“The Igloo,” as Mellon Arena is known informally in Pittsburgh, is a landmark for regular travelers to the Steel City. Three Rivers Stadium, which housed the Steelers and Pirates for decades, is gone and has been replaced by two new stadiums, Heinz Field for the Steelers and PNC Park for the Pirates. But the Igloo seemed impervious to progress.
Until now.
On previous visits to Pittsburgh with the Islanders this season, I followed the progress of negotiations for a new downtown arena with some interest and knew a plan finally received approval in December.
Now, there is tangible evidence of progress in Pittsburgh. Upon my arrival last night, I was greeted by the sight of a massive pile of rubble across the street from Mellon Arena, where a hospital used to stand. That is where a new arena will rise in time for the start of the 2010-11 season.
The old Igloo will be replaced by a casino smack dab in the middle of downtown Pittsburgh. That was the bargain city fathers had to make to keep the Penguins, not to mention Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and the legacy of owner Mario Lemieux, from moving.
The point of mentioning this in an Islanders blog is obvious. When Pittsburgh’s new arena comes online, the only ancient buildings left in the NHL will be Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and – I’ll use the old names – Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, the Saddledome in Calgary and Madison Square Garden, which has the unique advantage of being plunked down in the heart of Manhattan. Even the Devils can brag about cavernous, new Prudential Center just a three-block walk from Penn Station in Newark.
As you drive around New York City this summer, you can see Citi Field rising next to Shea Stadium and the new Yankee Stadium taking shape in the Bronx next to the old House That Ruth Built.
Yet, the Islanders’ bid to build the Lighthouse Project, centered around a renovated Coliseum, seems stalled in the approval process in the Town of Hempstead. When you travel around the country and see that Pittsburgh is set to build a third new stadium, Denver has built three stadiums, Cleveland has built three stadiums and you see the positive impact in terms of jobs and invigorating the surrounding areas by providing a social gathering point that attracts new restaurants and shopping, you can’t help but wonder why the Town of Hempstead wouldn’t want to benefit from that same sort of economic engine, one that would add tremendously to the tax base.
I’m sure there’s a mathematical formula to explain the benefits, but I promised “Islander 505” no more math on the blog.
GAME NOTES: The so-called “Taxi Squad,” consisting of forwards Jeremy Colliton, Tim Jackman and Steve Regier and defenseman Matthew Spiller, arrived in Pittsburgh about 3 a.m. this morning after making the four-hour drive from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where they played in Bridgeport’s 3-2 victory last night. All four will be in the lineup against the Penguins tonight when Crosby returns to the lineup. There’s even a possibility all four players might shuttle back and forth between the Isles and Bridgeport in an effort to play five games in five nights by the end of the weekend. The Sound Tigers are fighting to make the AHL playoffs, but the injury-depleted Islanders need bodies to fill out the lineup. It’s a tough spot, and it’s bound to take a toll physically. But Isles coach Ted Nolan said center Frans Nielsen likely will come off the injury list to play against Philadelphia Saturday at the Coliseum. That would ease the crunch just a bit.
ISLANDERS INSIDER: Coming in Friday’s Islanders Insider, which only appears online at Newsday’s sports website is an interview with Chris Dey, who is the Islanders’ senior vice-president of sales, marketing and operations. He provides an update on what kind of season this has been on the financial and promotional side, but more importantly, he offers a glimpse of the team’s plan for the future and how it will be articulated to the fan base in the coming months.
Comments (80)
Nice timing, Logan, now I have to do this....
CARRY-OVER FROM LAST THREAD:
19 Isles, you're misunderstanding because the Lighthouse wasn't on the agenda of the meeting. We went to speak to the council about it and get past all the cloak-and-dagger BS. We asked them point-blank about the status of the project, and they explained the following:
1. The project is moving forward, and many on the Council seem genuinely excited about it.
2. Approval rests with the County on the project, but the Lighthouse has chosen to go to the Town first. My read on that: they want to see what the Town will allow them to build before they concern themselves with a lease. That makes sense, I have to know what I'm buying before I know how much I'm willing to pay you for it.
