and drinking Cocoa.
opening night at the coliseum.16K plus chanting John-Ta-var-es! John Ta-var-es!…let’s start the season already!!..
lets bring back Eric Godard with a trade.
A good solid month of great news in Islander Country … I’m just not used to this … LOL!!
Great article CB … I really hope that people don’t expect JT to vault this team into playoff contention in his first season. Ridiculous expectations … even Sid the Kid finished in 29th place after his first season … and that was also with other great young talents … It should be an another 2-3 years before we start seeing these kids push out today’s contenders and be a Beast of the East type team.
I’ve heard JT now say more than once … that great players make great teams when they stick with each other … and he’d love to spend his entire career with one team. I love that spirit … he shows natural leadership.
lol… #26 and #27, my point is that the expected value of winning the lottery two years running is less than 25% (48.2% * 48.2% = 23.23%).
Yes, we already beat the odds the first year, and this past year’s result has no bearing on next year’s 48.2% chance - but still, is there a reason to be arguing about this? Please tell me you’re not rooting for us to tank…
Great praise from opposing coaches, nice. Now, please, sign John Mirasty!!
To make the playoffs based on last year the Isles need to turn 15 loses into wins and change their negative 78 goal differential into a an even one.
Can JT and company add an additional 40 goals over last year?
Can a healthy/quality goalie and D stop an additional 40 goals?
Me thinks close but not quite this year.
50 in 50? Are we really gonna see this again? That would be unreal!
West Coast Fan (44): This is a bit nerdy of a response but contemplating the expected value is far too unreliable when there is such a small sample size (2 trials.)Its like flipping a coin; the odds are still 50-50 you will get heads even if you already got heads the last 5 times. HOWEVER lol- I am 100% with you that there is no reason for discussion of the 2010 draft here in June of 2009 or “tanking” or any of that. Jesus I dont want another year like this past one, I dont care who the “prize” is.
if anyone goes 50 in 50 its gonna be ovechkin
44 - Yes, I am rooting for one more year of a tank job. I said all along I wanted 10-11 to be the year they start to turn it around. I am all for one more last place season. Let the countdown to the 2010 draft begin. There is nothing worse than being mediocre in sports. You need to be awful to get good. Snow is playing it right by adding no one else. Tank!!!!
#48 Awful for 16 years?
Enough with the Hall talk, lets start winning already.
That’s correct. Why would you want to see a mediocre, just out of the playoff finish or even a first round loss when they can let the kids play hard, but still lose enough so they’re guaranteed to draft one more top 3 prospect. Next summer is the time to spend a few dollars on free agents after they have a better idea of when the renovations will begin, and who out of the youngsters is worth keeping. I loved watching them lose last year, and am patient enough to love it again this year.
#48 I disagree. Being awful might be an easy way to stockpile high-round draft picks…but that’s not the only way a team can become great. not every successful team relies solely on the draft for their star players. get real.
playoffs 09-10 season yup, got that feeling.
I don’t know who in their right mind can already be rooting for a losing season. I mean sure 10-15 games left in the season and I find myself saying “don’t score that game tying goal and just take the L”, but prior to season start? Hell no.
There is definitely a way to develop these young guys but bring in players that will be part of the rebuild but also improve the team’s state going forward. Say they make the playoffs and get bounced in 4 or are even in a playoff chase, I would assume the experience would be invaluable to these kids.
Playoff is not too far fetch… I expect Bergy, Okposo, Comeau, and Nielsen to get significantly better this year.
I know many are rooting for another tank job this season so the kids can ‘progress,’ and then hoping next summer will be the year to spend on the big ticket items. Think about two things - what free agents would you want the Isles to spend on next summer? What is to say anyone who is a free agent next summer wont come to terms midyear and we will just get our hearts broken? And the other thing to think about is The Lighthouse. If it gets approved then great. We should appeal a lot more to the bigger names out there. But if not? Let’s not go down that road.
My mindset is to win with what we have this year. Even if we squeak in and get booted the first round, or if we barely miss. Don’t you think that is a significant improvement from this past year, especially with a similar lineup? Last year was hard enough almost rooting for my team to lose. I’m not willing to root for that again. LETS GO ISLANDERS!!
