Keyboard Quarterbacks

Dear Islanders:

As an Islanders fan since I was 7 years old, I have always been the eternal optimist (even through the 90's and crooked owners). I truly believe that Mike Milbury did an admirable job considering the cards he was dealt and I feel strongly that the Alexi Yashin deal probably saved the franchise. Yashin led to Peca which led to the playoffs which led to the restotation of Islander pride. Regardless of if it because of the ancient hockey arena which we call home or if it is because of a rookie General Manager - the Islanders of 2007 look no different than the Islanders prior to the arival of Alexi Yashin. I fear the departure of the fans once again and ultimately the team to a new city. I hope I am wrong - but after truly believing in the franchise - I no longer have any hope.

Garth, Charles, et al,

You can't sell us on patience while we all sit back and watch marquee free agents go everywhere EXCEPT Long Island. And you can't come out and knock the Coliseum, be it a true detriment to the team or not, because it's making you look like your throwing the first of what will be many excuses to the wall, hoping something sticks and we feel bad for you.

We can't feel bad for you. We won't feel bad for you. We've felt bad for ourselves for long enough! This team and its fans have been through some of the most ludicrously painful scenarios in the history of professional sports. We deserve a team we can be proud of. (We had one that looked to be priming itself for a Cup run, starting with the '01-'02 bunch, but they were dismantled.)

Look, we all want you to succeed. What better story, than another Islander Stanley Cup, would there be for us to ram down the throats of all of the cynics who jumped all over us when it was way too easy to do so last summer? But, if you put all your eggs in the Ryan Smyth basket, and were crushed (as it appears) when he left, just say so! I still think that he was waiting for you to land another big fish (or re-sign one or two of your own) to be convinced to come back. (Somehow, Jon Sim didn't do it ... hmmm ...)

We're being as patient as we can be, but just a little hope to cling to at this point would go a long way. You can't ask for patience for very long ... not when valuable players, including some of our own, are being snatched up left and right and we have nothing to show for it.

What are our veterans thinking?

Forget Wang's stupid lighthouse pipe dream...move this team in with the Nets in Brooklyn.

it really is sad, i have been goin to game since i was little with my dads season tix and every year id talk my dad into keepin the tickets to watch as them team improves, but at this pt this season is gunna be several steps backward probably back at square one, and its even worse to think we had the money and a owner willing to spend it so he says, and snow did nothing, thanks Garth, he would have hurt us less as a team/franchise if he put himself in net right now

As an Isles fan since my childhood in the late 70's, it pains me to see the Isles let good players leave their team, especially ones like Jason Blake that played hard EVERY NIGHT. I loved letting Yashin go but Long Islanders have a long list of things to consider when spending their $$$. The Mets, Yankees, Giants, Jets and dare I say the Rangers have gone out and added exciting players. With expensive ticket prices and a team that NEVER gets past the first round, I would rather watch the games on the tube or go to another sporting event then waste $60-100 + parking and lousy concessions when I can root for the Mets that just missed the World Series or the Giants that at least are exciting to watch. I felt bad for Milbury to a degree and now feel a little bad for Snow, but not enough to believe Nolan is going to turn young kids into cup contenders, especially when they are not named Crosby or Ovechkin. Find a way to get good young talent in before they decide to go to the major market teams like NY, Toronto or Detroit and then build around them. I feel bad for DP because it looks like the next 14 years are going to be really long ones.

First I will say that if I was the GM and had an opportunity to bring Ryan Smyth here, I would. It definitely is frustrating that he didn't sign with NY however, 5 years 32.5 million is not an offer I would make. I would have made a 5 year 35 million dollar or a 6 year 42 million dollar offer. He is worth it. However, with that being said, I do feel they did not give up much for his temporary services and it did show how committed they are to making the Islanders a winner. O'marra and Nilson will not amount to much in the next 5 years, so it boils down to a first round draft pick for Smyths services. 2nd. The Isles have about 20 million in cap space to play with. My recommendation at this point in time is to sit and wait. They have a lot of young guys on the team. The only thing they are missing is a true #1 center. I hope someone can emerge from training camp. (bergenheim?) Or how about a trade? That is the only thing on paper that will save them from being the laughing stock of the NHL next season. Yes it will be a long summer with nothing to look forward to, but there are opportunities out there for spots to be won and trades to be made. I think Garth Snow has done a great job in his first year as a GM. He has showed his commitment to the team and its fans and surprised everyone on the deal he made for SMYTH. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt this season.

Makela,

Although, I don't think the NYR brass through the NHL Board of Governors, would allow such a move, it's probably not a bad idea. Unless I'm mistaken, the new Nets site is at the LIRR Flatbush station which would make it a lot easier for people to get to. The Isles just need to get out of that long term lease with the Nassau Coleseum.

