HURRICANES 3 ISLANDERS 1
7-in-a-row Interactive Plus/Minus
A short Plus/Minus tonight, with Charles Wang’s non-interview on MSG Network sharing the stage with the hockey game. Interview recap below, more coming above.
Minus: In their seven-game losing streak, the Islanders have scored nine goals.
Minus: With so much to play for, playing before their home crowd and against a team that went from Edmonton to Calgary and then Buffalo 24 hours earlier, the Islanders came up small.
Minus: Whatever the reasons for doing the interview - and we’re learning more tonight - this was not a good time for Charles Wang to declare that the rebuild is ahead of schedule.
Minus: The Islanders’ defensive zone coverage and Rick DiPietro’s touch pass on Jussi Jokinen’s goal to make it 1-0.
Minus: Jeff Tambellini feels the wrath again, gets just 5:44 of ice. Dustin Kohn, the talented young man the team waived Brendan Witt for, plays under 11 minutes. Andrew MacDonald is now over 28 minutes, which is too much no matter how solid he has been.
Minus: In addition to everything else they need, the Islanders could use another young player who combines moderate skill and maximum sandpaper like Brandon Sutter.
Minus: After his assist to give Carolina a 2-1 lead, Sutter - the son of former Islanders captain and Cup-winner Brent Sutter - hears his name pronounced over the Coliseum PA as “Suter.”
Plus: An excellent, reality-based television broadcast, with Howie Rose and Billy Jaffe frankly discussing the Islanders’ scoring slump and losing slide throughout.
Minus: The image on Channel 79 on Cablevision was worse than when my folks first got cable TV in the early 1970s.
Plus: At the last moment, I opted to make it a Centre Ice and Bass Ale night.
Minus: Sean Bergenheim with no points in his last ten games. Trent Hunter with one goal in his last 15 games. Richard Park and Doug Weight (just 11:54 of ice) among the veterans playing ineffectively.
Minus: Defense prospect Mark Katic out tonight for Bridgeport with a shoulder injury suffered Friday night during the overtime loss in Springfield. The team says Katic is day-to-day.
Minus: If Rick DiPietro is going to come out 20 feet to play the puck and then turn his back to box out an opponent chasing the puck, he’s going to get hit.
Minus: Despite talk from the coach and his players, the Islanders have not stepped up their physical play.
?: The Islanders are not out of the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Carolina and Toronto tonight pulled to just five points behind the Islanders for 27th place in the NHL.
Comments on the game.
163 Responses to “HURRICANES 3 ISLANDERS 1
7-in-a-row Interactive Plus/Minus”
Please Wait
Lineup shake up, now. Put Gillies, Haley, someone that at least wants to be there. This team is a boring, disgrace right now.
You must be in a rush tonight CB….WOW
Exactly what the Islanders NEED!!!!!! A top 3 pick….A chance to draft a young player or trade it for a PROVEN YOUNG PLAYER and a pick….
I just saw the Eastern Conf standings- another few weeks we might be last in the conference. The Oilers will probably have the worst record in the NHL.
Time to start making tanking, even if we made the playoffs, zero shot at beating the Caps.
Seguin here we come…..
Sellers at the deadline…
What a boring game; Making a last place team look like the Stanley Cup Champions.
Cannot get any scoring out of this bunch, give me a break!
Gordon’s gotta do better than this. Maybe they need to bench Weight and his Tenant, Tavares. Not an effort worthy of a captain and his understudy.
Leaving the game less than dissatisfied for the 8th time this season. This was by far the worst hockey game i have seen (both sides) in a very long time. 0 energy from both teams. All 4 goals complete garbage and luck. The islanders entire team looked 4 steps behind the play. Stopped skating and started reaching. Minus: The Islanders entire organization from players to ownership. The last game ill go to this season.
The teams chemistry seems to have changed since rickys return. i just wish he would stay in net for oncee. with that said they gave us some exciment this year. But This season is over.
Well of corse garth isnt going to make any big trades at the deadline. He doesnt want to break up the team meanwhile guys like Weight, Park , Bergie and Hunts havent scored in a while. But no, garth still doesnt want to get rid of anyone who doesnt score.
awful….
I thought there were a few guys that put forth a better effort than they have lately. The Tavares-Moulson-Comeau line played well as did Frans Neilsen. I’m so sick of seeing Richard Park out there like hes anything more than a checking line center. Im tired of seeing Bruno try but get absolutely no results bc he just doesn’t have any talent.
And last, but not least, why on earth did DiPietro just not cover the puck when it came through his crease instead of his half-ass flip that ended up being a perfect pass to I See Jokinen?
The Isles shouldn’t come back after the break. JETS- Just End The Season..
This had to be one of the worst games I have ever watched. Besides boring it was painful to watch the lazy play. Hey Garth do Taveras, Schremp, Moulson, Bailey, and the young defense a favor. TRADE THEM and salvage their promising careers or FIRE GORDON. Somethings got to give
Have to agree with Jeff, DiPietro is a bad omen on the team. I like the guy and wish him well, but I think the only way to continue getting better is to get rid of him. It’s funny how the islanders created the 10+ year contracts, but it’s worked the least for us!
Does the NHL allow an owner, GM or coach to be a healthy scratch?
This losing streak finally did sink us back down to where we belong. We weren’t worthy of being a Playoff contender. We were just a bunch of overachievers.
Don’t know if it has to do with team chemistry or not but I do not see the effort that’s necessary that was winning us games just a couple of weeks ago. I think I can count on one hand the hits that we had in the offensive zone. It really is fascinating how this team has transformed. It’s upsetting because just when they were beginning to get respectability around the league for their efforts, quite the opposite has occurred since.
plus-fans are getting tired of the wang/snow/gordon kool-aid. plus-bob hartley is still available. plus-snytv doesn’t have another pro-sports team under contract. i know cb, tv contract blah blah blah but fans and team are getting treated like crap from msg.
Huge MINUS: Isles are back on MSG Plus 2. The entire 3rd period the colors were changing and the picture was scrambling. I turned the Devils/Rags game and the picture is clear.
MINUS: MSG doesn’t broadcast in HD on FIOS. This totally blows.
Minus: Isles can’t score
Taylor Hall, anyone?
With a PP as bad as this one, the Isles don’t deserve to win any games. The worst I’ve ever seen.
Minus: Tavares picking his nose on TV….again
Minus: broadcast equivalent to 1955 TV
Minus: Wang trying to pull the wool over our eyes. What team is he watching? Yes, they had a good streak a few weeks ago, but they show their true colors against top teams.
Minus: Zero physical play
Plus: Turning the channel after the game ended
I felt like I was 12 again watching the game through the blackout scramble on USA. Don’t know what to think of this team right now other then we didn’t expect much this season.
Minus - The last 2 years
Minus - The year before that
Minus - No playoff wins since 1993
Plus - We only got an inch of snow unlike Baltimore
Yeah. Might as well go for a Top 3 pick now. Inexcusable showing tonight. And enough of this damn charade with Tambellini for Chriss sakes. Waivers…trade him…but don’t try to fool the fans and then play him *enforcer* minutes. What a joke Really! And where is the passion?!? The intensity?!? Soft, soft, soft.
Management’s Jobs are more than safe and it obviously shows with this crap on ice.
