PRACTICE, 2.8.10, THE MURRAY PROPERTY
Martin set for NHL debut…Sutton, Lighthouse talk
Nick from Let There Be Lighthouse with a good read on the latest between Wang and Hempstead
12:35 pm - Losers of seven straight in regulation, the Islanders did what they had to do: call up young and big bodies. They need to make something of this week – win a game or three, lift themselves out of the woe-is-us before the Olympic break, give the fanbase a reason to show up in March.
It’s highly doubtful anyone in Islanders hockey operations is under any illusions about what Jesse Joensuu and Matt Martin are. Joensuu is on pace for 20 goals in the minor leagues this season, just his second as a pro in North America. Martin, who gets to the net, hits and fights – holy crap! – is not being rushed into the lineup so much as being handed a harmless tryout before he returns to Bridgeport during the Olympics. If he plays well enough, he’ll be back.
Garth Snow is not being kept up nights deciding if he should be a buyer or a seller before the March 3 deadline. (The deadline, in the eyes of many general managers, is really this week).
Truth is, Snow was never going to be a buyer, and he doesn’t have much to sell. If the Islanders lose a little more ground in the East this week, Andy Sutton becomes even more available. Point Blank has learned that several contending teams over the last week have inquired about Sutton’s availability in a trade. The big defenseman could be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
With the exception of Sutton and Dwayne Roloson, there isn’t a player over 28 on this roster that a team would give up a high draft pick or decent prospect for. You could combine two or three of them and it wouldn’t matter.
So the Islanders forge on, with home games this week against Nashville (Tuesday), Tampa Bay (Saturday at 2) and Ottawa (Sunday at 5) before the break. There’s also a matchup in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The size and young legs of Martin and Joensuu could help, and certainly won’t hurt.
Snow made the right call. He has several more to make. If bleh, almost 35-year-old defenseman Niclas Wallin and a fifth round pick fetched Carolina a second round pick, Sutton has to be worth more.
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Your line and color combinations for today’s 75-minute practice at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum:
Blue: Bergenheim – Nielsen – Okposo
White: Moulson – Tavares – Comeau
Gray: Schemp, Hunter, Sim, Joensuu, Martin
Orange: Park, Weight, Tambellini, Jackman (in cage)
Six defensemen, three goalies. As I tweeted (the obvious) yesterday, since the Islanders went to three goaltenders, none of them have played smashingly. This has hardly ever worked out in the history of hockey, so it’s a wonder anyone thought it would this time. Dwayne Roloson’s comment early this season – the more he plays, the better he plays – continues to ring in the ears.
After practice, Scott Gordon showed Doug Weight the respect of deflecting a question about the on-ice ineffectiveness of the captain since he returned from injury. “He’s playing between 12-16 minutes a night. That is not going to change,” said Gordon. “He is playing banged up. If anything it should be an inspiration to the team.” The coach said that if he was ever going to give Weight a night off, he’d discuss it with his captain before the media.
On the team, Gordon’s most telling line: “We’re not making the opposition pay for their mistakes.”
Perhaps to lighten the atmosphere, a ping-pong table was moved into the middle of the Islanders’ lcoker room.
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Matt Martin said he “wasn’t really expecting” a call-up by the Islanders, pointing out that he hadn’t scored in 14 straight games. But he continued to work at his game, including “hitting everything.”
Martin agreed with Scott Gordon’s assessment of his improved skating. “I don’t take criticsim of my game lightly,” said the big forward. “I worked hard on my skating.”
Asked which players have served as his mentor in Bridgeport, Martin cited Trevor Gillies. “Trevor has been the biggest influence on me,” said Martin, who added that the 30-year-old enforcer has helped in in every aspect of the game, including fighting. “I hope someday to be as good a fighter as he is,” said Martin.
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During the holidays of 2008, the Lighthouse Development Corp. celebrated a year of honest transparency by inviting several reporters and bloggers to Rexcorp Plaza for a little lunch and some Christmas cookies. Have no fear, no inappropriate bribery here – no Pinot Noir and fliet mignon with a side of cash and Springsteen tickets. Just first-class professionalism.
During the final quarter of 2009, most couldn’t even get a courtesy return phone call from the LDC. And this was on the heels of fans giving up work days to show up in large numbers to support the Lighthouse Project at Town meetings and zoning hearings.
Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead said what they had to say today, and nobody can blame them. They have given Charles Wang an answer. He can decide to live with it, negotiate, take his team to Brooklyn or Queens, or try and sell the Islanders to someone – anyone – and whatever happens, happens.
