SNY POINT BLANK TV: EJ McGUIRE
Central Scouting boss on the cream of the 2011 draft
Dec. 23 at Social – BEST POINT BLANK NIGHT EVER
Many scouts believe the 2011 draft features a clear-cut top three. E.J. McGuire, the director of the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, feels at least one more player warrants attention at the top. It’s still very early in the NHL season, but with the Islanders 16 points out of a playoff position, we’d like to thank E.J. for giving us something else to think about.
Comments on this video and the 2011 draft only, please.
104 Responses to SNY POINT BLANK TV: EJ McGUIRE
Central Scouting boss on the cream of the 2011 draft
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Since the team has no scouting director and will not see any of the top players actually play before the draft, they will have to rely on these ratings before making what we all know will be the wrong pick.
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Obs029 says:
It’s nice to see there will be a few solid players to chose from this next draft. Like you said in the interview, no generational players. We still need so much. Scoring, defense, which way do we go?
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IslesFanInBkNY says:
So, basically this year draft sucks, except for the Swedish defender and a playmaking center. Janikowski isn’t here to guide the draft… What a good reason to lose all those games again this year.
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streit02 says:
Nothing like looking forward to the draft in December.
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speaking of the draft, how much will charlie wang charge ppl for parking for the draft party? THIS FAN will not be in attendance. count on it.
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EAF says:
it’s disgusting to talk about draft on December, 7th.
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Michael says:
Thanksgiving – Check
Buy Holiday Presents – Check
Make New Years Plans – Check
Get Excited about the Top Three Players in the NHL Draft – CheckSomething wrong with annually being ready for the NHL Draft in December
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PotvinRocks says:
Based on the games I’ve watched, Victor Hedman should have been a late 1st round pick. he doesn’t thrill me in anyway. So RNH or Countier would be the one the Islander head of Scouting should key in on. Oh wait we don’t have a chief scout.
Of course the Islanders are the pits for the drafts with no clear cut number 1 or no generational player. So how much longer will we be bad? -
MorDraftPicks says:
With the “luck” that this team has, we will finish 18 points worse than anybody else and someone else will get the lottery ball. Then we pick 2nd. Hey, can you blame me?
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Mikamakela says:
Bergie didnt pan out…tambellini..nokeleinen…baily is no bettet then 14 goal scorer….tavares skates as bad as trent hunter….dipietro was obviously the wrong pick…im tired of waiting for teanagers to fix this franchise. Remember the good old days of kvasha chow, yashin, osgood when isles payroll was just below average n we had fun regular seasons.
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Brooklyn George says:
@#1 You say superstar,#1 pick, we supposedly got one 2 years ago remember, Tavares is his name. We can pick first again this year, it won’t matter if you do not build around them. We have Bailey, Okposo and Tavares, if you don’t get them help they won’t produce or develop. At this rate we will be rebuilding till 2015 and then you know what happens.
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Kaszycki's Krew says:
CB – if you interview anyone on the picks going forward – would welcome any ideas on whether the Isles (if they wind up with first or 2nd selection) should trade down…..trade the pick (and for who) and what the guest feels would be the perfect fit for the Isles – given the current rosters and prospects in the system.
Also, if we should accumulate picks like in the other years…. (sigh)……this IS getting old…….
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“DRAFT PICKS?!?!
Don’t talk about DRAFT PICKS?!?!
Are you kidding me?? DRAFT PICKS?!?!
I’m just hoping we can win a game, another game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” -
Derek A says:
Trade the pick… Get Parise… Get another star… make this work
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#8, Based on the games I’ve watched, Jeff Skinner should be at least number 2 pick of 2010 draft. the guy is so good. He is like Patrick Kane’s clone.
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CG says:
Please tell me we are not talking about the 2011 draft already (on Dec 7!!!). This doesn’t interest me in the least.
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NewtownJack says:
#14 – Another “Patrick Kane”?…NYI will mess-up somehow and probably pass on Skinner, just like they did Parise.
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Brian G says:
Thanks for the early draft talk….you will have to do this once a month with EJ for the next 6 months…we will need something like this to still keep us intrested. Chris you might be a draft Guru by June.
What’s next some trade talk, Oh wait we never make those…They need to keep what they have to make the cap floor.
