LET’S NOT CALL THIS A ROSTER LOGJAM
Assessment: Who would get claimed on waivers?
Contrary to what Scott Gordon - and by extension, Garth Snow - might say and maybe even truly believe, there isn’t anything standing in the way if the winless Islanders ever choose to tinker with their roster.
What’s the worst-case scenario - the Islanders lose one of their many non-scoring forwards or third-pair defensemen on waivers, and that player thrives somewhere else? Really now.
The Islanders must 1. Determine if a player has had enough fair chances to show what he can do, 2. Decide whether he has the tools and mindset to excel under Gordon, 3. Be bold and decisive and 4. Understand that if, heaven forbid, a released or waived player went on to fame and fortune elsewhere, management can say they did the best they could.
On Tuesday, the coach spoke of the unplanned-for emergence of Matt Moulson as a top-9 forward and acquisition of Rob Schremp on waivers causing a logjam at left wing. Gordon was right in saying those were/are/could be happy surprises. But let’s keep it real: neither are planet-shifting additions to a franchise hoping to become a consistent contender sometime in the next decade.
The Islanders currently have three - yup, three - rock-solid pieces to the program. They are John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit. They have a few other strong prospects like Calvin de Haan, Travis Hamonic and Mikko Koskinen, but they are between one and three years away before potentially making an impact. As for a few other skilled youngsters such as Josh Bailey (20) and Frans Nielsen (25), they have more time to show what they can do at this level. Trent Hunter is also not going anywhere. They are not part of this equation.
Let’s take a hard look at several current Islanders and the chances of at least one of the other 29 NHL teams grabbing them on waivers if given the chance. Remember something: of course, a few teams would take a Brendan Witt or a Radek Martinek on their team, but it’s not as simple as making a waiver claim. A roster spot has to be available, a salary - in a league where many teams are against the cap - has to be paid.
This may not be pleasant, but it is realistic.
Defensemen
Andy Sutton - 0% chance of being picked up on waivers right now. Sutton is coming off an injury-filled season and makes $3 million this season. If he improves, there could be some interest in him - for a mid-round pick or on waivers - in late February. Before then, not a chance.
Brendan Witt - 0% chance. $3 million this season, plus $3 million next.
Radek Martinek - 10% chance. Highly unlikely, not when he’s making $1.4 this year and $1.9 next season. Another team would have to have a strong belief in his game and the utmost confidence they can help keep him healthy.
Freddy Meyer - 5% chance. After bouncing around the waiver wire, FMIV is on a one-way contract for this season and next season. Although the compensation isn’t a crusher (575,000 and 600,000), there won’t be a line around the block to add a 6-7 defenseman on a one-way deal.
Bruno Gervais - 25% chance. On a one-way contract - 800 this year, 900 next. Not off to a good start this season, but teams like his right-hand shot, mobility and reputation as a low-maintenance fifth defenseman.
Forwards
Jon Sim - 0% chance. Already cleared last season. Has this year left at $1 million. Like Sutton, could be picked up closer to the trade deadline.
Sean Bergenheim - 100% chance. Retains the crown of the current young Islander most likely to succeed elsewhere if it doesn’t work out for him here.
Richard Park - 25%. Irrelevant because he’s staying for now. On last year of his deal paying him $800,000. Islanders will have to make a decision on him around the trade deadline. Park might also have his own thoughts.
Tim Jackman - 3% chance. Islanders gave him a one-way for this season ($550,000). A scout at the Garden on Monday night was asking me about him. “I really like him as a fourth-liner,” he said. “My boss (the director of player personnel) disagrees.”
Jeff Tambellini - 10%. At some point in the next month, the Islanders need to make a firm decision and stand by it. If they Schremp him, as Edmonton did, all they need to do is wish him well and not look back.
Nate Thompson - 5% chance. On a two-way deal. Likely will be in the organization all year and maybe beyond. As long as he improves, he can be Gordon’s kind of player. Coach’s prerogative.
Blake Comeau - 50% chance. Second to Bergenheim on the list of players other teams think they could mold.
It should also be noted that the Islanders are a smidge over the salary cap floor and about a Lighthouse Project 20-story building under the salary cap.
No one is suggesting the Islanders give up on this season. No one is advocating placing a half-dozen players on waivers, getting them to Bridgeport - or losing them - and making a massive recall of Trevor Smith, Jesse Joensuu, Matt Martin and Andrew McDonald from the Sound Tigers. Let’s face it: Bridgeport is not exactly a who’s who of The Hockey News Future Watch issue. On the other hand, with the exception of Bergenheim and Comeau on the list above, there isn’t a single player the Islanders could lose on waivers that would cause the Country to toss and turn in its sleep.
What I am saying is that it’s completely disingenous of Snow and Gordon to say all these one-way contracts are getting in the way of fielding whatever 20-man lineup they’d like. It’s either that, or they may simply just be wrong. If the Flyers can waive a good defenseman like Randy Jones to get under the salary cap, a bad team like the Islanders can use the Collective Bargaining Agreement to get better - or at least field a lineup more representative of a rebuilding franchise that’s willing to experiment.
Read the CBA. Make determinations on your players. Move on.
Comments on this post only.
114 Responses to “LET’S NOT CALL THIS A ROSTER LOGJAM
Assessment: Who would get claimed on waivers?”
