After signing 37-year-old center Doug Weight this afternoon to give the Islanders a total of 24 one-way contracts, general manager Garth Snow acknowledged he likely is through signing free agents for the NHL roster.
“I would say so,” Snow said, “but I’ll still poke around and make calls.”
Since there is a 23-man NHL roster limit, the Islanders already are in a situation where one player under contract would have to be exposed to waivers when the season opens. You know, assuming someone doesn’t develop a sudden back problem that puts him on injured reserve.
When you look at the roster Snow has assembled, it’s easy to see that one reason he hasn’t added a proven scorer at winger is to give sniper Jeff Tambellini the best possible chance to prove he can score as well at the NHL level as he did in the AHL. Here’s one man’s opinion of what the lineup might look like heading into training camp:
Forward lines
Jeff Tambellini – Doug Weight – Bill Guerin
Blake Comeau – Mike Comrie – Kyle Okposo
Jonathan Sim – Mike Sillinger – Trent Hunter
Sean Bergenheim – Frans Nielsen – Richard Park
Defense pairings
Brendan Witt – Radek Martinek
Andy Sutton – Freddy Meyer
Chris Campoli – Mark Streit
Goaltenders
Rick DiPietro
Joey MacDonald
Extras
F Andy Hilbert
F Ben Walter
F Jeremy Colliton
D Bruno Gervais
As Snow sees it, Nielsen and Walter should compete for the fourth-line center position. If you project Tambellini to a top-six position at forward, that leaves Bergenheim, Park and Hilbert to contend for the two forward spots on the fourth line. Colliton is the odd man out unless, say, Sillinger hasn’t fully recovered from hip surgery or Guerin isn’t ready after shoulder surgery or Comrie still is battling his injuries.
At least, that’s how I see the lineup from what I imagine is the GM’s perspective. It could be very different from coach Ted Nolan’s vantage point, and he is the one who decides the combinations and the ice time.
Nolan likes the combination of Hilbert and Park killing penalties and playing a sound defensive game on the fourth line. But where would that leave Bergenheim, who was a ball of energy and is one of the Isles’ few physical players?
I’ll tell you. If Tambellini doesn’t produce coming out of the gate – maybe even in the exhibition schedule – it’s easy to imagine Nolan moving Bergenheim to the top line as an agitator and puck retriever for Weight and Guerin while playing Park and Hilbert on the fourth line with Nielsen and sitting Tambellini in the press box.
One other note of interest about this Islanders lineup -- I mean, aside from the lack of the big-time enforcer most fans want – is that the top three centers all are in the final year of their deals. Maybe the 28-year-old Comrie will earn a long-term extension, but it’s hard to envision the two 37-year-olds, Weight and Sillinger, playing much beyond next season in major roles.
Snow better hope the crop of free-agent centers is a good one come next July 1.
SCHEDULE CHANGE: In an earlier blog, I asked readers to watch for an interview with new Islanders power-play quarterback Mark Streit in Thursday’s edition of Newsday. But news of the Weight signing pushed the Streit interview back one day. It should appear in Friday’s edition of Newsday...In response to questions about D Jack Hillen and the possibility of adding an enforcer to the NHL roster, I believe Hillen will get a lot of time as the power-play quarterback at Bridgeport as he makes the transition from college to the pros. He would be an obvious callup in the event of injuries. I think Snow is content to add enforcers to BP's roster so they could be called up on an "as-needed" basis.
Comments (63)
505 You just may get your wish. I can see Weight between Comeau (right) and Tambellini (left) as a possibility. Unless Nolan sees Neilsen and Tambellini as a combo he wants to keep.
Other than that, Nolan may decide to have Weight center for Okposo just to bring the kid along comfortably.
If Comeau scores 30, you can drink till you drop.......Sir William
Logan So what happened to Hillen who the Isles are paying over a million bucks to. Has he disappeared?,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sir William
No enforcer? Disturbing, were gunna get run all season. I know BGL and Roy are available along with Kip Brennan. Is that going to change, Greg?
I'm not going to crush Snow just yet... but 18 games (and it's unlikely they will get much more than that out of Weight) with CAPTAIN CANADA and Hunter is still afraid of the front of the net. Sure, he found it, then when Smyth left he decided that he wasn't going near it unless somebody left the porch light on.
If that translates correctly we will have three young players who learn something they coldn't have picked up in their 15+ years of playing hockey... A WORK ETHIC. Nielsen got a front row seat with a pretty damn good two way center having a good year with Silly in 2007. Walter has been around all star players his whole life... unless his dad abandoned him at birth... What the heck is Weight going to teach these MEN.. how to order a beer AND a shot in Boston... where the best golf courses are in Minn. in December?
I'm not on board with this... not at all. I'm with Steady. I didn't want to see Sillinger taking time from Walter and/or Nielsen last year and I haven't changed my mind.
I'd have much rather re-signed Vasicek who actually DID replace sillinger last year...and he'd have been CHEAPER!
