Four relatively fresh troops got off the Bridgeport shuttle this morning at the Coliseum. Goaltender Joey MacDonald will play the most prominent role, starting against the Devils tonight in place of Wade Dubielewicz, who is being rested for the season-ending back-to-back set with the Rangers. Drew Fata will be asked to play major minutes on defense, and forward Matt Keith will make his Islanders debut in a fourth-line role.
But even though he figures to play fewer minutes than any of the newcomers, the sight of enforcer Kip Brennan in an Islanders uniform for the final three games of the season might be the most welcome for many fans who have lamented the lack of a real tough guy capable of protecting his teammates. There’s no arguing Brennan’s credentials on that score.
In fact, his list of “credentials” includes recent suspensions in Bridgeport of 15 games and four games. The game tonight will be Brennan’s first since coming off suspension.
In Brennan’s view, he has made an impact for the Sound Tigers. “I like to think I add a good physical presence to the team, and other teams don’t take advantage when I’m out there,” he said at the pre-game skate today. “When I’m not playing, it’s a different game. Unfortunately, I’ve had a past where I’ve had suspensions, and it follows me. I don’t think I’ve really done anything out of my job description, but I’m more vulnerable to suspensions than other players.”
Brennan will be a free agent following this season, so, the remaining three games are his chance to prove to general manager Garth Snow and coach Ted Nolan that he’s good enough to play at the NHL level next season. “I can add a different dimension to the game – explosive, hard, a physical aspect that a lot of teams like to have,” Brennan said. “I’m going to show it in one of these games. Whenever I get out there, I’m going to put some guys through the boards and crash the net. I’ll be disciplined but play hard at the same time.”
With the Devils trying to secure their playoff berth tonight and then the Rangers rivalry spicing things up, things just might get a little chippy. It won’t be surprising if Brennan crosses swords with Devils enforcer David Clarkson or maybe the Rangers’ Colton Orr.
But Islanders coach Ted Nolan is looking for someone who can handle the hockey part of the role as much as the physical aspect. “The point of toughness is not necessarily dropping your gloves and seeing how you can beat up somebody,” Nolan said. “Mental toughness is the key issue we want to address, and it’s not the fisticuffs part. It’s the physical part. Kip adds a certain element to teams, but let’s be fair with him. He’s been under suspension and hasn’t practiced too much. His ice time will probably be very limited tonight.”
Today’s callups mean forwards Tim Jackman and Steve Regier will finish the season in Bridgeport as the Sound Tigers make their final push to qualify for the AHL playoffs. Both played five games in five nights last week, alternating between Bridgeport and the Islanders from last Wednesday through Sunday. Defenseman Matthew Spiller remained with the Isles because defenseman Aaron Johnson became the 12th veteran on the injury list with a rib problem that leaves him day-to-day.
“It would be unfair for us to call them up [again],” Nolan said. “We’ve had enough of a look-see already. We’ve seen what they can bring and what they can deliver. Now, we’ll see how they react down in Bridgeport fighting for a playoff spot.”
ISLANDERS SIGN TOP COLLEGE D-MAN: The Islanders this afternoon announced the signing of 22-year-old Colorado College defenseman Jack Hillen to a two-year contract. Hillen was the leading scorer among NCAA Division I defenders with six goals and 31 assists for 37 points in 41 games as a senior this season. Hillen is expected to attend Islanders practice on Wednesday and make his debut at some point during the final two games against the Rangers.
The 5-11, 200-pound Hillen grew up in Minnesota and is well-acquainted with rookie Kyle Okposo. “I know Kyle Okposo well from playing against him, and he had many glowing things to say about how the organization has treated him,” Hillen said in a statement. “The Islanders were a perfect fit for me.”
DRAFT NOTES: The Islanders can secure at least the fifth spot in the draft lottery via any combination of three lost points by them or points gained by Columbus, which has 80 points and also has three games remaining. It’s very much within the realm of possibility the Isles could climb as high as third entering the lottery. They have 76 points compared to 74 apiece for St. Louis and Atlanta. Interestingly, the Blues meet the Blue Jackets in a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday to end the season, meaning at least four points have to be awarded during those games, which should help the Islanders one way or another. As a reminder, a team can move up a maximum of four spots in the lottery, meaning only the bottom five teams have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick. A team can drop no more than one spot.