Please Wait
A fantastic post, spoken like a true fan! Its only 4 games in, but where is the light? There are many “players” on this team that I would not miss AT ALL!! Great post CB
CB - Makes absolutely no sense why Bergenheim, Comeau, Martinek or Park would be on waiver list as they are extremely strong Tradeable assets. All would be pick up 100%. Players like Bergie and Comeau would be those types that come back to haunt you forever everytime you play against them.
With pick up of Schremp, I would have no problem letting Tambellini go. I was huge supporter of him early on but he really just doesnt have the stuff for NHL.
Martinek at 1.4MM a year is probably one of best values in hockey. whether he plays 40 games or 82 games. Find me a better dman for that money. you cant.
I think one or two of these scenarios will play out soon when Frans is ready to come back. I think one story will be Schremp vs Tambo. They are very similar in style and resume. Its safe to say, we can’t carry both. Judging by the season thus far, I think Gordon likes Schremp better. The next 4 games will tell us alot more. Thompson would also be the logical choice to go down since he has options.
Are we really having these conversations only 4 games in? It’s not like we’re getting blown away (hello Leafs) in our losses. A couple bounces the other way and a couple less brainfarts and the team could be 4-0.
Let’s wait a few more weeks before we start talking about blowing up or significantly altering the roster.
Besides, once our injury bug kicks in, we’ll need all these bodies.
Nobody needs to go on waivers till Nielson and Hunter get back and are both 100%. Tambellini deserves one more shot during the 09-10 season to stick as a top 6 LW. 3 weeks max, then decide. Anything less than 1st/2nd line LW and he’s gone…its that simple.
i like the coach. He has AHL talent to work with and for the most part ( except most of Kings game) these guys play very hard. anyone remember steve stirling and the russian figure skaters pair kvasha/yashin?…i like our effort. A coach sets the tone for that. Good for Gordon calling the team out. Weight said the same thing after the Kings game.
My question is why do we have to have a “4th” line or a “3rd line”? Why cant we field lines of players that are in the org and can play and that the team wants to develop? So what if our 3rd or 4th line is not the usual makeup of other teams. If our line is of players that the team wants on the ice and with the big club, put them there and let them play.
Hey Chris, what are your thoughts about Jack Hillen and waivers?
JKP said it best. Absolutely no need talking about this now. But, since we’re on topic, there are only 2 players that Garth would consider waiving, Sim and Meyer. Only because they’ve been waived before. Most of the others only have this year remaining on their deals or are good enough to be part of a trade package.
Why is it such a rush for Snow to decide? Noone wants to be a healthy scratch. When they’re carrying 2-3 extra players it’s certain everyone will give their’s to avoid getting scratched. It’s like training camp continuing into the season, which I think is the right strategy for a rebuilding team.
I put up a correct link for you Chris on Twitter so that fans come here. You may want to delete your last tweet.
Still too early to demote players. Let’s see how the team is playing when Frans, and Hunter come back, and then ake a few decisions.
If Bergy is 100% likely to be picked up, then that is 100% the reason why you should keep him. The guy is a hard worker and makes things happen. He started to show last year that he can learn to finish. I think if Gordon pairs him with the right line mates he can reach his potential. That is the coach’s responsibility. What Bergy said yesterday is telling. he is saying, stop moving me around, just leave me at my natural position and give me the right line mates. Islanders need to make it happen. If Bergy goes somewhere else and is successful, shame on the Islanders.
PF in VA at AOL for CB
Off waver wire they should pick up someone who can drop the gloves, if so
You missed one - SCOTT GORDON
I know he does not have a lot to work with but have you seen ANYTHING that tells you he is an NHL coach?
Would the Islanders be this bad under Mike Keenan, or John Tortorella or some other hard nose coach that would make these players hustle?
These guys are better than whats at the bridge. Period. We stick with them until their contracts run out and JT an KO are potting 40+. Thats when we throw big money at somebody and make the playoffs.
My comments:
Put Gervais back with Streit. He looked much better there last year. Meyer = Gerry Hart. Keep him until he’s ready to be replaced by a younger player you can win with. Martinek, look for a trade to a contender needing a 5-6 in January.
Waive Tambellini. He has tools but no toolbox. Can’t see him ever contributing at this level. Deal Comeau now before he proves conclusively that he’ll never develop into much. As for Bergenheim, it’s clear that he and the coach don’t mix. IMO, he can be very productive on your 3rd line, it’s up to the coach to fix this problem and maximize return. If not, you keep him until you can put him in a deal for another good young player - and then put the coach on notice that’s he’s got to do better, since Garth already saved his butt by trading Campoli for a good return.
Jackman works hard, a real gamer. But he still can’t skate, and is a big minus player even while playing well. Gone via waivers as soon as a younger guy emerges, like Martin.
Bye Jeff Tambelline. The other ones I think could work in a trade package.
But I’m not ready to mail in the season yet. Its only October.
#1 post - 100% agree! Sutton, Meyer, Tambellini, Sim, Thompson I wouldn’t miss them all.
There’s obviously a silent self imposed salary cap. It doesn’t matter if they wave these guys b/c they won’t get upgrades, rather, it would just be an exchange of mediocre players.
Another smarmy post on an increasingly smarmy blog. When did David Spade become an Islanders fan?
