ISLANDERS at CAROLINA, 7:00 pm - NYI Sign Gillies
Gordon wants team to “put somebody on their ass”
Backchecking with … Ryan O’Byrne
UPDATED at 6:00 pm - The Islanders have signed enforcer Trevor Gillies, who has been fighting and playing this season in Bridgeport. He has one goal and 123 penalty minutes in 18 games with the Sound Tigers.
Gillies will join the Islanders on Friday and could play in the bring-the-kids matinee against the Broad Street Brawlers on Saturday. Seems the Islanders have decided a four-minute enforcer may be useful after all.
Scott Gordon does not need his team to become the Broad Street Bullies. He’s not asking all of his players to morph into Steve Webbs. But the coach does want to see his team hit a lot more than they did in the last week, when the Islanders lost three of four games.
“For us to be successful, our whole team needs to be playing physically,” Gordon told Point Blank. “Sometimes when a team gets on a roll in the offensive zone, it forgets about doing all the dirty work. The reason we’ve had success scoring goals is because we initiated the contact, because we were the team drawing the penalties leading to 5-on-4 situations. There’s no question there has been some slippage in that area.”
Asked about aggressive young veterans like Blake Comeau and Sean Bergenheim, Gordon was emphatic that the Islanders’ drop-off in physical play was not about them or any other specific players. The coach will demand it from everyone, starting tonight in Carolina.
“We’re not as good as we may think we are sometimes,” said Gordon. “We need everyone contributing in every aspect of the game. When it comes to hitting, everyone on our team has to get involved. Everyone on our roster is capable. There’s no reason why all our guys can’t step up, play the body and put somebody on their ass.”
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Five days ago, if the Islanders could have won that third period against New Jersey, they would have earned the two points needed to be in sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Again faced with the opportunity to claim sixth place on Tuesday with a win at home over Washington, the Islanders were creamed by John Erskine and the Capitals.
Now it’s Thursday, and guess what? Maybe tonight’s the night the Islanders make their move in the bad, bad East. Carolina is playing much better of late, but they played last night in New York while the Islanders rested in Raleigh.
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11:15 am - Rick DiPietro is tonight’s starter. In a stunner, looks like Jeff Tambellini will be the healthy scratch.
Comments on this post and tonight’s game. Comment Guidelines.
This is one that we really need to win. Get it done boys!
haha!!! GORDON SHOULD PUT GERVAIS ON HIS ASS AS IN LEAVE HIS ASS AT HOME!
This game is a gift for the Islanders. Just play their best and win.
thank you! maybe they will listen and I can stop getting aggravated every time I see someone let up on obvious hitting plays. I’m not asking to put anybody through the boards but at least step up and throw some weight around. Besides Sutton Comeau and Hunter(when he feels like it) I haven’t seen ANY consistent body checks being thrown. They need to play with that edge, it has brought them success and compliments their style of play. If the idea is to wear down your opponent and force them to make mistakes with your forcheck then you need to get a little physical out there.
C’mon boys! Big road trip, let’s make up some ground here.
Let’s Go Islanders!!!!
.. Well well well - i have been SCREAMING and SAYING this for 2 months, (the cap game was sad, the caps ran around + NEVER got hit!) when was the last time they had a fighting major? Srsly? 3 weeks? a month? longer?
.. This team is as soft as wet noodles and they have to start hitting people ASAP. They desperatly need some size and sandpaper in the lineup, the Isles have a history of physical teams and i just cringe when i watch a game these days! Arrrghh, CMON GARTH PLZ GET SOME SIZE ON THE TEAM
..Ya know this is still the NHL and while i dont want the Broad Street bullies, i do want someone put on there AZZ and it should be done next game! The only question is do they have the lineup to do it?
Can you turn a bunch of poodles into pitbulls?
Thank you Scott Gordon
VERY glad to hear this from Gordon. We need this game.