So we're supposed to pay for over priced tickets to attend games at the "building that is keeping free agents from signing"? This organization had FINALLY made a bold, a necessary move to get better and it's back to square one, probably even worse than before. How is it possible that this team can't do a good enough sales job to bring in a high priced player to lead the franchise? I have understood all the ownership changes that have lead to mediocrity and GM's hands being tied as far as bringing players in over the years, but this is the beginning of the end in my opinion of a great franchise that could have been the dynasty of hockey in the US from the 80's on and it was all thrown away over the course of two decades.

There's finally progress and we revert back to bringing in Jonathan Sim as our only free agent?! It's not so much anger as it is a deep concern for the future of this team. I'm sure you know the building will be less than half full ALL year next year with the team constituted the way it is.........how much longer is Charles Wang going to lose $20 million/ year, never have a breakthrough with getting a new arena .....while every other team in the city is getting new stadiums........and not sell the team or cut costs to the point where we're putting an AHL team on the ice (we're pretty much there now!). You can't continually rebuild over the course of two decades with no progress and expect any fans to fill your building. This is common sense. If you wanted to take the risk with Smyth, I would still do it again, just like Garth would......but at least have a plan B, C and D to put in place if he decides to sign elsewhere. Instead we're left with Jonathan Sim and the hope that win a bidding war for Dainus Zubrus??!! And for the sake of all us, as an Islander fan, we don't need yet another message on the teams website that patience will pay off, we've been waiting 24 years to even approach something that resembles the cup teams.

Barry - the site is the Atlantic Yards - wish I knew more about the Brooklyn spur of the LIRR to tell you how convenient that is, but I am sure it's reasonable at worst.

I don't know what say the Rangers or the NHL would have - such a move would not technically be a relocation. The Islanders already paid the Rangers territorial fees once, in 1972. I don't think they have to do so again.

Bottom line, if Wang can't get a new building on Long Island, it's this or moving. And although I come from Suffolk, moving out further simply is not going to be answer. Brooklyn makes all the sense in the world - if we had a practical owner and not a nut job who wants to build a skyscraper in the middle of flatlants, he's start talking to Ratner now.

Time for the cold hard truth.. The Islander organization is rooted in a chinese flavored circus.. The barn is old and living in the glory days. Hence the endless little clips of it's heyday players.. I find it Ironic that we got rid of Neil Smith, and Karma allowed Ryan Smyth to screw us. Am i upset that he didn't choose us.. Yes! No different than musicians jumping ship to play on winning bands. The only thing is that the Captain goes down with the ship.. That kind of etiquette is lost in a world filled with mercenaries. No one wants to work for it. They want the foundation built so that they don't have to be "it", they can just be a part of it. I think that Garth Snow is a greenhorn rookie GM who all of a sudden is blaming the Smyth exodus on the arena. Let me say this. The coliseum is old.. decrepit, and embarrassing once you see other barns. However, i said it in the fishstick days, and i'll echo the same sentiment now, It doesn't matter where you play, or what jersey you put on.. what matters is winning or losing. Or at least that's what used to be the case. Think about it.. When the Islanders were winning the cups were people talking about how amazing the Coliseum was, or for that matter how poor it looked. NO.. They were too busy drinking champagne out of Lord Stanley's Cup. In this day and age where a handshake is replaced by an email, and a man's word becomes more of a play on words, it's a typical scenario in today's world. It's the prestige, and the money that ruins the essence of what makes sport special. Here is where it gets shady. I realize that the almighty dollar has been running sports and athletes for some time now. So my question is this, if that's the case, on Long Island, (arguably one of the richest per capita areas in the world) how is it that the Islanders with our history of winning fall so short. It's precisely because through the Maloney, Milbury, Spano, Smith, Wang, Yashin days, combined with sub par seasons, no one gives a flying puck.. Here's how Snow is the latest to join this elite group. You cannot GM by pressuring someone to stay by pulling out the bottom from under your own organization, standing on the other side of a gun with a look that basically says, "please don't shoot". You have to be savvy, and you have to trust your gut. NO ONE thought Smyth was staying.. We hoped, but deep down we knew. I also will say, that while people talk about how he left everything on the ice, i feel that he played with a different face, and in a different way with edmonton. He played for the other players who he respected. How can you respect an organization that is the laughingstock of the league, run by a megalomaniac who has a business background but knows nothing about hockey. As Aerosmith say in their song, "Same old story, same old song and dance my friend". It doesn't matter what happens with the free agent signings. This is a world where the Captain jumps ship instead of going down with it.. Pretty Sad...

