If the 2006 portion of the Islanders’ 2006-07 schedule proved anything, it’s that new coach Ted Nolan didn’t lose his touch for motivating people or recognizing how to use the talent at his disposal during his nine seasons away from the NHL. No matter what else happens this season, Nolan’s presence alone should give Islanders fans reason for hope in the future.
But now that the Isles have far exceeded the low preseason expectations for them, it’s the present that matters most. New Years Day is a turning point on the NHL calendar, and the Islanders came out of it on a three-game losing streak in which they scored only one goal and dropped out of playoff position.
However, this three-game losing streak feels a lot different than the one that began the season. Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro played very well in all three games, and while it’s disappointing they aren’t in better position in the standings, the Isles have shown the ability to compete with the top teams in the NHL.
But maybe that’s the truth to be derived from this recent slump. As good as the Isles have been, they’re going to need to be better and more consistent to remain in the playoff hunt in a conference with tremendous depth and talent from top to bottom.
Winger Miroslav Satan, who played briefly for Nolan when he won coach of the year honors in Buffalo during the 1996-97 season, claimed he’s not surprised by the Islanders’ success, but he did express a sense of relief that the Nolan era has started so well.
“I’m glad,” Satan said. “Everybody within this organization always knew we had the potential with a few changes over the summer and with Teddy coming in and putting the puzzle together. It’s definitely a better feeling for all of us to see we’ve had quite a good result, and we want to improve it before the end of the season.
“We feel we definitely can beat anybody. The last couple games, we didn’t score goals, but most of the games, we feel we always have a chance.”
Although Nolan hoped to fashion a fast-break offense similar to Buffalo’s, he quickly adjusted to the personnel and became more defense-oriented. Now, the Isles rank 10th in goals-against average and fourth in save percentage.
Clearly, they need to improve their playmaking on the league’s 23rd-ranked power play, and they desperately need more scoring punch that general manager Garth Snow said he would seek after clearing more than $5 million of salary-cap space. Nolan was non-committal when asked recently if he would like to see Snow pull the trigger on a deal sooner rather than later.
“We’ll talk behind closed doors, but my No. 1 focus has always been working with the players I’ve got right here,” Nolan said. “Make them the best they can be. If we do something, that would be good to make us better. If not, we’ve got what we feel is good enough right now. We’ve played every team in the league tough, and I don’t see that changing.”
Following Tuesday’s home game against Philadelphia, the Islanders play 12 of their next 17 games on the road. Over the next two months, the Flyers and Tampa Bay are the only teams the Islanders play that currently have losing records, and the Lightning is just one game under .500. So, it’s a tough row for the Islanders to hoe, but Nolan has his players believing they can play with anyone in the NHL.
“Trying to build a unit has been our No. 1 focus since we went to Yarmouth,” Nolan said. “Are we ahead of schedule? I’m not too sure if we’re ahead, but we’re right on schedule. These guys are genuinely starting to care for one another. They’re playing for one another. They seem united. So, that aspect is good, and now, you throw in systems and they’re starting to buy into that and they’re playing for one another, which is a great sign for any team.”
Right up until their recent goal-scoring funk, the Islanders have looked a like a dangerous team that could cause trouble for any playoff opponent in the Eastern Conference short of Buffalo and maybe Montreal. “I’m a strong believer in anything can happen,” Nolan said. “I’m a strong believer in ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they believe and work.
“Believing is one thing, but when you work and you have a passion and a commitment, strange things can happen. I believe anybody can beat anybody on a given night, and if you put a string together and it becomes routine and systematic and your approach stays the same on a continuous basis, strange things can happen. These guys believe we can beat anybody on any given night anywhere we play them, whether it’s here or on the road.”
Comments (30)
“I’m glad,” Satan said. “Everybody within this organization always knew we had the potential with a few changes over the summer and with Teddy coming in and putting the puzzle together."
No thanks to Satan. I am not sure anyone on the Islanders has played as far below expectations as Satan. $4.25 million for a guy with 6 or 7 non-empty net goals. Sheesh!!! The player most upset by the trade of York is Satan, not because York's loss will hurt Satan or the team's production, but because now Satan is the most underachieving player on the team.
Question for Greg Logan:
Is there any truth the the rumor that Fred Meyer is ready to play but if the Islanders can keep his games played down, the 3rd round pick goes up to a 2nd round pick in 2008, so that is why they are keeping him out?
Fourcups, I know you want greg to answer however; If the Isles dont use the 3rd round pick this year in 2008 it becomes a 2nd round pick. Meyers games played does not have to do with the pick.
Can we score some freaking goals please? That loss to Philly last night was awful...awful.
That said, I'm encouraged that DiPietro has played extremely well, it's a shame to only come out of it 2-3.
Nolan should bench the alleged offense. To wake up 58 minutes into a game is disgusting. Bring up some youth and wake Satan, Yashin, and Koslov up.
The Phily game was embarassing. Plain and simple.
I was actually feeling good even with the preceding losses. I think we outplayed both Buffalo and NJ (how many posts did we hit in those games!), which says a lot about this team's potential. But to roll over and die against bottom-feeding Philly tempers that enthusiasm, to say the least.
