Monthly Archives: March 2010
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11:20 am: The Islanders have announced that captain Doug Weight is out for the remainder of the season. Weight, who will undergo surgery next week after playing hurt since his return in January, had one goal and 16 assists in 36 games this season.
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John Tavares may only have one goal and one assist in the five games since the Olympic break, but his coach is pleased with the 2009 first overall pick.
“The improvement in John’s play since the break has been night and day,” said Scott Gordon. “Not everyone may see it, and the numbers may not bear it out, but I’ve seen a big difference. I’m very happy with the way he is competing and the way he has been getting to the puck.”
In the five games, Tavares has an even plus/minus rating while averaging over 17 minutes a game.
Short-term Goal: Asked what he’d like to see from his team in back-to-back games this week against the Devils and Maple Leafs, Gordon said, “You can ask me the same question after we get back from the road trip and I’ll probably give you the same answer. I just want to continue to get better as individuals and as a team.”
Try Nassau Community College: A report from a highly-reliable source on the invaluable fan message board Islandermania said that the Islanders – now in charge of the lot – are more than doubling the price of parking at the Coliseum next season to $15. Islandermania is the team’s official message board and no one on the team has shot down the report.
Early Friday I ran this report by a team source, who denied it but could not announce what the new price will be. Coliseum staffers are confirming that they have been told the price for general parking at the arena for hockey games will be $15. Islanders season subscribers will be offered a discount, but the price will still be a lot more than they are used to paying.
UPDATED at 10:15 am - Team sources continue to insist general parking will be raised to “more like $10 and $15 for VIP.”
We await official word from the Islanders, who now receive the revenue from parking after out-going County Executive Tom Suozzi brokered an eleventh-hour sublease to benefit the team.
If the price is indeed $15 to park at the Islanders’ legendary dump, here’s hoping fans take safety measures making the walk from nearby Nassau Community College. (Then again, don’t be surprised if the Islanders take measures to work with NCC to ensure that’s no longer an option). UPDATE: Readers have written in to report they have recently been nailed with expensive parking tickets at NCC.
Without question, the Islanders will be quick to point out the crazy cost of parking at Yankee Stadium and countless NHL rinks. Like comparing the Islanders to the Devils, however, this is apples and oranges.
Comments on this post and tonight’s game. Have a good week, everyone.
12:30 pm, Iceworks: Islanders head coach Scott Gordon is extremely comfortable with the direction of his team.
Asked by a reporter after today’s optional practice about the differences between the Islanders and Saturday’s opponent, the New Jersey Devils, Gordon – while respecting the Devils’ championships and annual competitiveness – said it’s a case of apples and oranges.
“The Devils are re-tooling. We’re trying to rebuild with a master plan of winning a Stanley Cup,” said Gordon. “We’re not re-tooling. We’re still trying to find the tools.
“With all the changes in coaches and managers here, there hasn’t been a stretch of continuity. We haven’t deviated from the plan. Garth (Snow) hasn’t traded any players in a panic. We haven’t given up something that we’re going to miss.”
Gordon has seen improvement in the core of his team’s approach from last season to this season.
“I see a level of consistency,” said the coach. “The power play and the penalty kill…there’s no question we’ve got to get better. Five-on-five, we don’t give up a lot. With a young team that could use a lot of practice time, and in a year with a condensed scehdule where there hasn’t been much, I’ve been happy with what I see in our work.
“You have to remember, the roster didn’t change a whole lot – except for the goaltenders. Now, for me, it’s about finding a few missing pieces to fill in.”
Finally, Gordon was asked if the Eastern Conference standings board still hangs in the locker room like it did in mid-January, when the Islanders were still in the playoff hunt. Affirmative.
“Look at the standings and know what a lousy feeling it is,” said Gordon, referring to his players. “Remember this day.”
Comments.
9:42 pm - In an interview with rightsholder MSG Network, Islanders general manager Garth Snow said his team’s future is bright, he is building a “consistent contender” and the team’s goal is to make the playoffs next season.
