LOS ANGELES 2, ISLANDERS 1
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CB at FanHouse on the also-winless Maple Leafs
4:25 pm - As the emotion from the sold out home opener died down nine days ago, we discussed the Islanders’ ability to match their performance when the stands are less than packed and the defending champs are not on the other bench. Throw it on the board as another thing these rebuilding Islanders are going to have to learn about.
If the Islanders won today, they would have been unbeaten in regulation in their first four games. Now they are winless in their first four games. I’d say the Islanders are what their record says they are.
Three days of practice until the next one, at Buffalo on Friday.
MINUS: A dismal 58 minutes at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike. No way around it. Butch Goring and Billy Jaffe said the Islanders played well. I respectfully disagree and would like to see the bar higher than a 2-1 home loss to Los Angeles. Very little pressure in the third period until those final two minutes.
PLUS: Kyle Okposo showed on the penalty kill today that he’s an all-around very good hockey player. Is it too early to talk about a six-year contract extension?
PLUS: Sean Bergenheim’s energy, passion, determination.
MINUS: Sean could add 5-10 goals this season just by taking a straight path to the net with and without the puck.
PLUS: Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, thanks for stopping by for your one game this year. Good stuff.
MINUS: Islanders management sent the message through Newsday during camp that they just refuse to have “one-dimensional” enforcers who play four minutes a game on their roster. So in the last two games they have Joel Rechlicz play two minutes (vs. Boston) and 3:30 today.
PLUS: The Scott Gordon candor when asked about the difference in this year’s more efficient power play. “We didn’t have the right personnel last year in terms of rights and lefts (shots).” Oh, baby. Gotta believe it was a lot more than that.
MINUS: Gordon saying, “We’re a team coming off a 30th place finish. We’re a team everybody expects to finish in 30th this year. We don’t expect that. We’re trying to get better every day.” Scott would be best served not bringing up 30th place and leaving that for the bloggers. Besides, not everyone picked them last!
PLUS: The Islanders can simulcast, but it’s always good to hear the invaluable Chris King anchoring the radio shows. For matinee games, he’s on 1100 WHLI.
PLUS: Andy Sutton, better.
MINUS: Blake Comeau needs to keep his game simpler. Rob Schremp has to get off the perimeter to continue to earn second-line icetime. The Islanders don’t have nearly enough top-six forwards and today had too many grinders playing like they think they’re finesse players. “A lot of shortcuts,” said Gordon. “Circling themselves out of position.”
PLUS: Lovely touch having kids interview the players after warmups and the first and second periods. Classy of Tim Jackman to tell his interviewer, “That’s a good question.”
MINUS: Apparently not convinced it was a scary-bad idea by the non-response at the home opener, the Islanders brought back the Raise Your Cell Phone pre-game extravaganza by unpopular demand. We counted about 15 in today’s Kids Opener crowd of approximately 11,000.
PLUS: Loud crowd, young crowd.
MINUS: For home game No. 2 of the John Tavares era, not a good crowd. The Islanders still fail to make these Kids Opening Day games feel like a major event. There’s plenty of buzz around Tavares, some around the team, but none around these games. Quarter-page Newsday ads saying “4 Isles Beats 4 Kings” just isn’t going to get it done.
Off to the city to write about the Maple Leafs for FanHouse. Stay classy. Hope to be at practice tomorrow.
163 Responses to “LOS ANGELES 2, ISLANDERS 1
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Minus: MSG+ calls Okposo “Ock-poe-so” in their promos.
I guess the increase of price of the family fun packs didn’t work…it went from $99 to $129……their goal should be to get people in the seats….not keep them out…..I didn’t go this year…the other 3 people I went with the last 2 years didn’t go either.
Even though its were only 4 games in, we need to make lineup changes. None of the lines read eachothers plays and some of the players on the isles couldnt even handle a pass.
Plus: Matt Moulson
Plus:Doug Weight
Even: Kyle Okposo showed flashes, but not the consistant effort like the first few games.
Even: Tavares seemed to float for a better portion of the game. Picked it up in the late stages. Might have had something of one of those backdoor passes landed flat.
Big Minus: Gordon was clearly outcoached. LA’s gameplan was to clog the middle. I love Park and liked the way he looked for a hot second with Schremp and Comeau. Park has speed, but he is not our best faceoff guy. Why is he taking the most importaint draw of the game?????
From my vantage point on the almost useless CBS Sports gamecast, it looked like we had a ton of shots within 5 feet of the goal in the first ten minutes? That even close to accurate?
Plus: KO & Moulson
Minus: Jackman not taking advantage of the clear passing lane to Comeau on a 2 on 1
it seems to me that gordon wants to lose games by having park take the last draw today and the shootout the otehr day….weight would have been a better choice…oh well, let the the taylor hall/cam fowler/kirill kabanov chants commence!
Winless in 4 is not the way to start the season. I’m not a fan of Gordo’s system or his coaching. He needs to come out and say that this isn’t acceptable.
Looks like the Taylor Hall watch will begin much sooner in the season than the JT watch did.
well at least moulson continues to be a nice story. and we’re on track for fowler or hall. i hate the weekday matinee games. just doesn’t seem like a time to play hockey.
Minus..Tavares gets knocked off the puck very easily, doesn’t he or is it just me.
Plus..KO period.
Plus Comeau played better as did Bailey.
Minus..Did Bailey spend all the time in the weight room and none on the ice during the offseason?
Minus..I’m starting to see why Shremp was let go…maybe would be a good figure skater or lacrosse player, good hand eye, but thats about it.
Plus..Sutton played better
Minus Sutton still played very poorly.
Finally, minus..expect the Isles to be improved and still finish last. There lackluster and small team leaves much to be desired.
Well said CB. You know, what the marketing problem is? The ridiculous “Family Funpack” that went up in price.
Think they’d have $ 91 funpacks perhaps?? Now way. They can the radio crew, we’;re on a weaker signal. Chris Dey is obsessed with a stupid “Goal Song” and our owner has the games broadcast in Mandarin Chinese if you use the SAP audio feature on your TV. They are clueless.
“The Wrecker” is a terrible name but only fitting. AHL reputation. Belongs there. Along with Gordon, who in my opinion is an AHL coach with an AHL system.
bergie- I had a hockey game yesterday morning at 6:00 am. That’s not a time to play hockey hahaha!
plus: i found a live stream of the game online
minus: the only game I watched all season they lose to the kings.
plus: Moulson & Quick (he’s a product of my school)
minus: Gervais loses so many battles along the boards.
Chris Botta, why WON’T Snow package some non-core players and prospects to add more the type of players this organization needs for Bridge and the Isles?
I do understand building from within but the handwriting is already on the wall for several guys. I mean is the defense really ever going to consist of Kohn, Katic, Spurgeron, MacDonald etc?
Plus: Okposo! WOW! He just continues to get better!
Plus: Biron was solid.
Plus: Sutton showing up for the first time this season.
Minus: This team just doesn’t think it can win. The culture needs to change. You can see in games where they are dominating teams and then the Isles stop playing. I think there are several guys who have been there too long and becamse accustomed to losing. Purging them would help, Martinek, Witt, Geravis etc.
Hall or Fowler? Either one and I’ll be estatic.
Although the Isles and some misinformed writers try telling us that the veteran defense is a strength it’s a lie. The defense is terrible. Sit Geravis for Hillen.
