ST. LOUIS 2 ISLANDERS 1 (shootout)
Snow: “Our goal is to make the playoffs next year”
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.
161 Responses to “ST. LOUIS 2 ISLANDERS 1 (shootout)
Snow: “Our goal is to make the playoffs next year””
Please Wait
should we drink the cool-aid?
Plus:
We didn’t get the second point.
We really do a good job at losing. Imagine this was the other way around, and we were pulling ahead at the right time of the season, moving into third overall. It could be us one day, we’ll see…
I have no problem with what he said. He pointed out our youth and the trials and tribulations that comes with it. He is going to work on the Defense. He also is realistic that next year the playoffs are the goal. This was a rebuild, this is what was told to us two summers ago. This is what I expected. At the same time, I expect improvement next year, both in the current roster and with free agents.
All I know is i’m not buying what Snowy is selling.
listen a win at home would be nice for fans sake but truthfully with Toronto, Columbus, and Carolina winning it only drops us lower in the standings and closer to that top pick. Forget the playoffs, were looking forward to the draft. The last two games is exactly what I want to see…hard fought games where young players score but we don’t get the points. I want to play hard and develop every night but losing is not a bad thing when you can get the top 3 pick in exchange. One more young star on this team and we are legit that much closer to being a consistent contender. Lets just sign a couple guys on July 1st to help the young core.
Snow deserves another year before I turn on him. This is the correct road map to sustainable success. Leafs win, Edmonton matches the Isles point. Hopefully Isles slide all the way to the bottom. Unlikely Edmonton gets hot though.
I hate being negative about a team I love so much but it just seems there isn’t much positive to say. It’s difficult to watch this team when there are so many mistakes and no adjustments made.
The PP and PK are perfect examples. The team can’t enter the puck in the zone and control it on the PP yet Doug Weight, who missed the net a good 3 or 4 times tonight, gets minutes every opportunity. On our 29th ranked PK, Richard Park continues to be sent out there 2 shifts every penalty! Where are the adjustments and brains from Gordon?
Snow is a joke, I don’t believe a word he says about anything, end of rant, he isn’t worth the frustration.
Another night seeing JT fall to the ice more often than CB getting compliments on his features :). I’m not asking the kid to run over people, but he goes down literally at the first sign of contact, and I know he has more than that.
Good news… started Mason tonight for my fantasy team. :/
Why was Snow hired over a expierenced scout/4 time cup winner like Ken Morrow? Snow is not the answer. If the Isles can’t every spend more then the cap floor for 5-10 years then they should of hired a coach who plays a trap. Those teams don’t need as many talented players. As great and wonderfull Tavares,Baily, Okiposo, Neilson are…these are guys that struggle to get to 15-22 goals a year. Odds are half these guys won’t improve in the goal scoring department.
I am not buying what Snow is selling either. Doug Weight was a good free agent signing? Is that the caliber of free agents he is going to look at? Enough is enough with picking up other teams cast offs. ENOUGH ALREADY! This franchise is joke and will never be taken seriously until we get some marquis players via trade or free agency. Use the cap space to our advantage!
I hsave no problem getting a few defensemen in the summer, but they also need a few forwards who can score…
A good nite with the draft picks in mind - thats a positive at this point
Did he even answer the going with Reese question? I just don’t get it.
Our biggest need is a couple of defensemen?
Agreed a Sutton-like replacement would be awesome, but how about some difference making forwards to take a little pressure off JT, KO, and JB. I’m so anxious to see how those guys play with legit linemates aside from one another.
All in all I like Snow. I think he’s done a pretty good job. I would just like to see him do more…and show this site (us fans AND CB) a little more respect.
Maybe its not his decision, I don’t even know. But the discomfort just makes it hard to support this team on another level. For now it remains going to games when ppl have extra tickets, watching from the tv, and living on this site.
It really needs to get better by next year. Gotta see some real direction.
Wang has gotta be up next.
There is the one point I predicted out of the next three. New Jersey is playing well and toronto never stops - seem very dangerous in the latter minutes of their games.
Snow admits to playoffs NEXT year, which means no interest in playoffs THIS year - not part of the plan . . . which means he finally said it without saying it.
Never really answered the question of why he did not bring up Witt, especially when these others are not ready.
it will be interesting to see
a). who is drafted
b). who is picked up in the UFA this summer
c). who gets pulled up as part of the regular roster (Martin?)
I am used to the losing now and tonight was a good night (scores)in our quest for a solid draft pick (the plan - stick to it Snow)
I thought I was hearing things when he said that. As I bit into my KFC sandwich and heard that, I looked at my girlfriend with disbelief and some mashed potato’s on my face. Good to know I’m not going crazy. Thank you for being honest Garth.
.. I am skeptical as ANY Islander fan butttttt they are really heading in the right direction.
.. They are aquiring young talent, they have made some good FA/waiver moves, aquired some picks, With another young pick (hopefully top 3) they will get some more young talent!
.. They have played better this year, they really have - they have more pts, have played hard most nights and are fairly competitive as well. Now they need some SIZE, they need some SANDPAPER/GRIT on the roster, they need some Dman and other positions as well..
.. Im not drinking the kool-aide and im still ANGRY at Garth for that ‘dopey playoff-pool format’ but so far hes doing a solid job — they need to get spend some $$ this summer, get a free agent or 2 and get the Wang/Hempstead fiasco settled (as well as radio) —- but BIG BIG picture the Isles are slowly getting better, Patience guys, P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!
Here’s the problem. We haven’t seen a second round since 1993. Every year we fail to make the playoffs, we become more impatient. However, Garth’s plan is only in year 2. We have to give this a try. We’ve been through to much to depend on someone else to come in and repair things over night. It’s simply not going to happen. Detroit has been successful for over 10 years because of their drafting success and building within the organization. Stay patient friends…it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I for one believe were on the right course. Isles stock will rise.
Great night except that we didn’t lose in regulatin with Toronto winning. Catching Edmonton is improbable but if Toronto can pass us, that we be a potential top 2 pick pending the lottery and a shot at Tyler Seguin. Isles need offense desperately. With Hamonic and De Haan on the way, we could use a scoring forward over a defensemen. But Fowler, Gudbranson or Gormley would do nicely.
Blah, blah, blah…blah, blah, blah. I’ll believe it when I see it.
I know we are trying to copy the blueprint of Chi,LA, Wash and Pitt which is great with all the high picks but there is also teams that have failed in doing so (see CBJ, Fla, and Atl.)So we must beware. High picks does not always translate to success.We must surround these players with productive solid veterans which will be hard to do.
Any one old enough to have seen the lil rascals can remember the one episode with this line, “don’t drink the milk its spolied”.
Do believe Snow because he is melting. Instead of holding a state of the union and bringing up the reality that the playoffs are dead in the eyes of this team. Stating that the need to re-evaluated the talent assessement done by our scouts, play prep for games, power play, penalty killing. etc… They continue the pep ralley approach stating that we are fine. Note to Garth we had that 6′6 230 defenseman. Um you traded him. You could have held out prior to the draft and did a sign an trade.
All fans better put their jocks back on because the kicks to the groin are coming.
Garth, the fans are not buying the organization’s story anymore. Outside of a few years, this franchise has been a joke since 1993. Spend money or trade for a few good players and then we’ll talk. Until then, save the trash.
