Enough’s Enough, Isles Need to Find Nabokov New Home
The trade rumor involving Nabokov that was and then wasn’t on Thursday night picked up so much steam not because of the… Err… “Source” it came from but because it was so believable. The Blue Jackets need goaltending and are wildly overspending their money while the Islanders need a big, hulking defenseman like Fedor Tyutin. Is that an even trade skill wise? Not really. Not for what would likely be a one-year rental in Nabokov. But if the Jackets wanted to get away from Tyutin’s contract — and the Islanders and Nabokov need to get away from each other — it was a good fit.
But this is the kind of thing that will happen when a team is actively trying to get rid of a player who has no interest in being here. Make no mistake, Nabokov didn’t all of a sudden change his tune this summer when deciding to report to the Islanders. This is about a 36-year old taking one last shot at the NHL and the elusive pot of gold at the end of the playoff rainbow. He made a mistake not reporting last year, which would have allowed him to find another team for this season. Somewhere along the line he realized that until he bit the bullet and came to Long Island, there was no way he was going to get what he wanted — another team and another shot at a Cup. Nabokov owes the Islanders a year of service unless the Islanders say otherwise and you can’t wrong Garth Snow for not blinking when Nabokov tried to have things his way. The Islanders, as we know, do not care much for what others want them to do. They’re going to do what they want, when they want, how they want.
Now, it’s time to do what needs to be done. The Islanders need to send Nabokov on his merry way, even if that means getting a measly return for him. They have a wealth of goaltenders — five not including Nabby — that all need to find playing time to prove themselves or develop into NHL netminders. A 36-year old does a team with such young depth no good. The Islanders also have much bigger concerns right now then something that shouldn’t be a distraction, but now is a distraction. The constant questions, debate and rumor mongering that has been a sideshow took center stage on Thursday night. The focus should have been on the team that wilted on the ice in a key third period on the road, not on the goalie in the press box.
The Islanders have been lucky that the three-headed goalie monster has not been an issue on the ice.
The fact is that it has not significantly affected the outcome of games is excellent. Off the ice, however, is a different story and that’s the problem. It’s an unnecessary distraction, is keeping a player on Long Island who has no interest being here and is taking reps away from all three players involved.
When responding to a question at practice on Wednesday about why Al Montoya hasn’t played much, here’s what Capuano had to say:
“To give you a concrete answer is tough for me to do.”
The coach who never gives an answer for his roster decisions sort of gave one. It alludes to a coach who either: had an odd choice of words for saying ‘no comment’, or has to keep mum on the subject. It could certainly be the former. If it’s the latter, then we can open a rather large can of worms and make assumptions about who is calling the shots about who minds the net.
Regardless of what the reasoning is or if it was just a coach giving reporters a quirky ‘no comment’ the point is that the conversation shouldn’t be happening in the first place. The discussion should be on why the team is sputtering, what is being done to spark a fire in certain players and the like. Instead — and I’m going to get meta — the media is left to write blog posts like this one, talking about a player who doesn’t want to be here, the team is actively shopping and is a distraction that has played a grand total of four games.
About Kevin Schultz
Kevin was formerly an NHL blogger for the now defunct AOL Fanhouse and was the creator of the hockey comedy blog Barry Melrose Rocks. He now covers the Isles for Islanders Point Blank. You can follow him for instant updates on the team and talk hockey with him on Twitter @schultz88. View all posts by Kevin Schultz →58 Responses to Enough’s Enough, Isles Need to Find Nabokov New Home
-
Claude says:
What about Komiserek?
Reimer is sn’t coming back any time soon and Toronto has a major goalie crisis .
Jurcina is large but too passive . We need a nasty, aggressive defenceman.-
Jim Clark says: Too much money. Wang and Snow want the payroll at absolute minimum. Only fans like us care about winning.
-
Jon in Chicago says: Agree 100 percent with you.
-
ronnie Kind says:
Its not about keeping the payroll low, they have to be sure about the deal because that salary will be paid out of Wang’s pocket. Of course if anybody out there has 5-6 million to sign a player, I am sure Charles will let you pay.