Improving the defense would improve so many facets of the game and take pressure off the young forward groups.
Minus: Do you expect any production from the second PP unit when it features Sim, Martinek, and Geravis?
That is just another reason Isles need to improve the defense because they have no one to run the point after Streit. Martinek and Geravis shouldn’t be on the PP (or on the roster).
Minus: Why isn’t Bergy and Comeau getting PP time?
Minus:Lost a lot of respect for Ivanans for not answering the bell for round 2 after his cheap shot tactics. One thing I’m not enjoying about the NHL is the lack of respect the players are showing each other.
Bailey looked fantastic in the preseason. I’m not going to worry about him as long as they keep saddling him with horrible wingers.
Plus:Good job by all the fans who boo’ed Ryan “The Jerk” Smyth.
Plus: One step closer to the #1 pick again.
Minus: One step closer to the #1 pick again.
Poor, poor game today. I’d much rather see them play the way they did in Boston and lose in the last eight minutes, and then play a full lackluster game.
I agree — Monday afternoon game is kinda lame. Most people DO NOT have off on Columbus Day.
“Islanders management sent the message through Newsday during camp that they just refuse to have “one-dimensional” enforcers who play four minutes a game on their roster.”
Georges Laraque, Donald Brashear, Jody Shelley, Colton Orr, George Parros, and Shawn Thornton all were on playoff teams last year.
This Islanders team will have more concussions than wins this year.
+ Schremp-weight(eventually hunter) could be a legit second line. Comeau was fine, hunter could make that line better.
+ Special teams are better because the coaching staff is better. I can’t confirm this, but I bet there is a REAL NHL COACH among them now.
+ Team had a little push at the end… mostly Moulson-KO-Tavares who are probably running on Cap’n Crunch and PBR diet.
- This team always seems to be on the off wing when they have the puck in the offensive zone which makes them easy to defend. They now have four legit LWs… why is KO always on the left boards.
+ here’s a guarenteed trade… your partner can’t refuse you. Josh Bailey for Greg Moore. Bailey gets first line TOI in the B’port, and Moore adds size to the bottom six.
+ PP has potential to be exciting…
- On the PP, if Weight is going to be out there, why isn’t he on the dot. You kill 15 seconds off your own PP when you lose a faceoff.
- Gervais can’t be attached to Streit forever. It’ll make it tough on his agent when he negotiates as a UFA. I think he’s played his way into the press box. Time for Hillen to get a shot.
+ Sutton was very good today. People forget that he was the only D with a pos +/- in this system that didn’t have 40 pts. Before Sutton goes under the bus, lets see how he does for 30 games after he gets his timing and his legs.
+ Bob Hartley is still available.
+ Ilya Kovalchuk is a free agent this year. Garth do you have Jay Grossman’s cell number?
+ Calvin deHaan is going to be special in 2012.
+ Gordon is going to get us the #1 pick again.
Its going to be a long year. They needed to kick some butt today. This is going to be a tough year. I don’t enjoy a TV broadcast on the radio.
Dissapointing lackluster game, everyone seemed tired. I would say the Isles played ok the first period but second and third were really boring and bad (except for Moloson goal) I couldn’t wait for the game to end. Chris I will be interested to see your plus/minus for the Leafs considering how they are playing. . .
In all seriousness, look at the schedule…which game is our first “W” of the season? IMHO, we are a shoe in for a 1 or 2 pick this year. And I’m totally fine with that. We need much, much more skill. Also, when we trade off our assets this year, we should look for young defensemen to stock that part of the system, and use the draft to build the offense.
And CB - the tickets are just too expensive for people in comparison to the product on the ice (especially in this economy). If demand is too weak they should lower the ticket prices to get more people through the gate.
Just got back from the game and it was worse than any I’ve seen last year. This team showed little to no effort today. Games like these really get me pissed.
Mike L- I feel your pain.
Sorry about the double post CB, but I forgot to add that your observation about the wrecker and Isles management is priceless. Lines like that from management is one of the why so many fans don’t believe a word they say anymore.
Taylor Hall will probably be an Islander. (If we’re lucky; darn)
People are forgetting something.
Two things need to happen for this year to be considered a success: One, the progress of the young guys on the team and two, the Lighthouse to be approved.
And,if you consider this #3, we get a chance at drafting Taylor Hall.
I want them to win more than ANYone.
But you also have to be realistic. With the team the way it is on paper, it would take a minor miracle for them to be a playoff team this season.
As always, GO ISLES!
It’s time to look at the coaching staff! How many offsides should we put up with in one game.
Most of this game was like watching the buffalo bills play cleveland yesterday.
I think it falls squarely on gordon’s system and style. I personally think it stinks!
I would say it was the 2pm start but everyone on this team is between 12 and 15 years old so they should have enough stamina! Dougy you get a pass. I am not sure you should have been firin up those old wheels that early in the day with a groin problem anyway.
Just another problem with gordon’s system. Nobody can play it without getting hurt.
FIRE GORDON! I can’t watch another 300 games lost to injuries.
Can we please stop this Columbus day Kids game already? 05′ horrible, boring game and a 2-1 loss to florida. 06′ no game isles on the road..end up making playoffs, 07′ similar boring game to 05′ isles lose to washington 2-1, 08′ just absolutely crushed by buffalo 7-1, 09′ a lot like the other games…ver dull, boring 2-1 loss. I believe they soldout the caps game in 07 or they called it a sellout anyway but other than that the crowds havent been good enough where you need this columbus day game each year. I like the annual thanksgiving eve game and even black friday game, but this Columbus day game is a bad idea. 0-4 so far.
Just got back from the game. This one was tough to watch. Is still believe Gordon needs to start feeling some heat here. Last year was a tryout..this year there should be no excuses. There is some good talent on this team but Scott’s system has these guys running around with 0 organization or coordination.
Plus: KO…CB I agree 6 year extension!
Minus: Tavares…Fans and shanks one timers(granted the passes aren’t the best)
Plus: Comeau hustles..keep rolling this kid!
Minus: Andy Sutton is one step away from hitting other players with his purse.
Plus: Moulson
Minus: Gervais (why is he still here?)
Plus: We still have an Islander team here so lets enjoy it!
If we are all Islanders than play like Islanders. Look up in the rafters and show some guts!
I am an Islander fan forever and they don’t deserve a new barn the way the’re playing
What happened to Brendon Witt?
Minus Total lack of energy from the Isles. If a team reflects it’s head coach, “Hey Gordo how’d that pre-game pep talk go”?
Plus. Kings and Dean Lombardi show that a re-build can be done thru the draft, “if you know what your doing”?
Minus Tavares face after 4 games is all beat up!! I fear he is going to get killed by our division rivals.
Plus Jackman and Schremp at least brought some energy!
Minus seriously I can only envision maybe 6 players on this roster on any real NHL team. This re-build , without FA’s will take 5 years minimum! You got the time?
Plus Definite upgrade in Goal.
Minus Gordo’s attitude in the press conferences. Hey coach, you have won nothing and your system has not done anything to warrant the mightier than thou attitude. Win something and maybe we will think you know more than us!!
I wonder if witt hates gordon’s system? it sure seems like that.
I believe Park takes the last faceoff because he’s a right handed shot and that way he’s on his strong side to pull it back to the point.
FIRE GORDON NOW.Trade some of the vets and lets see if the prospects can do something, cant get much worse then it is now.
