Don’t expect a revolution in which the younger generation in the Islanders’ organization suddenly takes over. A couple of strong games by Blake Comeau and the fiery play of Sean Bergenheim aren’t going to suddenly put the Islanders on the path to the playoffs.
But it’s a step in the right direction, and to coach Ted Nolan’s credit, he recognized the impact made by the fourth line of Comeau, Andy Hilbert and Tim Jackman last night in Pittsburgh and acted accordingly by increasing their ice time. The 4-2 victory that resulted should have been an eye-opener, not only for the players who lost ice time to the fourth line, but for the coaches who were rewarded for considering other possibilities.
Sometime in early January, Kyle Okposo is going to join the organization. Nolan hasn’t commented on whether the seventh overall pick from the 2006 draft will start out with the Isles or go to Bridgeport for his introduction to pro hockey. But the simple fact Okposo is available to step in should add to the competition within the ranks for ice time.
When Nolan threw Hilbert and Comeau on the ice during a four-minute Islanders power play in the third period against the Penguins, that was a clear signal that his patience is wearing thin with the veterans who expect to be in that role. He was rewarding production and effort, and Nolan said that’s exactly what should be expected from here on out.
“You give leeway and you have to have patience, but patience can only go so far,” Nolan said. “You reward people who deserve it, and tonight, Andy Hilbert’s line maybe wasn’t going to get much ice time, but all of a sudden, one shift where they made something happen leads to another one. It’s no slight against anyone else. It’s just good competition. That’s the way life works. If you don’t do the little things, somebody else is going to do them and somebody else is going to get some ice time. Tonight, they deserved it.”
After getting two shifts in the first period, Comeau received three in the second period and five shifts in the third. Hilbert, who also plays on the penalty kill, had five first-period shifts and seven each in the second and third periods. In contrast, top-line center Mike Comrie got six first-period shifts, four in the second and five in the third for a reduced total of 14:08 ice time.
The fourth line isn’t always going to play as well as it did against the Pens, but when it does produce, Nolan said ice time will be spread more evenly. “No question,” Nolan said. “That’s the way it is. For everybody else, if you want it, you’ve got to work for it. I believe you can’t wait for breaks to come; you’ve got to make them. If somebody else is going to steal your ice time, that’s healthy competition.”
Asked if there was a message there for the top line, the coach said, “We had meetings with everybody, with the team, with individuals. I’m not sure if the law was laid down, but certainly, they know what to expect. And if you know what to expect, there’s no surprise.”
It’s important for the coach to back up his words because that’s what motivates fringe players on the fourth line and gives hope to players at Bridgeport. And Hilbert showed his character by the way he handled a demotion that probably was overdue based on his lack of production in a larger role earlier this season.
“I’ve got to take it and make a positive out of it,” Hilbert said. “Obviously, no one likes to be put on the fourth line, but with the fourth line we have, it’s really not a fourth line. They’re both good players. You’ve got to take that and make the most of it, and I think our line did that tonight.”
It was obvious from their two first-period shifts as a line that Hilbert and wingers Comeau and Jackman came to play. Comeau stole the puck on each shift, and the fourth line then did a good job of pressuring in the offensive zone and creating scoring chances.
“It’s always a good thing on your first shift to get a couple of scoring chances and get the ball rolling,” Hilbert said. “That’s our job is to create some energy for everyone. We don’t get play as much, so, we’re rested.”
Keep it up and the other lines will be well-rested, too.
Comments (64)
Finally!!!!!
This is non-related to the thread...
I have only purchased Newsday when I used to go to school on Long Island in the mid to late 80s. I may have bought the NYC version of Newsday on some occasions too ... My opinion of Newsday, as it should be, was a pretty damn good Newspaper for Long Island ....
.... Then ... WHY?!!? Why is it that the Islanders play second fiddle to the NYC basketball team ... who loses constantly? Islanders win a game against a team which has argueably the best player in the world on it. They get a 1/16 of a page bar up on top ... and the Knicks get full blown back page coverage with a loss.
I understand that if the Isles lose ... they don't deserve back page coverage ... However ... Long Island's Newspaper should give Long Island's team the nod over a losing team from MSG.
THAT!! My fellow Islander fans is ONE of the problems the Islanders have. Even the local newspaper doesn't give them good PR.
Okposo was 7th overall not 6th
The Kids are Alright!
It is correct that the Isles do not have a real first line. I have always felt that Nolan's reliance primarily on three lines works against us in terms of giving it your all on every shift game after game, and that a fourth line must play many more minutes if you couldn't simply just roll four lines.
The mark of a truly great coach is one that not only gets the most out of his players, but is sophisticated enough to tweak his own system where needed (or revamp it) to fit the talent he has.
Let's get our first back to back wins in a month!
Two in a row, how 'bout that!!
More Comeau
This was the third straight solid effort by the Nolanders. An excellent SOG disparity. Good PK, and the PP made some opps. The JoVas line continues to dominate, and has been officially promoted (according to TOI) to the #1 line designation. A few more line tweaks according to Nolan's Merit System will bring this team to full throttle by the last third of the season. I sense Comeau getting some time on what shold be the second line (Comeau-Park-Guerin). Comrie will probably be "injured" the next time he gets hit, and that will allow them to bring Walter up to center the fourth line without Comrie losing ALL of his value at the deadline.