Comments (159)
KIP is coming! I'm starting to think the bobbleheads read my posts! :) :)
Say GOOD BYE # 3 !!! You are no longer needed!
I think the Bobbleheads are reading my posts! :)
Welcome KIP...Long time coming!
BYE BYE # 3 ... You are no longer needed!
The second one was a re-hit...sorry
Steady,
I may be wrong, but the internet says Kip is a 6'4" 220 lb LW. I'm looking forward to seeing him fill the third roster spot they desperately need next year (at no cost). But I don't think that has much of an impact on Davison's position on the team this year or next.
Davison should be in the AHL to start the season next year, if they re-sign him. The only way he is in the NHL next October is if the whole defensive corp gets hep-c from Avery.
Depending on how he got along with Spiller in BP, we might see him give Ash a go...
how 'bout dem Mets!!!
I saw Kip play some games in pre-season. watch this guy fight. GODDARD LIKE !! To be honest I never truly watched him skate and his positioning. More just watch the fighting aspects. The man can throw em!
I'm sorry I do not feel your same trust that # 3 can turn it around. He has shown me zippo. Maybe b/c I have been so bitter about the fact he has not stuck up for his teamates and he was touted as an enforcer. I just see him out of position a lot and not solid in any one area.
Nice Start for the Amazins! Santana is sure fun to watch. Let's hope Pedro gets fired up as well! My ORACLE prediction is Maine wins 18 games this year!
Don't the Islanders have actual prospects to call up? I mean Spiller, Jackman, Johnson, Fata, Keith?? What the heck is going on? Plus the prospects they have called up during the year like Walter, Tambellini and Walter are 24 years old and are tweeners. Aren't there any real prospects to call up?
I hope Macdonald is not the backup instead of Dubie.... from what I've seen Dubie is much better.... guess he's playing tonight though... C'mon JOEY... prove themass wrong please... F**k the draft... lets take 2 from NJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!
Did you see what Comeau just did to White!!!!!
That was freakin hilarious!!!!
ok... has anyone else noticed that nolans system works better with speed in the lineup... even though they arent finishing at least they are creating oportunities
Nice for Jack Hillen... but we've seen more than one Baker award winner come through here in the last decade... I don't recall any that turned into special players.
This team need special players.
Frei,
Wasn't Jason Blake a Baker award winner?
themass,
"f" the draft - lets take 2?
Are you a moron?
No I'm not a moron... I watch every game, whether live or recorded and I'm trying to be entertained and be spoilers for teams playing for playoff position... Apparently this is going to be a "deep draft" so will there really be a difference between the 5th and 6th pick. No moron here... just a true fan.... sucka!!
Joey Mac is proving me wrong today... I thought I heard Jaffe say that he's signed one way for next year... is this accurate... anyone know any links to check?
Just back from the game ...reading through some of the posts ...and something jumped out at me ...now, themass, clearly you're a real fan, but there's a big difference between 5th and 6th ....the chance - albeit a slight one - at landing Stamkos ...you have to be in it to win it ;-) ...plus, the game I was just at was anything but entertaining ...
I hope the Blues hang out (lord knows the Thrashers are too pitiful to pass us) ...and I hope we lose our last two games ...
We need to either get lucky and pick #1 (duh!) but if that doesn't happen we need to be in a position to draft Beach ...I'm not too worried about other team's position in the playoffs - we should be worried about aquiring talent so that we can be there every year ...
This team is so hard to root for ...when I want them to win - they lose ...when I want them to lose they win (or lose in OT) ;-)
Just my opinion ...nothing personal ...
McDonald looked good. I like his positioning and clamness.
Yeah, Steady, I was at the game and McDonald did look really clammy.
We in D&B's power section 220 were trying to figure out who Keith was, and where he came from. I know the Devils are strong, but a 2:1 ratio of shots for and against is just sad. I'm just glad they serve Guinness.
Here's to two shootout wins against the Rangers!
lol...Sorry... CALMNESS !!
Actually, I meant two shootout losses, or perhaps two losses where Kip Brennan knocks out Colton Orr's teeth in the first game and Avery's in the second. Although that does increase Kip's chances of contracting Hep-c from avery...
Does anyone have a breakdown of the draft picks, let's say 1-10, and who do we really want or need?