Ya know I was thinking maybe Garth should step down as GM and run for Political Office, or if that doesn’t work out maybe he can do infomercials at 2am. I watched (now read) him dance around every important question with a whole lot of words and a whole lot of nothing coming across.
The best part was when Howie kept grilling him about the future and the Free Agent market… I was waiting to hear him say Mr Wang won’t let me spend any money until he gets the Lighthouse
this reminds me of mets public relations
it rally sounds riciculous the things garth snow is saying.Its like a 10 yr old boy pretending to be a surgeon.The man is not qualified at all he has zero credentials wang is to blame completely we need a owner we need a gm and we need a coach,although of the 3 scott is ok
I would like to see how this team finishes before saying how improved this team really is. Yes, improvements will be made by development of players, but the key will be what Snow can bring in from the free agent market. In the draft you get the best available player, but in the free agency is where Snow can determine if the Islanders will compete for the playoffs.
i went crazy, and checked some facts. if the isles scored 9 more goals, and reached 180, we’d be nearly midpoint in the league in scoring.
21 less goals, a 10% improvement, would put us dead center in scoring defense.
our pp is ranked 28 in league. our pp moves to league average, and we nearly reach league average in scoring.
our pk is next to last. take away 10 goals to reach league average on the pk, thats almost midleague in scoring defense.
we are 14-19 in 1 goal games, and have 8 losses by 3 or more goals. we are over 500 at home.
patience. should we land either of the top 2 fowards at the 2010 draft, thats a lot of young talent rising up, along with 3 solid blueline prospects at the junior level. GM, get us 2 big body defenders, and a big winger to play big, and we’ll do some work 2010-2011. JT gets knocked off the puck like JB did last season. JB doesnt get knocked off the puck anymore.
—Minus: Moulson became more expensive to keep.
—Minus: We got a point.
—Plus: Snow didn’t tell Howie to shut up like Wang does.
—Plus: Snow now makes me feel less plus-sized.
—Plus: Tavares fell down only 17 times tonight. Will someone please sharpen his skates?
—Plus: St. Louis likes to miss open nets too.
—Plus: If it weren’t for the other team’s fans, attendence would be about 2,000 on weeknights. Thank you, Other Teams’ Fans! You are buying the rope we will nefariously hang you with in 2078!
Plus: CB wrote “Holy Crap!”
I say trade everyone over 28 years old. And lets get a cup in 2014-15.
I love listening to Howies’ call of the games. A shot from the point by Gervais trickles wide, it flutters just outside the post… Okoposo wide open in front and he shoots it wide… Weight shoots and it goes high over the net… Hillen winding up and it goes way over the net…
Um Garth I dont think we need defense as much as maybe someone who can actually hit the net.
It all sounds great, except for weasiling around the Witt question, but what’s the point in getting excited about a team who may not be here at the exact time they come into their own? Until Charles Wang talks to the fans and tells us the plans for keeping the Islanders in New York, I’m sorry but I can’t get excited about anything. I’m not spending one more dime until I get a clear answer to the most important question out there. So Mr. Wang, what’s the plan?
I so far trust in Garth. But it means nothing. The teams performance on the ice is what counts for me no matter what words are spewed in a politically correct way.
The boys are trying, albeit in losing efforts, but at least there is effort. DEFINITELY year 3 is the year for grading the rebuild.
The biggest thing for me was Garth acknowledging the need for…bigness. At least he is saying that we need size on defense. Hopefully action will follow.
(score was 2-1, CB)
Talk is cheap.
I don’t think our team is that bad (as bad as our current record). There is some talent here. I just don’t see how we can turn the corner. We don’t have elite talent and we have no real depth. I’m confused, but we’ll see.
Worked over the season ticket rep really well tonight. I’m done. I have no problem with Garth, but the morons running the business side (hello Chris Dey) have drivfen me away.
aside from the defense of the absurd play in tourney idea, it was a pretty good interview. interesting that snow decides to pop up now when the fanbase is ticked off. let’s see what happens on 7/1. isles have to make some major noise in the free agent area on that date.
Snow did not say anything new. We have a good core of young players to work with, and some extra picks in this years draft. This off season is time to add a few new players, with “talent” and size, via trades or free agency.
Snow said nothing, once again insulting my intelligence as a fan. Wonderful. But don’t worry, ITS THE PLAN to alienate the fanbase. In that sense, they’re doing a great job.
Maybe they can charge interest on parking passes too!
plus- effort
minus-refs
minus-pp, def the worst pp of all time, i am thinking about changing the channel for the duration of their pps from now on. The players know that corner play just is never there, get JT up high for one-timers, thats where stamkos is gettin most of his.
I think Snow defended himself pretty well, i enjoy his talks of putting things into place and he’s right. I thought at start of year isles could make it and they came relatively close, but it’s only year 2, we should be seeing this as a VERY good thing.
Losing sucks though, especially with how sloppy the blues were tonight……(expletive)
Please, Snow is trotted out to give the Company line as season ticket renewals are sent out! What is he going to say? We suck? My plan is a disaster? We should have drafted Duschenne? We refuse to spend any money till we find a home? I made a huge mistake trading Sutton? I over played My goalie card? we are 5 years away from being a contender? I don’t think so! I don’t believe a word! Actions speak louder than words!Let us see the action!!
Realistically, the playoffs are probably two years away. Even if JT gets stronger and Kyle and Josh continue to improve, this is still the smallest, softest club in the league. And the owner is NOT going to spend one dime to make any changes.
I view the season as a success. When you really look at the difference from this team compared to last year, there wasn’t much rollover save for dumping dead weight in Andy Hilbert and adding John Tavares. Matt Moulson was a surprise. Biron has fared no better this season than Joey Mac or Yann Danis did last year. Roloson was an upgrade.
I saw relevant hockey until February. For a week, I saw my team beat four of the best teams in the league. I don’t know why the wheels came spinning off, but they did. Growing pains I guess. It’s a positive, especially when you see the improvements in the games of guys like Bailey and Okposo in particular. We haven’t seen their best yet. Tavares either. Another year of maturation and with his rookie season done, he’ll be fine. There are some decent prospects in the system to look forward to, something that hasn’t happened in a while around here.
There are no trades coming. If you were a GM, who on this roster would you want? Tavares, Bailey, Okposo, Streit, Nielsen… yeah, we’re not moving any of those guys. Nobody else on the team has any trade value. Deal with it folks. There are no trades coming because there’s no one that’s worth anything.
I expect a huge roster turnover next season. Sim and Weight are gone. Most likely Tambellini. Perhaps Park. Toss Jackman as well. Fill the spots with more kids from Bridgeport. With luck, Toronto catches us in the standings, and the Isles either stay put at #2 or win the lottery and go #1. Draft Hall, Seguin or Connelly. Need to get a goal scorer.
Free agency? Bring back Sutton. Or find another large, mobile defenseman. Goodbye Freddy Meyer, possibly Bruno Gervais.
I’m all for Garth staying the course and stick and stay and make it pay, all that good stuff. But if there was ever a time to open the wallet, go get Kovalchuk. Instant improvement of the PP, more goals per game, and tons of pressure off Tavares.
