SNY.tv ISLANDERS TALK: BILLY JAFFE
Analyst for MSG, NHL Network, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars
“There’s a lot of good there, but they could use some tweakage.” “They don’t have an identity.” “It wouldn’t hurt to make a call-up or two.” “Let’s get them a little more physical.” “They have to figure this goaltending thing out.” “Part of the downfall of hype is that (other teams) are reading about them.” This and a lot more from The Jaff. Watch and let us know if you agree.
48 Responses to SNY.tv ISLANDERS TALK: BILLY JAFFE
Analyst for MSG, NHL Network, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars
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andrew says:
WHERE HAS HALEY BEEN!
we were outhit last night 29-12 and I’ll bet my A$$ that Martin had 75% of those hits. He leads the LEAGUE in that category but one man wont cut it. They were tired in the third bc they were getting beat up. I’m sorry Jay Pandolfo but you are not a good hockey player anymore. There 4th line would be much better with Haley-Bailey-Martin or bring Martin to the 3rd for Martin-Reasoner-KO and Haley-Bailey-Comeau -
Haley has been playing horribly in BP, wasn’t even a name anyone knew until that fateful night with Pitts. Wishart is the single greatest disappointment on D, yet, he seems to be responsibility free from fans. Mottau is a number 8 D, belongs in minors. Eaton a 6 or 7 D, but thanks to Wishart under-performing, old stop-gap vets have had to fill in more than expected. If it were as simple as arm-chair fans with zero experience coaching and managing a pro-team think, it would have been done. Fact is, BP has three rookie D who all need time on the farm (DeHaan, Ness and Donovan)…Add career minor-leaguer Reese and the ever underachiever Wishart and you have BP top 5 D. I follow BP, and honestly, outside of dropping the gloves, anyone who thinks Haley will be an improvement over Pandolfo is fooling themselves. You’ll have more penalties and less players who can kill said penalties. Nino will probably take 2 to 3 years, like many a power forwards before him, to get it right. I’d trade Comeau though as soon as something of value could be returned. This team was always a 500. team in 2011-12, though I understand the marketing need to promote it as a “playoff bubble.” They are at least one, maybe two years away from being a playoff team. My greatest fear is the team will give in and have another Milbury brain cramp, liquidate the top prospects to buy a few years in playoffs, followed by first round exists and back to painfully rebuilding again in 3 years.
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Dan C. says:
How have de Haan and Niederreiter looked in Bridgeport?
Do they look at all like NHL players? I have a bad feeling about both of them, especially de Haan.
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John says:
isleopine – Because if you let them go, Wishart, Reese and Haley’s salaries do not equal Mottau, Eaton and Pandalfo’s and the Isles will be under the cap. They’re going to need to trade for some salary help. They can’t just call up guys who make 100K and waive people who make over $1Million.
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Jaffe, always the voice of reason….god I miss him! This is just a reminder of the horrible decisions this organization makes regarding this team and alienating anyone who is fair, knowledgeable, and adds instant respectability by the hockey world ( Jaffe and Botta)! This Islander team is the product of dysfunctional parenting, from the owner, G.M., and coaches. All would have been fired from any other organization of any kind for so ferociously under performing! It does not have to be this way, we do have some really good young talent, but they are being physically and emotionally abused. As a psychotherapist, I would like to offer them free counseling…before they totally destroy my own well being by being so devoted to them!
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Scott says:
What your not getting is the proof is in the pudding…the team as a whole…responded to a physical style of hockey last year. When players like konopka, haily, and gillies got things going and showed you can’t push us around. It brought up the players games on other lines. They are clearly missing that!!! I’m not saying it’s the whole answer, but how can you argue it’s not worth a shot.
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Paulunde says:
Erika, you totally nailed it regarding Jaffe & Botta!
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Danfromouteast says: Erika you can retire after this season giving all of us depressed angry frustrated fans some therapy. LOL
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Real hockey fan says:
.. Jaffe with some spot on commentary!! A+
.. Some you Guys are your REALLY missing the point and thats Haley will *spark* the team and fanbase and building with being in the lineup. Its not just about dropping the gloves its about having a ‘physical presence’ on the ice. This team is like ZOMBIES, 90% of the team could skate with eggs in there pocket and not crack em, sad but true!
.. There are intangibles that the team, fans and building can see when players are on ice and playing hard.. Its not a damn rotisserie or fantasy league! you need all types of players to make a team!