Wang must have been really mad yesterday when they announced the salary cap will be going up 3 mil….damn now I need to spend more money
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Steve says:
I hope we get the first pick and trade down this year. If it’s quality from 1-6 then why not move down a couple spots and maybe wiggle enough to land a second first rounder in the 12-18 range, preferably while keeping pick 31 if we can win the lottery.
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sean says:
Hahaha I went to the draft party last three years and as long as Wang runs this team I am not going to the coliseum for any event. I wish nobody will show up for games to get through to him. I want somebody just come in and buy the team and build a new arena to start with. Then build a winning team. Sad that a once proud franchise becomes a joke all because of a development that is a long shot
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Fist of Gillies says:
It is so hard to care about this team when the hockey season is about 2 months long and the rest of the year is spent discussing 18 year old prospects.
The slow and steady rebuild is neither slow nor steady.
Like Santa Claus, it doesn’t exist.
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Billy says:
While most team’s fans spend hours talking about line combinations and future matchups each year, us Islanders fan get to spend hours talking about another top 2 pick. Thanks Charles for giving me something to keep me busy until spring training.
CB…Even though I am frustrated thanks for at least giving us Islanders fans something to talk about.
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cgs878 says:
With the way the Islanders are playing, every game night should be a draft (beer) night… just don’t drink and drive!
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rex says:
I used to buy into the rebuild and even now under other circumstances I’d want to read this article. But now I just feel ashamed for whoever gets drafted into this mess. They have no front office staff, no, direction, no bldg coming, its so bad now.
I was a re-build supporter, i hate that Wang has taken his frustration out on the fans/team/town. The deliberate indifference is tough to take.
Any draft pick in the top 5 should just refuse to come & play here, & just wait & get re-drafted, that would actually help their careers unfortunately now a career on the island equals mental stress, emotional distress and a regression of skills.
Just stay in moose jaw & wait til next year.
As a die hard this is the lowest i’ve ever felt about the team, i was a full on wang/snow rebuild supporter, now, i just cringe when i see the team written about, i dont know what credential they revoked, which announcer they let go, which player is the most recent that has lost confidence, all of it, its always bad and this East Berlin way of policing everyone when you lost 17 of 18 is the extra pathetic cherry on top.
Needed to vent.
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Chris Stephenson says:
Wow draft talk already.
It’s clear that the Islanders can draft all the great talent they are able to, they can’t cultivate or surround them with the right veteran leadership to make them successful.
Go watch any other team in the NHL…even their 4th liners are better than 90% of the current Islander roster. Pathetic. Sad. I can’t watch, and I certainly can’t care anymore.
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claude says:
Plan by design .
Wang wants to secure that top pick to give this underachieving team more value when he takes this nightmare to market
Putting a winning product on the ice is the last thing on this guy’s mind he wants out.
comeau,hunter,weight,sims,parenteau and DP for a fourth rounder
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Richie66 says:
I just wish we can have all the kids here playing for bridgeport. Would love to see how Nino, the Kirils, DeHann, Travis, etc all play top minutes together before they dree fully for the isles. If the opportunity is there, I say trade for a proven star
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beatlebailey says:
CB: I propose you change the name of the blog to pointblank and remove the “NYI” I mean really i would rather read about the other 29 teams that are playing NHL hockey vs. this $hit$how we have on the Island. Just make it a general hockey blog and mention the Islanders when they move…
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Jim says:
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, toys in every store, deocrations on every tree, lights in the windows, and talk of the Islanders 2011 draft!
I think they will eventually start winning a few games after Okposo comes back. This will raise their pick from 1-3 to 5-7 which means another 2-3 YEAR project that will at best be a second line player.
If Wang doesn’t sign Okposo after this season then the rebuild is a total sham!
SELL WANG SELL! PLEASE FIND A BUYER!!
SELL WANG SELL! PLEASE FIND A BUYER!!
SELL WANG SELL! PLEASE FIND A BUYER!! -
Matthew Dillner says:
Pick #16…. Derek:
THAT would drive this team. We have a great young talent in Tavares and he would bloom with the addition of a kid like Parise. We have the Cap space easily. Trading the pick for that would work for us and for the Devils who have Cap trouble.
As fas as defense… we have a good defense. It will be much better when we get Jurcina and Streit back. I am not worried about that as much. We need to put pucks in the net and not let some of our young kids…who have great potential, flounder in mediocrity. Bringing a star like Parise would inject great confidence and talent into their lineup and would be an investment into the team’s future.
