As if the Islanders didn't have enough challenges--losing four in a row, dropping to 10th in the conference standings, having a couple teams right on their heels and facing the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks tomorrow night--one more was announced today.
Mike Sillinger will be out for three weeks because of a hip injury.
He has been playing despite the aches for a while, coach Ted Nolan said after a brisk and intense practice today at IceWorks in Syosset. Nolan added that the team tips its cap to the veteran center. "But there comes a time when you can't be Superman. You have to get rest and heal," Nolan said. "It leaves us without our top faceoff guy, one of our top penalty killers and one of our leaders.'
But there's nothing the team can do except try to fill in with young players, and generally work much harder. Jeff Tambellini and Frans Nielsen, two-thirds of what is arguably the best line in the AHL, were recalled and will play together tomorrow. They skated with Sean Bergenheim today. Both of the callups say that familiarity witll help because both have played together for most of the past two years.
Neilsen thought there might be some karma at work, considering they are playing the Ducks. When he was called up last year, it was for a game against the Hurricanes, who were the defending Cup champions then.
In any event, practice ended with sprints--a rarity for this time of year--because Nolan said the team just hasn't been working hard enough. Injuries and the flu that has riddled the roster have been two of the reasons. But, the coach said, there are no excuses. His philosophy is, to get your team to work, you have to work your team. He was happy with their ethic today.
They will need it, playing the next three weeks without one of their hardest and most effective workers.
--Mark Herrmann in Syosset
Comments (78)
Do you think the isles will be sellers at the deadline? If so, who might go?
I think they should try to trade shawn bates.... i mean... how many goals does the guy have this year... has he even scored a goal... talk about underperforming.
Doc; Bates is Milburys last mistake on this team .He is signed through 08-09 for 1.5 million cap hit. We could not trade sean bates for a whiffle ball bat. I feel bad for all the injuries and it could not be seen coming but we need to cut ties with him as well. There is no room on the roster for him, if he is healthy and would get hurt in a game or two any way.
Jon Sim would have been a big player for us, I believe his injury has hurt us a lot.
Let the kids play...Kyle Okposo will not be ready for the NHL for at least another year or more. So bring up Walter soon.
Also, I hope they let Brennan just play w/o a stick and let me start popping people. We need something to get us going and i hope he does well in fights. He is good on
Doc,
I can't tell if your serious or not in your comment - it is almost dripping in sarcasm.
Shawn Bates cannot be traded while on the IR - and having only played 2 games (yet with a minus -2) its pretty obvious why he wouldn't have any points thus far.
http://www.islesblogger.com
For all those calling for Silli to be traded, that option is very likely not available anymore. But you know what, if this is what it takes for Nolan to bring up these kids and give them a shot, so be it.
Only problem I see is that the Isles now have to play Tambs-Nielsen-Bergy and not let them rot with 4th line minutes. IMO, this should be our 2nd line for the next couple of games.
I hope the Isles have noticed that they are playing one of the most physical teams in the NHL tomorrow night. I hope they don't plan on getting bounced around in their own arena tomorrow night. I would call up a couple of players who can drop the gloves for tomorrow night. The thing that surprises me the most about Nolan is that he is putting up with a team that is obviously way too soft that doesn't fight back and stick up for each other. He really can't do much about the lack of scoring but it is embarrassing how this team gets manhandled game after game. Just a thought.
We lose sillinger and we only dressed 11 forwards last game. But we bring up 3 kids.. Who else sits...since we only needed 2 additions
Bingo D-money
The "vets" have DONE NOTHING to "EARN" continued quantity minutes.
Nolan is known for not not playing "mind games".
Bumping the kid line up to 2nd line status is sending a clear message. You "vets" have been melting the ice, EARN YOUR WAY BACK
It appears that Park may be out with the flu tomorrow. Sad that it takes injuries and sickness, rather than common sense to let the kids play. Let's hope Tambs shows-up tomorrow and gets significant minutes.
If park and silli are both out we better watch the dumb penalties
Yeah, I think Brennan replaces Jackman (who sat last game) and Nielsen is a temporary fill-in for Park if he is going to be out for this game. In which case, Nielsen probably gets sent back down sooner than later.
Is it safe to assume the Jackman experiment is over and hence the Brennan call-up?
More interestingly, who sits on D? Was Johnson sent down or is he still up? If the D last game was
Witt
Martinek
Gervais
Meyer
Sutton
Bergeron
Berard
does Berard sit again if we dress 12 forwards? Is he (or MAB) replaced by Johnson?
The islanders also called up Kip Brennan- a tough guy
I think Nolan should be careful with Nielson and Tambs tomorrow. Those guys will get destroyed by Pronger and Niedermayer since they're accustomed to AHL speed at the moment. With the home ice, he'll have last change, and I'd keep the kids away from those guys until they get up to speed. Just my opinion. Maybe that's too conservative of an outlook.
