When Freddy Meyer IV returned to the Islanders from Phoenix by way of the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate in San Antonio, his smile and sense of humor remained intact despite his professional travails. After being reclaimed by the Isles on waivers, Meyer sat on the bench as an insurance policy for 18 of the next 19 games.
Since he wasn’t playing, Meyer often was the last one off the ice after the morning skates before games. Whenever he entered the locker room, Meyer would wave to any reporters in the vicinity and playfully announce that he was ready for interviews. Who knew the time would come this season when Meyer would make real news?
No one could have predicted Meyer would up playing an important role, but he was prepared when the opportunity presented itself. First, he stepped in as Andy Sutton’s partner and brought a level of consistency to that pairing, and when Brendan Witt was injured, Meyer filled in well on the top defensive pairing before Witt returned.
Nice guys who work hard and accept their role sometimes get rewarded, and that’s what happened to Meyer, who recently received a two-year contract extension worth $1.175 million. “There’s a rags-to-riches story right there,” said Ted Nolan, a coach who appreciates that genre as much as anyone. “It has a lot to do with Freddy himself. He kept a positive attitude and didn’t blame anyone. He just worked through it, and he got rewarded with a two-year deal.”
As usual, Meyer was in a good mood when the Islanders practiced on Wednesday at Boston University’s Agganis Arena in preparation for tonight’s game against the Bruins. Meyer’s picture is on the wall there as one of BU’s All-Americans as well as among the group of Terriers who made it to the NHL. When Islanders radio announcer Chris King asked him if Agganis Arena was “the house that Freddy Meyer built,” Meyer just smiled and said, “That’s about right.”
General manager Garth Snow insisted when he traded Alexei Zhitnik to Philadelphia for Meyer last season that he wasn’t simply dumping salary. He believed in Meyer and backed it up with the new deal.
“It’s obviously extremely gratifying for me to be able to sign for another two years here with the Islanders,” Meyer said. “It was a tough road early in the year. Everyone knows the whole story of being on waivers and having a baby, so, it’s been great to be playing the last month or so with the team and really trying to help out.”
Although Meyer is only 5-10, 192 pounds, Snow once called Meyer a younger version of Sean Hill in terms of the physical edge he was capable of bringing to his game. That came to the fore noticeably when he took Witt’s place defending top lines, especially with his open-ice hit against Ottawa’s Jason Spezza.
“When you’re going against bigger guys, it makes it tough,” Meyer said. “But ever since I remember being able to check, I’ve always enjoyed the physical aspect of the game. In juniors or college, I enjoyed hitting, and I try to do it whenever I can. You’re not going to take yourself out of the play, but when the situation calls for you to step up and hit someone, it’s part of the game and I enjoy doing it.”
As much as Meyer joked in the past about not being in the lineup, it was a tough situation that had to undermine the confidence of a young player with only two full seasons of NHL experience behind him. Yet, he played smart and aggressively rather than taking the tentative approach of a player afraid to make a mistake.
“I think confidence is key for everyone,” Meyer said. “That was the toughest part when you’re not playing and you’re getting bounced around. When I got in the lineup, I kind of looked at it like I didn’t have much to lose. I wasn’t playing, and I had to take every opportunity and make the most of it. As you play more and more, your confidence increases, and that helps with your performance.”
COMING IN NEWSDAY: Please look for Islanders Insider to appear in this cyberspace by noon Friday in addition to the game story in tomorrow’s newspaper…Sunday’s Newsday will contain a feature about Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro in conjunction with his first All-Star appearance that day in Atlanta…Finally, Newsday’s website staff has asked us to let readers know that the site will not be available for writers to post blogs or for readers to post comments from midnight Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday morning.
Comments (160)
Hock:
Potvin and Leetch had different styles.
Potvin had more points, more pim, played 3 less seasons, 4 cups and about 180 less games than leetch and we never traded him
and they still chant his name at MSG..lol
Very true....sorry guys, work has been nuts. However, kudos to Freddy Meyer. I loved him when he was at BU, and it's good to see him find a role with this team.