Some people want the Isles to have a tough guy, and then bash Rechlicz at every opportunity. Guess what guys, he’s all we have, and if he was given more ice than 4 minutes he’d probably do fine, he doesn’t look bad out there when you compare him to other guys who do the same job, he’s actually a better skater than most. LA has a good young team and they were just too big and strong in battles for the puck today.
“PLUS: Sean Bergenheim’s energy, passion, determination.”
Amen! He was the only one driving to the net today. PATHETIC he only got 11 minutes.
I cringe when Gervais and Witt are out there on the ice together. Witt is bringing down Gervais game Gordon please do something about this
The Islanders have $13 million of wiggle room under the cap. They have plenty of room to pick up some real offense, and even some solid defensemen.
They are competing with teams that are spending at least $10 million more on payroll. When is Wang going to wake up and realize he is not competing with the rest of this league?
Even on a last place team - Richard Park & Jon Sim should not get any power play time - these guys play too much for a 4th liners…what happened to giving more time & opportunity to young players???
The reason why the isles lost today is that 1st period we had 19-2 hits and 11-2 (or was it 6) shots and had nothing to show for it. 0-0. That says it all.
One observation is while gordons system effective on creating turnovers on defensive side however. Offensively the breakout and how they set up in offensive zone waa so preditable. LA clouded the middle and isles didn’t know what to do. They tried taken slap shots thru 5 bodies and hope puck made to net. Switch it up in offensive zone. Is that too much to ask.
Comeau has to drive to net. You can’t allow dman to push u to boards all the time and take bad angle shot on net. Hopfully they turn around.
I think biron should get more starts than roloson.
Minus all around. The Columbus Day Game only drawing 11,000 is a bad sign for weeknight games this year.
Does anyone realize this team has no radio english announcer but we broadcast in Madarin Chinese? I had to give up after 10 minutes, a TV broadcast on radio did not cut it. We are a bad joke.
I avoid the kids games. The more marketing towards kids, the more I stay way. It’s not a Chuckie Cheese.
That and tickets are overpriced for a team that made no moves in free agency. The stop gap goalies don’t count.
#35 and CB - Bergy only played 11 mins because Gordon benched him after the Doughty goal. He must have blaimed him for Doughty being open. I am constantly amazed by the double dstandard that Gordon continues to show. Certain players can make all the mental and physical errors they want with little to know repurcussions and if one of Gordon’s dog house members makes what he considers a poor play he gets benched. Good message coach.
Also, anyone think that the reason the Isles play so poorly in the third is because they continue to play this 12 on 11 crap with Rechlitz playing 3 mins all game.
By the way, I am not on the fire Gordon train. Get some talent and then we can talk. That being said, I often disagree with his player treatment and special teams pairings.
#13’s point about guys being accustomed to losing is a damn good one and i hate to say it because i like these guys but all 3 he mentions are d-men.
that this team can’t score goals is bad enough, but they’re not strong at either end. the g.m. needs to build a corps of defensemen, first and foremost. he needs 3 big guys with strong transition skills. quick burst, good first pass.
2009-10 Payroll Amounts:
Pittsburgh (L 3-4): $56,000,000
Ottawa (L 2-3): $56,000,000
Boston (L 3-4): $56,000,000
L.A. (L 1-2): $51,000,000
NYI (0-1-3): $44,000,000
I was there today and just no life. The fans in my section were all over Gordon. I think the chants for him to go are not far away.
If the team doesn’t upgrade through free agency and/or trades next summer, then this ‘rebuilding’ plan officially becomes a joke. You can only do so much through the draft. We’ll end up being a farm team for the rest of the league when all of our players bolt.
And my last comment: Gordon is not (and will never be) the right coach for this team!
Yeah this was a stinker. But this is a young team in year two of a rebuild, they weren’t going to compete for a playoff team this year anyway, It’d be a shame to ditch the entire thing to hire a “win now” coach and just sneak into the 8th place and get blasted in the 1st round again year after year. Its going to be painful and its going to take some time. As far as today is concerned, today may be Columbus day, but how many people REALLY have the day off?
Gordo must go.
But, who’s gonna coach this team? A few years ago, noone wanted the job. Things may be different now with some talent here.
They looked very tired today. As somebody mentioned earlier, Gordon showed his lack of emotions. Maybe screaming and cursing Tortorella was a better choice.
Do the players have any time to sharpen their shots? I’ve seen Martinek practicing his shooting with Streit. And then, guess what, Radek started to score. Look at Kopitar today. He had a tiny little hole to put the puck in and he placed it exactly there. Feels like most of our players shoot the puck just to get rid of it. I think it’s a problem and Go Go is refusing to address it. Yes we’re forechecking, backchecking, and mooving the puck well. But then we DON’T SCORE! If you don’t have skills you need to get them thru a lot of pain and practice.
Just an opinion.
Alfred,
That is a valid point, but I can understand why Wang doesn’t want to throw his money away. He’s already tried that. One guy is using his money to entertain super models in St Petersburg… and I don’t mean Florida. the other guy is going to enact the FMLA to try and get his job back from two guys that are clearly better than him.
The most efficient way to make a young team better, FAST… is to give them motivation and guidance. Gordon and this roster is not going to work… and when he goes (WHICH HE WILL) they will all have to be DEPROGRAMMED.
I don’t think anybody expects them to win the cup this year, but they shouldn’t be the Pittsburg Pirates of the NHL either.
Now… go wash the batmobile.
(sorry, I couldn’t resist)
Ive never seen a team miss the net as much as this team , if they would hit the net with half of their shots , we would be 4-0
First, obviously not having an ‘enforcer’ is irrelevant. Second, we need a tent upgrade, which is why building through the draft takes time. There will be a time for free agent signings, just not now. Third, the season is 4 games old. Even 20 goal scoters won’t in 60 + games. Fourth, our core is young. There will be games like this and let’s not evaluate 19-20 year oldsters so damn quick. Fifth, anyone who things Bergenheim will ever be a top 6 player is going to be very very disappointed!
I am getting more and more frusturated with Gordon each game..i was at the game today and there was just no life! I was sitting behind the bench for 2 periods and would just watch as Gordon just gave players dirty looks..didn’t say anything..just looked. I understand last year was his “Try out” and with that, we landed in 30th place..Not saying it was totally his fault since we don’t have the talent many other teams do, but the fans also didn’t mine because we wanted John Tavares. This year, we actually wanna win some games..and Gordon as a coach is really coming out…this team has yet to win a game..and what is being done? Nothing! No line changes, you have Tambellini , who had a pretty good first game benched so you can play guys like “the wrecker” who gets thrown down like a rag doll when he fights.Throw Hillen in there, our D sucks, how bad can he do? He needs to start changing up the lines, changing players and putting some life into this team NOW! That’s the one thing i didn’t like last seasno about Gordon, he plays favorites, and it’s no secret at all when he does. The Chants are not too far away.
The only thing this team has right now is the TOM Line.
(as for the columbus day crowd…not many people have off Columbus day off. I had class but luckly got out early enough that i could make it to the game.)
CB–pretty much on target–although Kyle had some rough spots today.
Plus: I didn’t have to work today
Minus: Evidently, neither did the Isles
Plus: The defense was reasonably solid against a potent offense. (LA Plus: Kopitar looks poised for a breakout season–he really looks comfortable out there
Minus: Virtually no aggressive forecheck
Minus: Why boo Ryan Smyth?