PLUS: Isles are in the hunt for a Top 3 lottery pick.
MINUS: Cablevision is awful.
MINUS: I’m sick as a dog and instead of going to bed early, I decided to watch this joke of a game.
oh well at least were gonna get a good linemate for tavares
Could be worse. Boston is winless in their last 10.
The Isles are a long way from being a legitimate playoff team, one that can actually win a round. Forget Stanley Cup, I may never see that in my lifetime. They need a lot to go right with their prospects (who somehow all seem to be hurt now) to develop into a real playoff team by 2011-12. The future isn’t all that bright because I’m not sure how committed ownership is to building a winner. Talk is cheap.
Minus - The PA announcer was awful tonight. Among his mistakes:
When announcing the moment off silence for Brian Burke’s son, he said ’solence’.
Mistakenly referring to the boys choir that sang the anthem as being from St. John the Bastard. (By the way, this was probably the best anthem all season at NVMC)
Referring to sponsor LIPA, Lip-a.
When announcing a goal, calling Brent Sutters son - Brandon Suiter.
There were a few others too. Please leave the drinking of alcohol in the stands…where it belongs.
Minus: if the bridge everyone is jumping off of was real, there would be no more water left in the river beneath it…just a log jam of bodies…rebuild folks, not magically better next year
I don’t understand why they don’t have an enforcer, but they’ll play Tambellini 5 minutes. It is ridiculous. I know they’re trying and the talent isn’t there yet, but they could play a guy like Laraques or Orr for 5 minutes a game. And those guys will throw the body. They also might take exception when someone hits their goalie. Even if he is out of the crease they have to hit that guy(forgot who it was). That is completely unacceptable.
I have a feeling we are moving to Brooklyn or Queens, just don’t see it happening here on the island. The team has completely lost it’s way, i do think it is more of a positive to get the high pick again though. It’s time to evaluate the players like Comeau, Gervais and Bergenheim to figure out who belongs.
Sim, Weight, Park, Meyer and Sutton are all UFA’s at year end. I only think Sutton has a 50/50 shot at being back but the others i hope would all be gone. I doubt there is much value and i know we need to have someone play but Snow needs to see what he can get.
We also need to find a tough guy who can play, not some lughead like Gillies but someone who can play 7-10 mins and actually skate and might occasionally score a goal. DP getting hit was totally his fault but someone needs to at least challenge the guy.
Time to get rid of Park,Weight,Sim,and Hunter we are not making the playoffs and they bring nothing to the table.Bring up some kids who will play with some fire.This has to be the most boring hockey I have seen in a long time.We don’t hit we don’t fight and we don’t score.How can Wang say we are ahead of schedule in the rebuild process when we will finish towards the bottom once again.Hey Garth make some moves show a pulse are you watching the same games as we are.
I agree Michael P. I think management needs to start looking at a few of the young guys who have been here for while and see if they really belong. Comeau, Bergy, Hunter and Gervais are the ones that top my list. Also, I think it is time to look at moving some of the vets. For me Weight, Park and Sim should be done with this team. You won’t get much for them, but it is time for a change.
I don’t know if it has been discussed but what can Sutton pull us at the deadline? 1st rounder? 2nd rounder?
This game sucked worse than the Giants defensive-line.
MINUS:We made an AHL goalie playing his first game in the NHL look like an all-star. Just AWFUL!!
MINUS: The power(less) play.Absolutely pathetic.
PLUS: only have to watch a few more of these pathetic displays of hockey the Isles have been putting on until the Olympics start.
PLUS: We have a real shot at the 2nd pick of the draft.
MINUS:We have a real shot at the 2nd pick of the draft.
i know it is tough to go through a rebuild but that is what is happening. here are a couple of facts about rebuilding teams from last year
phoenix coyotes last year started the year 24-17-7 in their last 34 games they went 12-22 finished the season at 36-39 and a lottery pick now a year later they are 35-19 solidly in 5th place in a tough western conference.
Minus: The PA announcer with all the mistakes was from Bridgeport, just adding to the minor league atmosphere.
Minus: Agree with CB on MacDonald, Kohn, and Witt D-Man situation.
Minus: No Jack Hillen
Plus: Overall the defensive effort was very good. Granted, Caroline played a conservative (we’re on a long road trip game), but very few if any odd man rushes and great chances for Carolina.
Minus–Is Bergenheim nothing more than a younger Richard Park?
Plus: It took until this point of the season to see such a swoon.
Even: Back for more on Tuesday night.
Minus: Tamby gets 5-3 PP time and immediately shoots a 30 footer with no one in front that misses everything. I’d bench him too.
Plus: A new drinking game that calls for a shot every time JT falls to the ice.
Plus: I don’t have to woory about how to pay for playoff tickets.
Plus: More balls in the lottery.
Eveen though “theyt system” has changed some, it still is chasing rather than initiating. Puck in the corner, first man takes tne nody second gets the puck..problem is rarely does second man come in. When thee is so little scoring, game plan ought to be changed’
I agree, wouldn’t hurt to tank again.
Why do the Islanders always get the short end of the stick when it comes to the TV? I was epping out and had to turn the game off. Is someone going to say something to cablevision and get this fixed or just wait for the team to move to KC so no one cares?
This team is done! Top 5 pick coming up. Not the worst thing in the world and we are used to it by now anyway. Just remember that the Caps, Hawks, and Pens all sucked a few years ago. There is hope for us.
Dump the rest of the vets and bring up a few kids from Bridge to get them some more experience and confidence for next year.
Has anyone seen a team miss the net as much as this team? Maybe Gordon should run shooting drills for 2 hours.
Plus: Toronto and Carolina are playing well and will pass us in standings and we can retake our rightful position at the bottom of the conference and win the lottery again!
MINUS: Foks, the Nets are going to Newark “short term”. There isn’t going to be any arena in Brooklyn for at least 10 years, if ever..Wang isn’t wating that long
i know that botta mentioned this but i watched the broadcast on cspan2 and it was ridiculous. i can’t believe that cablevision would broadcast in such an unprofessional way. home team jerseys solidified it, on tv it looked like a game from the 70’s. and in the third for a few minutes it even turn black and white. WTF?
we better beat the preds because if not we might as well start the draft watch meow. and to think that a few weeks ago we were rolling and suprising people. the SO of th devils seems like age ago.
you can’t be suprised when a dog acts like a dog right?
i agree totally with #43 since when did long island become a part of new jersey? we really need 2 broadcasts of rags devs?
Minus: Wang telling Howie Rose to not ask him about the progress of the lighthouse - when he already talked about it - Wang makes himself look stupid and goofy during all of his interviews. By the way is he only up to chapter 2 in his hockey for dummies book.
Minus: Cablevision - NO HD for the game
and I thought someone was shaking my TV for the whole 3rd period…what’s next a Black & white feed for tuesday
Minus: This game won the award for most boring game of the year
Wang still doesn’t have any clue about hockey - all he cares about is money and real estate…this team needs a shake up with some trades…they need some new blood in the lineup…he loves having young players on the team b/c they make the least in salary, and he has Snow keep the payroll low..…If I was Snow I would let Biron play goal on Tues night vs. Nash if he doesn’t make any trades…or better yet sign a Sumo to play goal. If Wang has Snow sign a Sumo mabe they will sell more tickets for tuesday’s game.
