There was nothing physically wrong with defenseman Bruno Gervais when he sat out the last game against Boston on Monday. Rather, it was coach Ted Nolan’s way of sending a message to everyone on defense about using their heads when they decide to jump up into the play.
As much as the Islanders need to get more offense from their backliners, they can’t afford a repeat of what happened when they played Atlanta on Saturday and allowed the Thrashers wave after wave of unguarded shots at backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz in the four-goal first period of a 4-0 loss.
But Nolan believes in second chances, and Gervais is getting one against the Thrashers tonight at Philips Arena. “I know I wasn’t playing the best hockey the last few games,” Gervais said after the pre-game skate today. “I had a good talk with Ted. It’s all about getting my game back and doing what I can do.
“I wasn’t as aggressive as I used to be. We have a lot of depth on defense, and we can afford to make some changes. I talked to Teddy, and I agreed with what he said. Everyone falls. It’s all about if you get back up quick enough. It’s all about a little kick in the butt or a wakeup call. Hopefully, the team will start picking up. We need to get some wins.”
In the last game against Boston, Chris Campoli produced the first goal by an Islanders defenseman since Marc-Andre Bergeron scored 16 games earlier on Oct. 27. Gervais, whose only goal last season came in the playoffs, isn’t a scorer, but he can contribute offensively with his skating and puck-moving ability.
“It’s not that they want us to jump more,” Gervais said. “We’ve got to make smarter decisions. If you get a chance to go, we want to go. But you’ve got to be smart about it. You’ve got to know who’s out there [from the opponent]. That’s what he wants.”
Bryan Berard stayed on the ice for extra skating, which usually is an indication that he’ll be a healthy scratch. But assistant coach Gerard Gallant said no determination had been made at that point, and it’s possible the Isles will go with seven defensemen. Nolan was ill this morning, but he will be behind the bench tonight.
Comments (33)
Well, the a smart trade would be with the Ducks and for Marchant and a 1st round pick. We will not have to give up much at all and this would be a positive for this year as well as next year
Good Luck 2night Tambs
Isles win
Greg,
Botta posted on his blog that Berard and Freddy Meyer were likely to be scratched tonight.
Welcome back!
Michael S.
www.islesblogger.com
There is nothing smart IMHO about being so darn anxious to give up first round picks when your team is still over 500, isnt depeleted by injuries, and just needs to get out of their slumps and win like they were ALREADY DOING. Now I understand that the Islanders could use a real goal scorer, but that does NOT mean they should make any old deal for any flippin player who happens to be available (Marchant, Recchi etc etc) Instead, it means that the guys that are already here need to work their hardest (which they should do regardless) and a trade should only be made in good time when it is for EXACTLY what the Islanders need both short AND long term.
This team AS IS has already shown that it can win games. Let them get back to it and lets not go throwing our picks away on short-term non-ideal solutions that really wont improve things as much as some people would like to imagine.
I ran out to the store for 20 minutes .... and come back to see they had TWO shortgoals scored against. Can they score 3 in regulation to salvage the game???
Nolan has to be at wits end... I know that I am.... and I'm not talking about Brendan
Two bad habits I have noticed with this team is when they are up (almost always by 1 goal) they play tentatively, there is no killer instinct. Maybe that is because they aren't talented enough or maybe its a mental thing. The second thing is when they are down they start pressing and allow odd man rushes, throw anything @ the net and generally play without displine. Through the first two periods of the Atlanta game it seems they didn't push enough when they were up 1-0 and then when Atlanta scored the Isles started chasing they puck around.
Not much to say....Same ole Same ole
Comrie blows. Power Play blows. Offense Blows. Clearing the puck blows. Stupid Penalties. Guerin more of the same.
Watching Kovalchuck with the puck is a treat. Would be nice to watch on a nightly basis
What will be really scary is the attendance at NVMC when they come home. If we keep playing like this, Merrick and AZS will be the only two in the barn :) :) !!!