There are still a ton of deals out there, and the Isles STILL need a first and/or second line center... the only role they filled was the guy in the tub nursing an abdominal strain for 9 weeks...
Two days... we got a 5-6 "D" for 4M per and The old man at the "C"... for another $1.25M per... Maybe they should just give the "under the cap" money to Sparky...
and how about extending Nolan... not that he will want to be a part of this circus much longer... I know I am completely frustrated with this bull.
Great read Greg. For all Isles and Rangers fans here, I did an opinion blog on the signing of Mark Streit vs. Wade Redden...go read it at:
http://islesnet.blogspot.com
Please leave a comment on the site and let me know what you think! Thank you!
WOW!!!!!
After reading the previous thread ... I felt like I walked through the swinging double doors of an old western saloon into a bar room brawl. LOL!!!
I have to say ... if I'm a FA ... and trying to get a sense of the fans on whether or not I should take $4.1M per year from the Isles .... or $4.0M from San Jose .... I'm calling up the cable company in Santa Clara to schedule an installation.
#1 The negativity ... it's poison ... no matter what the circumstances ... it only makes it worse to a situation that isn't all that promising.
#2 What were you guys expecting? Really now.
#3 I don't see Brendan Morrison checking into the Uniondale Marriott tonight to have a face to face negotiation with Snow.
#4 I'm not crazy about the Weight signing ... even if I understand the logic behind it. ( I'll get to your point that you addressed to me Sir W in my next post)
#5 Who is Snow turning down incoming offers to? Does someone have his phone taped?
Listen ... I'm a sharp critic of Snow .... and an even sharper one of Wanger ... but the minute Snow starts taking the collective advice from us fans and starts making that his doctrine .... truely is the day I'll be on the FIRE SNOW bandwagon.
Fan negativity is going to undermine this team before Snow even has a chance to ruin the club.
Regarding Weight ...
Yesterday ... I said ... I don't want the Isles to sign Weight ... he's seen his best days ... and will only take a roster spot from a kid ... I have not changed my mind .... I'm not crazy about the signing .... but I'm not going to lose my mind over it.
I certainly understand Snow's strategy in signing Weight .... the Isles were going NO WHERE ... with the current center corps ... and Silly is still suspect .... so something had to be done.
What exactly were his options??? Seriously now .... Who was lining up to play for the Islanders.
Sir W is absolutely correct that you need someone in the pivot position who can move the puck around ... Weight .. "was" that player at one time.
I think Weight's biggest role with the team is as mentor ... and to give the kid wingers some confidence and really help them develop into their own. He can also teach Walter and Nielsen something about playing center and winning face offs.
Weight "used" to be a great face-off man .... I'd be lying if I said I knew he still was one. The Isles need a great face-off man so if Weight still has it in the tank I welcome that ascpect of his game.
A great NHL Hall of Famer once told me ... Brains over Braun ... and part of winning face offs and battles is to out think your opponent and teach your body to do what your mind already knows ..... that was our boy #19
I'll add more later ... I want to read up on today's signings.
I'm sorry, I think I just had a stroke. Logan, did you just call Tambellini a "sniper"????? You can't be serious. I know he tore up the AHL, yes AHL, last year. But, he has shown nothing in the NHL. Let's just hold up on that "sniper" title until he pots more than 5 pucks.
This line-up is terrible. I'm all for rebuilding but this is going to be one LONG couple of seasons. These so called "prospects" we have and just drafted better turn into something or a long couple of seasons will just continue infinitum.
Great post, Greg. In all honesty, that's not a terrible squad. If Dee-Pee fully recovers from his surgeries and they provide him with enough rest, they seem fine in nets. While there are no top-flight scorers or big-time enforcers among the forwards, there is an excellent mix of savvy veterans (Guerin, Sillinger, Weight), gritty players (Hunter, Park) and young, potential scorers (Tambellini, Okposo), that I think can definitely grow as a unit. I like the top-six defensemen, especially with the addition of Streit. It takes the pressure off the other defensemen to do what they do best-play defense. I'd let these guys duke it out in training camp and the exhibition schedule for line positions and see what these guys can do.
Snow is done ? I guess the ORACLE lives....No FA signings of any true substance.
Who is the enforcer that will protect the kids? Who is the pest? Who is the goal scorer?
Guess I was right and we are going all kids..oh and one old man getting a last couple mill to paly with his buddy..Okay, I;m in!!
Did I read that wrong??? Weight was brought here to play with Guerin b/c they had chemistry 50 years ago ??? LMAO
I can see the sell job that he can teach the kids....BUT to say he is here to be with Guerin?
Is Snow serious?
Please explain all you Snow peeps?
***19Isles....I do not mean to be negative. But come on....Snow is lost. You know it deep down....God, I wish I was wrong....***
*** Let me tell you how this is now going to play out since I have been pretty much dead on so far......Nolan will be the one blamed...He will be fired by the allstar break. and we will start all over with a new coach that Snow will sell us is a better fit! Count on it !! **
All arguing aside about Snow and how he has done.....What is the slogan for this team going to be?