-
-
-
-
This team will continue spinning in a circle of failure until players who do not want to be here are gone…namely Nabakov. as i said before, he only reported because he had no choice. how do you think the players feel playing around Primadonakov and red light Ricky? No flow at all! Montoya and Poulin in goal. Ricky in the broadcast booth, Nabakov anywhere but here! Pandawful needs to go. There is no reason for Reasoner, and Rolstone is 2yrs removed from being anywhere near decent! If Garth is inept in making a trade that may help, then at least bring in the young kids. I would rather watch a young hungry team lose, than watch a lazy old frustrating team lose!
-
Jeff says:
Amen on post 1
-
NoManIsAnIslander says:
Schultz, in describing the NYI Organization, said, “They’re going to do what they want, when they want, how they want.”
Isn’t that also the clinical definition of a criminal sociopath?
-
hangover3 says:
The Isles should also look to trade Poulson now if they can get a good defensment for him. He is the best goalie in the organization, and he has no hope to ever play more then 20 games a year with Dipietro here for life. Trade him now rather then force him to waste his career on Long Island as a back up. Just cause Tavares doesn’t mind wasting his career doesn’t mean every player is into that sorta thing.
-
Once again you perplex me with your comments. You want to trade the best goalie we have in the system?? I get 3 hangovers just from reading your posts, lol!
-
dan says:
who the hell is Poulson?
-
Danfromouteast says: Poulin and Roloson had a child
-
-
-
-
islesrock73 says:
Speaking of goalies:
WATCHING OUR GOALIE BEING ABUSED LAST NIGHT, WITHOUT ANY RETRIBUTION, MAY HAVE BEEN MY LAST STRAW WITH THIS TEAM. WHAT A BUNCH OF “GUTLESS PUKES”
Trying to remember why the Isles claimed Nabokov in the first place. Three “healthy” goalies on an NHL roster is a joke. Par for the course for the Islanders I guess.
I really tried to give Snow and Wang the benefit of the doubt over the years, but I firmly believe they are collectively clueless on how to run an NHL team. With Mr. Wang’s successful business history, one would think he would hire top-shelf management to run his organization. Instead, he sticks with a blow hard like “Mad Mike” way to long, and replaces him with a second string goalie with absolutely no NHL management experience.
I have been a fan since 1974. I bought my first seasons tickets in 1975. I have purchased tickets to well over 1,200 games over the years. I will not spend another cent on this organization until Mr. Wang stops meddling with on ice operations, hires a professional staff, and spends the money needed to put an NHL team on the ice. I just cannot watch a team anymore littered with undersized, passive, slow footed, over-the hill try out players. Even the only beat reporter who follows the team is a joke now.
Thank goodness for Islanders Point Blank.
-
Corey says: 1. They had 5 or 6 hurt goalies and all of a sudden a good goalie came around for free. Thats why we got him. If he showed up last year he woulndt be here this year
2. Why risk negateing a power play after a goalie interference penalty. Yeah you still need to protect your goalie, but if you have a power play make them hurt on the scoreboard.
-
1. Snow should have known this guy would be a no show. Him not reporting was another addition to a long list of embarrassments.
2. Risk a power play for goalie interference? Were you watching the same game as me. Montoya was man handled several times. What fan would have cared if someone came in to protect the goalie and lost a power play? The long term effects of the gutlessness displayed last night were catastrophic in my mind as a fan. The Pitt game last year is now a non event based on the continued cowardly play of this organization.
-
-
-
fmcisles says:
I’m not sure that Snow is competent enough to get a bidding war going for Nabakov. It seems to reason that the closer we get to the trade deadline, the better the offers should be. We need a player back not another pick. To the person who wants to trade Poulin, you don’t trade your #1 goalie prospect. Ricky will get hurt again and eventually be bought out and Wang will give him an executive position with the club.