And Steady, watching Joey McD was definitely a high point of the evening, plus Freddy showing his goaltending skills. Unfortunately that was about it.
Out of the loop .... so I'll refrain from commenting on today's game or player moves .... except that I have to say that the D-man, Jack Killen that the Isles signed isn't projected to be a super star ... but he's figured to be a top 4 capable defenseman with a great first pass out of the defensive zone ... I'd have to see him play more before I pass my own judgement though.
I have a hockey game packed week this week ... so you'll be spared long novels from me.
My team is going to the finals on Thursday night .... we won 4-3 ... so it was a battle with mini-riots going on tonight ....
Friday, Sat and Sunday .... is our 3 day mens' tournament honoring the 3 local teams for which we are fans of ... and the 4th team is the everyone else team. The Flyer fans couldn't fill out their team's roster .... so fans of other teams were incorporated.
I don't know if you signed up Busey ... Friday night after the skills compitition there is a reception party ... beers, brats, deli and even some pasta.
Nobody should get too ripped because the first game is at 7am .... if you didn't sign up yet I know the Ranger squad was able to meet the minimum roster size ... but I was told that they can fit 3 more players. John & Pete are at the skyrink tomorrow evening if you're game.
Bri;
I just did a little post up on Kyle Beach with a collection of articles here;
http://z9.invisionfree.com/IslandersPirateHaven/index.php?showtopic=29
I'm gonna dig out some more later.
With all the nonsense on this board over the last few days about the Rangers potential for not making the playoffs, a team that has been OVERLOOKED in all of this, is the one-time BEAST OF THE EAST.
At the risk of pulling a Rose WDD, Ottawa is some real danger right now.
The same team who's cocky announcers were giddily boasting about a "120 point season" back in January, close out the season with 2 very tough back to back games and need 3 points to secure a playoff position.
Toronto on the road will be against a team that SHOULD looking to save some face by defeating their provincial rival, followed by Boston at home.....a team that will most likely NEED to win that game.
Oh how the high and mighty have fallen since that emotional victory against Detroit in Jan, followed up by the St. Christopher's Day mugging at home by the mighty Freddy ("Head's up Spezza!!") Meyer led Isles,
I would laugh harder at and get extreme pleasure out of seeing the Sen's pull a Met-like collapse.
Ah...my last Isles game this year--although I'll see the Caps in DC on Saturday. However, if they were going to lose, couldn't they have done it in the final 30 seconds.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm proud of these guys over the past few weeks. They have been so overmatched, but they have competed hard and have actually been entertaining to watch--especially the young kids trying to make a mark. And quite frankly, it's astounding how well they have done against teams needing wins when their blue-line is so totally decimated right now.
But can the Blues give us any help????????????????
Easy with the MEt-like collpase 505. :)
I don't care what anyone says, the 04 Yanks was the biggest collapse choke job in the history of baseball! Up 3 games, up a run, two out, mo on the mound.....Come on!
BTW
Next monday is the draft drawing. I have a feeling that by then there is going to be a lot of tanking accusations flying about. Especially with St Louis blowing their game tonight. Wouldn't be surprised to see some fingers pointed at Atlanta as well.
Just a hunch.
The top five and Stamkos as a crown jewel tend to encourage a lot of finger pointing in this league. Of course the lottery is supposed to dispel a lot of that but I don't think they ever considered a draft such as this.
Just being in the top five lands you a potential elite and #1 gets you a guy who could be a player for the ages.
Oh c'mon Steady.....
I'm not gonna get into a "which was worse" discourse with you cuz ultimately it boils to what color glasses one wears.
BUT.....as far as an analagous parallel for a late season demise by a team that had a playoff spot all but locked up with 2-3 months to go in a season, I'm liking the parallel I drew between the Met's and Ottawa.
No offense...but.... it is pretty similar.
Now...if Ottawa makes it into the playoffs and at some point faces their MTL rivals for the conference championship...and takes a 2-0 lead into the final minute of Game 4 of a 3-0 series and blows THAT....well, then we have a different parallel.
last anon was me.....new laptop
I think that barring a late season surge by St. Loo, (ain't gonna happen) we should content ourselves with the nbr 5 spot and end the season in a blades of glory by winning the Hummer Challenge.