How are they going to sell tickets to people outside the fanatics on this blog?
As predicted, NVMC is going to be a ghost town.
Nick....How will attendance effect the Lighthouse???
Sir William and I have had our spirited disagreements ... I'll give Sir W this much ... he stands by his principles and when he makes an arguement ... he presents his case .... not that I always agree with the substance of his arguement ... but I respect that he doesn't just dig up ancient history that has nothing to do with a current issue as supporting evidence.
Sir William sometimes comes off as a very abrasive (sorry Sir W... but sometimes ya do .. you can be the Avery of the fan base .. LOL ... Steady ought to love that ... LOL) ... his tepped sarcasim sometimes drove me crazy with his hidden digs (not always so hidden digs) ... and sometimes his blatant call outs to try and de-pants you on a subject as if you didn't know what you were talking about....
... but ... he'll always return an acknowledgement of mutual respect if you take him to task .... and his inciteful hockey knowledge and experience both as a fan and as a player is something I respect about him and can never take away from him.
I'm sure before this weekend Sir William and I will get into another debate .... but that is just par for the course ... maybe I'll learn something from him ... or he'll learn something from me .... or we'll just agree to disagree.
What I hate seeing on this blog more than anything is when a spirited and well thought out debate degenerates like it did on the previous thread.
Steady and Sir William are both two NIMBYs whose posts I've always found very informative and well thought out with their persepectives ... but their rift goes back to the Sillinger debate (Jan or Feb I believe) ... which I sided with Steady on and still agree with Steady on ... (I can't believe I still remember that) ... but like that old debate ... I don't see any sense in dredging up ancient history that isn't going to help make the Islanders take one step closer to Lorde Stanley's Silverware.
All good 19Isles....My only point about Sillinger is it is ridiculous to trash him one year and than applaud Weight the next....Silly has the better numbers and they are one in the same.
Lets go Isles!
Steady,
It wreaks of Milburyism, doesn't it...
19,
even your circuitous hypocracy is a marathon... your fingers are gonna be nubs if the there is ever anything relevant to type about...
I really can't weight to see hockey again... when is Detroit's first game?
Some anonymous genius looked at the map and figured out I am in Florida. Maybe I should change my name to "Springfield Isle fan" so I can be as anonymous as all the anonymous posters out there.
Fla - Ca - NY - NJ -
No matter where you are from you are a putz and should drink anti freeze.
Steady, as I mentioned before, I honestly don't know how greatly attendance will affect the Lighthouse. The project was approved and in the environmental review right now, and they're concentrating a lot more on examining the benefits to the community than the actual quality of the hockey team. A Cup champion surely wouldn't hurt, but the Town of Hempstead seems to have other priorities.
Steady .... When I first heard about the Weight rumours yesterday ... I was like .... ohhh nooo ... I can see Billy Guerin calling up his buddy .. or sending him black berry texts saying .... yeah Doug this place is great ... what a place to finish your career ...
I was wondering .. hymmmm ... this is a doable trade ... because "Misery Loves Company" .... and Guerin was getting pretty lonely.
Steady .... I don't think that Snow is the messiah GM ... I do think that no other respected hockey mind would touch the GM job right now .... Wang is a toxic owner when it comes to the Player Operations part of the business ... that hurts more than the actual losing.
The thing is ... it's Wang's club ... nobody is going to take it away from him as long as he's determined to get that Light House Project going ... and ya know what??? I hope he does gitt'r done.
I'm a Yankee fan Steady .... I've never been crazy about Steinbrenner ... or now his son for that matter ... the ownership isn't going to change because I don't like it .... I have to live with it ... and support my Yanks .... and hope that Stick Michael in the past and Cashman can run the gauntlet to get things done the way they feel they need to be done.
Snow??? He's made some serious errors in judgement ....
But I always keep in the back of my mind ... that he's also got very little to work with as far as popular equity to lore players to the team .... with the cap in place .... most other teams can match or beat out Snow when bidding for players .... and I think that Snow is wise for not offering up huge contracts to players that don't truely want to be an Islander and are only interested in a paycheck ... we've had that before ... and I think that Snow is hyper sensitive to prevent that from happening again.
If I judge Snow's first 300 days he gets a big fat "F" from me ...
When I judge Snow the past 367 days ... he gets a C- ... I've previously mentioned his big faux pas this past season recently ... and you Steady .. have also mentioned those same ones .... Dubie / DP-gate .. and Coach Lucia in Okposo-gate to name a few.
However I see Snow getting better at his job ... and I'm not going to prejudice him for what he did in his first year ... I'm looking for him to grow with the team.
I sucked once as a hockey player ..... and I worked up my way to getting nick names like Gretzky (to my shagrin), Savard, Yzerman Jr., and Johnny Rocket / Rock-it as nicknames ... I'm proud of that ... but I never would of gotten there if I gave up on myself ... or if coaches gave up on me.