As for the D...Berard's actually been scoring lately, so if Nolan's serious about "earning ice time," Berard's probably done that more than MAB in the last few games. I wish they'd alternately sit Witt and Marty though, since those guys are both so obviously still hurt. I don't know if an every-other-game schedule would help much in their recovery, though.
I think Berg will be on the 4th line with Hilbert and Brennan. I don't see Nolan dropping a vet to the 4th so soon. Hopefully Berg will get some shifts with other lines.
Let's hope the offense clicks.
Brennan has a tough card coming up:
Parros/Ana, Laraque/Pit, Fedoruk or Booggard/Min and Cote/Phi. Welcome back to the NHL, Kip!
O.Bender hit it right on the head ...it's a sad statement that it took people being sick/hurt for Snolan to decide to bring in the youth. Forget the lack of scoring ...
I also second the opinions about ice time. I sure hope that they're given a real chance. But Nolan hates Tamby and Bergie so I doubt it ...
This is another problem - they can't play loose. If Hunter or Sillinger or any other of Nolan's boys makes a mistake it's no biggie - but if a young guy does he'll never see the ice again ...
Hoping for the best tomorrow ...
UIF
"Maybe that's too conservative of an outlook."
Yes it is.
IMHO
Take the diapers off, these "kids" deserve as much an opportunity to mix it up with the class of the league as the pretenders who have been wearing Isles jerseys for the last month.
Cuz WE KNOW how poorly the current pretenders can play against a team like the Ducks.
Cut 'em loose.
Say bye bye to any or all of the following, Comrie, Satan, Tank, MAB and Berard (goals in the last 2 games notwithstanding-cuz if these kids start putting pucks in, we don't need Berard's occasional goal).
And Hunter and Vasicek are on a real short list.
Lines from today's practice:
Fedotenko-Vasicek-Guerin
Comeau-Comrie-Satan
Brennan-Hilbert-Hunter
Tambellini-Nielsen-Bergenheim
I agree, I really hope that the line is given plenty of ice time. Look how well Comeau is doing with more ice time - he has been one of the most consistent forwards.
http://www.islesblogger.com
Michael S.
Not much change from the last game, just subbing Brennan- Hilbert for Silli and Park on the 3rd line and Tamby-Nielsen for Hilbert-no one (technically Jackman) on the 4th line.
Based on the MTL game, if that 4th line sees any less than 12 minutes tomorrow, we are totally screwed...
The absense of Sillinger should not be a big deal, he was playing 1 game then taking next one off.
Let me start by saying thank you BIG BLUE...I will most likely never root for you again, being a Jet Fan, but you brought me sheer bliss in 08. I once again can abuse Chowdah Head Nation!
All this talk all year about bringing up the kids is great. Now we get what we asked for.....What is that saying again ???????
I hope they play hard and grow. I think that maybe the Bobbleheads wanted to bring them up just like us, but kept them on the farm for their sake. Season them more and not ruin their confidence. We shall see.
ok its gotten to the point where i had to bench MAB on NHL 08...he is just that BAD!
lol 222
How does Comrie's toe drag work in cyberspace?
Steady,
" Now we get what we asked for.....What is that saying again ???????"
I believe it goes....
"You can't always git watchoo want..
But if you try some time,
Ya just might find..
Ya get watchoo NEED!!
OH YEAH"
I for one will be tuning in tomorrow night with a little pop in my thumb in anticipation of fresh blood on the ice.
Even if it winds up being my own blood.
Cuz, let's face it. Can things really get any worse?
At this point I would take an 8-4 loss. Cuz the 4 goals would be a HUGE pyrrhic victory.
Lets be realistic, the "kids" 4th line is going to need to score approximately 5417846437 goals on their first shift for Nolan to give them adequate ice time.
They are also going against the Ducks...welcome to the NHL. I hope they shine but I really feel they won't get the ice time to prove it. Those guys need to be in game after game to see what they can really do.
GO ISLES...
And as for NHL 08... Comrie's toe-drag works for me everytime. And the Bergenheim-Vasicek-Satan line is the top line in the league.
Sometimes it's better living in a happy fantasy world.
PS...my Andy Hilbert still can't score though.
Those line combinations are curious IMO.
Nolan; what's up with him? Last year he had no problem dropping Yashin & Kozlov to the 4th line when they were stinking it up. You know I think there is something too that merit system, but you have to apply it. For instance; Bergeron has had more giveaways than my local bank yet he has not missed a game lately. (He must be playing so they can trade him). Aaron Johnson got rushed back from his injury after two games at Bridgeport and for his reward he gets scratched and asked to play forward on the 4th line. Nolan has to keep his finger on the pulse, much like he did when he bumped Park up to the 1st line after he was playing so well. A guy like Park deserved it at the time but he is not a 1st liner and when the hot streak was over he should have been dropped back down to the 3rd or 4th line. Comrie has had the luxury of playing 1st line center without any consequence. Now granted there hasn't been anyone else worthy of top line center but he needs to get the message that he is NOT producing.