Minus: Scoreboard video breaks for several minutes in the 2nd period.
Minus: Printed media guides not available to fans as well as the press. Unless, the Islanders allow you to bring a laptop, you can’t look at a media guide during the game.
Pro: Unable to look up the last time the Islanders did something special or rotten or other dubious records of distinction.
Minus: Full game notes not available to season ticket subscribers.
Minus: It appears the Isles are not allowing bench staff to give pucks to kids in pre-game warmups.
BIG MINUS: #23 said, “I forgot to add that your observation about the wrecker and Isles management is priceless. Lines like that from management is one of the why so many fans don’t believe a word they say anymore.” Right on target. For al the grief Kate Murray gets from Islanders fans on public pronouncements, no one shovels it more than the Islanders.
Not a fan of Gordon’s system. Please put Gervais back with Streit….not good with Witt! See alot of positives….trying to be patient. Outside of the first line things might need to move around. Sorry Wrecker, but time to go back to B-Port.
Forgot to add one more thing.
Although I may have missed one–there certainly were no repeated Lighthouse commercials on the scoreboard today and unless it was blocked from my view–no LH ads on the boards.
Minor league coach with a gimic system!
Am I the only one who’s done with Park skating up the middle against 2 or 3 defenders and trying to score all by himself? He seems to be getting more and more selfish every game.
Saw this sorry game it was boring. KO is first class-was all over the ice-never gives up both with and without the puck. Bobby shrimp is our second floater, another Tamby. Biron did well in the loss considering the Isles couln’t clear the zone. But the glaring thing is how much bigger the Kings are. [as well as all the other teams.] At first I thought it was the travel Whites, but go to TSN and check the rosters of all the teams [including Montreal] and do the math, I have, the NYI are the smallest team in the league!
I don’t know…I only listened on the radio, but it sounded like in the third, all the Isles did was get to center, dump it in, and wait for LA to break out. Where’s all this speed through the neutral zone that they showed in the first? It can’t be denied that, for whatever reason, this is a vastly different team in the first period than it is in the third. I expect Gordon to dismiss all those questions again, but ignorance isn’t going to fix the problem, whatever it is.
Fire gordannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
…missed the game, was at work. Guess I didn’t miss much. Well I do not know if its fair to villafy Gordon just yet, as I feel he really doesn’t have the horses, however maybe its time to make some tweaks and try to design a game plan that plays more to this teams strengths……..what ever they are……
Guys… it’s not the system or the coach that is the problem.
We don’t have the talent yet to run with the big boys.
Stop complaining… show up to the game.
11,000 is horrible.
Be supportive.
Wang will spend the money when Kate ok’s the LightHouse.
Next year we make our move into the playoffs.
last october we were 2-7-0..
we also played buffalo in that stretch and got butt kicked 7-1.. seems like history repeating for friday..
MINUS: The jumbotron was on the fritz during the second period.
As long as the Isles cannot sign an impact FA, this rebuild will be slow and painful. It’s better if we all except this fact now. This year will be about the LH and the development of JT KO Bailey Bergenheim and Frans and maybe Comeau. The Isles will need to determine which young players goes and which stays.
I love the Isles, but I don’t see any way this team doesn’t finish last overall again. Not enough skill up front or on defense and a lot of pressure on rookies and second-year players to produce all the offense. Goaltending is better this year, but even in shootouts, we don’t have the skill level to match just about any team in the league.
PLUS: I have just done some account of my own and Okposo and/or Tavares have points on all by one of the Islanders goals so far
MINUS: There has been no secondary scoring!
Everyone is looking for someone to blame. It starts at the top with Wang, who refuses to spend what other teams in the league are spending.
Stop making excuses for him with the “new building” nonsense. That is 5 years in the future if at all, meanwhile there are 5 seasons to play until then.
Is he going to underfund the team for the next five seasons to make his political points?
Plus: KO
Minus: Everything else
CB, please keep up the criticism of this team, it needs to happen, no more free passes….it’s about time we show some “tuff” love with this team, 1993!
are they still playing the meet me at the lighthouse song before the game? Also Gordon is going nowhere, he has another free pass with a young team, he will be held accountable next seaosn if he does not start winning. Also can long island really support a team with just 11,000 showing up on week nights? Most expensive place to live and the tixx are not cheap.
Anyone who think Wang is being cheap please name one top free agent who will sign with the Isles. Please do not mention 3rd line guys we could sign. We have enough of those players. Name a top dman or Forward that would make a difference and who wanted to be an Islander. Good luck.
Sutton and Witt are much worse in person than they appear on TV. Wow are they bad so far!
I thought Schremp actually created a few chances today and got a few shots off in traffic that others weren’t able to.
Okposo, Bergenheim, Tavares, Weight, Park were all pretty good today.
What is Jackman doing on the ice for the final 1:25???
What was Biron doing on the first goal? He didn’t move for a complete 3 seconds before the shot was coming… he could have at least looked around from where the shot was coming from. I agree with #9 matinee games just seem dull and boring with not enough energy. I got a plan start Roloson and if it goes to a shootout put in Biron!
Someone mentioned this before so I took a look at the “highlights” and sure enough, NO Lighthouse adverstising on the boards today. Does this mean something? Who knows?
I was at the game. It was like watching grass grow. Did not seem like a team with any passion. Gervais has been really bad this year. Does Gordon remind anyone else of the NY Jets ex coach?
We all knew this team was more than 1 good player away from making noise - why is everyone so shocked that a really bad team plus Tavares is still a pretty bad team?
Game wasn’t too exciting today, but I was stunned by the lack of attendance and support from the fans. People jump down my throat whenever I say this, but the fans’ unwillingness to support the team plays a role in how we’re perceived.
And Lance - what free pass? I can’t think of a single thing Isles fans DON’T complain about.
#64 - Was there today. Don’t tell me “just show up” when I paid good money and watched that garbage. It’s not even so much that the Isles lost, it’s that the game was boring as hell except for the last minute and a half.
I’ll go to one more game in November and if it’s another performance like today’s, I could be watching MSG+ for the rest of the season.
Did not have a good game plan today or make any in game adjustments as the game progressed. Got to have quicker puck movement. I still feel this team will improve. Imagine being the leafs who are worse and no #1 draft choices for the next two years
Plus - agree 100% on bergie. Although still seems to find his way to the penalty box often.
Minus - Gervais. Hasn’t has a good game all year and this one was by far his worst. 2nd and 3rd line Kings were undressing him like they were Ovie. Can’t win a single battle. Turning and chasing all game - passes consistently too hard and out ahead of his targets .. just AWFUL.
Minus - Gordo’s presser after the game. Can you at least try to look upset you haven’t won a game yet? “Oh well if you look at it another way we’re 1-2-1″ WHAT?? DID HE JUST SAY THAT? The guy who looks like he’s fallen in to the “used to losing” trap the most in that entire room is GORDON.
I want to hear him say he’s skating them the next three days until their groins burst into flames.
i like this plus minus stuff after each game. I dont agree with some of gordons decisions too but its only 4 games into the season. wait a little while
minus-we never win on kids day
I hope I can find MSG+2 for the next 2 games ’cause it sounds like the best way to watch the horrid product on the ice this year. After reading all the comments on here, I’m glad that I didn’t waste a vacation day and $129 on the FFP.