.. A
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isleopine says:
John
Pandolfo makes 800K
Mottau makes 800kHaley is at 550K
Wishart is at 803K
Reese is at 635KSo this is a wash for cap floor purposes.
The only point you make that I will grant you is Eaton at 2.5M
Still I think they can do something with that not to have him give on pucks becasue he simply no longer has the step.
Agree with real hockey fan – Haley is a sparkplug besides the fisticuffs and he also is a much better skater than Gillies. He will clearly bring some electricity to the old barn when Avery and the Rags come a knockin’ next Tuesday.
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Anthony says:
I really miss Jaffe!!As far as Haley goes,I don’t care about his plus minus at BP he brings energy and protection,we saw that last yr.This team needs that in the worst way.When will they realize this,when JT gets run and is out with a major injury or when we are down to our last goalie because they are constantly being run over.We have to see the big picture.He is a big improvement over Pandolfo who only kills penalties and is old and slow.Correct me if i am wrong.He took a penalty that led to a two man advantage,which they were scored on and changed the game and was on the ice to kill the penalty which was scored on to win the game.He stinks that’s why he wasn’t even in the NHL last yr.Jaffe,Botta,Versus announcers and all of us see this.How does Snow not do anything about it?Joke!!!!
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Danfromouteast says:
Snow and Wang represent the way the islanders play = with no BALLS!
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slsangus says: I think it would be instructive to look back exactly 20 years. Fall 1991 – the Isles were headed for another lost season, having won a grand total of 2 playoff series (vs. Wash in ’85 and ’87) since losing the Cup final in 1984. They had 1 genuine top quality player (LaFontaine) and 1 dynasty holdover (B. Sutter). Bill Torrey traded both and brought back 4 core players of the 1993 team – Hogue, Thomas, Turgeon, and Krupp. The 91-92 team made significant improvement over 90-91 and were in the playoff hunt until just before the season ended. In the summer of 1992, they added Kasparaitis and Malakhov, and we all know what happened the following spring. Of course, Maloney promptly dismantled that group and we know what has happened since.
If this thing doesn’t improve within a few weeks, the time will have come to make a similar move to the Lafontaine/Sutter trades. Grit the teeth and take 2 or 3 genuinely valuable assets that you might not want to trade if things were going well, and remake a good part of the team. Who the trade partners will be is a function of how everyone else is doing… but Columbus is in dead last with Rick Nash. How much worse would they be without him? How much better would the Isles be with him?
Just sayin’
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No thanks to any Milbury trades. I’d rather wait a final year or two on a rebuild then watch Hamonic, Strome or Tavares in the cup finals on another team ala Chara and Luongo. Selling the youth for a few quick playoff exits yet again will surely lead to the team eventually leaving the Island. I liked what Haley did too, but the god complex some seem to assign to him needs to be looked at under more sober scrutiny. If it is just energy, a spark, you call up Dibo who always stirs it up and has earned it. You want someone to drop the gloves, you get a guy on the cheap who doesn’t hurt you defensively. Haley has been awful, just plain awful in BP…we had Gillies on the bench, didn’t help the offense or defense b/c he can’t play. Haley will cost us on D and the penalty kill…Haley will cost us more goals against. He isn’t going to help the D or the offense, but can fight. Haley is not the answer. I can’t for the life of me figure out why some fans wishfully ignore the fact he is playing terrible hockey, and somehow look at such a small sample size from last year thinking that is the real Haley. Comeau also played much better last year, but is sucking it now…Haley is easily one of BP’s worst forwards, tied for team lead with the worst plus minus @ -7. By contrast, Cizikas is a plus +5 with far better offensive numbers…
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Paul says:
Making one or two trades is not gutting the system. You keep waiting for these kids to become contenders with out quality vet support. It will NOT happen. It is all a fantasy.
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Danfromouteast says:
Agreed they have enough youth were a trade or two of some young guys that if not now may lose their value will not hurt the youth movement. Besides the Islanders are only in their 17th season of the rebuilding program
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Look at the big picture.We need someone who can drop the gloves and protect our players.If we don’t JT will be hurt soon and we will have no team at all.Are goalies will continue to be run over.Martin who we all love cant be in the penalty box for 17 min a period and take on everyone.If its not Haley or Gillies who will it be?Garth will not go get a tough guy when he has them in the system and needs to worry about getting a dman.How is Haley going to hurt our pk,I am sure there is someone on this team who can take the spot on the pk for a washed up Pandolfo.We are not asking Haley to play 15 min a game where he will hurt us.We need someone out there to keep other teams honest.Other teams know we are soft and out hit us every game and wear us down.The last I looked everyone is a minus on this team.So how can he hurt us.Most tough guys are a liability but i would take that risk over losing JT.
