Comments on: PRACTICE, 10.19.09, ICEWORKSTavares and Okposo broken up, for now

By: jaymz27

jaymz27 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:37:12 +0000

Splitting up Tavares and Okposo is a bad idea. This team is not built to win this year. Anyone who thought otherwise is a fool. This year is about development. As an Islander fan, you want to see Tavares and Okposo become future stars, Bailey, Moulson, Bergenhiem and Gervias develop in to NHL caliber players and DP come back healthy. You also want to see them lose and get that first pick one more time. Next year you add Taylor Hall to this team, bring up De Haan, and hope Trevor Smith, Hamonic and Joensu are ready to contribute. Throw a lot of $$$$ at Kovalchuck, bring in a good defenseman and some size up front and then expect to contend for a playoff spot. Don’t stunt their development by splitting them up just so you can potentially win some meaningless games now. They should be together for the next 15 years. Patience Islander fans!!!!! Remember, Dynasties take time to build.

By: UIF

UIF — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:04:43 +0000

So the TSN power rankings, which have us justifiably at 29, tell us that at least we have “a sense of optimism coming from a first line of John Tavares, Matt Moulson and Kyle Okposo that has combined to score 20 points.”

Well…not anymore!

By: Spartiarti-RVC

Spartiarti-RVC — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:12:55 +0000

You guys really have to take i easy on gordon. isles win wed and thurs and you guys will suddenly be saying what a great coach he is. I like the schremp benching. he given tambellini a chance to show him up. If tambellini doesn nothing its back to riding the bench if not being put on waivers. I like the Test. Schremp has been good so far but best other player not on first line has been Bergeheim Hands down.

By: MileHighIsle

MileHighIsle — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:03:03 +0000

When will Reich return from injury? I’d rather see him than Jackman. And Thompson needs to be replaced by Micheal Haley (not sure if he’s still injured). When we went down 2-1 to San Jose someone needed to spark the team with a big hit or cause some kind of ruckus. The Sharks turned the game around when they started to become more physical and we had no answer. I like seeing Weight with Tav & Mo.

By: Sumo Goalie

Sumo Goalie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:20:42 +0000

Some observations:

Gordon is afraid to bench Witt.

Gordon is overwhelmed at the NHL level.

At least some of Gordon’s players lack faith in him.

Wang won’t spend anything until the Lighthouse is settled.

Snow is still a bit green as a GM.

Thompson should not be in the lineup over Schremp (or anyone else for that matter).

Our D after Streit is horribly average at best.

We’re a one-line team.

Roloson couldn’t stop ME on a breakaway.

By: Eastonhockey

Eastonhockey — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:54:04 +0000

Gordon works for free compared with those other coaches. That’s why Wang hired him. Snow couldn’t hire an acomplished coach because Wang tells snow that we are paying the minimum since it’s the islander way. No islander coach ever got more then the minimum since Wang arrived

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:02:19 +0000

Scott Gordon is one of the worst things to happen to this franchise since Milbury. He is literally the worst coach in the NHL right now. He has no idea what he is doing. He comes up with these phantom “explanations” for things that don’t need fixing. He has us playing this system that results in nothing, the players don’t respond to a thing he says - and I’m predicting we don’t win our first game of the season until November with this guy behind the bench. You get what you ask for. You turn down proven winners like Maurice, Hartley, Tortorella for guys like Gordon and this is what you get. This is a BETTER team than what we are seeing out there every night.

By: Islebethere4u

Islebethere4u — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:32:51 +0000

OH, just one more comment to make about something that’s been buggin me for a few days. What coach worth anything asks a player if you want some extra ice time would you mind playing a different forward position for a while and see how it works out, and then have the player refuse based on the players idea of where he is best used. Hey coach….just tell him where YOU want him and see if it works. THATS YOUR JOB!!! If the player doesn’t like it, find someone who will do what he is asked. Remember guys, its still a privledge to play in the NHL, not a right.

By: Islebethere4u

Islebethere4u — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:18:17 +0000

I don’t agree with three names on the forwards roster. This is like the kids game of look at this picture and tell me what doesn’t belong. What doesn’t belong is jackman, thompson and comeau. what does belong is Shremp, Sim and…well, we’ve got better at the bridge than those three. Please sit Witt for a couple and leave Hillen in there. And puuleeeze, Gordon!! Were do you come off saying you need more for Schremp. You’ve only had him a few games and he has played much better than comeau, jackman, thompson, tambellini, and even Bailey(his 1st 4 games anyway)!!! You’re supposed to be teaching your young guys to be better players, not just players who play your “system” well. The only player that has shown growth in his play and skills has been KO. If this play keeps up you are going to lose them as a group. It almost happened last year, and I don’t see it far away now. I hated to say it. So please, show us it isn’t so.

By: jonsson3

jonsson3 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:13:45 +0000

I’m with you Fred, Schremp’s gotta play. He’s been the best forward outside of the first line.

Moulson-JT-Weight

OK-Bailey-Bergy

Scremp-Neilsen-Comeau

Sim-Park-Jackman

Meyer-Streit
Martinek-Gervais
Hillen-Sutton

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:48:11 +0000

Shremp is better then anybody on that fourth line. Get him in there.

By: Rachel G

Rachel G — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:44:29 +0000

I agree with post 75. Hate, hate the move to split KO and JT. It’s time for some of the kids, like Tambellini - Bailey - Comeau to step-up and get their noses dirty, or take a seat. If Jason Blake played that way, they can too. I love Bergie, but no points yet and minus 5. May need to take a seat soon too.