Dear Islanders,

I cannot fault Garth Snow for what happened to the team yesterday. However, I cannot accept the spin doctoring by the team in blaming the Coliseum as the reason the team lost some of its most valuable players, and failed to land any of the available free agents. It's the management of this team. The revolving door of management and front office personnel. The shenanigans that happened last year with Neil Smith stepping down and Pat LaFontaine leaving out of nowhere. Charles Wang has run his team as if it were a software company and we are seeing the results. Please, Mr. Wang, step back, put someone in charge with experience and GM savvy (again, no offense to Snowy, he's doing his best). Don't blame the building, lots of teams play in less-then-stellar arenas.

The spending just doesn't add up.

I can understand the Rangers getting Gomez and Drury. Drury grew up a Ranger fan and Gomez cashes in and stays 'home'.

I wanted the Isles to re-sign Smyth but at what cost?

Smyth is a 31 year old power forward who stands in front of the net and takes a beating. 11 NHL seasons.
He is an old time captain.

But you have to think "Will he get hurt or wear down?".
Not only has he played all those years in the NHL but he has played in the World Championship tourney when the Oilers were out of the playoffs.

That's alot of miles.

If you have a legit shot at the Cup then you go 5 years for Smyth.

Blake who is small. Takes a beating and is 34.

He gets 5 years for 20 million from Toronto.

The Isles know this guy.

Their best offer (even as they knew all the players they would lose) was 3 years.

Defensemen getting huge deals.

After adding Schneider the Ducks better hope that Niedermayer retires.

Otherwise their top 4 defensemen are more than 40% of their 50.3 million cap.

The terms of these deals are nuts.
Seven and eight year deals?
How's that working out for baseball teams?

Are you aware that the an insurance industry association has sent out notices to its member companies not to insure any contract longer than 36 months?
After that the team is on the hook for 100% of the deal if a player gets hurt.
They know these deals are nuts.

Briere 8 years. 10 mil in the first year.

I know the Flyers had to overpay to get him but that is a desperation move.

The Isles did the same with Yashin.

They had to do something.

They were already getting the moving vans ready to leave Long Island.
They had to get some type of name after all the years of AHL hockey at the Coliseum.

The spending that caused the lockout is back.

The cap was raised 5% for the 2007-08 season.

In the two years that hockey has returned the cap has risen 11 million dollars.

The max is now 50.3 million.
The minimum is now 34.4 million.

30 NHL teams averaging 45 million in salary equals 1.35 billion.

The season before the lockout the 30 NHL teams salary combined was 1.34 billion.

That year 11 NHL teams spent less than 34.3 million on salaries.

The owner of the Capitals Ted Leonsis (America OnLine) 'claims' to have lost 100 million since buying the Caps in 1999.

He said in order to counter that he needed to sell an additional 3000 tix a game to break even this year.

That statement was made a few months ago.

Now he will have to spend an additional 6 million to get to the cap minimum.

I know the Canadian dollar is as strong as ever but I cannot understand where the money is being generated from.

Even taking the assumption that all sports owners lie about 'losing money' it still DOES NOT COMPUTE - Robby the Robot

The NHL has no revenue stream fron TV.
They get the vast majority of their revenue from tix and merchandising.

The 'new' jersey scam is a quick fix.
They will see some money this year and next.
After that?

How many jerseys does a fan need?
One. Two maybe.

It's few and far between the nut who will go out and buy 6-8 new hockey jereseys.
Especially at prices between $100-$300 a pop.

The tix are basically maxed out in terms of price.

So where is this influx of money coming from?

I just don't get it.

You have teams in precarious situations and they are spending (as a league) like they just hit the Lotto.

Immortal franchises- The strongest and least likely to move
Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
terrible ownership still hasn't killed the B's or Hawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
NY Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
St. Louis Blues- maybe the strongest in terms of youth hockey in the US
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks.

Questionable long term
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Ottawa Senators
3 Canadian franchises who on the surface look safe.
So did Winnipeg and Quebec City at one time.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Minnesota Wild
Phoenix Coyotes- new arena saved their backside
Pittsburgh Penguins- rumblings their new arena is no open net goal.
San Jose Sharks
Washington Capitals- almost left a few years ago

These teams should be renting.
Month to month.

Anaheim Ducks
LA Kings
When one is successful it just hurts the other one. Two franchises in that market is too tough.
Florida Panthers
Tampa Bay Lightning
Carolina Hurricanes
Buffalo Sabres- their billionaire owner is tired of losing his own money
Nashville Predators- they are probably filling out their change of address cards as I type.
New Jersey Devils- new arena in a rough neighborhood. Now they are going to hope their fans travel south to see them. That area they are moving to is already Flyer territory.
New York Islanders- enough money here to support them but their arena deal is one of the worst. Their key to survival is a new building. All those shenanigans of the late 80's and the 90's are too much for any fan to take.
Atlanta Thrashers- always whispers they may move.