3. The project is currently being debated by the NYS environmental board. They will soon make what's called a Positive Declaration, in which they say the project will have environmental impact. This isn't a deal-breaker, nor is it a surprise, because all a Positive Dec really means is that you're building something that wasn't there before.
4. The Town is concerned about the "hidden public costs," since the Lighthouse is proclaiming the only public share is a $78 million State grant that piggybacks off a grant the State previously earmarked for renovations to the Coliseum. Since there will now be residents and businesses, there will need to be additional Police, Fire, and Garbage Collection presence to serve the area. They want to get an idea of those costs in order to see if the Lighthouse will TRULY be a net tax benefit (I'm sure it will, but you can't blame them for wanting to whip out the calculators).
5. Kate Murray didn't drop the puck at the Coliseum on Town of Hempstead Night because of a misunderstanding. Groups of fans started publicizing the need to show up and let Kate Murray know how much they support the Lighthouse. The Town misread this and thought Kate Murray was going into an ambush, so they cancelled her appearance. The misunderstanding was resolved, thankfully.
I didn't in any way mean to imply anything about secrecy or that we're the only ones privileged to know, and I apologize if it came off like that. As I mentioned in my original post, the Town of Hempstead and the Lighthouse Development Corporation are NEGOTIATING with each other. Telling you guys the status of the project based on our discussions with the Town of Hempstead would be like commenting on the Democratic nomination fight and only interviewing people from the Clinton campaign. The Town is one party in a two-party negotiation, so they will naturally have self-interest. I think it would be irresponsible on my part to tell you guys about the status of the project before we meet with the Lighthouse and get their side of the story, since we all know the truth will be somewhere in the middle.
I left the meeting more confident the project will pass than before, but there is some potentially-troubling information we learned that we want to clarify and understand before we sound an alarm that might not be warranted...I hope that made sense.
Great, me too:
Ummmm, 19Isles, I thought you worked? How the hell do so many guys get time to play hockey at noon on a Thursday? I'm NYPD so I have time but are they all cops or firemen?
LOLOL!!! Great Timing Logan !!! Just as I asked in my last post. You granted 505's and my request for a new topic.
Gonna read your article after I respond to Nick and Vukota.
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Nick ... thanks for your detailed and comprehensive response.
I actually thought the project was past a lot of mile stones that you mentioned. It puts everything in much better perspective for me.
I now understand yours and KH's roll as more of advocates for the project as private citizens. Makes sense. Appreciate the work that you guys do to help push the project forward. Wanger should give you guys free tix or something.
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Vukota ~ YES ... I do work. However I work in the media if you've read through my volumes of posts here ... LOL! I probably put you to sleep through the parts where I've mentioned that I work in the media .. and just like cops, firemen and other 24 hour service providers ..... my hours are unusual. I was off today.... and I'd say most of the guys that were at open hockey today (which they have every thursday afternoon) were either on vacation, young guys working part-time, cops, firemen, a doctor or self-employed.
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Now to read Greg's article.
Awesome article Greg!!!! Who'd of thought that our rants on the previous blog would be so topical to Greg's latest article.
505!!!! LOL!!! You made Logan's article. Priceless!!
I think Greg put it out there in much less words than I'm capable of... and no crazy math formulas too.
ah, please, back to hockey......
BTW, 19Isles......if I'd have seen your buddy (or anyone) in hockey gear with a "Drive for 5" patch on it, that would have gotten at least a case of beer outta me.
That is "Priceless".
As far as Logan "promising me" no more math? Well, I can't say that he "promised me"....but after last night and this mornings political discourse I suppose e-mailed death threats really can be productive.
:)
So, anyone care to guesstimate how 10 thousands of people in Montreal, Jersey and Rangerland are rooting for the Isles tonight?
Can this team stand the love?
Sounds like there are gonna be some tired kids out there tonight.
I DO NOT LIKE the idea of 5 games in 5 days with road travel for anyone, regardless of their age.
Logans article pinpoints that the "can do" attitude is still alive in America. It's just not alive and well in dysfunctional New York State.
