Monthly Archives: March 2010
Bobby Hull Says Brett Better Than Bossy
4:25 pm: With their 11th loss in their last 14 games – not a single loser point acquired – the Islanders have dropped to a season-low five games below NHL .500.
Slow start costs the Islanders as they fall behind 3-1 30 minutes in. Islanders fail to score on a five-minute power play after Blake Comeau is board by Michael Ryder. Goals by Josh Bailey (his 14th) and Matt Moulson (23rd).
I got the full simulcast experience when I listened to the third period on the internet. When the Islanders pulled Dwayne Roloson in the final minute, I couldn’t tell you what went on – except that they didn’t score.
You are cordially invited to supply your own Plus/Minus. Thank you.
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Noon: Mark Streit was asked what he thought of his team’s effort in a 6-3 loss in Atlanta on Thursday.
“I don’t know if a lot of guys understand what kind of situation we are in,” he said. “We were six points out of the playoffs before tonight, playing Atlanta, which is just ahead of us. The effort was not there. We had shots on net but we had a lot of turnovers and they took advantage of it. We just didn’t play our game.”
The alternate captain was then asked how the Islanders can rebound.
“You go home, you check your computer and you check the Eastern Conference standings,” said Streit. “If you don’t realize it, then I can’t understand it and you shouldn’t be here. That’s all I can say. Our next game is against Boston. They are pretty close to us, too, and have a good team. We’ve got to get some points on the board pretty quick.”
Mark Streit is one of the game’s real gentlemen. You saw how he conducted himself all last season with the Islanders and during the Olympics as the captain of Team Switzerland. Streit was ticked, for good reason. When he says something, it means something. The Islanders need something positive…soon.
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The Islanders grabbed points in all three games against the Bruins this season. Boston will have shot-blocking defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, their trade deadline acquisition, in the lineup.
Former Bruins farmhand and current Blackhawk Kris Versteeg to me after Chicago’s 6-3, scrum-filled win over the Canucks: “Scott (Gordon) almost single-handedly saved my hockey career. I had such a —— run in juniors – I was put in different positions and traded all over the place. He identified a role for me and gave me the confidence to be a scorer. If it wasn’t for Scott, I doubt I’m in the NHL right now.”
Multiple sources at the United Center last night confirmed that the Islanders had many offers on the table for Andy Sutton – all for second round picks. One team personnel man said they asked Garth Snow to hold off until Wednesday because they needed to shed some salary. However, he said he didn’t blame Snow for grabbing the bird in one hand on Tuesday. The draft pick would have been a few slots before San Jose’s, but no so much as to make a difference and risk the Ottawa offer going away.
Enjoy the game. I’ll stay updated watching your posts on the game. Thank you to Carl of Sports Southeast for the Streit quotes.
Chicago - We covered a lot, so please check it out when you get a chance. Discuss the contents of this chat in Comments. Thank you…CB
Hockey Independent: NYI at the deadline
After the drama of the last 48 hours, what do you say we take this back to hockey and some good ol’ optimism? Yeah, I thought you’d agree.
As it should be, Scott Gordon has modest goals for John Tavares for the rest of the season.
“My expectations are only that John keep working on his game,” said the Islanders coach.
As it should be, Tavares is reaching higher.
“I want to get better as a player and help our team make a playoff push,” Tavares told Point Blank. “The responsibility is on me to contribute as much as I can.”
The trials and tribulations of the first overall pick in the 2009 draft during the last three months have been well-documented. (Short version: the prodigious scorer in junior has no goals in his last 15 games, two in his last 31). Tavares is so closely followed and well-regarded that even Alexander Ovechkin suggested the Olympic break was badly needed and advised his fellow No. 1 draft selection to get away from the game for a while.
That’s exactly what Tavares did.
“Just spent time with my family and friends – the people back home who mean a lot to me,” said Tavares. “It was definitely good to get away from the game for a week. I think more than physically, it was good to have the rest mentally.”
Whenever his season ends, Tavares will immediately begin preparations for his important sophomore year. The Islanders will work with Tavares on and off the ice to help him get bigger, stronger and faster.
There is a precedent for this sort of thing.