Otherwise, next year, relavent hockey til at least March, maybe a playoff berth. It’s not far off. Just be smart with the draft and all will go well. Ask fans in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington if it was worth it. You’ll see.
I said it last year, tanking and getting Tavares was important. But this draft is BY FAR THE MOST CRITICAL OF THE REBUILD.
Its all BS. Its an interview, of course hes gonna say how wonderful things are, and they are doing everything right. What else is he going to say?…that he doesn’t know how to manage? that Gordon is a terrible coach? that they have no intention to bring a Cup to Long Island? Cmon…
I like what he said. He’s building the right way. We’ve seen what happens when you dump young player after young player before letting them develop. You get to watch them become All-Stars all over the league. (Yes, Milbury, I’m talking about you. How’d that work out?)
It’s a good thing the net wasn’t around in the late ’70s. After the Isles lost and got beaten up by the Leafs in the ‘78 QF, eveybody would’ve been firing Torrey, firing Arbour and dismantling the team. If not in ‘78, then in ‘79 when a heavily favored Isles team got beat by the Rangers in the SF.
Patience is an easy virtue to have until you have to actually show some.
41, 43 and im sure countless others have hit it right on. This is part of the deal, so to believe Snow would be foolish. I sincerely hope one day I can be proud to be an Islanders fan, and not resent everything about the organization EXCEPT the players that go out there and give their best for the fans… they may not be the best but these guys have never quit this year, and they deserve a lot of credit.
Nothing newsworthy in that interview. I do believe the team is better off now than when Snow started, but they are still a way off from building a cup worthy team. Ill believe it when I see it. What exactly was his answer to the Witt question? The way I read it is we are throwing the towel in so better to bring in someone who will help achieve that goal.
Did anyone follow baseball 10 years ago…isles are following exoos footsteps….lowest payroll…dwindling fanbase….ownership looking to move…
sign hamhuis and I will be happy. Then make even more improvments
To his credit, Garth has done everything he has said. He has been true to his word. He continues to stockpile prospects. He is rebuilding. That takes time and patience. But, if you ask the fans in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, LA, and San Jose if it was worth it, you will get a resounding “yes”! It is not Garth’s fault that we no longer have patience, it is Milbury’s. Milbury set this franchise back many years and now Garth is stuck picking up the pieces.
The important thing for me, is that Garth has not made hasty trades and has not traded away our important young players, a la Mike Milbury. The one big trade he made for Smyth did not cost us much.
We just to have to hope that Garth and Jankowski are picking the right players. We look like a lock to have a top 5 pick. That is what we need.
My only criticisms of Garth are his lack of free agent signings last summer and his inability to sign more undrafted college players. Hillen and Moulson have been great but sign more.
I’m sorry, but Snow lost me when he started to babel. Did he say that Witt has a thyroid condition!!! Let me know if he ever answers the question.
His lips keep moving but he doesn’t say anything. Incredible.
Snow job does not mention the reason why the NHL had 16 of 21 teams in the playoffs was when the four WHA teams were admitted in 1980, they had their rosters picked clean. Unlike the AFL and ABA teams, they could only protect two skaters and two goalies. In 1979 12 out of `7 teams made the playoffs. Which means in 30 years the NHL playoff standards have improved from ghastly bad to merely ridiculous.
Minus: This hideously boring game went to a shootout like I felt in the second period it would
Plus: Biron waived on the first two shots so we could get out of there.
Minus: Biron and Moulson were named third and second stars and their team lost???
Plus Terrific pass from Streit for the sore Islander goal.
Just wondering: When Snow-job says DiPietro will be back this year, is he keeping time in dwarf planet Pluto-time (one rotation of Pluto around the Sun lasts 248 years)??
Snow is spouting so much Kool Aid he should have a handle on the side of his head.
Hey 46, don’t remind me. I was an Expos fan!
I must be the only one who thinks the play-in tourney is a great idea. Couldn’t you give all the non-playoff teams an equal chance in the draft lottery? Wouldn’t that prevent teams from giving up at the end of the year to get a higher draft pick? As a fan it would be great. You wouldn’t have all the salary dump trades. Really not the laughable idea everyone is making it out to be
We all know that a true rebuild process takes a couple of years so I do have patience if the rebuild process is performed correctly. Unfortunately, this process was not performed correctly by Milbury and has set back the organization for the past 15 yrs. I believe Snow is taking the right steps by building through the draft but now he has to take the process to the next level. We have a nice core of youth that needs some solid veterans to take the pressure off of them which will enhance there development. I am not talking about washed up 3rd and 4th liners but players who were once 1st and 2nd liners that can still play the game but unfortunately not at their former all-star levels. Sign them to 1 to 2 year deals this allows youth on the team to grow and the youth in bridgeport to further develop without being rushed. If this does not happen we will stay stagnant which is happening right now. You can see that our young players have hit a rut, look lost and are mostly invisible.
+Moulson scored. Sign him as he is hunters replacement.
+Biron played well. Nice to see after such a rough year.
-Gained a loser point. Lost ground on Tor, Edm.
-Gillies, Jackman, Sim getting less then 10 mins. This is a waste of 3 roster spots. All 3 could be giving to guys that might put the puck in the net.
-Tamby on the bench again. Can someone tell me what he did? He started to score at the end of last year and had 13 points in 27 games this year. for gordons’s quote ” he needs to play in all zones” is unfair since the entire team does not play in all zones and you cannot get better by riding the pine. If you don’t like him then release him and let him go elsewhere. This is just wrong. It is like they want him banished from the nhl. PS the same for Witt.
-Hillen the only guy jumping on Perron after running Biron. Need 3 big boys on defense.
- snow was not joking about “play in”
Who honestly expected us to make the playoffs this year? I’ve had my eye on year three since the beginning. I’m very excited for this years upcoming draft and free agency. If we add another top five prospect and two to four quality free agents I don’t see any reason why we wont make the playoffs. The key here is what we do in the offseason if we bring in an nhl ready rookie and don’t make a big free agent splash then there is no reason to get excited for 10/11 because while these kids will improve, they are not nhl playoff ready.
I believe Biron is gone at the end of his contract, he can’t be happy with the situation and that he was not moved. That being said, why the hell wasn’t he moved?, get anything for him, if your planning on making the playoffs next year, get what you can for a guy who most likely (definately) not be here next season. A 3rd round pick is better than nothing.
alright just like last night everyone…
GO LEAFS GO
GO LEAFS GO
its lottery time again boys
It really doesn’t matter what Snow or Wang or even Gordon say. The only thing that matters what happens on the ice.
Garth could sell used cars in his spare time. Other than having a successful draft in June, I hope he can bring Petrov over and sign Volchenkov to help the kid along. That would be ideal for the Isles. Talented young forward and solid NHL defenseman in his prime. One can dream, right?
He avoided the Witt question and never answered the “#3″ goalie question…..should have been an easy answer…..Rolo and DP….If either is injured Lawson or Kostitsen step in.
Is it too much to read into the avoidance that maybe Lawson is not resigned and Isles go with basically 2 rookies at BP Kostisten and Poulin?
At least he’s not Don Maloney. That’s about the only thing that keeps me from adding to my already receding hairline.
