PB Q & A Round 2: Coli money, prospect camps, Kirill Kabanov, NYI villains, J.P. Dumont and The Jaff
The Questions portion of the Q & A ended Friday night. Here are the second batch of my responses. The first ran Saturday. You’re welcome to respond to my answers – one per reader, please – in Comments.
Now that Charles Wang takes in the money from the concessions and parking, does that indirectly translate to investing more money into the team and putting a winning product on the ice? It always seemed that Wang would use the lease agreement as a scapegoat to him losing money but now that part of it seems to be a bit smoother.
Joe in Massapequa – Islanders fan since the Easter Epic. That was my first memory of a game. My father was in the basement watching the game and I kept waking up thinking the Easter Bunny was in the house. Instead it was dad watching the Islanders. And go figure – he is a Rangers fan!
Thanks for the note, Joe. I think the best way, the only way, I can answer that is to say
1. I would hope so
2. We’re going to find out in July
If “Islanders Entertainment” is determined to bring the most popular musical acts to the Coliseum, I would suppose the Islanders will venture – while being fiscally responsible – to put the best hockey team on the ice that they can.
*
If we are all about “development,” why do we not participate in one of the prospect tournaments? Even my high school team traveled to tournaments so it can’t only be about money.
Brian – Fernandina Beach, Florida. I started at Islander Youth Hockey camps in 1975. Played at Raquet and Rink for the Islanders Youth travel teams before we became Green Machine. The first game I ever saw was the 14 second OT game. I am a lifelong and much devoted fan.
Thanks for the question, Brian. I doubt it’s about a lack of financial investment on the Islanders’ part. The tournaments in Michigan and Ontario that you refer to sound like ideal events Charles Wang and Garth Snow would want their prospects to be a part of. It is possible that they simply have been on the outside looking in when it comes to the tourneys. In other words, now that they are in the prospect-development game, the Islanders haven’t been given one of the invitations when there have been openings. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get involved with one soon. They also have the prospect camp on Long Island. Not every NHL team hosts one to the level the Islanders do.
*
Chris, this perception we have here in Quebec goes back to the battle he had with the Lafleur and Tremblay in his Bruins time. Do you think Mike Milbury had something “against” french canadian players? The fact that he chose to trade Dumont and Luongo before they had an honest chance to prove themselves certainly does not help his case. BTW, no problem if the answer is yes. We all have the rights to prefer Canadian, American, French Canadian, Russian, etc players… Thanks
Andre Legault from L’Assomption, Quebec.
Hi Andre. This seems like a stretch. I think both trades you referenced were so horrendous, they stand alone without bringing nationality into it. (It should be noted that, like everything in the 90s, Dumont was traded because former ownership wouldn’t pay for a third overall pick. That said, Milbury got nothing in return). If he had something against French Canadians, I doubt Milbury would have drafted Roberto and J.P. and Gervais and signed Claude Lapointe in the first place. Let’s just agree that those were really bad trades. In fact, I know some of Milbury’s best friends – including Raymond Jean Bourque – are French Canadian!
*
CB: Out of all the Islanders villains throughout the years, who is your most hated? I know some of mine are Dale Hunter, Tie Domi, Darcy Tucker, Messier, Graves, Mallete, Lemieux, Belfour, etc. When I say “hated,” obviously not on a personal level.
David. I grew up in North Bellmore. Have been a fan since I was 5, which puts me at 1979, (perfect timing). A few games of note that I’ve been to: Bates game penalty shot, Potvin’s 300, (had great seats), Trots’ last, Bossy night, just to name a few. Used to go and get $10 seats with student ID in the early 90’s. Thanks CB.
Thank you, David. Dale Hunter’s actions were over-the-top, and he, the Islanders and Pierre Turgeon paid the price for them. Besides that extreme case, I never got too caught up in the hate for opposing players. These are just roles they play. Most players that we see as villains, we would love to have on our own favorite teams. In my time around the Islanders, there was only one man who truly deserved the title of villain – Kirk Muller.
*
Can you speak briefly about Kirill Kabanov’s draft status particularly as it may possibly pertain to the Isles? Will he really drop to the 2nd Round? Would/could the Isles try to nab him with one of their 2nd Round Picks – their pick or the later one Via (SJ)? Will the positive Petrov news sway NYI to attempt? Could it sway KK to come here?