Meyer looks like he's playing better than he did last year,but he isn't the "answer". They need to look for a partner with Sutton. Sutton needs more TOI, but that pairing isn't solid. It mightbe time to start looking at Spiller or Kohn. Spiller/Gervais might give them a servicable third pairing while Spiller will add the toughness lost with Simon(last year). That would move campoli up with Sutton... I see that as a positive offensive move as well. That pairing, with good time together should allow campoli more opps to move up and start putting more offensive pressure on opponents.
another great wit by the nolanders!!! way to get 2!!
cameau looks great out there...i think its time to see if he can do anything on the 3rd line...camre looks lost and/or hurt out there...maybe its time to sit him for a few games
just one thing....please! please! NO MORE satan at the point on the power play...put him down low or in the slot but NOT at the point
In response to the poster in the previous thread (Jason, I believe) who questioned my mention of Frans Nielsen as one of the Bridgeport players to whom the Isles should be giving a chance, here is the Hockey's Future assessment of Nielsen:
"Nielsen is a very good skater with great quickness and nice soft hands. He is a phenomenal playmaker and possesses great sense and passion for the game. He also has a solid shot which he uses in every possible situation. He is very aware of his duties as a center and he seems to enjoy playing defense. The negative side is his size and strength, but he is only 19 years old and will bulk up before he takes off to North America. Nielsen is comparable to Chicago Blackhawks Swede Michael Nylander, but if he will be able to be as good as him, only time can tell."
Obviously this assessment is 4 years old, as Nielsen is now 23. But I do remember that he showed a bit of a spark last season. Has anyone been watching the Sound Tigers closely enough to know what's up with him? He had decent scoring numbers at the Bridge last season, but has severely fallen off in 07-08.
i thought mike comrie was supposed to have good skills. at times now he looks like someone who never played hockey in his life. almost every time he gets the puck in a good spot he coughs it right up or gets off a nerf ball shot. i never saw a guy with "good skills" spaz out so much. it's bizarre.
Confusedaboutcomrie,
" i never saw a guy with "good skills" spaz out so much. it's bizarre"
There has been an "underlying" belief here by many who post regularly that Comrie is playing hurt. (shoulder)
And it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
if he's NOT hurt, he'd better have Hillary Duff rough him up a little.
Just got off the phone with one of my clients "CSTV". I work in the TV media.
Maybe it's been published already ... but ... there seems to be a HUGE backlash in the college hockey world about Snow's comments regarding the Golden Gopher hockey program and coach Lucia. They ordered feeds from Czech of the World Junior U20 Champ and are covering the college players participating ... Okposo is huge news and really shook up other college programs as well. According to my client .. nobody in these college programs is happy with Mr. Snow's comments.
I had no idea that this would be so earth shattering across the whole college hockey spectrum.
There is a GREAT deal of respect for Gopher hockey and coach Lucia among college players his peers. They also took Snow's comments as a slight against their programs as well. Especially since Minnesota is one of the premiere college hockey programs of all time.
Oh Garth ... say it isn't snooooooow. Please don't tell me you just alienated some of the best development programs in hockey. I think it's time for some apologies. Snow is getting ripped by the college hockey world. Even other programs have reported on Okposo gate on their websites I was told.
I don't get much college hockey news ... can anybody confirm this fallout? 505 .. are they talking about it in Colorado?
I'll have to tune into CSTV when I get home.
Has Garth caught Mad Mike Milbury's "foot in mouth disease?"
I just went to the CSTV webiste ... KO is the headline story ...
http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/cs-m-hockey-body.html
It isn't a flattering article about Snow.
I don't know how this is going to impact the organization's future relationship with other college programs ... especially Minnesota's.
good article today in newsday from neil best about the islanders TV contract and why it is so long...intresting to say the least
yeah is222 ... I posted a comment on that article page. It explains a lot ... and as you say ... interesting to say the least.
"505 .. are they talking about it in Colorado?"
I'll leave that question to D-Money to answer.
Where I am (area code 505), all the talk is the Lobos winning their first bowl game in 2 million years (It was their OWN bowl-created 2 years ago) and the latest messiah (Steve Alford) anointed to get the hoops program into the promised land of the final four.
I DO KNOW that Snow is a four letter word in MN (it should have been for years, have you ever visited that frozen wasteland in the winter?), and that I am not getting any Christmas presents from any of the family up there because of the Tribune article.
Snow definitely created a firestorm with his comments.
My thoughts?
It's business.
&^%$ 'em if they can't take a joke
Agreed 505 ...
I feel that KO and GS have to do what is best for the Isles. From what I gleened from most of this it seems there wasn't much emphasis on developing KOs defensive game.
I just wish GS was a little more tactful in his approach in his words regarding the coaching. Next prospect for the Isles that go the way of the Golden Gophers may "truely" get poor coaching .. or less ice time. Who knows? I know bruised egos heal slowly in some people.
My personal feeling anyway .... and I know most disagree .. is that a player shouldn't be drafted till they are ready for pros. Maybe 19 or 20. Honestly, how many draft picks leap to the NHL the fall following their draft year? Not everyone is a Sid the Kid.