I see "potential" in Snow .. I'm not ready to brand him the savior of the franchise ... but I'm also not ready to send him to the gallows just yet .... all that BS With Smith and LaFontaine was Wanger's brilliant idea ... I hold him accountable for that circus act gone bad.
A fifty percent shot at Taveres while the six draftees mature--that is the essence of the 2008-09 season.
Sorry about piling on with negativity, but can someone tell Chris Dey the fans are sick of the line, "This is the guy were were targeting/looking at from the beginning. Snow is like Charlie Brown buying the Christmas tree--a little TLC and we can have a Cup.
My real hope is that this team can play with energy next year and at least be semi-entertaining. I'd also like to see Reiger here next year, because he WILL go to the front of the net and take the beating.
As a nothing aside for the PR Dept, as I type this I see my mini-DP, Silly, and Guerin bobblehead giveaways from last season. All these guys went under the knife so we're promoting either bobbleheads or voodoo dolls on the Island. No Okposo/Comeau dolls next season please.
You know, I do a lot of reading on this blog, and only a little writing. But this time I just can't take it anymore. I can handle the criticisms of the bobbles, the validity of the choices, and the endless line combinations. But when we as fans have already thrown in the season and committed our team to failure, it MAKES ME WANT TO PUKE. Can't we wait until we start to get thrashed in exhibition games? Can we wait until December before we say the team deserves to be sold and the mausoleum imploded?
Give me a break. Comment all you want on the decisions made, but don't tell us all you KNOW the Isles will suck this year. How many predicted the Giants would win the Super Bowl? Not that the Isles are Cup bound, but I think it's a little early for predictions. All it's going to take is a season ending knee injury (Sim) to change the outlook.
Come to some games, cheer the team on, and then if we truly blow in January, you can come back to the blog and tell us all how much you knew. Dare I say, how much of an Oracle you were! But until them can we have cautious optimism about the coming season? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I don't think so.
On a side note, does anyone think it's a bad sign for the Rags that Avery bailed, or was he headed for a Theo Fleury style meltdown?
Nick .. I suppose the ToH would really have to weigh the benefits such a project has on the community ... they know that even if today the Isles had a Stanley Cup contender ... that in a decade they could be back to where they are now .... so I'm glad that their main focus is on how it affects the community ... after all they're not issuing a permit for the team to win the Stanley Cup ... Oh if it was only that easy. LOL!
last post was me.
JP wrote ...
"19,
even your circuitous hypocracy is a marathon... your fingers are gonna be nubs if the there is ever anything relevant to type about..."
JP ... I find that friggen hilarious!!! Did you come up with that all by yourself???
Ya know what is sooooo hilarious?? ... that you could use the word hypocracy in making a comment about my marathon posts.
Why? Because even yourself once called yourself ... the Pot .. Calling the Kettle Black last fall when joking about one of my scores of long posts .... and that my friend ... makes you an even bigger hypocrite.
You sure do a good job at running up the bandwidth pretty good yourself JP .... and I never have a problem with that ... just don't be a hypocrite when infact you yourself have probably worn your fingers down to nubs ....
Oh, and for the record JP .. I was actually able to admit that there are times I get into it on this board ... or that Snow pisses me off ... but I'm not going to think that what he does is always wrong just because I didn't like some moves he's made in the past. I judge him by each move he makes ... and the sum of his moves that is how I judge him for better or worse.
I'll also risk being called a hypocrite for saying I agree with your post at 22:02 ... but think your last post is way off base ... and out of line ... but like I judge Snow ... I can judge you ... your last post .... ridiculous ... the sum of your posts .... pretty insightful .... yeah ... I'm a friggen hypocrite ... live with it or bypass my posts if ya don't like it ... I don't give a flying rat's ass.
Merrick ... I don't think your post was negative ... bringing up Dey's talking points is a subjective observation ... it's not like you drone on about it.
Oh ... and that Bobble Head Voo-Doo Doll thing was hilarious .... LOL!!!
I can see it now .... Dey says to Park .. Parky ... we'd like to recognize what you did for us last season and have a Bobble Head night in your honor .... Park says ... Uhhh ... I think I'm washing my hair that night ... pleasee ... and I dooo mean pleaseee pick someone else.
Thanks Merrick for that little comic relief for 2 days of stressed out Isles fans who apparently had greater expectations for FA.
test
Greg .... as much as it pains me to say this ... the lineup you came up with is highly probable.
I'm already tethered to the prospect that this season is going to be a long one full of growing pains and hopefully more growth ... than pains ... we've had our share of injuries the last 2 seasons.
Key Injuries in 06-07 ... Yashin, DP, Bates, Marty and Simon (mental malfunction)
Key Injuries in 07-08 ... uhhh ... maybe I should just list the healty players from last season... it would be easier.