Plus: I have been the biggest Sim basher of the year, but over the last 6 games he has been one of the best forwards…
Minus: Anyone notice since DP has been back that all the team energy/confidence has gone down the tubes.
CB - Would Snow pick up Tollefson off waivers from Detroit? (sorry for the long rant)
All I know is that if Al Arbour were coach, this team would be doing skating drills for 90 minutes tomorrow, followed up with an hour on the bikes. Seems that Gordon is afraid to punish this team for crappy play. He is the coach, he should have full control of who plays, who is benched and be able to give the team a wake up call.
If it wasn’t for Comeau’s forecheck we would have been shut out.
I’m starting to think draft
CB,
Tavares fans/critics take note…
I was watching the Hockey Night in Canada feed on the NHL Channel. In between periods, Don Cherry was on and he said the three top goal scorers in the NHL between February 2009 thru January ‘2010 were 1.Ovechkin 2. Crosby and 3. Stamkos. The same Stamkos who his first pro coach Barry Melrose said, “he wasn’t ready for the NHL”…
The real MINUS is that it appears more and more likely that there will be no Lighthouse and, sooner than later, no Islanders on Long Island. So we’re all looking at a rebuild that will come to fruition, if ever, when the Isles are gone.
For everyone complaining about the video feed on Cablevision tonight it was just as bad for us on Time Warner too. Absolute disgrace that the league allows games to be broadcast like this!!!
Its a disgrace that the Islanders let there games be broadcast on CSPAN2. Why not put the game in HD on Animal Planet instead?
This team is awful, pathetic actually. AHL at best. I’m jumping ship. Go Devils
I know Charles Wang is showing a lot of class and patience about the whole Lighthouse thing but I think perhaps he is being too patient. He should be screaming about how the politicians are dragging their feet on the project and if they really wanted it done they would show it.
Also, Wang could show some more passion for winning. Rebuilding plan or not, if you’re not a contender there’s nothing to be happy about. He’s showing acceptance of mediocrity and it’s filtering down to the whole organization.
What’s Gordon going to do about an effort like tonight? Give them the day off? Watching the way this team plays makes me want to gauge my eyes out. After this season, where we will be picking top 5, there should be a long list of players not coming back. These players should be Comeau, Sim, Tambellini, Weight, Park, Meyer, Gervais, Martinek.
Plus: TV coverage was so bad it actually stopped me from watching this mess
I’m a diehard fan, but we are bad. Tonight wasn’t a snoozer at least. We might as well make trades for draft picks. Why keep Rolo and Sutton? We are 3 years minimum before making the playoffs. Hoping we get Taylor Hall! This season is done. This team MIGHT be able to win the AHL. Think about it- an AHL goalie shut us down tonight. IN addition to the high pick why the hell won’t this team sign a Top line D Man and a real 30 plus goal scorer- a proven one!! I will stay an Isles fan but will forbid my child to be one!! It is waaay too frustrating!!
besides comeau i agree with that list nyi93 @ 53 trade the rest for draft picks and project players
I think I’d rather see a top 3 pick then this team making the playoffs and being embarresed in the first round. We saw that acouple of times in the past ten years…I really don’t want to relive that. Let’s rebuild right and not rush this project.
PS- I hope someone lay’s DP out next time he pulls a stunt like that since Gordon is too much of a puss to send a message to DP’s ego. If Tortarella was behind the bench he probably would have sent DP to the lockeroom and told him to get undressed for pulling a stunt like that…..again.
That game was a joke pathetic and every other negative word in the english language all in one!!!!!!!!
19 - Edmonton is getting Taylor Hall. Sorry to burst your bubble, but their last years Islanders.
Yes, let’s trade all those pieces no one wants. Dont you all think Snow wouldve gotten rid of guys luke Park, Witt, Sim and others if he could?there are no takers for these guys.
Last month was nothing but good things and everyone had visions of playoffs and good times to come in the future. Now everyone sucks, everyone’s to blame, and the world as we know it is coming to an end.
Let’s try and get more dramatic Islanders fans.
Its a rebuild. The first true rebuild here in well over a decade. It takes time.
Isles have to be the least physical team in the NHL. Outside of Sutton who initiates contact?
Latest Standings:
1. Edmonton 56G - 42pts
2. Toronto 59G - 49pts
3. Carolina 58G - 49pts
4. Islanders 58G - 54pts
Plus-I’m not the only one saying to ditch vets and underachieving role players!!!!!!Minus-management is not listening Can anyone tell me what the line combos are.I mean it just seems like I’m always watching Gervais,Park,Weight and Sim.I like Gordon as our coach but sometimes I wonder what the heck is he thinking?I also will probably be the 1st on this one but Okposo for a guy that is suppossed to model his game after Igilnia he sure does stumble,bumble,fumble his way around the ice.By the way did he ever make the olympic team?….Anyway the rebuild mode,though I agree w/ it,is a long long ways away from bearing any fruit.I do agree w/ moving DP.This guy will never live up to Healy let alone Luongo.Free agency will have to become a path(2or3 players)to accelerate the development of these 19yr old kids.Others to move..Hunter,Bergenheim,keep Comeau he can replace their role.Nielson–for a 2cnd line center 8 goals don’t cut it..goodbye.
Didn’t think that the team played that badly tonight. I thought DP was ok. In order for the power play to work, someone has to camp out in front of the net. Unless your planning on making a perfect shot you can’t score on the pp unless you bang a few rebounds in. Don’t understand why that’s not being addressed. Let one of the goalies, namely Rolly start two or three in a a row to get something going. As soon as the team went into a game to game rotation we’ve been on this slide. These guys can get back on track with a fee adjustments. Not sayin that they’ll make the playoffs, but at least we’ll have something to watch that’s entertaining.
Not only is Gervais the last Isle to drop the gloves but he was the only Isle dressed tonight other than Sutton that has dropped the gloves all season. Not saying I want to see fight night out there and I’m not a fan of guys like Boogard who can’t skate. But it just seems like a fight should naturally occur more often if you are playing an aggressive game and occasionally making contact with the other team. It’s not as if the Isles are the high-skilled Red Wings out there.
Islanders lost again? Wang n 80% of islander fans think the more we lose the closer we become to the next great team like the penguins. Man who stole the islander franchise from the likes of bill Torrey n al aurbour n turned them into the pittsburghpirates/ Montreal expos?
Doug, The only difference between Stamkos and Tavares is that Stamkos can skate. Last i checked there arent too many snipers that cant skate…
#70 He’s no Scott Hamilton but Boogard can skate.
I am not a DP hater, and I know the team has really struggled offensivel, but it really seems to be as though the team’s chemistry really took a hit when he returned. The one constant for this team was Rolo’s goaltending, but since he and DP have been sharing the net, he has not been as sharp. Maybe it’s simply a coincidence that it occurs the same time as a huge losing streak, but it certainly makes you wonder.
i get where you’re going easton. they really need to be careful not to get too many young guys with out solid veteran (i.e. top 6) support. or else, the royals/pirates/expos/nationals/reds/clippers/browns comparisons will keep coming up.