But the league spends like a guy who knows the Rapture is coming in 12 months.

Islanders,

Please don't blame an antiquated building for the departures of Poti, Kozlov, Blake and Smyth. that's nonsense. The truth is, prominent free agents like Mike Sillinger, Chris Simon, Poti and Brendan Witt came here last year to play in the same building that you're now calling "obsolete".

The real reason no one is signing here is because the organization is not an attractive place to play. After the fiasco of last summer, the organization really needed to treat its own a lot better than they did.

All Tom Poti did was come here, lead the team in assists and ice time, and play solid all season. Then, instead of offering him a fair deal, the team "nickel and dimed" him over term and dollars, so he went to washington.

The same is true about Kozlov. Viktor Kozlov came here, scored 26 goals and nearly 50 points, and was an ace in the shootout, helping the team to at least five or six additional points. Points that mattered in the end. Again, the Isles' "nickel and dimed" him as well, and he too went to Washington (sensing a trend?)

After these defections, it was obvious that Ryan Smyth would never sign here. He sees Zednik, Poti and Kozlov flee and what do you think he's thinking? He's saying to himself and his agent "anywhere but Long Island!" (incidentally, I never felt he was ever truly interested in signing here, and was merely being professional and courteous to the Isles in saying that they had a chance).

The one pass I'll give Snow and Co. is on Blake. I don't think he's worth 5 years at $4M. But he too was never going to sign here after seeing all of the others turn the team down.

Rumors of Scott Hannan, Scott Gomez, Dianus Zubrus, Sheldon Souray and others spurning the Isles' dough is not because of an old barn. It's because they don't respect the organization and how its run. Change is needed, from the top down.

Hi, formerly of section 119. Was pretty upset when you bought out Yashin, unlike alot of fans here. I kept an open mind that we would be signing Ryan Smyth, after all we gave away the future for him. Well Ryan Smyth can drop dead and you are all getting what you deserve now. Not only is Yashin gone, so is everyone else. Perhaps Yashin was not the problem with the Isles. Best of Luck.

I get the strategy now. You want to bargain basement the salary to ensure that the team won't make it into the playoffs in order to allow you more time for the construction of the new areana that is supposed to solve all of the franchise's problems. As much as I would like to see this happen I keep bumping into the reality that the building is in Nassau County and the county officials there won't allow the building until you have greased their pocket enough...and that will take a lot of dough. Money that should have been used on better players to make a NHL caliber hockey team rather than the ECHL caliber hockey team that we will most likely see this upcoming season.

I respect the not throwing money around concept because Yashin proved that this was a bad practice. However, when you have a big time player that you just gave up 3 #1 draft picks to get you do what it takes to keep him if you are truely "willing to spend."

At this point it feels like you are waiting for the next draft which may not be a bad idea because at this rate will should have the most chances in the lottery for the next draft. Don't lose Ted Nolan the way you lost Smyth, Poti, and Blake. Get him a finisher to show the current players that their efforts matter.

I'd like to make a couple of things clear here so that everyone understands some of the core issues at play.

First of all, if the market says that NHL talent is worth X dollars, where X dollars is the amount of money it will take to sign a specific, talented player, their "value" if you will, THAN THATS WHAT IT IS. Your GM cannot simply shrug and say, sorry, not worth it if your team is to attract any kind of real talent and keep it around.

If the general consensus of NHL players says that the Nassau Coliseum is an antiquated joke of a building that nobody wants to play in, THEN IT IS. There is no excuse that can be made to mitigate that fact. The building has been an absolute dump for years. Gluing some letters on the outside did not improve it. Denying it does not help.

If your entire free agent roster bolts the franchise and not one significant player wants to sign here becuase they think there is something wrong with the franchise, THEN THERE IS. Stop acting like this is all out of left field and really, what must these players and agents be thinking to come up with such crazy ideas.

Its time to get a grip on reality here. Enough "We have a Plan" from the rookie GM. If you plan is to have your roster be completely devoid of talent and have a franchise that players (and fans too) avoid like the black plague, than you're doing a bang up job, keep up the good work. But for the love of god please stop with the "we're patient" and "we have a plan" BS you've been shoveling a mile high. You aren't "patient" you are "rejected" by every player you could possibly want to have here, and are now a "failure" in the highest sense of the word.

This franchise has now lost 100% of its respect and whatever small shreds of its dignity that still existed as little as three days ago. There must be some kind of record there.

Backup goaltenders with no experience do not make successful NHL GMs. Stubborn, hands-on owners that lack any real hockey sense do not combine with said goaltenders to make a successful front office. The management is a joke, the roster is a joke, the building is a joke.

Are there any other questions on why nobody wants to play here?

Alan Hahn should republish his book about the Isles and retitle it the Fall and Rise and Fall (again) of the New York Islanders.