Pathetic “effort” today. This is going to be a long season and at the end of it, I’m giving up my seats if there is no Lighthouse approval and no progress. Between MSG+ and NHL Center Ice, I can do the couch potato thing and not spend my $3K per year for crap like this.
Please do something, anything already. How about going after Randy Jones who the Flyers sent down before the season for cap reasons. Our defense sucks. To old and to slow. Get ready for a long, long year.
Wow -
I’m just curious as to what we all expected this season. Now, I watched the game and the performance was lackluster. However, they’ve played very well in the first 3 games, hanging with the Cup champs and the best team in the East from last season…
All this “Gordon must go” crap has got to stop. You can’t blame him alone. He needs better players, and the addition of John Tavares is not nearly enough.
I don’t have the answers, and, with all due respect, I don’t think we here at Islanders Point Blank do, either. Let’s stop getting angry, support the team, and try to urge our boys on to victory.
Let’s keep the expectations realistic. They still only lost by one goal, and it’s not like LA looked like worldbeaters out there. 4 games into the season, 4 1-goal losses…it could be a ton worse…
CB….Why all the silence on DiPietro from the Isles? What is your best explanation for it? We all know about the guys injury status so why the heck is management so secretive? I mean..they haven’t even breathed a word of his existence in the organization. Just curious and trying to break the whole 4 game doomsday thing here.
Declaration of Independence for Islander Fans
When, in the course of hockey events, it becomes necessary for one fan base to dissolve the loyalty bonds which have connected them with their team, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and the NHL Network entitle them, a decent respect from other hockey fans requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all NHL Teams are created equal, that they are endowed by their owner with certain unalienable rights, that among these are roster, coach and the pursuit of Lord Stanley’s Cup.
(ABRIDGED VERSION)
As of August 25, 2010 if these requests aren’t met, we will be exploring all available options.
1. We want an NHL COACH
2. A legitimate NHL payroll. That must include at least one more STARTING top 6 forward who has scored 30 goals in the NHL in one season and 1 defenseman between the ages of 27 and 31 who can play physical defense and be an assett offensively.
3. A goal song.
4. Have Alexi yashin and Rick DiPietro clean the cars in the parking lot. I mean you ARE PAYING THEM… AND they should be DOING SOMETHING FOR THE FANS.
5. NEVER MENTION THE LIGHTHOUSE AGAIN UNTIL YOU ARE ANNOUNCING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY.
A win will cure all of this negativity
Minus = Gordon’s postgame “I’m sure L.A. would like to have that 1st period back.”
Are you kidding me?? Quit fooling yourself Gordo. Though the Kings may have been outshot & outhit that 1st period they pushed the play a lot & came out 0-0 on the road. They won the game & I’m sure they feel fine with that 1st period!! Geez!
Forgot a big PLUS = We’re not as bad as Toronto so far and they did pick up two D-men lots of us wanted.
#79..with all due respect, they don’t deserve my support. The payroll is among the lowest in the NHL, the ticket prices are among the highest. The team has not won a playoff round since 1993, the building is a dump, and the franchise hasn’t made a statement to the fans on the goalie for lifes mild injury since last year.
And if the respnse is going to be that if I don’t support the Ligthhouse or buy tickets, the team may move on…you know what? Maybe it’s time they did. This franchise has been a joke now for over 15 years
#94 is right on! When the product stinks and is over-priced the best thing a consumer (or fan) can do is send a message to ownership and management that this is unacceptable by not showing up and buying tickets. If my wife told me every day that if she did not get her way and was leaving me, after a while, you know what? I would tell her to go. and yes, I am an Islander fan.
i can completely understand people’s reasoning about not wanting to spend money on this garbage. its time to get a REAL coach and a REAL defense, then people will show up
I’m amazed that the Islanders somehow got 11,000 people to show up on a Monday afternoon to watch them lose yet again.
Unless they are giving the tickets away, people are overpaying for the $44 million team that the Isles put on the ice.
While half the NHL teams are already at the salary cap of $56 million, the Islanders are one of two teams in danger of falling below the $41 million salary floor.
Plus - the Isles effort in the first period.
Minus - the movement and pace of the Isles PP.
Minus - the Isles effort in the third period.
Plus - I was sure the Isles were getting shutout today but Moulson (plus) prevented that.
Minus - Sutton.
Still waiting for DP to be acknowledged after the opening night fiasco.
Why are Islanders fans so proud of Not going to games? Its amazing. Someone above mentioned he didn’t want to pay the extra $30 for the family pack. Sorry it costs 130 to take 4 people to a game. Geez. Try those prices anywhere else and see what you get. The Islanders price their tickets reasonably. Want the team to get better??? Support it!!! Unreal the amount Isles fans complain!!!
Minus : the stopid stop and go signs the ushers have in the aisles
stupid*
Unsophisticated, whining, absentee fan base…what happened to all those, “I’ll but tix if they draft Tavares”?
Plus: The Islanders came out hitting and skating in the first period
Minus: That effort went away real quick.
Also don’t count out the fact that the Kings are the real deal. Their system is to smother other teams and bottle up the slot. They played very well.
The fish rots from the Wang down…
Hometown kid Matt Gilroy was a no-brainer… So was a puck moving veteran winger for JT… And you wouldn’t have given up 2 firsts and a second for Phil Kessel?!
That clown is milking the fans till he gets his big land grab payday.
Bring back Spano!
Plus: Sean Bergenheim’s potential to have a breakout year every year.
Minus: The fact that Sean Bergenheim’s feet are way too fast for his hands.
Plus: Andy Sutton is 6′ 6″
Minus: Andy Sutton’s defensive effectiveness suggests he’s about 4′ 6″
the hawks just spit up a 5-0 lead to the flames. fire the coach, lynch the goalie, trade everybody.
i was one of the few over-21 fans at the game today and i can say the crowd wasn’t very good. it was apathetic at best..
As soon as Gordon and the Isles put a few wins together you’ll all start changing your tune praising the guy again.
minus- Witt, did you see him stand there and watch Doughty shoot? How about going down to block a shot. He doesn’t want to play here anymore. Trade him now!
minus- Has anyone seen Josh Bailey?
minus- Was Biron praying on that first goal, he just kneeled there didn’t move and Anze just put on the top shelf.
plus- I DVR’d the game so the torture was only about 1hr. 10min.
plus - the opponent didn’t score a goal off our own player and/or off the netting behind the glass
minus - Witt
plus - #21,#91,#26,#2,#10,#24,#13,#28
minus - #32,#32,#32 pick up the phone and get Hillen in the game he’ll at least try
minus - why is Reclicz here? Call up Smith or Jonessu, they might score a goal. Jackman can fight for us if we need it, he works his ass off
and oh yea TRADE WITT!
Plus - only 78 more games left this season
Minus - approx. 350 days until the start of next season
First off this team slept walk throughout this whole game. Totally Disgusting. Second they should never dress wrecker again. Total waste of a roster spot. Tamby should be dressing in that spot instead, you’d get more use out of him.
Finally they need a defenseman because all they have is Streit and a bunch of pylons. I know he’s lost a step or two but Snow really needs to contact Chelios and get him in here. He’s not the best anymore but he is game ready and mentally sharp and knows what to do out there. Sadly he’s be a tremendous upgrade over Sutton, Meyer, Witt, ect.