With all due respect Chris “2. Decide whether he has the tools and mindset to excel under Gordon” that requirement should come somewhere between what color should Sparky’s eyes be and do we stock deli mustard or spicy mustard for the hotdogs. Absolutely no reason to build a team around a coach that has no experience at this level. Get talented players and take it from there.
Adam, the reason you have a 3rd line and a 4th line is to give your top two lines a rest, check the hell out of the other teams top 2 lines, kill penalties and score dirty goals around the crease. The Isles need 3 more Offensive 1st/2nd liners, and 2 more Top 4 defensemen. I am hoping we can find at least 2 of the needed 5 somewhere in our own system.
Witt 0% ? Is that his effort, or his offensive ability?
He should take some of that $3 million he’s stealing and get a haircut.
Chris,
You are 100% correct about all your analysis. This is stubbornness masquerading as good player management. Someone who’s been following this team since the 08 draft made the perfect observation to me, “the roster isn’t turning over fast enough for a rebuild.” The fact that the majority of players who have played at least 50 games with DP are defensemen reconfirms how bad the defense really is.
cb, why dont you add Joenesuu onto the prospect list? I dont watch BP but when this kid has been up, he’s been solid. Better than Bailey I can tell you that much! Doesn’t he have top 6 solid nhl forward written all over him?
CB. I completely agree with this post. It’s becoming more and more obvous that you were holding back a little when PB was team sponsored. Even with fewer posts, I think this is becoming a better blog.
CB,
Agree 1000000000%
No way in hell the Isles waive Bergie or Comeau. Many will disagree, but I add Tambellini to that mix.
I also can’t believe that he’s been healthy scratch and not a bum like Sim.
Tambs needs more ice time (come on, it’s not like the Isles are going anywhere this year) yet Gordo sits him. I just don’t get it.
GMG and Wang need to cut the crap. All this hub-bub about the Isles wanting to develop youth and figure out what they have. Just a smoke-screen for the Isles not spending in UFA (other than the bear minimum necessities such as goaltender, which, if not addressed would have lead to an 0-82 season).
Youth’s exciting, but what the Isles brass has no idea about is how to cultivate these players. You can’t surround talented youth with other talented youth and bums. Many of these kids have fragile minds and confidence levels. Very few kids (eg, Crosby) have the ability to make others better. In fact, most youngsters require others to initially make them better.
Yet we do things like:
1. keep Josh Bailey in the NHL when he’s clearly not ready –btw, this kid is headed for disaster
2. pair him with the likes of Jon Sim, who may be an admirable 4th liner or AHLer, but is no confidence booster and does nothing for Bailey
3. sit young Tambs, in lieu of Sim
4. bring in zero UFA talent on D or at the forward position outside of JT to support these kids.
Soft or not, how good would JT be with a Kovalev or Tanguay flanking him?
How much stronger would Gervais be playing if his D partner was Francois Beauchamin rather than getting-older by the second Brendan Witt.
Snow/Wang, you’re going to cripple these kids if you’re not careful.
We, as fans, are watching it right before our eyes.
Some kids simply don’t just develop. They need to be cultivated and they need talented players around them to teach them and learn from.
Wake up dammit!!!
Snow will not cut Tambellini. Snow fired Ted Nolan beacuase of Nolan’s “failure” to work with young players like Tambellini. He even gave Tambellini a 3 year deal to prove the point. Snow is not backing down now.
Agreed that most of the players you mentioned as possible waiver wire fodder need to move on, in order for this rebuild to make significant progress, but with the other players in their system, the point is moot. THe Islanders are finishing in 30th again this year, and will have the best shot at Taylor Hall. Look for significant changes in next year’s crew, with Hall, Taveres, Okposo, leading the way up front, and hopefully significant changes on thier blueline. With the exception of Streit, the team’s D is made up of 6-7 def-men….The team will continue to struggle if they cannot make major changes on the back-end.
Great article CB: If this is a rebuild, treat it as such. Waivers for SIM, TAMBS, Sutton, send Thompson to BP. Bringup Smith, JJ, Martin and MacDonald from BP.
i’m all for getting jesse joensuu on this team full time. speed, size, hands, everything nate thompson isn’t.
We played a nearly perfect game against Boston, and weren’t out of steps against the Penguins, and the Kings. What is the hurry to waive players who show some promise? To me, this feels like an extended training camp. Let the fringe players fight for their jobs, and then decide in December.
wow. pretty strong statement, obviously based on some real info i have no clue about. no way i’d presume to challenge any of it, as i trust cb’s take.
teams really like gervais’s shot though?
i’m disappointed in that guy, i really did expect more from him by now, in terms of just being a stronger, more solid d-man. i also thought bergy had a bigger upside than he’s showing. i still like what he brings overall, but what do i know?
Thompson should never be on the team.. He stinks and is not needed. Tambelinni should be playing over Thompson. Plus thompson is a 2way player bc he is a minor leaguer.
We are not in any position to be a contender within the next 3 years. So why rush to abandonement? Granted there is some dead weight to be shed here but it is not any of the kids. Tambellini, Comeau, Bailey, etc..are all youngsters with some good talent and they need the right coach to unlock it and develop it.Tambellini has all the tools but needs to develop his confidence. Some consistent ice time would do this. Comeau as well. Everybody hates Tambellini because he didn’t step on the ice and score 30 goals. Sorry, but managements fault again!! Let the kid play!