The Islanders really need to take a page out of the Yankees book. Now I know alot of you don't root for the Yanks but I am going to use last years team as an example. The Yanks were loaded with vets at the beginning of the season and that is what Torre feels comfortable with, much like Nolan. However the Yanks were sinking fast, and it wasn't until they called up some of the kids and started playing them. Melky Cabrera, Cano, Shelly Duncan, Joba, Hughes etc. etc. Those guys infused youthful exuberance into that clubhouse and it helped the Vets raise their level of play. I think it is very important to have a balanced lineup, a good mix of youth and vets. I think the Isles need to give the young guys a chance. There is no question that with youth comes energy and this team needs energy, the fans need energy, the Vets need energy. I think there is no question that the Isles loss of Simm was big. Simm was an energy in your face kind of player and at the beginning of the season the Isles didn't take any sh!%. Now they get pushed around, it is embarrising, just like Trent Hunters fight, embarrising.
Now trade Satan, he is soft and he no longer scores and to boot he is slow.
Also, loosen the reigns; you can't go to war and not attack, you eventually will get beat. The Isles play it safe style, dump and chase and wait for the other team to make a mistake is not working. Come out and attack, let your D-men jump into the play get guys to the front of the net (like Bergy against the Canadians). If you can score first it improves your odds of winning. Get to the 3rd period with a lead and then play your dump and chase defensive conservative style of play.
I'm home with a fever so when I read the team has been sick I can only imagine how tough it must be to try and play hockey, then travel and be away from home. So maybe the play of the last few games has a little to do with health. But if that is the case; why play guys at 70% when you have a farm team with guys who can give you 100% for a game or two.
Not sure why snolan feel like the youth should stay in the ahl. These two have to think outside the box. I'm glad to see the call ups but can't believe it's b/c of injury and sickness. The real sickness is the play of the vets. Snolan should take a close look at the team they are playing tomorrow and get some ideas. Great combo of vets, youth and toughness. Getzlaf and Perry are both 22 yrs old, in their 3rd FULL season and lead the team in points and goals. They were a big reason they won the cup last year. I'm curious (afraid to say I'm excited) to see what happens tomorrow. I hope Tamby and Bergie get more minutes than Hilbert, Hunter or Comrie. But I'm sure they'll do something wrong and get benched most of the game.
comries toe drag works about as many times as MAB hitting that net...so pretty much sucks just like in real life...
btw my top line is Tams, Neilson, and Okpeso followed by Comeau HILBRET and Bergs.....Okpeso leads the league in scoring and comeau leading in hits and assts....to bad this wasn't real life....oh well back to go kick some rags ass
Coral Spring - great post ...you really nailed it ...
Nolan is a hypocrite. He talks about merit. He talks about playing time (both PP and even strength) being based on production yet it's all lip service. He plays his guys no matter what. Great job of pointing out Yash and Kozlov. It's like if you're not willing to just cycle the puck around and take weak shots from the perimeter then you won't play for Nolan.
Also, you're points about playing an attacking style is right on aswell ...they're style of play is so boring. The dump and chase all game and just die a slow death until these other teams - who have skilled players - eventually wear down the Isles "D" ....someone braught this up awhile ago - I'm apologize because I can't recall who - but they mentioned how playing "D" all the time is more tiring then being on the attack ...no wonder DP gets bombarded most of the time ...the Isles are running around their own zone the whole game ...
I'll be there tomorrow and I'm excited to see what kind of minutes these guys get ...
I just hope these young guys aren't afraid to shoot or take chances ...although I doubt Nolan will allow them to try and create offense - that might lead to goal scoring and we know how much he hates that ;-)
ITS ABOUT TIME!!!! finally the youth is brought up, but why....oh because of sickness...so bascially when silly and the other guys who are NOT producing feel better, back to bridgeport kids....its just pathetic and pisses me off...IM gettin so sick of this team recently..Im really praying that we are a seller for draft picks at the deadline..I want a whole new look of a team next season with the youngsters ACTUALLY included...get rid of comrie, satan, hunter, hilbert, sillinger. I want to see a TRUE first line next season.. with the 2nd line being Nielsen, Tamby, Okposo, 3rd line being Vasicek, Tank, and Bergie, 4th line being Sim, Park, Brennan. Oh and like i said in a previous post...Comeau on the first Line....Lets Go Islanders..even though they are giving me high blood pressure!!!
Anonymous
Give it a rest. It worked fine the 1st time, either comeau up with new material or disappear.
Nothing worse than a no trick pony.