Thanks. Isles22Isles from Bethpage. Diehard Fan since I was 7 yrs-old (1982).
I like and have known E.J. McGuire for a long time, but I thought Central Scouting’s “penalty” of moving Kabanov to the second round on their draft list based on the kid returning to Russia was odd. Isn’t Central Scouting supposed to be grading draft-eligible prospects on their ability? To answer your question, if Kabanov slips to Saturday and Round 2 and beyond, every team will be looking at him. It’s on the teams to do their homework. Unlike Petrov, Kabanov is not under a long-term contract with the KHL. Finally, I can tell you with certainty that Kabanov is a player the Islanders have watched closely and are very familar with.
*
Always appreciate the time you take in answering our questions. I believe Billy Jaffe’s contract is up, one would think MSG would extend him for a few more years. Can you please confirm that? Thank you.
Lorne Myers, Wantagh, New York, fan since 1987, use to share season ticket holders for a few seasons. Attend games regularly.
Congratulations to Billy and his wife, Victoria, on the birth last week of their second child – a son named Jake. A few things I know for sure: despite having a few options, The Jaff wants to stay here, raise his family here and be here for the rebuild. He also has the hearty endorsement of the Islanders. One thing I’m fairly certain of: MSG Network will finalize a new deal with him this offseason.
*
How is the training camp in China being received by the players and the rest of the league?
Doug from Rockville Centre, fan for life. 25 year old season ticket holder since the first Yashin and Peca year.
As a non-issue. No one is envious of the Islanders going. No one has a problem with it. The team is Charles Wang’s toy; he can do with it as he wishes. He has certainly invested enough of his own money in it over the last decade. If bringing one of his pride and joys back to his homeland makes him happy, then he should do it. If I owned the Islanders, we’d do five days in Donegal and five in Venice and the boys would come back fat and hung-over.
You’re welcome to respond to my answers – one per reader, please – in Comments.
48 Responses to PB Q & A Round 2: Coli money, prospect camps, Kirill Kabanov, NYI villains, J.P. Dumont and The Jaff
-
Sarge says:
The only other villain I can think of on a massive level was Spano.
-
19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Yes! Charles must spend this summer in order to ice a team that has a prayer of making the playoffs next season. I hope he doesn’t offer high contracts to B / C tier players just to make the cap floor. That will make it much harder to unload in trade in the future.
After this team sheds its UFAs it instantly becomes much younger and inexperienced.
I don’t see de Hann cracking the lineup for lots of reasons. I don’t even see the Isles’ first round pick in 2010 making the team … Or should I say … he shouldn’t. We know that goes against Isles’ convention.
Oh, and I agree CB … NHL Central Scouting should be grading ability without skewing the grade with a prospect’s chances of signing in N.A.
Congrats Jaff!!
Oh, and CB … If I owned the Isles … I’m such a Euro-Mutt, that the Isles would have a tour of Europe from as far north as Norway down as far south as Spain and East towards Barvaria … It would be a 6 week training camp at least… filled with great food and drink. That much I’m sure of.
-
NYICHAMP39 says:
If Kabanov is still on the board when we are picking in the second round Id say take a chance on the kid. But if we trade away picks to move into the late first round to get him I’ll be pissed. I would like to see as little movement as possible in this draft, considering there is a decent level of talent. Save all the crazy trade-ups and trade-downs for next year when the talent level is known to be mediocre at best.
-
Jeff Kuntz says:
Speaking for myself and an incredibly tiny sliver of NYI fans: I don’t think Wang should spend this year, regardless of the fact he’s getting concession and parking money or whatever else..
I think for “year 3″ we should get rid of ALL our UFAs.. promote MacDonald, Gillies and Martin to full-time NYI roles… get Petrov… tender Bergie, Schremp.. try to sign Moulson to a 2-year deal, or let him take us to arbitration.. cut Tambellini loose.. either bring back or buyout Witt, but don’t let him twist in the wind..
Sign whoever our #5 pick is to an NHL deal.. Surely they also have an opinion as to whether Hamonic or de Haan can make the team..
Then hit free agency with an eye toward spending money to get to the floor..
That’s it for players.
If we’re in the playoff race by the all-star break, Gordon stays.. if we’re out of it, send him walking..