I am all for another tank job. Taylor Hall here we come!!!
This team MUST tank again. It’s clear Wang won’t spend above the minimum. They cannot get any players to come here for the many reasons we all know. So, sorry to tell you Phil and others, the only way for this team to get better is through the draft. We don’t have the option of free agency. Let the young kids play. Lose as much as you can. The WORST thing that can happen to this team is to finish 9th or 10th in the East. 29th or 30th in the league is where they need to be. LOSE!!!!!!!!!!!
Not one question about Josh Bailey
..tatatatata….C…B
Vader, the worst part for me is not necessarily missing out on these signings, but the fact that every time time I read about a FA rumored to be on our list, they wind up signing with a divisional or conference rival. Good Lord, we are going to get hammered next year.
It looks like we are playing again for Taylor Hall this year
I am in the camp of loving a high draft pick this year, how can you not want to add a star? However, I am hoping this team blows expectations away and they come out healthy and strong. The bar has been set low judging from many comments on here, so it will be that much better for us all when they surpass them. If they are going to get the #1 pick in ‘10, we should all hope it’s because they finish as the 5th worst team (closer to the conference’s 8th seed playoff pack), with a significant improvement in pts over this past year, and then win the draft lottery. Even as the 5th worst team in the NHL, it will be a significant improvement in pts from this year and the teams young core (and the fans) can feel like they are moving in the right direction. When we get to that point I expect Garth to be more active in the FA market. From the more knowledgable people on here, I would like to hear how easy/common is it for players to learn new systems’s at the NHL level? I would think with a new system being implemented from a new NHL coach, all the injuries, and the inexperience on the team last year that this year should see a big improvement in results if healthier (how can they not be?), if the young guys learned anything from their experience last year (I thought there was significant improvement in the second half), and with an added gun in Tavares. Did we forget the team was a mess last year with the system needing adjustements midway through, players going down left and right, many players getting NHL experience for the first time and no go-to guy? With an improved team focus, an “A” goalie, a healthy defense, Streit’s great year, development of Okposo and Bailey, and Tavares first year, this year should be exciting to watch. We all must feel it, otherwise we wouldn’t be on an Isle blog in mid-July after a last place year. We’ve hit bottom, now let’s enjoy the ride back up.
you have to remember before the whole team got hurt last year. they were playing real well. so we will see what happens. they could be a playoff team we will see
JSExpress-I agree.
How can they not get ANYone other than a goalie in free agency. (The scrubs they got for the Bridge don’t count)
Our kids need at least one vet and an enforcer otherwise they will have a REALLY tough year. I’m telling you, Snow will come out and say,”Well, we TRIED to get so and so but the price was just tooooo much.”
B.S.
How could you root for this team to lose sure we all wanted Tavares last year and got him but now that you got your face of the franchise you should be rooting for good development and wins if through halfway the season we are already out of it ok fine but the season HASNT EVEN STARTED yet im going for wins until i see there is no chance in hell they are making the playoffs
TAVARES ON THE ISLAND BABY
Get it through your heads. It’s not a matter of getting beat out for the free agents. They are not even trying to sign any of these guys. They don’t want them. They want to see what they have this year so they can plan who to keep and who to dump while they set themselves up for one more big time prospect.
NYR signed Kotalik. Got it. Next!
Geez. I post a story about Tavares losing to Windsor, get some thoughts from the Spitfires GM. Go away for a few hours and come back to the latest Rangers signing and the idea my story was somehow about Taylor Hall and tanking. Funny. I think some of you guys made it about Taylor and tanking…CB
Can we please sign a free agent d-man and a forward already! I would take Paul Mara and Travis Moen and call it a day!
Geez is right. I hope Joensu is ready to step up. We need his size up front.
CB, this is free agency. And while we know Snow said he wouldn’t do much, we expect SOMEthing NHL caliber to take some pressure off of Tavares and SOMEthing as far as protecting the kids.
That’s what’s really on our minds and I think what we ALL want to discuss. Great article on JT, btw. Seriously.
