2-HOUR CHAT: Trades, prospects, Lighthouse, Snow, Tavares, goalies, Gordon, memories, more!
31 Responses to 2-HOUR CHAT: Trades, prospects, Lighthouse, Snow, Tavares, goalies, Gordon, memories, more!
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Argh! Can’t see from my phone, will check later. Mad I was not available for this!
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goislesgo105 says:
Thanks for the chat C.B.! I really enjoyed it! I’m an avid Isles fan who now lives in N.J. I am so thankful for IPB! Your blog has become part of my routine!It would be so much harder for me to get Isles news without it.
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Strummer's Army says:
I think SNow would be a fool to not buy out Martinek. It would be a cheap buy out, the guy hasn’t played a full season since…..has he ever? He doesn’t compete hard, soft, doesn’t hit and he puts the puck in his own net a lot! Snow is already having a problem managing the number of contracts.
If he brings Martinek back he isn’t serious about winning or making the playoffs.
If CB is correct that the Isles will only be making minor moves while hoping to eeek into the playoffs then they should just forget about them for this year and play for draft positioning. As good as this team is getting and as great of a goalie tandem as they now have without the big center, more toughness and the proper kind of d-men it isn’t worth the humiliation of another quick playoff exit.
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partick says:
I think any playoff experience this team can get is good experience!
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Blizzard says: ….wow I also wish I could participate. A lot of good questions. What I really want to see is the holy grail interview with Snow!!!! Cmon Garth give it up for Islander country!!!!
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mht says:
Chris I want love to see you have an interview with Charles Wang.
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Eric says:
Strummer….Try telling players who are A) Trying to establish themselves as bona fide NHL regulars and/or B) Playing for a new contract(either here or elsewhere) to tank so we can have a shot at a teenager who may or may not be a bust. I wouldn’t want guys on my team who’d be ok with that. Why are people so obsessed with size? If you can play the game you can play the game. The “big center” you allude to…who would that be? Realistically. There aren’t many 6’3” 220 lb centers who can dominate on the score sheet. Sure a little more size on the wing would be nice but not a prerequisite. A guy like Byfuglien on Chicago could fit, scores a little and fights a little(6’3″ 246lb winger). Toughness? The Isles play hard every game, they never quit and I don’t see them shying away because they’re intimidated by an opponent. How many true heavyweight enforcers are left and is it worth having a guy play 3 minutes a game and occasionally getting into a scrap? I like a good hockey fight as much as the next guy but come playoff time they aren’t exactly dropping the gloves out there. As for getting the proper kind of D-men…What’s proper? Big, physical, mobile and mean shutdown monster? Get in line, every GM wants those guys and the ones that have them aren’t exactly eager to get rid of them for Biron and Tamby. A quick playoff exit for a young developing team is not humiliating. Going for broke and mortgaging away the future to eek into the playoffs only to be trounced quickly is.
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Madchef says:
this moniker of we need big scoring thugs is getting old. this team is not getting pushed around by anyone right now(flyer try and intimdate everyone…se ranger game last night) these guys are coming together as a team playing great entertaining hockey and the young core is starting to take shape. first round exit, what makes u so certain. they may seed higher than 8th at the rate they are playin. I want to see them in the playoffs, these kids deserve it and who says they cant win a series? can we take it easy and enjoy the ride. i feel sorry for you fans that are never satisfied or can stop and smell the roses.
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MJS says:
Yeah Strummer, what you’re talking about is stuff the Isles have already tried and ended up with, as you say, the humiliating first round loss in the playoffs. It seems that they’re trying something different. And by the way, how humiliating would a first round playoff loss really be for this team? The Islanders were supposed to be looking at the number one or two overall pick in the 2010 draft and were most certainly not supposed to be anywhere near the number eight seed. If anything this is blatant overachieving on their part, and it’s something to be proud of. We all know that despite the team’s success they could be better, but get over the idea that the team is undersized and stop being like all the fans last season who were threatening to stop watching the team if they didn’t win a game. This is still a rebuilding team. In the off season there will be at least a few personnel changes, but for right now, I’d prefer that the youngsters keep winning games because learning how to win is key to players’ development. The way things look now, Martinek could very well just be a depth defenseman and if that is the case, then that’s fine. Also, Snow seems to be more serious about winning than any GM the Isles have had since Bill Torrey (mybe an exaggeration, maybe not). To build a winning team he has gone away from the big Nolan type guys and he’s gotten great results thus far. It would be nice if the team added another big d-man or winger, but let’s not over do it. For now, I submit, that if you want to watch bruising hockey and the results it gets you these day, watch the Flyers. They are big, dirty, 6-3-1 in their last ten, and still have fewer points than the Islanders who are 7-2-1 in their last ten and score goals every time Tavares gets elbowed in the face.
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Madchef…I agree
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For those who want big, tough forwards, be patient.Tavares, Moulson and Hunter are not small forwards and JJ,Matt Martin and Petrov will be here soon. I love watching this team develop. I would much rather have this team make the playoffs and lose in the first round than tank and play for draft position. It’s really important to build a winning attitude. I see alot of good things developing with this team. I am excited. GO ISLES!!
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dudes are trippin talking about tanking the season. pfft, pleeeease!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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#s 8,9,10, three in a row that made me say wow! It is frickin fantastic to read comments like this. Seriously! Eric, madchef, mjs, I love it.
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James says:
It was fun being involved in the live chat this afternoon, thanks CB; hope you can do it again
As for strummer, your negative attitude is starting to get tiring for a lot of us. Again you would be the one guy who would bash KO or JT for not holding the Stanley Cup right lol
This team is fine, they are playing solid hockey, let them keep developing from here. Last I saw, this team does not get pushed around.