-MD
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Cruicky says:
I will say one thing, If the Islanders keep up this craziness, the odds of them resigning all of the players they HAVE to SIGN is slim to nill. Even the RFA are going to be hard to sign. Very few of the RFA’s will receive offer sheets as well. It will be interesting.
I would still like to see a striaght up game. Islanders Vs. Bridgeport. It would be a close match.
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Johnnyjet says:
I am guilty of already watching games of Couturier and seen Hopkins live in person. Couturier is more of our need as he is a big center in the mold of Getzlaf and Staal. Hopkins is smaller, very shifty like Briere and Kane. Seriously we can’t go wrong with any of these
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jbassman says:
Beyond pathetic that this is up for discussion so early.
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pedro says:
I think JT Okposo and Bailey are all the real deal. but we need to surround them with if not top talent, experienced and solid talent. Crosby had a bunch of solid nHlers in his first year to take off the pressure as did ovechkin, and also stamkos. We have simply put all the pressure on those kids and expected them to carry the team from day one. Especially JT. He’s 20 years old. That’s too much pressure for a guy that isn’t fully mature physically. Get a guy with experience and success and who is not 40 years old to help the kids.
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Blizzard says: Give me the forward. I wanted Cam Fowler last draft so now we will get Larsson.
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ClarkGillies says:
The scary part about banking on the draft is we have no scouting department. How do you think Wang and Backup Goalie decide who to take ? Rock Paper Scissors with E?
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Dan says:
Looks like the Isles have potential of getting a solid player from this years draft. Good to know that the top few look NHL ready for next year. May not be much but something to look forward to. Next year will be better they have no where to go but up!
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dalcy says:
if you want to be a journalist why don’t you start doing some investigating and get to the heart of all that’s going on with this team. nobody cares about future picks at this point, and i don’t mean the fact that it’s December. most of us are indifferent about the hockey portion of this organization.
give us some meat, man. -
Bob E. says:
Wow, its Dec7th and we are talking about the 2011 draft. Ouch.
here is a bit of Isles Pick me up
Nino in WHL – 19 games 11G 9A +5
Dehaan in OHL – 23 games 2G 18A +10 -
Kevin says:
I feel sorry for whoever we draft. I have NO doubt all our talent will leave the first chance they get. I used to hate players that left here (ie Jason Blake, Ryan Smyth) when we made them offers. Now I wouldn’t blame anyone for leaving here. Who would want to stay for this joke of a once great franchise? Only fringe players who probably couldn’t make the NHL will come here to say they “made it” and make a decent salary.
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gary9-19-22 says:
READ THE CHARLES WANG WIKIPEDIA…
The guy is a control freak who is all about nepotism(sp?).
I feel sorry for the kid who gets drafted by us.
I wouls give my left n*t to be able to buy the team from Wang.
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Jon in Chicago says:
I read where the salary cap is going up next year, including the cap floor. Isles can’t be happy about this.
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Chris18 says:
Thank whatever deity you believe in that there is a salary floor, or old fat dudes like me would be on the Isles!
Draft talk on December 7th. I was wondering how long it would take. Every game is like another nail in the coffin. Or better yet- a lottery ball!
I think Bettman had a few gross of Islanders lottery balls made when Wang bought the team. -
scottd says:
The Islanders need to draft a legit, top-line, play-maker for Tavares. That’d be the best way to get max value of this pick in my opinion.
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JJ says:
trading pick = dumb.
Take the D-man Larsson. He will be a franshise D-man, a piece to the puzzle that we do not have.
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Tony F. says:
Sure draft another number one but I bet the farm whoever it is refuses to sign because the franchise is in utter disarray. It’s so frustrating, looking back on all the bad decisions dating back to Ziggy Pallfy thru to the end of the Mad Mike era. I thought it could never get worse than that, but it has exponentially.
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Hi says:
Good job CB..you just should of talked about who will be the number 1 pick in 2012 too. Because im sure that will be the isles pick also
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Hishutzi Skorz says:
Potvin Rocks #9: You do realize that had we chosen Hedman, those at the draft party would have torched “the old barn”, and we’d HAVE to gotten our new arena!
Or moved. At any rate, there’d be some closure! -
Diane says:
….sigh….
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Mike B says:
To all the season ticket holders out there that are stuck with tickets to future games. The best thing you can do at this point is to put all your remaining tickets up for sale for as little as you can so that anyone stupid enough (or fans of visiting teams) will buy your tickets and not any tickets from Wang/Snow, thus putting more financial pressure on Wang to sell the team.