When Garth lies he gets fatter
that’s a dated picture of Snow .. I noticed he was a lot grayer now
#60 I think Poulin is signed soon and yes, next year in Bridge should be Mikko and Poulin. Lawson can play some in Utah. Also, interesting, Ridderwall now seems committed to coming over.
Anyway, how funny would it be if someone rented a kool-aid man outfit and jumped out when Garth was doing an interview?
He dodged a few and went into GM speak too much. I wish he wouldn’t mention stanley cup until he shows a willigness to ice the right kind of team to even be competitive during the regular season.
He’s been talking about making the defense and team bigger since he got the job but thus far it’s only gotten smaller and softer. SHOW ME!
2 d-men this summer? You really need 3 or 4.
He states over and over if an opportunity presents itself to make the team better he’ll do that. Other then FA’s and the draft I find it hard to believe none of these opportunities has presented itself since Ryan Smyth.
Overall I like the direction. I’m not asking for massive spending sprees nor do I expect them to sign a Kovalchuk level FA. I’d be happy if he acquires more high draft picks because this is the year to load up on the needs this team has, signed a Hamhuis and/or Corvo type and a Carkner and/or Scott type. Trade for a guy like O’Bryne and trade for a Gaustaud type center. Other then that let the youngsters continue on with the growth up front. Hamonic and De Haan can have another year to grow and refine their game and things will be much brighter.
Coincidence that Snow does this “interview” one day after CB’s post about things they could do to improve the team/appease the fans while tensions are high due to season ticket notices (among other things)? You make the call. Too bad he didn’t really say anything in it. Lost track of how many questions he either sidestepped or just plain avoided altogether.
Sorry Snow- after you come up with that ridiculous play in format for the playoffs I can’t listen to anything you say seriously. Embarrassing.
Why even waste your time watching the interview. Useless and all political. It’s about winning and this team at the moment can’t and should tank the season for the highest draft pick possible while developing their young players in bridgeport on the Island through mid-April.
I cant believe Garth wore that suit, unbelievable!!! How could Gordon smirk at the officials like that!!! Wang is an alien playing all of us for fools!!! Get a grip people! Lay off the whine for a little while and think about what you are actually writing!
I hope he is right about our team. Makes you question his judgment a bit for that moronic “play-in” idea for the playoffs. I think he embarrassed himself a bit right there, and our organization.
Why are we all mad that he’s sticking to the right plan? I think he said the things that I was thinking. We’re getting another high draft pick. That’s what we need. We’re not the best team in the league just yet.
Sorry Snow, not buying any of it. Look at the 10 first overall draft picks in the ten years since 2000. We’ve had two of them and can anyone honestly deny that we have the the two worst of those ten. The jury may be out on JT (although he really doesn’t look good), but DP has been a bust by any standard. There isn’t one of the other 8 I wouldn’t rather have.
I’m onboard with snow. I’ve been calling for rebuild for years rather than slopping togther a group of veteran ufa’s each year and trading away prospects. I want a team of young hungry players making the playoffs, not limp in and get waxed in 1st round.
We could use another top pick. Let’s not forget, the year pens drafted crosby they missed and got malkin.
Next year will be great. And yes tavares will come strong and dominate. Its true. Look at bailey. He went from being brought down all the time last year to impossible to taken the puck away on the boards. I thing bailey shapin up to be next mike richards.
Plus - Snow admits we have smurfs playing defense and we need to upgrade that area badly.
Minus - All the talk of building the right way and the play in for the playoffs FINALLY has convinced me that Wang has absolutely no intension of upgrading this team through free agency.
So while Snow talks of an upgrade over the summer I still see us starting next season with a pathetic defense once again.
I have lost faith, trust and respect for the owner, GM and coach. This interview changes nothing. Actions speak louder than words. So far, the words spoken this season (or lack there of) have been cloudy and misleading and the actions have been poor attempts to solve the teams problems.
Snowy sounded like an angry politician last night….I wasn’t impressed. The sad thing is that these last 15 games for the young kids will be somewhat of a joke with the smurfs defense we have right now…..we will not win more than 3 games the rest of the year. Good for draft position, bad for young players’ development and excitement to play here.
The JT drinking game is fun.Everytime he goes down,,,,,you get the picture!HIC!
Snow looks awful. He’s right that it will take time. As far as progress, I’m not sure. Snow is a good guy and he is doing his best. Next year should be about attenpting to sign Kovalchuk(probably won’t happen) signing to quality d-men, and drafting a scoring winger. Gordon should ride the top 3 lines. The fourth line should be played when necessary and should consist of a goon, the wrecker and whomever they like at center. One last thing, not playing Tamby over Gillies was pathetic. Shame on Gordon and Snow for what they have done to Jeff.
CB, you need to get a new picture of Snow for your files, he doesn’t have black hair anymore. All that stress of being a GM I guess.
i thought he did a pretty good job defending a plan based entirely on the draft, with trades/free agent signings limited to low salary/low impact guys only. he’s actually done a decent job with the plan.
the ‘play-in’ thing still has me reeling though.
Just remember nobody wants to play on long island and until we get a new arena and show we are a contender. You can’t get good players to play for US. People have to realize that. If Charles didn’t buy the islanders they would have moved already. Town of hempstead is run by a bunch of fat ass morons.
When Snow speaks all I hear is, “Blah blah blah blah….” Its the same crap over and over.
Lets see if Snow sticks to his guns….Snow knows a majority of the fanbase is losing faith. For good reason…mistakes were made this year. But-there are some positives to reflect on too this season.
Josh Bailey is developing well.
I believe the fans will run Snow out of his job next season if he doesnt address the weaknesses of the team this off season.
Snow must go, plain and simple!
LOL!!! Dont worry next year maybe we will add Ness and Katic to our towering Defense. Where is our Jay Horowitz to jump in and make sure Snow says the right things? I think we should add long poles to the bottom of all the players skates and have the two coachs on opposite sides of the arena play a game like table top hockey so nobody hits anyone and nobody gets hurt. They could still do the shootouts, i think it would work? Snow you on this, make it happen!!!!
No issue with what he said. This is why teams in NY don’t rebuild this way, fans do not like to wait out bad teams, especially for paying the ticket prices they do. This is the plan he presented a couple of years ago, it’s still the plan, right or wrong he’s sticking to it and I respect that. He doesn’t make himself likeable, but that’s a whole separate issue. I would start to get nervous if by next year you don’t start seeing the FA signings.
Draft Fowler…he has potetial to be a top 2 d-man and then go out and sign a top 6 forward and another d-man
He dodged a few key questions….especially around DePietro’s future.
He is sticking with a plan to go with youth. Anyone who thinks we will add 3-4 free agents during the summer is really not understanding what the course of action is.
If he brings in “a couple of defenseman” then who sits of the young group—unless he plans on moving one of the others?
If he ads 2 guys to the blueline, plus Hillen, Kohn, Martinek, MacDonald, Striet and Gervais—that is 8…unless someone is getting traded….
snow said the right things and sounded good, and outlined where we are and what is needed to be donw and where we should be next year. I believe in his words.
What bothers me is the fact that he siad the opposite during the week at the gm meetings and talked about playoffs this year.
If you are patient enough and can plan a rebuild as snow did, he is smart enough to have known that playoffs were out of the question and there was no reason for the BS.