And the who better to give us all the Hummer but NBR 16?
I would love to snag Beach if Stamkos is not available.
I like the Hillen signing. Needed a puck moving defensman to replace Berard for next year, plus it gives us more depth in that spot.
Netminder.....
"Needed a puck moving defensman to replace Berard for next year,"
No offense, but I think you are giving Berard too much credit for something he doesn't do very well anymore.
But I like the "more kids" program.
Hey, where are all the Rag trolls? Funny, I'm actually reading a Newsday Blog where I'm learning something this time.
Hillen, while he may not be a D-man that will tear up the league, I like the spirit of the signing. Young guy coming off a great last year in college ready to show what he's got. That is EXACTLY the direction that we need. I'm dying for a comitment to a paradigm change towards youth that will help the team actually build itself up.
I'm glad MacDonald played well tonight, but I'm worried that this means that we aren't going to keep Dubie. To tie this into my point from above, the kids need to see some real loyalty out of this franchise. Dubie has been far and away more than we could have asked of him, and there's a chance that we're just going to let him go. That is sad, and a bad message to send to the kids.
Stamkos? Would be absolutely great. But don't forget about Doughty and Piertangelo (I know the spellings are probably wrong, I'm being lazy and don't feel like checking)
505
i know where you are coming from, but i think if Berard wasn't always benched for MAB, and had Campoli been healthy all year, I think Berard could have gotten 40 points this year. Something we havent seen since i believe Aucoin. Now I know he's not great defensively, and yes you are right in that he's also in his twilight, and his numbers could have been better this year, but other than Campoli, he was the only other d-man who could at least move the puck.
The Islanders can secure at least the fifth spot in the draft lottery via any combination of three lost points by them or points gained by Columbus, which has 80 points and also has three games remaining. It’s very much within the realm of possibility the Isles could climb as high as third entering the lottery. They have 76 points compared to 74 apiece for St. Louis and Atlanta. Interestingly, the Blues meet the Blue Jackets in a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday to end the season, meaning at least four points have to be awarded during those games, which should help the Islanders one way or another. As a reminder, a team can move up a maximum of four spots in the lottery, meaning only the bottom five teams have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick. A team can drop no more than one spot.
YOU CAN SECURE 5TH SPOT IF YOU LOSE! MOST TEAMS WANT TO SECURE PLAYOFF SPOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT A PUTRID ORGANIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVEN IF YOU GET A GOOD SPOT GARTHIE BOY WILL F*** IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, great. The trolls are back.
Netminder, I definately think Berard underperformed partly because of the lack of healthy D around him, but I think 40 points is a little extreme, just because the PP around him on the offensive side sucked, period.
Just finished a vid-file uplink to our scouting client in Montreal ... Julien (the scout tech) up there and I had an interesting convo about the draft, playoffs and the Isles' signing of Killen ....
About Killen first ... he said ... and he concurred with one of the scouting coordinators there .. that Killen was one of the most sought after unsigned FA's coming out of college/ juniors ... they recieved a spike in scouting footage requests for games involving Colorado College and Killen than any other player the past few months ... the scout working with Julien said Hillen reminds him of Mathieu Schneider more than any other player ... and is a late bloomer. He still needs to polish up his game ... but he has instincts that are difficult to teach... so he's a step up ... he projects him with top pair potential ... and is a steal for the Isles since it cost them nothing (draft pick, or trade).
-------------------------------------------------
About playoffs ... of course you can guess that these two Hab fans up there are hoping the Ottawa swan dive continues ... they were laughing and said that the begining of the Ottawa dive started when Freddy Meyer IV cleaned Spezza's clock ..... they also expect Washington to make the playoffs and give the Habs a run for their money ... and maybe even upset the Habs .... that they don't want.
The said they don't want the Caps to make the playoffs ... but feel it is inevitable with their late season surge.
-----------------------------------------------
The draft ....
Stamkos is the guy everyone is talking about ... but their scouts feel other forwards like Wilson, some Russian guy, Beach are right up there .... and they criticize Stamkos' lack of size vs. the other picks ... I think the Russian guy they said was undersized forward.