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Scott says:
EJ described Pat LaFontaine as not being about goal scoring. His career avg is .54 GPG. That’s ahead of Kovalchuk (.53), Jagr (.51), Selanne (.51), Crosby (.49 thru the end of ’10 season), Lindros (.49), Kurri (.48), Yzerman (.46), Sakic (.45), Orr (.41), and Trottier (.41). Hull was .58.
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Strummmer's Army says:
I agree with 35 all our prospects are beyond legit but they have nothing around them. Stamkos has Lecav, St. Louis and then guys like Malone and other respectable NHL’ers. JT, Kyle, Bailey have Jon Sim, Trent Hunter, Doug Weight, and PA Parenteau. Not fair to the young Isles or the fans.
Larsson or Courtoure (although I’ve only seen him listed as a LW and not a C) are the pick. Nugent small and more of a passer then scorer. The D-man Murphy worries me because we all know how Snow lust after small, puck movers but my lord I HATE THEM. That is why the D is always getting injured and our vast collection of small puck movers have won nothing. Chara moves the puck, Bognosian moves the puck, Weber moves the puck and they are not small or soft.
Thanks EJ for doing this. Only thing we Isles fans have to look forward to.
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Michael Grabner Rob Schremp PA Parenteau Blake Comeau – all of these guys have had attitude problems here or elsewhere…these castoffs and never were’s have poisoned the team…how does PA Parenteau talk trash to anyone. Say what you want about Avery but he does have NHL hockey skills
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There’s an entry on ESPN from Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun where they graded each NHL team. To no ones surprise, Grath Snow received an F. There’s even a Chris Botta mention.
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geduffer says:
Draft talk in December? How pathetic. EJ is terrific, he also appears on NHL Home Ice and he is always a great interview. I hope that I get to make the move to Tampa over the summer that I wanted and I can trade all of my Isles jerseys for one Bolts jersey to go with my SJ Sharks jersey. Then I can go to that draft party and hang out with Bergie.
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volmeeezy says:
ESPN’s first quarter grades .. solid mention of CB .. depressing stuff
“New York Islanders
Grade: F
Trending: Down
Summary: GM Garth Snow fired coach Scott Gordon, but in retrospect, he might have been doing Gordon a favor given how bad this team is. Injuries to Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo haven’t helped matters, but this is a poorly constructed team from the goal on out. Rick DiPietro has struggled to deliver quality starts coming back from multiple knee operations; the defense is porous; and there isn’t enough skill up front. Good thing Snow found time to ban writer Chris Botta from covering the team.” -
KO21 says:
The situations in need of an owners reassurance but we arent getting it…What does this tell u????
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all these draft talks are pointless unless we hear from the owner about what he is planning to do with the team
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Michael says:
Sick of talking about draft picks, prospects and rebuilds. Sick of bad and boring hockey (see Puck Daddy’s recent column — sad but oh so true). Sick of Wang, Snow, coaching changes, abysmally poor management and no hope. Sick of the silly suggsetion that all these kids will somehow gel at the same time and be decidedly better than other team’s kids.
Tired of excuses for why we can’t attract quality free agents when it is as simple as winning begets winning.
We are a minor league franchise, run by a minor league owner, a minor league GM and a minor league coach trying to win with minor league talent.
This team wouldn’t win if we had the first 5 picks in this year’s draft.
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The New Isles GM says:
NHL DRAFT 2011. So Be It, This Was Year 3 Of The Rebuild & If That Means Year 3 Had To Suck To Land A High Quality Defenseman, I’ll Take It. I Never Had Hopes For Victor Hedman But Now That We Got Tavares, and Depth Down The Middle Assuming Bailey Returns From Bridgeport, I Want This Sweedish Defenseman. When You Look At Chicago’s D, You Think Duncan Keith. I Want That To Be For The Islanders With This Kid. Hopefully All Will Work Out And We Have Larrson in Orange and Blue For A Long Long Time.
Larrson, Streit, Hamonic, DeHann, MacDonald…we’re getting there.
There’s no replacement for time, and that’s what we’ll need. I know we’re having major ownership problems, but if we’re going to see another high pick, let’s atleast keep making the right choices. I’m very happy with our draft results so far in the Snow era.