People that post on this board that are regulars will love this team forever. It is in our blood. Yet this is getting tough to watch. We all deserve better !!!
We had a nice come back. We scored three goals. Lets just remember against who...A team that gives up goals in bunches.
p.s MAB....Be happy you are even playing....Stop giving the coaching staff lip.....P.O.S
You gotta be happy that they end up with a tie. They had everything going for them until that goal DP let up. I expect a goalie as good as him to get that every time.
Good idea putting vasicek on the power play. Just his size setting a screen paid dividends. I hope this is the team turning around. I know that Atlanta is not "great", but they did have more of an edge than I have seen in the last few games. I am worried about Guerin though... this guy needs to start hitting the net... for real!!!
On a nicer note... just got my tickets for next thu. game against for phoenix. The old man and I are making the trip from Pa just for the game... so if anyone was on the fence about going, please lets get the nvmc rocking, because i wont get home till like 2am, and I have to work the next morning.
I refuse to give out hope... like "metalchick" said, this team has proven that they can win... just have to bear down and get dirty along the wall, use the stick-check on break-outs, and.....CLEAR THE FREAKING PUCK CLEANLY on a more consistent basis.
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Islander team is awful to watch right now, Comrie needs to be demoted to the forth line for passes like that,I'd like to see Bergie,and Tamby on a line maybe with Park , a nice high tempo line !!
I also think Snow has to start thinking trade they need a goalscorer badly not sure who's available out there,maybe Ryder from the habs,Frolov from the kings?
I also like what Ben Walter brings to the table,he looked good on the forth line imagine him on the second??
I don't like what Comrie,Tank,and Guerin are bringing to the table,Guerin where's the leadership sacrafice,??
I'm not seeing that desperation where is it??
And why isn't anybody in front of the net????????
Tank?? Hunter??come on that's where you're supposed to be,all i see is pass pass pass????
Just found your blog thanks to NY Islanders Fan Central and look forward to subsequent posts. I've found the Islanders again to help deal with the Mets collapse at the end of their season.
Keep up good work.
MetalChick: You are deluded. But through acceptance and understanding you will transcend ignorance.
The formula is simple, and I posted it in the last thread: You are what your record says you are. No more. No Less.
Their record says this is a barely-above .500 team that cannot score in a highly competitive division. They overachieved at the start of the season. They did not score more than 3 goals for a month before tonight. They currently have a -12 goal differential. They lack any kind of real offensive skill or confidence. They lack killer instinct. They lack identity. The only thing this team does not lack is goaltending, and it may even lack that in the backup role. That is this team AS IS. It is nothing more.
The more I think of it the more I understand how much this team really needs, in offense, in youth, in leadership. One or two guys is not going to do it. Above all else I don't think they should go near any players older than about 26 or so. No Recchi. No more old dudes. Young, fast, skilled is the answer for what ails this team.
Has anyone ever considered the possibility that the "lunchbucket" team they are trying to build here is arcane and no longer a viable model in todays NHL? I'm as big a fan of any as the great dynasty but how would that team fare in todays game? One thing is for sure, they would take a LOT of penalties and give up tons of powerplay chances. Fact is its just a different game, and trying to emulate that team is really not as good an idea as it sounds. Get your hard-working into the corner guys that spit out teeth, sure. Everybody needs a couple of them. But not an entire team. Teams that are winning today are built on skill and speed, not grit. Someone the other day mentioned trent hunter and his failure to make a transition to the "new" style of play... I think that's valid, and I think the entire idea that management is using to build this team may be failing the transition as well.
The real fact is this: They've got about a month to get it together and start kicking some asses, or its another bust. Seeing the team scratch and claw and give everything it has to just score 2 or even (dare I) 3 goals against lousy teams really doesn't bode too well for the rest of the season.
Let's be honest here, this team is almost completely without skilled players. I love the work ethic and character of Hunter, Guerin and most of the team, but there just isn't enough creativity to win on a regular basis. I'm not sure what the answer is, but look who we put in the shootout tonight and look who Atlanta had. Enough said.