That littel run they went on gave us hope, this is a young inconsistent team. Just be forward and people wont have a problem with it. It is when the misstatements come out that is the problem.
EMBARRASSING. SNOW IS A JOKE
His Witt answer says everything you need to know about his handle on the team. This offseason feels like a make or break one for this franchise. Its time to take a steps forward, not one step forward and two steps back. I’m tired of the status quo and the stagnant air surrounding this team like LA smog.
Islander fans come on!!!! you don”t take Snow seriously do you???? Looking to make the playoffs and you traded Sutton, for some second round nonsense….I believe this so called ,”plan” has been in effect for quite some time….Remember the guy really wanted to stay here on Long Island….And we went down the toilet the moment he was traded….Correct me if I am wrong but the team is on its way for finishing dead last in the NHL,again!!!!Our saving grace is Edmonton….I don’t get it!!!!Snow you are givin’ us a,”Snow job.”
Snow just crashed through my wall here at work and offered me a drink.
Since the comeback victory against the Black Hawks (who were possibly suffering a post-Olympics letdown), The Islanders are 0-3-1 against mostly mediocre teams like Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston and Stt Louis. In that time Rick DiPietro is back on the disabled list. Can we forget this nonsense that Islander players pitched to Katie Strang of “Newsdolan” and some fans have suggested that DP was the cause of the team slumping in February? They have slumped because they are not very good and that’s what happens to teams after about 70% of the season.
It is nice going with youth BUT you need to have some veteran experience. By the time this team gets there they will either be retired or they will go else where to Free Agency. I see KO leaving when he can as he is one of the only forward busting his butt game in and game out…KEEP BIRON!! Cut losses with DP!!!
We’re all forgetting the most important thing here that has been controlling the purse strings for years. The good old Lighthouse Project. No LH no spending on the team. It’s all about the LH.
What do you expect Snow to say?? Ya, we’re tanking the rest of the season?? He said what you could say. We all know what’s going on. I would rather see Reese up getting NHL experience. It worked for Hillen and it’s working for McDonald, and I for one, like it… Give us another top 3 pick this year, then see if Wang is going to spend money on Free Agents. If everyone pans out, in 2 or 3 years we look like Chicago. Sign me up! Extra large glass please.
I’m quoting this because it’s the way everyone should look at it…
#75…
“No issue with what he said. This is why teams in NY don’t rebuild this way, fans do not like to wait out bad teams, especially for paying the ticket prices they do. This is the plan he presented a couple of years ago, it’s still the plan, right or wrong he’s sticking to it and I respect that. He doesn’t make himself likeable, but that’s a whole separate issue. I would start to get nervous if by next year you don’t start seeing the FA signings.”
The only thing I’d say differently is the last sentence. Unfortunately, the FA signing have as much to do with the team losing money and playing in a bad building as it has to do with Snow’s plan. I wouldn’t get overly upset if they can’t sign any of the bigger FAs. They just can’t right now.
And for all those who think Snow’s plan should’ve had them in the playoffs and contending this year, I’d like you to find me a team that “rebuilt” in less than 2 years and was consistent in the seasons after. Pitt and Washington were terrible for the entire first half of this decade.
Im sure many of us would like to hear/read CBs opinion of the Snow interview last night. What do you say CB?
What did we expect Snow to say? “We threw in the towel and the guys on the ice aren’t capabale of making it to the playoffs?” We complain when he doesn’t speak then rip him for not speaking the plain truth which would gut the locker room even further. The only thing I took from this interview was that he’s building for the long term so making the playoffs this year is a “goal”, but not a priority. He needed to say something to the fans after being immature with CB and the fans on trade deadline day.
This team needs high end talent more than anything and it can only do that through the draft becasue they don’t have the cash or the stadium to draw in players. They need two defensemen in the off-season because Kohn, Reese, Meyers and Gervais cannot be among your top 4 defensemen since they are borderline NHLers or just not ready yet. It would also be nice to have someone to score 30 goals, but that is even less likely. If DP isn’t ready to return then you just might see them sign Biron again since Snow now knows he has little value around the league and therefore little chance of a signing on for a starting job.
Streit
MacDonald
Hillen
Martinek
Gervais
I don’t believe Kohn is really NHL ready-just circumstance…..figure one of Kohn/Katic/Hamonic will be Martinek’s injury replacement…..there really are 2 spots open. Of course one spot may be filled by Fowler.
in Islander Country, Making the playoffs is like winning the Stanley Cup. that’s like telling your kids “i expect you to get a D in all of your classes” .
what a joke. time for me to start making the “Snow Must Go” signs. i got 3 games left to suffer through.
I’m conditioned to believe half of what Snows says these days. It’s just a matter of what half I choose to believe. Count me among those frustrated Islanders fans. My ticket plan has gone from season to half season, to 14 games and I’m dropping it next year. Guess I’ll miss out on guaranteed playoff tickets, assuming Garth is right about us making the playoffs next year.
This is basically year 2.5 of a full rebuild. I’m fine with that as it is what was expected. Next year I expect to be in the playoffs or on the fringe.
Snow has done the opposite of Milbury: No shortcuts in the rebuild, no trigger happy trades, stability, and stick to a plan. It’s what most of us wanted. I’d rather he stick with some youngsters a little long, than ship them out too soon.
No complaints yet - this offseason and next offseason are a tipping point.
#86…
I guess you’ve missed all the times Snow (and anyone else in the organization) has said they want to build a contender and bring the Cup back to Long Island. Making the playoffs is the current goal, but it is a step in the plan.
I love how everyone was loving JT after the first month of the season and now when he starts to struggle, exactly as expected for a 19-year old rookie, everyone calls him a bust.
wow. No wonder people don’t understand the term “rebuild”
It…takes…time.
This is the first GM in 20 years that is actually building a roster for our team. Milbury tried to fix the team over-night EVERy year. He depleted any young talent we had.
I’m not drinking the kool-aid…but this team is better than the 2009 team. The plan all along was to let the young kids play. Signing FAs last year takes away from that development.
NOW is the time you add some FAs plus our young talent is one more year older. I love the direction of our team.
I wish I could say the same for our owner, but our roster IS in the right direction.
Obviously we all know Tavares will get stronger and better but its hard for any Islander fan to say that he wasn’t a let down. Going into the draft we were all drunk on his junior stats and lets face it, everyone hoped he would would be a Crosby or Ovechkin and he clearly isn’t. Maybe my expectations were too high.
Why is it that teams like Philly and ottawa, and even the rangers a few years back, that collapse and declare rebuilds are in the playoffs the next season? It’s a commitment to winning from ownership. The players know when their team is serious about “building a consistent contender”. NHL players are professionals and they will give an honest effort on any given night, but if they know their owner isn’t serious about winning, they are not going to go through walls and give that extra effort that makes a team elite. That’s why they were flying in January then started tanking when an inferior and damaged goalie took icetime away from their starter. It’s why they lost four in a row after sutton was traded. It’s why bill guerin came alive when traded to the pens. It’s probably why the team quit on Nolan when he fell out with managent, and every free agent who could leave that season did. I had high hopes for the Snow era, but the interview last night leadsme to believe were getting more of the same, a perpetual rebuild that never gets anywhere. It’s not entirely snows fault, it’s a problem that goes back to maloney, and continued through the milbury days. Owners won’t pay for a contender. Frankly, if this is the case, and it kills me to think this, but the team is better off being traded off the island than to linger in this limbo of mediocrity. Actually, mediocrity is somthing this team aspres to.