-
2015? who cares? says:
islesrock73, I’ve been a fan as long as you have and seeing what this team has become over the years is too much to take. Last nights game was the last straw. I feel like the fans are being played for suckers. Management continues to give us an inferior product and expects us to accept it. I’m tired of rooting for the laughing stock of this league and will no longer waste my MONEY on anymore home games and I will no longer waste my TIME watching on tv. . Whats the point? I’m DONE
-
Danfromouteast says:
I second that. Instead of watching the Islanders suck I just go to versus and watch some good hockey. It’s not that I’m giving up it’s more the Islanders gave up a long time ago. There is one thing I hate more than losing is plying soft. These Islanders lines should be figure skating not playing hockey. Man are they really this wimpy. Not you Martin!
-
-
tim ward says:
As an Isles fan for 40 years, I somehow remain hopeful but know in my heart that nothing will ever change. Too soft, can’t hold a lead. As soon as Colorado scored I knew Isles would lose.
-
Larry S. says:
As I said before I’ve come to the conclusion this team is the ice version of the NY Mets. Stopped watching or caring about them years ago and have decided to do the same with the Isles. Hope #91 hooks up with a better organization down the road as I see him as a real star of the league.
-
IslesFan says:
This article almost suggests that the problem with the Islanders is that they have too many goaltenders and its causing a distraction. Let’s be serious. The Islanders have a ton of problems and trading away Nabokov is not going to make a significant difference. That being said, I said all along that he does not want to be here and it does not help the team to keep someone who does not want to be here. If I were Snow, I would see if Detroit still wants him.
-
Paul says:
I do not blame him one bit for not wanting to be here. He sees the writing on the wall, just like LaFontaine. Kevin why are you acting like this team has direction or a future as a contender. With Wang/Snow they do not. Besides DP is the one who needs to go.
-
jeff says:
Trade Nabby to any team that will take Okposo’s contract off the Isles hands.
-
DPS says:
PLEASE SELL WANG
-
Dan C. says:
If the Isles were serious about maximizing Nabokov’s value, they would have assigned DP to Bridgeport after his concussion on a conditioning stint and then played Nabokov along with Montoya, going with the hot hand. Then, when Nabokov gets on a roll, then they could have traded him for something tangible. Now they will probably just blink and give him away for next-to-nothing, just like they did with Roloson last year.
-
IslanderFAN says:
Theres still some people calling DP redlight Rick…thats beyond lame!..in my book those are idiots fans plain and simple!.
I love Poulin i think he’s the future goalie but right now he’s not having a good season i just checked is stats…not very good at the moment
-
Sidd Finch says:
I swear most of the posters don’t have a full understanding of the system or a real grip on reality. First of all, we have at least 2 goalies in development in BP and I am not quite sure whether Koskinen or Nilsson are in the ECHL. DP would just cause another logjam down their. The Wings no longer have a need for Nabby, but the Leafs and BJ actually do. And as for Snow being incompetent when it comes to making trades, I laugh at that comment. Since he has been here, I have not seen Snow give away anymore than he got in return. Nabby has to be playing well to have value. At this point, a desperate team would probably take a shot at him. Second, with his NHL tenure, he likely has a no trade clause, so that likely removes some of Garth’s latitude, ie he ain’t going to Columbus. Clearly, Nabby is more liekly to want to go to a winner, or even a western team, say Phoenix. Can’t see Mike Smith staying hot for long out there. Ottawa is a crap shoot although Tampa could use some (more?) veteran stability in net. I still think Garth has the upper hand here for a deal as future starters like Rask, Greiss, Holtby and Schneider are not likely to be dealt.
-
Yeah, by all means don’t cause a goalie logjam in Bridgeport! Keep the mess where it belongs: at the highest level! Because you have such a firm grip on reality and a complete understanding of the system, why would you be more concerned about the AHL affiliate’s depth chart than the big club’s? Does the rubber ever meet the road with this team? Or is it always about the prospects and the year after next?
-
Sidd,
I am not completely convinced that the Wings don’t still want Nabokov. Although they signed Ty Conklin in the offseason, I don’t think he is playing all that well for them. On the other hand, Jimmy Howard is doing great as he just picked up his third shutout of the season.