CB, now that you mentioned the kotalik signing. And i believe TSN has it wrong as there is no way its a 3 year deal for a total of 3 mil. What is your take on Zherdev as this almost guarantees that he will not be back with the Rangers. I think the Isles should make a strong push for this guy. If it doesnt work, it doesnt work, but its definitely worth taking a shot. 24 years old, loads of skill. loves NY
I think the Isles have a shot at the playoffs this upcoming season. Adding Tavares and having a 1B goalie will really help. Besides I cannot imagine having 580 man-games or so lost to injury this year. Also, can we stop talking about tanking and next years draft. Lets talk about how all of these teams making these FA signings are going to need to peddle some talent to get under the cap. That’s where I think Snow will pick up some quality players. We still have 3 months until the beginning of the season. Breathe people, breathe!!!
100% true dan 100% true everyone has to relax. same with you seth
I’m with you post #74 get me Mara and Moen or get me a pairing of Mara or Alberts on d and Moen or Kotsopoulos up front and I’ll be Ok with it.
eh.. call me overly optimistic, but it’ll be real tough to tank next season. If we had DP for even half the season I’d say we’d have had a fair chance at barely being a lottery team. Even with our goalie situation last year we made things interesting. 31 of the isles 47 loses were by 2 goals or less. It’s not a stretch to think a decent goalie could have scratched out 10-15 points from these games, and that would have had us picking 3rd or 4th this year. Fact is, itll be very tough to win a lottery the way things are shapeing up in tampa, colorado and atlanta. Those teams didn’t have the scale of injuries, and we know sakic won’t factor in on colorado’s season next year.
Realistically, stop thinking about Hall or even a top 3 pick. We may not be in the mix for the playoffs, but if we’re in the bottom 3 of the league next season we’ve taken a step back after last year. Roloson was a much bigger signing than it appears at first glance. JT, even only producing 40-50 points, will still only make it harder.
There is not one Isles fan who truly wants to see this team lose. However, we need to be realistic. A last place finish is what helps this franchise the most. Adding Hall or Kabunov or Fowler or whoever is a must. If wanting to lose makes me less of a fan, then so be it. I have had enough of the 8th place finishes. I would take a last place finish over 8th in the East right now.
#81…agree, adding Roloson and JT’s offense erases plenty of those losses.
If every conversation and topic is changed into inane discussions of actually wanting this team to suck just to draft higher I am going to cry. It is JUNE of 2009! Reading this stuff sucks enough in February- now its going to start in June the year before, when the team has not even played a single flippin game?
You cant be sick of Tavares already, he has not even played his first NHL game. And you cant already be moving on to the “next” draft, the idea is simply unberarable. Please say it aint so.
We don’t need Taylor Hall, we have Tavares, Bailey, and Neilsen at center. We also have Joensuu waiting for a spot. We need at least a pair of skilled wingers and another dman to complement Streit.
Great post, Chris. Our toughness is shameful, we lose AND get pushed around. Maybe Eric Cairns will have to lace ‘em up again if we cant land someone!
Great job tracking down Warren Rychel CB! So whatever happened to Robert Reichel?
Good post
This team tanking does not help. It means the young group they have isn’t NHL caliber and they are not going to be any type of nucleus for the future. So can we stop talking about that nonsense
This is make or break time for Bergenheim, Nielsen, Gervais, Comeau and Tamby have been around - if they and the team tanks then its back to a rebuild with who?
JT, KO and JB and a bunch of AHLers? there’s a heck of alot of rebuild if that’s all you got
To be clear about one thing, the Islanders did not “tank” this past season. They were just plain and simply bad.
I know, and I will stake my life on the fact that the Islanders will not be in the 2010 playoffs. However, they can not lose every game either. It is important that they start to make some strides immediately. I’d love to have Taylor Hall in next year’s draft, but not at the price of a dead last finish. John Tavares will draw fans for the first few games on his own, but after that, the fans are only coming if this team shows promise. They’re not going to win a lot, but they have to show signs of improvement. If they lose too much, the fans will stay home, and then we’ll have to wonder how much Long Island time the Islanders have left. If the Islanders are picking #1 next year, it better be because they finished with 80 points and won the lottery. A dead last finish has absolutely no benefit.