It would be much more believable if they weren’t so soft on the ice. They have completely abdicated in the area of toughness. Nothing at all emerging in that very important category (except Matt Martin; the Coliseum went wild over this kid so they scooted him out of town-quick- and went back to the strategy of sedating the fan base). Really, this is being built the right way, except that some combination of Charles, Garth, and Gordo has decided (this actually goes back to about 1988) that they will not employ anything or anyone that plays physical hockey. look at our forwards. Then our D. Sutton gone, Witt in bridgeport, Matt martin rushed out of town. i don’t get how the organization that was built on the likes of Howatt and Nystrom could be so completely-and in my opinion-intentionally-disconnected from both it’s fan base and a much needed culture change.
Although I’m still not much of a Snow fan I will give him a huge amount of credit for signing Sreit, Moulson, and even Shremp. Not to mention our two goalies. It was refreshing to hear that he expects the Islanders to make the playoffs next year. I’m tired of rooting for high draft picks. If he is serious about making the playoffs then that means he will be more active then usual in the free agent market. There is now way he will make the playoffs next year with what he has now even if they get a top 3 in the draft. So while this season thankfully draws to a close, I will drink the Kool Aid and anxiously await the great player moves that are coming.
Time will tell on Snow. I think he does not realize how immature and dumb it is for him to hide from the media. If he was smart he would do a Q&A on this site. The playoff idea is ridiculous. The regular season would mean nothing at all.
I’ll be selling Garth Snow handpupptets out on Hempstead Tpk. in front of the Coliseum this weekend if anyone’s interested.
Thanks CB!!
There is just no excuse if we don’t pick up a big name or two this offseason.We have the cap room and no youngsters would be sacrificed so the rebuild is maintained. So if he doesn’t do it, it is hard to believe what he says and they are just looking to save money. If they are waiting on the buliding situation just say it.
after reading Snow’s interview it is an easy decision - “NO RENEWAL OF THE SEASON TICKETS”.
“when the opportunity presents itself” - are you kidding me? you go out, be aggressive, create the opportunity, make moves - IMPROVE the freaking team.
we would add couple of dmen. but who is going to score goals???? Park? Sim? Bergie? Jackman, Weight?………..
Snow, just go to NHL.com and look at our GS/GA stats. It is one of the worst in the league.
It is so frustrating… I just can’t take it anymore
KBulger22…
If you want to aspire to be like Philly, Ottawa, or the Rangers, go right ahead. Those teams tread water every season and, while they may make the playoffs almost every year, none of them have won a Cup in decades. They use the term “rebuild” very loosley. They are teams run by patchwork GMs who never commit to a real rebuild. The Islanders do NOT have the resources to run a patchwork management system. Those teams you mentioned are all up against the cap (a problem when trying to make moves, by the way). If you want to root for those types of teams, go right ahead. I’d rather suffer for another couple of seasons provided I see a plan that is working towards being a Cup contender every season and not just a playoff also-ran. Would you rather be a fan of a team like Philly, Ottawa, the Rangers & Dallas or do you want to be Pitt, Washington & Chicago?
It’s like watching a politician stick to talking points instead of directly answering the questions. I guess the frequent mention of “Stanley Cup” was supposed to be the “lift Americans’ spirits” part.
Wow! thanks for doing all the transcribing for the rest of us net-yappers!
…still don’t get why sutton just had to go like there was hardly any options for him staying…does garth plan on trading tavares when he is in his prime too?
To fairly judge Snow, we should wait and see what he does this summer. If he wants to make a playoff push next summer he will have to sign a few quality players. Theres just no more excuse not to spend the money we have in the cap. We hear all the time how Wang gives him no restrictions…well, prove it.
This year went as expected for me. Next year I expect a few additions. A top-5 draft pick, at least. And improved play from our youngsters. I like Gordon’s system. Put everything together and maybe we play some good hockey. Especially closing teams out.
If not…then we can rip Snow.
isles08:
your expectations were too high. I think JT will be a great player for us. But he is not in the same mold as Ovechkin and Crosby. We knew that coming into this. Okposo is our best overall player. JT will become our best offensive player.
Snow still has my vote of confidence.
A lot of the people complaining here are being impatient and unrealistic. Some seem to think that if we had a Scotty Bowman or Ken Morrow as GM, they could get back Patrick Kane by simply packaging together tambellini, sim, and biron. It’s just not going to happen.
Garth has a vision for the team and is sticking to it. He’s not flipping players just for the sake of it, like Milbury was.
As for the play-in idea, I feel like a number of people are parrots, echoing the word “embarrassing”. The idea originates from the NCAA play-in system and the point of the GM meetings is to discuss new ideas to keep things interesting. At very worst the idea was rejected, okay. It could have been accepted as is, or plant the seed for some variation. A Play-in system for, say the next two eligible teams, would make for some parity with a division winner guaranteed to make the playoffs but had less points than others in the standings.
*shrug* Some people just like to complain, mostly because they lack the ability to see things froma different point of view.
Minus - With the one point we can’t catch the oilers.
Plus - Less chance of getting the #1 pick means we won’t have to be tortured by backup boy for two months over who he is picking #1
Didn’t like the way Snow danced around several of the questions. . BUT
Last season NYI finished with 26 wins / 61 points.
We’re already there with 15 games to play!
All things considered, Isles have a chance to improve on last season by 10+ points. . I’ll take it.
Key offseason coming. Get bigger. Sign a free agent or two. Have a solid draft.
Stay the course - next few years could be good ones.
Melvin, no. 115 Good post. I couldn’t have said better myself.
I don’t know if we can blame Snow if top-tier free agents don’t want to play here and I can’t say I blame them. I would, however, like to see Snow take a chance on some young players, maybe find another diamond in the rough in another team’s system similar to what he did with Moulson. My biggest problem with Snow’s tenure is the lack of activity, almost no deals except for picks. You need more than draft picks to build a contender.
I know it is fashionable by some to bash Snow, but I am happy with the direction the team is headed. Re-builds are ugly in the beginning. The key is will the Isles spend dollars on top FA’s in 2011-12? That is the final piece of the rebuild. If they do, NVMC will return to the glory years.
Blah… blah…. blah, Garth.
I think you need to talk a bit more vague re: “bringing a Stanley Cup to LI”
#108, I never expected Tavares to be Crosby or Ovechkin, NEVER! Did I expect him to be an all-star and a top 20 nhl forward? Oh definitely and I still do. But these Crosby, Gretzky comparisons were just ridiculous. Even if Tavares had speed he wouldnt be Crosby. Crosby is a type of player that comes around maybe once every decade and a half. Coming in, I had hoped and still do that Tavares was going to be like a Rich Nash, Danny Heatley,Lecalvier caliber player(former 1st overall picks-not counting dp) I know its only Tavares’ rookie season, but I see comparisons to Mike Richards who by the way struggled his first 2 years in the nhl and is still getting better but I see comparisons in there game. I think Tavares will be a better scorer than Richards though(I hope). Go take a look at Rich Nash’s stats. His first 4 years did not blow you away, but look at him now on a bad team. He is a top 10 forward in the nhl, although he has never had an 80 point season if you can believe it! I expect Tavares to be a good 70-80 point player. I really hope hes a 40 goal scorer, while Okposo and Bailey are more of the play making forwards that can still get you 60-70 pts a season. Thats why I would love Seguin! Lets add that good all around forward. How does Tavares, Okposo, Bailey, Seguin look as 4 of your top six in 3 years? I like the way it looks!