Wang had a misstep with his awkward and disingenuous TV appearance on MSG Plus 147 on Saturday night, but it’s not too late. History has proven that if you help let fans, mainstream journalists and bloggers understand why you feel strongly about something, they can be a forgiving lot. I would not expect it to be in this space, but Wang and Rechler should start telling their side of the story soon.
Nick from Let There Be Lighthouse with a good read on the latest between Wang and Hempstead
Comments on any of the above.
106 Responses to PRACTICE, 2.8.10, THE MURRAY PROPERTY
Martin set for NHL debut…Sutton, Lighthouse talk
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MissingVukota says:
Very excited to see Martin make his debut.
I overall, don’t have any problems with where the Isles are at this point i the season. I really didn’t expect much more than this. I have no issued with “tanking” the rest of the season and grabbing another high pick/talented player. We all see how many teams have benefited from a “re-build”. Start selling off pieces that don’t belong. Might as well re-build the whole way.
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Will C. says:
Deal Roli for a 2nd and sutton and a 5th for a late 1st. He would be awesome with Jersey…Yikes. Then resign him to 3yr 11 mil.
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Wang’s not broke, how else would he afford a training camp in CHINA!?! This will work out one way or another with us remaining on the Island.
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Joey303 says:
I was watching the Devils/Rangers game Sat, and thought the same thing as Will C #3. Sutton would be perfect on NJ. How about for the 2nd rounder Jersey got from Atl?
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Jon in Chicago says:
I didn’t realize Carolina got a 2nd for Wallin. That’s much better than I thought they would’ve gotten. Maybe the Isles could get a first rounder for Sutton?
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eric says:
Isles will DEFINITELY get a 1st rounder for Sutton. Pittsburgh needs a dmen with the loss of gill and skuderi. Washington, San jose, and chicago will also benefit. One of those teams will give up a #1 pick or prospects.
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Giaco says:
Who sits other then Tambs… Sim or Park… I can’t see Shremp sitting because he’s on the PP and at least has some skill to put the puck in the net. From the practice lines, Comeau looks to be playing so I would sit Park and his nasty +/-
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Metalcoconut says:
If we trade Sutton there is a solid chance that he is not coming back. I know he has stated that he likes what is happening with the team but if you trade him to a contender, like Jersey, he is’t going to resign with the Isles. At the moment he seems to be one of our 2 “big” guys on the team. I don’t think the Isles would take the chance and part with him.
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a REAL hockey fan says:
.. Patience Isle fans patiense, this is a looong rebuild, 1 step at a time and this is another step! It doesnt happen overnite, it can take 3+ years or more!!
.. Stop overestimating our talent guys, cmon i see fans wanting the world for our 3rd line players, cmon peeps be reasonable!!
.. Excited to see some bigger/grittier players on the roster! We have been screaming about size/emotion on this team and this is a much needed boost!
.. We might be a ‘lil low’ on NHL talent, but there is NO REASON AT ALL to be low on effort and passion/emotion. These guys should be hitting/forechecking and playing hard every nite, no reason otherwise!! NONE!
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Brian G says:
this is Probably the true value:
Sutton = Prospect & 2nd round pick
Roloson = Prospect & 2nd round pick
Biron = 3rd round pick or Minor Prospect
Weight = 5th round pick
Park = 6th round pick
Meyer = 6th round pick
Sim = 7th round pick or waiversTime to Dump some players Snow
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LIMBAUGH2012 says:
Wang bitting off more then he can chew!Stay Conservative Mr. Wang down size the project we are in a recession !!!!
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Andre says:
What is Hunter worth? Comeau or Bergenheim worth? I would look to move Sutton and/or Roloson.
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Nick says:
Wang doesnt want a new stadium, he wants a sweetheart real estate deal. Thus, No Isles in Bklyn or Queens or even LI. He will sell and they will be in Canada. Good night.
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Alfred says:
If the owner doesn’t have enough faith in the team to fully fund his payroll, how can he expect the fans to have any level of faith in the team?
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Blizzard says: ….this whole lighthouse thing is just getting really freaking old. poop or get of the pot IMO. Scale the damn thing back if you have to. Just get the damn thing done or sell them and put us out of our misery Mr Wang.
We cant all just be upset that the team sucks now we have to undure more of this BS.
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JT says:
Kate Murray wouldn’t talk size/scope with LDC because she was eventually going to vote on the project. Following that logic, she should not speak to her own advisors and consultants in developing the TOH’s counter proposal, right? She may eventually vote on it too.