222
I am with you on on the top lines.
I REALLY want to see Nolan start paying attention to THIS team rather than ducking out for smoke breaks to see what his son is doing with Albany or the Canes.
DISCLAIMER.... I am still in Nolan's corner. But as a head coach, he is headed for a D- in the quarterly review. And disaster in the year end grades.
Even Coughlin "adapted" and made himself coach of the year in a very short time. Went from basement to the penthouse in a matter of weeks..
Burn the "merit system" or put DP and Dubie on the PP.
"GUT CHECK" TIME TEDDIE NOLAN.
Use the force.
The force is STRONG in young skywalkers.
Anaheim is ripe for a pasting. The defending champs are in town on what is a walkover on their schedule in a prep run for their defense of the cup, with Selanne working his way back into the lineup and Giguere behaving like a lefthanded pitcher who can't find the strike zone.
Jump on them with something other than back to the net play in the offensive zone.
Can we please start tanking every game here on out? Mo gritty play ... no close games ... just straight clunkers! That will result in some truly excellent things ...
1) we will be a seller at the deadline and NOT a buyer (god help us if we're only 4 pts. out of a playoff spot in 2 weeks ... I beg we're 10+ pts. out so we can unload some baggage and save any kids we have left in this depleted system)
2) a plummet in the standings = a rise on the draft charts. This is a deep draft coming up and we could certainly use a top 5 pick ... or even better, a top 3!!! (currently, we'd pick 9th)
3) once we unload at trading deadline (Satan, MAB, Comrie, Hunter) the kids can get all the playing time they need to get acclimated to the NHL w/ an eye on next year .... play Tamby, Nielsen, Walters, Comeau + Bergy BIG TIME minutes w/out them being scared to death of making mistakes and getting yanked out of the line-up (keep Okposo down until last 9 games of year so his contract doesn't kick in)
4) bring some excitement back to NVMC ... nobody is happy w/ the current product on the ice or the long term outlook ... show the people that we actually have decent kids in our system and the future looks better than the present ... do that and the fans will be happy and will show up to cheer this team
Isles Bri,
I am having problems with your logic here....
How does one...
".... start tanking every game here on out? Mo gritty play ... no close games ... just straight clunkers!..."
and at the same time.....
".....bring some excitement back to NVMC"
??????????
How 'bout we simply win every game out from here?
Maintain some audacity of hope?
Cuz, I've played on some clunker teams in my life, and there's nothing like TRYING TO WIN EVERY GAME, regardless of the repercussions.
There's nothing like winning a couple and getting some momentum.
There's is nothing like PROVING THE PUNDITS WRONG.
These guys might be millionaires and partly multi-hundred thousandaires, BUT, there's still some athletic pride involved here.
Never say never.
There's nothing like nothing that ever happened before.
Great post, 505. I agree with every word.
As someone posted above, we all saw how a mid-season infusion of youth revitalized a Yankee team managed by a man who, as great as he is and as much as we all respect him, had been resisting the youth movement. And our Super Bowl Champion New York Giants had rookies playing critical roles on a team with veteran leadership. Worked out pretty well. So maybe our young guys come in, and some old bones bruised by playing the Nolan style knit up again, and we make a late season surge. This flu bug could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
The audacity of hope is infectious on this Tuesday...
Healy: Hilbert can score on NHL2k8 on 360...are you xbox or ps3
Well tonight, I look forward to going to this game b/c in hope of seeing some kids play. If they get crushed by Pronger and Nieds, i will not be surprised but it will be a wake up call if anything. Fun to watch. Brennan most likely not going play and Park will be in. Also, they will only probably get around 7 mins of ice time.
Nolan, needs to drop Comrie down the 4th line and let him think a little bit. Work on another move than the toe drag. Hunter should be on the 4th line as well trying to do two toe -drags that look like it was in slow-mo but it wasn't
I support Nolan b/c he knows what he is doing and he knows we do not have much talent. and he is playing with what he was dealt.
My only issue with having a bad season. I do not support tanking a season, losing b/c we suck is ok but to tank on purpose is not. Also, with our luck we will finish in the last 4 and the lottery will have us picking 4th.
i have hope in this team. I say trade the vets. If the Mighty Ducks were able to do it in movies 1-3 then we can do it. Some one call Gordon Bombay. have him run the PP. lol . .i dont know
505 + KH ... let's be realistic. If the Isles play the way they usually play (win a few, lose a few, get gritty at the end of the year and slip in to the 8th spot in the playoffs) it will probably set this team back 2-3 years. I'm simply tired of the same ole same ole w/ this team. We do not have enough talent to challenge for a Cup and isn't that the main reason for playing this game?
1983 is getting pretty darn far in the rearview mirror, no?
I'm a life long Isles fan and have bought some kind of season tix package for the last 10 years. I've been there when there was nobody in NVMC cheering these guys on. It's time for a change!!!