Everything is studied to death, every politican has their hand in the pie and every vocal minority is treated as if they were the will of the people.
The Mets and Yankes were able to bull their way through because they have the National Pastime and the right political connections where it counts. Lobbyists rule in the land of OZ.
The Jets were shot down because of Cablevisions money and the Dolans influence in the state capitol.
Nothing here is done for the good of the common folk. It is all about who's wheels get greased.
Wang proposal is fabulous. It should have been passed years ago and should have been halfway completed by now. Good for the people of Pittsburgh. It's refreshing to know that common sense still has a place in America...........Sir William
Logans article pinpoints that the "can do" attitude is still alive in America. It's just not alive and well in dysfunctional New York State.
Everything is studied to death, every politican has their hand in the pie and every vocal minority is treated as if they were the will of the people.
The Mets and Yankes were able to bull their way through because they have the National Pastime and the right political connections where it counts. Lobbyists rule in the land of OZ.
The Jets were shot down because of Cablevisions money and the Dolans influence in the state capitol.
Nothing here is done for the good of the common folk. It is all about who's wheels get greased.
Wang proposal is fabulous. It should have been passed years ago and should have been halfway completed by now. Good for the people of Pittsburgh. It's refreshing to know that common sense still has a place in America...........Sir William
From the previous Mathematical Disaster....
Candyman....
"People here love Comrie, but tell me what's so great about Comrie"
I'm not sure where you are getting that impression from. Cuz I don't see any kinda love emanating from here....although I wouldn't mind seeing Duff coming on here and talking about him.
Sir William...
"It's refreshing to know that common sense still has a place in America..........."
My lifelong mantra....one that will be etched on my tombstone (right above "yo dog, take your schit elsewhere") is....
"Common Sense is Uncommon".
505~ He doesn't have just one drive for 5. He had four of em. He also had a Herman's sporting goods decal... and lots of electric tape holding his stuff together .... best part .... he didn't give a crap ... he was showing it off.. just as one might show off battle scars. That guy is a riot.
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I bet the Isles fan base increases 10 fold tonight. You bring up a good point 505. Can we expect these new found fans to grace this blog later tonight?
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I'm not crazy about the kids doing all that travel on the "taxi-line" ... is that what they are calling it? Wow ... just nuts. I hope the ST's make the playoffs ... ya think MSG+ will carry any games? Not a chance in Hades. They've carried Wolfpack games when the Rangers were shooting for 18 holes vs. 5 hole.
Just an FYI, but after that Declaration Nick mentioned gets signed by the Env Review Board, it ain't quite over yet. Actually, the subsequent environmental review requirements could take some time, probably on the order of at least 1 year depending on the level of documentation required, and most of that time is NY state review periods.
Again, none of this will necessarily keep this project from happening. The feds do this all the time when they put out an environmental impact statement: they are basically saying, "yup, we are going to have significant impacts, and yup there are some things we can do to minimize those, but guess what? We are moving forward."
The key will ultimately be related to how savvy the opposition is in making their case. These reviews typically are not popularity contests, as mandated by law, and so during this stage, the detractors must find flaws in assumptions, analysis, or conclusions made, or in how the process was carried out.
And just so everyone knows (and so 505 lays off on the tree hugger comments), when I say environment, the state defines it as:
"physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, noise, resources of agricultural, archeological, historic or aesthetic significance, existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth, existing community or neighborhood character, and human health."
Sir William ~
Well said and perfectly illustrated.
I have nothing to add to your post.
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505 ~ I'm going to have etched on my tomb stone...
"Ahhhhh ... now this is living"
19Isles...
"Can we expect these new found fans to grace this blog later tonight?"
As long as they leave their slide rules, calculators and calculus books behind.
D-money,
"And just so everyone knows (and so 505 lays off on the tree hugger comments), when I say environment, the state defines it as:"
HUH??? what?
How come I didn't see anything in that definition about Delis?
C'mon, what's more endemic to the LI environment than Delis?
And Pizza Joints?
Looks to me like a bunch a g'damn guvmint gobbledygook.