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Chris Mc says:
We are not getting anything for Park, Sim, Weight, or Meyer. Wouldn’t get anything for Witt and he actually is more valuable to a team than any of those guys. A lot better players have passed through waivers and haven’t gotten a sniff from other teams. I think Snow is even having problems getting anything decent for Biron, or he’d be gone already.
Glad to see Comeau still in there and one of the older vets looking like they’re going to get scratched. It’s time to see what this team could look like next year.
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Atari8bit says:
Okay I know that Nate Thompson was not an integral building block of the team- however he was one of Gordons first “get” and was to represent the type of player the Isles wanted to be. Tough and aggressive. Hasn’t this swoon (1 month late- usually occurs in December) coincided with his loss on waivers?
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Pritchett54 says:
If snow got a 1st round pick for campoli last season maybe he can get 3 firsts for Sutton this year! But seriously, a 1st rd pick for sutton would be nice, especially if it were from a team in the middle of the pack and still might miss the playoffs and thus pick 10-16th.
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AJAX says:
Who did we trade to get the ping pong table?
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goislesgo105 says:
Sutton and Rolo to Tampa for their #1 pick.
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Zeike says:
The problem is we appear to have too many forwards and if anything, not enough D. Certainly understand and agree with trading Sutton, Roli, and whomever to think about the future but can this team afford to trade a D? Not right now it can’t unless we get a D in return which would lower that pick value.
As for the other question of who sits, this team may as well play the youth card again and rest guys like Park, Sim, Hunter and even Weight – contrary to Gordon’s comments above. And Tambellini is a certainty which at this point means just waive the guy already as he is never going to get a true shot on this team. Not saying he deserves one but Gordon is not going to play this guy so let’s quit wasting everyone’s time and a roster spot. -
Mike L says:
Interesting line combos. It looks like maybe Hunter and Sim would sit. Joensuu seems like the younger version of Hunter and Martin could fill Sim’s role and has greater potential. Would be interesting if it’s those two that sit.
I’d like to see Gordon actually mix it up to send a message. Just scratching Tamby game after game isn’t sending any messages except that Gordon obviously doesnt like him. We need guys like Hunter, Park, and chef Bruno to get the message.
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beatlebailey says:
blah blah blah lighthouse..blah blah blah..wake me up when either the team moves or they break ground..i am focusing on hockey only..even though that is making me sick right now..lol
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Eastonhockey says:
Glad to see the isles fixing the 4th line. I feel like that 4th line is the reason the islanders havnt won a playoff round in almost 20 years….let’s go islanders!!! Wang is my hero!
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dose says:
“… it’s not too late. History has proven that if you help let fans, mainstream journalists and bloggers understand why you feel strongly about something, they can be a forgiving lot.”
the question is do they still “feel strongly?” their absence and actions (lack thereof) have people really wondering.
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isles72 says:
so do the politicians get the rest of the day off since they had to get up early this morning for an 11 am meeting ?
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where do i find updates on what this “scale down” involves?
oh and i DO NOT want to lose Sutton. he actually hits and plays hard… plus who would replace?
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MJS says:
#21 – Yeah the team is pretty flush with forwards, but I would think that flipping Sutton for a defenseman that’s eating up another team’s cap space and a high draft pick would work out. Not that this is a trade that would happen, actaully this obviously wouldn’t happen, but an example may be a trade like Sutton for Sheldon Souray and a 2nd rounder. The Isles overwhelming cap space has value on its own to the right trade partner.
Also, Kate Murray with her “jump start the process” line can find a nice well to fall in. Voting on a company to form a zoning plan could have been done months ago, and picking the very company that’s been overcharging the LDC from the beginning, on top of downsizing the project is like tripping someone, kicking him, and then spitting in his face. I bet the zoning plan will allow for 35 acres of Lighthouse and 37 acres of strip malls, because in Murray’s objective assessment, LI needs more of those…
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ExtraButter,
The vote for the “scale down” is tomorrow.
I’m cautiously optimistic about this.
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The New Isles GM says:
I think out of respect to Sutton, the Isles should shop him for whatever they can get. We’ve seen it before with Recchi and Weight. Both players were sent for a shot at the cup. Then, that summer, resigned with the original team. If Sutton is honest about his feelings pointed out on PB a week or two ago, he will definitely be ok with this. He said he loves Long Island and why not be a scapegoat for something that will improve your team next year that you plan on resigning with. I never thought once we’d be buyers this year because like you said, we really don’t have much to offer. Let’s just take our draft picks and learn from what makes teams successful. (see Washington,Pittsburgh,Chicago,Detroit,Devils) for examples….
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Railbait says:
Ajax asked, “Who did we trade to get the ping pong table?”