“I know what John has been going through with the rigors of the NHL season and I have no doubt he’s going to be an even better player because of it,” said Josh Bailey, who made the Islanders after his selection ninth overall in the 2008 draft. “Like I did, John is going to have the benefit of a complete offseason working with the coaches and the training staff to prepare like an NHL player. I can’t tell you what a difference that made for me last spring and summer.”
After a quiet first month, the 20-year-old Bailey has looked and performed like a completely different player this season – especially during a blistering stretch from the holidays through January.
For all of Tavares’ travails, the teenager is second on the Islanders in goals, fourth in assists and third in scoring. Most observers believed a 20-25 goal, 40-50 point season would have been a home run for the rookie on a rebuilding team, especially without a top-skilled veteran on his line to work with. With 19 games remaining entering the tilt tonight in Atlanta, Tavares has 17 goals and 34 points.
“John has the same disadvantage Josh had,” said Gordon, referring to the brief NHL initiation before being thrown against the wolves.
Said Tavares: ”My focus is on looking forward, not back. I want to head into the summer knowing I improved and played a part in us finishing the season strong.”
Tavares may be the first overall pick with a legendary junior career behind him, but he is still a 19-year-old prospect that needs to be developed like the rest of the franchise’s young players. The ultimate responsibility falls on the young man, but it’s also on the organization to see that his world-class skills are developed to their maximum level.
The process really begins this offseason.
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The newly-acquired Dylan Reese will make his NHL debut tonight for the Islanders against the Thrashers. The 25-year-old defenseman, a seventh round pick of the Rangers in 2004, had a goal and an assist in his only game with the Sound Tigers after his acquisition from Columbus. Andrew MacDonald is out 4-6 weeks with a broken foot suffered Tuesday in the win over Chicago.
Since Reese played 51 games with AHL Syracuse this season, I checked in with Crunch owner Howard Dolgon for his snapshot look at the new Islander.
“Dylan is an extremely smart player who gives 100% effort every shift,” wrote Dolgon, a Long Island resident. “He will not be out-worked. Our coaches really liked his strong passes out of our own end. He is also a real quality person.”
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SOCIAL Dinner with Bossy, Nystrom on March 15
For reservations call Social at 516.489.8080 and ask for Max. Or email max.feinberg@socialsportskitchen.com Mention Point Blank
This is not a Point Blank event, but merely a second and final plug for the crew at SOCIAL in Uniondale who treated all of us so nicely when we had our night in early December. The restaurant is also offering a significant discount exclusively to Point Blank readers.
On March 15, SOCIAL (across the street from the Coliseum) is hosting two dinner seatings for Islanders fans at 7:00 and 8:30 pm. Included is a three-course meal from Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef” and personal visits to your table by Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, “Mr. Islander” Bob Nystrom and, for any kids in attendance, Sparky the team’s mascot.
Autograph requests and the taking of photographs are highly encouraged.
Each fan will also receive from Bossy or Nystrom a voucher for one complimentary ticket to an Islanders 2009-10 home game.
The inclusion of the free ticket makes the price for the dinner and Bossy-Nystrom meet-and-greet a darn good deal. But for Point Blank readers, it’s even better. SOCIAL is offering the event for just $50 each.
So for 50 bucks, you get a ticket to a game, meet a pair of legends and enjoy an appetizer, entree and dessert. Not a bad way to spend an hour.
For reservations call Social at 516.489.8080 and ask for Max. Or email max.feinberg@socialsportskitchen.com Mention Point Blank
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How about this observation from the incomparable Mike Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post, via Twitter. Of the remaining healthy defensemen on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, only teenager Anton Klementyev does not require re-entry waivers to be recalled.
Brendan Witt: what did he, what did he, what did he do to deserve this? (Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield). Why not put him through re-entry waivers? I guess they will buy out the final year of his contract.
TSN had a great shot of Andy Sutton taking the ice for the first time as an Ottawa Senator yesterday. Sutton looked down at his jersey, saw the logo and had a priceless, this-is-neat reaction. Easy guy to root for.
The Islanders have won their last four games against the Thrashers, who acquired Clarke MacArthur yesterday from the Sabres for a third and fourth round pick. Atlanta is in the Eastern playoff hunt and play 13 of their 21 final games of the regular season at home. The Islanders have lost their last six games on the road – all of them in regulation.