It will improve the quality and maturity of prospects at the time they are drafted. Personally ... I always felt after the first 5 picks it's a crap shoot. A lot of 1st rounders never stick in the NHL. So what can be expected in the 2nd - 6th rounds??? Maybe do a draft format like the NFL or NBA .. a player has to waive college / junior eligibility to be drafted at 18 & 19 years old. If they are that good ... they'll get selected and enter a minor league development team or NHL team immediately after the draft. It sure would be easier following a team's prospects without surfing every college / junior website in creation. Who knows?
Huge win last night! Especially since they got it before going to the shootout. I was not looking forward to seeing Ovechkin, Kozlov and Semin come in on DP...Hopefully they are getting back to the form they shopwed early on!
Go Isles!!
great article today in the new york times about KO....heres the link
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/educating-okposo-and-saturday-night-in-the-bunker/
Great article islesfan222 ... thanks for sharing.
I read the comments of some of the readers ... I don't think they got the point. I'll admit ... Garth's words were kind of harsh .. especialy since Lucia is a highly respected and successful coach.
However the author of that article put it in perspective. You attend college to "Develop" ... Whether you want to be a lawyer, doctor, architect, school teacher or professional athlete. If you can get paid to "Develop" else where because you don't feel like you are getting out of the college program what you feel you should ... then you have to do what you feel is best for your future. In KO's case he should do what he feels is best. After all ... his future depends on how well he is "Developed".
To me it's between Okposo and Lucia. Lucia should of never brought the Isles into it ... and Garth should of bit his lip and not come across so critical. Snow should of realized this may affect the perception of the team and further create a negative image of the team.
He could of humbly replied to Lucia's comments stating that they were in immediate need of offensive help, and we needed to accelerate his integration into the Islanders' system since we had no 1st round draft pick in 2007. Or just ZIP IT!!
Besides ... a lot of college coaches of all sports recruit HS players with only their program's benefits in mind. They truely aren't concerned with developing talent for the rights holder. That said ... the better players that come out of a program and succeed in the pros. ... the more desirable their program appears to potential recruits.
My brother cracked me up earlier after he read about this issue in some of the local papers in Minnesota. He said ... well ... I guess this kills any shot of the Yankees getting Santan ... and ya know what? I bet he's right.
GO ISLANDERS !!!
I read the above-linked articles and they weren't *that* hard on Snow. I think there are two reasons why Snow made the comments critical of Lucia.
First, I think he was very upset that Lucia implied that the Islanders had pressured Okposo. Last off-season, the Isles made a very public point of saying that they were NOT doing that and that they supported KO's decision to stay in college and get an education. I think Lucia's insinuation to the contrary was false and Snow was furious because it made him and the NYI organization look hypocritical.
Second, I wonder if Lucia had made comments to Okposo privately in the course of the season that damaged KO's confidence and Snow was annoyed by that and felt protective of his player. Because I have found Snow to be very judicious in his public comments throughout his tenure as GM -- the opposite of Mad Mike. This sort of outburst would be out of character, so I am guessing he had what he felt was a good reason for blasting Lucia.
KH, I agree whole-heartedly. I made that point the second it became public knowledge that Okposo was leaving school and Lucia made those comments implicating the Islanders for tampering. There was no evidence, and Snow's personal history as a collegiate player and someone who seemed to almost publicly talk Okposo out of turning pro in the summer makes it even less believable. Let's also keep in mind that Garth Snow won a national championship with that powerhouse Maine team in the early 90's. As someone who knows the joy of winning a national title, he wouldn't want to take Okposo out of a situation where he could conceivably win one, or at very least he wouldn't take an active role. I think this was an instance of Snow over-reacting to a clear shot at the organization, and a Minnesota reporter possibly injecting some yellow journalism to protect the UM hockey program.
Interesting reads on CSTV as well. I personally know Elliot Olshansky, the CSTV "Rink Rat," so I'll be sure to reach out to him and get a better understanding of how this affects college hockey programs. As I've said before, it seems that Lucia switched Okposo to center, and that caused a cascade effect. Playing him out of his natural position hurts his professional development AND slights the Islanders, who drafted him as a power winger. He was likely trying to do too much and found himself in an untenable position. We all know that when nothing is working you have to either make it work or get out. I think this was not an easy decision, and I agree that the matter should have been kept between Lucia and Okposo, who MADE THE FINAL DECISION. Lucia implicated the Islanders, and Snow returned fire to protect his organization's reputation.
Posted by Saint Nick (Terrier Nation) | December 19, 2007 23:06
Given Garth Snow's storied history as a Maine Blue Bear - um, I mean Black Bear - I take exception to the Minnesota coach blaming the Islanders organization for this whole scenario. I find it hard to believe, especially given Snow's repeated insistence that Okposo should NOT turn pro over the summer, that the organization pressured him. That is clearly an unfounded claim and very unprofessional.
_______________________________________________________
Just for emphasis. That was my immediate gut reaction, and I realize that I follow college hockey more than most people on this board because I was lucky enough to see high-level college hockey first-hand. I also don't buy the New England Mafia argument. We forget Bates had 52 points his first year with the team, in addition to the penalty shot. He was, at the time, a valuable player. Freddy Meyer needs to get his sea legs this year, and I still think (even with my BU glasses off) that he could be a very productive NHL defenseman. If nothing else, however, you could always view the trade as a way to get Zhitnik's salary off the books.