Steady: Maybe I will join Merrick and AZS :) Never been in NVMC but just realized that I am going on a 3-month business trip starting early January. I will stay in Cleveland, OH (can't wait to see LeBron) but once in the US, I will do my best to watch Isles in NVMC.
Greetings from Slovakia!
PS: It's always good to wake up and realize we get at least a point. 2 shorthanded goals ... it's sick, but getting a point from Atlanta is not bad at all. If we can get at least four more points out of this road trip, I will take it... Isles forever!
One more clean shirt should do for MAB and his stay on the Island. Let's get Berard back in there now. The Mad Bomber certainly shouldn't be buying any green bananas.
This team is making me sick! So much so that I now have started my "Isles 1st Period go to the gym instead boycott." This probably shouldn't happen because I drop a nice $150 for the Centre Ice Package. The Islanders are in my blood since birth. I love this franchise! I thank Wang for saving this franchise too.
Here are the problems: MAB, I can't stand him, I cringe everytime he is on the ice. Does anyone else notice that MAB has no idea how to play D in the opponents' zone, he just stands in front of the net. STUPID! Plus he smartmouthed Gallant! Nolan please wake up and scratch MAB permanently. In fact I'll drive up and take him back to Edmonton! Snow WAKE UP!
Comrie is Dreadful!
Hilbert in PATHETIC!
But I still love my Isles although its going to be a ROUGH year! DP can only do so much!
I've been beating this point like a drum, but it's hard to score low against a butterfly goalie, but especially from the high slot. Kari Lehtonen drops to the butterfly if he even thinks someone's going to shoot, and yet almost every shot, just like against boston, was low or wide.
Kovulchuk dropped down to one knee on his goal to make sure he had enough leverage to elevate the puck. DP's pad would have stopped it if he just slid it low like Bergy did on a very similar play a little later in the game. Really, you have to go high in the age of butterfly goalies. The whole point of the butterfly style is to cover the low part of the net, particularly when he can't see a shot clearly. You're doing the goalie a favor if you're keeping the puck down. It's not a coincidence that the only three goals they managed were the only three shots they put in the air (Sutton's started high and was deflected down by Sillinger). I really can't remember Lehtonen reaching high or having to catch a single puck aside from the goals.
The defense and less-than-stellar goaltending last night are a whole other story, and that was more an anomaly than the norm, but it's a shame to see a team get so many good scoring chances every night only to ruin them by putting the puck into the goalie's pads. Really, it doesn't take a "sniper" to elevate the puck. The amount of shots that miss the net from 10 ft out and closer is something they should work on as well. Gotta at least force the goalie to make a save when you're in that close.
Steady,
Just be glad that it was Comrie with the puck in the first period and not (INSERT NAME HERE) because it would have been tucked neatly into the flopping Lehtonen. But I will agree that he looked like the Comrie of old on the shorty he alone was responsible for. It's that kind of play that makes you scratch your head.
The guy doesn't "blow", but he definitely is tough to reach. Oh well HE IS their leading scorer... but -11 isn't going to put him on anybody's MVP list.
It was good to see JoVas on the PP... and it was rewarded with a GTG.
I'm also in agreement with MetalChick.... patience. The deals will come later, rather than sooner. The task at hand is making this team as productive as possible. This was a pretty good performance, considering they allowed two shorties in the same game, and had to cover for an out of position DP more than once.
Let's take the point and move on.
Florida, Tampa and Buffalo... 4 points would be nice, 10 goals would be AWESOME!
Metal Chick: I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT GIVING UP A 1ST ROUND PICK, INSTEAD I WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING A 1 ST ROUND PICK. The Ducks are going to most likely to unload a 1st round pick for cheap.
This would help us this year and stack up for the draft.