Concession money should not interfere with the plan.. Snow has preached and practiced patience.. We didn’t climb up a whole lot in the standings but the team absolutely did make progress.. one more year of throwing the spaghetti at the proverbial wall is in order for 2010-11.
-
King says:
@5 I agree with you on some points but “If we’re in the playoff race by the all-star break, Gordon stays.. if we’re out of it, send him walking..” is just dumb when you just said not to sign any UFA’s. What veterans are going to be on the team? and better yet what talent does this guy have to work with? Sending Gordon away now would NOT be the best thing. Like you said practice patience
-
Andre Legault says:
Kirk Muller… Can’t believe they decided to trade a very popular player like Pierre Turgeon in a trade that would bring back Kirk Muller without first asking Kirk if he’d be thrilled by such a new opportunity for him.
If asked, he would have said no and we might have kept Sneaky Pete a little longer…
We all know about horrendous trade made by the Islanders but the Turgeon one sure was tough to swallow… Turgeon looked so great in his Islander jersey. And he sure looked like someone who enjoyed playing for Long Island’s team.
-
BringBackNyles says:
Considering how much he was depsised before he got here, and how he played for us in the 1994 playoffs, Ron Hextall is right there on the villan list a notch beloe Hunter
-
MilburyRuinedMyLife says:
If Kabanov is around late in the 1st, I do what it takes to move up with our 2 seconds and a Kohn/Katic type prospect…or even, as much as I like him, Bergie. If we can nab Connolly at 5 and then Kabanov, we’ve got our six skilled forwards for the next decade with lines of Connolly/Tavares/Okposo and Kabanov/Bailey/Petrov…not to mention a 3rd of Moulson/Nielsen/Comeau. A guy can dream this time of year…
-
joe in alberta says:
yes i agree 110% that kirk muller should be the most hated. the p%^&k had the gall to wear a isles jersey in calgary when the had the 3 on 3 tourny here a few years back, i got all the other ex-isles to sign autographs, but by-passed muller and i told him why.
-
Examiner says:
Really want Jaffe back. He is the perfect compliment to Howit and is very knowledgeable. He is even one of the better commontators currently employed by Versus.
Like him so much more than I ever liked Micheletti.
-
John says:
If Kabanov is on the board in the second round I would think it can be assumed the Isles might scoop him.I wouldn’t have a problem with the Isles trading their early second round pick and a prospect(similar to Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’ Marra,players who have value but are not in their plans)to move up late in the first round to grab him.As for spending money on UFA’s,show me the lov,Alexander Frolov.He would address the size and talent issue without a doubt,at least from my perspective.I know there are some serious questions as to whether Ilya Kovalchuk would consider the Islanders as a possible destination but when Kovy played in Atlanta the Isles always seemed to give Kovy and the Thrashers fits.Perhaps the Isles left a favourable impression on him.After all they are a team that is for the most part rebuilding the right way.I know like a lot of people I would have done a few things differently and everyone would like to be GM for a day(come to think of it,too bad thats not what Mike Milbury was,we may have been able to mitigate the damages and this rebuild wouldn’t be so painful)but all in all this team is heading in the right direction.
-
Jim Clark says: Jaffe is very good. I hope MSG brings him back. But the Dolas will probably hire Mike Milbury as analyst.
-
Hud says:
cb, funny stuff about taking the team to Donegal, gave me a laugh. Good to know Jaffe will be back.
-
Pete L says:
Maybe during the summer, when things slow down, you do a piece on the Kirk Muller trade. I think it would be very interesting to peek behind the scenes on that rough time in Isles history. It was clear from the start that it was a terrible trade, and I am sure it was a busy time for you.
-
Like the Connolly Kabanov idea. Sign defensemen as free agents to fill defensive needs. Neither Connolly or Kabanov will play on the team next year but when they graduate the Isles will have some serious offensive talent.
-
#12 I think we should just drop this whole Kovulchuck thing. Would I love to have the guy? Of course!! But lets be honest, no one declines a deal that would pay them 10 million dollars a year for no reason. The fact is Kovulchuck wants to WIN, and not in a few years down the line, but right now. The guy is top flight talent who has been stuck on a third rate team for years and he is fed up. The Isles could throw in the kitchen sink to Kovi and he would respectfully decline. He will most likely take a deal that pays him less money than Atlanta or the Isles would have offered and play for a team that is good right now and has a chance at a cup next year and for several years to come.