Wilson and Beach may also be a better fit for an Islander team Julien felt. He said Stamkos would be more successful out west ... but the Isles need a tough hard nosed center with high offensive skills ..... that is more of a Beach / Wilson and he even mentioned some other guy that moved up big time in the rankings .. I think he said he plays on Sarnia too with Stamkos ... tough highly skilled centers .... he also said that Crosby had a tougher spunky edge in the Juniors than Stamkos does ....
They said Stamkos is great with trick plays ... and dazzling a crowd ... but he will have much less room to do that in the NHL ... and since Wilson and Beach are NHL ready no non-sense tough skilled forwards ... they might be better for an Islander team soft up the middle in both talent and toughness .....
--------------------------------------------
..... Isles soft up the midde? Wait a minute!! We have Comrie ... LOLOL!!!
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That is it for now ... gotta get back to work .... I'll have more to share later.
Wow Netminder......
".....I think Berard could have gotten 40 points this year."
Talk about audacity of hope/dopes?
And if he had 2 good eyes, maybe 80?
I think if we review the tapes from the league leading 273 short handed goals allowed this year.....one would see that Berard and Satan were responsible/initiated 90% of them.
He's done.....finished.....start Hillen right away.
Campoli/Witt/Sutton/Martinek/Meyer/Hillen and Gervais next year (you can NEVER have too many D-men).
Unless Gervais gets an offer we can't refuse by draft day.
anon
"They have 76 points compared to 74 apiece for St. Louis and Atlanta."
Atlanta only has one game left.
St. Louis is GM'ed by John Davidson...St Louis blew a 2 goal lead in the 3rd period last night.
The Isles will be 5th from the bottom on Monday.
So let's go out in a Blades of Glory and beat the GD Rangers TWICE this week.
It ain't the Stanley Cup, but I'll take a worthy HUMMER anytime.
In regards to MacDonald Signing a one way contract, that is tru..I believe they said a 2 yr deal...NOT positive on that, and it is also true that Dubie does NOT have a contract, which most likely means Mac will be our backup next year..In the pregame show, there was a question asked to Stan "the man" Fishler about who the backup will be next year and he believes it will be Joey Mac!! Watchin his play last night, it may not be a bad move, but it does show no loyalty to Dubie who has had to step it up 2 seasons in a row when DP went down, and i dont believe he ever got a real shot at backup, playing minimum games due to DP's STUPIDITY wanting to play 82 games a season, which has led to injuries...
Now onto draft day....When asked about who the islanders will be looking for on draft day, it seemed as if they mentioned only 1 foward, that being STAMKOS and the rest defensemen...Now these defensemen were big boys all over 6' 200lbs, which is nice, but we def need a highly skilled center...NO QUESTION!!! IF we pick up another defensemen i will be so aggravated and probably punch my tv during draft day...WE have a pretty solid defensive corp with the addition of Killen, who is scouted to be a pretty good defensmen....WE NEED OFFENSE, OFFENSE OFFENSE.....I havent heard anything about BEECh or Wilson or any other foward besides STAMKOS, but if what is true from 19 ISLES about there scouting report on STAMKOS, not having size....i dont wanthim...i dont want a CROSBY, i want an OVECHKIN!!!, ok i take that back, ID take CROSBY also, but id prefer an OVECHKIN!!!!
Well....I hate to go there, but I've been beating the Colin Wilson drum for the last 4 months because he goes to my alma mater and I saw right away the kid was an absolute stud. I would love to have Stamkos if we win the draft lottery, but if we don't I'd be perfectly happy with one of those guys (by the way 19 Isles, the Russian guy is Nikita Filatov).
I'll tell you this much...I would hate to be Garth if he's on the clock and Wilson and Beach were both still available. Two NHL-ready prospects, Wilson a hard-nosed stud who played in a defensive college league, so he's responsible in his own end, and Beach, a great physical specimen at 6'4 about whom serious attitude questions have been asked. That might be the next Nilsson vs. Parise argument in Islander history, though I think we'll come out ahead this time.
Though it's funny, I've stopped asking people if the Islanders were winning or losing. If I'm not watching and text a friend for an update, I now say "are they Stamkosing or Wilsoning?"
One thing I can tell you about watching my alma mater so closely...Colin Wilson has a Druryesque ability to score the big goal. Anything our Captain, Peter MacArthur (who by the way is on an ATO with Bridgeport...I WANT HIM SIGNED GARTH!) didn't score, Wilson did. That could count for something.