As for Leetch/Potvin, that's not even close. Potvin being completely in the Rag fans' heads has to tip the scales in his favor, even if he hadn't been the vastly superior player.
I don't use the term "must-win" very often, but I think today's game with the B's is a must-win. The Islanders need to put some breathing space between them and the teams below in order to be in a better position after the all-star break. Let's take 2! And Steady, I hope MAB scores 7 goals just for you.
As a collegue of mine in Minnesota said ... pound for pound ... goal for goal ... assist for assist ... point for point ... hip check for hip check ... cup for cup .... Nobody ... Nobody at all ... can match what Denis Potvin did as a defensman for the Isles....
He played 100% of every NHL game for only ONE team... he was there from the very begining ... until his playing days were over.
The fact he did all he did and accomplished all of his achievments with one team is remarkable in itself.
Not even Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, Chris Chelios, Ray Bourque and Lidstrom match up with him in every aspect of the game. Sure ... they have certain singular strengths that were better than Potvin ... but none of them was the full package ... and could bring to bare the weapons he could game in game out.
The above isn't just how I feel ... that was said by a die hard Wild / former North Star fan that was priveledged to see Bobby Orr play when he lived in Boston in the 60s.
He points out that Coffey never played on a team that was building as Potvin did ... and notes Coffey and Leetch as better skaters ... and Orr as a model for Potvin's development .. and Lidstrom as a close second to Potvin's overall game ... and Chelios as a great grit and talented playmaker ... but he said he has yet to see anyone bring the total package Potvin brings for such a long period of time as Potvin did for the Isles.
He added that the fact that Ranger fans still chant his name in disdain is all a testament you need. Not even Leetch has had his name chantted in MSG as much as Potvin. ...
That was something I never thought of ... but he's right.
Don't you guys know that you can't compare players from different era's. The game has continuously changed over the decades. I think it would make more sense to say that Potvin was the best defesman of his era. Leetch was one of the best defensive men of his era. Now Leetch had Paul Coffey still playing so you can argue about those two guys all you want. But still Coffey came into the league before Leetch and the game changed over time. It's like saying who is better, Crosby or Gretzky? Who knows, they played in different era's. Watch some film of how much clutching and grabbing there was when Gretzky played; Crosby has the benefit of the new NHL rules but he is still a tremendous athlete with great speed, great skill, great passion, great play making ability, but he has the benefit of the new rules which enable him to be the star he is capable of being.
Oh I guess I better throw in a Steady reference like everyone else while I am at it. That would be; I hope the entire team plays their best game so we don't have to read your whining complaints in the morning.
Peace!
attention garth snow:
your team is a joke in terms of talent. that they are over .500 is a real achievement, a testament to their effort and the coach, which may be one and the same. if your plan is to stand pat this year and hope the talent is there for next year, good luck. IF it works out, MAYBE it won't be too late.
See, I told you so!
Steady; blow it out your arse hole!
First off, I have never complained about this team all year, but we are pathetic tonight. For a team that only wins when we bring it, this is a dissapointing game. We were only 1pt ahead of Boston going in on the last game before the break. This a game our "kind of team" should have showed up. We showed some life, after we were down two, and DP lets up the worst goal I've seen him let up all year. The shot was bad enough, but it was right about when the isles were showing some signs of life. Oh sh!t... Sillinger just scored. Please hockey gods.... give me a miracle... Do it for Steady who's at the game and the rest of us about to smash our heads with the remotes!!!!!!!!
Oh, I forgot.... Satan and Comrie are 100% expendible at the deadline... I love Miro... but he's not the same anymore... lets see what we can get for him strictly based on his reputation.
Tambellini, Tambellini, Tambellini.
" ch, Chris Chelios, Ray Bourque and "
these 2 guys combined is what potvin was. like celios, he was tough and mean and smart in his own end, and like raymond bourque he was quick to move the puck out and up, and a great passer with a heavy and accurate shot. celios and bourque were both great, but neither had what the other did. potvin had it all.
leetch was a great skater and an elegant and heady player, but not in the class of these 3. or lidstrom's.