#5: last fighting major was Dec 26 (Bruno vs Avery) and before that it was Dec 5 (Jackman vs Hale). 2 fights in December, none in January. i also dont really care about that, but at the same time i think it does say a little too much about the softness of the team. fine, dont have a goon out there to fight off a faceoff. but there should at least be the occasional fight just from the intensity of the game. there are guys on this team like Okposo, Comeau, Bergie, Hunter, Witt, Sutton that you would think would occasionally get in a scrap from some rough play along the boards, and they are all big enough to at least handle themselves in a fight. but if we start hitting more, that is all i really ask (and that perhaps will lead to the random fight).
fun fact: preseason- 8 games, 25 fights. regular season- 53 games, 22 fights. wow.
Excellent post and so glad to read Gordon is challenging his players on the physical aspect of the game. Let’s see how they respond to the Canes but the bigger test comes Saturday when they play the real Broad Street Bullies in Philly. If the Isles try and play physical, the Flyers will respond in kind times 10. We’ll see if the Isles can hold their own.
I miss Steve Webb
#2 besides the Tuesday’s Caps game where bruno was danced around twice with one leading to a goal, he has stepped up and jumped into the play the last two or three weeks after the Gordon benching.
Would’ve been nice if Gordon actually took a timeout last game to tell his players this, but I guess better late than never.
Bring up Joensu for the rest of the season and Matt Martin for 9 games.
Wow What a revelation!
This is obvious and needed. Hopefully it’s point reached Snow too, something must be done.
Hope Kohn has a good game, I am going to miss Hillen big time.
If we’re sellers at the trade deadline, then bring up Martin and Katic.
Amen to that.
we are about to find out how jack hillen is actually the mvp of the isles to this point. this is truly a crushing loss…
A challenge to his team. Make the opposing team realize that they will have a long night.Great challenge, I’ll bet Weight drops the gloves at some point on the road trip.
Bring up Joensu. Isles need physical presence.
I hope Gordon has the team ready to hit somebody.
Especially after watching carolina last night…
Carolina is coming off a 5 to 1 rout of boston and 5 to 1 shlacking of the rags. We cannot take this game lightly. Cam Ward has been playing well of late and this is a different carolina team than the one we faced last time. Play physical and make as few mistakes as possible. We need this win. Let’s go on a tear like ottawa starting tonite!!!
Let’s do this…marines
Put me in the line-up. I’ll hit anything that moves! C’mon boys, let’s kick some butt tonight!
Maybe we dont hit because we have no players who are big. You ever think of that Snow and Gordon. Trade Park, Sim, Biron and get some big players. By big I mean 6 ft 4 220 lbs plus.
BIG game tonight. Need to take care of business and get back on track. Wondering Rolo / DP in nets?
Eight teams 1 point apart for the last 3 playoff spots. EVERY game is so important. This is a lot more fun than last season!
I like that. Maybe he should channel Paul Newman in slapshot and tell his team to “let ‘em know we’re there”
Bring Martin up for a game. Let me do a little wrecking of his own.
I dont know how everyone thinks tonites game is an auotmatic 2 pts. Carolina is starting to rock and roll. The only advantage I see tonite, is that the Hurricanes plasterd the Rangers last nite, then had to travel home. Otherwise, who are we? The 05/06 Wings? Cmon, 2 pts are not a given, we are far from that level yet.
CB<
It’s going to be hard to play physical when they don’t have the “horses” to play physical. I agree that Matt Martin might be worth a look since he does play a physical game. He would be a good fit as the LW for JT and KO. Then we could put Bailey back to center on the 2nd line. I didn’t Jesse J. was that physical when he was up. However, I don’t think he was playing major minutes when he was up.
Also, I’ve seen that when they bring up a dman from the minors, he gets to play alot. When they bring up a forward he plays 4th line minutes. I think Gordan needs to change that.
this team is too light in the ass,,,anyone remember the intensity of the isles ranger games a few short years ago?godard,cairns,mccarthy,simon,,steve webb hitting anything in site,,both teams playing like it was the stanley cup…now what avery and gervais hugging….no intensity anymore..we have some talent on this team,get some size and bring back the intensity to li, teams used to faer coming to this building
Bring up JJ and Martin for the Flyers. They seem to beat us every time!
Hand-in-hand with being more physical is getting that constant forecheck going again. The best stretch of games the Isles played - Detroit, Buffalo, NJ - they never let those teams break cleanly out of the zone. There was always someone putting pressure on the puck and always someone in the passing lanes. There have been flashes of that since, but not the constant focus and attention to detail. At least that’s what I’ve seen. Teams with good forwards, like the Canes, can be beaten if you take the forwards out of it by making them play D all the time.