After defending his play-in playoff proposal – “There were 16 teams in the playoffs when there were 21 NHL teams, and now there are 30 teams and there are still only 16 playoff teams,” he said, dead seriously - Snow was asked by Howie Rose about his team. Here is an unedited transcript:
This is clearly Year 2 of a rebuilding program. Where are you right now relative to your expectations?
I think there are a lot of bright signs for the future when you look at our team. Kyle Okposo has taken a huge step in the right direction. Josh Bailey…when you see the difference in him after a summer of training, he came in and looked like a man. John Tavares is gonna benefit from a summer of training.
I don’t think people realize that after a player is drafted, the emphasis when the season ends is to get in shape to do well at the (draft) combine. That’s not necessarily getting in shape for a hockey season. It’s no fault of any player. It’s just the way the system works…and obviously, leading up to the draft, there’s appearances, commitments made, whether it be in the media or certain markets.
Then as the player enters into the market he is drafted by, there’s a lot of commitments and time that takes away from training. There’s an added benefit for John to get a really good summer of training.
Do you feel (Tavares) needs to get significantly stronger to take the next step in his development?
He’s going to get stronger just because he’s a 19-year-old kid. Sometimes we lose sight of it.
What about from a technical standpoint, in terms of skating and an ability to stay on his feet…does that comes with more weight and more bulk?
I can tell you from my own experience, when you’re 19 years old or 20 years old and playing against men who are 28 and 32 years old, there’s a big difference. And not only in strength and conditioning, but what you find works maybe in college or junior might not necessarily work in the NHL.
Those are lessons I know are sometimes frustrating for our fans, but things are going in the right direction. We have a great group of young players. We have a good nucleus. We have solid leaders in that locker room. It’s going to be fun watching this team evolve and grow up.
Will Rick DiPietro play again for the Islanders this season?
Yeah, we believe so. The swelling has gone down and he’s been skating with Sudsie (Maharaj) and Mike Dunham, our two goalie coaches. I fully expect him to play at some point.
What happens as you get into the summer if there are any lingering questions whether he can carry a big load next year? For the sake of this conversation, we’ll assume (UFA Martin Biron) goes somewhere else. Do you then need to find another veteran goaltender as you did with Biron to pair with Roloson?
You know what happens when you assume, Howie. With Rick, with what he’s gone through and the way he’s rehabbed, this is why for us it’s important for him to get in games now.
Well, then if he comes back and plays ten games (this season) will that satisfy for you that you have no issue with him going forward? Or will there be that lingering doubt that he can play a significant number of games?
The one luxury we have is Dwayne Roloson, who’s under contract for next year. He’s obviously a goaltender who’s played extremely well for us and he’s carried the load. It’s a luxury that we have.
When you got to the trade deadline, you were five points behind and you made the decision to trade Andy Sutton. Andrew MacDonald got hurt the first game back after the Olympics and you brought up Dylan Reese, an inexperienced player as opposed to trying to get Brendan Witt through recallable waivers. What’s the thinking there in terms of going young or with a veteran to make that last playoff push?
For me, when I was looking at the situation, that Ottawa game (before the Olympic break) was a big game for me. We were up 3-1. We win the game and we’re four points out of a playoff spot. There’s been several other games I would classify in that category. For us, we did a premptive move, moving Greg Moore for Dylan Reese. We felt he could be a depth defenseman. We have the luxury of recalling Brendan Witt. We felt we had depth in that area. (Bridgeport defenseman) Mark Flood, although he’s been hurt, he’s playing this weekend.
I would say the big positive in all this was the emergence of Andrew MacDonald, Jack Hillen and Dustin Kohn. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, they performed at a level we felt put us in a position to win hockey games.
From my standpoint, the goal is to bring the consistent contender to Long Island and win a Stanley Cup. If the opportunity presents itself, that we can make a move that helps the long-term and the short-term, we’ll do it. For me, it’s pretty easy. We felt that we were gonna make moves to help us bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island.