Well, if it gives any of you food for though, Niedermeyer's return looks like it could end Schneider's tenure that quickly in Anaheim. Considering there is talks of the return of Selanne and the resigning of Perry and other players in the offseason. Judging by the fact of how hard Snow and Nolan went after him in the offseason, and by the fact Schneider and Snow are buddies, there are serious talks about him being an Islander. We probably wouldnt have to give up to much anyway considering Anaheim only has 7- 10 days before Niedermeyer returns and his salary needs to be gone by then. Any ideas on that?
Greg,
With the news from Anaheim about Neidermayer's return; what is the possibility about Schnieder coming to the Isles? Anaheim needs to shed payroll, so it would probably take little to obtain him other then payroll. It would upgrade our defense, which we can then hopefully trade with another team for an upgrade in scoring with MAB, a forward, and a draft pick.
Whats the likehood of this?
If we take Schneider from Anaheim, with that salary, you might as well just put a fork in us.
Say it ain't so Snow!
Say we need "O" Snow!
We have enough defensemen, and Anaheim needs cheap forwards to free up cap space for next year...why would we trade young cheap forwards like Bergy (it would start there...probably at least Tambs as well) for yet another veteran D-man?
Adding aging vets to this team, particularly at the expense of cap space and youth, is the wrong direction. They need an infusion of speed and youth at the forward positions, if anything. Really, they should ride out what they have. If they turn it around, which I don't see as unrealistic at all, then great. If they don't then they have plenty of "missing piece"-type players to sell off at the deadline that could bring back picks in a deep draft, and/or some prospects.
If they're hell bent on adding another aging vet for some inexplicable reason, it'd cost far less in dollars and trading chips to grab Recchi off re-entry waivers.
Brian in VA: "DP can only do so much!"
I think DP's been very good this year, but not last night...I don't know if I'd say that he was a reason why they picked up a point. Actually, I think DP is in a slump like the rest of the team, probably because he feels it's his job to pull them out of it single-handedly. When a good goalie struggles, he tries to guess the shot instead of reacting to it, and over his last few starts, that's what it looks like he's doing. Getting beat a lot on the glove side, which is generally unheard of for him. Over his past three starts, he's given up 4 on 31 shots vs. the Rangers, 3 on 22 against the Bruins, and 3 on 24, plus 2/3 in the shootout, last night vs. the Thrashers. Definitely not DP-type numbers at all.
"There comes a point where, if it ain't working, it ain't working," Nolan said of his struggling power play. "So, Vasicek has nine goals. Maybe he deserves a chance on the power play."
NO SHIATSU, SHERLOCK!!!
Schnieder, admitedly, is one of my favorite short stay Islanders... but he's 38 years old and a defenseman. Last time I checked the offense was in dire need of help, and they have a plenty of depth at "D". He might be an upgrade, but let's focus on one problem at a time.
If I was snow (and I most certainly am not) I'd be looking for teams on the cusp of sending up the white flag who are trying to dump salary... or teams that need that one last player to fill their second line for a cup run. In those cases if we could steal a player like Semin from Washington who may be able to fit him and OVY under the cap, but not in their budget (they also draw 8k or less on weeknights... in a new building... and have no hope of even making the playoffs... or any team dynamic at all).
I'd offer Satan (who will cost $0 after this year), tambellini (somewhat justifiable HEALTHY replacement) and our first two picks next year.
It's a deep draft... but this guy is a 23 year old top star in this league... those don't grow on trees... and you don't have to wait four years for him to be ready...) just add ice!!!
But if (by miracle) a guy like that is available, it won't be until later when the the caps are so far in a hole that they are getting 500 people over their season ticket holders to come and watch their opposition and Ovechkin. They put a lot of money into misfits like Poti and Kozlov who out performed themselves under Nolan's guidance... maybe that will pay dividend's in the long run.
I think Semin is an RFA next year, so WAS might hold out and try to get the one or two first rounders he is rated at... becasue it might be financial suicide to try to sign Ovy (prolly $8M) and him ($5M+) long term without any evidence of attendance or playoff revenue increases. Not to mention they will have Backstrom to think about soon enough... and they still have Jagr on the payroll.