There is never a certain 2 points to the 2009-2010 Islanders, sorry.
maybe carolina will play their backup goalie tonight.
after watching their 60 minute effort last night, this will not be an easy game. they are quick and play very well in their own end.
Will be a tough game tonight. Staal is on fire and Cam Ward has been hot as a pistol recently. Don’t let their record fool you. It will be a tough battle. We are far more desperate than they are.
Thank you Captain Obvious
The Islanders are the softest team in the NHL. HANDS DOWN. ask John Tavares Teeth if you don’t believe me. we are going nowhere unless Snow brings in some snarl. the roster we got won’t morph into tougher players. you are what you are.
Let’s hope the Islanders are not warn out after experiencing the vibrant nightlife of Raleigh, NC on Wednesday. Plus how worn out can the Hurricanes be after playing the going-thru-the-motions Rangers yesterday?
I want to know what is the Isles response to Philly if Carcillo does to an Islander what he did to Gaborik.
He cant ask them to be something they are not , most of this team is too small to actually hit anyone. The guys that can hit don’t want to b/c in todays game if you really lay into someone chances are someone will come after you , and this team doesn t have anyone to police this behavior. You can t blame the team , this is on Garth , you have no one to fill the role the coach is asking for. Comeau and Hunter don t want to hit anyone becasue they might get pummeled. Bring in some muscle, its really not too much to ask for or that hard to come by. Garth from what I remember was fiery and he is trying to build the Lady Bing dream team , I don t understand the logic. It sells tickets , at least if you know nothing about building a diverse team with no weak areas at least understand economics.
#24 No they didn’t think of that because they know you don’t need to be big to hit someone. Watch the replays of the winning streak and you’ll see ALL of the players skating to the puck carrier, taking the body, and causing turnovers that led to scoring chances and goals. That’s what Gordon’s talking about.
Sometimes I wonder if the people who are always talking about fighting and killing someone actually care about watching a hockey game and or winning. Sometimes it seems that their sole motivation for watching hockey is to see someone get hurt.
It sounds like Scott Gordon needs to make a call to Rex Ryan
… #30 terry, your 110% right and whats worse is that theres not much intensity for even divsional games (Rags, Flyers, Devs, etc) 2 many games are flat out snorefests! Sad
… Can we expect non physical players to all of a sudden become physical? Isnt that wishfull thinking? the players on the roster are not going to turn into Webb, Carins, Scatchard, Peca, etc etc (I WISH!!) — The ‘ingredients’ are simply not in the making. - time to add some DIFFERENT ingredients in the cake Isles.
..Im not saying change the whole roster lol but mix it change it a lil, cmon Garth!!
i think one of our greatest strengths is the ability to roll 4 competitive lines. I think a Brasher/boogard type enforcer would hurt us. that being said, i would love to see Jackman come back or a carcillo/thornton type. Someone that can play a regular shift and be a deterrent. but those are hard to come by.
yep this is much needed. someone posted that we have two fights in december and none in january. thats soft right there.
Nice words by Gordon, but we only have three or four players that play that style.
…#39. we know what the response is. watch what they did after Pronger knocked JTs teeth out, or after Jovotard elbowed him in the kissser. NOTHING!!!
Who was going to retaliate ? Garth is sending our boys onto the front lines without any weapons. How about when Jackman got his eye socket broken ? Or the last hundred times opposing teams have hit our goalie with no response from our d men. For everyone on here that think some of us just want violence it is not the case. This is a physical sport and checking and fighting are a part of it , like it or not. You can t just build a team without that and expect opposing teams to respect that and leave it in the locker room. I guarentee they acquire some form of a tough player ( not a goon) and the next game is sold out.
Unfortunately some teams win and think they are too good to do the little things that made them win. CBJ did the same at one point. Yes, we need to add some toughness. I’m all for having a look at JJ and/ or Matt Martin.
Post updated. DiPietro starts, looks like Tambellini (no way!) sits again…CB
STEVE WEBB!!!!
