“WE’LL DO ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS”
Gillies loves the meaner makeup of the NYI roster
FanHouse: Kyle Okposo’s offseason routine
FanHouse’s Islanders season preview
Yahoo’s Puck Daddy: Islanders preview
Noon: Trevor Gillies received a one-year, two-way contract from the Islanders at the end of last season and nothing else. No promises, not a handshake or even a whisper, that he’ll be in the NHL full-time as the enforcer-on-call for 2010-11. Gillies got a commitment for one salary scale when he plays with the big club ($500,000), and another, much lower one should he play for the Islanders’ top minor league affiliate in Bridgeport.
The 30-year-old frequent fighter has no complaints, only appreciation.
“There was no talk about what my role would be if I signed,” said Gillies, who inked the deal on April 15. “There wasn’t any need for it. I know my role here. The Islanders were amazing to me last season and continue to be. I want to be with the big club the entire season – whether I get in 20, 50, 70 games. Being a leader, playing hard, setting an example for the young guys and standing up for my teammates is how I get to thank the Islanders for showing confidence in me.”
Gillies is aware of the kind words thrown his way in the press over the last week about his work with some of the young players prior to the rookie games in Boston. The Islanders’ traffic cop wanted it known that the relationship is a two-way street.
“Of all the young players I’ve gotten to know in ten years as a pro, Matt Martin might be my all-time favorite rookie,” said Gillies. “Last season, he taught me as much as I taught him. Matt’s really good at tipping pucks when he’s standing in front of the goalie. I always struggled with that. Matt showed me a few things that really helped me. I’m better at it now.”
Gillies was thrilled that Garth Snow is building a tougher team by signing scrapper Zenon Konopka and giving Martin a chance to make the Islanders. In a conversation with Point Blank, Gillies mapped out each tough guy’s assignment should the trio play in the same game.
“Konopka is fearless. He led the league in fights last season and will go with anyone,” said Gillies, who had 75 penalty minutes in 13 games with the Islanders last season. “He can handle the lightweights and the middleweights. Matty’s on his way to being a great fighter, but he’s more of a middleweight guy, too. I’ll take on the heavyweights…”
I interrupted Gillies, saying I thought Martin could hold his own not just with middleweights, but with cruiserweights and light-heavyweights.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” said Gillies. “Both Z and Matty can battle with anyone. Let’s put it this way: if we’re all in a game together and the other team is stirring it up, it doesn’t matter who takes who. We’ll get together on the bench and do ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors.’”
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Notes: Butch Goring and the gang from MSG Network’s “Hockey Night Live” last night placed the Islanders with the Panthers, Maple Leafs and Hurricanes in a group called “longshots” (for the playoffs). They also predicted the Islanders would finish 13th in the Eastern Conference this season.
Andy Hilbert (groin strain) sat out his group’s session today. He’s day-to-day.
Prospect to watch: Kevin Poulin. Through five days of rookie camp and two of main camp, there has been a quiet buzz about the young goaltender. It’s like everyone is afraid of getting too excited too early. (As a blog, of course, we don’t worry about that stuff).
Goring shared a telling anecdote about the difference between training camps today and in his generation, when players used the workouts to get into shape. “We’re about a week into camp,” said Butch. “I’m breaking in new equipment, taking it slowly, rounding into shape. I’m on the ice before practice, warming up. Al Arbour skates over to me and says, ‘Hey Butchie, would you mind breaking a sweat today.’ I laughed. I said, ‘Al, when does the real season start? Three weeks, right? I promise you, I’ll be ready then.’”
Comments on this post are invited. We’ll be here all week.
35 Responses to “WE’LL DO ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS”
Gillies loves the meaner makeup of the NYI roster
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Ice Girl Dad says:
diappointed in Gorings assessment of the teams playoff chances for the upcoming season.
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When they first signed gillies, I was less than thrilled. Since then, however, he has proven to be invaluable. He is a true professional and a class act. He is a total team player who has a lot of respect for the blue and orange. I plan on showing him equal respect this year and letting him know how much he is appreciated by Islander fans. Thanks Trevor, I am so glad you are an Islander!
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Nick says:
So Jaffe wasn’t positive enough so they canned him but Butch picks us to finish bottom five?
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cm2747 says:
Rock-Paper-Scissors Line- I Love it!
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Butchie better be careful. Pessimistic outlook on the season like that could get him fired from the booth before his first game.
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shlo says:
I thought Konopka was suppose to be the heavyweight, the one to handle Boogard.
He looks scary enough to do it. -
bayduvinislander says:
This team is going to be so fun to watch for so many different reasons it’s absurd. Can’t wait, go give’em heck! $@#$ the Rags!
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Zarley Z says:
That was a pretty “negative” assessment by Goring and MSG Network.. Let’s hope the Isles let him keep his job long enough to start the season…
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Todd says:
LOL @ Zarley Z, good one. Yeah, Goring might be a little too honest for the Isles.