Well, I have a GREAT SUGGESTION for all Rangers fans if you want to get pumped up. {And for all Islander fans if you want to vomit! LOL!}

Got to WWW.WFAN.COM and listen to Hockey Expert Pierre McGuire's interview with Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.

Pierre absolutely LOVES the signings of Drury and Gomez.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, LISTEN TO WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT BOTH MARC STAAL AND ALEXI CHEREPANOV. MOST FANS WHO TALK ABOUT PROSPECTS HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM PLAY AND BASE THEIR OPINIONS/HOPES ON WHAT THEY HAVE READ. WELL IF YOU WANT TO GET A HOCKEY BONER, LISTEN TO PIERRE'S OPINION ABOUT THESE PLAYERS WHO ARE 19 AND 18 RESPECTIVELY.

THIS MADE MY DAY AND IT WILL MAKE YOURS!

On the Islanders website, from none other than the venerable Michael Bossy:

"We want players that want to play on Long Island"

As for me, I want $1.50 a gallon gasoline.

One of us actually has a chance at getting what we want. (Hint: It ain't Mike Bossy)

I think thats really scraping the bottom of the barrel, trying to get Bossy to assuage the anguish of the fans right now. Mike is a champion and one of the greatest pure goal scorers of all time. Leave him out of this mess. Its a shame he should be associated in any way with the franchise in its current condition.

There was a good article (I forget where) that basically said that because of these Ranger deals and maybe future ones to beef up the defense the young players alluded to will most likely be dealt.

Even if they are not dealt immediately once they are Group II eligible the Rangers will not be able to afford them or arbitration because of the deals for Gomez, Drury, Lundquist, and any other deals they make.

I guess they envision the cap always going up. What happens in say 3 years if the cap doesn't increase one year? say the 2009-10 stays the same as 2008-09?

All these long term deals and money reminds me of when the 49ers went crazy and then had to rebuild.

WELL THE FRUSTRATION CONTINUES,SNOW IS NOT BLAMELSS EITHER IS WANG

THE BUILDING IS BECASUE ITS WANG WHO HAS TIED THE ISLANDERS TO THE ATTIQUATED BUILDING SO HE CAN BUILD HIS HUB

MAYBE TIME TO MOVE THE ISLES TO SUFFOLK

ITS ANOTHER YEAR OF IF'S-SHOULD HAVE'S AND WHATEVER'S

WELL THE FRUSTRATION CONTINUES,SNOW IS NOT BLAMELSS EITHER IS WANG

THE BUILDING IS BECASUE ITS WANG WHO HAS TIED THE ISLANDERS TO THE ANTIQUATED BUILDING SO HE CAN BUILD HIS HUB

MAYBE TIME TO MOVE THE ISLES TO SUFFOLK

ITS ANOTHER YEAR OF IF'S-SHOULD HAVE'S AND WHATEVER'S

Smyth gone. Blake gone. Kozlov gone. Poti gone. Hope gone. I'm gone.
Since when did Maloney, the Millsteins and Spano return?

DEFINITELY LOST SLEEP LAST NIGHT AS WE LOST SMYTHE, AND ADDED ABSOLUTELY NO-ONE OF VALUE. I KNEW WE WERE IN TROUBLE LAST YEAR WHEN HE WAS CRYING TO THE MEDIA IN EDMONTON WHEN HE LEARNED OF THE TRADE.BUT THINK ABOUT ALL THAT YOUNG TALENT MILBURY THREW AWAY BECAUSE ISLE FANS HAD THAT WIN NOW AT ALL COST MENTALITY. SEE THE YASHIN DEAL,THAT IS WHAT PROMPTED LOSING PATIENCE WITH OUR YOUNG PLAYERS. WE HAVE SOME SOLID YOUNG TALENT. WE WILL END UP MAKING A TRADE DOWN THE ROAD TO KEEP US AT LEAST COMPETITIVE DOWN THE ROAD. THE SMYTHE TRADE WAS ALSO PROMPTED BY THAT WIN NOW AT ALL COST MENTALITY. I FEEL BAD FOR THOSE ISLE FANS THAT BOUGHT EXPENSIVE JERSEYS WITH HIS, SMYTHE NUMBER AND NAME ON IT. IT IS A PAINFUL MEMORY OF A MISTAKE THAT WE WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER FOR AWHILE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, IF YOUR A FAN YOU STICK WITH YOUR TEAM. DO NOT GIVE UP ON THIS FRANCHISE AND STOP PANICKING. ISLES HAVE ALWAYS PERSERVERED. THIS TEAM WILL BE READY TO PLAY EVERY NIGHT, THEY WILL NOT LAY DOWN FOR NO-ONE. THE TEAM HAS ALOT OF GRIT. i HOPE TEAMS TAKE THEM LIGHTLY. SO HUNTER, SATAN AND SILLINGER GET MORE ICE! LETS SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND YOU MAYBE SURPRISED WITH SOME OF OUR YOUNG PLAYERS TOO! LETS GO ISLES!