One more quick hit and I'm done for a while....I noticed 2 disturbing things about Beach this year. With a smaller percentage of his points on the power play this year, he's gone from +27 to -4. In addition, his PIM are up to over 200, and I see he has an entry on hockeyfights.com
The kid could very well be a loose cannon, and it would serve Garth and the scouting staff well to investigate. 19Isles, does your scouting friend have any comment on that?
Did a post up on 4th ranked Cody Hodgson here;
http://z9.invisionfree.com/IslandersPirateHaven/index.php?showtopic=30
A few articles. One from NHL.com and another from 2006 relating to the OHL draft.
I'm glad to see Hillen got signed. Smart move. I agree these young guys will pump up the team and get the Isles back on track, especially with the fans.
Don't know much about Stamkos but his stats look pretty solid
I caught a few BU games this year and Wilson's definately got the potential, but I don't agree that he's NHL ready yet. He's got size and speed but doesn't seem to have the force and drive of some other players like MacArthur. He's an NHL quality offensive player that'll rack up some points. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Peter MacArthur already got signed by the Isles?
A Rangers fan trying to use screwed up high draft picks as a weapon?
Now that is freakin funny. Of course a Rangers fan wouldn't care about the draft. The only two first round picks that they've had success with in the past 22 years are Leetch and Kovalev. Everyone else has been a sure fire bust.
Marc Staal is already headed for bustville himself. He's the middle of his litter and his older and younger brother are both better than him.
Genetics can't help that mediocre franchise.
They don't call the Rangers the Strangers for nothing.
They're Strangers to successful first round picks.
They're strangers to the Stanley Cup.
Their success in the first round nearly mirrors their success at winning championships
THe more I read about Beach the more I am convinced the Isles should steer clear of this guy. He started off strong this season but wound up getting two concussions.
He's gonna drop to the late first round and maybe even second depending on how things shake out. His production also fell off from what I hear after returning. Supposedly he's not the same player he was before.
I think Pietrangelo will go high. Only knock on him is his size and lack. Other than that he has solid offensive instincts. Have a feeling he may go second.
MacArthur is on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) with the Sound Tigers, so he is not officially Islander property. Let's correct that error at the end of the season.
I think Beach may wind up dropping in the draft now that I read more on him. Two concussions this year are not going to bode well for him. Looks like he's one hit away from calling it quits.
Hodgson might be the center left standing where the Isles pick. Not a bad choice considering he was ranked 2nd after Stamkos by the ISS to start the year.
I think Pieterangelo is going to wind up in Tampa. Doubt they draft a forward.
You could make the same case for LA if they win the lottery. I'd almost wonder if Drew Doughty becomes the 1st overall pick if LA goes up first. Dean Lombardi is notorious for picking his guys and filling what he believes are his team's needs rather than going for the consensus pick. Look no further than taking Thomas Hickey, a guy most scouts had going in the 2nd round, at #4 last year after he failed to trade down.
Chickendirt, I assume you are the same one who spouts inane droll on hockeybuzz too?
"Marc Staal is already headed for bustville himself"
Are you completely out of your mind?
He is the best defenseman by a mile that has come out of the draft of 2005 and 3 defenseman were picked ahead of him.
He is only 21 years old and already he has become a rock on the blueline playing 20 minutes a night.
Ask any Islander fan with a clue and everyone of them would take Marc Staal on their team in a heartbeat, as well of fans of every other team in the NHL.
You lose any credibility you ever had making stupid statements like that.
you know, I hope I am not accused of being a "troll" because I countered chickendirts accusing of Marc Staal being a bust.
It's a ridiculous comment that is virtually impossible to read without commenting back.
I have to step in here....I hate the Rangers as much as the next guy, but I'd take Dubinsky and Staal, no question. I would LIKE for every Ranger prospect to be a bust, but I'm enough of a hockey fan to recognize and give credit to a good player.
thanks Nick, any rational person knows what kind of player Marc Staal is, this guy is ridiculous.
Staal has 10 points in 76 games. At the age of 21 that ain't exactly "young" for prospect. Even given that there are TONS of mid tier defensmen that have put up better numbers in their Rookie seasons that Marc Staal.