God, chanting that back in the playoffs against the Leafs as he bowled over Toronto players was awesome. They should get a guy with the same build, have Webb train him, and put him in the lineup.
This team NEEDS that.
good for gordon. I agree 100%. Weight said same thing about lack of hitting other night.
While i was not that upset after lost to devils. While we didnt play hard in 3rd i think we should have one. 2 devil goals were nothing more to lucky throw puck and hot it redirects at net.
But to performance of team vs Washington was embarassing. They better elevate the game if we going to make playoffs.
If they assume the win in the bag against Carolina b/c they played last night vs rangers. We will lose again.
Tonight is MUST WIN.
I understand that DP is the future of this team, but Roloson should be starting! He has carried this team and he is our best chance to get to the playoffs!
DP is one of my favorites of all-time, very happy to have him back, and he is intergral to our rebuild and future……
BUT…..
Rolo should be starting tonight.
With He and DP splitting the Weekend Set.
Have we lost sight of why we are even in the Playoff Race currently?
D W A Y N E………..
Can’t believe I’m gonna go there.. but.. Man talk about a place for a guy to lead by example and make the other guy pay the price.. throwing the body or a few punches” I mean, he doesn’t have to be a goal scorer.. What was that guys name, oh yea.. Steve Tambellini ?? Ohm, no.. not quite
Tambellini is scratched???????????
Looks like Gordon is trying to shake things up a bit.
Why is ass not a bad word anymore?
Where are the Rich Pilon/ Darius Kasperaitis types????? Andy Sutton is the closest thing we have. Comeau has definately lost his edge. last year there were claims that he was one of the hardest hitters in the league.
Again with the DP talk. There’s never a right time for him to play - is there? Rolo has been great for us - no question there. But, DP needs to play. That’s it. Get over it. He’s going to play at some point. Is Rolo the new goaltending God that he can’t sit sometimes. We’re not putting Yann Danis in the net. It’s Rick DiPietro. WE ARE RE-BUILDING! He’s back and, hopefully, here to stay.
Whos going to hit? Scott voices his opinion, time for our GM to step up and answer that. Get a guy like Jamal Mayers at least. Someone who is a true grinder, these Islanders arent, regardless or people saying thy are. The softness of this team is becoming a joke.
re: post #46 ken,,,if we had boogard on the forth line that would suck,,,bet jovo,phanuff,mottou and pronger would think about running our talent,knocking out jt’s tooth and running our goalie on a regular basis,,,jackman plays 100% and with heart,,but hes not the answer,,i bet this team would play bigger as a whole if we added some legit nhl muscle,,and forget about the wrecker,,,
As I said yesterday, Jamal Mayers is available and he can certainly still play a regular shift. There’s no question the team needs some toughness and a legitimate hitter. Trent Hunter doesn’t cut it, sorry. I’d love to know what his issue is this season. When Snow became GM, I always thought he’d put a tough team together. It’s just really sad how soft they are. And, yeah, every divisional game (Rangers/Flyers/Devils/Penguins) is great besides those involving the Isles. There’s just no passion whatsoever.
It’s good to see that DP gets the start in a big game, against a team playing well. He is still the future between the pipes for the Isles so they need to play him to confirm that to see what he is made of. Also good to see Flash take a position and call his team out a little. Hopefully they respond and make him eat his words. We need 2 points tonight!!
This team is really going to miss Hillen. I really don’t think Snow can sit on his hands here. Biron, Weight and Park are already in the DISCOUNT BIN. If Snow can find a top four “D” it might be time to put the for sale sign on Tambellini (like it wasn’t there already), Comeau (who might have the MIS-HANDLED label on him) and/or Bergie (I hope not). I don’t want to see Comeau or Bergie go, but you have to give to get… and this team is organizationally thin on BIG, TOUGH, “D”.
I love it!!!! DIPI DIPI!! Bottom 3 is looking like more and more like reality!
The Hall, Seguin, Fowler watch has OFFICIALLY begun..
This team is NOT serious about making a playoff run by f’ing up the chemistry with bringing Dip#&$% back.. Look at last year.. Rolli started 30 straight for the Oilers in the stretch run and was amazing. Hey Gordon get a clue..