We have a coach that guys seem to want to play hard for ... true, he's a little stubborn (aka Torre) for sticking w/ the vets but he's smart enough to come around to the youth movement. THE LAST THING I WANT TO BE IS A BUYER AT THE TRADE DEADLINE. There is no available, infusion of talent that can bring this team to the promised land. SELL, SELL, SELL. Let's get a high draft pick (top 5 or better) and look to be a force in 2009/2010.
Once the sale is over and the smoke clears, play the kids. Someone said it earlier ... I'd rather see the young guys flying all over the ice, hitting everything that moves and losing games (along with gaining valuable experience) than what this current crop is producing night in and night out.
If you're foolish enough to believe this team has any kind of chance in the playoffs (other than getting bounced in the 1st round) then I feel sorry for you. Be a realist (not a saddist) and embrace the losing ... FOR NOW. It's the only clear path to making this team better in the years to come. I truly believe that we can be a force in 2009 and beyond if we (1) get a high draft pick or two this year and next (2) shed our numerous 3rd line type players (3) give the kids a chance to develop (4) keep DP healthy (5) get tougher and (6) find 2 guys that we can count on to score 30+ goals a year.
Doesn't seem like an impossible plan now does it?
Somebody on the Hockeybuzz board put it perfectly yesterday:
We're currently 5 points out of a playoff spot and 9 points away from drafting Steve Stamkos. Which of those 2 things would make a better contribution to the long-term health and viability of this franchise? Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Again, don't get me wrong, I never have and never will root for this team to lose. I just recognize that the team as currently constructed has some major problems. I would rather see what we have in the system and come away with Stamkos, Kyle Beach, Colin Wilson, or Nikita Filatov than another one-and-done with a middling draft pick and promises of more of the same. Do the right thing, Garth! Let's take a step back this year to take 5 steps forward in the future!
Nick and 105 ... SPEAKING THE TRUTH! Honestly, if you think any other way you are not living in reality and you must somehow enjoy the painful repeat of seeing the same thing year after year.
What's that saying ... the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!
Well, if we don't SELL and REBUILD now then welcome to South Oaks boys and girls!
Isles Bri
"What's that saying ... the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result!"
Ya better hope Wang doesn't have that saying anywhere handy when he starts seeing 5K+ crowds for the rest of the season after the Isles start "dumping" games.
I'll let you sit in my season tickets in Rio Rancho in 2011
The most interesting part is that Stamkos is a center. I have to admit I'm drooling all over myself picturing Stamkos centering Comeau and Okposo or Bergy and Okposo.
The greatest threat to the Islanders remaining on Long Island is if the "audacity of hope" is replaced by the "indifference of pain" as espoused by some on this board and within the Islander nation.
And it's an all too common malaise that permeates NY Sport's fans.
I daresay that of the millions on lower Broadway this morning, my guess is that 60-70% were calling for Eli's and Coughlin's head at some point in this season.
That's called FRONTRUNNING.
505, can you explain what you mean about the audacity of hope in this context? Let me get it right out there: if the Islanders win the Cup this year I will probably cry, since I'm too young to have seen it first-hand myself (yes, giving yet more clues to my age...). I have hope that the Islanders will understand the reality of this season and do the right thing for the long-term future. I've talked to many fans about this, and the overwhelming majority would rather see a clear rebuilding plan and a clear vision for future improvements than a continued string of one-and-done.
Besides, as Candyman has already pointed out, the team as currently constructed is not producing any offense. Can Frans Nielsen perform any differently offensively than the invisible Vasicek? Can Tambellini really produce any less offense than Fedotenko? We might as well see what we have and turn the players who won't be returning next year into useful assets. I hope that I won't have to sit through 5 more years of scraping and clawing to get into the playoffs. And more than anything else, I hope that in the first year of the fully-renovated Coliseum the Islanders can raise the 5th (or hey, maybe even 6th) Stanley Cup banner to the rafters, rewarding their hard work and punching DP's ticket to the Hall of Fame.
505 ... the way this team ends up in Rio Rancho is if (and only if) Wang's Lightpath plan goes up in smoke. The Wanger couldn't care less about hockey ... he's about making $$$$$$$. If Lightpath gets squashed he'll sell this team faster than a MAB turnover in the neutral zone.
Too late for me ... I have Stamkos + Beach in my crosshairs. Keep scoring a goal or less per game boys!!!! Help is on the way!!!
And also, I have the guts now to admit I was wrong about Eli Manning, and that he has really shown me something this season. There is a fine line between pointing out truths (the Isles' lack of talent and effort, Eli's previous tendency to throw an interception at the worst possible time) and frontrunning.
Bri, let's get serious here. The Islanders will move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn if the Lighthouse doesn't work out, and Nassau County will be stuck with a white elephant wondering what might have been.