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IslesRock says:
Great post #59, I guess this is what Wang wants. At this point, I blame the NHL and Bettman for letting Wang neglect the team, and the fans. What a joke. I guess Snow will have a little time to scout the draft picks after he is done sweeping out the Coliseum.
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Kevn.H says:
I am really tired of talking about draft picks.
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Wait!!! Fist of Gillies, what do you mean Santa Claus doesn’t exist? How do all those presents get under my tree then? Explain That or choose to sit quiet like Wang.
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Phil says:
Seriously Botta, who cares? Enough with the rebuild nonsense, this team is hopeless.
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Blizzard says:
I wonder what tavares’ numbers would be if we didnt draft him and took Hedman
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exileskimsurf96 says:
We need wingers. I’ll pass on couturier. Grab Gabriel L. or take Larrson on D. if we have to choose between centers i’ll take nugent hopkins, cooler last name.
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Isles in VA says:
When do we all stop complaining and do something that gets some attention? We are the fans. We pay Garth’s salary, Gordon’s salary, the players salaries, etc. Ive been a fan since Day 1. Living in DC for 30+ years, I have seen a “rebuild” work. Im as disgusted and disheartened as every NYI fan. The passion from all Isles fans is there and its real. Lets do something that makes noise, gets us noticed and causes some real change. I can’t watch them rot and then have them move. I need to do something.
My suggestion – A real boycott. Pick a game and have NO ONE SHOW UP. No parking fees, no % on the hot dogs. Nothing. Maybe we can shame Mr W and Mr S into doing something or at least talking to us.
Its time to stop complaining and time to do something – anything.
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Albuquerque Mike says:
Draft talk in December? before Christmas, even? How sad it is. Don’t look for Okposo being the answer. Has not been an impact player in the years he has played here. He’s nothing better that a third line wing with hustle, who can’t bury the puck. Shoots over the net all the time. I’m getting to the point where I DON’T GIVE A DAMN! Feel sorry for season ticket owners. I only had to pay for NHL Center Ice, and I can walk out any time I want.
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Doug F. says:
Trade the pick for a couple of real NHL players…there aren’t many on the roster now…
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admin says:
Dear readers: please stick to the topic of the post when commenting, as put forth in the comment guidelines. Thank you…CB
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MIKE says:
Its sad to watch and think these draft picks will never properly develop because the Islander owner is a cheap SOB. Bailey, Tavares and others would be thriving on other NHL squads right now.
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Hey,74, the only difference between us and Pittsburgh is that they have Mario and we have Wang.
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bossjones15 says:
agree with mike (75) these kids should pray the isles don’t pick them.
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CB – My son is 5 months old and is projected to have his grandfathers height at 6’7…is it too early to be talking about when he will be picked and will he impact the Islanders slow and steady rebuild?
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David says:
I’m from Sweden and I have seen Larsson on a regular basis this season (I saw him a couple of times last season as well). This guy is better than Vic Hedman. Maybe you will hear that he hasn’t produced as many points as he did last season and that’s because he’s not getting as much time on the PP this season. He will probably be asked to be a stay at home d-man at the WJC later this month. The Isles will not be disappointed choosing him. Guy is a beast.
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Mike says:
Does it really matter who they draft?
Whoever the POOR kid is he will be looking to EXIT as soon as possible.
SELL the team Wang CHUNG! -
Healy says:
What kills me is the silence. Nothing from Wang, nothing from Garth. The one and only time they’ve acknowledged an issue is with Gordon’s firing. But that was a token gesture. The guy is still in the organization, the losing continues, the silence continues. The Islanders even banned one of their last beat reporters from the press box. Its stifling silence. Even Mad Mike would be shouting in the press, trying to stir something up, acknowledging the horribleness. Its sad that it makes me long for that disaster of an era but at least he spoke up. The silence makes me thinking this franchize is truly dying by design. The leaders don’t want it to get better, a losing culture is being reinforced. Positions within the organization are being cut without replacement. Our once great team is just staggering around now before the knockout punch. I can’t bear to see the final blow. Mr. Wang, SPEAK THE EFF UP!!
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UIF says:
Good stuff. Very good answers/analysis. I’m inclined to say go with the Swedish defenseman this time around if the Isles get the chance, but you can never go wrong with a big, skilled center. Size down the middle is something…well, one of many things…the team is sorely lacking.
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Oh and on the draft…let me know how it turns out. Not that I particularly care.