Have the Rags and that third-rate dump corporate dump in Manhattan been condemnded yet before the Rags are outright contracted due to total indifference by New York City.

You sign those players and no one cared, no one gave it a backpage. In fact New York's only team, the Islanders as always are the story.

Msg is the second oldest dump in the NHL and smells like the circus every spring. Snow said the Coliseum was a factor WHEN ALL THINGS ARE EVEN...not
every single time...

Coliseum is one of the best hockey arena's and crowds in North America. That Knick corporate dump in Manhattan Islander fans take over four times a year with thousands of fans chanting you can't beat us as the 7,000 corporate Rag fans run for the trains at 9pm is your crowds..

Islanders are New York's only team, were what matters, Rag Contraction..

Tell McGuire and Hradek to stop trying to work for Dolan's propaganda people..

Jagr already wants out without Nylander.....good luck getting Gomez to outscore Sim next season..

Rag Contraction

You are beyond WHITE TRASH. Stupid and Poor.....WoW, your life realy sucks pal.....DO yourself a favor and come over to our side. We can always use another toilet cleaner at the Meca. As long as you've graduated from the third grade and have a minimum of two teeth, we'll give you a shot. Take advantage of this offer $5.25 an hour is much more then what you make now.

Good Luck on your interview!!!

Your future Boss

LET'S GO RANGERS! As a Ranger fan I actually feel bad for all Islander fans! What a front office you have!

Who do we have on this team who could do what Joe Sakic did? He called Ryan Smyth, did a very good sales job (obviously) and Ryan accepted the Colorado offer. Who could possibly do that for us? Rick DiPietro? Even if Rick had that stature, what could we offer anyone? Let's face it, we are getting no-one...Souray would stick pins in his eyes rather than come here, not because of the barn but because there's no one left here to propel the team forward.

Gee, between Witt and Sillinger they've played on like 15 teams in their careers. Do they not know any of these guys?

Point is, THAT'S why you overpay for Smyth, because then Smyth is that guy. We don't have that guy and at this rate we never will.

NYR Fan...thanks for the 'sympathy' but with one playoff series win in the past decade and the acknowledged worst professional sports owner in NYC pro sports history in Dolan, I think you ought to chill out and keep worrying about your own team.

I'm glad you are all so sure you've 'arrived' but you don't win anything in July and you are adding to a team that was 3 points from missing the playoffs last year. you've had a nice week, but here's an idea...maybe take it in stride. The Cup doesn't exactly go through MSG.

This is bad. This is really bad. Our front office put all their faith in Ryan the crybaby Smyth that we even had a shot to sign him. The only way we sign him was to give him an 8 year contract for 52 million. Why you wouldn't give that to the franchise player you want to build around is a mystery.

Well, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.

There are still a few UFA's worth talking to:

Michael Peca, Peter Forsberg, Sheldon Souray, Mike Comrie, Brendan Shanahan, Bill Guerin, Tony Amonte, Matt Barnaby, Eric Lindros, Michal Handzus, Mike Ricci and even Trevor Linden and Jeremy Roenick.

Bottom line is we need to put a face back on this franchise. Peca is a good leader and Roenick can use this as an opportunity to prove he isn't washed up and give him the NY stage to perform on. Comrie is a good scorer. The issue here is that Snow and Wang need to retreat and swallow their pride. We are so far under the cap that making the $34 million floor is going to be a stretch. We need to overpay for whatever is left.

There is also a strategic move the Isles can do. Sign Zach Parise, a group II free agent to an offer sheat for 5 years, 10 million dollars. The Devils are so bumped up against the cap, that they may not be able to match and if they do they will have to shake some spare parts free. It's a move that breaks the code of GM's and owners but maybe Wang is aggressive enough to do this.

Never mind that they could have drafted Parise. He's the real deal and he's young.

If I'm Snow I first sign my own RFA's to make sure someone doesn't drive up my price to sign them.

Offer Shanahan a ridiculous $10 million contract, make him captain and he will contact his friends to come. He can still score. The Rangers can't free up enough money to match the deal!!

I'm ready to start working as GM. Just give me the call!!

Mike Bossy can't possibly believe that crap. Way to tarnish a HOF image.

GM - A few of those names wouldn't help anything (Lindros??!!) but overall I completely agree with your line of thinking. Especially on Parise - not sure what draft picks we sacrifice but it's worth a shot.

An under the radar guy Garth missed was Jed Ortmayer - a Nolan-type player the starry-eyed Rangers just cast aside.