-
MattNC says:
MilburyRuinedMyLife’s post (having the Isles draft Connolly and Kabanov)has me dreaming of a formidable offense on a team that has had trouble scoring in recent years. And a 4th line with Matt Martin and Anders Lee (both big boys) would make it even better. Unfortunately, Lee, like Rakhshani, intends to get a 4-year degree. Lee just had a very nice season in the USHL, with 66 pts (10th in the league) and +38 (2nd in he league).
I hope Snow trades up for his second pick, and overall, gets the best 4-5 prospects he can with the Isle’s 9 picks. Connolly, Nino, Kabanov, Gudbranson, Fowler, Gormley, McIlrath. Bring two of these home, Garth!
-
Stevie10703 says:
I think right now it would be difficult to land a top notch UFA like Kovalchuck, not because of the arena but, because we’re not at the next step yet. Once we reach the next step in the rebuild, we can then start landing these types of UFA’s. But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go after guys like a Lombardi for example.
If Kabanov is around late in the first round and early in the 2nd, we should try everything we can to move up to land this kid. There is the potential for high reward with this kid.
-
Joe in Massapequa says:
CB, thanks for answering my question. I see the Islanders Entertainment thing as a very tiny way that the Dolans control everything that goes into MSG. Plus add Newsday, Radio City, etc. and they are in good shape. The Rangers and Knicks are the Dolans toys and no matter how bad the team is they will make money. But if the Isles are bad Charles doesn’t have too much to fall back on.
The idea of Connolly and Kabonov is very tempting but I still would love to take Gudbranson if he is there at 5. Him and Hamonic could make for a fun duo to watch for many years.
-
Ricky T says:
CB – I thought that Dumont was not signed to an NHL contract and that Milbury said that he would never be an NHL caliber player. Am I wrong about that? Were his rights traded?
-
Lorne Myers says:
CB, thank you so much for answering and posting my question.
-
admin says:
Folks: With nothing going on in the Country, I plan on getting to as many questions I can (that were submitted on Friday) and will be doing it all week. I’m in Boston now and could be covering a Game 7 somewhere on Wednesday, but I’ll do the best I can. Please do not submit any more questions. Thank you…CB
-
steve says:
hunter cause it was cheap, dirty and may have cost us a spot in the Finals. plus, sneaky pete was never the same. Muller cause there’s ways to handle things, and his was piss poor, but effective. hes behind the bench somewhere as an assistant, yes?
-
isles83 says:
“Sending Gordon away now would NOT be the best thing”.I aggree #6. Sending away another good young coach is probably wrong. Look at Laviolette. The only 2 playoffs series he lost were the first 2,when coaching for us. Has’nt lost one since!!
-
eastonhockey says:
In my opinion Kirk Muller was a very smart man. People only live once..why would Muller want to waste a year or 3 or more surrounded by a organization that at the time was headed in the wrong direction. The Idea that that trade would ever have worked even if he was thrilled to be an Islander was absurd.
-
27Tonelli says:
If we take a risk on a kid with serious hip issues (Connolly) over “El Nino” Niedereitter, I will cancel my season tix SERIOUSLY !!!
-
Gary9-19-22 says:
Wow CB… whats it like in a playoff atmosphere?? Its been a while and I feel like the old Monte Python skit where the guy talks about having sex and all the things he does and at the end he asks another guy.. btw whats it like???
-
Healy says:
Speaking of Billy Jaffe, anyone notice that The Jaffe, Deb Placey, Sam Rosen, and Doc Emerik are featured one way or another on the national broadcasts on Vs. (and NBC)? Is this a nod to the quality of the hockey commentators we have in the metro area?
-
David Volek says:
Can we as fans allow the management, whose job it is to scout, and watch the players, make the pick they feel will improve the team???? Im so sick of hearing fans say who they want when in reality its all based on what they read.
I remember seeing everyone up in arms over the non drafting of Filatov, and look at him now.
Luongo trade was the worst trade in islanders history……
-
Peter says:
Messier is my choice. I’ve hated him from his Edmonton days. There isn’t a face I’d love to punch more.