This game was really upsetting. I was soo excited to see them play, and this game was what Me and 3 of my friends got instead. The crowd did kinda stink, I’m not going to hate on little kids, because they did cheer even if they don’t know whats really going on, but I tried to start a lets go islanders chant like 5 times and no one joined in, that was like a stab in the back
Quick thought…..i notice a lot of people complaining about the annual “Kids Opening Day” game. By the time the Isles are a legit NHL team these kids will have kids of their own, and the Isles will be relocated to who-knows-where!
It’s amazing that everyone wants to lynch Gordon. I read someone blaming him for all the offsides tonight!
Plus: realistic expectations
minus: our fans expectations
I am sick of reading about not having an enforcer, and Tambellini is a waste, then we call up wrecker and sit Gambelljni and everyone complains. Wake up and look at the product. It’s not the coach, it’s certainly not the system…it’s the product on the ice. Enjoy the development and look where the Hawks and Penguins were in year 2 of their rebuild.
The Isles didn’t play well today and were out coached as well. Please stop talking about the cap space we have, its too late, there’s nothing left in the free agent pool. WE had our chance and blew it. So please stop talking about all the “if we only got this or that player”. Shoulda woulda coulda, enough already. Its not gonna happen this year. Maybe a trade and maybe not. This team is what it is for better or worse. Our young players like Tavares have a long way to go yet, His career is only 4 games old. I can’t beleive i’m seeing people already saying “is he weak on the puck?
gets knocked off the puck easy huh?. Christ, he’ only 19 yrs. old playing against older, bigger and stronger players than he’s ever faced before. I’ll say it again, I love Witt but he’s getting harder to watch. Bailey has been invisible, Comeau shows no effort, Sutton was better, threw his weight around a little more, Gervais not good, Moulson good, Streit good, Martinek ok,Schremp ok, Tavares ok, KO ok, Weight ok, coaching not good, got out coached.
I love how Howie Rose mentions that the Isles are the only team yet to give up a PP goal…..then they immediately give one up within a minute. Nice work. First game I was able to watch from vancouver, hopefully they play better next time. I didnt see this team really play that well in my mind until the last 3 minutes
The problem is, we were listening to Butch Goring say when he was coaching this time that its a “process”. That was like 8 years ago!
Islander fans have been through this rebuilding already and I can understand peoples lack of patience. We all want this team to win although we understand its not going to happen.
That my friends is a paradox. Get Smith and Josseneau on the roster
Wow first loss in regular time and the sky is falling down on long island,why have so many fans no patience? minus fan support in the Coli it was so quiet the whole game can’t believe it(hear it on radio).
I also respectfully disagree, at least to a point, with the people who are already calling for Gordon’s head. Why take him out? What is a team made up of a few high draft picks, career AHLers, and journeymen grinders supposed to do? Certainly not bat the 2nd overall Bruins around like a bunch of pee wees against a pro team for even 52 minutes or even hold an L.A. team with an explosive offense to 2 goals while playing like crap. Gordon doesn’t always make the right moves, but the team is not currently built to win so it shouldn’t be a surprise if they don’t. The last two seasons should not be placed all on his head. That said, he should’ve taken his timeout and slowed things down after the B’s first goal, but didn’t. And he and Doug Weight should’ve done something to light a fire under some butts during this game. If that stuff keeps up he will not be showing the team how to win and he can walk after next season. If anything Gordon’s managed to keep the team competitive against better competition, but he still needs to make better decisions.
A very disappointing game. Especially the power play was really bad. Streit lost the puck three times in a row. We just lack some defensive and offensive quality. Snow should have acquired 2 more good UFA’s, at least try to. The only big plus for me: Schremp.
Most telling information –
Park is a -5
Also, Gervais and Witt are both -6. Gervais played well with Streit last year, so we all know bottom line — Witt is not very good. My friend from college is a caps fan and he laughed in my face when the islanders picked up Witt.
Plus - took my 5yr old daughter to her first game.
Minus - I paid all tha money to watch a team play like they did not want to be there.
Was Gordon mixing the lines up yesterday?
One word keeps coming up in the posts - lackluster and that word perfectly describes the effort on the ice yesterday. We can tolerate a loss if they gave it everything they had but the lack of effort yesterday is just not going to cut it. If Gordon lets that happen again he has a real problem.
agree with 126 completely.
Having low expectations for the season is understandable.
But paying (a lot of )money or investing your time in watching yesterdays PATHETIC effort is another. I can live with guys busting their ass and at least giving off the impression they are trying. There was very little of that in the first 57 minutes yesterday.
Very disappointing. . and to hear Jaffe (whom I respect) say the Isles played well yesterday - well that’s an out and out misrepresentation of what we all saw.
Losing a tough, hard - fought game at this point is expected. A display like yesterday’s at this point - with so many young players who should be hungry to make their mark - UNACCEPTABLE on all levels.
I respectfully will say, its the product on the ice that people wont pay for. No playoff series wins in 16 years. The “highlight” of the last 16 is a penalty shot from Bates….ugh. I renew every year because I hope it gets better. I LOVE going to the games and watching my team. But its the product…case in point..couldnt go yesterday due to working. Put my $50 “value” seats ($60 silver $70 gold) on the net for $30. Had people offering $30 for both. If the product on the ice was any good, that wouldnt happen. But management wont get it. CB - thank you for calling out snow when needed ex: Rechlicz and his 3 minutes. UGH!!!
i agree, put streit and grevais together. they play well together.
Second i have been saying it all year long. NO need for enforcers. Leave the Wreck in bridgeport, bring up Trevor Smith. At least roll out 4 lines if you going to play high intensity hockey. shorter shifts.
Give Bergie more playing time. Same with Comeau. However both those guys need to crash the net. CB said the best. Both could have about 5-10 goals going to net with or without the puck.
LA made adjustment in 2nd period to neutralize gordons by collapsing the middle. He has to learn to make adjustments of his own. LA shut us down after that.
I repeat. If you dominate in 1st period which we did and you go in locker room 0-0. Im almost certain you will lose 90% of those games.
Is it me or everytime they pan to Gordon, he looks like a deer in headlights… Snow you made a BAD hire but he was your Boston Boy! Please release Jonny Sim because he is useless and also release the new #11…
minus - we (martinek) still can’t hit the net when we’re buzzing in the offensive zone
i agree with those asking “what did we expect this year?” not a lot of wins, that’s for sure. all i expect is effort, and they are playing hard so far. when they’re 4-19-7 and fingers are being pointed, i dunno. about being patient, we’ve been patient for 2 decades now (albeit with 2 good years in there)but this is it. either they get the arena then start to invest and get better, or they leave. either way, the end of the torture is near.
This game was brutal to watch there was no flow. After the first period there were constant offsides and whistle blowing, sloppy passes and turnovers in the neutral and offensive zone. Both teams looked like they were skating in slow motion…
WOW, you would think we’re in a 10 game pointless streak, reading the comments.
This is how we fix this, change the entire lineup and put the players together that would work. Here’s what I propose:
Moulson - Tavares - Okposo
Schremp - Weight - Bailey
Bergenheim - Park - Comeau
Sim - Thompson - Jackman
This gives Bailey a break and lets him play with Weight.
Once Nielsen gets back, play him with Bergie and Comeau and put Park on the 4th line
The D is all wrong.