One good thing about the Islanders... They AREN'T THE CAPS!!!
So Garth... keep ringing that doorbell... eventually that lady is gonna answer and she's gonna need a new set of encyclopedias... but be patient!
PS: has anybody besides Cincy used the new Talk Back forum? It's what we've been asking for and probably a better forum for our off topic blathering (#1 offender). I was thinking of starting threads like:
FIRST BASE ANDY, what went wrong against [insert team name here]
COMRIE, DEAL or NO DEAL
PP Solutions
MAB or MAB Not
Thankfully, I only saw the 1st period and the OT forward. I would have been pulling my hair out on the 2 SH goals.
Upstate: Right on regarding the butterfly.
Piero: Come on down to the barn! Maybe I'll have an extra ticket--or you can have mine!
I think Comrie's biggest problem is that he has very good skills, but truly lacks any ice vision. And without vision, there's a lot of fanciness leading to nothing. And turnovers. And penalties. I think apart from Sutton, he leads the team in PIM--and given that he hasn't really been a battler all year, most of these penalties are of the lazy or out of position variety. Someone may have mentioned this before, but does Comrie = A somewhat better Kvasha?
Teddy's comments after the game are encouraging about Vasicek on the PP. Gee. A man in front helps. Who knew?
Finally, since I'm an optimistic excuse maker--I'll use my standby regarding the schedule. The Islanders have not had more than one day off in three weeks--a pace that will continue until this weekend. A team that relies desperately on energy could use some rest to recahrge--and hopefully that's ahead.
Metal Chick is right that the team should not giving up draft picks or young talent (especially since it's limited) for established talent that will help for right now. I know she misinterpreted Nautika's post about trades and draft prospects ... but she nailed it when she said the team 'AS IS' was able to win before so we should stick with them.
That being said ... I know for sure they don't have the staff 'AS IS' to win on a consistent basis. Teams have adjusted and the Isles just can't play that style of winning hockey on a nitely basis because in order to play that style they have to play hard for 60 minutes a game which requires lots of rest inbetween games. The Isles have lots of 3 games in 4 nights this season. So that doesn't bode well for that style.
I also don't consider the 3 goals they scored last night "breaking the scoring drought". The got 3 goals against a team that isn't among the elite. Lets not forget this same team shut out the Islanders not long ago. So 3 goals in 2 games against Atlanta pretty much sums it up.
Frei is absolutely 100% correct about his assessment of how the team is Right Now 'AS IS'. I'm not going to restate what he said because he laid it out perfectly in his 00:56 post today.
I think we are seeing the Isles unravel a bit now. They are a good team that is probably more of a mid to upper 80s point team. That isn't going to do anything for the Isles except help them with another late season elimination from a playoff berth.
I don't believe Snow should 'rent' another player to just help make the playoffs. The object of making the playoffs is to win the Stanley Cup.... anything less is a failure. Yes, I'd be happy to see them go far ... but lets not lose focus on the objective. Ultimately they need to build a team to be an annual contender for the Cup, and Win it ALL!!! I don't want a repeat of last Spring and July.
As others have noted ... there are lots of teams with young players that are tearing it up. We need to acquire the same talent level via the draft. Even if it takes a few years (will not take 7 as some have estimated) ... I think the Isles should begin farming for draft picks. In two years of deep drafts coming up, the Isles should obtain as many first round picks as they can. Milbury did that once ... even though it didn't amount much because of .... well we all know the story. I also know that drafting a player in the top 10 doesn't guarantee a superstar in the making... or even guarantee they will develop into an NHL caliber player. See MM again for reference.
In the mean time .... they should be working on the current team developing and getting the kids some more ice time. If the older more proven established guys aren't getting the job done, let the youth light a fire under them. This also will test the fighting spirit of the Isles youth, and make the older guys more expendable via a trade.