First, Condolences to the Burke family. Our prayers and hearts go out to you..
Second, I have to agree with a few of the things said here to night. Roloson was our hot goalie. Bringing Ricky back and not moving Biron was a mistake IMHO. If you were going to bring him back, I would not have given him so many starts.
Third, Hillen is sorely missed. The most under-rated player in the conference. I could deal with losing Witt and playing Meyer, but not Hillen too. Could’ve had Phaneuf. I think there enough spare parts to get him.
I could see not going for Kolvalchuk, I’d be skittish too. don’t need another Yashin affair.
Also Gordon has so many doghouses lately he could open a kennel.
They usually go into their 10 game losing streak in December, they actually kept us interested until February. Thankfully pitchers/catchers is only a few weeks away.
Wow No one mentioning how we got the shaft on the disallowed goal, that was the fastest whistle ever and I could see from the 3rd deck the puck was loose..still trying to figure out why the ref pointed to the goal first, THAN waived it off..
DP allowed 2 weak goals, bottom line we should have won the game.
Wow that’s 7 in a row and I’m shaking my head listening to what’s coming out of Wangs mouth. WE are playing good and our youngsters are coming together, what team is he talking about?
Rebuild my A**. It’s hard for me to believe in rebuild when I see nothing happening. I’ve seen coaches fired and players traded with less of a losing streak than what we have. Every other team is doing something and shaking things up with moves and yet all we have is Wang saying we are playing good.
I can’t take this no more! Rebuild yeah right. You get some good players and build them around our youth and then I’ll talk rebuild. This is not a rebuild, trying to get goals or progress from players who can’t give you that. All I’m saying is I believe we are going backwords and I am getting frustrated watching a team losing 7 in a row and all management as to say is we are good.
Bodies in the dam piling up…take a chill pill…relax…we’ll be ok
Another no urgency loss, I’m shocked.
At least they thought about trying.
Next post will be about how sharp Bailey looked in practice and will be amazing next game.
Lets all support Sim for being on the ice when he played.
It would all be a different story if something were to happen, bot nothing will. At the deadline we wil again neither be sellers or buyers, we will jus keep all the dead WEIGHT, tambo, hunter, park..and next year well get to see the great 8 back on defence arely able to skate.
OH
and tavares BLOWS (no not his nose, he picks that) thats about all he can pick though, def cant pick corners and he definatley CANT SKATE. I dont see how someone who skates that awful could be regarded as the consensus #1 overall pick.
Terribleterrible team, and im done trying to get crap shoved down my throught by Wang and Garth. DO SOMETHING
Nobody mentions Doug Weight.. or Dead Weight. Guy is a waste.. AND he plays on the powerplay.
I was there tonight.. the crowd wanted a good game and got nothing. Power play is a disgrace. Park’s gotta go too. Bring up the kids!
horrible game…..dp had a sweet assist….enough with the experiment….coincidence or not the isles played better with rollie getting the reps.
the pa announcer was awful tonight…doubt he will ever come back….announcing st johns the baptist as bastard…and brent sutters kid as suiter….wow heard the cable feed was bad too…real bush league stuff.
as far as jt goes relax people he is 19!!! who the hell is he playing with??? moulson and comeau!!…who do you think they key on?? he needs more players around him. wasn’t st. louis playing with stamkos and i’m sure lecavalier gets time with him on the pp. give him time and get some players around him
This is NOT going to play for the draft. It doesn’t mean that they won’t finish 27th or lower, but they WILL NOT take the ice and TRY to lose. I’ll be extremely disappointed if this team tanks in effort to get into the top 3 in the draft. Trying to lose is bad karma and bad for morale.
Having said that, I won’t be suprised if the Leafs pass us, and I’ve said all along, the Hurricanes are better than where they sit in the standings. Both teams have a reasonable chance at passing us.
I’m disappointed with the mishandling of Tambellini. If I’m going to criticize Gordon for one thing, it’s that he’s played games with all the worng players; Schremp, Bailey, Comeau, and Tambellini. He’s inulated all the wrong players; Park, and the fistful of other 4th liners that we’ve had. It’s a shame, because Tambellini is fast and he can shoot. He’s going to upset a lot of Islander fans and management, when he’s scoring goals for another team.
The draft lottery is in approximately 9 weeks. Chances are that we will be a part of it, but not by tanking. My prediction is that the team who finshes 30th will not be picking 1st. Another team winning the lottery is due.
After watching the game at the Coliseum tonight, knowing the Hurricanes are behind the Islanders in the standings, and now they are 5 points behind us, I will start to watch the standings for draft and lottery purposes. It is hard for us to have patience, but this is only year 2 of the rebuild and a top 5, top 3, or even a #1 or #2 pick this year would be great since we are still rebuilding. Pittsburght had it for 4 years in a row and I am sure fans now are not complaining. Sooner or later this team will be very good / great again stockpiling all these picks combtined with some of the rookies they have in the system. Just amazing how fans can be, osing patience on year 2 of the rebuild. This is not the Milbury era so lets give Garth time and see how they handle the youngsters. Again, another losing season is not the worst thing in the world. Lets get a top pick who is of great talent, and hopefully sign Kovalchuk next year (I do not think it will happen). I am just as frustrated but this is only the second year of the rebuild. What I do lose patience with is the Lighthouse situation, but not the team.
ERIC NYSTROM!
It was as advertised: a battle between the 27th and 28th best team in the adrenaline rush that is Gary Bettman’s NHL. The game got off to an appropriate start hen one of the line judges fell down near the Carolina net when he came onto the ice at the beginning of the game. The host (Rick Garbari?) showed the class that is the Islanders during the second intermission scoreboard by omitting the Rangers winning 3-0. The scorer made a mistake by not crediting DP with an assist on the Jokinnen goal. DP must be wishing for another year visit to the DL by coming so far out and turning his back so he could get hit. Playing Andy Sutton on the power play says it all. Gordie Howe could do a better job than Doug Weight. I missed the 50-50 lottery by a mere 2,245
Worst of all, the Hurricanes didn’t bring their super-hot cheerleaders.
Andy Sutton is Big Time
I am starting to wonder with some of the ice time allotments, starting rosters and line juggling if maybe we are trying to tank it. How else does one explain the apathy and lack of passion? Taveras is aiming for posts and bribing officials to cancel out legit goals so he can get himself a top pick stud linemate
Of course that is not true, but in the end, I really want a top pick this year. Nothing more will help us build a team that can contend for years to come. Not looking for the quick fix. In fact, I’d unload Streit and anyone over 25 if it meant good pick or prospect
and if we are getting a top pick, I hope Isle fans and this board are more open minded and not say stuff like, “no longer be a fan if we take this guy, or this is a no-brainer” when there is legitimate debate amongst the so-called scouts. I only know 4 deals, we handle some NHL owners accounts, and of the 4 teams, one had Taveras #1, two had Hedman, and one had Duschene. But it is said that overall most teams did have Taveras #1, but it was a lot closer than the debate on this board would have made it seem.
Taveras is now an Islander, so he now has my support, and while he does have weaknesses to his game he is one of top scorers on the team and hardly the problem. But let’s try and be open minded, and not say things are a no-brain slam dunk, when it might not be just that.