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Bill A says:
The same old story year after year. Begin a 6 week losing streak from end Oct to beg Dec. Then when the Isles are out of it, they will come together and start playing. Comeau will begin his scoring to another 20 goal season, and everyone will start speaking positive about next season.
THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH! You can bring in all the coaches you want, but until Snow and Wang realize they have a minor league talent on the ice, this will never stop. I don’t give a crap about the chemistry and how everyone is on the same page. All of that still gets us last place and a top 5 draft pick.
Each player needs to look in the mirror and account for his actions or lack of action. The game is simple….put the little black thing in your opponent’s net and stop that little black thing from getting in your own net.
I AM TIRED OF ALL THE EXCUSES!
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Exactly, the same fans are already penciling in Strome, Nino, etc like they are sure things. Just what they said about Bailey, and KO. They never learn.
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Danfromouteast says:
Funny the Devils and Maple Leafs for an example of two teams that sucked last year are doing better this year and the Devs with a new coach. This is an indication of how the front office to the coaching staff have been doing just as poorly as the players.
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Wes says:
Guys it’s time to get together and stop going to games. This team is actually worse this year. If everyone stops buying tickets & only 3000 fans show up to games, then maybe Snow/Wang will get the message & make some moves!
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justin says:
Dibo is just another guy who needs protecting.
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Brian G says:
Jaffe is the man, I wish he was still on the Isles broadcast. We have “the homer” Butch Goring instead. Wow. Can the Isles Management & Owner do anything right? I am losing hope….
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Wes
It is unfortunate but I think you are right -
Onesinceforty says:
Please fix so we can watch on the IPhone.
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Kevin Schultz says: onesinceforty, the sny techies are currently looking for a solution. For right now, please see the bottom of this post for a roundabout way to watch the videos on iphone: http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2011/11/game-day-islanders-at-avalancelate-night-battle-of-the-so-so-starts/
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Kevin,
How about some video of Snow’s reactions during these games.? Is there any emotion, any sense of urgency, does he even care?-
Kevin Schultz says:
That would be interesting. Unfortunately that’s probably best left for the folks at MSG on the broadcasts.
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Dave G says:
Maybe if Nassau Residents voted for the $1 per week tax increase or if Hempstead Residents voted Murray out the Islanders could afford a NHL quality arena and be able to afford and lure top quality players. Let’s not Wang started 10 years ago offering to pay for the entire project and has been losing $25 million a year ever since. What else would you like the man to do?
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NoManIsAnIslander says:
Wang’s losing 25M a year? What?! So you’ve seen the books?
Stop repeating Wang propoganda – the BUSINESS loses money, NOT WANG! (and NO ONE knows just how much because that fine upstanding businessman (see: Computer Associates) runs the NY Islander Organization like an organized crime syndicate)
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Danfromouteast says:
umm what i might want wang to do is ummm….. put a better effort in putting a team that can play together!!!!!! then maybe he can worry about a new place to play. I wouldnt want this joke of a team playing street hockey on my block!
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PotvinRocks says:
Some good stuff from Jaffe here, but the reason Kyle only has 24 shots on goal because he is completely missing from the fore-check. You never notice him. I don’t know if it is the system or if he is thinking too much but he is an orange cone that defenseman step around.
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Winning says:
Guest speakers allways try n plsy nice so they have future employment in the old boys club (nhl). What you guys should really do is get 3 islander fans like myself the dont drink cool aid, that knows what a Nhl roster looks like, and knows what nepotism (dipietro), cheapness, stuborness, are, put us on your tv program and the truth will get spoken from people who dont need Nhl owners to make a living.
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Blizzard says: Preach on brotha!!!! I would like an interview. Tell it like it is.
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Winning, you’re right…
But the root of the problem lies with Wang.
Wang’s an alleged dirty double-dealing white-collar criminal (again, just go Google “Computer Associates” and read what Securities fraud investigators had to say about him) who only bought the Team as leverage for an inside real estate development scheme, and when that collapsed (no honor amongst thieves, after all) he moved to Plan B: gut the organization, gut the scouting staff, gut player development, engage in accounting tricks to reach the Cap Floor (in reality, team is significantly UNDER the mandated floor), stockpile high draft picks, alienate the loyal fan base, and lay the ground work for sale of the team to the highest bidder, ie: Canadian interests.
