Comments on: THE POINT BLANK 10-GAME REPORT22 notes and observations on the year so far http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/ Independent, Daily Coverage Of The New York Islanders Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:46:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jim http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106104 Jim Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:40:37 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106104 I know it's early but if what we have at Bridgeport is panning out where is all the talent that's "2-3 years away" from making this team a contender. Certainly anyone in juniors or yet to be drafted is probably 4-5 years away. Also, if we need to wait for a new arena and Lighthouse before spending money, when will that be 7 years from now? Stanley Cup champs 2020 here we come! I know it’s early but if what we have at Bridgeport is panning out where is all the talent that’s “2-3 years away” from making this team a contender. Certainly anyone in juniors or yet to be drafted is probably 4-5 years away. Also, if we need to wait for a new arena and Lighthouse before spending money, when will that be 7 years from now? Stanley Cup champs 2020 here we come!

]]> By: VA Isles http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106056 VA Isles Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:55:09 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106056 CB, Arent the isles better served by waiving a guy like Witt, taking the cap hit (lord knows we have the space) and developing a guy like hillen further? I mean, this IS a youth movement, right? CB, Arent the isles better served by waiving a guy like Witt, taking the cap hit (lord knows we have the space) and developing a guy like hillen further? I mean, this IS a youth movement, right?

]]> By: JTorBUST http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106055 JTorBUST Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:54:28 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106055 I am predicting tomorrow’s main topic of conversation is the team’s lack of physicality. I am not talking about bringing up the NHL’s version of spider rico and watching him get pummeled by a real enforcer on the rags but the softness this team has. I think I can count on one hand the number of real hits we have administered this year. We have the Witt hit in the opener and one or two more handed out by Sutton. The rest of the team does not check, maybe a make believe go through the motion check here and there but other than that it is sad. We are stocked with undersized small forwards and that all comes back on Garth Snow. Hockey 101, this is not tennis, the majority of hockey fans enjoy contact, it sells tickets. The rags are going to run at our young players and it’s unfortunate that Garth and Co will sit by idly as our young guys get roughed up. If we ever do it make it the playoffs where the games get a lot more physical we would need a shuttle bus to the Nassau Med Center. Trade one of the eleven 5’ 8 170lb forwards who are great in non contact scrimmages for a Horton. Gretzky had Semenko , Bossy had Gillies, Syd has a whole line dedicated to his well being , wake up Garth before we are talking how good some of these guys could have been if they didn t have their career cut short or turn into a player like David Carr who’s career is forever changed by a few miserable seasons of getting mauled- I am predicting tomorrow’s main topic of conversation is the team’s lack of physicality. I am not talking about bringing up the NHL’s version of spider rico and watching him get pummeled by a real enforcer on the rags but the softness this team has. I think I can count on one hand the number of real hits we have administered this year. We have the Witt hit in the opener and one or two more handed out by Sutton. The rest of the team does not check, maybe a make believe go through the motion check here and there but other than that it is sad. We are stocked with undersized small forwards and that all comes back on Garth Snow. Hockey 101, this is not tennis, the majority of hockey fans enjoy contact, it sells tickets. The rags are going to run at our young players and it’s unfortunate that Garth and Co will sit by idly as our young guys get roughed up. If we ever do it make it the playoffs where the games get a lot more physical we would need a shuttle bus to the Nassau Med Center. Trade one of the eleven 5’ 8 170lb forwards who are great in non contact scrimmages for a Horton. Gretzky had Semenko , Bossy had Gillies, Syd has a whole line dedicated to his well being , wake up Garth before we are talking how good some of these guys could have been if they didn t have their career cut short or turn into a player like David Carr who’s career is forever changed by a few miserable seasons of getting mauled-

]]> By: mikef http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106053 mikef Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:46:05 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106053 What about JJ? Last year he came up for the rangers game scored his first NHL goal and showed some promise. Maybe adding someone with some size to work the corners will free some space for these "playmakers" we're stacked with. Our 4th line has been really effective working hard, cycling, and keeping the puck in the offensive zone, if they all didnt have the hands of Goldberb the goalie they might have a few more goals. What about JJ? Last year he came up for the rangers game scored his first NHL goal and showed some promise. Maybe adding someone with some size to work the corners will free some space for these “playmakers” we’re stacked with.