I think that was the Thompson trade. Tampa Bay will send paddles and a ping pong ball after he scores a point for them.
(Great question!)
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Steve says:
Nick, Wang will get to build a lot of real estate if he gets the right to develop in Brooklyn or Queens. Isn’t 22 acres of lands in Atlantic Yards or 62 acres of land in Willets Point a big land grab? To be honest, I really hope he has been negotiating with Brooklyn and Queens. I hope that the Isles can decide where they want to go by the middle of this year. Hopefully their proposal in Queens gets accepted.
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Mike P says:
18- it has coincided but i doubt Nate Thompson was such an intregal part. He was a healthy scratch before he was waived
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UIF says:
Atari – the Isles were also playing their best hockey right before Thompson was waived…when he was a healthy scratch watching from the press box for a couple of games. I don’t read too much into his impact on the winning streak or subsequent slide.
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JohnnyC. says:
I looks like Kates minions are back on the blog spewing their Wang this Wang that. How pathetic that even her people do not know how this process works. Nassau county wanted this project. they approved it. Town job is to approve zoning and not tell wang to rebuild something he or the town do not own. Without Wang even with all his quirks we wouldn’t even be talking Islander hockey anymore. Why don’t one of you geniouses keep pumping your own money into a money losing venture and on top of it spend your own money to renovate a building you don’t own but still have to live with the losing rules.
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Anyone notice that Hunter has gone away from his style of game from his first 3 seasons where he would hit everyone – I can’t remember him playing that style this year….maybe he is a healthy scratch tomorrow
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John says:
The Isles are one Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin or Cam Fowler away from starting to take the next step. It’s not the end of the world if they don’t make the playoffs… it takes time. How long were Pittsburgh and Washington doormats? This has been a good learning experience year for the team. Yes, trade Sutton and some others… and if you really like Sutton make him an offer come July 1. Next year is the year this team starts to push for a playoff spot in the 6-8 range… and two years from now is when the potential to become elite exists. Patience patience patience is what is needed. Stay the course Garth stay the course.
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hollywood says:
Brian G, Hunter can’t catch anyone to hit. HE’S TOO SLOW! Gordon won’t scratch any vets, he’s afraid to hurt their feelings.
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AngryPete says:
A few weeks ago, when looking at the playoff-logjam and subsequent possibilities, we all agreed that one or two teams would tank and on or possibly two would light it up and take off. Sucks to be sitting here as a TANKER
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NY711ot says:
When do pitchers and catchers report…Ooops forgot I’m a Met fan so my pain will only continue. Sutton is a tough call even if we got a 2nd rounder. Yes, he’s 35 but where would this team be without him? And where will they be next year if he’s not here.
Getting tired of hearing about the picks. Enough with the picks. Its more important that this team has an anchor like Sutton for at least one maybe two more years. DeHaan or Hamonic or Donovan or Macdonald or Hillen or Klementyev will benefit greatly…Notice the or’s? Cannot afford to have six defensemen who will all probably play a very similar game. We need size and strength.
6’6 defensemen are not a dime a dozen.
Now if Snow can swing a mid round first…..;) -
#34 Steve, the Bklyn Atlantic yards are already being developed by someone else. Wang would not have the type of ownership stake as he would in the lighthouse project (i.e. he’d be a junior partner to Ratner & the Russians and whoever else was there first). Queens is a pipe dream. To condemn those properties and get shovels into the ground would be at least another 10 years if all goes smoothly (which it wont).
Im not defending the TOH or Nassau which is corrupt. Im just saying Wang is corrupt too. Do you really believe a bunch of $700K (to start) condos and a new shopping mall are what is necessary to make the Isles viable over the long term??? Why do the Devs do okay with just a new arena? -
Scott VanVoorhees says:
We do need some defense. Not the power play specialist type, shut down men. It takes time to develop defensive players…said here numerous times…so I think a mid year vet or two, getting ready to come into their own. That would put them on the same schedule as the young forwards to be the prime time players we’re hoping for. I think the re-build from within is working, but it won’t do us any good of our forwards are ready but we have to wait another year or two on the young defensemen. When the youngsters are ready, then we sell the older guys for prospects and the machine can grind out some key players as we need them. Going all young seems to be out of sync.
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Got to trade Andy Sutton while he has great value, which I really think he does. 6’6 dmen do not grow on trees, but how good and how healthy will he be 1-3 years from now. And you cant let him go to free agency either. Do you really want another Witt on hour hands? Lets get something for him, for our best asset that wont be part of the long term plans, while we still can.