We have a better shot at there development than any real return on there abandonment.
i love this thompson/tambellini/sim talk. This should be on the bridgeport site. We are talking about BRIDGEPORT players!! JAGS! This team has the least talent in the NHL. Go to the games and watch. We have no offensive talent on the ice but KO and JT. And if we dont sign free agents this will take many years to get better..Gordon is not working with much here.
There is no need to panic, we are a few games into the season. Patience..we all need a little of it. The team really misses Franz and Hunter and when they come back I see Sim getting waived. Like the guys but just doesn’t fit with the team. Let Gordo shake up the lines, get on them in practice and make em work hard. If they win against Buffalo and the Sharks this weekend… we all will be talking how this team is good enough for the playoffs. Sit back and enjoy the ride on the Isles Emotional Roller Coaster!
From that list Bergie, Tamby, Comeau, Gevais, and possibly Martinek are the only ones worth keeping around for the foreseeable future. I’d also keep Jackman because he is a fine 4th liner who plays hard and sticks up for everyone and Park because he is good when not asked to do too much. And I’d still waive Scott ‘Mangini’ Gordon because I just don’t see him developing into a good NHL coach. He will end up being a Lou Holtz or Pete Carroll-type where the gameplan doesn’t fit the league or it’s players.
Hay Chris do you think certain teams may have certain interest?
Right now the biggest knock on Washington is there D, dont you think Washington might be interested in the toughness that Witt can bring, or the smooth skating of Martinek. Also Washington would be good for these, as the have excess in offense, they can take a chance on d first d-man.
Also, I could see Sim playing well on Calgary, I think he would fit well into their system.
I love what #7 Adam said. He is right. I look at this lineup right now and I see other than the line of KO and JT, a lot of “third” and “fourth” line players and I don’t understand why we are settling with that. I feel like if we want to see a better product on the ice we should strive to have first liners, 1A, 1B,1C line players, if that makes sense. The lack of skill on the third and fourth lines right now is killing this team.
I really don’t understand what the honest focus was in preparation for this season. Do you mean to tell me before the 6 preseason and 4 regular season games,Snow and Gordon didn’t know what they had in Comeau,Bergy and the other names proposed for the waiver wire? If this was meant to merely be a writeoff season,why weren’t the aforementioned moved in August,at least for some potential assets? Charles seems so intent on keeping the payroll a scosh above the Cap Poverty line,which evidently has been prioritized, Snow doesn’t know what direction to go in. Gordon has to be somewhat accountible also,since the majority of his personnel find it virtually impossible to adapt to his overspeed style of play. Its quite difficult to evaluate what you have when your coach cannot or is unwilling to adapt to whatever strengths they may possess. Without specific direction,this season will become a total waste without any means to an end.
Great entry CB. 3 rock solid definite players out of 20 on the roster. Next year w/Cam Fowler in the fold that’ll be 4. Inching ever slowly to mediocrity!
It’s gonna take time, but there are things Snow can do to make sure ‘the best’ players get the ice-time.
Great Article..I would say Comeau is more like 80%, Park would be higher and Nate Thompson would be 0% but all in all I agree with what your saying.
My beef really is Schremp was worth a shot, I still do not get why Afinengov wasn’t offered a 1 year deal..this is a guy with more talent and speed than Schremp and has actually put up numbers in the NHL but Schremp hasn’t.
I guess the reality is Wang isn’t going to spend one more dime till he knows what’s happening with the Lighthouse and I can’t completely blame him..however when given the chance to reup last year for 2 more years at a discount I declined.
I agree - there is no logjam because players inevitably will get injured. However, I do not think Garth hopefully will pull a Don Maloney and waive players that may be assets in a trade. It would be absurd for a rebuilding team to give up on Bergy or Comeau right now (both guys showed potential last year and could be part of the program going forward.) I think Garth will sit on his hands until December when teams are more willing to take on overpaid players (i.e., Sutton, Sim, Witt) for a draft pick. The three priorities for this franchise are 1) Finding 2 top four dmen with mobility, 2) finding a scoring winger who can play with Bailey on the 2nd line, and 3) acquiring other assets (i.e. draft picks), which can be used to fulfill priorities 1 or 2.
It may be time to move Bergenhiem and of course Tambellini. Then I after moving Weight before the deadline, I would call up Joensuu.
Matt Lashoff couldn’t have been any worse than what we already have plus he is 22 and a former first rounder. I’d have rather Snow claimed him on waivers and see what he can do than watch our slow aging veterans get beat every game.
Not to put this season to rest so soon but if we start playing the kids now and them let learn again and if it fails the good news is Taylor Hall has 22 points through his first 11 games this season (10 goals 12 assists)
….I agree with CJ 100 percent. also, Gordon’s demise is inevitable. More and more its looking like his system isnt benefiting a lot of these players or the team for that matter. Hate to say it but Nolan was right.
I think Gervais has been struggling because he cant be aggressive like he was last year. When he was with Streit he could leave the point and know that his pairing could defend a quick breakout. With Witt, he is spending a lot of time controlling poor passes, supporting Witt pinning a guy behind their own net and playing a safe pointman position in the offensive zone. Love Witter, but not right for this team.
Just curious, have there been any rumblings that NYI brass are unhappy with Bergie this year?
How many players can Snow really waive? We are barely above the cap minimum. I can’t see the team waiving too many players.