CB - With the future location of the franchise being in limbo, players complaining in the locker room about 3 goalies, DP being signed to a ridiculous contract and possibly facing retirement, what kind of free agents can the Isles truely make a run for? I am not trying to be pessimistic and I swear that I am asking this question as is without any pretence. I really do not know how much these situations will factor into the Isles ability to lure some quality free agents to the team over the summer. It is more than obvious that they will need some size and gaining some 20 year old kids really doesn’t bode well for making a team bigger immediately.
KP #43, excellent post. I wish the rest of this fan base would take a chill pill. I don’t understand how all of you armchair GM’s do not get what a true rebuild is. It takes time to do it the right way and this team NEVER did it the right way while Milbury was around. Snow is playing catch up now. Not his fault he was left with nothing to work with. I am a fan of over 30 years and a season ticket holder. If I can have patience to see this through, I don’t understand why the rest of you can’t. We are heading in the right direction. All good teams have their down periods (yes I know it’s been since 93) and this is ours while our kids develop. I truly feel we will join PITT, CHI, LA, WASH as future contenders. It takes patience. The payoff will be the Stanley Cup.
I like that Snow said we need “a couple” of defensemen. It seems like a Hamhuis-type UFA plus another D younger than 25 i.e. Luca Sbisa would fit the bill.
If we add one solid veteran scoring forward and Tavares develops, I don’t think the playoffs are out of reach.
Bailey-JT-UFA
Moulson-Schremp-KO
Martin-Nielsen-Hunter
Comeau-UFA-Jackman
Streit-Hamhuis
Trade-Hillen
MacDonald-Martinek
Gervais
Roloson
DiPietro/Lawson
Maybe we could trade Bergenheim and the Sutton 2nd rounder for that #4 defensemen.
Nice to see Garth sweat!!! Liked it when Rose cut him off during question about DP. Only wish Howie Rose would have kept the pressure on him!!!
People seem to forget that this is only the second year of a rebuild. I did not come into this season expecting them to even be half as good as they were this year. I know it is difficult for us to sit here and continually see the team struggle for what seems like forever, but we just have to patient, our time will come eventually. The real test of Snow, this organization and the future of this rebuild is what Snow is going to do this summer. If we get a couple of free agents and a few nice picks then I really think that this team will blossom.
starz31
yes ill admit that alot of people probably expected too much, but Tavares is gonna end up with less goals and points that even Stamkos did in his rookie year. If Stamkos’s rookie year was considered a bust, then Tavares’s would have to be a complete nightmare. (Yes i know your all gonna point to what Stamkos did this season, lets pray Tavares can have a similiar turn around)
In the interview Garth said that he wished all of the Isles D-men were 6′7″. REALLY??? Then why did you trade Andy Sutton,a 6′6″ d-man for a 2nd round pick? And why did you draft Josh Bailey over Tyler Myers, another 6′7″ d-man? And why did you select John Tavares over Victor Hedman, another 6′7″ d-man?? Blah,blah, blah….I’ll believe it when I see it. Put a winning team on the ice and all will be well. Until then it’s just alot of blah, blah blah…..
THIS POST SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMS - “I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING”.
What a disaster.
I’d also like to say if this team is going to get any better they have to shed some of their dead weight. Tambellini, Weight, and GERVAIS especially. I find it unbelievable that Gervais is on the power play, let alone on this team at all. Try to deal Tambellini for even the lowest draft pick. Maybe someone else would like to take on his decade long maturing process.
I’ve lost patience with this organization. I’ve tried to be positive about Wang and the Lighthouse, Snow and his plan, and Gordon’s system, but last night it became blatantly obvious this club is a mess on every level. We just don’t have any really good players period. I love KO but I don’t think he’ll ever approach 25 goals a season and he’s our best guy. Jack Hillen is a great skater with offensive potential but he gets run over in the corners every time. And what about Johnny? I can’t believe he put up those numbers in junior. I’ve watched him all year, he’s brutally slow, doesn’t show much effort and constantly gets knocked off the puck. Add to this a roster of players that should just pack it in, i.e. Gervais, and a comical front office and you have little reason for hope.
if anything, snow and wang have been schooled well by their marketing and pr consultants. they read from the same script, trot out the same line time and again: ‘we want to bring a stanley cup to long island’. ‘we’re going to rebuild the right way.’ a continued, steady flow of ambiguous commentary that leaves enough wiggle room to never have anything thrown back at them. who wouldn’t want a stanley cup? of course we want to rebuild the right way. but how come we never hear a succinct: ‘we’re going to open the pursestrings some this summer because the rebuild has reached the point where we need to supplement the roster with an accomplished veteran or two who is still in his prime.’ that means no over-the-hill doug weight at $4M per. or how about, ‘we’re fully aware we’re almost in violation of the cba with a salary cap that is almost below minimum levels but we are going to use that to our advantage this summer by looking at deals with teams that need to free-up cap space.’ snow has hinted at doing this in the past but never comes out and directly says so because wang has him under an excruciatingly tight budget. there is no wiggle room. look around. they are cutting everywhere. how could a major sports franchise not have its own radio team? heck, throw a few bucks at the next-door hofstra broadcast journalism department and run the dang thing with a couple of 20-year olds calling games and doing color. the time has come for wang to demonstrate that he’s willing to invest in his rebuild. hike the payroll, bring in some veterans who can still play. be active this free-agent summer. then we’ll believe in the story. right now it’s just more scripted BS timed to get a few sucker season ticketholders to renew with a vague promise that has no meat on the bones. we’re smarter than that, wang and snow.
Why is this the second year of the rebuild? Because Snow said so? We picked Bailey after moving down from 5 so that year wasn’t a rebuild? Then we picked 1. This years draft should be top 3. Sounds like year 3 of the rebuild for me.
Wow what a game. Great to see Garth express so elequently an obsurd notion that everyone make the playoffs. I can’t imagine anyone taking him seriously since his team is on the border of last place. What’s with the early concession that we have no shot at the playoff. When I bought my season ticket package I was told our goal was to make the playoffs this year. Even reading the quotes from Scotty G is discouraging. He sounds like a beaten man. Best of all they raised the price my season ticket package.
I keep hearing meet me at the light house. Where is it????? How about an update?
This team needs more than 2 defenseman, it also needs 3 forwards…they should show the fans they are trying and offer Patrick Marleau a 4 year deal…even if they don’t get him I could not say anything if they tried…none of their UFA’s should be resigned.
From the interviews Garth Snow has conducted, it’s SO obvious he doesn’t believe what he’s saying. I truly feel bad for the guy. He’s saying what he’s been told to say. Extremely rehearsed. As a result, a very unbelieveable performance.