-
-
Furthermore, I recently moved off LI, but I cannot understand why I did not here word one about the biggest problem the Isles have faced during Wang’s ownership, Kate Murray and the GOP from the TOH. No support for a change in town leadership, nothing. Just let cronyism on LI run rampant. Maybe they can just expand Eisenhower Park over onto the Coliseum site. That will do wonders for the future tax base of LI. I was sad to go in many ways, but when I look back at the problems that are coming, I probably made the right move.
-
Danfromouteast says:
Hey you arent getting much for nabby so package reasoner and nabby to the senators for konopka and a draft pick. This move would bring back some life to the locker room and the ice. All the fans that knocked Zenon. Since he’s been gone the Islanders turned into a cowardly low energy team.Energy is contagious and can get the team going. the fourth line now is useless and a waste. Do that trade and bring up gillies ok he cant skate like grbner but he is another high energy guy and then haley there is your 4th line. Maybe package a nice young group with one two three of the following in okposo and bailey maybe comeau although when he does get going he does score so maybe keep him as an extra foward. So maybe okposo and bailey and rolston for a big dman. Release pandolfo and with this this frees up room for nino, benedetto, cizikas, ullstrom
-
jdun89 says:
Yes clearly all of our problems will be solved with the return of Zenon Konopka. Its not like he was a member of the team when they were busy losing 20 of 21 games last season or anything.
-
-
Danfromouteast says:
The way they act you would think Snow and wang watch the games together hitting the bong and eating devil dogs. are they really this stubborn or just plain stupid. Next year they’re going to have to give away free cars to season ticket holders
-
moonshine says:
it may well be that the islanders need to move nabokov, but this blog post puts it in a way that doesn’t make sense to me.
trades aren’t made because otherwise ‘the media is left to write blog posts like this one.’ that sounds a little too self-important.
the islanders do not have ‘a wealth of goaltenders.’ the best hope is poulin whose knee gave out right in front of my eyes during warmups at nvmc last year. it wasn’t his first knee blowout and it puts a huge ‘?’ on his future.
montoya is horrible. i’m tired of hearing that ‘he faced 51 shots.’ he creates half of those by himself because all they have to do is lob one at his belly and there’s a soft rebound right in front. that’s without mentioning the one that goes right through him. montoya doesn’t seem to understand how a catching glove is supposed to work. and from there, the next move he makes is to go flat on his back. anyone who thinks he’s a viable nhl starting goalie imo shouldn’t be giving advice. montoya mania imo is the nuttiest think on pb.
the three-goalie mess ‘has not been an issue on the ice,’ so what exactly are we talking about? i mean, with all the problems this team has, a fuss about the three goalies right now comes in at about number twenty-two.
sorry if i didn’t say what i really meant…
-
Steve says:
I don’t know on the one hand getting rid of Nabokov is completely logical but it just wouldn’t feel like the Isles if there wasn’t an unnecessary distraction around.
-
Ct 74 says:
After the hype comes the truth and Wang/Snow combo either have no clue, or are stringing Islander fans along, probably both. After having season tickets for 37 years I’m fed up with the lack of real progress. Does Chas Wang understand he bought professional team that has physical play as part of the game? Without it no team has a chance. If the game isn’t suitable to MR Wang’s psyche he ought to sell the team. I hope it stays here, if not at least a balanced team would give players such as Tavares a chance at being the super star he could become. The current puppeteer pulls the wrong strings and the rest of the puppets jump up and down and shout how high. Fans, short term or long term deserve far better than this. IF Mr Wang is trying to wait out the town or the other way around, it is the players and the fans that are being hurt. Stop the hurt,take the proper steps or sell the team.
-
Thank you Ct 74. There is nothing worse than watching your team being intimidated year after year. You are spot on about the lack of physical play component that seems to be a directive by Wang. I can handle a long term rebuild, if we had a team with a swagger, an identity like Billy Jaffe said. How many times do we have to watch JT being mugged in a corner while flat on his back? Our goalies being run over? Just having an enforcer is not enough- we don’t even have that now. We need defensemen and forwards with size and snarl. Instead, we get smurfs, and the few guys with size intimidate know one . One young guy who fits the bill, Mat Martin, does not cut it.