I would rather see Tamby with the 3rd or 4th line and Thompson out. Gotta see what the guy can do, instead of scratching him every game. I do like what Schremp has done so far, so Tamby has to crack the “bottom 2 lines”
I disagree with #40 that “The lack of skill on the third and fourth lines right now is killing this team.”
I think the problem is our 2nd line is made up of mediocre 3rd line talent and our 3rd line is made up of AHL talent.
If our 2nd & 3rd lines produced I would have no problem with a 4th line of Park, Jackman and Thompson / Sim.
There are rumours floating around Montreal about Georges Laraque possibly being put on waivers because of the controversary from the alcohol advertisement. Do you think that Laraque would be a good fit and a big physical presence that the Islanders are lacking? If so, assuming he is put on waivers, what are the chances the Isles would pick him up?
Signing so many frindge players to 1 way contracts is begining to point to bad manangment decisions…. Snow seems to have pigeon holed himself.
I may be wrong but doesn’t the team that places the player on waivers pick up 1/2 of the players salary if he is picked up by another team? That may help “relieve” some of the basement cap problems if we get rid of anyone, however unlikely that may be.
Laraque probably doesn’t fit into Snow’s “rebuilding plan” or into Gordon’s “system”.
Yes that was sarcasm.
CB - WHY is Trent Hunter not on the list? This is your “opinion”? Oh oh I get it - because he’s such a good skater, hitter, fighter, never hurt, scores regularly each and every season…. cmon now, what the heck???? He belongs on the list too.
Bill- A team takes on 1/2 a player salary if the player is taken through re-entry waivers (i.e. Sean Avery). If a player is claimed through waivers the first time then his entire contract is transferred to the players new team (i.e. Rob Schremp).
while i by no means think we are a playoff team, I do think we can finish above the basement in the Eastern Conference. With that being said I agree with CJ when he makes the point that we need another veteran star in here to cultivate the young guys and take some of the weight off Doug’s shoulders..(yea i know that was pretty lame). That being said we’re 4 games in and while its great to speculate and talk about putting guys on waivers and making trades, I think the main thing we need to focus on now is cultivating the main pieces of the rebuilding puzzle and letting the fill-ins (sim, park, thompson, meyer, etc.) spend time being the healthy scratches and Sound Tiger stars… BTW is it too early to bring up Trevor Smith? He has been killing it since last season and deserves a shot up here.
Is it really true that gordon and wang have publicly stated that these one way contracts are preventing them from fielding the team they want?
For a litany of reasons that would be among the most asinine public comments by a gm and coach that I have ever heard.
Thanks Mike. I didn’t know that.
Thompson is to Gordon as Bates was to Laviolette. I don’t mind hanging onto Thompson though, as he as looked good on the PK and seems much smarter than Bates, as long as Sim is out of here once Nielson returns. If Sim is not part of the team’s future after this year then they may as well move on with it and put him on waivers, regardless of how well he is hustling.
Gordo and his system should be sent back to the minors and then see what these players can do. I would add Roloson and Biron to the list of players not going anywhere.
I don’t understand why they are talking about waiving already..its 4 games in..and there talking like it will solve all our problems..ok so you waive Tamby (who hes not playing)..maybe Thompson ( who hes not playing) or you wave guys that are playing. Botta said it best..if any of the guys on this team (with an exception of a few) are waived and taken..it doesnt effect the team..so whats the big rush? Getting rid of players is not gonna help this team win.
I think Trevor Smith has earned a spot on the team.
“I guess the reality is Wang isn’t going to spend one more dime till he knows what’s happening with the Lighthouse..”
this is it. the whole story. for 2 years now. a holding pattern. not surprising and totally understandable.
There is no doubt in my mind that the quickest way to improve this team and accelerate the rebuild is to replace Gordon. His replacement may already be on his staff, and he wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel.
There is a good core of talent here, they just need somebody with the conviction to thin the herd and be done with it.
Besides Smith there probably aren’t too many NHL ready prospects, and you already have at least one rushed prospect that needs some more seasoning.
Snow blew it this summer. $4M on goaltenders when he could have signed one and we could have lived with Danis, Joey Mac or Lawson as a backup until DP was ready. (WHY IN GOD’S NAME DID HE WASTE THE THIRD ROUND PICK ON NILSSON???) then he spends $0 on a top six forward…
If they don’t promote Dean Chynoweth before Thanksgiving next summer will be a failure without Hartley and Kovalchuk!!!
Scott Gordon + $43m (REALLY $36m) = FIRST PICK… and we shold have to settle for that again… that’s 76 more games of CRAP.
i disagree with dominic’s post ( #35): fans aren’t sore at tambellini because he didn’t go out and score 30 goals–geez, 20 goals would be the second coming of pierre turgeon–they’re disappointed because of all the legacies who should be playing for the isles (zach parise, eric nystrom) we’ve got steve tambellini’s kid who’s only teased us so far with what he can bring to the team…
I think evrybody should calm down and wait till Hunter and Frans comes back then the lines should look like this:1)moulson tavares weight 2)schremp bailey okposo 3) bernie frans hunter 4)comeau park jackman.Then Gordon could run his system running 4 lines so as not to wear down his top line and spread the scoring among the lines and also have the players familiar with their linemates.
Disagree with #35 also. Tambo has gotten the opportunity and hasn’t posted the numbers of even a second rate Nhl’r. Skates well, nice snap/wrist shot, but not a 20 goal scorer. I expect more from him.