Niko... Brooklyn's fine... just as long as its not Suffolk... to far for a day trip from Pa...
This will be resolved very shortly, so lets all just relax... If this team shows some fire (unlikely) and wins 4 straight then feelings will change. Most likely we will be in the same shape in two weeks and will be sellers. I think Tambs and Frans will probably be no worse on offense than anyone on our team... but what about in our end... Our team relies heavily on that... and will probably be the reason these guys get
Every one just stop your crying... People like the ones who post here will always go see the kids.... even if theyre losing by 5+ a game... Unfortunatly thats not the case with most of our fan base... Wang still wants to put fannies in the seats... so we must remain competitive. I agree that we need to sell and completely re-build, but comeon... After the last 15 years our pathetic fanbase cant afford it.... Lets just stick by out team... The way I look at this is only our second season into our re-expansion.
themass,
I see what you are saying, but I guess I'm just hoping the Isles management can look long term here. And I'm not talking about a 5 year rebuilding program--maybe just 2-3 years. By selling at the deadline you accomplish the following things:
1. You rack up draft picks over the next two seasons (supposedly deep drafting years) and hope some will be ready to go relatively quickly a la Pat Kane.
2. You now have the opportunity to give the present kids ample NHL experience over the last 3rd of the season.
3. Although this sounds twisted, the Isles will finish lower in the standings which would give them a high-end draft pick (a real difference maker perhaps). The Isles had the chance to grab these types of players in the late 90's early 00's and either did or traded them away (Luongo, Brewer, Chara, Heatley, Spezza, etc). These types of blue-chip prospects are only available via the draft.
As Nick said and as I have been emphasizing, the team as constructed today will never amount to anything. I know a playoff round sounds nice, but at the current rate, that's all we will ever get--a 1sr round playoff loss.
Yes we get to prove everyone wrong and assemble some hard-workers and miraculously make the playoffs occasionally, but we need to shoot higher.
What I am saying is, if we keep this team together this year and try to push for the 7th/8th seed, then where will we be next spring. Probably exactly where we are today.
I am curious about the mentality this time of year with regards to all the movement of players. Does a coach & GM have to play guys they are looking to move? Most likely, or what team would pony up a first round pick for a guy that is benched. So perhaps guys like Comrie & Satan & Hunter and all the others that we have mentioned are getting all the minutes as to try and keep their value as high as possible. We might be in for another 3 weeks of this before the players get moved. Teams are going to try and get the best value or best fit for their system and most won't buy until the reality of the deadline sets in. I think the injury to Sillinger opened the door for the call ups because Nolan wasn't going to scratch a guy that Snow is trying to trade. There are only so many roster spots on a team so if you call up someone you need to make a spot for them. Most of the forwards outside of a game here or there have played the majority of games. If a Comrie or Hunter would have been injured that probably would have opened the door for a guy in Bridgeport sooner.
I agree with all of the recent posts with regards to rebuilding now. Sell your assets while they are still assets. Even if this team rolls off 5 in a row I still say trade Satan and Comrie, Bergeron (if anyone is willing to buy) and Hunter (I really like Hunter, but a guy like Colliton can provide the same type of defense & PK) and rebuild with prospects (already drafted) and picks.
Snow had to learn everything the hard way last year with regards to his moves at the deadline as well as how the team handled free agency. Lets not make the same mistakes twice, the future is fragile at this time and Snow has to be very careful what he does these next 3 weeks.
With that being said I still have faith and I think they will do the right thing.
Interesting factoid .... Isles are the only team in the league w/out a guy who has at least 25 assists so far this year (Comrie's 23 lead the team) and they are only 1 of 3 teams to not have at least a 20 goal scorer (Guerin's 18 lead the team ...Rangers + Sharks are the others).
So, how can a team like that make any waves at all in the postseason? Save your fingers from typing an answer ... IT CAN'T.
re-build ... re-tool .... re-group. The only answers here. Can't wait for a 1-0 Anaheim barn burner tonight!!!
By the way; Philly rebuilt in one year and now sit in first place after having the worst season ever. To their credit they saw the hand writing on the wall and started rebuilding less than half way through the season. I bet their fans have long forgotten last years team.
Gentlemen and ladies,
I am not opposed to "selling" at the deadline, nor am I opposed to a youth movement (geezus, who the hell was posting "bring on the kids" and "more kids" and "more Comeau" SINCE NOVEMBER????- ME)
What waxes my ire is when people start saying "dump the rest of the season" or "tank the rest of the games" so we can get a better draft pick.
BULL MOOSE!!!
BULL ONEY!!
BULL WINKLE!!!!
BULL CHIT!!
I don't care who is in the uniform.
Play to WIN THE FRIGGEN GAMES. Otherwise play for free.
