Comments on: A MESSAGE FROM SEAN BERGENHEIMWing clears the air with fans on position change

By: Alfred

Alfred — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:49:54 +0000

#48

Totally agree. Wang has decimated this team with his underfunding.

Until he gets to take ownership of the most valuable piece of land that Nassau County has, for free, he will continue to shortchange the Islander.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:15:33 +0000

I like Bergie and think he’s a good fit for this team and Gordon’s system. He needs to keep skating hard, just as he always does, and hopefully some of the others will follow his lead. I like his grit.

By: Merrick

Merrick — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:25:15 +0000

In fairness to Gordon and without criticizing CB, this could be a case where blogging unnecessarily makes a mountain out of a molehill.

Context means everything.

Gordon could have been giving CB a solid piece of inside information about some of the options the team was considering (info we all crave) and may not have wanted to make the move if the player was uncomfortable. You can question the wisdom of a coach making this public, but we have no idea if CB interpreted the tidbit in a manner that was different than what Gordon meant to convey. Anyone who is married will understand the distinction!

In addition, for those of us who are upset with the PR pablum that the Islanders regularly feed us, I hope this incident doesn’t further restrict the already limited candor we get from the front office.

By: Cs

Cs — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:22:19 +0000

Gordon’s system will not work..everyone kept saying the beginning of last season that the players just need to be conditioned enough to play his system for 60 minutes…it never happend..we are now in the second year of it..and it still is not happening…instead what is happening? Players are being injured left and right..People can say its the players..but i’m really not understanding how a whole team can’t play 60 minutes of this system after trying for a year..Something needs to change.

I also believe Gordon is making himself look worse and worse every day..why did he feel the need to let everyone know Bergy said no to the change? thats a personal thing between the two of them. He wont tell us how injured a player is..but he’ll tell us that? I respect Bergy a lot for coming out and setting the record straight..he shouldnt of had to do that in the first place.

By: geduffer

geduffer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:34:38 +0000

Irish Isle (#39) – I know people don’t care for Go-Go, but comparing him to Art Howe??? Ouch.

I am a supporter of Bergie. My wife loves the kid. I think losing Bergie would make her consider rethinking her loyalty.

By: Willis

Willis — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:25:01 +0000

Thanks for the statement Bergy. Do what feels best. This fan loves to watch you play and is rooting for ya!

By: Zeike

Zeike — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:08:06 +0000

If Weight can play left wing then Bergy can play right wing. That being said Sean is one of the Isles best players, in terms of effort, winning battles and generating scoring chances. The fact that he was benched in the second half of the third period with the Isles down two goals is laughable. Gordon needs to get over whatever issues he has w/ Sean.

By: Vlad from Brooklyn

Vlad from Brooklyn — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:48:04 +0000

Any team in the League would love to have player like Bergie. Keep him on the Island and make him comfortable. He will bring everything he has to the ice as he always did.
Thanks Bergie.

By: JPinVA

JPinVA — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:31:13 +0000

Bergie may be a middle six guy, but he’s a middle six guy who shows up to play every night.
To me, he’s Jason Blake in a slightly slower, but stronger body.
Nolan made Blake a 40 goal scorer, very wealthy, and a member of a playoff team.
Gordon has put Bergie in the doghouse, leaked their conversation to a blogger and wants to use him where he would be least efficient…
But Gordon isn’t really the culprit here. Look at the roster of both the Isles and BP… not one NHL ready RW to fill in for Hunter. Park playing the position weakens them at center, because Bailey really needs to be in the AHL for at least half a season.
When Nielsen and Hunter are back this is all a non-issue… but the blame falls squarely on Snow (who stockpiled goaltenders and LWs).
Not that he cares, but maybe Wang might want to check in on the HOCKEY TEAM he’s helped decimate.
$42M payroll… $14M in cap space… of the $42M Yashin $3.2M and DiPietro $4.5M are dead money.
Tavares $3.7M is a rookie
Bailey $1.7 is 2 years away from being effective.
Weight $2.2M may not get in 50 games
Witt $3M (not built for Goo Goo’s system)

Meanwhile Dean Lombardi (a candidate for the GM pos when Smith was hired) has completely turned the Kings around in that time…. and has Smyth on his team just to rub Snow’s nose in it.
just sayin’

By: Since72

Since72 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:30:13 +0000

I can’t get enough Islanders news but this topic is overheated. SB was “offered” an opportunity to play RW and he declined. He wasn’t told to play there and refused. The offer could be looked at as a vote of confidence from Go-Go with the added minutes as incentive to do something that might be difficult for him to do. I take SB at his word (re-read the first paragraph of his comments to CB) and I believe that he feels he would be less effective for the team.

Thanks for reaching out to connect with the fans SB and way to be on the ice for the optional practice.

By: Staten Islander

Staten Islander — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:26:28 +0000

AGAIN, we are NOT a playoff team this year or probably next. Bergie is young along with most of our core of forwards. This is a rebuild, and we are 4 games into year TWO of it. lets all get off the ledge and enjoy the kids development.

By: Mike from Oceanside

Mike from Oceanside — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:24:48 +0000

No matter what side you play, Bergie, just always keep your legs moving.