Our 4th line has been really effective working hard, cycling, and keeping the puck in the offensive zone, if they all didnt have the hands of Goldberb the goalie they might have a few more goals.

]]> By: Isles Fanatic http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106052 Isles Fanatic Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:45:50 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106052 From my perspective, the biggest issue facing this team is the paper thin, defense. Hopefully, the D will get addressed in next year's draft... Taylor Hall here we come... From my perspective, the biggest issue facing this team is the paper thin, defense. Hopefully, the D will get addressed in next year’s draft… Taylor Hall here we come…

]]> By: a REAL hockey fan http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106050 a REAL hockey fan Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:25 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106050 .. They have been in most of the games and had leads in 6 of the games! - They have been COMPETITIVE!! The System? im NOT SOLD on it yet, it seems to be scrambly and positioning and bad angles at time - im not sold yet The team simply DOESNT HAVE ENUFF NHL TALENT! They have about 1 1/2 lines of NHL talent and the 4th line is actually 'ok-decent' for a 4th line - they bring energy, hustle and effort, there not great but there not bad either! They are playing better than last year, they are its been FRUSTRATING 2 watch at times but they are a lil better - but they need more talent and even a veteran or 2 on the roster --- but lets keep builing and i preached patience on day and continue to preach patience! P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E, guys P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!!! .. They have been in most of the games and had leads in 6 of the games! - They have been COMPETITIVE!!

The System? im NOT SOLD on it yet, it seems to be scrambly and positioning and bad angles at time - im not sold yet

The team simply DOESNT HAVE ENUFF NHL TALENT! They have about 1 1/2 lines of NHL talent and the 4th line is actually ‘ok-decent’ for a 4th line - they bring energy, hustle and effort, there not great but there not bad either!

They are playing better than last year, they are its been FRUSTRATING 2 watch at times but they are a lil better - but they need more talent and even a veteran or 2 on the roster — but lets keep builing and i preached patience on day and continue to preach patience!

P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E, guys P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!!!

]]> By: steve http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106049 steve Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:31:34 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106049 i am a bit confused. we were the last, as in number one draft pick in 2009, team last year. when i read about how this team is worse then last season, i didnt realize we lost a dynamic player up front, or a "presence" blueliner. we are 10 games into the season, and i think its a pretty solid opinion we aren't bursting with talent. in 10 games, we have been out scored by 15 goals. toss out the first habs game, ans its 11 goals over 9 games. if you are what your record says you are, then these guys play hard and don't quit. we have an awful record taking leads into the third period. But we have taken leads, (5 times in 10 games?) into the third period. a team with supposedly bad talent, bad system, bad coaching, softer then a pillow. i see a club in every game, battling its heart out 9 out of 10 nites. in the last two season, we have started to load up on draft picks. i dont see many under 20 year olds dominating in the NHL, or even playing at the NHL level. and thats what we have in the system, a lot of under 20 players drafted in the last 20 months. throwing teenagers under the bus is a rough thing. does JB have 82 NHL games yet? as a center, i didnt realize he was playing with dynamic wings. wings who can convert his passes into goals. money. when your losing $20 million, you dont need to lose $30 million. yeah, its tired to read and more tired to type. but like gravity, to ignore the fact doesn't mean it will go away. patience. CB- its hard to ring up big goal totals when you have only 3 guys scoring. if a few more guys can find the twine, it might open things up for others. free agents. aside from overpaying, what ele can we offer top shelf free agents. i am a bit confused. we were the last, as in number one draft pick in 2009, team last year. when i read about how this team is worse then last season, i didnt realize we lost a dynamic player up front, or a “presence” blueliner.
we are 10 games into the season, and i think its a pretty solid opinion we aren’t bursting with talent.
in 10 games, we have been out scored by 15 goals. toss out the first habs game, ans its 11 goals over 9 games. if you are what your record says you are, then these guys play hard and don’t quit.
we have an awful record taking leads into the third period. But we have taken leads, (5 times in 10 games?) into the third period.
a team with supposedly bad talent, bad system, bad coaching, softer then a pillow. i see a club in every game, battling its heart out 9 out of 10 nites.
in the last two season, we have started to load up on draft picks. i dont see many under 20 year olds dominating in the NHL, or even playing at the NHL level. and thats what we have in the system, a lot of under 20 players drafted in the last 20 months.
throwing teenagers under the bus is a rough thing. does JB have 82 NHL games yet? as a center, i didnt realize he was playing with dynamic wings. wings who can convert his passes into goals.
money. when your losing $20 million, you dont need to lose $30 million. yeah, its tired to read and more tired to type. but like gravity, to ignore the fact doesn’t mean it will go away.
patience. CB- its hard to ring up big goal totals when you have only 3 guys scoring. if a few more guys can find the twine, it might open things up for others.
free agents. aside from overpaying, what ele can we offer top shelf free agents.