VUKOTA......... I played for the NYPD Blues in the Long Beach midnight adult league up until two knee operations ago. I also played in the Guns and Hoses league in Freeport way back. You can always find time for hockey. Change of tours or 28's were the way to go. I retired from QHS in 2001 and don't miss it one bit......Sir William
505 - I believe those places fall under the definition of:
"resources of...historic or aesthetic significance, existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth, existing community or neighborhood character, and human health"
As far as I can tell, every decent town on LI has a pizza place or deli that has been around for 20+ years that contributes fantastic sights, sounds, and smells and that is a central gathering point that has added to cohesion amongst the people of said town and drew others to it and that, ultimately, had a detrimental effect on the health of its citizens
My Comrie/Yashin debate from the end of the last thread...
Compare Comrie to Alex Yashin..both players dissappeared over the course of the season and are prone to turnovers and lazy play....but Yashin's on ice production was better than Comrie's...why did Nolan constantly bench Yashin but never did to Comrie??? Was it just that we had no other options this season? If that was the case then Snow should have known not to buy out Yashin...
Are we really better with out Yashin? -- Last season Snow decided to buyout Yashin but couldn't replace him on the ice...Yashin was a consistent 70 pt guy on the Isles which would have put him over the top as the team leader in points this season...remember all those games that we just couldn't score...remember all those powerplays with no one to feed the puck to in the slot....forget the "locker room turmoil" and whatever that means, but strangely enough, the 2007-2008 Isles could have used the services of Alex Yashin....
505, D Money........Well there's always Nathans on Long Beach Road to contribute to your accute coronary disease....Sir William
CANDYMAN, For all the abuse that Yashin, took he still managed to produce at nearly a point per game here. Buying Yashin out was Snow's poor attempt to show Smyth that he was serious about giving him control of the team.
When Smyth decide on Rocky Mountain High, Snow was left with egg on his face and no one to score. Just another in a long line of head scratching decisions that the Islanders have made over the years........Sir William
D-Money....
"As far as I can tell, every decent town on LI has a pizza place or deli that has been around for 20+ years..."
Town?
Every decent STRIP MALL.
" that contributes fantastic sights, sounds, and smells and that is a central gathering point that has added to cohesion amongst the people of said town and drew others to it.."
Screw all that crap....just gimme a Roast Beef, on a poppy seed roll, mayo, lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper, 1/4 pound of macaroni salad..to go....
"Wha delse?"
Just this Yoo-Hoo and a NEWSDAY.
"and that, ultimately, had a detrimental effect on the health of its citizens"
Yeah, so the doctor told me when I donated a gall bladder to the cause about 8 years ago.
I'd do it all again in a heartbeat (?).
There are just some things that a healthy lifestyle can't provide.
And life is too damn short anyway. Why wait?
Okay guys........YASHIN????
I thought he was dead and buried........
Which NHL team did we trade/unload him to???
Someone help me out here......
Who's he playing for right now?
Oh wait, I remember Yashin.....ate one too many pizza's from Borrelli's on Hempstead Tpke and had a cholestorol seizure while attending a Project Runway taping with Carol Alt.
Now his lifeless relic of a carcass serves as a floormat on Ms. Alt's latest workout video........."Steppin on the Ditz"....
"Which NHL team did we trade/unload him to???
Someone help me out here......
Who's he playing for right now?"
505...Yashin took a bag load of money to play in his home country....he would have led this group in points this season on a team starved for offense...he would have been our most skilled player...on a team of no skilled players that lost games b/c we had no skilled players are you saying you would not have rather had Yashin this season? I mean I guess you are I just disagree...
Watching Whitneys stick hit Dubie in the face and an impotent Isles team feebly protest this infraction is hard to watch. Man, this team has zero toughness and its trully pathetic. I accept losing , but, not getting your arse kicked!
Look, in school there was always the fly boy who got the hot chick.;but, I felt okay because I could kick his arse. The Islanders have no girl and cant kick anyones arse. Its just frustrating to watch and I blame the GM and Coach. Pittsburg just does what they want--this vrappola better not happen with the rags or ill jump on the freaking ice!