Well me and my boy left at the end of the second down 4-0. Isles looked sleepy and ready for a long break. Not a good game at all. DP looked rusty to say the least.
GOOD NEWS for me and my lil guy. Got to the game at 5:15pm to eat at Legends and almost all the Islanders were out front playing some kind of soccer game. They were all in a circle and if you messed up, you were out. Gueren and Satan signed my kids jersey. Others that were in the cirlce were Bergy, Dubie, Tank, Vas, and Jackman.
After watching for awhile we went in and ate. My kids favorite player is DP, so after some apps., we went to look if he joined the group. Well they were all gone, except DP and Sutton were having a catch with a football :) :). DP had a huge dip in his lip and was more than willing to sign my kids hat.
So for me the night stunk b/c I got to hear the chowdahs stick it to me yet again, but my kid met his hero along with most of the rest of the team. All was not lost !
Funny how Comrie and MAB were not with the rest of the guys getting loose before the game. Comrie was probably doing his hair and MAB was probably looking in the mero like the guy in Silence of the Lambs saying " I would play me" in his robe and his junk tucked in. :)
I missed the wholeeee game ... I was about 20 miles south of home and couldn't get good reception from WBBR to listen to the game on the way home. I usually have no problem ... I race to the TV about 9:20 - 9:25ish and turn it on only to see the clock ticking down the last seconds of the game and see Boston 4 - Isles 1 ...
WTH!!!!!! More than me just wanting the team to win as I always do ... I wanted them to win for Steady with him being in enemy territory.... Ohhhh Boy!!! The Giants better just BRING IT to the Pats....
My question .... after just seeing the low-lights it doesn't look like many of the guys ... including DP had a good night. So I guess that sums it up.
Coral Springs ... I guess we can debate this backwards and forwards ... but I think it's safe to say ... Potvin was a defenseman for all ages. My point is he can play the game any style you wanted to bring. He played against some of the best offensive and toughest players of any era. True enough that you can't compare them head to head ... but you can pretty much gauge how a player would translate with his work ethic and sill level in different eras.
Personally ... I think defenseman and D-men in today's era benefit from goaltenders with large pads ... not to bring in the pad debate again ... but we can reflect on the Isles last game against Philly ... do you think the Philly of today would be able to roll over the 80s Isles the way they did today's Isles if the 80s Isles had the benefit of today's hockey gear? Safe to say I think not.
"mirror" is what MAB was looking into, not mero...sorry
No apologies anon / Steady ..... that is how MAB would of said it.
19 Isles
"do you think the Philly of today would be able to roll over the 80s Isles the way they did today's Isles if the 80s Isles had the benefit of today's hockey gear?"
Pshaw!!! not to beat a dead horse, but whaddya think would have happened If Upshall "lost an edge" and wiped out Billy Smith?
Steady,
GOOD FOR YOUR SON!!!
No MAB or Comrie cuz the "steady alert" was probably out.
What can be said about tonight's game?
Nothing. Which is exactly what the Isles brought to Boston.
Enjoy the break boys.
Playoff run begins Tuesday with the Senators.
505~ "Pshaw!!! not to beat a dead horse, but whaddya think would have happened If Upshall "lost an edge" and wiped out Billy Smith? "
To answer your question...
Either Jethro, Howatt, Nystrom or Potsy would have to go the the hospital .......
.... to remove one of their fists from Upshall's face.
Nuff said ... we'll see what they bring in their next game.
This game was a real drag. But I try to comfort myself by thinking that the more times we fall back when trying to go 6 games over .500 (how many times has that happened now? seems like a lot), the more likely Snowlan are to realize that the team as presently constituted has found its level and it's time to bring up some of the kids.
Here's a theory on Ricky, who never seems to be at his sharpest in Boston: He wants so badly to be impressive in front of his parents, family, friends, former coaches, etc. that he becomes the Ricky of earlier in his career, who messed up by trying too hard to do everything. As opposed to the Ricky who shows up for big games against the Rags and Devils, and is hyper-focused. Once he figures out how to be that Ricky all the time, we have a shot at a winning streak.