Gordon says Isles need to hit more? This is a revelation? Fans have been calling for more toughness from this team all year and only NOW its an issue from the coach? This is unbelievable! Aside from Sutton and KO, who’s gonna hit? You do know that HITTING May lead to getting into a fight and we all know that no one on this team wants that.
Eric Nystrom. Now there is a kid we could use on our 4th line to bring some energy and toughness!
you know Gordon wanted to keep Thompson. He was a perfect 4th line knock em on your ass guy…What does Tamby have on Snow..measurements of his old hockey pads or something. Hit somebody boys!!
SCLI - That would make too much sense.. Why bring Eric Nystrom to Long Island where he grew up and where he can wear #23 and ignite the crowd night after night.. That would make too much sense.. They rather make no sense by starting a goalie who is not ready to play vs a goalie who has kept the Isles above 500..
CB - you are closer to the team than most. What is Tamby’s work ethic like in practice, and keeping in shape? to expect him to contribute after sitting so long… it just isn’t possible. He doesn’t have game legs. no amount of bike work or practice prepares you for game action.
The 3 on 5 Hlen played with no stick for the last 40 seconds or so was awesome to watch. He will be missed and we are going to have to add a. Veteran defender at some point getting. Sutton back will help with the physical play. I am not down on the team because of the Caps game. That one was a rare occasion where we got mauled. We showed grit against the Devils and Pitt in defeat . I fully expect. A decent road trip. Can we PLEASE beat the Flyers
Andre “Poodle” Lussier, defense. Andre, as you know, has been living in semi-seclusion in Northern Quebec ever since the unfortunate Denny Pratt tragedy
Why do i feel like we are watching a rerun of slapshot ?
As much as I would like to see it, this team is not going to add any players now or at the deadline. Maybe they deal Biron for a pick, but that’s about all I see happening for the Isles.
i don’t really buy the fact that if you had an enforcer on the team, john tavares would still have teeth. the capitals have arguably the best crop of skilled forwards that also look funny when they try to stick up for themselves. and yet, they average a fight once every four games. why is that?
tavares is best when he has control of the puck inside of the hash marks. the problem is that theres no one on his side that can muscle in and get him the puck. power forwards are a tough commodity to obtain. getzlaf is untouchable…so is jeff carter. i hate to speculate on trades, but how about the highly overpaid dustin penner? he costs a lot, but the team is missing someone like him to assist in the forecheck and puck control.
Hey,Eric Nystrom, Seems that Snows idea of a tough guy is Jon Sim! LOL Your so right about not making any sense. We load up Bridgeport with all these tough, rough and tumble players and we never bring any up to bring some energy to the big club.
can’t discount the canes folks. even when they were dead last in the entire NHL, i knew they’d make a run and become competitive again. they’ll be in the playoff push before long. since cam ward came back they’ve been playing very well and will continue to. i’m looking forward to a close game tonight, could definitely go either way but the defense is going to have to perform because goals will not come easy.
#69….If the kid’s last name wasn’t Nystrom, would you still be so gung-ho to bring back a relatively irrelevent player to the Isles? Will this team’s fan base ever just look back at the dynasty years and say “that was fun, but it was 25 years ago….”???
#75…couldn’t agree more. Webb…Nice guy, lots of grit and determination. ZERO hockey skills.
#76….and *I* can’t stand when beer league players try and compare their experience playing against 50 year old men at the local rink to the experience of an NHL’er.
No one’s attacking Steve Webb. Just stating the obvious. Give me *one* Mike Bossy over 100 Steve Webb’s any day of the week. SKILL still wins in this league….something these 2009-10 Isles desperately need…or did you not watch that isles?penguins game a few weeks ago?
I’m not talking about beer league, big man. Beer leagues don’t allow checking. 100 Mike Bossy’s, all star teams, etc. don’t win Stanley Cups. Well-balanced teams do–and well-balanced teams have guys that can hit and fight to change the course of a game.
A loss to an elite Capitals teams and the loss of a player to injury, and all of the sudden the playoffs are out of sight and we’re in for a lottery pick.
Folks, we need to level out here. Let’s see how this road trip goes.
I also don’t think Hillen is going to miss as many games as people think; not with the cages available today to cover the jaw area and with the Olympic break coming up.