We need to pay NOW for in-their prime guys like Comrie and Souray, and fill them in with some marquee names even if they are past their prime just to continue to work on credibility. Most will want a shot at the Cup, but when the phone doesn;t ring they may be open to LI. Some familiar faces like Peca, Berard, or Linden on short-term deals can't hurt either on the ticket sales front when all else fails.

Lastly if it's true we offered the same package we traded to get Smyth to get Geurin, where are we on him now? Sign Guerin, though no Smyth, and I can do the mental gymnastics to talk myself into the fact that we have something to show for ourselves.

This is off the nhl website under free agents
FREE AGENTS SUBJECT TO COMPENSATION AND RIGHT TO MATCH - GROUP 2

The players listed below have been tendered a qualifying offer by their respective Clubs and are subject to draft-choice compensation and right to match. The draft choice compensation scale is based on compensation offered by the new Club:

OFFER COMPENSATION
$773,442 or below None
Over $773,442 to $1,171,882 Third-round choice
Over $1,171,882 to $2,343,765 Second-round choice
Over $2,343,765 to $3,515,647 First-round and third-round choice
Over $3,515,647 to $4,687,530 First-round, second-round and third-round choice
Over $4,687,530 to $5,859,412 Two first-round choices, one second- and one
third-round choice.
Over $5,859,412 Four first-round choices

Once again, the Islanders have dropped the ball. I've been going to games at the Coliseum since the late 1990s and continually have had to suffer through one embarrassment after the other with this team.

I agree that a new arena is essential if this team wants to stay here. However, to blame the building as the reason why free agents do not want to come here is just asinine. It's the winning, stupid! No one wants to play for a team that doesn't have a chance year in and year out to compete for the Cup. Look at the Columbus Blue Jackets-they've got a great arena, but do you see players lining up to go to Ohio? Hell no!!! (Although they're probably closer to a playoff spot then we are.)

Among other reasons besides inept management include the scouting department. The Islanders have continually drafted busts or given up on players too soon, and those players ended up achieving success with other teams. Need proof?-Wade Redden. Todd Bertuzzi. Jason Spezza. Roberto Luongo. Remember when they drafted Scott Scissons over Jaromir Jagr? How about Brett Lindros? With the Islanders draft record, I'm surprised they don't trade their picks for proven players.

At this point, if the Islanders were to pack up and move, I could care less. The Devils have been here 25 years and already have a better track record then the Islanders. People knock Lou Lamoriello, but the difference is he knows when a player should be signed and when one shouldn't. I could care less if the Islanders moved to Winnipeg or Las Vegas.

Dear Wang and Snow,

Start taking some responsibility. You can't fool us with your lies and excuses.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Peca
2. Amonte
3. Shanahan

Islander fans will happily welcome...and slowly start to forget. Go make it happen.

I can't belive that Milbury and Yashin are both gone and still every bit of news about the Isles is pitiful.

Where's Ziggy ?

If you let Chris Simon back on the team, I might be done. He should be banned from hockey for that attack. What if he loses control again? You gonna blame the arena?

Wang is well on his way to being hated by Islander fans...keep feeding us your excuses Charles (through Garth). Why can't we get someone who knows what they're doing?

Oh yeah, the Islanders are gonna make the playoffs this year, despite the poaching.

We still have Ricky!

Anyone gonna root with me or is it too late?

Don't disrespect us and bring back Simon...please.

If Peca comes back I will never watch another game. Come to think of it, if Wang and/or Snow is still here I won't watch them.

This was there plan all along. The trades at the deadline gave them cover - Wang and Snow could say we tried to bring a winner here but ... they wouldn't resign in the offeseason beacuse ... the Coliseum is old!!! This to me was a setup from the beginning. Which low level team in any sport rents a player at the deadline without securing a new deal to lock up the soon to be unresrticted free agent? Everyone who follows hockey knew Smyth's heart was in the West. Including Snow and Wang. Then they figured, "we'll low ball the other guys and claim it's the building again. Long Islanders will clamor for a new building and this will be the impetus for our dream"!!! I truly believe that a guy who made billions in business from his humble background has a business plan in place. He will either move the islanders or try and force the counties hand into buidling a new coliseum. Either way he wins. Thats all he cares about. In the end, even Spano will look better than Wang. Sad, sad day.

My only comment is today is July 4th as I type, not October 4th. I'll spare my teeth the gnashing until then, when we see the team at that point.