I'm just hoping for a competitive entertaining product ... sometimes watching kids improve and take their game up to the next level is rewarding even among the frustrating losses.
A healthy DP is critical to this season .. because he can steal us some wins.
Going for a John Tavares sweepstakes entry goes against everything I believe in as a hockey player ... but if the Isles happen to finish dead last ... it takes the sting out of the season if they win the lottery next spring.
Wait.... the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor too?... anyway...
If you go to the main blog page and see the picture with the movie "Scenes from the draft party" that is me looking at this roster as Greg Logan threw it out there.... "Wow" is all I can say. There's probably gonna be a lot of crappy late night rides from LI to Pa. But this is what most of the people here wanted... a chance for the kids to prove themselves. This is the best way to find out if they got what it takes. With DP in net theres no way this team finishes in the bottom five in the league. We need to come to terms that this needed to be done... Weight sucks... lets hope his intangables make this move worth it. I guess the team needs some leadership, but there were probably better avenues to go down.... I do agree with Steady with a point though.... we dont want to lose our goalies head... anyone who has played the position knows the mental stress that comes along with letting up goals... whether they are nice goals or not... he has improved each of the last two years and we better hope he does again this year... he's gonna have to win mucho games for us this year... I really pitty Joey Mac... especially if he starts reading this blog!!!!
Let Go Islanders....
Ps- I am so close to putting money on Sir Will renewing some kind of ticket plan this upcoming season
19 ISLES Back when we had a disagreement about Sillinger neither of us knew that he was concealing a hip injury. He was playing hurt and it had affected his game. Had I known at the time how badly he was injured perhaps I would have taken a different view of things.
But that's the Islanders for you. They never tell the truth about the health of their players. I guess I should be used to that by now.
As for Weight, I don't know how much he has left. But I do not think Sillinger is coming back so they had to do something.
Weight has always struck me as the American Adam Oates. He may not have been quite as good, but they were very similar players. And Oates played into his forties. So maybe Weight has one more good year in him.
To my mind it wasn't a lot of money and it's not more than one year. It's worth the risk to have him teach the young centers and set up the young wings..........SIR WILLIAM
Just remember, for any of you fans who might have been on the sauce expecting the Isles to make big FA signings.
The Hockey News surveyed NHL players to find out to what locations they would least like to be traded (which, presumably, also speaks to the locations where they would least like to sign). The bottom 3? Buffalo, Edmonton, and, you guessed it, Long Island.
They called it the "Michael Peca Hat Trick."
Hey everybody. I wrote an opinion blog on Mark Streit vs. Wade Redden...and I also wrote a little piece on Doug Weight. If you get some time, go over to:
http://islesnet.blogspot.com
and check it out. Leave a comment by clicking on Comments link at the bottom of each blog and let me know what you think. It is greatly appreciated! Check back every-day too for some new updates.
Does the signing of Streit mean we are not still going after Hainsey? I would like to get him too. I'm not sold on Gervais ever being more than a 5th dman in the nhl and let's face it, the Isles D gets crushed with injuries every season. Gervais can still be the 7th dman and still get 50 games. Plus, we are likely going to deal Witt at the deadline this year and isn't it about time we built a SOLID D around DP?
I'd rather see this lineup...
Witt-Martinek
Hainsey-Sutton
Campoli- Streit
EXTRA: Gervais, FM4, Hillen
Bergie- Comrie- Guerin
Opkoso- Weight- Comeau
Hunter- Silly- Tambelini (let him EARN 1st line minutes- he's shown nothing)
Sim- Park- Hilbert
FRanz Neilsen is not going to be ready for the NHL and why bring him up for 4th line minutes?
Damn...that speaks volumes. Edm and Buf were probably chosen because of the actual location and the island was chosen because of the perception of our fans and management. Because the sabres and oilers have REAL passionate fans
i like reading about the team, everyone just argues, who cares who said who knows even if you contradict yourself, lets talk about the real stuff
Posted by slsangus | July 3, 2008 01:05
Just remember, for any of you fans who might have been on the sauce expecting the Isles to make big FA signings.
The Hockey News surveyed NHL players to find out to what locations they would least like to be traded (which, presumably, also speaks to the locations where they would least like to sign). The bottom 3? Buffalo, Edmonton, and, you guessed it, Long Island.
They called it the "Michael Peca Hat Trick."
thats funny, but sad....
Id be happy with either but we should buy out Hilbert and ditch Neilsen, then put an enforcer on the fourth line. Were in a fairly tough division, these young guys are going to get hurt if we have no protection.
I likes Phil in Va's lines better.
No way I wanna see Comeau and KO playing on a line with Comrie.
And in other news.....
I'm kinda just sitting here shaking my head in amusement at all the angst over the Weight signing.
It's a cheap one year deal. One that can be discarded with very little pain. What's the big deal?
I look at it as a stopgap measure in case Silly retires (as he probably should).
Simply put, I give a big YAWN to the Weight signing.