-
Hockey1919 says:
Luongo was born in St. Leonard Quebec a predominantly italian enclave and not French Canadian. None of this matters except for when people think Milbury traded Luongo to draft DiPietro because of heritage (see the irony?).
Luongo and Dumont both played together for Bossy’s alma mater the Titans and Dumont was traded in part because he didn’t seem like the type that would go to the dirty areas to score goals. Both moves were just bad hockey decisions.
PS Still hate D. Hunter and Muller.
-
Ron says:
Villains within the organization: Muller, Spano, Maloney.
I give Milbury a pass because while he made several obvious bad trades, he also made some very good ones in the early part of his tenure under ownerships who constantly forced him to shed salary.
-
islesfan999 says:
My wishlist and say the islanders sign 5 players this summer… 3 forwards Eric Nystrom – Matthew Lombardi- Asham-
Defense – Sign 2 of the following dmen… Sutton and Michalek or Sutton and Seidenberg or Hamhuis possibly.
-
Hoguefanclub says:
I’m glad my question sparked some comments here! But CB, wouldn’t you have to admit that management was the villain for making such an ill-advised trade for someone that didn’t want to be here? Just a thought. I do agree Muller is a villain.
-
AJAX says:
Whats with the picture of the blond babe? What did I miss?
-
CB-
Thanks for answering my question about Kabanov, I agree that C.Scouting should be focusing on on-ice skill only.
Will be interesting to see how it PlaysOut(Wonder how much influence/insight their overall rankings & drop of KK will have)
Let’s Go Isles.
P.S. My top 3 Villains are:
#1 Hunter
#2 Muller
#3 Tucker
(Honorable Mention on the Way Up–>Avery) -
Jeff says:
Can’t leave Milstein/Gluckstern off the villains list. They really dumped the last vestiges of talent on the team.
-
GE of GN says:
Kabanov is perceived as having ‘attitude’ problems. I wonder if that is factoring into his slide in the CSS rankings.
Hunter = #1 villain
Jaffe is so much better than Micheletti, I wouldn’t be surprised if MSG resigns him to do the Rangers and we get Micheletti back
-
Vive la Poutine! says:
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Theo Fleury as a villain, he’s definitely in my top 5 along with Hunter, Tucker, Avery and Muller.
Maybe CB has a story or two similar to that of Avery with Snow and Shanahan after an exhibition game.
-
I hate the Crapitals, Rags, and Maple Laughs says:
Troy Mallette was a POS. And so were those punk capitals in the late 80′s. Scott Stevens, Gartner et al. I used to write hate mail to them everday in HS. I mean that: everyday!
-
CJCB says:
I dont understand the Jaffe stuff? Cant stand this guy, listen around the league at some of the announcers and they make the game sound exicting, Jaffe is just like a debbie downer, always reacting negatively about fighting, rough and tough stuff? Just dont get all the love for this guy, I really dont care of his opinion on tough stuff but it is whether u like it or not one of the more exciting aspects of the game of hockey and i think Jaffe does a poor job at selling that part of the game, which i think is just dumb. Anything that increases the exposure to the game that is the context of the game should be brought out in an exciting manner. It’s always like oh and its a fight and oh its should be out of the game??? Im like finally a fight, now im into this great physical game!
-
nobody says:
I agree completely with Jaffe’s take on fighting in hockey…Detroit had an exciting product when they were winning stanley cups (which was only 2 years ago)…the NHL is not WWE or MMA
-
Stumpy32 says:
If you love hockey and appreciate hockey, you appreciate and enjoy watching physical play, and can differentiate between that and fighting. Fighting is what makes the sport look comically amateur to outsiders. Especially when the refs stand around watching it. I can’t tell you how many times a friend who doesn’t watch hockey tells me that the reason why is that it can’t be a sport when it devolves into wrestling a couple times every game.
-
Boss22 says:
45 – your friend should go back to watching darts, fighting to an extent should and will always be a part of hockey.
-
#46… maybe so, but let’s not put it front and center suggesting that IT’S what makes hockey exciting, which was the suggestion in an earlier post.
-
Comments thread closed.
Great stuff, Chris. I have a feeling this draft could be another special one. With Kubanov sinking and the Islanders taking a chance on Petrov, I feel that Kubanov would be a nice risk.
Let’s hope this July 1st we can spend some money and bring in a 1B free agent. This team deserves it.
Mike.