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msolo says:
IMO
Let Tambellini go – kid needs a team and coach whos willing to give him a fair shot
and with our luck he’ll go ahead and score 30 goals somewhere elsethen we can all start pointing fingers
but heck we’ll still have jon sims
way to go Gordo – your suppose to be a players coach so coach the kid instead of beating him down
so cut him loose or let him play -
JD says:
As much as I hate to say it, you have to trade Sutton. We can’t get any substantial value for anyone else on this team and you can resign him over the summer anyway. CB, thanks for the link to Nick’s blog. It is an interesting read. Maybe Wang will accept the scaled down version. Like everyone else, I have no clue on our future anymore.
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46- Tambellini is 25 years old and been in organization for 5 yrs now, he has gotten plenty of shots but could not stick. He is not an NHL player, he can’t play 5 on 5 in NHL. He is a minor league tweener.
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John says:
good to see some size added to the line up. I’m looking foward to seeing a rough cut of what we have in Martin.
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SCLI says:
One thing is disconcerting. M Martin hoping to be as good a fighter as Trevor Gillies some day. Hmmmmm. The same Trevor Gillies that cant get an job in the NHL as an enforcere? Better set your sites higher than that Kid.
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Mike P on Feb 8th, #47, On Tambellini:. You are 1000% correct my friend. Tambs has had more chances than any 20 prospects. He’s been given more time than he deserves to prove himself and always comes up empty. I baffled when I hear fans say he hasnt been given a chance. Their either casual uninformed fans or complete idiots. You make the call. Tambs would be long gone but no GM in the NHL wants him and neither do we.
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Joe says:
Go get em, Matt!. So happy he is in the lineup.
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#48 The kid just gave praise and showed respect to a teammate/mentor and probably friend, more character stuff. I like what Martin is all about, go Marty leave it all on the ice. This kid is good stuff.
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If Sutton goes it will be to a contender, not the Canes. I would like a guy like LaRose also but I doubt we get him with the trade bait we’re fishing with. I agree we need a spark and some energy in this lineup. Hopefully M Martin’s cup of coffee promotion delivers that spark. 4 now
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Vrinqueens says:
After watching Caps/Pens. yesterday it’s clear these two are meeting at the Conference finals so making a big move to finish 8th would be wasteful. Snow’s doing the right thing by bringing youngsters and maybe getting the 3 or 4th overall pick in this years draft.
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dynasty23x4 says:
jon sim is not expected to score 20+ goals. hes a career 3rd or 4th liner. and he is a good one. yea he takes some silly penalties but he also draws them. time to lay off our 3rd and 4th liners-they are not the problem. we have many issues, unfortunately, but our bottom six fowards scoring prowess is not at the root. the simple and depressing truth is no one is scoring…
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Ethan K says:
With experienced and talented linemates, Tavares would be doing much better. He’s been playing well, just needs some help getting the puck to the back of the net.
I would not at all mind Tyler Seguin or Cam Fowler. I think that Sutton is worth a late ‘teen first rounder (15-20). Trent Hunter must be worth a third rounder, right? I like late picks because Snow and Co. has done a lot of good stuff with them.
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JayK says:
Nick – #43 — just want to clarify one thing on Queens. The condemnation and acquisition process at Willets Point is all but complete. It was really sort of surprising last year to stand on this one area at Citi Field and you could see into the Willets Point area, and then get the perspective of the fact that most of it has been cleared. You really couldn’t see it that way as you drove past the auto body places that were still standing, alongside Citi. But the bottom line is that this place was almost empty then, and could be even emptier now; I just haven’t been there since baseball season.
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TimQ says:
Keep playing Roloson to help him get his mojo back and get his trade value up. The Hawks could be a scary team with a topnotch goalie and they may be willing give up something decent if they think they are close enough.
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dynasty23x4 Our 4th line isnt a problem? We dont have a set 4th line. It sure as heck is a problem. Everything below our top 5 or 6 forwards is a problem (JT, KO, JB, MM, Schremp,) and the way our top 5 is playing lately they are a problem to. The only consolation is we all know that our top 5 will straighten things out. The bottom 5 or 6 are brutal and will be history. Sim is much better suited on a 4th line, causing trouble and skating with two linemates that will drop the gloves. We know he wont.
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Boss12 says:
If Martin can fight like Gillies and score 15-20 goals a season id sign him up for a long time. Gillies problem with being an NHL enforcer doesn’t really have to do with his fighting ability (he is good but not great) more with his lack of any other kind of ability.