I Love the Islanders ... I respect every single player that puts on an Islander jersey. Because it isn't easy to make it to the NHL, and even harder to be part of a winner. However, they have to prove to me every single night that they deserve to wear that Islander sweater. I don't care what you did in Dallas, Ottawa, San Jose, Edmonton, Tampa, Atlanta, blah blah blah.... You have to prove to me that you are an Islander ... the stuff legends are made of. Otherwise you are just another player that came for the paycheck.
I'll be pushing to win every game the rest of the season ... but I want to see the youth movement.
GO ISLES!!!!
Greg,
Snow has to make a move with Anaheim. Maybe the Islanders can benefit from the weird situation Anaheim is in. Maybe they can get a Guy like Bobby Ryan or a few draft picks without giving up that much since they are looking to dump salary.
Maybe for Example:
To Islanders:
D - Schneider
RW - Ryan
08 2nd round pick
To Ducks:
LW - Hilbert
D Berard
09 5th round pick
JPinVA ...
Interesting idea trying to pry Semin from the Caps ... however two things came to my mind.
1) Why would the Caps want to trade a young star (Semin injured this year) for some spare parts and draft picks to a confernece rival? Semin and OVY are their future, and a lot will be riding on the success and further development of both of them. They will be building around them. Draft picks are no guarantee ... but make it worth them looking into. I wish they would consider offering up Semin for just our spare / non-working parts. That indeed would be a steal.
2) Now here is another thought opposite to my first thought. There is no way with the next two years being deep drafts that I'd trade away TWO of our first two picks in next years draft. We need to restock our young talent. Not gamble two high picks, one established streaky but effective player and one speedy player with potential for one star potential player. If Semin was that all purpose franchise player it is something to think about for a few moments, but not pull the trigger on. Now for Satan and Tamby straight up ... hell yeah but not throwing in those draft picks ...
Besides, if Semin was that good the Caps wouldn't be where they were last season or are this season. After all ... they have OVY too, and I think Semin's stats reflect his playing with OVY. Not to compare Hilbert with Semin, because that is a stretch... but as an example Hilbert did play with Crosby when he was getting points.
Not to mention... I believe Semin is a UFA in 3 more season after this. So just as he's getting an offer from a perenial contender that breaks the bank ... our first two picks that we gave up should be making noise for the Caps. I know that is a lot to assume ... but I've seen a lot of past Isle draft picks / potential draft picks making noise for someone else.
So yes ... I am adding ice water to your proposal as interesting as it seems. I think it would cost the Isles to much in the future. If that was this past February .. before Smyth used up 3 chips .... I'd swing away at that deal. Great idea ... I just don't think it's the right timing now.
Troy: Schneider is still a 1 or 2 defencemen in the NHL. The trade will include a 1st round pick to whoever trades with the Ducks. There are a lot of reasons why a 1st would be included. 1. being someone has to eat his salary. We will have close to 15million in cap space come FEB.( so schneider will not be a big deal) his contract is for another year and is pro-rated so we will only pay 4million this year. We will not have to give up that much in my eyes..
Nieds can not play for the Ducks unless the Ducks trade someone, they can not waive someone for a roster spot.
JP, you're glad the Islanders aren't the Caps??? I'm pretty sure most guys on this blog would rather have the youngsters in the NHL (Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom, Green, Morrisonn, Fleischmann) and AHL that the Capitals have than the young guys the Islanders have (Campoli, Gervais, Tambellini, that's it and that isn't much).
Take a look at those lists and tell me again who you would rather be. George McPhee seems to know what he's doing and they are going to get another lottery pick this year and probably a pretty good pick in next year's draftas well (both excellent). Yes, currently the Islanders are a much better team than the Caps. However, please don't tell me you would rather have the Islanders immediated future over the Caps immediate future.
And I think Upstate hit the nail on the head. DP has not played well over the last couple of weeks. I should say consistently well. I too noticed that he has been beaten high glove A LOT. And he is flopping around a lot more than usual. If he can't get back to stealing wins than this season could really take a nosedive.