I agree Greggors.....Team needs some toughness. Well at least Snow brought # 3 in to help us out.....What a pathetic move that was.
Simple Billy and Isles72(sorry you are no Tonelli)......Thanks for ignoring me....Before you ignore me forever, can't you please finish why you want the Flyers coach?????? So far you are known for saying snide remarks, sticking up for MAB, trashing Nolan, and sticking up for Yashin........Let me guess Gordie Lane won us the 4 cups in the 80's. Too funny!
GREAT article Greg
And thank you very much Nick for your detailed post as well!!!
I am going to take a day off and attend at least one of these Hempstead town meetings. When the season is over I am also
going to get a listing up of representatives and get their quotes about the Lighthouse project. That is going to be MY project this summer. :)
What a move by Bergy, followed up by sheer brilliance by Syd the Kid.....
Then Ruutu cross checks Jackman in the face.....Simon did not stomp hard enough! As I said way back when, that guy deserves everything he gets!
Very appropriate quote of the night from the PIt announcers. Steigerwald and Errey ( whom I have enjoyed and respected all year) at the beginning of the 1st period.
Talking about the firepower of the Pen's 1st two lines now with Hossa and Crosby both back.
Errey says.....(without taking a breath)....
"I'd love to be coaching the Pen's right now with the two top lines that they have right now...I'd hate to be coaching the Isles right now with their 2 two top lines".
DAVISON!!!
With a dirty hit on Hossa!!!!
That's what PIttsburgh gets for telling the world about Hossa's knee injury instead of calling it a "lower body injury".
505...You just see when all players on the ice were in the scrum and Mr. # 3 still did not drop the gloves.
I'm serious when I ask this....Were the Youtube videos of him fake ????????
Nice scrap Jackman. Nice watching Davison you wuss.
"505...You just see when all players on the ice were in the scrum and Mr. # 3 still did not drop the gloves."
You mean Davison?
Yep......
another PP GOAL.....
Oh what a surprise...Satan does not belong on the point....that's 3 that I can remember so far this year.
Hey Davison roughed up Ruttu pretty good there...elbow and a forearm...
DROP THE GLOVES BIG GUY!!!
If you were the Rangers wouldn't you rather play Carolina in the first round ??? Everyone is talking about how they are going to move into 4th or 5th place. If I were them I would want to play Carolina in the first round rather than the Devils or Ottawa. I realize they play to win and the higher they move up the better, but in a perfect world Carolina is the easier 1st round opponent.
Oh I don't know Steady.....I hear that Carolina has the better coach.
Damn the Hummer Challenge Cup is tightening up.
LOL
Nice dive Hossa.....
The Pit announcers are struggling to come up with something on Bergie on this.....
Guess were not going to sign Hossa...LOL
Even funnier is that now #3 is going to have to fight King George if this game stays this chippy. Actually he will probably let Park fight him instead. :)
3-1 now..
It's payback time now for the Pens.....
Keep your heads and sticks up Isles...
Gonna get beyond chippy
Cant't complain about Dubie tonight.
All those that ripped Simon for his actions against Ruutu.....Please watch a vido tape of tonights game and tell me if you did not want to jump through the screen and rip his face off. Not in anyway saying Simon was right, but Ruutu deserves everything he gets.
So far tonight he fakes drop the gloves twice,,,,Crosschecked aa player to the face......and dove as if he was going off the high dive at Christopher Morely Park!
p.s KO is gonna be some player in this league!! He has IT !!!
Christopher Morley???
I used to hang there...
You forgot to mention that Johnson dropped his gloves after the dive and Ruttu declined..
I HAD A VISION TONIGHT ORACLE!!!
Right before the timeout.
Comeau picked up the puck next to Dubie and raced out of the zone leading a 3-2 rush (KO and Park on the wings) with Malkin chasing behind but unable to catch him..... (but gave KO a tough pass on the wrong side --KO was on the wrong wing).
Sign of the future my boys!!!
NBR one line next year.....Comeau centering KO and Bergie!!
I 100% agree I would love to see Kyle play with Bergie .... That would be a fun line to watch!