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Irish Isle says:
Here is who I would trade:
Sutton: He is having his best season with us, his value has never been higher. Then in the off season, if he really likes the Island and the direction of the team, he will resign. There are many potential ufas on other teams and in other leagues who love their team during the season, then move on.Roloson – I think we could get something from Chicago or LA. Both teams have lofty playoff aspiartions, and are not satisifed with their goalie situation; and they remember what he did for the Oilers a few years ago. Maybe we can get a D propsect from LA such as Colton Teubert or Dylan Olsen from Chicago.
Any of these Forwards:
#1 Sim – UFA, is playing the perfect agitator, would be great for any team in a long playoff seriesBegenhiem – Thought he had potential, maybe he needs a new environment
Tambellini – See Bergie
Park
Comeau – Would be power forward who doesnt hit or play nasty, pair him with some one to get a better pick
Gervais – See Tambellini. I think he could also be like Comeau and would be able to sweeten a deal
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wf76 says:
Guys enough with the Roloson trade value he can’t be traded period. Besides DP he is signed next year, Biron is walking whether we trade him or not. You can’t go into next season with just DP sorry they can’t do it. As for any other trade value Sutton has value nobody else does except maybe hunter and bergy that’s it. Sim, Weight, and Park have NONE and tamby forget it. This team is doing the right thing show patience bring some kids up for a shot and go from there. The biggest problem we have is this arena deal it is a mess at this point and the fans are the one’s exfected the most.
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50 SCLI: Trevor Gillies most certainly CAN get the job in the NHL fighting wise. If he said he wanted his skating speed and mobility that would be a different story. The kid was talking about fighting, jeez.
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B-ri says:
Here’s a little fun fact. Since DiPietro’s first start this season the Isles have only won 5 of 14 games. Very Disappointing considering how well they were playing without him.
I’m sure many people will hate me for this, but the guy is a bust. Fans only pay attention to him this is the Islanders. He has done nothing in his career to this point except get hurt. Sorry folks, but I’m not drinking the DP kool-aid. I didnt when they drafted him and 10 years later I’m still not.
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Blizzard says:
…sorry Roloson is very tradeable IMO. He is most certainly at the end of his career, we do not need him next year plenty of capable backups for DP. Trade him for what ever you can get. He is not going to make or break us next year.
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B-ri: That stat is ridiculous. You say they won just 5 of 14 games since DiPietro’s return. But they lost the last 7. That means a few weeks ago the fun fact could have been “They’ve won 5 of 7 games since his return”.
The big problem is NOT THE GOALTENDING. HOW IS IT DIPIETRO’S FAULT THAT WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 7 GOALS IN THE LAST 9 GAMES?!?!
Getting one more high draft pick is what we need. Every prospect we have in the pipelines are merely third/fourth line potentials, or 4-6 dmen. We still need to fill in the top 6 forward positions, and we need another top 2 defenseman for the future.
Blake Comeau needs to keep sitting games. Let Tambellini play. Chance for Matt Martin to prove something for next year.
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Mario says:
If Gordon give Martin a chance to play tomorrow, you will be pleasantly surprised. He can become the former Lucic. I have seen him play and is the complete around the net player we need.
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isles420 says:
#65
dont blame dp for this losing streak. how do u expect 2 win if you cant score goals.
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Glen S says:
#58, I’m in the Iron triangle as they call it just about every Tuesday and Thursday, and from what I see there are still a majority of the bussiness owner’s are still there. From what I’ve told is that they all feel that by mid year that the city will move in and start the process of eminent domain and re-locate and or shut down the shop’s plain and simple. Let’s focus on keeping the Islanders where they belong on LONG ISLAND……. If that fail’s let’s hope that they move to either BK or Queen’s.
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Terrance says:
Trading Roloson? Have you people seen DP play any of his last few games??
If Biron is definitely walking, then the Isles should be looking for a third goaltender because the DP phenomenon has turned into a huge bust.
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Ice Girl Dad says:
Agree with #56 look at the majority of Sim’s goals ; the majority in front of the net.. “dirty goals” with the exception of MM who else is taking a constant beating in front of the net. People should lay off Sim and see what he does as opposed to what he doesn’t do.
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Islander says:
Since Thompson left all 7 games have been lost. He took his “mojo” with him.
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Sim can screen goalies all he wants, hes completely useless otherwise.
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jva says:
Would not trade Sutton, now that Hillen is out, who do you replace him with? Nobody in Bridgeport can step up, poss kLemtn (SP) but he is not ready and Katic is hurt. Sutton is the only physical player the Isles have. No way you trade him. We should be looking to resign him..
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(Sim)ple says:
B-ri- 100 percent correct. DP has done nothing. Has never made an All-Star game or started one. He never started for team USA in the olympics. He didnt do any of that.