Metal Chick, I think you may be "whistling past the graveyard". Becuase they scored early and won doesn't mean that they can return to that formula. Teams make adjustments all the time and I believe that teams have adjusted to the Isles. No more dumping so DP gets the puck first. Everything is soft and to the corners. Teams have also realized that the defense, while decent in their own zone, does not pose much of an offensive threat and they are clogging the neutral zone and net to cut down on the forwards chances.
Very uncomfortable situation right now and I'm not sure of a way out, if there even is one.
I think Greg's title for the game write-up says it all here. The Islanders could have easily won this game, but bad decisions on the power play handed the game to Atlanta. I have to give them all the credit in the world for coming back to at least salvage a point, though.
"First Base" had an awful game yesterday, between the untimely penalties and the substandard forechecking on many plays. He needs to go on the bench. NOW.
I have to think MAB permanently played himself off the team yesterday. Between his lackadaisical defense that only for the grace of Sutton didn't cost us a goal, and his heated exchange with Gerard Gallant toward the end, he's shown he doesn't fit the team concept. I know I was advocating second chances for MAB (since nobody except First Base seems to get them), but his time here is through. I strongly advocate landing Mathieu Schneider and shedding MAB's salary. This would still put us in good position to land a scorer closer to the trade deadline.
I'm excited to see the team starting to wake up. Let's take 2 tomorrow night and continue the upward trend!
Hey JP, you still thinking of going to the Caps/Rangers game next Wednesday? I'll be in DC and I'm game if you're interested. Let me know here and we'll surely figure something out.
And Piero, I hope you do come to NVMC. Let us know in advance - it'll make up for when I couldn't see you in Bratislava.
In past posts I was questioning why the Isles had lost their way. Was it the players or the coaches? Well last nights game definately showed that it wasn't the coaches. Undisciplined, brain-fart plays. And yet, they actually showed more aggression than we've ssen in a while.
I have to think that the early success caused this team to get too high on itself and tune the coaches out. Look for the coaches to abandon their Patience-First strategy. There will be more shake-ups and yelling behind closed doors. If it's NOT up the boards and out, the players will be riding the pine.
Top Seven Players (keepers) on the team as I see it:
1 - DP
2 - Park
3 - Hunter
4 - Vasicek
5 - Satan
6 - Sillinger
7 - Fedotenko
Kevin T.
I honestly cannot believe the angry bitter responses I am getting here personally- just because I dont agree with most of the hysteria on here I deserve that? Wrong. See, people are allowed to have opinions- AND, get this, some of them will *gasp* NOT metch your own!!! :O Deal..
Frei, your OPINION that I am "deluded" and "ignorant" doesnt mean jack squat more than MY OPINION that many of the people on here are overly hysterical. And if you think that YOUR opinion DOES matter any more than mine, well then YOU are the one that is delusional, my friend.
And as far as you go Nautika, please face the fact that the odds of the Islanders getting a first round pick from the Ducks "for cheap" are beyond slim- and thats being kind. Nobody is handing out first round picks for nothing in a capped NHL... and the ISles likely dont have enough chips to capture interest like that when there are a dozen other teams that can absorb another salary and stay under the cap who have a bit more to offer. Additionally, speakling of caps. please turn off the CAPS LOCK and stop e-yelling at me... because all it is doing is emphasizing the aforementioned hysteria that is so unbelievably prevalent here.
Finally, let me say that my idea of coming to a blog like this is to discuss the Islanders, not justto bash all the guys that are there and talk about how they should all be gone and F them and they all suck and whatever. If thats what many of you want to do, good for you- Im not stopping you, Im not even being rude to you even though I disagree, But- do NOT think that I HAVE to agree with any of you in order to be treated respectfully on here. My opinion is just as valid as any of yours- and I will thank you to remember that.
And BTW, thank you to the few of you who answered me WITHOUT being needlessly rude or insulting.
Jeez...