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everything you said is 100 per cent correct. also to add a final blow to hurt the fans as much as possible, dont forget the 3rd. jersey clown suits, the ugliest garbage wang could come up with to destroy the last piece of legacy this franchise once had. wang took the greatest nhl franchise ever, and turned them in to the biggest laughing stock ever. wang thought mad mike did a terrific job and he still would be the gm if mad mike didnt leave himself. that alone, says it all.
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gdmike says:
I don’t see why the isles couldn’t have landed some role player free agents that were younger such as Kris Versteeg. Would have been a nice 2nd or 3rd line guy with leadership and scoring ability. Fleischmann could have been another one. These guys are playing over there heads right now, but nevertheless very solid players that are YOUNG.
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Wang’s business loses the money not Wang? Where did you learn business? That’s like saying GM and Wall St didn’t lose money so they didn’t need to be bailed out. Sooner or later the money runs out. Wang came in and offered to pay for the whole lighthouse project. Remember that? Wang traded for Ryan Smythe but he wouldn’t stay. Remember that? Remember Spano, LI Sports Mgmt (just positioning to buy the Redskins), Don Maloney? Check with NHL records and check how much $ the Isles are losing. Before you accuse me of falling for propoganda you should get yourself an education.
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No one forced him to buy the team. Is it your money? No it is not, I really do not care what he has to spend to fix this team.
BTW, R Smyth was smart enough to see what a joke this team is. Just like when all those others bolted when Snow took over.
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Paul, not my money? Really? Its the $ of EVERY FAN that pays for tickets, which I’ve been doing since ’78.
BTW, Smythe was offered MUCH more $ by Wang to stay for the Isles to build around. He turned it down because he wanted to stay in the West and went to Colorado because they were already a Cup caliber team.
Do you people read the list of players that turn down offers from Isles quoted as saying they love they area but hate the ARENA. Am I texting with 12 year olds here?
Maybe you’re waiting for Bettkan’s boy Spano to get out of jail and come back.
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Ever heard of an operating loss? Or a business running in the red? Or no after tax profit? Or corporations paying no income taxes? Or Enron and off-book accounting?
Have you ever read about Wang and Computer Associates ACCOUNTING FRAUD?!
Go take another propoganda class at Wang U
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For all the Wang apologists:
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Jerky says:
Every Islander fan should read this article. I have no doubt Charles Wang was complicit in the fraud at CA from the beginning (I spent many years in forensic accounting and worked on several well known fraud/bankrutpcy cases). Based on the decisions made by this franchise since Wang purchased the team, and what we’ve all read and heard from former employees and alumni, it’s clear Wang runs the Islanders the same way he ran CA. Just because he wasn’t convicted in the CA fraud investigation does not mean he was innocent. It’s only a matter of time before he is under investigation again for another matter. He claims to put a quality product on the ice but his actions prove the opposite is true. He’s all about manipulation and deceit … he does not practice what he preaches. It’s all about greed. I never wanted to believe that was true but I see no other reasonable explanation after all these years.
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Danfromouteast says:
I’ll tell you that I didn’t even bother watching the game I watched other games and I felt better not as angry. So IK come to the conclusion that I love hockey way to much to have my favorite team destroy my love of the game year in and year out so until the higher ups do something to show they csre I will not be watching them. I’d rsther enjoy watching hockey the way it should be played, coached and managed. Thank you versus and hockey channel for giving me this chance.
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Danfromouteast says:
Alot of us fans arent giving up the Islanders already did that for us. As much as we all used to say “1940″ at least the Rangers always made an attempt to improve the team. I hated saying that
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GilliesC says:
so, trevor, the logic you use for Haley means KO should be cut
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JT says:
Nice job by Botts and The Jaffe. Love these segments. Keep ‘em coming.
Jaffe provides some good and welcome thoughts, not least of all because they are consistent with what most of us have been saying. If Snow is incompetent at making trades, then at least what we should expect is for him to bring up a couple of guys from the Bridge that will certainly not be any worse than what we are witnessing.
Eaton, Mottau out – Wishart, Reese in.
Pandolfo out, Haley in.
When Nino is finally here, sit Comeau or KO as needed.
How difficult is this??????????