I just can’t seem for the life of me to remember where he was when he hurt that hip.
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TM says:
Chris, agree that Wang should tell his side of story to fans soon. The interview on Sat made him look foolish again. Even Murray had to call him today. He’s a terrible salesman. The day after NYI got the #1 draft pick he goes on WFAN radio and says he regrets buying NYI and if he had it to do over again he wouldn’t. Buzzkill. Yet TOH just now gets around to scaling back and re-zoning? This could’ve been done 5 years ago. Both parties seem clueless. Wang can’t market NYI at all and TOH is in no rush to do anything.
NYI fans don’t deserve this or either of them. Sure wish Wang sells and NYI end up in QUEENS/BROOKLYN as this way we get rid of both of these losers.
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…..as for the team itself, doesn’t it seem like every year they lose 7,8,9 games in a row to kill their season. At least this season they kept us interested until mid January.
Until an NYI owner increases payroll it will be the same old garbage cycle of no real hope and just draft picks and last place but that alone will never equal success without spending for vets along with drafting.
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Examiner says:
TM- Agreed, but the vicious cycle will continue. The prime free agents won’t want to come because of garbage arena and uncertainty of where team will be 4 or so years from now. They will sign couple of FAs that are past their prime and take their chances of trying to fond the next Moulson.
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JP says:
Okay I have a very simple solution to the Lighthouse dilema and the problem of land the county wont develope. Move the team to Montauk. It already has a lighthouse, Wang can hang with his billionaire friends, lots of land to develop, and no environmental impact. Perfect
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Trade this one, trade that one………. A lot of trading desired here huh gang? Ther thing that concerns me most is that when we trade we replace from Bridgeport almost always not UFA. The team cant build through the system solely this way. Chicago built through the kids and added some high powered FA’s. Plain and simple I have been saying this for 2 years. The team is not going to compete by hovering at the league cap minimum. Wang isnt going to add payroll until the LH is behind us, settled,whatever.
Look at the line up we are going with tomm!!! Trade Sutton and Roloson for picks and imagine what it will look like. -
I should have read ALL the comments. Examiner…. you nailed it almost 100%. I agree with all with the exception of the garbage arena. The fact that the Coliseum is antiquated is so over rated. Any player would pratice in a barn and play in a dump if they thought the team was top notch. If I were a millionaire hockey player and a short train ride away from the Big Apple and got to live on the swanky north shore of Long Island I could deal with an old building.
I have been to the igloo in Pitt and players would sign there in a heart beat and they have to live in the outskirts of Pitt which aint all hunky dory. -
IslanderFAN says:
Doesnt matter…The Isles will never leave NY…Bettman will never let it happend.
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Chris in DC says:
Stop with the Thompson BS already. Those impressive victories over Detroit and New Jersey were after Nate was jettisoned.
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Steve says:
Irish Isle,
I agree 1000%. Buy low and sell high. Sutton’s value has never been (and will never be) higher.
Bergie and Rolosson still have value. Get what you can. This season was a success according to the organization. Let’s continue to build this team! -
I’m just hoping for line combinations tonight that don’t leave me scratching my head. Play our offensive guys on the top 2 lines, keep Tamby in there and give him some decent minutes, and sit guys like Park and Weight (who obviously isn’t 100%) who have struggled most of the year. That’s all I ask at the moment. And I already know it isn’t going to happen.
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CG says:
I was surprised to see the LH events of the day reported on the 11:00 news last night on ch 4. Funny how things just got reversed. So the town basically said “no” and will be making a counter offer. Very soon the question will be to Wang “yes or no”. This whole saga needs to end already.
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terry b says:
isles should resign sutton,big,mobile,skilled d men arent all that easy to come by,plus it seems he wants to be here,,and he can hit…
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Im in agreement with many here. Lots of if’s and maybes with draft picks. Get another high first rounder this year by being in the lottery. Forget 5th 6th 7th rounders for our bag of pucks. Otherwise we will have 21 players all young, all “prospects”, and no one to count on. Sutton being an impending FA might only get a 2nd or 3rd – do that one, and see what ROLO can bring in…maybe a player. I like the Chicago scenario with Rolo. After all, how many picks can one team have – its like a dartboard.
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islesfan999 says:
Sutton Needs to be traded. Then is we need him resign him this summer. Just give him 200k more per yr than any team will and he will resign with us.
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Sutton should being in a #2 plus a good prospect. He is 100xs better than Wallin. Park should be traded, Sim should be traded. And if he has any value i would love to trade Hunter for a tough forward like Boll and a #4 maybe.