Steady, man, after reading your comments about MAB and the skin-dress, I don't know, I think maybe you ought to talk to a professional about this. ;-)
For the record, I think every team within reasonable striking distance behind us at the start of the night picked up points. For the Isles, I could do without the 101 excuses on why they lost after the game. Every team was "looking forward to the break," but half of them managed to win despite that, and several others managed to show up and play hard enough to get a point.
Oh well, taking my mind off that awful effort, does anyone who follows BP know what's up with Frans Nielson? We keep talking about Tambellini and Okposo, but Tambs always talks about Nielson. What's the story there - is he NHL caliber? Is he a possible second line center? Third? Could he and Walter take two center spots next year, or are they essentially fighting for the same roster spot?
this team is maddening..MADDENING I SAY!!!!!..they are driving me nucking futs...consistently inconsistent
You gotta love MAB. He could send any defensive partner over the edge. He's like a fart in a wind storm, like a pin ball bouncing around the machine. Poor old Bruno will quickly get an appreciation of what Campoli just went through by playing with this anti system player. The Mad Bomber will make Gervais old before his time. My suggestion is the training staff picks up some Grecian Formula for Bruno's hair and some Depends for the other end because he'll definitely have the sh*ts soon playing with Bombs Away. Like I've always said and how Steady agrees, MAB is a definite minus in the defensive scheme of things. You really have to set any offence he generates aside and consider the cost of doing business with him. This next while without Campy and when Marty/Witt go down again is going to be a rough ride.
The Newsday Ranger Goblins Strike Again.
A/Headline on Logan's article emphasizes that that the Islanders lost in a "rout". I dunno, the Isles got beat last night but a 4-1 score hardly drags up visions of a "Rout".
8-1, 8-2, 7-0 scores are ROUTS.
B/Brian Leetch gets back page coverage. I don't remember Arbour getting that type of coverage for number 1500. Instead we got drivel from Baumbach about the win not counting in "his book".
Hometown newspaper my ARSE!!!!!
It's BS guys and girls. Pure and simple BS.
Name should be changed to "Long Island's Daily Post".
Not my opinion, Simply a fact.
I wonder if DP is hurt. We know his past injuries and remember, he was a little banged up at the end of 2nd period in the Carolina game. He was very weak last night. The Savard goal was horrendous and he usually stops shots that he didn't last night.
Part of of the Lighthouse Project should involve every Islander fan cancelling their Newsday sunbscription for 60 days.
Pick a 3 day period for EVERYONE to call into Newsday's subscription desk and cancel their delivery.
Living without Newsday for 60 days ain't gonna hurt anyone except the Ranger fans in the bowels of (Herman) Melville. There are plenty of other options out there.
A well coordinated boycott of the misnamed "Voice of Long Island" is long overdue.
STRIKE!!
505 ~ I gave up on Newsday .... and soon enough Long Island will probably give up too .... news papers are losing big time revenue as they become more insignificant to the public they claim to serve ... as people become more aware that the papers they read only give them the info that they want to shove down readers' throats, they will seek out other ways to get info. Unfortunately this media BS goes way beyond local sports teams.... I see it first hand at my job. Electronic media is not that much different ... news organzations follow a certain doctrine of editorial spin doctoring to achieve their own ambitions.
I used to freelance for AP in their SNG division ... I wasn't shocked ... but more or less totally disenchanted by the proliferation of foreign and special interest infestation of views that spin stories to manipulate public opinion.
I probably could of collected tons of info to do a media expose ... but like anyone else that could ..... I'd be permanently black listed from my career. So there are a lot of people like me that push back ... just enough to keep it from getting way out of control.
Where I work ... I may be supplying CNN, ABC news, NBC news, Fox news & other news gathering organizations the same exact information ... how ever ... you watch them post and transmit the related stories .... and you get a different view from each one. I'm not going to delve too deep into this non-hockey related issue ... but as Islander fans ... you can expect to see that from all the different news organizations that report on the Isles ... AP, Newsday, ESPN, TSN etc. You've all seen it ... expect the same kinda thing with all your news.