I did say the thing aboout the "fake drop" of the gloves by Ruutu in my above post.
Being from Port Washington we would go skate there....Then later in life "Trottiers" Glice opened by Bar Beach!!
Have a good night pal...I'm beyond tired. Tonight was a fun game to watch. The boys played hard, simply outmatched.
p.s ANON....That is the difference between yo uand us...We love our team win or lose ~ bad or good. I did drop in on the rags/devils game.....Brodeur made one of the nicest glove saves I have seen in years!
The Islanders will not get their arena.
Once the cable deal gets closer to expiring the Islanders will be filling out change of address cards.
I am a die hard Isles fan but we all know how Nassau County and all the town governments work.
It will never get approved.
The Isles will move and we will get 2nd rate concerts, ice shows, and Sesame Street shows.
There will never ever be a professional sports franchise in Nassau (and you won't see one in Suffolk either).
If not for the cable money the Isles would have already relocated to Carolina, Columbus, Vegas, wherever.
Sad but true.
LOL, Pitt must be reading this blog...
....after Hossa got hurt the 1st time tonight.on Davison's rather low hip check..... I said this...
"That's what PIttsburgh gets for telling the world about Hossa's knee injury instead of calling it a "lower body injury"."
Well, when Hossa went off the 2nd time after Bergie's INADVERTENT glancing blow....
The Pitt announcers said.....
"Hossa will not be returning tonight.....he has an "UPPER BODY INJURY".
Looked like a concussion to me.....after his noggin bounced off the ice a coupla times.
BTSA was horribly nasty for workouts outside in the summer. The stench from the roasting landfill next to it would make you vomit.
Eventually the glice went away, which was fine because it was roasting hot inside too, and it sucked getting silicone spray all over your equipment. Got a wicked quad burn from it though.
Bergie = 2Legit
Soft, weak, Islanders.
Even Milbury wouldnt allow this stuff...Nolan, Garth, WAKE UP! We are getting bullied.
Idiots. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
There are many Islanders that can't fight and can't even protect themselves. (Hunter-Satan) All these guys are soft like puppy Shiiit!
While watching the game tonight, I was wondering what you guys think of Ryan Malone who will be an UFA this summer?
I do not think that the Penguins would be able to match a higher offer than the Isles could muster. To me he certainly is worth what they overpaid for Tank this year. He would certainly rate a second line players money.
The question I have is: Is he really that good as he appears or does he benefit from the Crosby/Malkin overflow?
Snow claims he is a builder. Is this a guy who would fit that plan?
Would he be a player to go after this summer?...Sir William
Steady ~
"Being from Port Washington we would go skate there....Then later in life "Trottiers" Glice opened by Bar Beach!! "
I used to travel from Staten Island to Port Washington to attend Trott's hockey clinics. I went there went it was glice in 86 and still went even when they made it ice through the summer of 88. I have a pair of old hockey socks with the glice shreds still stuck to them. LOL!
I think I attended 3 summers and 6 mid season clinics at BTSA... and I have to say ... going there made me a complete hockey player .... yeah I still refined certain points of my game afterwards .... but after the summer of 88 ... I was always top line on teams I played on .... before that I was up and down between the 3rd line and 4th line as a right wing during the winter of 86. I probably got about 7-10 mins a game even though I had a very good shot... my skating, defensive and reaction skills were .... well .. they were just plain average to put it nicely.
While going to BTSA Trotts and his instructors taught me certain face off techniques and how to make my back hand shot deadly ..... and when to take a shot ... and when to pass ..... honed my instincts for the game. I always played Right Wing until I discovered through playing at Bryan Trottier's Skating Academy the art of face offs and playing center. I forgot who Trotts had as the development instructor there ... but he was excellent.
Here is a great exchange I'll never forget between Trotts and me.
I used to always try to position myself or pivot so I can take a shot off the forehand .... and playing right wing as a righty or even a center meant that I was cutting to the net with my back hand facing the net ...... so I'd try to pivot or turn to face the net on my foreheand.