-
-
The New Isles GM says:
Our spot in the standings is not a reflection on the team. Our place in the standings is a reflection on management. Wang and Snow had a great idea to rebuild at the right time. We’ve collected some decent prospects that are continueing to grow at the OHL, College and AHL level. However, one of the key points in their mission statement was to “sprinkle in the right free agents”. That’s where we failed with this rebuild. I’m sure Nabokov will be traded sooner rather than later. I’m also positive Comeau will be gone and if Bailey continues to struggle, count him in too. Billy Jaffe said this team needs an identity. Well time to start making moves to give orange and blue some identity. Or else, we’ll be focusing on the top 5 draft picks for 2012 by Christmas.
-
Kaszycki's Krew says:
Goodnight Rickey. Goodnight Evigny. Let Cubano run for a bit and fill the back up role from within the organization. If the AHL goalies can clear waivers easily and often (I dont’ know the rule) then let’s see a situation where we can get enough games for at least 4 goalies in our organization.
Let Rickey open a Fedora shop on the concourse….and become goalie coach.
I am a fan from 1973 as well – have owned season tickets for about 20 of those years – so I am emotionally and financially vested with this team. I would think that if you wanted to see a lot of lapsed Isles fans come back – besides negotiating a new lease – dumping DiPietro would be item 2 in bringing these people back. It would signify a washing of the hands of failures of the past -and tangibly demonstrate a “moving forward’ attitude – and turn the nets over to goalies who can stop a beach ball.
KAZ KREW
-
To be clear – after re-reading the post – I was inferring that we can give AHL games to 3 goalies and rotate them (Koskinen if still here ,Poulin and Nilsson) into a backup role on LI – with an occasional NHL game in there too. A situation where they get at least 25 games started each. You get my drift…..my math may be off a bit – but each night – we have a guy starting an NHL and AHL game – with Cubano getting the most NHL starts.
-
Ct74,
I think Wang is waiting the county and town out. He needs the development rights to the property around the NVMC so that the team can make more money and he needs a new arena. I think that he knows it hurts the fans, but I think he is hoping the fans take it out on the county and town. Unfortunately, the fans are taking it out on him. I think that if he sells the team, the team will move, because no one would want the arena/lease issue.
-
Bob E says:
Montoya was top 3 in league in Stats to start season and got bench. Please name another team in league that benches a hot goalie?
3 to 4 games were lost on coaching decesions by Capuano. Mottau should not be in the NHL. Pandolfo who was playing well is starting to tire out. Reasoner needs a bench to realize that he didnt come here just hang out.
KO and Comeau need a coach that can instill some confidence in them.
-
Al says:
Nabby needs to play the majority of games for now, hopefully get hot and that will give us a better chance of getting someone decent in return. Let the other two rotate in BP.
A trade has to be made though to shake things up. Spiraling out of control as usual.
Very tired of this… -
Battfist says:
Kevin- I agree.
However the biggest problems with this team as of today (and the last few weeks) is not who is in net. With that said, youre right a move needs to be made. This team doesnt need any more distractions. I wouldnt mind any 2 of the 3 goalies we have on the roster being “our” goalies. But we all know DP is staying. Nabby is the odd-man out. With a crowded crease on the AHL team too, moving Nabby is a must.I believe with the amount games (8) the Isles play over the next two weeks will determine how this plays out. (injury, someone gets hot, or a trade finally happens).
Im not giving up on this team this year. They havent played their best hockey yet. Hopefully the Isles can add a phyiscal presence on the blueline with a trade of Nabby.
-
Kevin,
You are way off. The near future is one of the 3 goalies in Bridgeport becoming an NHLer. Nabby is gone after this season. Montoya is younger, cheap and may be a better chip to trade. -
Being an intense Islander fan and starting the season intensely optimistic, after watching the games YTD here are some reality observations:
The vets brought in to steady the ship have been worthless, the ship is as bad as last November
If A-Mac is still hurt he needs to sit otherwise he has regressed and is playing horrible, which is impacting Hammonic who’s confidence has been compromised because his partner has been really bad.
Nielson is not top 6, he is not that good of playmaker – sorry.