I recently found an outlet here in Richmond that sells the POST, same day. So, besides posting here, I'll never have another newsday in my house.
As far as the team goes... they were flat. And they had no answer for Boston's early physical play. Say what you want about Simon, and I'd most likely agree, but without a heavyweight guys like MAB and Ricky are gonna take crap.
I also find it hard to believe that the early hit on MAB by Chara wasn't called. I don't care where his elbow's "naturally are", because using that logic 80% of the forwards in the league should be able to use his nut sack as a punching bag because they hand in most players' natural stride.
To add insult, they called Meyer on incidental contact where he showed better balance than the guy he shoved to the ice.
those are not excuses, but if Spiller was the 7th D, rather than Jackman being the 12th F I'm guessing teams would think twice.
Give Comrie and JoVas some time off to heal... Let jackman get some minutes at the Bridge. Bring up Spiller and tambellini
Tambellini Park Guerin
Satan Walter Tank
Hunter Sillinger Bergy
Comeau Hilbert (Bergie/Park)
Witt Marty
Sutton Meyer
Gervais (MAB/Spiller)
Just a thought....
POTVIN:
Pots was always my favorite, so this comment is bias... as well as the TRUTH.
Potvin didn't "redefine" his position like Orr did, he took the role of a defender and EXPANDED it to include the role of a Forward.
Pots was the perfect clay for Arbour to mold into the defenseman that everybody in the league wanted. He could make that first pass out of the zone. He could clear the crease, he won the one-on-ones, and induced fear into a forwrad skating on the wing.
When you watch games from that era you will see in 77 and 78 guys would challenge him to the outside, in 79-83... not so much.
Becasue he would crush them. Add that to the guy who led the team in scoring... and was the lightning rod to arbours ire... and that's Denis Potvin. Everybody knows abotu the deadly accurate point shot and the skating... but the hits he laid on guys... those were a thing to behold.... especially the open ice hip checks.
I never saw Orr, but i've seen all the others mentioned. I'd take Denis straight up for any of them... That team is not that good, that fast without Denis.
Just looking over some stats, Potvin's career +/- was +460 vs. Leetch's career +/- +25. This stat jumped out at me!!! I know Trottier, Bossy, Gillies, Smith, etc. are a big part of the reason. But still, that is freakin' amazing.
JP: I could live with trying out your proposed line up IF the Mad Bomber doesn't form part of the equation. At the same time, I hope Snow is looking to move guys like Miro, Silly and anyone else that will help rebuid the team.
Does anyone know if Bossy will be available for the game against Ottawa? We need something.
JP: I love the POST's stories but hate Larry Brooks..I had canceled my subscription a month ago from some article he decided to write that was unprofessional.most of them are but this one was the last straw.
Bossy doesn't have the physical edge to be a "Nolan-Type Player."
Haha
Hock .... Great Post .... that stat not only jumps out at ya ... Potvin's +460 STOMPS all over Leetch's career +25 .... because it shows how good the team plays when he's on the ice.... and even with the offensive punch the Isles had ... the Rangers had some really outstanding forwards over the course of Leeth's career.
nautika ~ "JP: I love the POST's stories but hate Larry Brooks..I had canceled my subscription a month ago from some article he decided to write that was unprofessional.most of them are but this one was the last straw. "
Amen brother .... I cancelled my POST subscription primarily because of Larry Brooks' rubish and the fact they now use AP wire to run stories about the Isles. Who needed the Post then? I could get the same info on yahoo sports. And newspapers wonder why they lose readers? It's because they only write about what they want you to see and hear. Talk about losing their fingers on the pulse of their readership.
My two friends ... one a Flyer fan ... and the other surprisingly a Ranger fan both HATE Larry Brooks... I just think he's a moron... hate is too much energy to waste on a bad reporter.
Well .. no more media rants. I live it every day. Hockey and the Isles are a great escape for me.