What would your report card read for Scott Gordon’s work?
I think he’s done a great job. If you look at the way Andrew MacDonald and Jack Hillen emerged on the blue line, the development of Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, John Tavares, Frans Nielsen – one of the most underrated players not just on our team, but in the league – I think he’s done an excellent job.
Looking toward the summer, what would you identify as your biggest need?
We obviously want to improve in a few areas. We’d like to add a couple of defensemen.
Is size an issue?
Yeah. In a perfect world, we’d have six 6-foot-7 defensemen, 250 (pounds), that could skate like the wind. We’ve had some success July 1 – Mark Streit, Dwayne Roloson, Doug Weight, Matt Moulson. We feel we can go out and improve our team. Our goal is to make the playoffs next year.
You’ve got fans who are patient. You’ve got others who are disgruntled. What’s your message to them?
We’re gonna build this the right way. Our goal is to bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island, and we’re just gonna execute that plan.
You are cordially invited to discuss Garth’s remarks and submit your own Plus/Minus from tonight’s game.
Toronto, Carolina and Columbus all win one-goal games – the Leafs and Canes in overtime. Holy crap.
Predict the homestand: Three home games in four days. Three winnable games. I say the Islanders pick up four out of six points. What say you? In Comments.
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You’re Never Out of it: At the general managers’ meetings this week in Florida, the Islanders presented a proposal to improve their chances of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs in future seasons.
The Islanders’ concept – delivered by GM Garth Snow – was for a “play-in” mini-tournament in which the teams at the bottom of each conference would square off against each other to qualify as the eighth seed.
After playing 82 regular season games, teams 8-15 in the East and West would still get a shot at making the playoffs. Wouldn’t matter if you were essentially out of the hunt before Christmas, as the Islanders were last season.
The Islanders, who appear poised to finished 26th or worst in the 30-team NHL for the third consecutive season, apparently did not receive much positive feedback. The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed for the removal of the “loser point” for teams losing in overtime or in the shootout. That proposal was also dismissed.
The story of the Islanders’ idea was first reported by TSN, Sportsnet and the Canadian Press. One journalist in Boca Raton said the best aspect of the concept was the laugh it brought to all of the hockey people and media at meetings predominantly focused on rulings on hits to the head.
When asked by Point Blank about the merits of the team’s proposal, a National Hockey League source replied, “The chances of it happening are the same as it being taken seriously – zero percent.”
Here’s what I want to know. Let’s say, as they did last year, the Islanders play 82 games and finish last in the league. However, they win the play-in tournament and get swept by Washington in the first round.
Would that mean, because of the round robin, they would lose the top pick in the draft? You’d have to think so, which would really make a person wonder.
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Future Watch: The special edition of The Hockey News is out now, with Calvin de Haan (28) and Travis Hamonic (61) the only Islanders placing in the top 100 among prospects not in the NHL.
As many readers have mentioned, the Islanders’ overall grade of B+ (up from C+) is skewed a bit because all players 20 and younger are included when grading team performance. For the Islanders’ grade, John Tavares and Josh Bailey count. According to The Hockey News, the Islanders are eighth in the league. The top five: Los Angeles, St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and the Rangers.
Among the locals, the Rangers – with former Islanders scouting boss Gordie Clark running the draft the last few years – placed three players ahead of de Haan: Derek Stepan (16), Evgeny Grachev (21) and Chris Kreider (22). The Devils’ most recent first round picks made the list: Jacob Josefson (37) and Mattias Tedenby (40).
The magazine polls 23 NHL scouts to establish its rankings.
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Tonight’s Tilt: The Blues, who will start Chris Mason in goal, have not played a game since Saturday. St. Louis is an impressive 18-10-4 on the road this season, fourth in the NHL. Only elder statesman Keith Tkachuk is out with an injury.
As reported by Katie Strang, the Islanders are not recalling anyone for tonight’s game. This means Jeff Tambellini has a chance of getting in.