Hope Toronto, Carolina, and Edmonton play some lights out hockey
If anything can be said right now, it’s that the team is behind schedule in the rebuild. We played a month of good hockey, in a crappy conference. Let’s get over ourselves.
John Tavares is years away from hitting his peak. The fact that we’re expecting him to be Sidney Crosby is ridiculous. There’s a very good chance we’ll end up the second worst team in hockey this year, behind the Oilers. So, who do we want, Seguin or Fowler? Maybe we get super lucky in the draft lottery and get Hall. Yep, it’s time to start that discussion.
When you’re the smallest, youngest team, you can’t expect anything but last place. I was afraid that when Dipietro got back, he wouldn’t be an incredible goaltender that he was advertised to be… he was never that good! Only reason he was an all star was because every team has to be represented in the game, and we had no one else. Only reason he was in the Olympics is because he had no competition. Let’s hope and pray that Mikko Koskinen becomes the next Tretiak.
Time to take offers for Sutton. No team wants Park, Weight, Sim, or Witt. They all need to be dumped soon. Let’s get some real veterans who can help our young players… not vice versa… at least until Kyle Okposo becomes the next Jarome Iginla and Tavares becomes the next Ovechkin.
I wonder what size Seguin jersey I should order?
I forgot to add, I’m losing faith in Scott Gordon. Uninspired hockey right now. Tambellini has the best shot on the team, and gets the least ice time. Are we really wondering while we have SEVEN goals in NINE games?!
And when the heck did Andrew MacDonald become Nik Lidstrom??
I know it hurts watching the team struggle like this but honestly this is no suprise. Coming in last to stayin in the playoff hunt is progress which is most important. We are establishing a core(Bailey,okposo,jt,streit) and will continue to build. With a couple ufa signings and the continue development of the youngins we will be just fine. remeber this is year two of the rebuild…How long did it take Chicago, Pitt, LA? Were gonna be up there in an even shorter length…patience. Garth knows what he’s doing I loved the Witt move honestly he just makes us worse as does half the players on this team. He’ll filter out the garbage but one thing he can’t do is give us the lighthouse which is most important…get a deal done!
To everyone hating on Tavares. We can all see that his skating is terrible right now but let’s be real people, you don’t score 50-60 goals every year up until now by accident. Look at the players around him, Tavares would have 30 goals already if he was on Chicago or Vancouver etc. He is nineteen! On the worst offensive team in the NHL in my opinion. He will get stronger,
bigger and faster…everyone expects an ovechkin type scorer which he will never be. He’s will be a quiet ppg guy but he’ll get the job done . Everyone wants the first pick to put up 80-100 points in their rookie year since Crosby, ovie did it. Relax he’ll get there eventually and when it matters when we contend!
The passes aren’t crisp. The energy doesn’t seem to be there. The power play looked 1000% better last month than it does this month. The only consistent aspect of their game has been ringing the post 2-3x a night. At this rate, I’d rather they miss getting into the playoffs as a lower seed and instead get a higher draft pick. Reality is that this team is inconsistent and not yet ready for the big time.
+ Knew way B4 this game started that it had the “BORING” label written all over it/
- Isles view that Enforceing is not needed, i guess entertainment not needed either?
- No Enforcer to even generate a fan clapping or getting out of their seat??
- No Enforcer to protect this skeleton crew
- No Enforcer to pump up his teammates, but they seem to do a really really really good job of doing it on their own, AWWW what a cute bunch of little boys we have playing here,AWWWWW!!! Dont play rough and play nice against your friends what a nice atmosphere playing here on the island!!
- Isles and toughness two words that should not be combined.
- Jaffe
Plus- TiVoing the game on crappy ol’ MSG+2 so I could watch the Devils-Rangers game on MSG+HD.
Plus- the Devils-Rangers game was exciting & even had a few fights.
Minus- staying up until 1:30am to watch the crappy ol’ MSG+2 broadcast.
Minus- the funky color-changing thing during the last hour of MSG+2 broadcast.
Minus- I can’t remember the last time I saw a fight during an Islanders game.
Minus- having nothing good to say about the Islanders game.
Why every season since I can remember do the Islanders at some point go on like a 7 game losing streak? Where is the heart in this team? I’m sorry to say again but DP is just not the solution to help us this season. Every game he plays we decrease our odds of winning. He’s undisciplined, inconsistent, showy, and quite frankly not that good. Roloson has proven to be our number 1 goalie and once Gordon can re-establish this maybe the team will start clicking again. I fear for my team being removed from Long Island if we don’t start winning again. If DP wants to stay on Long Island w his redic 15 yr contract that should have never happened in the first place bc he shouldn’t have even ever been drafter, we had Roberto Luongo!!!, than he should stay out of the net.
Plus - I have nothing to add about last night’s game. I think CB covered all the pluses.
Minus - I have nothing to add about this either … CB and the rest of you guys pretty much have it covered.
I cannot believe this is essentially the same squad that put together that hope inducing run earlier in the season. Just an awful game to watch. No defensive coverage and Rick D wandering too much. It almost looks like the team has given up on the season.
i don’t think anyone’s to blame for it given the cicumstances, but it really does seem like a different team when DP is in there. the g.m has no choice though, DP has to play so they know where he stands.
a month ago i was sure - most were - that they were beyond 7 game losing streaks. obviously another miscalculation. they weren’t as good as they looked then, and i hope they’re not as weak as they look now. maybe the posters out there who actually play this game can clarify, but it looks to me like these guys are worn down. the relentless forecheck and movement to the puck doesn’t seem as intense. is it possible the go-go system is just too much for anyone to sustain for a whole season, even all these kids?
this is the best thing that could happen. A top 3 pick will be sweet. JT is clearly not ready for primetime but I gotta cut the kid some slack. Outside of KO (and maybe Bailey) there are no legit Top 6 forwards on this team. Trade Roloson and Sutton to the Caps for a 1st rd pick!!!
The good news is it was impossible to watch on ch.79. I know Dolan spits on this franchise all the time but this was a new low. Islander fans money doesn’t buy the same product as the other local teams. Every local sports team on HD? I guess the jokes on us.
I figure you’ll need at least 94 points to make the playoffs.That being said all the Isles need to do the rest of the way is go 20-4! Ha Ha Ha. That fat Lady has sung!!!
Aren’t never as good as you think when your winning or as bad as you think when your losing.
The team hasn’t won since Weight stated they were good enough to make the playoffs and win a round.
DP made one mistake and it lead to the first goal.
If you don’t score you can’t win. And that starts with the PP. (Which Wang Mentioned in the interview).
The PP stinks. They have no one to quarterback the PP; bring the puck up and get set up in the offensive zone. Weight and Streit are fine once the puck is in the zone but, if you don’t get it in and se
t up, you won’t score.
What they need more than anything is a top 3 pick in the draft. Hopefully Seguin or Hall. They need another goal scorer.
Remember year Two of the rebuild, that will take 3-4 years.
Charles Wang’s “just tell me yes or no” refrain is just laughable. Charles, they’ve been telling you no for 10 years. Either refurbish the NVMC and run this like a real sports team, move the team to Brooklyn/Queens or sell the team and end the pain. Watching the logo continually disgraced by the product on the ice is getting to be too much to take.