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anthony c says:
Couturier or Larsson. That’s what it comes down to. I’m going with Couturier
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27Tonelli says:
we will all be saying “this is year 8 of the rebuild, and they are moving to Quebec City” LOL ! we suck and are hopeless
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We need the player who can step right in and play. D-man or forward – doesnt matter – we need immediate help. Stop trading down for a guy who we want to see “mature”. Thats BS.
i know we havent seen Nino much but it irks me that Jeff Skinner is ripping it up right now. I wonder if he was even on our radar.
You have to wonder if Janikowski had some other plans that the communists felt was too “extreme”. I know CB is trying to change the subject to something hopeful but its all coming back to this owner and his disrespect for us, his players and this franchise. -
jason says:
I went to 1 game this yr and will not be going back again. it is a total waste of $$. its way to exp for a crappy team. You dont raise prices 2 yrs in a row esp when ur team blows. I dont even mind the $10 for parking. FYI paqrk at the marriott if u go to the drat party. It was free.
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Bryan says:
I want speed and skill. RNH sounds good to me, let him carry the puck until JT gets open for the shot. We see how dangerous Grabner can be with his speed, Jason Blake was quick and he produced. In the current NHL where you can’t touch anyone, speed counts the most.
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I like #70′s idea. Pick a game, and have no one show up.
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Ari From Long Island says:
WANG MUST GO!! BETTMAN MUST MAKE WANG GO OR HE SHOULD GO TOO!!
We need to really organize a serious boycott! No one attends the game! Literally no one! We have that power, can we please use it??
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HasHadEnough..... says:
And with the 1st pick of the 2011 entry draft the NY islanders select, from the Cuban Chivato’s, the 1,204th ranked Pablo Hernandez…
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Big Dog says:
Ok perhaps ima party pooper but thias is a joke. I understand CB is now somewhat limited to isles talk but each year it seems like this is our highlight. The time has come for action from the fans. Maybe it does nothing…Maybe it triggers wang or snow to finally address US.
Its a shame my winter is now looking at hockey as a sport i love as opposed to a sport whose team i follow and sport i love.
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BCISLEMAN says:
The Isles choices are probably: Couturier to be part of a second line with Nino, Larsson to really complete their defense, or a trade down with Boston if their Toronto pick is in the three or four slot for Colborne, a big centerman prospect, and their own first rounder. The Isles would then draft Landeskog and Colborne, Landeskog and Nino become the second line.
The last prospect depends on how Toronto finishes. Boston would love to have Larsson and is well stocked with centers right now, but we won’t know until Lottery Day how likely a possibility that is.
That aside, I would LOVE to have Larsson on our blueline. If I knew how Josh was going to turn out and that the Kirills would mature into quality forwards, I would not hesitate to pick him.
We will see how the WJCs play out. JT was the star of the 2009 WJCs and Nino was the hero in 2010. They both became Islander picks. Would not be surprised if one of the three–Larsson, Couturier, or Landeskog–dominates there and winds up an Islander pick.
Right now Couturier and Landeskog are tearing it up in junior hockey while Larsson is struggling in the SEL with Skelleftea. He only has 7 points–all assists–through 25 games. Rundblad and Erixon–2009 first round draft picks–are both outshining him now. We will see.
As to the Crosby transformational thing, any of these three–added to our current mix would transform our roster. You win Cups as a team. Sid cannot do it by himself either. Anyone who followed this team in the Dynasty era knows what I am talking about.
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50 in 50 says:
How sad it is when we are already looking to draft day with the season not even half over. I hope we finish last, get the #1 pick and he refuses to sign like Lindros did with Quebec.
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Can we get “1″ win this month, please???–Like I said before, you get what you pay for. We have some good young kids but I fear they are not developing properly due to an owner that does not know how to run a hockey team, and refuses to hire people who do. Nothing against Charles, I hope he makes a ton of money as the Islanders owner, but I don’t see it happening. Hey Mr. Wang, I know very little about software, but I would like an executive position at C.A, please. You can pay me half of what your top level execs make. Don’t worry, I’m a fast learner and pretty charming if I do say so myself! Do I have the job? How do you think C.A would do? How are the New York Islanders doing???
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Al L says:
Matthew #32! How is the weather today in “The Land Of Make Believe.” Quite frankly it is attitudes such as yours that is counterproductive toward straightening matters out here. Your positive air brushing creates the perfect environment for Wang’s do nothing tactic for the next 4 years.