]]> By: George. Dyker Heights.Brooklyn http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106047 George. Dyker Heights.Brooklyn Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:44 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106047 I have 2 comments to add to all this. #1 Some people are all of a sudden hoping for D.P.'S return. With the way our defense is and the way Dipietro plays he's liable to get hurt. He's always in the mix and our D doesn't threaten anyone from in front of the net. Don't rush him. #2 I'm not the one to complain about Tavares cause he was my pick, but he needs to shoot more. He always passes. I thought he was categorized as a sniper. When he comes down with the puck he always tries to go around a defenseman and always loses the puck. He's definately not an Ovechkin but use that d-man in front of you as a screen and take a shot like Ovi does. What I'm trying to say is that he's not a brilliant skater, so he needs to stop trying to beat d-men, stop looking to make that pass and try shooting. We got him for his scoring not his passing game. I have 2 comments to add to all this.
#1 Some people are all of a sudden hoping for D.P.’S return. With the way our defense is and the way Dipietro plays he’s liable to get hurt. He’s always in the mix and our D doesn’t threaten anyone from in front of the net. Don’t rush him.
#2 I’m not the one to complain about Tavares cause he was my pick, but he needs to shoot more. He always passes. I thought he was categorized as a sniper. When he comes down with the puck he always tries to go around a defenseman and always loses the puck. He’s definately not an Ovechkin but use that d-man in front of you as a screen and take a shot like Ovi does. What I’m trying to say is that he’s not a brilliant skater, so he needs to stop trying to beat d-men, stop looking to make that pass and try shooting. We got him for his scoring not his passing game.

]]> By: mrlbem http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106046 mrlbem Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:55:24 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106046 As a rabid fan and paying customer (season ticket holder), I want the GM of my team and his hockey people to exceed expectations. I don't care, for example, if, say, Tampa Bay is still doing lousy. However, when I look over to the Western Conference and see that Colorado, who was close to as bad as my team was last season, is in first place, I want to know why my team can't be doing just as well. Don't I have the right to have such expectations of the people running the team I follow? As a rabid fan and paying customer (season ticket holder), I want the GM of my team and his hockey people to exceed expectations. I don’t care, for example, if, say, Tampa Bay is still doing lousy. However, when I look over to the Western Conference and see that Colorado, who was close to as bad as my team was last season, is in first place, I want to know why my team can’t be doing just as well. Don’t I have the right to have such expectations of the people running the team I follow?