I’ve been a season ticket holder for the last ten years. Every year I want to believe that the team will be better, but I guess that Mr. Wang has given his answer to that, too. I just didn’t want to hear it.
Just got back from the game, yeah I know it’s 9:30 Sunday morning, but I fell asleep in my seat and the cleaning crew didn’t want to wake me. What a snoozer of a game, ZERO effort on both ends of the ice, forget about the last fight, who can tell me the last time anyone on this team has finished a check? The reason why Bailey got crushed in the corner,hence his upper body injury, is because he didn’t finish his check in the offensive zone. If you got the game DVR’d against the Panthers, you’ll see where he first gets hurt. Is there a rule about giving a 19 year old a few games rest in his first season?C’mon give the kid a few days off, or just play him 6 minutes a game. Hey Gordo, what ever happened to 45 seconds to 1 minute shifts? I might be an old school hockey player, but shifts near 2 minutes in length are a sure fire way to get players hurt and kills intensity.Oh, by the way, LETS GO ISLANDERS!
As I stated yesterday….this teams dynamics changed when rick came back. Its nice he returned to NHL but his attitude or demeanor changed this team. Rolo deserves number 1 back
Jeff # 95 - Absolutely agree!!
…oh yeah we could really use a gritty sandpaper player with some skill like Branden Sutter…….hello Sim? Im gonna puke. This team lacks toughness. This team lacks talent. Since DP came back we stink. Rollie was on a roll and should start every damn game.
Gordon looks like Sterling. JT is overwhelmed and is not ready to carry this team. Stamkos has bona fide veteran talent on his team. JT has nothing.
We need some veteran talent….Hello Ted Nolan? This team just keeps gutting me day in and day out.
- minus - They are just in a absolute funk as a team - scoring skating, energy, etc NOTHING going on
- minus - The entertainment value is just TERRIBLE, the games are SNOOOOZEFESTS. There is *nothing* going on in these games!
- minus - Can we get someone TO FORECHECK? Can we get a big open ice hit? Can we get some energy/passion? Damn r they BORING to watch, im being 100% serious this is the most boring Isle team EVER!!
+ Plus + They will add some much needed offensive talent and skill with the draft! - There not scoring now *BUT* they do have some young fowards with talent - They show it in flashes, lets be patience guys!
- minus - Ive said it before and ill say it again, You can ABSOLUTELY SLEEPWALK through some games in the “New NHL”, man its becoming the NORM to have these boring games! More & more games are snorefests! its a scary trend as a hockey fan!! ZZZzzzsss B-O-R-I-N-G
Dp played terrible, the first goal was bush league stuff, the second goal was a fluke, we could have won this game in overtime if it was tied. In two years, the isles will do the same to DP as they did to Yashin and just buy him out. He needs to re-think his game. If Isles can get Cam Fowler, that would be great, he paired up nicely with Donovan at the WJC.
- Isles lose again
- Cablevision ch 79
+ turned off tv after boring 1st, read novel
+ Went to bed early, extra z’s for me yeah
+ Missed nothing except a boring loss
- missing our winning streak it was fun
- I find team now more boring now than last year–hurts me to type this but true
1) that crappy viewing of the game was not the fault of MSG plus 2. So stop blamming the network. The problem was either the feed from the building or specific cameras.
2) at this point we deserve to be relegated to MSG plus 2
3) to quote dennis green, they are who we thought they were. We all thought going in this was a rebuilding team going into the season that would finish in the bottom 5. So that’s what we’re getting. At least they gave us 4 months of competitive hockey.
4) the rebuild is working. Better than last year and will be better next year.
5) please everyone stop saying to trade guys like Weight, Park, Witt, etc. No one wants them, so Garth is stuck with them.
6) with a rebuilding team you dont make trades for the sake of making trades.
7) focusing on the positives last night: strong game from MacDonald (28 mins), Tavares (looked stronger on the puck and quicker than he has in months), Meyer (played a real strong game, saved a goal and jumped in on the play often), and DP (I mean he practically got 2 assists last night, too bad for wrong team)
This team WILL be good someday. My worry is where they will play their home games.
this team will never win anything if the owner does not step in. all charles wang cares about is his lighthouse project that will never happen. plenty of free agents that are still young will hit the free agent market on July 1st and we already know they will not even make decent offers. why should we spend thousands of dollars on watching a team that doesn’t even have a chance to make the playoffs when training camp begins?
We are now in the top 4! At least they gave us 2 more months of meaningful hockey then they did last year! Hopefully next year they can take it the whole way! Nees Taylor Hall or Cam Fowler and we are another step closer.
Folks, answer this question. Why is the 3rd worst team from (Av’s) last year all of sudden good? They have a young team too, maybe a little more young talent and a rookie coach, Joe Sacco. I dont think Craig Anderson has been that much better between the pipes than Rolo and Rick. Goaltending isnt the problem. Although, something is going on in that locker. Is it Rick? Is it Gordon? Probably Gordo!
Remember, a classy and well respected player like Bill Guerin was basically kicked off this team. Why? Problems with the coach. Dump Gordon already. Get an NHL coach who will get these young players to play instead of playing in fear of messing up. I clearly think most of our young guys play in fear of making mistakes instead of just going out and playing. Gordo needs to go! If he was great, he’d be coaching the Bruins and he never did. Time to move on.
FowlGuinHall… not a bad ring to it. Let’s get the discussion started CB.
Seems like the team took a nose dive when the superstar dipietro came back.Just my observation.Bring back Dubie at least he won a couple games.sick of being a cellar dweller.
Trade Park, Sim, Biron, Weight, Sutton. I expect a #2 and strong prospect for sutton. Biron #3 or 4 and a player. Weight #4. Sim #5 maybe park #4. We need to bring in some size. Losing is the best thing right now. We need a top 3 pick!!!! Then this summer sign 2 good ufas.
rick has done nothing terribly wrong, but he is a mush. Lock him in the bathroom.
On the bright side , the mandarain Chineese broadcast is terrific.
The focus really has to come off of John Tavares. As someone said in a previous post, he is hardly the problem. Players take time to develop. He has 18 goals, and he might get hot and pop 12 more in. If he scores 25-30 goals in his rookie season and is considered a disappointment… wow! You guys are harsh! Taylor Hall is not a lock to go #1. Tyler Seguin could give Hall a strong run for number 1 still. Brett Connolly is another guy to keep a close eye on. The defense that consists of Cam Fowler, Brandon Gormley, and Erik Gudbranson are lumped together, too. So picking in the top 7 will land a quality player. If I have a choice, I’d like the top pick not to be a European.
We’re not selling at the trade deadline, there’s not much to sell.
Well, if it is possible the go-go system is just too much for anyone to sustain for a whole season (dose, 101), then it is on Scott Gordon to come up with alternatatives. When they can’t play their game they can’t seem to do anything at all.
It seems so one dimensional and I would like to hear an intelligent argument for not having some different plans/plays for different types of challenges they face on the ice. Is that not reasonable?