Christ, I play in a baseball league where WE PAY to play, and we have guys who take an attitude that is "well, it's my money, I'll put up as much effort as I feel like".
GOOD FOR YOU, DON'T PLAY ON MY TEAM.
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND CRY.
Taking an attitude of "who cares what happens the rest of the season, I've seen this before, I could care less if we lose" is CRAP people. And ultimately DESTRUCTIVE.
And simply chickenschit.
Just my opinion.
BEAT THE DUCKS TONIGHT!!!!!!
Isles Bri
"The Wanger couldn't care less about hockey ... he's about making $$$$$$$."
Well, that statement simply flies in the face of what has been happening to this guy's investment over the last 8 years.
Cuz, my friend, he has had the most expensive season ticket than anyone else on Long Island has had.
Fact is, the guy has LOST MILLIONS since 2000.
So, up til now, I can't see how anyone can make your claim with a straight face.
505 ... there is a big difference between having the players, coaching staff and team intententionally "dump" games and secretly hoping (as a fan) that they lose. If Nolan and crew went out there with a "well, there's always next year" attitude I'd be peeved off. All I'm asking is that the true talent level of this team show through the next few weeks and let the Isles settle in the rightful spot (near the bottom of the league).
great point by Coral Springs ... the Flyers turned their team around in one year thru a nice draft and some key FA signings. No key FA will want to play for this team as currently constituted. Nobody wants to come here and be the Isles "savior" ... top class FA's join teams w/ solid structure in place when they know they could be the last piece of a puzzle to put that team over the top. So, we need to make that "base puzzle" first and then get FA's interested in us.
Again, I expect the Isles to compete and play hard the rest of this season ... in the end though, I won't be crushed if we lose a majority of our games here on out. The future can be very bright ... these last 2 years have been the first steps in our "re-expansion" as someone mentioned earlier.
I want better for this team ... we deserve better for this team (as life long fans) ... I want to send another championship banner to the rafters ... IT CAN ALL BE ACHIEVED w/in the next 5 years if the pices of the puzzle start to fall in place now ... AND THAT MEANS GETTING A HIGH DRAFT PICK IN 2008!!!
GO ISLES!!! (but not this year ... LOL)
And as far as Wang goes ... this guy didn't buy the Isles cause he needed something to do with his spare time. He's a true businessman ... he saw the long term prospects of owning the team and building a Lighthouse project around it ... plain and simple. He knew that's where the big money was and I commend him for his vision. Yeah, the fact is he saved the Islanders bacon but truthfully, he had ulterior motives. ONCE AGAIN (and take your paper out to right this down 505) ... IF LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT GETS DERAILED THEN WANG FLEES LIKE A COCKROACH WHEN YOU FLIP THE LIGHTS ON!!!!
Not every business venture is a turn-key, open up and make money from day 1. Wang's sucking up the losses now for a MAJOR payday in a few years ... if you believe otherwise you're turning a blind eye to the situation.
Nick,
"There is a fine line between pointing out truths (the Isles' lack of talent and effort, Eli's previous tendency to throw an interception at the worst possible time) and frontrunning."
Sorry Nick, but that line gets crossed when people start saying things like "Tank the rest of the season for a better draft pick."
Those are NOT fans, those are fair weather frontrunners.
This Isles season is far from over. Stranger things have happened.
I'm not going out on a limb to predict or guarantee anything, but it sure would be nice if people like you and Isle Bri were around to enjoy what little enjoyment might be left.
I understand your frustration over the last 20 years, but that pain PALES in comparison to what TRUE FANS of other sports franchises have endured over longer periods of time.
Get over the pain and look to the future.
Or simply get the hell out.
This blog is quirky today.
I think the interpretation is that don't keep the pieces in place only to finish 8th or not make the playoffs at all. "Dump" should mean players NOT actual games. I would not want to watch a team intentionally lose nor would that be tolerated by the coaching staff.
UFA's will look for a team that can compete for a cup over the course of their contract; and they will look for players on the roster that will compliment their style of play and if you have both and the money and cap space too boot you got yourself a new player. If I am a scoring winger I want to make sure I have a play making center and vice versa. If I am a goalie I want to make sure I have the D-men in front of me. If your coming in as a high priced free agent then Long Island is a great place to live. look at Billy Guerins house overlooking Oyster Bay harbour; not too shabby of a life style if you ask me. The NVMC is a tough sell because it is old but Long Island for a high income player should be an easy sell. You only play the games their. The travel is less playing for the Isles, the history is strong and if you win here they raise your name to the rafters. Heck they may even let you play in a game after you retire or at the least stand behind the bench.