Those numbers are bad even for a project pick. Marc Staal like all other Rangers 1st round picks is a HUGE busto. The only thing that has kept his rating so high was the "Staal" last name. Much of it rising on the coat tails of his brother's successes in the league.
Marc Staal is horrible and I think Chris Campolli is a much better defensemen. On core of Defensemen such as the Rangers Marc Staal should have no problems standing out.
Guys a bust and dissapears more than Oleg Kvasha. What the hell exactly has Marc Staal done to justify all the hype surrounding him? I haven't seen this guy do a damn thing that makes me thing he's going to be standout much less a top two defensemen. Most guys even having a bad rookie season you can see flashes in. Staal hasn't displayed a damn thing.
As a matter of fact, following his draft year successes his numbers in the OHL dropped off by 15 points. Most prospects would have seen the hype subside a bit. Yet, this is a Rangers draft pick and if you go down the line of a lot of their first round picks, every single one of them received the same amount of hype. From Sundstrom, Montoya, Maholtra to Pavl Brendl. All of them are busts. The book has yet to be written on Montoya but before he was dealt he received just as much hype as Staal. Now that he's gone the word from Rag fans is that he was a bust.
Should we go over later round pick defensemen in this league that have had better rookie seasons?
Chris Campolli put up three times the numbers on a MUCH worse Islanders team.
Bruno Gervaise put up 70% of Staal's production his first season and played less that 50% of Staal's 76 games.
Even Kyle McClaren put up better numbers than Staal has in his Rookie season on a bad Boston Bruins team. And that guy started his career at 19 years of age.
Damn!!!!
Even the great Freddie "Freakin" Meyer has better numbers in his first season than the overhyped Marc Staal. 27 pts in 57 games to Staal's 10pts in 76.
There are tons of mediocre middle defensemen in this league that have shown more in their Rookie seasons than Marc Staal. Many of them his age or younger coming out of weaker ranks than the OHL.
This guy is a huge bust.
my god chickendirt are you a complete jacka$$?
do you know anything about hockey?
Take a look at Jack Johnson's "numbers" this year with L.A., is he a complete bust?
Take a look at Chris Phillips first year numbers with Ottawa, Jay Bouwmeester's with Florida, Chris Pronger's with Hartford, the list is a mile long.
Defensemen take a long time to mature and develop, the offensive part of the game takes the longest, no intelligent person looks at offensive numbers when looking at a young defenseman, especially one with Staal's size.
You are a know nothing troll.
Every other Islanders fans thinks the same.
Philips and Bouwmeester were not hyped to be offensive Dynamos as Marc Staal.
Even so, Philips in his first 72 put up 16 pts. 6 better than Staal's 10 in 76. And he ain't exactly gifted offensivly. His best season came ten years after he was drafted with a 26 pt season.
Unless Staal has 6 pts he's gonna pull out of his a$$ in the next six, Boewmeester still had a better Rookie season. Even if Staal winds up like Bouwmeester he's still a huge disspointment. Lets not even forget the fact that Boumeester plays on a TERRIBLE Florida Panthers team. Bouwmeester has filled out to his projections. Not a guy that will excel offensivly per se but reliable in his own zone and can put up Adrian Acouin like numbers.
So you don't get an out on that one either.
And you're bringing up Pronger. That guy managed 30 points in his Rookie season on a terrible Hartford Whalers team.
All these guys had better Rookie seasons than Marc Staal. Two of them playing on terrible teams.
How this supports any point you are trying to make about Marc Staal projections is lost here. Those guys had better numbers playing on bad teams.
Again, Staal is very much a bust and overhyped Rag garbage. Wouldn't be surprised to see him on the woodpile of other overhyped Ranger prospects like Brendl, Sundstrom and Maholtra.
you are completely lost and hopeless, you have got to be the dumbest hockey blogger I have ever seen on the internet
but, I don't imagine you will go away anytime soon, I promise you I will be following around whenever I see you on a blog for years to come to remind you of how dumb you are when Marc Staal becomes a perennial all-star in the NHL.
I don't know about calling Marc Staal a perennial NHL all-start, though I like him as a player...I think the main thing here is to avoid judging people based solely on their rookie year. First of all, Chris Phillips was a #1 overall pick, so you can't try to downplay the hype around him...even Bouwmeester was the consensus #1 until Columbus won the lottery and decided to take Rick Nash. I'm sure they were planning Jimmy Carson's Hall of Fame plaque at that point....and how long did it take Vinny Lecavalier to put it all together and become the force people expected?