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hockeytime says:
Well it looks like its time to get rid of Goring. Not positive enough. Well, bring back Jaffe!!! Love Gillies attitude, this team will do better than 13th. I would bet money on it. Let’s go islanders!
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Jerky says:
Love it! And I appreciate all the rapid-fire stories CB. Great to have you back and gearing up for another season with my fellow fans!
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JD says:
So much for Butch being a homer. I wonder if he will show the same honesty while analyzing a game. Gillies, Zenopka, and Martin might be one of the toughest lines in the league. I hope it happens.
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sean says:
At least goring is honest. I like the direction the team is heading but we are still young and in early stages. I would like to have a new arena first.
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Doubting Thomas says:
When they first signed gillies, I was less than thrilled. Since then, however, he has proven to be invaluable….
invaluable during the off season
PERFECT -
Mike from Philly says:
Maybe Butch should start working on his resume, looks like Wang might put his head on the chopping block for not being positive enough.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
Nice write up about T. Gillies … If those 3 guys ( Gillies, Martin & Z) need to do rock-paper-scissors … you can bet all 3 would pick Rock.
Can’t wait to see some video of camp.
Butchy and the Hockey Night crew might get it right about the Isles this season. 13th at worst though. I see them pushing for a 10 spot “if” they can stay healthy.
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2Bit says:
MY assessment. Isles finish no lower than 10th in the East! That much I feel confident about.
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Ethan K says:
Butch Goring is about to commentate our games and he’s not telling everyone that we’re gonna win the cup this year?? He should be FIRED.
I think 13th is a bit unfair for our team. I would say anywhere from 11-8 in the conference.
I don’t think Martin, Konopka and Gillies would actually be one line. No offense to them, but that wouldn’t be the most skilled of lines in terms of puck movement. And you gotta spread out some of the toughness to our smaller lines. I really like Gillies because I think he can be an effective enforcer, while keeping that behavior solely on the ice, and having a good personality otherwise… that’s really not something you can say with a lot of hockey players, especially the tough ones.
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Pbox says:
And you guys now have a Yablonski to boot! Gonna miss him here in Bingo.
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I like the group Snow’s putting together,a no quit bunch. Love hard nose hockey players that can play. I don’t think this isles team will hide its tail like in the past. Good bunch! Go MM! Your gunna be a big piece to the puzzle
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isles71 says:
I hope we see a good bit of T. Gillies this season. Thought he was much more of a deterant than Tim Jackman, but Jacks helped in other areas. Would be nice to see 4th line with 2 of the 3 at least!!! Go Isles!!!!!!
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Examiner says:
Rock, paper, scissors… I love this guy. Hope we get to see plenty of him in division battles with the Rags and Flyers.
Great quotes from Gilles on Martin. Really holding out hope that he can solidify a spot on the roster and on the 2nd PP unit.
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Anonymous says:
@ #7. Zenon can’t fight heavyweights like Boogaard. Go look at hockeyfights.com and see who he fights, never anyone like Boogaard
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booten326 says:
GILLIES MOUSTACHE NIGHT
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Joe says:
Can’t wait to watch Gillies this year!
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cjcb says:
Absolutly love the tough version of the NY Isles, My only reservation is i have seen this in the preseason before, lets see what they do in the regular season. Very hopeful and excited at this point, can say for the first time in a couple of years i cant wait to see a game. Gilles, Konopka, and Martin and maybe a sprikle or two of Yablonski for some Ranger games should make for some fun entertaining Islander games!!!
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dose says:
i’m sure talking about fighting so specifically and as a clearly defined aspect of the game as gillies did here would put a bunch of people off, and i think that part of the game has probably held back its growth to some degree (in the U.S.) i don’t care. i love that guy. he seems to really get it in important ways. and i think matt martin is gonna be a true foundation player for this team. soon.
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Isles81 says:
Butch got screwed over by this organization once already. Being so honest in his prediction this year could get him screwed over again. I hope he survives this.
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dino carillo says:
I hope the players see all the negative talk about where the ISLES will finish in the standings from goring and company on MSG and use as motivation and make the so called experts eat there words LETS GO ISLANDERS…
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Never witnessed a Cup says:
I hope Gillies at Matt Martin are up playing on the 4th line all year…
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Bring back the Jaff…Im gonna miss the guy…Too bad this org doesnt want to build some tradition…By letting guys like Jaffe go it is a determent to building tradition..
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Tom says:
Butch Goring predicts the Isles to finish 14th? Is he trying to break the Isles record for the quickest fire? Be positive Butch.
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Spartiarti RVC says:
I think Butchie might have been checked one too many times. He might very well get canned making comments like that.
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Steve says:
I hope Gillies, Konopka and Martin form the bruise line so that other teams don’t take liberties against Tavares and other stars
I am very happy to see the team is prepared to be more physical. I know the team was really young last year but there was something missing ….and it was the toughness.
Imagine Gillies,Konopka and fan favorite to be Matt Martin all in the same game?!?!
Like the Morrisey song goes “Thats Entertainment”