I have a game tomorrow ... and we have the All-Star weekend to relax and enjoy.
Pretty awful game last night, but the glimmer of hope was the play of Blake Comeau...at least from what I saw. He skated well and is starting to show some confidence. Looks like a very intelligent player. I think he may have much more to offer than being just another grinder. A few more injections of that kind of youth AND landing one or two talented FA's will keep us heading in the right direction. By all means, let's get something (trades, picks) for any players that have no future here.
Last post was me.
But the Islanders have three key players that, if they can produce, will not only spark their own confidence, but the rest of the teams as well, and could possibly improve that 7th place standing. The first key player is Ruslan Fedotenko. When Fedotenko scores, the Islanders are 6-2. Trent Hunter, a popular trade rumor around the internet bloggers of Long Island, is having possibly his second best season as an Islander, with 42 points, and was recently given an "A" while Brendan Witt was out. If he and Sillinger can get the puck to Fedotenko more, and scores a few, watch the confidence go up in Fedotenko and that whole line. The next key player is Sean Bergenheim. He's only scored 3 goals, but the Islanders are 3-0 when he scores, and no, none of those games were when Fedotenko scored either. He is starting to catch on to the game and has 2 goals in his last 13 games, which is an improvement from the first time he scored in October. The line of Vasicek, Satan and Bergenheim are the best defensive minded line the Islanders have and you'll see the point totals go up for everybody, if Bergenheim gets hot. The third and final key player is Blake Comeau. He has 4 points in his last 8 games and is always improving. Nolan will most likely give him more time on the ice to improve and may actually imrove the goal scoring of a few forwards who could use the goals. If Comeau can get Witt to score, he can get anyone to score.
If these three can step up and improve, watch the points continue to go up, despite the rest of us on our seats, sweating out every one goal game we see this season.
I don't care about contracts or anything else, I see absolutely no reason no to bring up Tambellini and Okposo and get them going on the big club. Look at Lucic for the Bruins last night - 19-year old kid that had jump and created lots of opportunities. I know he is up due to injuries, but the way the Isles played last night just hammered home the fact they a need a spark and some more competition for playing time that will only come if the geezers on this team realize there are kids nipping at their heels. That Comeau and our fairly young defense is out there should quell any notion that Nolan is biased against playing the kids, just that he looks for the right time and right people. Well, we need to score some damn goals and guys like Tambellini and Okposo need NHL experience, so let's get this thing started right after the break.
Netminder
"Trent Hunter,... is having possibly his second best season as an Islander, with 42 points."
???????
Trent has 26 points and is a minus 11.
Two more gaffes like that and you'll be collecting a paycheck from Newsday.
From where I sit and in my humble opinion, Hunter is having his WORST season.
Ouch! Hope I am never on the wrong side of a 505 statistical takedown!
Nobody reacted to my Ricky-gets-overeager-in-Boston theory... am I just crazy on that one? Or is it so obviously true that no one felt the need to affirm it?
KH,
I can neither affirm nor deny your theory on DP.
I'm chalking up last nights relatively weak game to the fact that his baggage may have already been in Atlanta.
OT,
I'll be in PHX next weekend for the Big Blue dismembering of the Boston reign of terror. There are too many reasons not to be there.
Son attends ASU, mother in law is living in sin with a fellow snow bird for the winter, an old buddy of mine from AK is on a 3 month sabbatical there, The Gints are playing in the big one, I have an obsession with NY/BOS throw downs in all the taverns during the pre-game hoopla, and rumor has it Jim Baumbach will be in the neighborhood.
And that's just WAY TOO CLOSE to my area code for my comfort level. But it would make for an interesting "off-chance encounter".
505 -- Sounds like fun. Here in my little corner of NYC/LI, people are breaking out the Jints-alia like never before. Folks I recognize from around the nabe who I've never seen in pro sports gear, or even in royal blue, are suddenly walking kiosks of Giants bric-a-brac. I think the people of our fair city are hungry for a championship -- aren't we currently in the longest drought between NYC championships ever? (7+ years since the Yankees won the Series... unless you count the Devils' Cup in '03 since they are a metro-NYC team)
Big chants of "Giants S^ck" at the Boston Garden last night. Being a Jet fan I did not mind.