Also if you want size, don’t worry because Matt Martin will be with the big club soon enough. I am stunned that anyone could be complaining about this team, when they are in 8th place on January 22nd, especially after last season.
Just chill out and enjoy the ride for once man
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As I think about it, with a serious case of insomnia, (I mean what’s better to think about when you can’t sleep) if DP can stay healthy the rest of this season, we have a perpetual over achiever in Rolly and an all-star in DP in net with a team seemingly bursting with youthful enthusiasm and, well, ignorance. These kids are apparently too inexperienced to know they should be losing every game. I’m hoping these goalies can carry the team into the playoffs. Here’s to hope DP puts in another solid effort behind the Isles oppressive forecheck.
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Joey303 says:
This team would advance LIGHT YEARS in their development, if they make the playoffs. Stop with this draft positioning crap. We can see how this team is coming together now, to even lose in the first round would be a tremendous building block. I agree with MJS #10, the Isles were picked 29th at best, the playoffs would give the “core” a great experience. For that reason, I think a move or 2 should be made for toughness, for a late round pick or Biron/Tambellini.
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pj says:
This neeeds the playoffs, but regardless right now their development has to be light years ahead, the fact that this late in the season they are mentioned in the same sentence as the playoffs. They make it known that they are told to watch the standings, i love it. this year itself is a growing experience. we just need to add some peices without affecting the chemistry…but we all have to love where this team is at….LETS GO ISLANDERS
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Ethan K says:
For those talking about toughness, you have to realize that it’s slowly phasing out of hockey.
Georges Laraque, the best fighter in the NHL, was just released by the Canadiens, and he’ll probably have a tough time finding a new home. Fighting is a momentum changer sure, but nobody can make a living off of being 6’4″ 230 pounds anymore. You have to be able to play solid hockey as well. Guys like Shawn Thornton and Mike Rupp are big guys who not only fight, but can play decent hockey. The Isles’ system rolls 4 lines aggressively, and they all play 2 way hockey. Good luck finding a 6’4″ heavyweight that can play 12 minutes a game and successfully forecheck in Gordon’s system. Most teams that have recently rebuilt, including the Pens, Blackhawks, and Islanders, are all speed based teams, which is quite successful in the new NHL.
So hopefully in the offseason the Isles will sign a 4th line center who can win faceoffs well, play solid on the PK, skate well enough to forecheck, play a full game and get points, as well as fight some very tough opponents. But there aren’t many of those around… yet.
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joe fred va says:
I can see the Isles getting Ray Whitney from the Canes for Tamby, #1 pick…..That would get them to 6th or 5th seed!
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4195mary says:
Sure I’m dreaming, but what about Eric Staal. First rounder, Hamonic, Petrov + something. It would be nice, but I’ll keep dreaming.
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jerry says:
4195mary : not likely, the Canes just named Eric Staal the captain.
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bob burns says:
The Islanders finished dead last last year becaause they had, perhaps, more injuries than any team in NHL history. Last years team could have challenged for a playoff spot, without all the injuries.
This year, they are where they should be. In the mix with with 20 other teams battling for a playoff spot in both conference.
Welcome to parity!!
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battfist says:
I think Jack Johnson needs a new home…
Go Isles.
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isles fan-n-B's land says:
I agree with # 23…and as CB pointed out earlier this season ,good health ,ie minimal injuries have been a major part of the rebuild ..GO ISLES !
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Mario says:
8,9,10, awesome blogs. Why do we need to make a trade. Leave everything alone and lets enjoy the ride. Leave this team alone and make a splash in free agency and run with it. If we were to lose some games and not make the playoffs, i have enjoyed the season. Its freakin Jan 23rd and were still in it guys. Enjoy it.
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Willis says:
Even with a quick exit, if the boys make it into the playoffs it will allow them to get a taste of seeing how the game changes. I don’t think it will be humiliating – I think it will stoke the fire in them, I think we’ve got some hungry players and I wish them all the best.
Its also nice to see so many of us fans really supporting our team this year and actually starting to believe! Thats huge. GO ISLES! -
Swan says:
Martinek had an off year the first half of the season, but when healthy he is the top all-around Islander defenseman. He has a subtle game similar to Kenny Jonsson. Have to pay attention to see his true value on the Team.
Snow keeping Martinek and even extending him is an example of Snow wanting to win and have a better team.
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Islanders are the smallest market team in the NHL and had by far the worst season last year. Making the playoffs would be a step in the right direction and a huge step forward.
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The top all-around defenseman for the Isles is a bit strong Swan. I agree that Martinek has a more subtle game and when he’s on his game he’s a solid NHL defenseman but I’d say Streit, Hillen and even Sutton are better all around. I also don’t see the Isles extending Martinek past next year. He’ll turn 34 before the start of next season and as has always been the case with him his durability is what will be his end on the Island. He’s never played a full season in his entire career. I’d even say he’ll have a tough time cracking the lineup next year. I think the Isles will bring Sutton back. So Streit and MacDonald, Hillen and Sutton are your top 4. That leaves 2 spots for Gervais, Witt, Martinek and Meyer. I don’t know Meyer’s status past this year so he may very well be gone. Witt is under contract unless we buy him out or find another team that wants him. Gervais fits the youth movement and who knows what free agency and even preseason brings with guys like Kohn and Katic at the Bridge as well as how quickly Hamonic can impress. I like Martinek but I just don’t see him making it past next year, if he can even stay healthy next year. A big if.
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Chris Mc says:
Everybody’s talking about quick exit. What if we got NJ or the Sabres. We proved this past week that we can play with and beat both of them.
Wow, this was long! Good read, too.