Hey Nick -- Merry Christmas! I will be at the Isles games Weds night against the Leafs with my brother, his brother-in-law, my 5 nieces and the nephew who'll be wearing the DP jersey I got him a couple months ago. Hope we can play better against the Buds than we did in their building! You going to that game?
just got done looking at the islanders website and noticed that the game is starting at 730 on wed...at first i thought it was really weird that looked at the nhl website and noticed it was a national broadcast in Canada....i wonder how this game will draw attendance wise since its the day after xmas and half the people work and half dont...none the less we should see how the 730 start works for people
Posted by Islander505 | December 23, 2007 10:47 Confusedaboutcomrie,
" i never saw a guy with "good skills" spaz out so much. it's bizarre"
There has been an "underlying" belief here by many who post regularly that Comrie is playing hurt. (shoulder)
And it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
if he's NOT hurt, he'd better have Hillary Duff rough him up a little.
if he is hurt he should not be dressing, and that's on the coach. and with all his penalties, he is not helping the team.
I'm off this week, so all signs point to my being at the game on Wednesday. As soon as I pick up tickets I'll let you know where I'll be sitting.
Devils finally found the recipie over the last month they were missing at the begining of the season. SUFFOCATING DEFENSE ... they also finally are a plus in GF / GA in this road trip.
I watched some of their game yesterday ... and even though they couldn't score in regulation I noticed a huge difference in their defensive game over the Isles'. They don't give many teams quality chances from in close. Aucoin let some bombs go .. he still has a decent shot .. better than MAB ... but the defense of the Devils were all over the rebounds and prevented the open men from getting to the pucks inclose.
A lot of Calgary's shots you could tell were in frustration and lacking the patience to work it in close. They probably are used to a more open style in the West.
Ingilna had a few chances also to pot a couple of goals but he was snuffed out. The Devils had no offense .. they just seemed to take advantage of Calgary's frustration. They played a great road game and took Calgary's fans out of it with their boring style.
I think playing boring / tight suffocating D on the road is the Isles key to success on the road. At home fans want to be entertained ... and of course win. Fine line ... but with some of the young players the Isles have ... they may have the players to pull it off ...
side note ... I just was checking stats and was surprised to see Comrie ahead of Drury ... I thought Drury was having a fine year? What happened? Goes to show .. $$$ doesn't always translate to points.
Does Garth Snow have a plan to build this team into a perennial winner like the Devils? So far he's traded 3 players drafted in the first round(Nilsson,O'Marra and Nokelainen) and a first round draft pick for an unsigned R.Smyth and a player drafted in the 5th round(B.Walter). Noke has 4 goals with the Bruins while Walter plays in Bridgeport. Our best forward is Richard Park with 5 goals.He has not signed any major Free Agents and has traded away four first round picks.What is going on?????
confusedaboutcomrie,
I agree the Comrie is not helping the team right now, but I defer to Nolan's judgement on playing him.
To KH, St Nick, and goislesgo.
My final take (yeah right) on the KO/Lucia/Snow brouhaha.
First off, goislesgo, Lucia is an outstanding coach. Snow's comments about his abilities were calculated and deliberate (more to follow).
There is no amount of money that would make him leave the position as Head Coach of MN. Unless it was to take over the Wild or the U.S. Olympic program. He is Minnesota Hockey through and through, he will never leave.
Looking back at this point on what transpired last week, I am gonna simply take my hat off and congratulate Mr. Lucia and Mr. Snow over the way things have turned out in this little mess.
What we have right now is a storyling where the State of Minnesota hates the Islander organization and Garth Snow.
As it should be.
Otherwise the burden of pain on all of this would be squarely on the shoulders of a 20 year old KID who for the most part has a hard enough time in the morning deciding whether or not to change his underwear.
And that is a recurring sad theme in our society. That we put TOO much responsibility on these kids to make the right choices, when many times THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG CHOICE.
In effect, Lucia and Snow have wisely and deliberately turned this kid's "choice" into a battle between two organizations, NCAA Hockey/Gophers and pro hockey/Islanders.
And deflected much of the "pain" for this kid over the choice away from him.
I am sure that this was not an easy decision for Okposo, congratulations to Lucia and Snow for making it a "Gopher/Islander" dispute and not a "Okposo bails on the Gopher's" dispute.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
My Islander Christmas Wish List:
If I owned the Islanders this is what I'd do:
CHANGE!!
I know we get high on the wins .. and the one goal .. or 5 goal loses for that matter fade with time. However, as most still post here ... we have problems with both the on ice product .. and off ice product.
On Ice:
I know that the front office is thought of as an off ice part of the organization .. but the "on ice" product all starts in the front office.
I truely like Garth Snow ... I think he's done a good job since July 1st with what he had to work with. However, I'd either demote him / promote him or fire him. Weird right? Well, he's learning on the job, and his Smyth trade for prospects & a 1st round pick left a serious hole in the Isles talent pool. Those players could of been better utilized for a 19 game rental. The Isles couldn't gaurantee Smyth would resign with them .. and they could of like everyone else had a chance to sign him during free agency if they really liked him. Snow doesn't have the chops to be GM yet ... Gone ... sorry Snow fans ... I like him too .. but that doesn't bring the Isles talent stability. He might actually make a good VP for the Isles.. but I'm not sure he has the chops for GM.