The word ‘great’ hardly applies to any of our prospects here and throughout the system. Zach Parise may be a fine start toward credibility,but debatable at best to be The Elixir for overall and overnight excellence. There are 29 other Organizations,most with equal or better young pieces.
The difference is they will be surrounded by productive veterans costing a few bucks that allow them to grow into NHL players appropriately.
Please spare me the false hope. Considering the negative and losing culture instilled resulting from dyfunction and carelessness of Operation there is no reason to believe the current direction leads to anything other than a dead end. -
drew says:
This is a bridge year….and that doesn’t mean jump! Yes we may only win 10 games but…we have had no Okposo and no Streit. Poor decisions regarding FA’s by the front office have killed this team. Not a single one of defenseman we signed deserves more than 10 minutes a night. How many times is Wisniewski going to get beat to the outside? Hunter should be flat out released. Guys like Bailey and Comeau could flourish on a well run team…Hell, I’d take Jesse Joensu over Hunter at this point. DP looks done. It is the perfect storm on L.I. No new arena would cure this year. So build a bridge, hope we get the first overall and keep working at it. What other choice do we have?
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Mike S. says:
These guys were born in ’92. Mother of God.
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Eaton and jurcina were left over garbage d men that no other team wanted. Hunter, Bruno should be healthy scratches for rest of year. Weight should follow guerin out the door. Dp still can’t be consistent so he should work in the offices the rest of his contract. They run a pee wee team better at the rinx than the joke on hempstead turnpike. I am tired of. Being a joke someone save us from Wang.
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John from Atl says:
Have Patience. The rebuild is not even half over and is going in the right direction. Losing this year can only speed it up in the long run.
I didn’t think they would be this bad this year but, it doesn’t matter.Think about it, how many of the players who were on the ice for the Islanders this past Sunday will still be on the team in 2 r 3 years, not many.
Maybe six or seven. I would think only Taveras and Hamonic are sure bets. Then maybe MacDonald, Moulson, Martin, Grabner, Jounsuu, and Franz Nielson.
Next year they will add Neiderrieter, de Haan and their 2011 #1 pick. I’m hoping for Couturier.
Then next years top two lines would be:
Tavares between Niederriter and Moulson &
Couturier between Okposo and Bailey.Plus Streit, MacDonald, Hamonic,and de Haan on defense. The 2011-12 team still would make the playoffs. But this will take time.
The 2012 training camp will have Petrov, Kabanov, B. Nelson, Matt Donovan and Blake Kessell fighting for spots.
Don’t lose hope.
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JJ says:
The Islanders need to draft the 6’4″ forward. Along with Okposo, Neiderrietter, and Hamonic, the Isles may actually begin to resemble a ‘tough’ team.
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admin says:
Video should be fixed. Thanks for the heads up. Was down for a few minutes…CB
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see post 99- Sorry for the second posting. I meant to say the 2011-12 team wouldn’t make the playoffs.
I would also like to add, that the reason the Islanders are in this mess is not becuase of anything Snow did or that Wang won’t spend the money on FAs.
It’s because of the all the mistakes that were made going back to not resigning Pat Lafontaine, all the bad owners in the 90s, Milbury’s 2000 draft trades and going all the way to Ryan Smyth’s refusal to sign with the team.
After that Snow made the right decision to gut the team and rebuild through the draft. Do you think that would take 2 years?
Wang and Snow can’t sign a FA if they wanted to. No one wants to play for the Islanders now.
Wang spent money when he first bought the team. Milbury traded away the future to save his job and got a few first round playoff loses in return. That was not the way to build a team to win the cup.
This will take time. This is a 5 or 6 year rebuild and we are only 1/2 way through year 3.
Sorry but there’s no going back now.
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Ethan K says:
I would love to see Garth take home several high first round players from this draft. We’ve got solid depth now, so these 2nd and 3rd and 4th rd picks don’t mean as much to us – and remember that we even have some extras from trades, and maybe more from the upcoming deadline. Trade up and fill in the high end talents, give them time to develop, and round out the team. We still need another big defenseman and a few more forwards with scoring touch.
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Islz says:
Why does the talk of prospects give us hope if they are not being developed properly. Does Billy Joel have enough money to buy the team? He could give concerts once a month to finance it.
Why can’t there be a clear cut #1 pick when the Isles get it? We need a superstar player!