Bailey is a lot better than he has shown. After his goal (and confidence boost) all of a sudden the true talent started to leak…the guy has it – therefore
the coach is unable to get this team to win, hold a lead etc…
The defensive zone coverage has been horrific – again coaching -
isleopine says:
dzruggie
Defensive zone coverage is horrible because we got slow dmen like mottau and eaton unable to catch up to opposing forwards. AMac has clearly been worse this year but I would not call his play horrible. Nielsen is noy a hood a playmaker as PA buy I think he has shown some encoutaging signs and will be fine.
Our clear issues are in order of priority:Slow not physical dmen
LAck of scoring from key forwards (KO Bailey Comeau)
Sleepwalking vets – Reasoner, Pandolfo, Rolston (who hasbeen slightly better lately)
Capuano needs to be able to instill better confidence the guys, and playing a more physical game may do the trick
I know Wang the geek hates fighting, but this team needs Haleys presence -
The Rock says:
They have to move 1 goalie, I play Ice Hockey. It might be a in a D1 mens League but it’s still hockey. We have our goalie, there are times of late he has missed a few games. We have 2 other guys on stand bye. Talent wise they are are equal to our regular goalie 1 might even be slightly better. We seem to not play as well when our starter isn’t there. As a team you get comfortable and it’s a confident boost knowing ok this goalie will make that save if we take a chance and it goes 2-1 the other way. Fact is you have to alater your game a bit to a different goalie. Those minor changes effect confidence and the way you would normally play.
-
Daniel says:
Just take a 3rd rounder and let it be done. Since there seems to be a strong consensus that Rick Nash should begin looking for a way out of Colombus, it sure would be amazing (wishful) if we could somehow get Nash. It would obviously requiring us giving up this years 1st, probably next years first, deHann, and Bailey (or 2 other prospects)but this is the kind of deal Snow should be looking to make. We don’t have the necessary tools, let Nakabov be a part of a larger deal. Regardless, he needs to go.
-
Michael from Toronto says:
Snow not only has put three goalies on the Islanders, but also three in Bridgeport (although I think Koiskinen is gone now). What benefit is that serving the team. Goalies need to play not sit and watch. Capuano’s comment basically said, I can’t say, ask the GM. Unfortunately Capuano is a puppet and must do things as he is told.
It was only a few years ago that the Isles had DP,Roloson and Biron. Biron was promised to be moved by the deadline. That did not happen because Garth didn’t get what he wanted. Who knows what that caused in throughout the team.
Same situtaion this year. Team is last in the conference and not getting better anytime soon. NOW is the time to do something before they are too far behind. Trade Nabokov. Trade Comeau or another forward. Bring in Nino. Bring up Wishart and Haley. This team needs some shakeup. They did better with the young guys last year. Time to bring some of those guys back!
-
KOkid21 says:
How about this trade? Nabokov, Bailey, Comeau and Donovan to Columbus for Brassard,Tyutin and 2nd round pick ?
-
RICH L says:
To New isles GM, you wrote that Billy Jaffe said that the Isles need a identity, well Jaffe,is certainly lacking in current Islander reviews, they have a identity, they are known around the rest of the league as gutless pukes, without talent, nor toughness, that is their identity, and they are the laughing stock in all of sport, the NY Islanders that play at Nausea Coliseum,should just fold their tent and go home, if Charlie and Snow won’t, or cant upgrade this “team”, and I cant believe there are still fans who don’t get it, and continue to support the Islanders and Wang, but it is their money, and are entitled to throw it away on broken dreams, and a inept team.
-
cjcb says:
Nystrom and his five goals, hometown hero status would of looked good in an Isles uniform right about now but hey we got a bunch of 35ish nothings instead! yipee!!!
Get anything for Nabby he just might retire again before we get nothing for him! He stinks and adds NOTHING to this team at this time!!!
-
Let me just add i think Nystrom would have added more heart than 95% of this team does on a night in night out basis!!
-
hoser14 says:
How about sending Red Light Ricky to Finland?
Too bad DPs deal makes him untradeable. That said, none of the 3 have played terrible. They have to thin the herd even if DP gets himself hurt again the day after the crazy russian gets traded. Its non productive.