Replacement: Someone respected with lots of executive or coaching experience in NHL, Junior and/or College circles ... Brent Sutter was actually my personal choice before Neil Smith was hired. I have no idea how he'd of done though. But it would have to be someone with some experience. I'd have to look into it more before I named names.
Since DP is signed long term ... He is the Isles franchise player. I'd do everything to market around him. He's got a great personality and has the skills on the ice to attract fans. He's the Islanders' version of the Yankees' Derek Jeter. Then I'd build around that and market other Isles along the way.
Before the Isles can even think of putting on a perennial contender ... they have to shed dead wood. I'd make it a priority for the NEW GM to re-build. Take stock of the players, label the keepers ... and unload the dead wood.
I'd want the NEW GM to get on the same page as Nolan. Tell Nolan this is what I expect ... and I need you to get me these results... which is progress. They don't need to win the Stanely Cup in one year. They just need to grow .... and progress. We'll fill in the missing pieces once the foundation is set. I want a team that contends every year ... not looking for short term windfall and hope for the best.
Ulitmately the team will need the talent to win on a consistent basis. That is the prime thing that will put fannies in the seats.
Off Ice:
New Building. I'd tell Nassau County to get it together .. Or I'm not developing the site. I'd look to Brooklyn and Queens ...transportation improvement & new building is a #1 priority as far as front office goes. Suffolk is not an option. Isles fans have hard enough time getting to game on time from work.
Create an alumni committee and bring in former players with no affiliations to other teams (Sorry Denis Potvin). That committee would be compensated ... and meet once a month to provide feed back and participate in an advisory role... nothing more. Sometimes you need eyes and ears on the outside to let you know how you are doing. Give the ownership / managment a different perspective.
Uniforms: Every year it seems some teams have uniform issues. Some teams make improvments ... some teams make it worse. Although .. the Isles uniforms today don't seem hideous... they don't scream out buy me. I've always felt that teams like the Devils who had those nasty Green & Red colors are more appropriate for Christmas ... sorry Saint Nick .. than a hockey team. However, the Devils made good, and changed the uniform to Red & Black.
I know the Isles' Blue and Orange are their trademark ... However ... look how the Mets were able to make their version of Blue and Orange look cool. I'd make the Orange in the Isles uniform more of an accent to the blue ...and go stronger with Blue and Black ... Black home uniforms with thick blue bands of color and thin orange border / piping.
The away uniforms would be the white of course ... with black dominating .. and blue trim with orange piping around the blue. Simple ... no huge splashes of orange. The jerseys would look really sharp.
Fans:
The Isles have some of the best, most die hard fans in hockey ... The problem. There just aren't enough of them. I think the franchise has really been a PR nightmare over the last 14 years .. and did lots of damage to the fan base. I'd make that a priority to fix. You need to lore back some old fans .. and create new ones.
I'd market to a broader region than just to Long Island ... I'd create more creative ticket packages ... and create a "loyal fan plan" that awards points... for everything having to do with the Isles. From visiting the website every day, to buying merchandise, attending games, contests ... etc.
I'd do some interactive fan stuff too ... utilizing Isles TV to create a Isles You Tube thing for fans.
I can go on ... but for now ... I'll leave it at that. I have some other wishes to fill and do some last minute Xmas shopping.
Merry Christmas!!!
Isles-NJ: I think of this team as 2 seasons removed from a rebirth. I'm not thrilled, but they have taken strides in the right direction. I think that we can wait to see where this leads. The smyth trade was horrible, but ok nobodys perfect.
And as for changing the colors. Dude...seriously...that's part of this teams image. If anythin they should go to the retro unis they wore against buff last year.
But I agree with everything else you said
Keep Snow exactly where he is.
Give him 5 years.
At this point any comments on the Smyth deal are strictly 20/20 hindsight. A million things, positive and negative, could have happened as a result of that deal (hell, the two kids could have broken their legs getting off the plane in Edmonton, or Smyth could have 25 goals right now for the Isles).
It is what it was, it generated a LOT of positive feelings for the Isles that their management was committed to getting a winner.
I like a guy who is willing to roll the dice from time to time.
The fact that Snow was willing to make a splash and make that deal puts him on the speed dial list of every GM in the league.
And THAT"S a good thing.
"A REBIRTH" is ALWAYS a 10 game winning streak away.
505, excellent call on the perspective there. Maybe my strong dislike of Gopher hockey clouded my judgment there, and I think you're dead-on that after this incident more people hate Snow than Okposo (though again, it's selective...Thomas Vanek almost single-handedly won them a national championship his freshman year and immediately bolted...nobody hated him).