It looks like all of us ISLANDERS Fans are really getting a SNOW job after all. First Garth comes on to bash the Coliseum and play his political games, when he should be concentrating his efforts on signing some FA's. Then they Bring Bossy (our ICON)into the fold with a very well written tear jerking letter to the Fans. Who is buying this stuff? They are trying really hard to convince themselves that they have a PLAN. I think their plan is to "make it" like the Penguins have Done ! ! ! Which means 6 years of subpar hockey in order to accumulate enough draft picks to possibly get lucky enough to get the FIRST pick overall in that ONE draft where the NEXT Crosby will be waiting to join the Islanders. You have gone through this scenario already and didn't pull it off. Pathetic Vision. You need to build from within and combine that with some FA signings that will help mentor the guys coming up.
Any couch GM would have put together a better scenario for the Islanders and their fans. I'm not saying open up the BANK like the Rangers have done over the years and sign every single FA in sight in the hopes of winning the CUP... we have seen how the Rangers did with the philosophy. However, with the 10+ Top Tier FA's that were available you are going to tell me that NOT ONE of them aside from Ryan Smyth was a NOLAN type Player?? And a market like NEW YORK could not land one guy. C'mon who are you trying to kid. There are plenty of scenarios which would have appeased Islander Fans, considering the last 10 years we aren't that difficult to please.
1. Talk to Smyth get him the contract he wants and offer to sign and trade him if he really wanted to go elsewhere... this way we would have at least gotten a cpl of pick in return.
2. Jason Allison is still available why not take a chance instead of putting all our B team players on the ice at once, now that there isn't much left at the bottom of the cookie jar.
3. Come out and Admit that you made a mistake in your signing process and the offers you put out there and be honest with the fans.
We are all Grown ups. We won;t be thrilled about it but at least we will be getting the TRUTH for once, instead of this SNOW job.
4. Pick a Fan any True Islander's Fan and allow them to work side by side with GM SNOW. Get a TRUE ISLANDER fan back there helping to make the decisions. Not one could do any worse than That Ranger for life Maloney and Mike tear em down to build them up Milbury.
How many Years does it take to rebuild a Franchise anyway? Have our scouts done such a bad job we can't rebuild from within? If they have then get rid of them if they haven't why is it taking so long to get a 40 goal scorer from within the organization?
Someone is accountable or should be, but we as Fans who pay to fill your seats have yet to hear anyone step up and be accountable!! Maybe that's the real Reason you can't get the Smyth's or the Drury's of the world to come play on the Island. Who would want to be CAPTAIN of a team and accountable for their role and this team in a place where there are such dramatic double standards.. Management from the top down needs to act like TRUE CAPTAINS - Be Accountable! Be Honest! and maybe they will come!!!

I find it difficult to know exactly where to begin this post. I too have been a lifelong Islander fan. I too have felt the frustration over the past 12 to 15 years! The managerial mistakes have been no less than staggering at times. There have been moves that make the most die hard fans wonder why they even watch this team let alone buy a ticket. But then again I AM AN ISLANDER FAN!!! I will remain faithful and hopeful that someday this organization will emerge from this dreadful fog they've been in and become once again the meaning of what it is to be an NHL Championship team! With that said, I am not a quitter!. I will not quit on this team. I don't expect this team, this organization to quit either! When they do win, it will only be that much sweeter. I will be here until (it will never happen) they take MY TEAM OUT of NY! If the players don't see US quit, then they won't either. It's okay to criticize. Let them hear you. For if you don't, it'll be like waving a flag in the dark.... no one will see you and no one will know you're there.

Yes we lost a lot of talent this FA season, but we did get some back. I think that some fans take it a little too personally when a player decides to leave. On one hand, you might feel that a player is being disloyal by leaving and you might resent him for that. On the other we must realize that this is a business, for both the player and the organization.Money talks these days and in most cases it speaks volumes. Put you and your family in their shoes, and believe me , 99 times out of a hundred, you'll take the money over loyalty, because you'll still be doing what you love...playing hockey for a living.

So with all that, I hope some of you will back off a little and give Garth some slack, and time to gain some experience. I think he's doing a fine job so far, considering some the overpriced contracts that have been signed. Really, think about some of these deals and not just react to them.

Hey guys can you wait for free agency to play out before jumping off ship? Before most of you all rushed to judgment can you at least see what the team does? Yesterday they added two nice players in Guerin and Comrie. Was Poti worth 4 years? Was Blake worth 5?

People complain about attendance but after reading some of your posts I can see why they have attendance problems because some people such as "Steve Kaufman" whom posted above say they don't care if the team moves 3 days into the start of free agency because they lost a few players! Sounds like a real fan!

Has everyone come back in off the ledge yet? We all applauded Snow last year when he pulled off the coup of the trading deadline ann brought in Ryan Smyth. He tried to re-sign Smyth but he wanted to go west, So What? Snow did an admirable job so far replacing and even upgrading the talent that we lost off of our real roster from last year. He brought in players that will play from the time the puck is dropped until the last horn blows. We should all "Support the name front of the sweater, not the back". Lets Go Isles!!