Comments on this post and tonight’s game. Since it is not a PB event, please contact SOCIAL directly for details on their dinner with Bossy and Nystrom. As I mentioned yesterday, I’m away on assignment for a few days but will post when I can. Enjoy the games.
A grand total of three reporters were at the Coliseum for the trade deadline today: me, Katie Strang of Newsday and Dan Martin of the Post. An hour after the deadline had passed with no Islanders moves, only Katie and Dan were invited together to speak with Garth Snow in his office while I was kept in a holding cell.
This blog has praised and criticized the Islanders general manager over the last year. When a team has come in 26th and last in the NHL the last two years and currently ranks 26th, there’s going to be some criticism.
Snow has done a pretty good job this year. He has acquired a few contributors at little cost, some prospects are developing well and the team is on the fringe of the playoff race with 19 games left to go. He did about all he could before today’s deadline. The team has already tied last year’s win total, but we were told to expect improvement with the upgrade from Joey McDonald and Yann Danis to Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron in goal.
I didn’t have much to ask Snow today, but would have listened for his take on his efforts as the trade deadline passed with no moves made. I would have liked to have shared them with the thousands of Islanders fans who pound this site every day.
In September, Point Blank – much to my amazement and sincere appreciation – reached a level that the New York Times wrote about it and AOL offered to support it. Thank you again, dear readers.
The Islanders recently asked me to promote a team charity event, and I was told Point Blank readers responded tremendously. Two-way street, I guess, unless someone dares to criticize. Awwww…Nevertheless, I’ll always be willing to promote the team’s charitable efforts.
Among the only questions I would ask Garth are this:
- What is your estimated timeline for the rebuilding project? A few young teams seem to have gotten a lot better a lot more quickly.
- If the team falls short this season, is 2010-11 the year you hope to get the seventh or eighth spot in the East? In other words, when does the team take a legitimate step up?
- You often say you have the money to spend. Can your fanbase expect that to be in 2010?
- It’s understandable that you want to collect a few lottery picks, but is the time when you acquire an impact young veteran or two coming anytime soon?
- Are you 100% behind Scott Gordon?
Seems fair, especially when season ticket invoices for 2010-11 have already been distributed and first payments are due soon. He wouldn’t have to answer the questions. In fact, the longer he doesn’t the more he gets to alter his plan and be critic-proof (well, to most).
I also understand that it’s never wise for a general manager to telegraph his every move. Still, questions should be asked. As you are all well aware, the Islanders have a lot of fans that care a great deal about this franchise. When they are asking for them to buy stuff, the Islanders talk about their fans being shareholders.
After today, of course, I will not request an audience with Garth. Contrary to what he may believe, an interview with him or any general manager is not a privilege for the writer. Far from it. An interview is simply a way to provide information to the readers - the team’s consumers. Not being able to speak with Garth did not prevent this blog from properly setting the stage for today’s trade deadline three weeks ago. Not being able to speak with Garth does not prevent me from being able to present fair judgments on the development of team prospects.
All I miss out on is presenting his quotes straight to you. Judging by what I read today, again I did not miss much.
There are plenty of other places for me to go for information, and plenty of stories, insights and actual facts (!) still to share. In fact, there is so much more to this story – but we’ll pour the whine a little at a time.
Garth and I used to be pretty good friends. I believe he would tell you I was fairly helpful to him for a few years in his transition from goaltender to GM.
On a personal level, naturally it is very sad when you lose a friendship. But it happens and I was fully prepared for it. I remember telling him in one of our last conversations, “Sometimes life takes you in different directions.”
Garth Snow is going to be the Islanders general manager for a long time, of that you can be very sure. You can also be sure that I will always wish him well.
Comments on this post only. Trade deadline conversation continues below. I’ll be away on assignment for a few days, but I have a few pieces to write and will check in throughout.
Seen leaving the Coliseum late last night in a boot, MacDonald, as per Katie Strang, has a broken foot. Trent Hunter out 1-2 weeks. Katie reports that Garth Snow said DiPietro will play again this season. Dylan Reese has been recalled. More to come.
3:30 pm, NVMC: I wrote late last night that Garth Snow would not give away Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron, and he has not. Neither goalie was traded, nor anyone else. The Islanders had just two players of real value on the market. Only Andy Sutton was traded.
2:20 pm, NVMC: Based on a text I have just received, as of now the Islanders do not have anything of significance going on in the trade market.
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