The Philly game was an eye-opener, but not necessarily because of the final score. The club once again offered prime seats for only $19, and less than 11,000 people showed up. You know what this means? The Islanders fan base is in jeoperdy. And once lost, the only logical thing to do for any owner would be to move to a location with a waiting arena (winnepeg?)
Something has to be done about the offense in order to prevent permenant disinterest from taking hold. Got cap room? USE IT!!! NOW - not later. Got young, fast, skilled talent in Bridgeport? BRING THEM UP!!! NOW - not later. If these things aren't done soon, no one will be around to see what happens when they are.
Cincy, I couldn't say it any better. We need to act NOW because offloading York and Z should have been done in one bigger trade for that one forward sniper we need. Yes, we might have to include a young prospect to get the right fit. The time is ticking before all the hoopla about a playoff year vanishes
Thanks Mikemustgo. I had thought that, but then saw a story in Newsday that said, "As part of the trade, the Islanders received a conditional third-round draft pick in 2007. Depending on the number of games Meyer plays, it could become a second-round pick in 2008." (Dec 31, 2006 story "Martinek sidelined with broken bone in his foot")
I guess others saw that as well and started the rumor. I am not sure which is right.
Hey 4cups,
When I was growing up my friend and i used to joke that anything published by Newsday was just a rumor. We thought they were really good at talking about deals that never had a chance of being completed. No offense Greg, we said it about every sport. And in my older wisdom I like putting some trust in Newsday, so maybe the article is correct. Also, the isles need to shake up the lines. Dont make the big trade yet because we will overpay. But maybe call up Nilson, have him play with Satan see what happens. Sorry about the novel. Go 'Ders
scary about the continued lack of attendance, but what do they expect when they restrict the offer to students? most students are young, and the isles track record in the last 15 years is less than exiting. most kids jumped on the ranger bandwagon during the miserable years. they need to extend that offer to us old timers, the core fan base. and the mosoleum has lost its luster and needs replacing. did anyone catch the torrey look alike behind the bench during the philly game, covering his ears in agony while a horrendous sounded blared over the loudspeaker? the entire experience has been way too commercialized, between sparky, the ice girls, the cars honking their horns during pregame, the "get the puck" video, and everything else. and can we PLEASE ditch the after goal celebration song? especially the WOOOO! does anyone actually like this or think its firing anyone up? i cringe every time i hear it. may suggest something along the lines of "bro hymn" by pennywise (the chant) or something everyone can get behind. it just seems as if so much has been done to turn the fans off over the years, that we need to just get back to basics.
philly was a big let down but it seems like every team in the league is going through streaks and slumps. we need to snap out of it quick tho. let's go islanders
I agree with most of the fans here that we should bring some of the young guys up from Bridgeport.
As far as the attendance, I don't have an answer. Hopefully as the season goes on more fans will attend games. It's such a great game when you view it in person.
Bags, you've made some interesting observations.
The student-only deal is probably addressing the exact point you made about young NY hockey fans - they've sided with the blue-shirted blow-hards during the isles embarrassing years. So it's probably targeted correctly as is.
As for the game atmosphere, I must admit that I haven't been to a game since moving from LI to Cincinnati in 1988 (as a HS student, I went to a ton of games during the first 2 seasons - big beers in the top row - as a college freshman I went to a bar to watch the 7th game of the '75 semi-final against philly even tho I had 3 final exams the next morning). But I think the "back to basics" you're talking about is the crowd enthusiasm and electricity that will be there without artificial over-hype once pucks start filling the net. The formula is: offense plus playoff contention equals fan enthusiasm. To that end, the low production offense and .500 record won't cut it. A deal must be made soon and the bridgeport talent must be allowed to reveal itself in uniondale.
AGAIN:
How can the NEW YORK Islanders get a fan base if someone like me who lives in Manhattan CAN'T get to a bloody game??? At least get Charlie W. to start a bus shuttle from the Port Authority to the Coliseum(and lower the bloody ticket prices)...
Ted needs to shake up the defensive pairings too. He should move Campoli so he gets the necessary ice time to kick start the offensive drought. He lead the D in point production last year so use him!!!!!
I tell you, with such disdain among so-called Islander fans, the franchise really would be better off moving or just folding altogether. Fans like the ones who post here dont deserve ANYTHING. They all know better than Snow, Nolan, Milbury and Wang. Its unreal. You people are egotistical A-HOLES who dont deserve ISHT.
Milbury did nothing for the isles in over a decade of work. I look at Wang as the savior of the organization. This franchise was in far more trouble before he purchased it. Your just a pathetic ranger fan looking to cause problems on an islander site. Grow up and get a life. Isle fans derserve the decade milbury wasted. we went from a pretty talented team in the early nineties to the NHL's children for the past 15. That has been changing this year and will continue. Lasting success does not happen in a half season or even full season, it takes time. The isles are on their way
Reason, why don't you head back to the Ranger board, or perhapes you should move to another state and root for another team.