Martinek
Gervais
Bergenheim
Blake Comeau
would all get picked up 100%
How is Blake Comeau not 100% on waivers?
I would rather get rid of Gordon and his dumb system than get rid of Comeau. I really think he would do great under any other coach. He needs to be allowed to play his game.
WOW! Filatov would have been happier here. In Columbus, due to their depth, in his second season since the draft, he was a healthy scratch last night. Hitch is now going to mold him into a multidimesional player, but here on the Isle his skills would tapped immediately. He expected to play in the NHL ASAP. He is a very mature young man and is happily following the coaches recommendations. Skills + Coachablity= soon to be seen!!!!
CB - So basically when Franz Nielsen is ready next week, Thompson will be sent to Bridgeport. Then when Hunter is ready in November, Sim or Tambellini will be put on waivers? No big loss
When DP is ready by Christmas, Biron could be traded….2 teams already looking a goalie…Chicago & Detroit
I think Tambellini needs to stay. What real chance has he been given! He and Schremp as far as I’m concerned r not the same player. Tambellini is a pure scorer and once they commit to him it will show. As for the Defense, I’m not a Martinek supporter. I would love to see hime go!
General Manager of the year Garth Snow, cough I mean AHL GM of the year. Maybe they can have the 4 and 0 sound tigers play at the NVMC for the rest of the season, i’m not sure they would want to leave their nice arena though…
Very well said eric r. I’am with you.
Post #27 #67 are dead on. Although I think Sim as earned his spot and Tamby has had enough time to prove himself. Based on todays Newsday poll, I am expecting Wang and Murray to strike a deal before election day.
Bailey needs the AHL badly, but would he have to go through waivers?
From the sound of what CB wrote it seems like yes, but does anyone know for sure?
You know what’s gonna happen, Isles fans???
KO and JT will come to their own as 100 point scorers and then they will leave and play on a team that they can actually compete with. This is the nightmare we, Isles faithful, are so sick and tired of. I won’t feel secure until the LHP is in the works and these guys are actually signed to extented contracts to serve as the core of a competitive franchise.
I think it is a little early to wonder about waivers. But if there is such a high chance that Bergenheim and Comeau would be plucked off waivers—why not look to move them in a trade—unless the sentiment is that they offer no trade value.
I think keeping Bergenheim and Comeau along with Gervais is a better approach right now. I think that the players they have to consider moving would be Sim and Tambellini. Those are two guys who would likely clear waivers and allow the team greater flexibility. It would be likely that Sim could get picked up as he is having a stronger start, but in all likelyhood—both palyers would end up in Bridgeport. I am not 100% there yet, but I am about ready to let Tambellini go. For wahtever reason, it is not happening in the NHL with the Isles.
KO21..I agree that they will be playing their best years elsewhere but I don’t think either will cross 100 points.
I love Bergies energy and think he is a solid third liner who we should lock up for 3 years.
Tambellini averaged 13 minutes per game over 65 games last season. You can’t say he hasn’t been given a shot. He may do great elsewhere, but not here.
Bailey seems like a great kid but he may never be more than a 50 point player. I would rather have Filatov, Schenn or Cody Hodgson.
If the Isles waive Comeau and he becomes the next Bertuzzi I will ask the team to leave Long Island so the embarrassment will stop.
I could care less if any of the guys on your list are waived and go somewhere else, with the exception of Comeau and Bergy. The others can pack their crap and leave. None of them are the future of this team and none of them are making any kind of contribution right now that helps.
CB hit the nail on the head. This team isn’t exactly loaded with the future stars of this league, either on the Isles or at Bridgeport. They need a couple more drafts to stock up more prospects. Guys like Bergy and Comeau are solid prospects, but overrated. Neither of them are legitimate top-six forwards on a contending team and won’t become that. But they can be valuable third-liners.
Great post CB. IMO you are 100% correct in every aspect of your assessment here. I would like to see all these guys have opportunities to showcase at least through the first quarter of the season to be fair since it takes a few weeks to get into game shape for many players. Once we reach that point in the season though it’s time to decide who stays and who goes. I don’t think anyone will lose sleep over most of these guys getting claimed off waivers. Prefer they don’t waive anyone who might bring back a pick or prospect later in the year (Park, Sutton, Witt).
4 games on and we’re discussing who to waive? We’re down on Bailey (just 20 and 4 games into season 2), we have decided that our prospects are worthless, and our coach and gm are clueless. We were right about komisarik, besuchemin, Orr and tanguay thou… Oh wait, we weren’t!! Our attitude and posts typify the approach of fans and PR pros, not pro hockey people.
Why waive any of these players? I think any combo of 2 , 3 or even 4 will/should get one back in return and be an NHL’er we can live with. Tambs, Witt or Meyer, Jackman,Sim and Comeau would not be missed, in return for (please, no more draft picks) a 2nd or 3rd line NHL player who wants to be moved. You know it can be done. What about it Garth?
so, Miro is circling the small arena looking for an opening?
I’ve been very frustrated. I remember vividly a game I was attending in the Verizon center, Feb. 20th 2008. Isles beat the Caps and looked to be on a roll. Nolan was in command of the troops and we were controling the play. There was a good core of players that with some young talent could have rebuilt while winning. I find it hard to believe that the loss of Ryan Smith sent us into this tailspin of looking three to four years into the future.