The Pats fans are LAUGHING at Big Blue. I kind of think your team is in for a rude surprise. The Brady Bunch in a controlled environment is simply deadly. That with all their experience is crazy! Best of luck.
Manning aka Droopy Dog will have to play the game of a lifetime to even stay close. Field goals do not work against the Pats. They must put up at least 35 to have a chance!
P.S MAB Blowssssssssss
Steady -- With all the abuse you take from the Chowdahs, you still can't bring yourself to root for Big Blue?
Boy it will get boring around here if/when the Isles trade MAB! I don't think it'll happen any time soon though, both because Campy's out and because I think the Isles' coaching staff is embracing the challenge of developing him into an all-around good defenseman. Might be quixotic, but I think they believe they can do it.
Too funny KH: You know as well as I do that making a silk purse out of a sow's ear isn't going to happen with MAB.
Do the right thing like the majority of us have done and cut the cord Teddy!!!!
Denis Potvin was my favorite Islander growing up and is among the greatest defensemen, but he can't hold a candle to Bobby Orr--who is in a class all by himself.
A career PLUS 597 and PLUS 124 in 70-71!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Orr
I have no issues with MAB as of now since we have bigger problems with a guy named Miro. His agent forgot to tell him "you are suppose to be good in your contract year"
and
Tank....wtf
TRADE THEM ASAP BEFORE IT IS TO LATE.
505
My apologizes on the typo... i wanted to say that he is on pace for 42 points. The mind was going faster than the typing.
Why is Trent Hunter having his worst season? Maybe in scoring goals, yes. However Fedontenko is also not scoring on his line either. Like I had said in my previous comment, if Fedotenko begins to start scoring at even strength, watch all three from that line's plus/minus go up.
Can anyone explain why Sillinger, Hunter, Satan, and maybe even Vasicek are out at even strength, on the PP, AND on the PK? Although Silli is picking it up, could the relative ineffectiveness of these guys as well as any of their linemates be attributed to him getting too many minutes? Not sure.
But at this point, what about the following PP lines (no tinkering on the PK needed)?
Guerin-Comrie-Comeau
Bergenheim-Park-Tank
We need something to get the PP going, and throwing out the same lines game after game just isn't working Ted. Also, let's start getting some rest for Silli, who IMO is more valuable on the PK than the PP. If you want him out for an important PP draw, let him take it and then get him back on the bench!
We score on that 1st early PP last night, and the whole game is a different animal!
I think that if Charles Wang posted on this blog that he left a skid of money behind the coliseum nobody would show up to claim it because nobody believes any of the garbage that is written here. Maybe I should re-phrase that; nobody would reply because they would think you were a troll.
KH: This is a place for opinions and not dialogue; and man there are plenty of opinions.
Next time I am in NY I think I will test that theory and leave some cash in a designated spot; post it to this blog and see if it is still there after the game.
Bobby Orr played against only 8 teams. He was a great player, but did not play against the likes of Gretzky and company.
Kyle Okposo and Jeff Tambellini for Martin St.Louis! Would be a blockbuster deal for Isles and give them the sniper they need now.
Coral
" because nobody believes any of the garbage that is written here"
I believe.
I believe that Steady really does despise MAB.
I believe that D-Money really does live in Denver and wears a Kasparaitis jersey and likes green chile.
I believe that AZS is the guy that gave the Ranger fan the bird.
I believe that KH is putting time and effort where is mouth, er fingers, are.
I believe that 19Isles has spent too much time embroiled in the bowels of the 5th Column. ;)
I believe that Merrick is a great dad who loves his daughters.
I believe that Nick knows more about the finer aspects about hockey than I do.
I believe that Nautika has never posted any type of mean word about anything or anyone on this board.
I believe that Cincy probably watches every minute of every game on Center Ice.