Well ... I did this on a few rushes ... and Trotts blew the whistle and stopped me in mid rush .... he asked me why I don't take the shot on my back hand ... I said ... because I can't aim the puck as good ... and have no idea where it's going to go.... so Trotts said to me ...
"Well think of it this way ... if you don't know where it's going to go ... how is the goalie going to know where it's going to go?
.... and he followed that up with ... I"'ve seen your back hand shot during the back hand drills .... and I've seen NHL players with less of a back hand then yours"
..... that filled me with confidence .... and the very next rush I roofed the puck on the back hand just under the cross bar ... and I learned to aim it with a few follow through techniques that JT and Trotts taught me.
I scored sooo many goals in the last 20 years based on what I've learned there that other coaches never showed me.
For that reason alone .. I have to say .... I'd like to see Trotts have a shot coaching the Isles if Nolan doesn't work out for some reason. He might be the right kind of coach for a young developing team.... however I can't say I'm hating having him as the director of player development.
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Tonight's game seemed like lots of energy with little results .... as Steady put it .... liked the effort just over matched... Even KO looked somewhat mortal tonight ... he still looked good ... even had some opportunities ... just couldn't put it away. He'll get there .... he's got the tools.
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The lack of team toughness is really grating on my nerves. It's just as annoying to me as the lack of goal scoring. Oh, and Steady .... to answer your question about Ruutu ... I wanted to drill a puck through his skull. My girlfriend had to tell me to calm down on a few occasions. The fact that he scored that shorthanded goal sent me over the edge. I don't know why I'm still so angry when they are scored against ... because they are eliminated .. I just can't root for losses even though it helps in the draft lottery dept. Satan is now my new whipping boy.... add that to the #1_#2=#3, Comrie, Hunter & Tank.
SW ... I like Malone .... question is ... would he like the Island?
Any of you ice hockey players out there ever hear about these skate? http://www.thermablade.com/en/
Sir William....
I would take Malone in a heartbeat......if for no other reason than he usually kills the Isles. (and he's IRISH!!).
19 ISLES....I think it is more a question of how much Malone likes money. There is little doubt that the Isles will have to pay more than market value to attract some skilled players here.
So, I am guessing that a million more a season would probably make Malone an Island lover. Mybe a three year deal ?
I find it extremely hard to watch the game rooting for the team to lose. I just can't do it. I still want them to win even if it means a worse pick.
0 for 5 on the PP and a league leading 15 th short handed goal surrendered. Tell me again how great the coaching is here....Sir William
Hey William
Pitt ---with all their 5 STAR PLAYERS.....
Was 0-5 on the PP tonight as well. And I thought their's looked worse than ours.....5 superstars running around trying to make perfect plays.
Turning point was the shorthanded goal.
Satan should never play the point again.
Islander-Naples...
I've heard of that skate .. apparently it heats up the skate blade and provides less blade to ice resistance and makes for better gliding so you use less energy.
I know some NHL players from every team tried it out in practice earlier in the year ... I don't know if they bastardize the game though ... will the next thing they attach to skates be little turbo rocket boosters?
What happens if the battery runs out? Will players have to worry about keeping edges sharp and check the battery power. I'm sure it helps make a difference .... but again .... is that akin to a MLB player using an aluminum bat? Or using an electronic range finder with heads up display to hit a baseball? What about performance enhancing drugs? I'm all for advancing technology in sports ... but heated blades? Does it make the player skate faster? If it does ... will that make the game more dangerous. I'd really like NHL player's opinions on it before I totaly slam the idea.
Sir William this team needs grit and they need a heavyweight, there was no one in the lineup tonight who could have taken on Laraque, I hope that gets addressed in the off season
May I agree with you Isle27?
SW - Yeah .... How much does Malone like money .... and as 505 stated earlier .. he's Irish ... great Irish community in LI .... he'll feel at home .... what ever it takes.
I'm sure the Isles would have to give him at least an extra 250k per year.... and add some bonuses.
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505 made a great point .... All Star Pens .. 0-5 too.
I've mentioned this before ... but a coach can only do so much regarding the PP. The power play isn't a complex routing play like some plays in football. All high level hockey players learn the basic strategies of the PP by the bantam level.