We needed another center, there were not a lot available in this UFA go round, Weight was available on the cheap.
It's no big deal....in any weight, shape, or form.
All the posts I see decrying it are the manifestations of people with their hearts set on instant gratification from this team.
With any luck, Bailey will be up by January.
Which players exactly are the ones that will dissuade our opponents from slapping the kids around like the children they are?
They were manhandled regularly toward the end of last season and there was no answer for it. I still don't see one.
What ever happened to Asham? I think hes still out there. Did he have some kind of tiff with nolan or something when he was here?
I know if someone took a cheap shot he would see them answer for it, which is more than I can say for anyone on this roster. I think hes kind of like avery but without the jackass exterior. Also has a nasty shot from the top of the circle.
I'd find a spot for him if he wanted to come back here.
I agree with Phil, Tambellini starting on the first line? I understand the need for minutes but I definitely dislike what it does and says to Bergenheim. The fourth line? Really? This kid was heart and soul last year and seems to be teetering on getting really good or having his confidence wasted. If anything switch Hunter and Bergy in that line up. Hunter needs to pick his game back up, I've been disappointed in his play.
Also, the personal attacks are unnecessary. We all have different view points but we are all have the common thread of fandom. We can debate but do we really need to call names?
And as for negative outlook, isn't this what we expected? Isn't this what we called for last year? I am content to watch this team lose and gain experience as long as this truly is the first step in a plan Snow has. If Snow turns Milbury and doesn't allow us to develop then I will agree with Frei and it certainly will be the cycle repeating again. I don't have a feeling one way or another, I just hope means what he says when he commits to building through the draft and going with youth.
Steady,
I'm not saying that I'm psyched per se about the Weight signing, but didn't you bring up the point the other day that the team has some vets - like a Guerin - who signed to be here and you wanted to know what the GM would say to them by not signing anyone and going with a rookie lineup? Well, if Guerin likes Weight this might be his way of throwing him a bone?
Plus, for 1 year it really isn't going to hurt anything if the Isles feel that it's not going to take a spot from anyone worth it ...
Plus, I would like to see Tamby with a center like Weight - we could really see if he can do something at this level or not - I just hope he gets the minutes in the situations to see if we have a quality LW or a AHL allstar and nothing more ...I think with ice time and the chance he'll be ok
I also don't mind Comrie playing on the 2nd line with KO and Comeau ...Comrie - with all of his shortcumming can pass the puck ...the guy has vision ...so we'll see what the two young guys will do with a center that can find them ...should be fun to watch actually ...a lot of story lines for a lot of young players looking to make a name ...
Trent Hunter has to show more this season ...signing him to a 5 year deal was stupid ...would like to see Bergie on the 3rd line with Hunter on the 4th since he refuses to head to the net anyways ...
Agreed Frei,
We still need a hitman.......
and a 1st line center, and some proven scorers (C'mon KO, Comeau and Tambs?)
I don't think Asham will be back here.
As much as it pains me to say this......DP would probably go ballistic if Asham were back in an Isles jersey.
Bonjour Georges Laraque?
Thus far, UFA season has "slightly" improved the team.
Still not too late for a trade....We have a decent D-man or two to dangle (Gervais or Campoli or Martinek).
With the Isles luck, they'll get the #2 overall pick in 2009 instead of John Tavares.
With the Isles mismanagement, they'll trade the #2 overall pick, plus our top defenseman for Jaromir Jagr, (echoing the Jason Spezza + Zdeno Chara for Alexei Yashin deal that doomed our franchise).
This teams major flaw is the physical aspect of the game. No one will be cautious coming into NVMC. They will take liberties all year, just like they did last year.
To not have one enforcer at a minimum is a joke. The team is possibly the smallest team in any major sport I have ever seen.
Hockey is a physical game and we bring nothing to the table.
Its too bad, this was once a proud franchise.
They advertise grit as a characteristic on their web site.....
Yeah, grit from this team.....What a joke.
Good luck Isles, I wish you the best. Just keep low when you are run into the boards every freakin night.
And they wonder why our players are always injured.....
This teams major flaw is the physical aspect of the game. No one will be cautious coming into NVMC. They will take liberties all year, just like they did last year.
To not have one enforcer at a minimum is a joke. The team is possibly the smallest team in any major sport I have ever seen.
Hockey is a physical game and we bring nothing to the table.
Its too bad, this was once a proud franchise.
They advertise grit as a characteristic on their web site.....
Yeah, grit from this team.....What a joke.
Good luck Isles, I wish you the best. Just keep low when you are run into the boards every freakin night.
And they wonder why our players are always injured.....
AZS: Very good post and very true....Maybe he was throwing Guerin a bone. At the sametime, people here are saying Weight was brought here to teach the kids, yet SNOW says he was brought here to renew a line with Guerin !?!? That is simply to much of a bone and borederline pathetic.