I believe that MIggsey might, just might, have an autographed poster of MAB on his ceiling. ;)
I believe that themass wishes he could see more games than he does.
I believe that there are A LOT of very passionate and outspoken Islander fans that post regularly on this board. Far more than I see on Zipays, or elsewhere.
I believe some of us, need this "All-Star Weekend" break as much as the players do.
What's so hard to believe?
Oh, and for those of you that I neglected to single out, Upstate Isles fan, Doc, and MANY MANY OTHERS,
I believe things about you and things you say as well.
KUMBYA?
I agree with you 100% 505. This is a great place for the "transplants" to come and talk about the Isles. When I tell people here I'm die hard Isles they are amazed. I do watch every game (God bless Direct TV DVR) but its no fun watching without discussing and reading others thoughts. Also, I need to here from the current LI boys and girls on their thoughts since they watch the team live more than the handfull of times I do.
That said, I can't wait to see Ricky in the skills competition tomorrow (on tape of course). I hope he is more on point then he was yesterday. Question.... since Marty isn't starting anymore, does this mean Thomas is or is it up to the coach?
I hope Thomas plays the whole game.
As much as I am happy for DP, a GOALIE is the last person from my favorite team that I wanna see playing in an All Star game.
It's akin to crab fishing in the Bering Sea in a bathing suit.
Not good for one's health.
DP is gonna see more rubber than a hooker with a storefront one block outside the gates of Pearl Harbor when the Enterprise pulls in.
So let's see, Paddock is the coach for the East and the Sen's play WHO on Tuesday?
I can hear the question in the locker room.
"Hey Thomas, would ya mind if I only played you in the 1st period?"
505,
I feel so left out...
I believe that JPinVA knows his way around the "spiritual" side of life as well as I do.
I think Thomas, Vokoun, and DP all play a period each. Goalies need to realize that instead of one or two stars on regular clubs, these all-star teams are filled to the rim. The point is to have fun and see how well you can do. Its an exhebition, that's it. But it seems like DP gets upset about letting up goals in practice....
Last one was me
"Bobby Orr played against only 8 teams. He was a great player, but did not play against the likes of Gretzky and company"
Wow! That sure is someone who knows NOT A THING ABOUT HOCKEY!!!
what a dumbarse
Potvin was better than Leetch, 100%, absolutely.
But, Isles fans, remember history just a little bit.
the only reason the Isles got Denis Potvin was because of luck, almost as lucky as the Penguins getting Crosby.
The Isles expansion team of 72-73 was arguably the worst team of all time, the prize for being that awful was the #1 overall pick in the 73 draft, which was absolutely going to be Denis Potvin.
Torrey had to fend off serious offers for the pick from Montreal, who two years earlier were able to sweet talk the #1 overall pick from the Oakland Seals and steal away Guy Lafleur, who should have been a Seal.
Torrey's draft picks of Gillies, Trottier and Bossy were brilliant picks, as was his selecting of Billy Smith in the expansion draft from the Kings.
But lets not fool ourselves Isles fans. Denis Potvin was going to be a hall of fame defenseman no matter who he played for, and just consider yourselves lucky to have been bad enough in your first year so you could get him.
Dude,
The "luck" you speak of was having Bill Torrey as GM and not a Mike Milbury.
themass
"But it seems like DP gets upset about letting up goals in practice...."
EXACTAMUNDO
I should rephrase an earlier sentiment. I forgot about Vokoun.
Paddock in the locker room...."Thomas, Vokoun, I'm gonna play you two a 1/2 period each, okay?"
OFF TOPIC
505 -- A few threads back you made a resurrection reference and tongue-in-cheek "apologized" to me. Not offended by the concept of resurrection at all. It would be strange if I were, with all the Christians in my extended family. But I do like to tell people each December that the only Jewish boy's birthday I celebrate is my own. ;-)
Was just seeing if you were paying attention.
No prob, I laughed out loud when I read it.
Dude ~ "the only reason the Isles got Denis Potvin was because of luck, almost as lucky as the Penguins getting Crosby.
............. But lets not fool ourselves Isles fans.