What’s so great about Gordon’s system? Last year was his first, we lost DiPi, he had a rough season. What if we’re last again? So we get a chance at the first pick. Is that it? Will Gordon take any blame or will we still say he doesn’t have the tools to play his system?
Hey, If we win, I’ll love the guy, but right now, we’re losing close ones. That’s the coach!
CB……..Freddy Meyer is a UFA after the season. He is not signed for 10-11. I would think that would change the percentage he is claimed on waivers? He could be useful to someone as 6/7 d-man.
BAILEY NEEDS OKPOSO not the ahl.He was playing better as the year went on last year.If you put him back with okposo he will perform and set up okposo and or tamby/schremp.Also gordon is to concerned with tavares doing well that he forgeting about bailey.He will get his points setting up tamby/okposo or scoring goals being set up by schremp who can pass and set up bailey.HOW CAN WE AS ISLANDER FANS JUDGE A TEAM ON 4 GAMES WITHOUT FRANS/WEIGHT (2 GAMES)/HUNTER (2GAMES) much less who to put on waivers.Crosby would have trouble with sims (who plays left wing and playing on the rightside with bailey) and bernie(who can be a very good 3rd liner) as his wingers scoring points.Weight could set up tavares along with moulson both of whom can score goals especially tavares.Frans with bernie and hunter can be a very respectable 3rd line who can be a shut down line and provide some scoring punch.Split up the TOM line and balance your lines and watch the islanders be competive and watch ALL of our young guys perform better maybe not be a playoff team of course but just a better team with more balance.Gordon needs 4 lines for his system to work (comeau park jackman being the 4th line)else they get to tired in the 3rd period and overtime.Stop playing the guys to many heavy minutes and spread the minutes and the system will have a chance to work. This team is not deep enough to lose important guys like frans and weight and hunter who have experience and provide leadership and if in the lineup doubt they lose to the bruins.Wait 25 or so games to judge this team and if they are still the same then we can discuss putting players on waivers and bringing in the young guns from bridgeport but until then be patient with the team and gordon.
This ain’t a scene, it’s a G-D arms race…
Amen eric r…although I think Crosby is good enough to play with Sim. Remember he made Andy Hilbert a point per game player back in 05-06. (19 games, 18 points)
Yes eric r, finally someone with logic
CB.. Why not put a trade together with The Flames to bring Eric Nystrom to LI.. It makes sense. Instead of waiving players put together a Bruno, Tambo and Simm throw in some pucks and water bottle and bring this kid over to NY! I am just saying..
I thought Shremp provided some of the few chances against the Kings, and Sim did not play poorly. I am really worried that all of Snow’s draft jockying will prove fruitless. Josh Bailey is not providing much. Does anyone have confidence that DeHaan will prove to be better then Kulikov or Moore?
Is Hamonic signed yet? I would have liked to have seen him get a few games in before going back to JR. Trevino? I don’t have a problem with team staying away from FA’s….but the DRAFT HAS TO BE A SUCCESS…any of us could have pick JT…..but the we need success with the other picks.
good story, I think richard park has more value than you give him. He would get picked up off waivers by somebody. The only guys on that list that should not be waived right now are bergie, Park, blake, bruno, Witt, and Radick
CB you make a subtle but very valuable point - we can’t go below the cap floor so what do we do if we waive/trade Witt or Sutton or Martinek or Sim or anyone making a solid NHL salary? Do we eat a nice fat contract from someone else to make the floor (e.g. Randy Jones)? Sign Miro Satan to make up the difference? Bring back Jason Blake?
With all due respect to Sim or Comeau or Schremp or Hunter, Josh Bailey needs a real NHL scorer to exploit his talents. It sure didn’t hurt Scott Gomez’s rookie year to have Mogilny riding shotgun. Someone with a nice fat contract in a walk year has to be available to help Bailey develop his talents and confidence
It is hard to trust an organization with a backup goalie as its GM. Neil Smith must be laughing all day and all night.
Back off all! The season is early…some players have not been given any opportunity. Tambellin and Thompson…Thompson has no line he keeps being thrown non-players as his line mates. He is a smart player. Bailey makes too many errors; he will be a good player eventually but needs the AHL conditioning.
Man, agree on just about everything. The Isles, right now, have a good #1 d-man in Streit, and 5-6 5th, 6th, or 7tth defensemen.
They have two–TWO!– apparent true top six forwards in Okposo and Streit. One who can still capably fill a top six role (Weight), and a few with the potential to be top six forwards (Bailey, Bergenheim, maybe Comeau, Neilsen, Tambellini).
I’m not even going to go near the goalie situation right now.
Point is, there is a lot of potentially available lineup spots on this roster.
I think we can all agree Streit is not a top six forward. Typo. Replace with Tavares.
Yeah, Neil Smith is laughing. Sure he is. Because it’s funny still being unemployed, since nobody - with the exception of the pathetic (and, at that time, desperate) Islanders over three years ago - wants to hire him to do his job.
Please.
You know who Ken Holland is? Detroit’s GM. Pretty good one, right? Know what position he played in the NHL? Goalie. In only 4 - count ‘em, 4 - games. The prototypical career minor leaguer. Amazing how he became management material even though he wasn’t a star player.
The backup goalie crap is as old as hearing about another DiPietro injury. Think, maybe, we could give it a rest, already?