Listen...Go back and read when there were rumors of Weight coming here....I said I would blow a gasket....Well if nothing else I am a man of my word!!! :) :)
I have no problem of Weight coming here if there were other moves made. One of the other F.A that are younger and can put the biscuit in the basket.......I could deal with it if we got a pest like Ruutu or Cook. I could deal with it if we got a true enforcer like king George to protect this team. Only thing Snow did was get a PP QB that he may or may not of overpaid. We have all this money to spend, and again did not do it ???
I in no way wanted Hossa or any other HUGE ticket F.A....I did want a nice younger type sniper....I knew Snow would not do it, but that is what I wanted...
AZS, Merrick......How are you guys going to feel watching this team every night get man handeled and the kids beaten up? It happened all last year. How are you going to feel driving to NVMC everynight knowing DP is going to have to be flawless to win with no offensive prowess ??
I will watch every game. I will pray I am completely wrong and the team shines.....I just do not get what these bobbles are thinking...You can rebuild in a lot better way than they are doing.
*** How many horrible penalties did Guerin take last year b/c he has lost a step and took penalties??? Well now times that by two with Weight who has lost 1 1/12 steps ****
**Back to the draft....As much as I do not mind the way they stock piled picks.....What did that say to other younger F.A's ??? Maybe if they took a blue chipper it would send a msg. they have a definite foundation?? Just a thought. **
I agree with ya Phil ... like your lines ... well ... like what you did with the lines with what ya had to work with.
Also would like to send some kudos out to 505, the mass, Sir William, Frei, Healy, AZS, Promo and Steady for their posts ... all VERY valid issues.
We really need to get a bouncer for this team. The roster is now flowing over ... as Greg mentioned in his article we have 24 one-way contract spots filled for a 23 man roster. So exposing someone to waivers is also on Snow's to due list this fall.
What can they do other than having Jethro as an assistant coach .... and keeping him on the bench with skates just in case. Seriously ... this is an issue that HAS to be DEALT with.
Because no matter how much we get the kids to improve ... and assuming in the perfect world ... Weight and Guerin somehow create magic have an awesome sunset season and show the kids the way ... half the team will spend half the season in the infirmary if there is nobody to keep the opposition honest .... and that I just can't stomach ... Eric Carins? Can he still be signed?? LOL!
Here's a thought .... how do you think Bossy would fair if he was in his prime on this current squad?
The great Bossy would of been rammed through the boards everygame without Jethro....
Do oyu guys remember the way Avery and co. banged KO and Comeau all game long....By the third period both looked like deer in headlights....I will never forget that look in their eyes.
Kip Brennan can be a very good enforcer....If nothing else he has got to make this team.
As for our division...Look at what all the other teams around us have done:
Rangers - Devils - Philly - Pitt ...... Yes, I know the season has not started and do not want to be Capt. Negative.....But come on guys.......We are not going to keep up with these guys on a talent level.....So we at least need to have the THUMPERS to keep our kids safe while trying to keep pace.
What do you guys think of Maxim Afinogenov for one of our young D and a pick?? One more thing where is "where's my check"? (Vas)
Think Snow could of got the 23 yr old erratic sniper Zherdev for Gervais and say one other kid ???
Rags gave away NOTHING for him .... If he matures and stops the off ice bs, that kid is going to be a complete superstar.
I still think without Avery and Jagr the Rangers are going no where though.
Posted by Steady
Let me tell you how this is now going to play out since I have been pretty much dead on so far......Nolan will be the one blamed...He will be fired by the allstar break. and we will start all over with a new coach that Snow will sell us is a better fit! Count on it !! **
this might be dead on.
I have a question .... with Christie Brinkley being one of our more famous .. and attractive fellow Islander fans ... does she count as a UFA with her much publicized pending divorce? She isn't one of those much younger UFA's that we'd align ourselves with ... but would anyone deny that she's still a very servicable .. ehhh uhhh .. player on the FA market? I think she'd be a great mentor toward Hillary Duff ... I think she keeps the competition going ... lets keep her.
Just a light hearted comparisson comparing ages of people and what they bring to the table .. whether it be hockey or eye candy.
We need to really get rid of Hilbert and fill his spot with a Hansen Brother ... I just went over the lineup again ... and I think we have more things to worry about than seeing if we can milk some production out of our kids .... we need to protect our kids ... and if nothing else a "knuckle dragger" with skates will keep the opposition honest.
Witt and Sutton can't be expected to be the take on that role from the blue line ... besides ... if anything happens around the net area in the offensive zone and they are back at the point ... they cannot come down low to get involved without risking being called for an additional penalty (loosely enforced). .. another dumb rule ... gives the defending team an unfair 2 man advantage during fisticuffs.
19Isles
" I think she keeps the competition going ... lets keep her."
By all means we should keep Christie Brinkley.
In fact, by the time she gets done beating up the new ex in court, I would even consider throwing some skates on her and making her our enforcer.
BTW, if anyone runs into her over the next few months, let her know that 505 has still got some game. And it's a clean game.