As for changing the colors, NO NO NO NO NO...I agree that going back to a more simple, retro uni is the way to go. Black with orange accents, even with the blue, is a bit too Halloween (and we won't have Satan forever). I like some of your other suggestions, and I think all of us need to think things through and try to be on the same page with the team. I absolutely want to keep Snow where he is because, face it, without DP's concussion and Simon going ballistic there might have really been something here last year. Kudos to Snow for having the guts to go for it, because it shows he wants to improve the team. You can't imagine what a huge acquisition like that did for the locker room, especially when you think of what happened in 94 when everyone was abuzz about the Islanders making a big splash at the deadline, and they proceeded to do nothing. A team that was a year removed from a trip to the conference finals (with, historically, a better goaltender...no offense to Glenn Healy, but despite that year he had as an Islander Hextall was the better goalie) could have made noise that year. I'd rather be in this position than wonder what-if.
By the way, speaking of Hextall...I actually saw someone at the game on Saturday wearing a Hextall Islanders jersey. I never even saw one of those when he was on the team.
Today is a day of peace.
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Yes!! Hindsight is always 20/20 .... I actually had another paragraph in my last post that mentioned the 20/20 hindsight. However, as I analyzed that deal I chose to remove my mention of 20/20... because there were too many "What If's" .. and as 505 said ... they could of broken their legs coming off the plane. So could have Smyth and every one of the Islanders... but you can't live life worrying about breaking your legs.
I never was crazy about the trade for ONE reason from the very begining. Smyth was only under contract for the remaining of the season . I never felt he'd make the Islanders an instant cup contender ... I thought he might be able to get the Isles past the first round assuming the Isles could get a 6th seed to play Atlanta ... but with juggernauts Buffalo, Ottawa, New Jersey & Pittsburgh at the time ... I just felt Smyth wasn't enough to vault the Isles to that catagory .. and best they still were a 5-6 team. Yes, Smyth's numbers were sub-par for him, and DP's injury may have had an impact on the Isles wins and losses ... but you can't blame DP's injury on Smyth's lower average numbers.
Smyth even mentioned how the East Conference was a lot tighter than the West ... so maybe he was just more comfortable playing in the West Conference. All that said, I do love the fact that Snow wasn't shy about making deals. I just felt he GAVE AWAY TOO Much.... as I said in a previous thread. Three 1st round picks is something you pay in compensation for SIGNING a Very High Level Restricted Free Agent ... they didn't even have that. Smyth may have been Captain Canada ... but IMO he wasn't worthy of what Edmonton received.
In comparison ... Edmonton signed RFA Dustin Penner. A young 25 year old, huge 6'4" 245# power forward, 2nd in rookie scoring 29G, 16A, 45P (he got those #'s playing on the 3rd and 2nd line mostly and got PP time). He also was one of the major reasons the Ducks won the cup. The Oilers signed him to a 5 year deal for only $21.25M ... to me .. a much more valuable deal than Smyth would of been even if the Isles signed him. Penner is young, has much more upside than Smyth and came cheaper. So yeah .. why was Edmonton able to swing that deal?? Because they had 2 Isles 1st round prospects and had the Isles' 1st round draft pick for 2007. All the Oilers had to give up was a 1st rounder, a 2nd rounder and 3rd rounder. You do the math. 20/20 or not ... If the Isles didn't like those players sent to Edmonton.. they could of been utilized more wisely for a better sure deal. Risking all that for 19 games and playoffs? High stakes, low reward with odds stacked against you.
You can't just throw caution to the wind like that for what conceivably could only be a 19 game player. That is 3 years of scouting and investing in development out the window. That said ... yeah .. all 3 of those players could be bums, they also could bust out and be future stars. To many "What If's", but I know one thing is definite. All 4 of the players involved in that trade (2 prospects, 1 draft pick & Smyth) are not playing for the Islanders or affiliate clubs. Say bye-bye.
I like Snow and I like it that he is willing to improve the team. I just think he screwed up that deal big time. He should of made at the very least the 2007 pick that we gave up conditional that the Isles were able to extend Smyth for 3 years. He did a fine job of finding players to come to Long Island after the exodus. I'll give Snowy that much.
505 .. I agree that Garth showing the willingness to make a deal is a good thing ... but not for the same reason you stated. I think it's good for us, the fans and the players. We know that Garth will make a deal ... not always the best ones .. but he's willing to not standby and wait for the train to hit him. When you mentioned that it's a Good Thing because it means he's on the speed dial of every GM because of his willingness to make a deal, I had an uneasy feeling of the other GM's eagerness to call Garth because they may look at him as a push over green GM. That is my take.
The unis ... I'm not suggesting that we get rid of the spirit of the Islander jersey. I'm suggesting that we add black to it. Yeah Nick .. I thought of the Halloween comparrison with the Orange and Black also.... however ... I can't tell you how many comments I've received about my ALL Orange Isles jersey being a pumpkin costume ... and that isn't from Rags fans either. Besides .. the Mets did Black with Orange and Blue pretty well.
I like the older Isles retro jerseys too .. with the lighter blue .. those are the jersey's I was thinking of merging with the black. I thought of this years ago when Dallas introduced their black jersey's with the Green and Gold traditional franchise colors. Their sales almost quadrupled that first year... the only team that had a greater increase of jersey sales from the previous year was the LA Kings (over 500%) in 88-89 with their new black and silver colored jerseys. That was also Wayne Gretzky's first year with the Kings so that had an effect I'm sure too.