As reported by Mike Fornabaio, Josh Bailey will likely make his American Hockey League debut if Bridgeport qualifies for the playoffs. Bailey, along with current Islanders Andrew MacDonald, Dustin Kohn, Dylan Reese and Trevor Gillies, has been placed on the Clear Day list for the Sound Tigers. John Tavares, although eligible, was not put on the roster by the Islanders.
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The Plan: Garth Snow on “NHL Live” on Tuesday: “The future is bright. We’ve just got to stick to our plan and make these young kids realize how important these wins are down the stretch.”
On the trade deadline: “There were a couple of offers for our other free agents. But we were five points out from a playoff spot. For me, it would have sent the wrong message to that locker room and to our fans. These games down the stretch are so valuable for our younger players.”
At least two wins in these three games. Your prediction, and thoughts on this post and tonight’s game, in Comments.
Finishes the season 7-18-25 in 44 games.
This is a two comments-per-reader thread.
While the hockey team has lost 14 of its last 17 games, this has not been the best of times for the Islanders on many levels. Despite the embarrassing stretch, the franchise has plenty of moves to make to begin to turn the Country’s frown upside-down.
Here are just a few decisions the Islanders could very well make, or might want to consider, in no particular order of importance.
1. Name Kyle Okposo captain: You say the team is all about the home-grown corps - make it official. Okposo is ready and can handle it. He also happens to be the best young player on the team. Kyle only has 14 goals in ’09-10, so no one can blame the pressure of the captaincy if he doesn’t burst out of the gate next season.
Okposo is the second youngest team-leading scorer in the NHL (after Patrick Kane, born six months later). He’s an outstanding leader who’ll have Mark Streit as an experienced deputy. Do it before the end of the season and have the supremely-respected Doug Weight offer his blessing.
2. Give Matt Martin a few more games: Okay, so maybe the Islanders don’t want to add too much youthful energy to the NHL roster. You don’t want to earn too many points and blow a shot at kids like Tyler Seguin, Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler. You also don’t want to hurt Bridgeport, which is four points ahead for the final playoff spot in the AHL East.
Andrew MacDonald and Josh Bailey in AHL playoff games would be a good thing. All that said, make the NHL team tougher and more exciting – heck, throw the fans a frickin’ bone – and give the tenacious Martin a few games at home.
3. Sign Travis Hamonic: The Islanders are going to sign the hot prospect anyway. There is no way they are going to let Hamonic re-enter the draft. Instead of doing it in late April or May, finalize the kid dman’s three-year entry level deal during the hockey season when people are still talking and writing about the Islanders every day.
4. If he’s the man, give Scott Gordon an extension: Virtually every team in pro sports refuses to let their head coach enter the final year of his contract as a lame duck. (I know this not just any franchise). The uncertain status weakens a coach’s influence on his team and the subject will be discussed all season.
Gordon has one season left on his three-year deal. If Charles Wang and Garth Snow stand by their chosen coach and his system - unless they believe Scott Bowman could have done much better than 52-79-17 with the roster they gave him – they should extend Gordon a season or two. It would be a powerful message to the team, and the fanbase.
5. Win a home game or two: In the pursuit of suckulence and a top-five spot in the lottery, the Islanders can go to Vancouver and California and lose after midnight for all most of the Country cares. However, lineup schminup, the franchise does not want to fall on its face before the thousands still paying to see the boys at the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike.
You think it’s fun for the front office’s sales force to host a potential client at a home game and the team lays an egg? The Islanders host St. Louis, New Jersey and Toronto over the next four days. They are capable of winning all three. Taking two in regulation would do the heart good. Remember, fellas: loser points = no good.
6. Kidnap Kirill the Thrill: Whatever it takes, get the franchise’s top skilled forward prospect – only highly-skilled forward prospect? – out of Russia and to New York. Like almost everything in sports, it’s all about the money.