]]> By: Maydog http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106045 Maydog Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:42:45 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106045 This review has too much sugar for my taste. Trust me, NO COACH is afraid of preparing to face the Islanders... This review has too much sugar for my taste. Trust me, NO COACH is afraid of preparing to face the Islanders…

]]> By: Metalcoconut http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106044 Metalcoconut Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:36:53 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106044 I have seen improvement over the past two games. Granted the opening 8 games were far less than pretty I have to say that perhaps the players weren't really prepared for Gordon's demands of practice. Honestly, if I were Gordon I would not let up on them, even if they continue to struggle in the games. Pull a Brooks and pit them against the coach. Perhaps that unity will develop more over the season and carry into a sure-to-be more talented team next year. I can live with that trade off. Plus they will be much better conditioned at that time. If you think about it, last year Gordon did not have the opportunity to pull out the proverbial whip on the youngsters because most of them were hurt a decent portion of the time. Therefore, this season should be his first full season of implementing his style. I have to say, I like what I see from Frans so far. He tends to be a little more creative with the puck and I beleive that might be working its way back into Bergie's head. Perhaps we can expect better things to come from Frans in the near future. As for Okposo, it really can't be fair to use the youngster as the journeyman-pick-me-up for the rest of the team. He should be on a solid line. bouncing him back and forth between lines is not helping his DEVELOPMENT. Yes, guess what he is still young and still developing and of all the Isles he looks to be the player with the most upside right now. Bouncing him back and forth between struggling lines is not helping him. Let him settle in a little and get on track with some steady linemates. I believe that working with Frans will pay off for both of them. I have seen improvement over the past two games. Granted the opening 8 games were far less than pretty I have to say that perhaps the players weren’t really prepared for Gordon’s demands of practice. Honestly, if I were Gordon I would not let up on them, even if they continue to struggle in the games. Pull a Brooks and pit them against the coach. Perhaps that unity will develop more over the season and carry into a sure-to-be more talented team next year. I can live with that trade off. Plus they will be much better conditioned at that time.

If you think about it, last year Gordon did not have the opportunity to pull out the proverbial whip on the youngsters because most of them were hurt a decent portion of the time. Therefore, this season should be his first full season of implementing his style.

I have to say, I like what I see from Frans so far. He tends to be a little more creative with the puck and I beleive that might be working its way back into Bergie’s head. Perhaps we can expect better things to come from Frans in the near future.

As for Okposo, it really can’t be fair to use the youngster as the journeyman-pick-me-up for the rest of the team. He should be on a solid line. bouncing him back and forth between lines is not helping his DEVELOPMENT. Yes, guess what he is still young and still developing and of all the Isles he looks to be the player with the most upside right now. Bouncing him back and forth between struggling lines is not helping him. Let him settle in a little and get on track with some steady linemates. I believe that working with Frans will pay off for both of them.

]]> By: milehighisle http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2009/10/the-point-blank-10-game-report22-notes-and-observations-on-the-year-so-far/#comment-106043 milehighisle Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:36:52 +0000 http://www.islanderspointblank.com/?p=17185#comment-106043 Watching the Avs play every night, I have to wonder what the Isles are doing wrong? The Avs have NO high profile players. It is mostly all home grown talent. They know how to draft. They play a better system. They saw talent in Anderson, their new goalie, even though he only played like 30 games last year for Florida. They went out and got Koci, an enforcer, to protect their young players. The Avs make the Isles look like a Mickey Mouse organization. P.S. Don't bring up Rechlicz for tonight. The guy is a punching bag. Watching the Avs play every night, I have to wonder what the Isles are doing wrong? The Avs have NO high profile players. It is mostly all home grown talent. They know how to draft. They play a better system. They saw talent in Anderson, their new goalie, even though he only played like 30 games last year for Florida. They went out and got Koci, an enforcer, to protect their young players. The Avs make the Isles look like a Mickey Mouse organization. P.S. Don’t bring up Rechlicz for tonight. The guy is a punching bag.

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