I wasn't suggesting adding black to the Isles logo .. just to put black on the home jersey's where ever there is blue ... and on the sleeves where it is orange have that light blue with orange piping to match the piping that outlines the shoulders. Orange and Blue should always be the Isles colors. The away jerseys should obviously be white with the same exact sleeve color skeem as the home jerseys. The Isles need jerseys they can market. Black colors sell. My teammates like my dark blue RBK Islander practice jersey .. the Isles logo jumps out at you.
Oh ... my buddy Kelly and I came up with this idea a few years ago. He lives in Vancouver now.
We suggested since Brooklyn technically is part of Long Island ... and the Isles should be inclusive of Brooklyn and Queens as part of Long Island ... that on the right sleeve have the Brooklyn Bridge ... and on the left sleeve ... the Montauk Light House to show the diversity of urban, maritime heritage of Long Island.
We figured that they could be also be morphed into one single logo .. as a secondary logo to replace the 4 stanley cup bars as another alternative. My buddy said most people have no idea what that is in Vancouver .. unless you are an Islander fan. He said that it would be better to have 4 minuture sillouettes of the stanley cup on the upper right chest of the jersey (I know .. the player numbers are there now).
Nothing should ever replace the traditional Islander logo .. I had my fill of fish sticks.
Thank You NHL Network for my Christmas present.
I got to watch Game 4 of the 1983 final between Isles/Edmonton today.
First time I have seen it in 23 1/2 years.
Got almost damn verklempt.
Reminded myself that 5 weeks later I got picked up in Mr. Whitekey's Fly Bye Night Club on Spenard Rd in Anchorage by my spouse.
And the Islander's have not.......oh never mind.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!
St. Nick, KH, Steady, JPinVA, Metal Chick, 19Isle in NJ 22, D-money, Merrick, islesfan22, Nautika, and everyone else that I forgot, AND ESPECIALLY Greg Logan.
All of you have made my discovery 4 months ago of this little gem of a blog board, EXCEPTIONALLY ENJOYABLE.
GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!
This just in!!
My brother was talking to his brother inlaw in Atlanta ... and their is a buzz of Marian Hossa going to the Pens. Anybody hear this? He said they might just be waiting for the "hold" on trades over the holiday to pull the trigger. Apparently Pitt is looking for a highly skilled winger for Crosby. What? Sid the Kid isn't doing good enough?
Who do they have to trade without hurting the club? Maybe looking to unload Malkin or Staal? Roberts with a package of prospects?
If Hossa is available .. now is the time for Snow to look into it. Hossa is supposed to go UFA .. so only pull trigger if they can negotiate an extension first. Atlanta will want something big in return ... they are in the thick of the SE division race for 1st place since they got hot and Carolina cooled.
Hossa just needs a center to play with to get his game back on track... and Comrie needs a winger. Might be something to look at. Kovalchuk would be Atlanta's only prime scoring threat with Hossa gone .. so Pens have Malkin as a great center to offer.
On second thought ... maybe lets see how Okposo works out on wing ... I'm sure Atlanta would want Okposo in a package if they traded Hossa to the Isles. The Pens will probably offer up slumping Jordan Staal since Atlanta obviously needs a center with skill to play up with Kovalchuk ... with Stall on the 3rd line the Pens don't need 3 high octane centers when they are looking for a winger to put put the puck in the net.
If anybody heard anything share. I just checked yahoo .. and they mention a rumor courtesy of the Toronto Sun. I wonder how credible that is?
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays ... Now back to table hockey with my bro and nephews.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays boys !!! Rock On !!!
Now back to "Ralphie trying to get a Red Rider BB Gun!"
Here is a treat for my fellow Islander fans....
A snipit from a USA Hockey blog during this past August's tune up tournament in Lake Placid.
"Okposo, however, ended on a high note. In the
final game, he won the shootout for USA White when he dazzled the crowd, his teammates and the Finland goalie with a jaw dropping deke. Okposo faked the shot, hid the puck behind his stick, faked the goalie out of his pads and roofed the puck. It may have been THE goal of the camp, or at least top two."
Enjoy ... have a great Christmas!!
Posted by Islander505 | December 24, 2007 12:11 confusedaboutcomrie,
I agree the Comrie is not helping the team right now, but I defer to Nolan's judgement on playing him
the coach is very smart and a wise leader. i expect he will adhere to his own edict.
Posted by confusedaboutcomrie | December 25, 2007 10:38 Posted by Islander505 | December 24, 2007 12:11 confusedaboutcomrie,
I agree the Comrie is not helping the team right now, but I defer to Nolan's judgement on playing him
the coach is very smart and a wise leader. i expect he will adhere to his own edict
that being that 'from now on' ice time will be determined by performance, as he let everyone know over the last week.
Im in the holiday spirit....
I wrote this on the hockey board I go to (HF) and I thought Id share it here:
Ricky the Isles Goalie
Ricky the Isles goalie
First played for them back in 2K
And if you ever saw him
You may have thought back then, "No way!"
All of the other team's fans
Used to laugh and call him names
"They never should have picked him first, then"
"He's never picking up his game!"
Then on one September eve
Charles Wang came to say
"Ricky you seem great to me
Heres a contract for eternity!"
Now how the Isles fans love him
As we shout "D-P" with glee
Ricky the Isles goalie
Will make Islanders history!
:D Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas Everyone !!