If I were Charles Wang and Garth Snow I would buy the biggest fishing yacht, stock it with Ice Girls & boos and after July 1st I would take each and every UFA out for a day to enjoy what Long Island has too offer. Then when the day is over slap an inflated long term deal in front of them and ask them to sign on the dotted line. If they say no; then throw them overboard and have them swim to Madison Square Garden. At least you would have tried your best.
505, I agree with you, and as I've said I will never root for this team to lose...I want them to win tonight, I want them to win the game after tonight, and I want them to win the Cup. That's never faltered, but I also tend to look at things in terms of a cost/benefit analysis. If you told me that I could have a choice between 2 things:
1. Isles draft Stamkos
2. Isles barely miss or barely squeak into the playoffs and lose in the first round
I would take #1 every single time (unless there was a #3 of winning the Cup). If this team proves over the coming weeks that it is not a Cup contender this year, then Garth Snow, as GM, owes it to the team and to the fans to make the moves that will put us in the best position to contend for the Cup NEXT SEASON. I'm not going as far as Bri has gone, and in fact I was a bit offended by the Go Isles (but not this year) statement. I think I was fully within my bounds as a fan to point out that over the next 5 years a young stud will be more valuable to this team than a first-round exit IN THIS SEASON. I also give credit to Philly for turning around their fortunes in what might be record time. THey saw the writing on the wall and moved toward it. I am not a fair-weather fan for suggesting that, and in fact, if I were a front-runner I would want them to keep the vets because I wouldn't want to go to see a losing team full of kids. In fact, I would love to see that, because as of right now there is some dead weight we can clear out. As I said about Tamby/Tank and Nielsen/Vasicek, the kids might turn out to play well and put the Isles in a BETTER position to win this year. If that happens, fantastic, I would love to see it. I enjoy watching hockey regardless of the circumstances, as I was often 1 of the 5 or 6,000 that managed to show up during the doldrums years of the 90's. I would still go and support this team just as fervently as I've been doing.
You're one of the smartest fans posting on this blog, and that's why I deliberately wanted to keep this about ideas rather than individuals, because I respect you as a person and a hockey fan. I think more than anything else we have a difference in philosophy. I hope they win tonight, and I hope the kids prove they belong, because above all else I want a bright future for this franchise. If trading the vets and stockpiling draft picks will take this team to the next level, then let's do it. If we can win with what we have, then let's do it. It's simply my personal opinion that this team can be turned around in a very short order (you remember my ideas that would've ended up with the Isles owning both Tanguay and Cammaleri....I would LOVE to see that because that makes us a formidable team RIGHT NOW). Regardless, I'll be watching tonight from my hotel in Hartford, rooting for the Islanders...whenever they come up to the podium at the draft, I'll be rooting for them then, too.
Coral Springs, that would especially work if we threaten to throw them overboard into the East River...nobody wants that
It all depends on the circumstances of the season....I was one of the biggest proponents of the Smyth trade because last year was an excellent opportunity to GO FOR IT, and GO FOR IT they did. Our GM has proven he has the guts to add a piece for the playoff run. Does he have the foresight to see when a team needs to be broken up, as well? (and thankfully we have 3 weeks to find out both if the team really does need to be broken up and if Snow has the guts to do what he has to do)
Wow Isles bri,
You seem to have an insiders perspective or a Johnny Decoder ring that gives you a direct link to Charles Wang's thought processes....
"Yeah, the fact is he saved the Islanders bacon but truthfully, he had ulterior motives."
ULTERIOR?? Why the dark perspective?
What's "wrong" or "dark" or "evil" with making the Isles the cornerstone sports franchise on LONG ISLAND and making a buck off of it?
Why does "saving the Islanders bacon" go hand in hand with "ulterior" motives?
"ONCE AGAIN (and take your paper out to right this down 505) ... IF LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT GETS DERAILED THEN WANG FLEES LIKE A COCKROACH WHEN YOU FLIP THE LIGHTS ON!!!!"
And I for one, wouldn't blame him one bit. But for you to equate him with a "cockroach" if it happened is a further demonstration of your "frontrunning" attitude toward the Islander franchise.
He's a hero for saving the bacon, but a cockroach for pulling up his tent and "stopping the insanity" (your words earlier) of losing money year after year.
"No key FA will want to play for this team as currently constituted. Nobody wants to come here and be the Isles "savior" ..."
Based on the lack of seats sold at NVMC year after year, and reading message boards littered with frontrunning fairweather fans, I can't say as I blame them.
Bri, put the cynicism pipe DOWN....Wang is the only reason this team is still here to begin with, and from every conversation I've had with him he's committed to not only winning but also to keeping the team right where it is. Every non-Isles fan I've told about him agrees that he just might be the best owner in sports. He's the only reason you can even be ISLES Bri, and he doesn't deserve that kind of a statement. He would have done it the way the Milsteins did it if he simply wanted to make money - instead he's doing this the right way. He cultivated relationships with local politicians, and he's done a great job of fa