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Dan says:
Sutton is 36 years old. The Islanders should not resign him they should trade him and look for a younger D-man in the offseason. Sutton has not always been healthy due to his physical style of play.
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Quez says:
I love some of the trade scenarios that are being dreamt up. The only problem is all of the other teams have professional scouts who actually watch our players and they will not be throwing around 1st and 2nd rd. picks for what we have to offer so please get off the pipe and enjoy the long rebuilding process!
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Bjorn Holland says:
Can’t we already make a trade for Boogaard?
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valentino says:
How about this, Anyone not named Okposo, Bailey, Streit, or Tavares should be traded if they have even a smidge of market value.
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Tom says:
Here’s some grim stats.
In the 30 team NHL the Isles are
27th in Points
29th on the Power Play
29th on the Penalty Kill
29th in Goals per Game
25th in Goals Allowed per Game
25th in Faceoff Win Percentage
28th in 5 ON 5 GOALS FOR/AGAINST RATIOThey are 12th in Shots though – whoopee – none of them ever go in.
The bottom line is they’re not that good. I don’t know who the projected top draft picks are but I think it’s time to start looking at them.
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EAF says:
Tom, those are scary stats. But what’s more scary is that our owner thinks that the rebuild is ahead of schedule and our GM is saying that the team has the great chemistry.
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Looks like it will be Tamby and Weight scratched tonight. I love Weight but he does need to sit. He has brought nothing offensively this year.
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Willis says:
Wow I’m surprised about the faceoff stat (not the others) – I thought they were getting better with faceoffs? That’ll teach me to listen to a thing Howie or Billy says.
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Michael Olivo says:
Hey valentino, why is Streit so untouchable? Also, on Sutton; if he has good value (2nd or 1st rnd pick) move him. But the Islanders need to reverse the feeling that free agents are going to begin having: why should I sign with them if I’m going to be traded in February?
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Didn’t our owner also want to put a Sumo wrestler in net?
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.. If those Isle stats are correct thats pretty scary stuff, ouch!
.. I do think the Isles have played better for the most part – there is more talent than last years team and down on the farm and in juniors, but its a loooong season!
.. Your team is never as good as when your playing ‘hot’ and never as bad as when your ‘cold’. They need alot more help and need more skill/speed and size, i think we all agree on that (as well as D-man) but i do REALLY REALLY think they are a batter team than last year and are taking baby steps.
.. Its a ‘cliche’ but its ALOT of growing pains! This team is going foward, maybe not as fast as we all want but we are going in the right direction! Keep stock-piling young talent (draftpixx) and add a Free agent or 2 – Keep the faith + Im VERY HAPPY that were not trading everything for the #8 seed, weve been doing that for 15+ yrs (under milbury yikes!) – lets have a REAL TRUE RE-BUILD!
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Hock says:
Trade Sutton? Yes he has value, but to us as well. As with any player, it depends on what offers Snow gets. In our case, I’m sure he is looking at anything that helps the rebuild (long-term). But in general, his size is in short supply for our team, he fits the system (pretty mobile) and he is one a few vets on our team that can lead by example with his play.
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geduffer says:
IMO, keep Sutton. You can’t keep thinking distant future. He’s played well, he fits the Go-Go system and he wants to stay. Why unload him now? Hock is right, he has value to us as much as to anyone else.
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Al L says:
#42 understands the necessity of youngsters having a veteran mentor to guide them thru their growing pains. Sutton is now healthy,easily logging 20+minutes per game. For the individual who fears Sutton will become the next Witt,he should know that Andy is the same age. This churning of draft picks without a leader has these kids spinning their wheels on a treadmill. I could understand going COMPLETELY with youth if a couple of world class players with born leadership qualities were amongst them. It is obvious we do not possess that type of player as yet. Let the chips fall where they may in the draft and center the attention toward the growth of kids already here, such as Tavares,Okposo,Bailey,Schremp,Neilson,Martin,McDonald,Kohn. Losing or tanking does them no good,other than eventually accepting and meekly submitting to it. Its too bad we didn’t get involved in the Kovalchuk sweepstakes.At 26,maturing and on the cusp of true greatness,he would have been a ready made addition to the so called rebuild,perhaps making everyone around him better and accelerating their growth.
Even with the Isles losing streak I must say that I’m happy with the overall team up to the Olympic break.
Win some, lose some, tie a bunch – we have proven that we are on the right direction.
Right now this young team is just going through some challenges.
The 2 week break will be good for a lot of our guys to rest up for the last 1/4 of the season!