I hear Mick Vukota is available as a free agent….someone will end up on their ass…not sure who, but someone will
Put in Randy Jones….oh wait.
Ricky D tonight, eh? I’d like to see the steady presence of Rollie in there to start off the road trip, personally, but oh well. Hopefully most of the play will be in the other end and who’s in net will be a non-factor.
I’d say keep what we have and move the parts (biron, weight, tambs) for any picks we can get. If the team keeps up the pace and makes the playoffs, fantastic. If not and they free fall to a top 5-10 pick, fantastic as well. Either way we win. We get a shot at the playoffs, or a good draft pick to keep the rebuild moving. The worst thing we can do in this position, in my opinion, is to give away any youth or any draft picks looking for a rental player to push for the playoffs. If I’m Garth Snow, I pick up draft picks for the players I need to trade, and refuse to give up anything that will help the rebuild, playoffs be damned.
We’re not a contender yet, we can’t afford to slip back to the Mad Milbury quick-fix routine.
#81…Lighten up Francis.
You are correct in that well rounded teams usually win the Stanley Cup, however, GOOD teams do not rely on the likes of Steve Webb.
I’ll never understand the folklore behind this guy. Again, seemed like a good man but far too much praise for a player with a marginal (at best) skillset
Im not blaming the system or saying it needs to go, I actually like the system. I just want to make a point that there seems tobe a lot of accountability in this system and I think it has led to less bodychecks. I remember a comment by one of the players, and I beleive it may have been Comeau, that Gordon wasnts the players to throw checks but not at the expense of taking them out of the play. I’ve noticedthat once an opposing player gets rid of the puck players dont finish their checks, as opposed to past years when an Isle was withing two steps of a player, whether they had gotten rid of the puck or not, theyd finish the check
Tonights game should be a good one. Isles had a nice day of rest while the Canes played in NYC. So, if we hammer them early with our aggressive forecheck- the Canes will be dragging by the 3rd period. Trust me- I have seen the Canes collapse many times this season!
I’ll be there- a few rows behind the Isles bench tonight. Go Isles!
I wouldn’t put Ricky in after the goal he allowed from John Erskine
Our defense rarely wins us a hockey game. Sutton and streit are good but now that my favorite d-man Hillen is out the rest of the D is marginal at best. The 3 wonderful games we won happened because everyone forchecked like mad. The oposition never had the puck. They can’t score if we have the puck in their zone all the time. Shoot to win, boys. Let’s take 6th.
Big game tonight, nice talk by Gordon, really too bad they’re missing Hillen. What’s up with all the haters, Steve Webb forever!
I know Gordon says he wants to see more hitting but I think the team has had the most success when they play that GO GO system of his correctly. They get real pesky and totally frustrate the other team, and they have good support in the ohter team’s defensive zone.
If they just throw the puck into the zone and “hope” they get possession or if they come in along the boards all the time they basically shoot themselves in the foot (IMO) because that is when we see how “weak” many of the guys are since they have trouble creating anything.
Even if the Isles can’t play their game, I think their best chance for winning is if they can get the Canes (who are fast) off of their game. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have to just go around hitting every player they see, either. This team has won without constantly hitting before - I think they just need to keep practicing the GoGo style so it becomes more of a second nature. Which it wll be, in time.
Next year we add a couple of players who might be a little bigger. I doubt Garth’s suddenly going to throw out everyone who’s under 6′ and replace them with sasquatches…
Play your game boys! GO ISLANDERS!
“Put someone on his ass” … well it’s about time.
Hitting produces opportunities and creates hesitency (sp) in opponents.
CB- I believe tonight’s game is also a measuring stick game … in that respect to see how the Isles perform against a team that they should beat … and to see how they respond after getting the stuffin’ beaten out of them by the much more superior Caps.
I want to know WHY DP starts tonight? You know we have back to back games this weekend where its going to be rolli one game and dp the other. Why does dp get 2 of 3 games back to back weeks? (last week vs buffalo and NJ-rolli vs. pitt) Rolli is the starter!!
Also, I am with the group who thinks Roloson should be our number one, at least for this season. So when I saw DP was starting again I wasn’t too happy at first. (Not because I dislike him but out of respect for Roly). But then I saw that next up is Philly. So it makes a little more sense to start DP tonight and Roly for Philly. I’m cool with it.