+ was at Bridgeport game last night…3 fights and 6 goals for the good guys = energy and entertainment
+ Matt Martin is the real deal - one of best players out there and BIG
+Joensuu, Smith, Mauldin all looked good
-Biron did not help his trade value, looks soft
-Witt looks like a #6 AHL defenseman
Last night’s game was bad, obviously. And the young Isles have hit the wall. It was to be expected. But things are improving, and the future looks bright. I would rather have this team, that’s rebuilding the right way and has good young players learning, than a #7 or #8 seed that loses in the 1st round year in and year out (Sounds like the Laviolette, Sterling, Nolan teams). The rebuild will take time but will be worth it. As I posted the other day, here’s a quick history on the Caps: in 2002 they drafted Alexander Semin #13 overall. In 2004, they drafted Ovechkin #1, Jeff Schlutz at #27, and Mike Green at #29. In 2006, they drafted Nick Backstrom at #4 and Varlamov at #23. The point being…it takes a few drafts and time. We’re heading in the right direction finally.
+ I just got my Taylor Hall Jersey
+ Charles Wang had me laughing like crazy with the positive comments about the team
+ This is Parks’ Sims’ Weights’ Witts and Hunters’ last season
+ Nassau County will save money on the Stanley Cup parade
+ Im buying a boat now that I cancelled my season tickets
- Have to go to another Draft Party and hear all the hype
- Have to get 1500 more phone calls about ticket packages
- Will believe the hype about the team
- Will probably re-new my ticket subscription
- Will have to sell my boat to pay my mortgage
# 108, agreed. I stated as DNP was about to return that I was concerned with the team dynamic. While they had a run with him, I can’t help but think that it has become an issue.
What are the Isles going to do though? You have a player with the dumbest contract in the history of the NHL and they have to play him. It’s as simple as that.
What has become obvious is the fact that this team, while improving, isn’t there yet. No big discovery there. So here’s to letting them play through the tough times, let them remember how it felt to win and hope for a top 5 pick in the draft. Heck, if we can get Cam Fowler out of this? I’d be fine with that.
Guys: Things Snow knows but will not say:
1. No quality FA in their prime will come to this team. Star players want $ and a chance of a Stanley Cup. This team is 3-5 yrs away from cup contention.
2. The only FA Isles can attract right now are ones a little passed their prime and Isles offer 1 or 2 more years than other teams are willing to offer (but then you end up with Witt situation. You’re stuck with aging players right when the youngsters are hitting their prime (KO, JT, JB)
3. So if you’re in this predicament how do get quality players to come to your team?: You draft them (they have no choice).
4. Until you can draft a couple more quality players and attract quality FA, the Isles are stuck with an oversuplly or 3rd-4th line forwards and no real top 2 d-men (that’s why Isles have Park, Sim, etc..on the roster).
This is why another 1 or 2 top draft pick is key for this organization. Not an easy situation for Snow, but if he sticks to the re-build plan, he has this fan’s support. Otherwise, we’ll be back in the Milbury years all over again: mediocre team at best.
IMHO, JoeRiverside
Anyone have a answer to this question..Whats the point of a rebuild if the Islanders have to have the lowest payroll in hockey every year? How could it ever work? The only years the Isles didnt have the lowest payroll in hockey was 3 years during Peca/osgood/yashin prime…every other wang year was the lowest payroll in hockey despite the largest TV contract in hockey.
Can’t wait for Tyler Seguin. The kid can skate and score, just what the Isles need. It’s become pretty obvious that Snow doesn’t want to improve the team with trades just yet. We need top flight, cheap talent which only comes from the top of the draft. I think that after a top 3 pick this summer, we need to start dumping vets, (unless we can get picks for them now), and start adding a few physical vets while mixing in Martin, Hamonic, Ullstrom, etc. That’s how you rebuild and Garth is sticking to that plan. BTW-I think there is something to DP bringing bad karma to the team. He hasn’t matured AT ALL. Still the same selfish, showboating mediocre goaltender. He could kill the whole rebuild by himself since we are stuck with him as long as he doesn’t have a career ending injury.
#119 - now that sounds like a FUN-ENTERTAINING hockey game!!! -
I dont want to sound like a broken record but for the $$ we pay, the entertaint value of these games is almost ZERO! Theres *NOTHING* of real fun or cheering at these games — maybe a shot on goal, a big save, the odd goal (9 in 7 games) but thats it!! Theres no passion or emotion in these games, Are u guys watching these games? SRSLY?
.. This is a SCARY TREND, the games are just super B-O-R-I-N-G to watch, sorry but its damn true! ZZZZzzzz
Wow islesfan999, that’s asking an awful lot for our players. I don’t think any GM would take those deals.
And I just have one word for our recent skid….UGH.
I’ve been an Isles fan for over 25yrs and have lived thru several rebuilds.I still remain optimistic that in time we will be competative but tanking a season or consistantly finishing 25th or worse doesn’t mean nothing if you can’t draft.When was the last time the Redwings,San Jose,Ducks,Philly,Devs etc had a top 5 pick?My point being the good teams are good because they KNOW talent when they see it.A team rebuilding also needs a solid piece of the puzzle to build around.Ask yourself do the Isles have that piece?If you hesitated for a second then the answer is NO.I believe Toronto just passed the Isles in their rebuild in a matter of 1 day.Phaneuf is a stud,game changer,top 2 d-man.I do believe the Isles would have done wonders for themselves by acquiring such a talent if @ all possible.For those who say we have players that nobody wants then once again ask yourself how the rebuild is going.Isles need quality skilled NHL caliber players around the kids for this thing to have a chance.Also please no more retirees.Snow must become aggressively smart @ persuing an identity for a team that doesn’t have one.Don’t hand me that whole “hard working” junk.All teams work hard.Its about being smart and having talent.Isles have very little of both.
bruce garioch is reporting on canoe that the islander players r getting restless w/gordon and a coaching change is possible. for christs sakes can we get a coach w/nhl experience that has a history of actually being a motivator
Darren is spot on with his assessment, high picks are great but what good are they if you can’t draft well? Also, drafting is not enough. Smart trades and smart free-agent signing are also needed. Chicago drafted Toews, Kane, Keith and Seabrook, but they traded for Versteeg and Sharp and signed Hossa and Campbell.
Unfortunately watching this team lately has become SO predictable! There is no crashing the net( maybe other than Sim). Everyone goes to the boards and stays there. The shots are weak “practice shots” right into the Goalie’s chest.
The PP?? We won’t even talk about.
Watch the games from January…very Confident style of Play. Last Seven games…No Confidence with the Puck, like walking out of a 40 degree swimming pool with no pants on…playing turtle!
Dp’s first goal was lame. 9 goals in the last 7 days will not get it done! Bring up some of the kids in Bridgeport and see if we can create a spark!
what’s the value of nielsen and hunter? if either of these players could garner a decent return i’d trade them. let bailey center the second line when he comes back,it’s where he belongs.and hunter doesn’t skate,score,defend,or play physical enough to warrant the minutes he gets,especially on the powerplay
Minus: The image on Channel 79 on Cablevision was worse than when my folks first got cable TV in the early 1970s.
Im not a tech kinda guy, but the picture on sports extra plus (through time warner brooklyn) was brutal to begin with and then the last period the colors kept changing and the picture kept shaking all over the place.
Just a few weeks ago, everything was totally different. Gordon cant sustain some momentum, maybe he has to go. Sad, but true.