Chickendirt, I think you're grasping at straws here solely because you can't make value judgments on a player based on such a limited sample of work. You sound like those ridiculous people on this blog calling Okposo a bust because Peter Mueller, taken a pick behind him, was already in the NHL and contributing. Let's see how the years play out and then make some judgments.
Staal's prospect bio states little upside with offensive talent if compaired to his defensive talents. He's a D-man first kind of player.
So really, who the heck cares about his rookie year numbers when he's defensively better as a rookie than most of his VERY YOUNG DEFENSIVE TEAM!
Chickendirt, come clean, you don't watch the Rangers or Staal play. There's enough proof in you rantings to prove that. But it's always better to see you write the truth, something you might not be used to doing. Go on give it a try.
ok, it's true. I don't know anything about the Rangers, Staal or hockey.
Happy now?
Are we still arguing about Staal???? who cares about Staal...Hes a decent defense men who in time should mature into a solid d-man...I'm an Islanders fan, but im not gonna sit around and start bashing certain hockey players for no reason..Listen, as someone stated before, to become a solid strong defensemen in this league you need experience, and thats FINAL...Maybe Staal will be a bust, or maybe he will be the next Brian Leetch, but who really cares, I sure as heck DONT....CAN WE PLEASE GET ONTO ANOTHER DEBATE, AND STOP TALKING ABOUT WHOSE PROSPECTS ARE BETTER, because nobody really knows who has the better prospects because they ARE PROSPECTS....In 5 yrs, then talk about who HAD the better PROSPECTS...JESUS MARY AND KEVIN...THIS IS BECOMING A VERY BORING USELESS ARGUMENT...SO FOR THE SAKE OF bloggers who actually have hockey knowledge, can we DROP this STAAL debate....thank you!!!
Sorry, but I've won this argument every which you want to paint it ON FACTS.
I'm not arguing that Philips filled out to his expectations either. He's not terrible but not a guy who has justified a first overall pick either. Definitly a huge dissapointment considering his draft position. Either way, much better Rookie season than Staal.
Guys in their Rookie years usually show flashes despite their struggles. Staal hasn't shown much at all. The rule is that it takes about 300 games to develop a player. Even so, after 76 games there should be some degree of progression. Staal hasn't shown squat in that department.
I can argue this anywhich way from tuesday. Staal is not going to match his hype and was projected as a guy who can amass big numbers offensivly based on his OHL stats and play in his draft year. Those numbers declined the year after.
It's a common think for the Rags to overhype their own prospects. They do it with every single guy they've drafted in the first round and they've all been huge dissapointments.
And don't try to move the goal posts by claiming that the Rangers drafted this guy on his defensive prowess alone. This, as always, is the case with players in your system and how the course runs with Ranger prospects. Scouts don't tout guys who can only play the stay out home game as a viable first round pick. A teams PR department ain't gonna flaunt those either.
At the end of the day I think the Rangers are better at the PR game than they are at putting a good product on this ice. All summer long I heard nothing but that team hyped up as cup contenders. Even though the reality tells a much different story (In a weak eastern conference they are a mediocre team) much of that fan base still believes it.
I think because the guys who cover this sport play fan boy most of the time it's much more difficult for Rag fans to see the writing on the wall.
Even in the face of facts.
With that said, given all the hype surrounding Staal one would think that Campolli in a Rag uniform would be promoted as a potential Norris Trophy candidate. If Staal was wearing an Islanders uniform yall would have a very different take on the guy.
All things considered, I'd highly doubt Islanders fans themselves would be blinded by the hype. I'd probably preach patience with the guy but up front with the fact that he ain't gonna be the guy everyone is claiming him to be. Certainly not a worthy of the hype or a first round selection in the draft.
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IslandersPirateHaven
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Chickendirt
can I use that website to take a leak on it?
"I'm not arguing that Philips filled out to his expectations either. He's not terrible but not a guy who has justified a first overall pick either. Definitly a huge dissapointment considering his draft position. Either way, much better Rookie season than Staal"
Ummmm, chickendirt, Phillips went 1st overall, Staal went 12th overall.
You sound dumber with every post.