How many times are we going to mention Steve Webb? Remind me, how many playoff rounds did he help the Islanders get through?
As exciting a player as he was to watch, get over it. We were a different team then, with a different style of play. A style which other teams could do better, and did. Now we roll 4 lines of solid two way players.
What we want are players who can give us a solid two way game and play physically. Kyle Okposo is our best player for that exact reason.
As far as adding size goes, they can replace guys like Sim, Park, Thompson (already gone), and Weight with players that can play as well as they can (not too hard), but are more physical. Not that they’re going to let all (or any) of them go.
Where they really need to think about size is their defense. Sutton is huge and is our best dman. Hillen is only 5′11″ but plays much bigger.
Hate to say this but STOP scratching Tambellini. It’s not like everyone on the team has been overwhelming - and we have been losing lately.
Frankly, much as it pains me to say it (since I like him & can see him as a bench coach for us one day) - bench Weight. Seriously, the guy is slower than Hunts lately. And he’s not really a great goal scorer.
Either way, play Tambs - or trade him. We’re not upping his value any by having him sit in the owners box.
Oh - and speaking of hitting - when did Streit start thinking this was the ice capades? I haven’t seen him play a body in forever.
PLUS, in the last Devils game he made NO EFFORT to get the loose puck that became the 4th goal. Granted there was only a little over a minute left but still . . . where’s the hustle.
And if it’s a matter of him being tired because he’s called on so much (for lack of D-Man quality), then he ought to speak to Gordon about it. Because there’s no sense in having the guy deemed one of our leaders on D, giving up before the last bell.
year two of the rebuild… sometimes up…sometimes down…moving along right on schedule…stay the course. If the right deal comes along for the right player at the right price, go for it. Don’t do what we’ve done in the past, Overspend for assests, as quoted by a former Islanders GM. we’re doing it right. I don’t want to hear another GM call us Circ de Islanders.
Get Mayers and Exelby from Leafs asap. Exelby is small but hits like a mad man and sometimes fights. Witt is done and Kohn isn’t ready yet. Exelby brings defensive depth since Martinek is always hurt and missed already Hillen is out for maybe two months. Mayers would be a solid fourth-line player. Hes been okay in the past but this season hes barely any points. He’ll fight and hit anything. Good size and decent skater but hands are like feet THEY STINK. It won’t take much to get them. Maybe a couple of draft picks. I think Snow has done a great job. However, please make a trade to please the fanbase. Canes are playing very good recently. Tonight’s game will not be easy!
I bet Gillies is in the lineup vs. the Flyers. I think Isles management has seen enough of Philly in particular taking liberties against our players.
To #97–In Gillies’ one NHL game, he got KOed by Boogaard in a famous youtube clip.
Good move signing Gillies for the rest of the year. Definitely needed for the PHI game. Need someone other than a top star to take Carcillo’s punches.
Party on Garth.
CB wish you would have asked O’Bryne if he knows anything about the LI real estate market.
I think the issue with the NYI and hitting is just in the make up of players on the roster. It simply isn’t part of their personalities for most of them. I think the other issue might be they are worried about upsetting the other team. Since there are no fighters on the Isles if the other team gets pissed….. I wonder what having adequate toughness and guys who like to hit might do to impact the other guys on the roster?
With De Haan and Hamonic currently injured it provides a great opportunity for them to hang out on LI and workout. While rehabbing the shoulders they can still go full speed on their legs and add bulk that way.
Good news about Gillies being signed to an NHL contract. He, Martin and Riechlecz have been an excellent unit for the Tigers who unlike their parent club is tough as nails. Hopefully a sign of things to come for the Isles.
GO Isles!
A d-man I DEMAND the Isles draft this year is Dylan McIlrath. 6′5″ R shot, above average skater, and top notch fighter. He’s been a captain for a while so obviously high character guy. Looks like he’s late first or second rounder right now.
Have a feeling JT gets a few tonight, just a hunch
Trevor Gilles = punching bag. What we need a tough line that can hit fight and is not a liabilty defensively what we don t need is a 4 minute a game heavy bag, c mon Garth appreciate the sentiment but we are a nhl team -
Does this mean jackman is out longer than we thought?