#129 Okposo will never approach 25 goals? He is 21 years old. Now I dont think he is going to be the greatest goal scorer, but the most Ryan Getzlaf ever scored was 25 goals. Now I dont expect Okposo to be a guy that adds 60 assists a season but i expect Okposo to be a 25 goal scorer that adds 40-45 assists a season. A solid player, but not a star, but a 1st liner. Saying that he will never approach 25 goals is ridiculous. You sure your not talking about Sean Bergenheim here? Yes I agree he might never score 25 goals.
Where can you get the rankings for the draft for 2010? I figure we land somewhere around the 4th or 5th pick overall. Maybe higher if we get lucky with the lottery.
By the way I hear the China hockey program is going great. Way to go Mr. Wang. Rumor has it all of the teams make the playoffs.
Let’s refurbish the old barn instead of building a city, get another top pick this year and a few Free agents for leadship. This is getting old !!!
Blah, blah, blah. Same old tired story Snowman..
Wang, you got the last of my $$$, so here’s to the April first deadline,
F - - $ O F F!!!!!
AND here’s to another looooong summer of BS with no significant signings. China to start of pre-season and then ANOTHER season under these bozos..(wang-snow-dey-gordo).
Thanks CB for the only place that counts and will slowly open eyes and close wallets..
Paul(130) I am 100% with you. you are absolutely correct
(until I see the correct actions form the front office I am not renewing my ST)
While watching the game last night it was mentioned that Paul Kariya (he is past his prime) will be a FA after the season is over. He might be a good candidate to be signed by the Isles to work with the young players. What do you think CB??
“We’re doing whatever it takes to bring a Stanley Cup back to Long Island.” How many times is Snow gonna use that as an answer to dance around interviewers’ questions? Every time he does, it seems as if he’s distancing himself from the fans more and more. Just give some straight fricking answers for once!
I will not renew my season tickets until i see action by the Isles this summer. I have been on board with the rebuild but eventually you have to start adding outside talent.
I am not even mad at Snow, this was part of the plan but its time to take the next stop.
NO Kariya…we have already had Weight & Guerin….stop this trend of over the hill veteran signings…it is not working
this is what will happen this july ist.they will sign a couple fa’s BUT NOT THE BEST AVAILABLE.This they will do to mislead everyone as usual.They will not spend money till they are satisfied with a decision on the lighthouse.If wang is not satisfied ,the team willl move
First off I think the goalie situation needs clarification before next season.Management cannot bury there head in the sand and say it shouldn’t be a problem,newsflash: it is.They need to go with Roly and Ricky next year(and call up somebody from Bridgeport if or when Ricky goes down)or find someone else to backup Roly,possibly Biron if they can find a way to cut ties with Ricky. On defence ,they need to go hard after Volchenkov or Hamhuis and find a PP specialist(I have someone in mind for that job but if Garth wants to know he will have to get in touch with me through CB).Up front,the core guys seem to be:Tavares,Okposo,Bailey,Moulson,Nielsen, Comeau and Schremp. The UFA’s should walk(Weight,Sim,Park,Jackman).Joensuu and Martin should be given every opportunity to make the team out of camp.I would like to see Bergy get another shot as well.As far as Tamby is concerned,as much as I like him,it’s time to cut bait.I also think Trent Hunter has become too comfortable here and it’s time for him to move on.Some UFA’s I would look at signing are Derek Boogaard(we need an enforcer and he’s the best),Evgeny Artyukhin(size and speed and a rough edge),Eric Nystrom(would help on the PK and can scrap,a younger and faster version of Jackman and another reason to cheer for the 2010-11 Isles),Alexander Frolov(this is a homerun possibility).I would even take a flyer on Nik Zherdev(think how motivated he would be playing against the Rags).
The LA Kings are often mentioned here as an example of a rebuilding team that has done things right. They are also often mentioned as a team that has moved through their rebuild faster than the Islanders have. I agree with the first sentiment. Not the second.
The fact is the Kings have not made the playoffs since the 2001-2002 season. (The Islanders have made it three times since that season.)That may be unfair as you might say they only began rebuilding with the 2006-2007 season. Still, the last three years they were 14, 11 and 3 games under .500 respectively. Didn’t make the playoffs once. Now in year 4, they have finally taken the next step.
So the question I have is, how can we applaud their rebuild in one breathe and dismiss the one taking place here in the next?
Melvin,
You make a good point, and I ordinarily would agree, but seeing the moves of both ownership and management over the past few months, and Snow’s interview, I don’t get the sense the rebuild is progressing as it should. Maybe it’s my impatience talking, but wallowing at the bottom of the standings is not teaching our young players anything except that losing is acceptable. Does trading our best defenseman for a second rounder instead of adding a free agent and trying to make the playoffs teach how to win or how to give up on a season?
The only league where literally more than half of the teams in the league make it to the “post-season” and a GM still has the balls to complain about it. Here’s an idea. Instead of crying because they still only let 16 teams into the playoffs after expanding from 21 to 30 teams, why dont you get us off the basement floor and past mediocrity. When was the last time the Isles were in the top ten teams in the league? I sure as hell cannot remember. And its only team with a recent history of crapping the bed that would complain about there not being enough playoff spots. What a joke. Seriously, can I go a month without being totally mortified with this team??? Do we always have to be the laughing stock of the league??? Christ Garth. Round-robin for the losers?? are you serious???
#55-I’m with you. I think the play-in idea is being scrapped away too quickly. And I like the suggestion of all teams that don’t make the playoffs go into an equal chance lottery. No more praying for losses for your non-contending team!
What’s the problem with the play in tourney? I mean you don’t really want your team to be a part of it, right? Its too much of a crap shoot! The goal would be to get to the top 7 and have that guaranteed 7 game series. But, for all those other teams, it gives them more meaningful games and the tiniest hope that things could go well. And if you give the 8, 9, 10, and 11 teams home ice, then we have even more races during the regular season to look forward too. This is the best time of the year! Every team jockeying for position…trying to make a run to make it in! This would just add more excitement! Plus the top 7 teams get an extra reward of a few more days rest while this thing happens.
Perhaps, to put everyone at a bit more at ease, they could begin the idea with an 8 vs. 9 three game series for the last spot in the first few years, then eventually expand the idea.
OK so Snow says he wants to fix the defense. So what will all the Kool Aid drinkers say to defend him if he does not fix the defensive problem in the offseason? More of the same? Bring up the “nobody wants to play at the coliseum” excuse?
The next time they do an interview with Snow, hand out shovels. This guy could sell ice to eskimos. Would you buy a used car from him? Watch out: He might try to sell you the empire state building. Does he ever give a straight awnswer?
A lot a fans and scouts wanted Tavares as first draft choice by the Isles, me included, but now I see Matt Duchene as a real no.1 pick. If Tavares falls down again with no one around him, get him double runners. To really rebuild this team you have to get rid of Sim, Tembellini, Park, Weight, Bergenheim, Gervais, Hunter, and Jackman. That means a complete overhaul. Those of you who think Okposo is the salvation of this team watch him shoot over the net and how he has the puck taken away so easily along the boards. Fans on too many shots also.
There maybe something there, but Gordon has ruined him as he is doing with Tavares and Bailey. Good draft choices (Go Leafs), FA signings (get Sutton back), and get rid of Gordon are the keys.Finally buy out Martinek and Red Light Ricky. At my age I can’t wait out Snow’s “rebuilding.”