CB, what do you think about the report in the Ottawa Sun that Gordon could be fired soon, any truth to it? I think that would be a bad move, don’t really think that as the paper says “Snow has given Gordon the tools to make the playoffs”. Its year two of a rebuild and I don’t think many people believed this was a playoff team just yet.
I agree with #136, having a couple of high draft picks in a row is good for the rebuild, but nog enough. In the last 2 years Snow only signed Weight, Streit, Roloson and Biron as UFA’s. Next summmer he will have to do more.
A few comments:
1) Even if all 3 reach their maximum potential, we’ll have NO SIZE @ C with JT, Franz and Schremp. One of the latter two must go.
2) A few nights ago Jaf was raving about how Hunter was picking corners of the net during practice. When the game starts, however, he expands his horizons and starts picking corners of the rink! Bye bye Trent.
3) I bought a Finnish-English dictionary, looked up “Bergenheim” and its translation is “Bricksforhands” He’ll never be more than 4th line energy guy.
4) Positive signs for the future…the development of Hillen and Andy Mac. If Hamonic (physicality) and DeHaan (PP pointman) can follow suit, we’ll at least have some building blocks on D. Possibly add Fowler (and/or another D from the draft) and maybe get a surprise from Donovan or Ness plus (hopefully) a physical FA and we’ll be fine.
5) Up front is a whole nother however story as JT, Bails, KO and Moulson need a whole lot of help.
6) All this talk of trading Sim, Park Weight, Tambellina (no spelling mistake intended) and Witt… If Snow gets anything more than a bag of pucks and a new shovel for Allison the ice girl for any of these guys he should be voted GM of the year!
Time to give a guy like Micheal Haley a shot. Can play, kill penalties, agitate and fight. We need more guys like that. Guys like that = toughness and make games a bit more interesting to watch. Not like the garbage we were subjected to last night.
Chris,
How does a simple fan like me get an email or note to Charles Wang?
He’s becoming a joke. How can he be happy with this ream and what the Whole Islanders Experience has become with the shoddy Fill-in PA Announcer, TV Broadcast (albeit Cablevision-controlled) and the product on the Ice.
I could care less how many millions he claims to have lost. If you’re not happy with what’s going on then sell the team. I hate what this is becoming. We’re stuck in the mud with no progress. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. Rebuild my ass!!!
Mikey Pants… Who should he sell the team to? The first person in line or the 100th person in line? Sorry I forgot there is neither!!!
All the Wang Haters seem to forget if he did not buy this team when he did, LI would not have a team. If he sold it now, believe me it wouldnt be someone who is interested in keeping a LI based team!
Number 147, I cannot believe how many times I have read or heard someone say that and all I have to say is BS. Give it up already because it is simply not true. Sure he bought the team but he bought it with one purpose in mind. The Real Estate deal D’Amato promised him and then later reneged on.
Been lurking for a long time. Now I have to say some stuff. Fans here are amazing. Please don’t tell me about 15 years, this rebuild clearly started in 08. The Avalanche are NOT younger than us and have a core of players that were drafted in 03, 04, 05, 06 and even before. We have KO (06) McD (06), Hillen (FA-07), JB (08), JT (09) and a large group of prospects drafted since 08…and please, enough with the barren system, look it up, it takes 4-6 years fro players not drafted in rd 1 to get to the NHL (I know there are a few exceptions, but thats the rule…by far). Free agents that you guys scream for…who?? How has that worked for the Rangers and Toronto for heavens sake. The FA thing works when the rebuild is almost done. And for those of you who want hockey fights for entertainment, please watch MMA. And for those of you that are so negative and so bitter that you seem to prefer us losing and compare us to the NYY (with an entirely different history and income stream) get over yourselves. I want to watch a winner too, but there is no doubt that GS is doing this the right way, no matter how painful…see Washington, LA, Pitt, Chicago…GO ISLES!!!
The rebuild needs good drafting plus tactful FA signings. One without the other will never work in today’s N.H.L. I love the Isles, but they have aged me. Also my blood pressure is way up! The truth is management, owner, coaches have all just accepted mediocracy. They would have you believe since we are better than last years(last place finish), we are making progress. First of all the year is not over. We can still finish last, it is not a longshot! Second, we are the only team that never tries to improve with any NHL players to help the kids, and the fans. When will we ever have a hierarchy that wants to win?
#140
my broadcast was terrible. the screen kept changing colors and started flickering on and off.
It will take 93 Points to make the Playoffs:
Isles have 54. 24 Games to go they need to go 19-3-1
The FAT LADY is finished singing!!!!!!!
See you at the June Draft!!!
I’ve had three unsuccesful seasons on my XBOX NHL 2010…..and the virtual Islanders fired me. At least the virtual Islanders haven’t moved yet.
Hey isles fan in NJ #21
(Yes, they had a good streak a few weeks ago, but they show their true colors against top teams.)
Top teams? we lost 2x to carolina, florida and tampa bay during this streak. I would not call them top teams. We are really bad. Watching pittsburgh and washington today shows me how far awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay we are from an NHL caliber team.
Thanks for reading my frustrated rant!!!
Was at the game last night, and I couldnt not believe the attendance. There were a lot of people for a game against Carolina.
I’ve got to hand it to the Islanders sales staff. How they are able to get people, in a recession, to spend their limited entertainment dollars on such lousy hockey talent is amazing.
Not sure how you can say MacDonald’s been playing too many minutes for a rookie when he’s handling them admirably.
Easton- the point ofbthe rebuild is not to shed payroll. The point is to build up the system. The reason we suck is because our farm system was a joke up until 2005. You know why? Because Mike Milbury took every chance he could to trade the future for an 8th seed and 1st round exit.
Snow has no intention of doing that.
CB- You talk about the Islanders lack of physical play. It is kinda of hard to play physical when the teams physical presence is either waived or hurt. And the so called guys that are playing to skate with eggs in their pants and not break them. the team needs to shake things up. They are like stale beer and cold pretzels at the game. they cost to much and are not worth the taste.
#148- I honestly couldn’t care whether he bought this team for real estate deal or if he just likes men in hockey pants…the team is still here right? His beloved real estate deal includes the team doesn’t it? Do you think he would build the LHP and then sell the team???
Why the heck do people have a problem with Charles Wang making money?? This is still America right??
The problem isn’t with Chucky making money. The problem is he is allowing a sub-par quality team to take to the ice. We have one of the smallest payrolls in the NHL. This rebuilding process I keep hearing about is going on year 12. I hope he makes billions but he has to invest something into the franchise. Guys and Gals realize Snow is no Torre and he built the team up twice to be viable contenders. Maloney, Milbury, Snow have done nothing impressive with this organization in over 2 decades
We’ll put (Sim)ple. At least someone understands what a re-build is.
minus: right before the game winning goal, the puck hit the top netting in the carolina zone. the play should have been blown dead, and as soon as it wasnt and the hurricanes came back the other way, i thought “oh no”
Gooning up the team wont solve our lack of scoring. Bench the guys not scoring.
Tambs is not the problem.
Hunter, Park, Comeau need a seat.
Moulson, Tambs and Bergie need to see more PP time. They just cant rely on Streit point shot on every PP.
PLUS - Bergie, JT, Kyle only guys working hard out there. Kyle just needs to stop missing the net.