Gillies is at least an effort, but get an enforcer to do an enforcers job imo. Islanders always go against conventional thinking on this but a 215lb enforcer is going to have it rough. Just ask Jackman. Want no part of Mayers but would like to see if something works out with Exelby for depth or just to replace Gervais
#106 Gillies is 230. Ignore the idiot Isles website they can’t get anything right, they have not updates HT/WT’s forever. Just a week ago they mentioned Hamonic being 6′2″ 215lbs in the Isles Authorized but if you look at his profile on the same website he’s at his draft stats. Lazy folks that work for the Isles.
Guys with broken orbital bones usually don’t ever fight much again. It is very easy to break again once it goes the first time.
another shopping at Wallmart instead of Bloomingdales
Nice to add a wildman like Gillies. He’ll protect the kids. He’s fought the best. Doesn’t win them all but he’ll be the best we’ve had in a while. Not a small guy, either. Not big on talent but I hear he’s a great penalty shooter.
gilles may fight but he’s going down not NHL caliber and not a threat against the nhl’s big boys………………………dream on
.. HOORAAAYYY! LONG OVERDUE!!!
.. Guys cmon its a step in the right direction, it really is. Does more need to be done? yes but at least Garth added some MUCH NEEDED toughness and size to the team. All season long weve complained about them being smallish and not physical and this is a good step!
.. continue to play good discliplined hockey Isles and throw the body a lil bit and we should be ok - NICE START GARTH + LETS GO ISLES!!
Post updated with Trevor Gillies news…CB
Good job Snow to get Gillis in the BIGS’
We need this game tonight, I also believe it is the right call putting DP in there. Good signing of the goon, we need one.
as a few have said Gillies is a good fighter, not great though. one thing he’s always shown is a willingness to jump anyone if they take liberties with his teammates. doesn’t seem to care if it’s a smaller, non-fighter. if they lay out a teammate, he’ll go after them. kinda what we need, at least against teams like Philly.
not sure who’s spot he’d take in the lineup, but there are a number of guys who could use a game or two in the stands as a kick in the butt.
Nothing like going down to a nice matinee then heading down to Atlantic City. Hopefully be a good Isles crowd in Philly
Not sure what the others have seen, but I’ve watched some YouTube clip of Gillies and it looks like he can really throw the left hand. And he’s big. And he’s better than anything the Isles have right now in terms of an intimidation factor, so yeah, I’d like him in the lineup against Philly on Saturday. Other games, who knows. Against the Flyers, definitely.
And yes, I saw him get KO’d by Boogaard, but c’mon now, it’s Derek Freakin’ Boogaard we’re talking about. Most fearsome fighter in the league.
trevor is no clark
This years Mitch Fritz?
Trevor Gillies can actually skate and keep up with the play, much different than Fritz. Not only that but he is one of the best enforcers in the AHL. This is amazing, I cant wait to watch him play.
Everyone look up his recent fight with Jeremy Yablonski or when he beat up Kip Brennan a couple months back, this is sick.
Can we relax with worrying about the next Islander enforcer? There is no doubt the Isles can be a little more physical, but let’s face it- guys like Baumgartner, Vukota, and Webb would not fit in the current NHL.
I totally agree with #96- what did Webb really do to help the Isles in the playoffs? Cheap shots were still taken on Peca and Kenny. And Vukota didn’t really stop Dale Hunter’s dirty play in ‘93- did he?
Enjoy the unexpected excitement of this season. Two losses to the best teams in the east certainly does not mean they’ll pack it in. It boggles my mind how some are hoping to finish in the bottom 5 for the sake of a lottery pick.
Playoffs! Playoffs! Playoffs!
Let’s Go Islanders!
Keep in mind also, the Islanders were absolutely bullied by Philly last time, they need this.
Has the wrecker fallen out of favor?? No problem with the Islanders dressing an enforcer, but make it an enforcer. Islanders put Jackman in a tough spot as he had to fight everyone and he wasn’t capable, but was willing. Hope they don’t do it to this kid. Boogard is supposed to be available in Minn. Go get that monster