I will gladly be her Downtown Man if she's willing to be my Uptown Girl.
The need for an enforcer should be concern #1 for Garth Snow.... Hey Greg, any word on if Snow has attempted to sign someone to defend these kids.... 19 was right.... Witt and Sutton can't be expected do do it night in and night out
I think this team needs an enforcer but a guy who can also give some production. I like laracque but I dont see him leaving pitt. He has a good team and role there I think he will stay. I think two guys who can come in here and play the enforcer role but also put up points could be a Chris Gratton or Todd Bertuzzi. bertuzzi can still create havoc in front of the net on the PP and bang and Gratton has always been able to fight and put up points. I just dont want to see an Eric Godard type who is just out to fight guys. Also, Everyone is asking for a pest but I think we have one in Bergenhiem. I dont like the fact that he is being put on the 4th line that is a joke. This is a guy who needs to play on a top line. He really got under peoples skin last year and he likes that role. he has one thing you cant teach and thats speed. With a full nhl year under his belt and a top line and top minutes this year he should be able to get 15-20 goals and create havoc. I would like to see Colliton get a shot in the lineup. Let him play on the 4th line because I like his size. Lets remember Clark Gillies always said he never initially liked fighting but he knew it is what had to be done for his teammates and he grew into that role. Bergenheim can do the same in the pest role per se.
I think this season is really hinging on Tambellini. What it sounds like is that they are counting on him to become that LW sniper he is capable of. Put him on a line with weight to feed him the puck and Guerin to watch out for him and lets see what happens. If he cant do it then you know he just doesnt have it. I am 50/50 because we all see his numbers in AHL and College. The guy has scored every level he has played at. Then I see what he has done in the NHL and he just looks lost. So now he is going to get a real opportunity and if he gets off to a fast start and gels with weight and guerin his confidence grows and we have a true sniper on our team. This is what Garth and co are betting on. Here are my line combos with the current roster:
Tambs-weight-Guerin
Bergie-comrie-ko
Comeau-Sillnger-Hunter
Sim-Nielson-Park
PK unit 1 forwards
park-sillinger
PK unit 2 forwards
Hunter-Bergie
Can anyone comment on Weight's skating ability, specifically his speed? No doubt he brings leadership, experience and skill to a line-up.
I'm concerned about the speed of the #1 & #3 lines. Guerin, Hunter, Sillinger looked awfully slow last season. I don't know about Sim.
Yes, I agree, we need an enforcer.
What about Sim? I dont know much about him, but I thought he was in the Aaron Asham mold but with an upside in scoring ability?
I know we're talking about enforcers, but Sutton and Witt will fight and hit. Hunter and (from what I understand) Sim will hit.. and Bergie seems like he could be a pest. Hell, even Guerin and Comrie threw down a few times each... I know it's not your protypical "enforcers" per se, but Logan did mention Garth having the idea of keeping some fisticuffers in BP in time of need...
I'll think we'll do fine, but time will tell.
Comeau-Comrie-Okposo
Tambellini-Weight-Guerin
Hunter-Sillinger-Bergenheim
Park-Nielsen-Sim
It's clear the Isles need a big-time scorer but they weren't gonna get one from this year's free agent crop.
Jagr and Sundin won't sign with a rebuilding team and Hossa showed how important a shot at the Cup is to him by signing a one year deal. Let's not forget that Hossa is coming off his worst year in a while and had he come to L.I. and tanked, everyone would've (like that.."would've and not "would of") killed Snow for signing a guy "on his downside."
Snow has committed to the youth movement but he still has to try to win some games, hence the Weight signing. What if these young guys go out there and all have nice year and the Isles battle for a playoff spot? Having a vet might help make the difference. Maybe Weight will be terrible..if he is, he's gone after the year and didn't cost much.
The team probably could use some muscle to add to their grit, but that kind of player could easily be picked up during the season if it becomes necessary. It doesn't have to be Laraque. Having him would be a nice way to sell jerseys..but i'd bet he wants to play for a "win now" team too.
Pitt signed Godard so why would they keep him in Pitt ?
Laraque is their for the taking...Young, toughest in the league, and can grow with the kids....Taht is if the kdis we have can profve they are NHL talent outside of KO...
Hossa is a complete whack job...Might be the worst contract I have ever seen signed by a player. He could of got many years and basically the same money to stay in PITT. He just lost in a game 6 to the team he signed with ???? Shows you what type of guy he is !!
GREAT-
ANOTHER SIGNING OF A PLAYER FINISHING OUT HIS PLAYING DAYS ON THE ISLAND!
I SPOKE TO A VERY RELIABLE SOURCE LAST PM-
WANG IS JUST WAITING FOR THE APPROVAL OR NON-APPROVAL OF THE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT-
ONCE HE LOSES THAT- THE TEAM IS GONE!
THAT'S WHY HE WON'T SPEND BIG $$$$
WAKE UP FANS!