Looks to me like Snow is doing the best he can with what he’s being given to work with. And, yeah, I think he’s being given virtually nothing from Wang until the LH is settled. Personally, I’d like to see what he could do if - and, hopefully, when - he’s on more equal footing with other GM’s in terms of resources. Until then, however, what the hell do we expect?
Okposo would be better as a finisher with Bailey, IMHO…Last year KO shot the puck more than any other rookie…He would have 5, 6 shots per game last season but this year hes busy trying to set up Moulson and Tavares…
i think tambellini is still around because the whole organization is still cringing from passing on parise. how would it look if we dumped tamby, then he turns into a 30 goal a year guy. wang is a real estate developer, islanders are just leverage for the lighthouse project. can pretty much garauntee another quiet ufa season.
Not sure I understand the need for this posting at this point of the season. It’s obvious the Isles have very little front line talent. What’s the rush to be putting someone on waivers? They’re not getting anyone over the next 3-4 months any better. Placing players on waivers will just upsets the locker room and shows the players that management has already given up on the team. Just play out the season. If you can trade any of the Vets at the trade deadline, do it. Otherwise just ride out the contracts and replacement them with draft picks. Year 2 of the rebuild just started.
I never thought I would read a blog and stand up from my desk and applaud but I did!
Exactly DO SOMETHING! I have always said Snow and Gordon seem to identify the problems (sometimes a while after most of the rest of us) but it for some reason takes them forever to act (if they do).
Bergy and Comeau need to be kept but you can’t tell me Jon Sim, Bruno Geravis, and Radek Martinek are preventing you from adding talent. Have the will to act and do. Be creative do some packages.
I’m no longer as high on Hunter as Botta and the Isles appear to be. His hitting isn’t the same, perhaps the system limits it but while he still hits he isn’t as forceful. I would consider trading Hunter and something (like some of the stuff we don’t want) for better players that fit better.
Yes Martinek’s and Witt’s contracts make it harder to move them but wasn’t it Snow who resigned both? I remember Witt saying Snow surprised him with his new year contract he wasn’t even talking about it. Bad move in retrospect.
I remember speaking to many Islander fans and so thankful that we wouldn’t have to watch Martinek again until he got a big contract. He wasn’t a good player then and we couldn’t understand why they’d give him the deal. They are paying for it now.
While Snow’s careful planning is to be admired sometimes your greatest strength is your greatest weakness. Wang is too patient and gives people too many chances. We’ve seen him get burned over and over. Milbury & Murray are two examples. Snow thinks too longterm and views the present as not reality because he has the end in mind. He has to understand that the team needs help now.
MikeD, I might be exaggerating, just a little…I do believe those 2 are the real deal..KO is already an animal out there…I would just die if he’s traded or leaves us as a free agent because we’re the Islanders and thats what happens…
I also find these moves, Snow makes, like trading down for Bailey instead of picking a possible top scorer in Filitov or picking 2 goalies or trading up for DeHaan instead of grabbing the next best player…. I’m sick and tired of feeling embarrassed and wasting my emotions on a team which is run by fools…It just seems like Garth has an arrogance about him and so does Gordo which makes me worry…With all that being said I will keep my positive attitude and root for them to succeed anyway, I have no choice…Im an Islander, we’re all Islanders, remember…Thats what we do, we suffer together
Okposo, Tavares, Bailey, Comeau, Bergy,Nielsen, Streit & Martinek…all the others can go
Worrying about 90 perecnt of these players is equivilant to Montreal expo fans worrying about the utility infielders before that team folded. Bottom line is if isles expect to spend league minium from now on then the only way to win is a trap. By the way stop expecting vault to be any good. He doesn’t know how to get shots on goal. He averages 1 shot every 2 games. Goal scorers avg 3 or 4 a game. Okposo has never hit 20 goals if he hits 25 this year I’d be suprised. That is not a gaborik player. The isles could of added gaborik kovalev and two good defensmen and still been under cap and had chance to win playoff rounds but Wang is pulling a millstein with the lowest paid coach and lowest payroll stuff and lowest paid g m
Tamby deffinetly needs to go, we gave him as much chances as possible, and i cant see him having success with the isles. also the recker needs to go, because we already got are tough guys, witt and jackman.
#103 Ken Holland was a backup goalie but after retiring he first became a scout, was director of amateur scouting for 7 years and the assistant GM for three before becoming GM. BIG difference from Garth Snow’s career path.
Now wait for how long before the Islanders admit they are abandoning the Lighthouse project. Maybe like A Rod they will announce it during the Stanley Cup Finals.
Taking a look into the future. When this team becomes succesful, the only players remaining from the current squad would be Tavares, Okposo, Streit, Bailey, Hunter, Park, Bergenheim, Rechlicz (possibly meyer as i like his physical play and could be a solid 6th man. I see Nielsen as potential trade bait in the future as the Isles will need a big strong center on one of their top 3 lines. Players like Comeau, Tambellini, and Gervais, seem to have reached their peaks (atleast as Islanders as I see zero urgency in their game to try and make a difference). The rest are slowing down and will be too old by the time the teams ready to compete or simply will just have their positions filled by guys who will do a better job. As far as waivers i would only be upset to lose the first grouping of players i listed along with Nielsen. Every1 else will be gone at one point anyway and they virtually hold no trade value
FYI: Chywoneth never coached an NHL team; only the WHL so how could he replace Godon???????