Witt needs Martinek
Gervais needs Streit
Why did Gordo mess with that????
Sutton, Meyer IV, or Hillen
For anyone to mention that it is the responsibility of the fan base to go to games whether there is a good product on the ice or not is totally wrong. It is the responsibility of the organization to the fan base to put a quality product on the ice. This fan base has been more than patient as some are posting no playoff series wins in 16 yrs!! fans can understand a rebuild if done right and so far I think snow has done a good job with the draft (baily, tavares) and picking up FA(streit,biron, rolson)but if the team is not winning you will have poor attendance. That has always been my contention about the lighthouse saga. The mere notion that getting this lighthouse deal is going to MAGICALLY turn the islanders into a cup champion while continuing to put the same product on the ice is horse hockey. Bottom line it is the players and product on the ice (no matter the facility) is what turns teams into champs and turns fans out to support. That is the way sports works. I think the islanders will finish 9th in the east contending for the last playoff spot and I would like to see snow start to go after RFA and UFA to put this team over the hump and into a perrenial playoff team with a chance to win the cup. We have a young core of players and it is time to mix in quality FA’s. That is the way you have to build a team today with free agency and salary caps. Lets go Isles!
I was there with my little girl, just she & I. I was pleasantly surprised that the team came out to play so well in the first period only to come away with nothing. Then there was the 2nd Period and 55 minutes of the 3rd Period when they looked like the most boring team in sports. I’m really upset that Ownership cannot anti-up and Sign a Free Agent that would boost some vigor into our lines. Do you really think that a Veteran 3rd liner Free Agent would’ve been “taking up a Spot” and preventing a Jeff Tambellin or Nate Thompson from developing? I don’t think so. Blair Betts would’ve outplayed either of them 2 guys. On Defense,I’m sure that Gilroy or Beauchemin would’ve outworked outhustled MOST anyone on the current Roster!
…I can handle losing, but falling asleep half way through a game is not what I want to spend my hard earned money on. I want to support this team. They make it hard.
Just like the Tavares movement…… TAYLOR HALL HERE WE COME!!!!
When we discuss Scott Gordon, its like two waves of arguments criss-crossing each other where neither side is listening to the other.
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST SCOTT GORDON: How is it possible that a team can play so well for 2+ periods against top-flight competition like Boston and just collapse late. If the team was as bad as everyone says it is, then they wouldn’t have even one period of dominance against a top team, much less two. And after playing with Pitt, Boston, and at Ottawa, we have nothing to show for it. It must be Gordon, and not the team, because the system breeds collapse on a team that isn’t as bad as people say. He has the players, just needs to outcoach someone once in a while.
THE ARGUMENT FOR SCOTT GORDON: The system isn’t the issue. He’s got no players. He does the best he can keeping them alive against most teams with this overdrive thing. The team is without question the least talented in the league. Blame Snow, not Gordon. Hell, Radar couldn’t coach these misfits out of last place. Give him players, and he’ll be fine.
so much for the rebuilding.Where is the the hunger from a team of young players trying to make a name in the NHL?????
I agree, you can’t call for Gordon’s head - I mean, the team is what it is…young, learning and devoid of veteran talent. Expect them to lose a lot of close games, maybe win a few of them, but they will be in the lottery again this year. They do need to learn how to play with a lead, I mean up 3-0 with 10 min left and to lose it is absurd. It’s like they said “Holy crap, we can actually win” and choked.
Respone to comment #100 - put a good product on the ice….not cheap it out like Wang has done with everyting the last 3 seasons - it seems like everything is taking a downgrade in the islanders organization, except the lighthouse…..you can’t expect people to show up to games when they know the team doesn’t have much talent & is basically a doormat to about 85% of the teams in the NHL. Bright Idea by the Islanders to now have gold games, this organization doesn’t make sense - they make it seem like they made many changes when they only really put a band-aid on it…and just spent a little over the salary cap floor. The fans are not stupid.
Minus - Our forwards. Our goal production is pathetic. Bailey is non-existent. Park can’t shoot. Having Rechlicz in the building on game day is a disgrace.
Minus - Witt and Gervais. Maybe it has something to do with playing with Witt, but Gervais waived at guys 4 or 5 times as they skated past yesterday. I love the way Witt plays other than he gets to every play a second late. His ineffectiveness is overly apparent. Reminds me of Sean Hill late in his career.
” you can’t expect people to show up to games when they know the team doesn’t have much talent & is basically a doormat … Bright Idea by the Islanders to now have gold games, this organization …”
i don’t think ownership/management DOES expect anyone to show up. why would they? everything is bare bones now, they know the product is not good and until the future is known and they can move forward, they’re not surprised if noone goes (even to see tavares). any marketing ploys in place now are simply token gimmicks to keep up appearances.
Minus: Worrying about the goal song when we can’t score a goal.
Plus: The #1 line seems to be clicking.
If I were Wang, my payroll would look the same. Why should he voluntarily lose another 10 mill on a rebuilding team, when he might sell it if the lighthouse doesn’t get approved? Spending more money to get veterans will not help the REBUIlD. If they wanted veterans on the team, we wouldn’t be rebuilding. Look what it did last time, we got ryan smith for 2 days, then we lost the playoffs and he left. Wasted a few mill dollars on a few days of nothing. Maybe more people should buy tickets and merch and he’ll be able to spend more money on players.
Isles on the Radio- Who is upset we get a TV broadcast on the radio? This was a bad move by the Isles- Really Cheap move Mr. Wang… How much did they save by doing this? $150K?
Put a winning product on the ice and people will come. For you young guy’s, in the early “80’s you could not get an Islander ticket. They were like gold!!There were dozens of scalpers outside the NVMC. I think a lot of Hofstra students paid there way thru college scalping Isle tix. Every game was sold out and it was louder than any arena in the league!! It was “Fort Neverlose”. The fans are here. excitement will bring them back. Right now buying tickets is a value judgement! I watch every minute and was there opening night, but I expect to realistically attend maybe 4 games in person. 4 tix in 328 cost me $280. That is a big night out!! Was yesterdays game worth $280? not even close!!
146 StevieL on Oct 13th, 2009 11:30:29 said: Put a winning product on the ice and people will come. For you young guy’s, in the early “80’s …
i agree with this. i still believe people would pay to watch a winning islander team play in a sump. but the time to do it was right after the toronto series in ‘02 when they could have maximized the resurgance of interest and built a REAL winning team. they didn’t. if they had, the LH (at least a new arena) would already be done. clearly milbury was part of the prob, but the failure was not only him.
For Neverlose was here only a few years ago also when We had gotten Peca and Osgood and that Russian Piece of Garbage, Yashin. When they were a winning product we were showing up to the games. Now, why would anyone want to come? I’ve been to each of the first 2 Home Games and I feel like I’ve already had enough! Mr. Wang should be ashamed of this “team” that he’s putting on the ice.
Expectations Management 101
Syllabus
I We don’t have the horses.
II We can’t spend money because we don’t make money.
III No free agents will play for us because we have an old building.
IV Give the rebuild time
V We are young
When management starts to spout this crap its time for them to go. Wang is going to have lost $100MM+ by the end of this year.
GET OUT.
Instead of snuggling up with all the corrupt politicians to try to develop WANG WORLD, maybe, just maybe, you should have cozied up to a LI law firm to try to rewrite the lease.