7. Find the next Jack Hillen: They often don’t work out as well as Hillen, but collegiate free agent signings are like free draft picks. The Islanders, still with holes all over the depth chart, are looking into signing an available college stud or two. Right wing Bobby Butler, with 25 goals and 47 points in 32 games this season at New Hampshire, would be a good place to start. Any combination of size and mobility on defense would also be worth the investment.
8. Burn the jammies: Thank heavens, but the Reebok uniform pajamas systems are almost a thing of the past. Start spreading the news that the return of the classic look is near and will never change again.
9. Bolster Bridgeport: Jack Capuano continues to make tuna salad out of too little on the farm. The Sound Tigers, with a roster as thin as the Islanders and denied the joys of a goal-a-game by Jeff Tambellini, somehow found a way to win three games in less than 72 hours last weekend.
Trevor Smith has stepped up since the arrival of his New Hampshire teammate, Mike Radja. The goaltending has been strong. Despite the freefalls of rookie prospects Justin DiBenedetto and Robin Figren – a combined 19 points in 121 games – Bridgeport could make the playoffs. The Islanders franchise could use a strong showing by its development club in April.
10. Host a first-class FanFest: The LA Kings did this last offseason with terrific results. They even had seminars with three of their most popular goaltenders, three scorers, three fighters, etc. The Blackhawks’ event for this summer is already sold out. There is no reason why the Islanders can’t take a three-day weekend and turn it into a celebration of Islanders hockey. The good thing is, you don’t need a state-of-the-art arena to pull it off.
11. Leak those scouting trips: Remember the golden times of almost a year ago when one day Logie would report that Wang and Snow were in Brampton, then I’d find out when they were in London? Yup, it’s that time of the year again to get the faithful excited for the draft party. Hit the road (again and again), young Jankowski.
So maybe the Islanders will miss the playoffs again. Doesn’t mean they can’t lead the league for the second year in a row in Draft Party attendance.
Keep in mind, Snow said after he selected John Tavares that the goal scorer was his definitive choice from the moment the Islanders won the lottery in April. Reports of a fan and Internet-inspired selection have only become exaggerated with time. The Islanders know who they like in the top five. Might as well get some buzz out there in a few weeks.
12. Extend Matt Moulson: One of the few real happy stories with the big club this season, the highly likeable Moulson rose from relative obscurity to become the Islanders’ leading goal scorer. Moulson’s 23 goals are five more than second-ranked pal John Tavares and as many as Trent Hunter, Frans Nielsen and Sean Bergenheim combined. The restricted free agent must be re-signed. Make it for a few years. How many players or prospects on the roster have his hands? (That’s a rhetorical question).
13. Be Honest and Forthright: Since the Islanders are asking their fans to pay now for next season and get answers later, it’s only right to expect Charles Wang to address some questions about his hopes and plans for the future of the hockey team and arena. I’m certain he will with Long Island’s newspaper.
14. Re-think that April 1 deadline for season ticketholders: This little website has heard from more than 200 season ticketholders not amused by the invoices for 2010-11 they received last week. Much more on this at a later date, but here’s the short version: for a friend of mine with two seats in the corner 300s, between tickets and parking, his life as a dedicated Islanders fan will become at least 30% more expensive than it was the last two seasons. (The parking issue is a story in itself, as many of you have learned).
Oh yeah, and season subscribers that don’t pay by April 1 will see the price of their seats go up. Last year my friend paid over eight installments and without any interest.
As he wrote, “After sitting through these three dreadful seasons, it’s going to cost me more than a grand extra in tickets and parking to come back? And I have to pay for next year’s seats before this last-place season is even over”?
One has to assume the Islanders plan on adding a top three pick, Petrov and at least two premier unrestricted free agents this summer. I’m well aware Islanders tickets are less expensive than most in the NHL, and so is the parking. You’re well aware of the team’s lack of any real success in this generation.
The Islanders must be planning to take a major step forward on the ice. They have to be. If by any small chance they are not devising something special this summer, the Islanders should re-consider its approach with the people they consider their most important fans.
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Please read and react on FanHouse, and spread the word about the cause. Thank you…CB