The only thing a coach can do is have the players practice it.... other than that you can fault a coach for who he puts on the PP ... the object of the PP is to get as many clear shots at the net as possible.... and prevent the SH team from clearing the puck. I think both the Isles and Pens tonight took too much time trying to find the perfect shot .... there is no perfect shot if you have to look for it.
Speaking of Irishmen......
How the hell did I miss this??
Where was my personalized invitation!!!!!
Taken from the Isles website.....
"Your favorite Ice Girls and fellow Islanders fans will be at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale tonight to watch the Isles take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 pm."
But....but....but... I AM the ..........
Hmm....not too late for last call---and hotel/motel time
.....Scotty....beam me over!!
505.....Pitts PP % is 20.7 ours is 15.3 .I 'll trade their five for our five any day.
There are 3 teams tied with 11 shorties in second place. We have 15. That is unacceptable.
If a teams is batting .185, the batting coach gets fired.
If a teams ERA is in the 6.5, range the pitching coach goes.
Who should pay the price when a team has PP stats like the Isles?
Gallant?
Nolan?
You obviously can fire all the players.
Or should we just throw up our hands and say oh, well the team has no talent?
Doesn't someone have to take responsibility?
I mean this as a serious question, so no histrionics about Nolan are necessary....Sir William
...Sir William
That's up to you 505 your buddy Steady might get mad at you.
Here's a question I would like answered why is it year after year the Isles are shorthanded more times than they are on the PP. It's a very disturbing pattern with them. Is it their style of play or is it that the officials screw them year after year.
19 ISLES I am not sure I agree that the PP can't be improved by coaching. The greatest PP I ever saw was implimented by the great Red Army teams of the '60's and '70's and involved isolating one player to the side of the net while the other 4 bunched on the other side of the ice. The result was often a "slam dunk" by the isolated player.
The Washington Captials employeed this with Peter Bondra for many, many years.
Could not the coaching staff at least tried that or tried the "umbrella" type steup.
.
All I saw all year was a dump and chase that resulted in a 15.3 percentage.
Good coaching can improve a teams performance. Otherwise why have one?......Sir William
Isles27
"That's up to you 505 your buddy Steady might get mad at you."
CLEARLY, you are making an assumption without basing it on facts. Steady and I have disagreed on a number of subjects on this board.
But, yeah, I consider him a "buddy"....I consider a great many people here buddies...most everyone in fact.
I'll buy you a beer sometime.
This year the latest stats I saw the Isles have been shorthanded 397 times compared to being a man up 314 times. This goes on year after year after year.
No problem 505 but don't think that Carolina coach comment got by me I saw it.
ISLES27......Most penalties are taken by lazy or untalented players. Comrie and Satan stood out this year as lazy penalty takers.
Most of this team is comprised of lesser talented players who had to hold, hook or trip to keep up with skilled players who could skate rings around them.
Let's face it. This years team lacked the talen to compete with faster, quicker, skilled teams.......Sir William
"why is it year after year the Isles are shorthanded more times than they are on the PP."
It's not as bad (the differential) this year ias it was last year... I think the Isles were minus 90 or something in calls against compared to calls for.
Why is that?
We cheat.
Cuz we have to.
And we get caught.
Cuz our players aren't as skilled.
And minus the kids, we probably have the slowest skating team in the league.
You can't coach speed.
Faster teams draw more penalties.
Slower teams get more penalties.
William,
There is nothing, very little that can be done with the PP at this point in the season. Except experiment with it, tinker with it for next year.
The entire PP issue was a very hotly debated topic on this board for the 1st 3 months of the season.
I, for one, was not happy that Nolan had MAB in the press box for a significant part of the 1st 2 months.
NOBODY was happy that Nolan was using the PP as a "reward system" for players who he deemed to be worthy for their hard work. (Hilbert and Park together on the PP? huh?).
So know that we ALL have had issues with Nolan this season (even Steady) about certain things.
But I still like the guy. I want him back next year.
I HOPE he learned from mistakes and moved on.
Wait til next year....
5