There is potential for sellout crowds and 8 figure licensing income for a NY sports franchise. WHY IS THIS TEAM BANKRUPT????
The METS SUCKED FOR 20 years, but they make money hand over fist.
The Knicks suck.
Get out of nassau county, they’ve sucked this team dry for way too long. It’s too bad too, because the LI fans are great.
But this sorry excuse for a franchise is gettting tiresome.
Not that an anti-whining post even deserves refute, but when they didn’t spend one penny in front of the goal after finishing dead last… THEY DON’T DESERVE TO BE IN NY.
HAMILTON WOULD LOVE A HOCKEY TEAM, and they will pay a premium price to get one.
Fix it, or sell it… and sit back on your billions. Maybe you can go visit your friends in prison… but don’t whistle as you walk by the prison yard.
wrecker might not be the toughest fighter in the league but he is willing and has yet to be made a fool in a fight.If we dont have a willing enforcer to a least go out and protect JT,OKposo and the other young guys they will miss alot of games with injurys. So if you have to give up a spot to wrecker it is worth it. Not many gillies or proberts who can fight and score any more
+
wrecker was sent down again an hour or so ago
I have a problem with the enforcer/wrecker/whatever. The role that we need filled is capable of being handled by like 5 guys in the league. One of them is Sean Avery. I know we all hate him, but the man brings passion every night. Yes he takes penalties, and he’s small. But the man will hit anyone anytime and gets under opposing people’s skin. Another is Donald Brashear. If someone hit Tavares like the guy in Ottawa did the other night, Donald would have knocked him out. It isn’t about having an enforcer or checking line, its about having the personnel that know how to play those roles.
Not to go on and on, but for a team that is supposed to “outwork, not out-talent” the opposition, having between 6 and 9 players that have no shot at scoring more that 10 goals is a major issue. We have some talent in the AHL, so use it. I don’t care if Jesse Joensuu can’t skate like a pro: the guy has a nose for the net, great hands and plays hard. If no one down there is ready, sign someone.
#152 right on! I have real fears about protecting JT from the likes of Sean Avery. The minute, God forbid, that JT is taken out or injured because of a cheap shot from someone like Avery, I will expect Snow to be fired! Our 19 yr old future franchise player is playing his first year in the NHL with little to no protection!
The thing is, these “enforcers” are useless to me if they cant play a few minutes. If they cant throw 5 clean hits a shift, get rid of em. Forgot to mention I was at yesterdays game. Streit, Bergenheim, Bailey, and Martinek were awful in my opinion. I don’t ever rag on Streit, but he had an awful game.
MIkey Pants #149 - Shows lack of knowledge of A rebuild vs a load up of vets.
Osgood, Peca, Yashin - While team made playoffs was anything achieved?
No lets assume we did poorly then yet we had Spezza, Connolly, Chara and Luoungo instead. those are guys we gave up for guys acquired. what lineup would you be more happy with a few years later?
Rebuilds are not that enjoyable in early stages. If Tavares wins calder and we can just make a run at last few playoff spots it would be deemed a great season.
We dont need to finish last and get taylor hall. Look at the Kings. while doughty was a solid #2 pick. There best players are Kopitar (#11 overall 2005), Dustin Brown (#13 2003), Frolov (#20 2000, Jon Quick (#72 2005)Wayne Simmonds (61st overall 2007).
we are probably 2 seasons away from being a Top 3-6 team in east.
And fear of Avery hurting Tavares. Why? Weight could beat up Avery. You dont need an enforcer for him.
Big Minus to the people who seem to want the heads of half the team / coaching staff after only 4 games.
We are in the second year of a rebuild, what is everyone expecting? To bash the team and talk about what a horrible product they are putting on the ice is absurd at this point. I really believe that no matter what this team does, people are going to find something to criticize.
People are saying that guys like Sutton and Witt are playing horrible and a guy like Hillen should be given a chance. When Hillen didn’t sing his QO, people were saying show him the door because he is easily replaceable. If Hillen is put in the line up in place of a Sutton or Witt then everyone will be screaming that we have a soft team full of Smurfs.
Half the posts seem to think a guy like “Wrecker” is going to improve this team. I think in a few years from now he could be a legit enforcer, but for now, how many guys are thinking “I better not take a run at Tavares because I might have to answer to The Wrecker”. Why use the guy for 3 minutes a game. Let him develop and give a guy with a more complete game who has the ability to log in some real minutes a chance.
Obviously there are holes in this line-up. Had we thrown money at a Gilroy or a Tanguay in the off-season, would we really be in a different situation than we are now? Some of the holes in the line-up will be filled with guys we are developing in the system and some will be filled via free agency. Remember, we have several guys who make up the core of this team who are playing on entry level contracts. Do you really want the quick fix by throwing money at some free agents and then not having the cap space to re-sign an Okposo or Tavares when its their time for a long term / big money deal?
Fact is this team will have some growing pains over the next few years. The coaches will make more bad decisions and players will make mistakes but I really think the Isles have a lot to look forward to in the near future.
That was a boring game. I think the team may lose out by not having 1 more veteran top 6 forward just to give the team some confidence and leadership when we’re down.
Bailey should have been sent to B-port last year, and he should be sent there this year. Would that expose him to waivers?
I thought Sutton came around this game and am willing to give Witt a chance to also.
#105 NO WAy would I give up two first round picks for Kessel! NO WAY!! For Toews I would who is going to be a franchise player.
It’s amazing how we can spend other people’s money…How many times must we say the same things? Nassau Coliseum DOES NOT attract free agents. The building is a dump. In order to attract the free agents, Wang must overpay…after he’s aleready lost millions of dollars on this team. We need the Lighhouse, but there’s no guarantees there. This is why the tix cost so much, why the radio deal is so awful. Wang is tired of losing money. Seeing how some people on here somplain about spending $100(which is definately your right, by the way - I don’t blame you), imagine losing 10000 times that, and you’ll understand why Wang is “being cheap.”
I’m glad someone gets it Billy. These top free agents want to play for a team already good and with a great building. The Isles are not on the top players radars. I know it hurts but it’s the facts. This is not NHL 2010 on the Xbox where you can sign guys easily. Even guys on the Xbox game would probably turn down the Isles right now.
160 and 161 are just excuses and people Wang is counting on. $3.7 BILLION WITH A B for the LH but runs NYI on the cheap. He’s lost money to gain getting lots of money on the real estate. He knew 10 years ago what he was getting into. There’s absolutely no reason to justify being so cheap as to cut out radio and have a minimum payroll. NYI has the 11th highest tix prices in thew league but are cheapest in spending.
Sorry, that’s a free pass to Garth and Wang to get by on the cheap while Wang pursues what really matters to him (clue: it doesn’t involve hockey, the Islanders or you).
This team sucks. It cannot be denied. The roster is putrid. Instead of building on the excitement of Tavares, they did nothing. I know I should be “patient” because the past 16 years of patience just hasn’t been enough but MHO is we’re getting hosed.
Frankly, if there is any alternative at all that involves the Islanders staying in the metro area and does not involve Wang and his unbroken record of putrid hockey, horrendous management and miserable on ice personnel decisions and contracts, and his ****** Lighthouse, I’m all ears.
So tell me 162 why did Ryan Smyth, Drury, and Gomez turn down big money from the Isles? Please name the mystery big Free agent who was dying to sign with the Isles the last couple of years?