I feel like Islander fans, and fans of all sports teams, just want to feel they have something to believe in. There was a nice buzz around this team for a while and it gave fans something to believe in. However, the past several games brings many back to reality. Other than Blake does this team have anyone that can score on a consistant basis? What ever happened to Hunter? I know he's scored tonight but his rookie season he was a beast. He would plow towards the net and that was when the new rules weren't enforced yet - he SHOULD be able to get to the net with ease OR draw a ton of penalties. He's invisible offensively.
Getting back to a reason to believe. Personally I would rather see guys like Nillson, Comeau, O'Marra, Tamballini and such up her than watch Simon, Randy R and cast. I think fans would get excited about seeing these young players with such upside. Sadly these are the Islanders and they like to trade away good young talent (Bertuzzi, Jokinen, McCabe, etc.) but hold on to trash (Kvasha and numerous others) .....lets bring up the young guys and start the future today
for all of the bloggers that want to talk about youthful defense and the turnaround it will bring answer me this...
how bad did we miss zhinik last night in the beginning of the game? 2 defensive turnovers in our own zone in the first three minutes and we're down 2-0
Zhitnik was a +12 when we got rid of him. that verses Gervais -9.
I like Gervais but why do we always have to rebuild? I understand the Zhitnik deal was for salary dump. There could be no more clear reason for that. I can't see Nolan being on board to lose that type of consistency in their own zone.
Mr. Logan,
I read all your articles and I believe you are writing scared. Today, the focus of your article was on defensive break downs and too little too late. In regards to the defensive breakdowns tha fact of the matter is they happen every game for every team. The only time you write about these breakdowns is when they cost a goal or two. I agree that they are part of what caused goals against last night, but why are you consistently afraid to point out when DiPietro does not have a good game? Last night was one of his worst games all year and not once did you mention how poorly he played.
The bottom line: Call it as you see it. Please do not baby our goalie.
I'm sure glad that we passed on drafting parise and took nilsson instead....
he's not even making an impact on the AHL level....
who cares about his magical every once in awhile goals...
BAD DRAFT DECISION.
I hope Garth learns from Mike's mistakes
"I'm sure glad that we passed on drafting parise and took nilsson instead....
he's not even making an impact on the AHL level...."
Another in the long list of Mike Milbury blunders.
my name says it all. As long as the man is part of the organization we suffer. Though in his limited defense he did draft well. Bertuzzi, Salo, Luongo, McCabe, Redden who was traded for Berard, Palffy, the pick that landed Spezza. I think these guys were all original Isles or traded for when they in the minors. Milbury traded them all away. I credit Kenny Morrow with good scouting, nt milbury with his asinine trades. Mike must still go. This organization will never win with him. ever.
oh yeah, did greg quit or will he be blogging again.
Since our forwards can't collectively produce any offence, why don't we put Campoli with a defensive partner who'll give him the needed ice time to repeat what he did last year??? He's a proven commodity at the NHL level while Gervais won't have 34 points till 6 years from now.
to stumpy 32, that's because this newspaper's beat writer for this team is an islanders puppet. in fact it wouldn't surprise me if he was on the team's payroll. don't you realize that not just him, but anyone affiliated with this organization, it's never the "islanders goalie for life's" fault? no matter who you hear it from after the isles are scored on or lose a game, "ricky the kid" is never blamed. it's never his fault. it's alwasys, "oh you can't blame dipietro on that one" and "dipietro was screened on that goal" and "dipietro was really unlucky on that one." listen to any other broadcast of the islanders or read any other beat writer after a game on this egomaniac of a goalie and they'll give it to you straight about this guy. the bottom line is that he's a mediocre goalie who happened to be a number 1 overall pick and who needs to cool down on the ego until he actually does something in this league. the only reason he stands out in this league is because of three things: 1) he was a #1 pick. 2) he got a ridiculous contract that anyone would be an idiot not to sign. 3) his ego is almost as big as his inflated head. i hope he proves me wrong, but enough of protecting this guy, he's not a kid anymore and there are a ton of young goalies that are tearing it up in this league, yet he's got all this hype and he's never done a single thing in this league. the last i looked he wasn't even in the top-10 in voting in the eastern conference for the all-star game. that just goes to show what fans around the league think of the guy.
Blake-Yashin-Hunter,
Tambellini-Frans Nielsen-Satan,
Aaron Asham-Sillinger-Robert Nilsson
Chris Simon-Richard Park Andy Hilbert
with Randy Robitaille, Shawn Bates, & Kozlov traded.
This of course, would be different if Nok was totally healthy. Would love to have Collotton & Bergy in the line up as well.
If I could make trades this would be my Islander roster:
Blake-Yashin-Hunter
Tambellini-Jordran Staal-Satan
Asham-Sillinger-Nilsson
Simon-Park-Hilbert (or Ben Eager is we can swindle Philly on more time)
Witt Shea Weber
Campolli Mike Komisarik
Poti or Martinek Geravis
DiPietro
Dunham
does anybody have a list of all Millburys trades in his ten dreadfull years ? I think the Loungo trade was one of the worst ever.
Isles should try to deal for Nagy of Phoenix or Stumpel of Florida. They need a playmaker.