"Daddy is gonna kill Ralphie!"
merry Christmas to all!!!just found tickets to the game on Wednesday under the tree!!! see you all there!!
505, Thanks for the holiday wishes. Back atcha. I hope you tuned into the NHL network yesterday. they replayed ThE GAME with Bobby Ny and Jethro there to give commentary. It was great to hear those two tell stories.
I'll never think of Goring the same way, and now I know why Deb sits so far away. Good stuff.
Back to the season at hand. nice article on Blake today. His world has definitely changed. Of course the illness sends your world into the center of the hurricane, but he has to deal with the Toronto media... which I bet there have been guys who would trade the latter for the former in a heartbeat.
Good luck Jason. May you have the only toronto goal in 5 - 1 loss tonight.
Hey 19 (Kettle),
I have really enjoyed your posts. Thank goodness I have wireless so I can read them anywhere in the house... there's no way I can get through a whole post without having to eat two meals and at least one bathroom break.
Sincerely,
JP (Pot)
Getting back to NHL Network Classics. Watching the EDM game (as 505 posted earlier) and the clincher in 80... Those teams hooked and held and... SCORED.
The NHL needs to relook at their obstruction rule set. It's not speeding up the game, increasing scoring or making games any more entertaining.... unless you like watching 9-12 PP's per game.
Here's my suggestion.
1. Make obstruction fouls less arbitrary. They should only be called in the offensive zone, and only when a player is truly impeded from his intended path FROM BEHIND.
2. Make icing automatic. Too many injuries occur when guys are going full throttle to a stationary puck in front of A WALL.
3. Decrease the size limitations of goalie equipment.
4. Make the crease a NO FLY ZONE... and increase it's size by 6 inches to a foot.
What is all this talk of trading and bashing Snow? Garth just got Kyle Okposo to leap from Minnesota to the Isles. We get through the next few games and then our offense problems are solved. Check out this kid's youtube goal in college last year...through the legs and roofed a trick shot right over the goalie. He's got better hands than Sidney Crosby, but is not the pansy princess that Sid is. I guarantee in half a season this kid will take rookie of the year.
Trade Kyle for Hossa? You are out of your friggin mind! No way.
Kyle 1G 1 A
Rhett 1 G
USA 5-1 HoooRahhhhH
Did anyone read the blog from NYI point blank? There's a link on it from the isles website. Is Jason Blake really deserving of video tribute and applause from Isles Faithful?
The only circumstances that I see fitting for a video tribute would be for the return of Ryan Smith at Edmonton, a situation that was out of the players hands, and keeps the player in the hearts of the fans.
But Blake? for a few extra $$ to pick up and move to Toronto? The only team worse would have been the Devils or Rangers. Honestly I love the fact that he's having a down year, to help prove to everyone that being in a place where the fans loved you and you had success is far more satisfying than a few more $$ and fading career.
All at the game should give #55 a nice hand. He was a very good Islander!
Of course he deserved a minute or two of video tribute. He is one of the only individual success stories this team has had this century. He never gave less than 100% in all of his years here. He went from scoring less than 10 goals in a season to scoring 40. He has said so many compliments about this organization, his former teammates, the coach, everything... to the point where Leafs fans were even a bit hurt by his fondness and affection for his former team. He would have been happy to stay here if he didnt get his dream contract from the leafs in terms of pay and length. Stand for Blake, and give him the applause and gratitude that he deserves.
Metal... nice post... I hope they put in the spot where Tucker threatens his life... Irony can be so ironic sometiems.
Blake does NOT deserve a video ceremony. What are you people thinking? He was offered a contract in the millions by the islanders all based on a fluke year. If he loved it so much here he would've taken it. Ray Bourque stayed in boston all those years because he loved it but could've taken more money elsewhere. Toronto gave Blake a slightly longer contract with slightly more money and he jumped on it. What are you going to do with $4 million that you can't do with $3 million? What a joke. I wish him all the best as far as his health is concerned, but I have no sympathy for his lack of production on the ice and he's getting that karma on the ice that he deserves for being greedy.
JP (Pot) ... got your "Pot calling the Kettle Black" reference very good ... I promise ... the length of this post will only cost you a snack and a bathroom break.
I caught that NHL vintage games (Game 4 / '83 Finals).. and Relive the Magic (Bobby Ny & Clark Gillies) ... I TiVo'd those ... so they will live on my TV for a while till I can get a DVD burner.
I'd just love to be sitting in a bar with Clark, Bobby, Trotts & the Boss drinking a few beers and hearing them candidly talk about each Stanley Cup series victory. I remember all of them being a different kind of series.
Regarding your rules changes JP --- I agree ...
1) I think some of the obstruction and other impeeding penalties are ridiculous. I think a penalty should be called only if a player had used one of those fouls to inhibit a player's ability to skate, shoot or pass the puck. These arbitrary penalties when a player taps another player on the arm with his stick .. or briefly ties up a player's arm with an open hand is ridiculous... I'm sure some might disagree with us.
2) I also think Icing should be automatic. I played under that system my whole life except for one league. It actually made the game go faster ... because you were more careful not to ice the puck and creating a whistle. Not to mention, it was safer.
3) Size limitations on goalie equipment. I agree .. the equipment is too large. When watching those vintage games ... and seeing how small the gear was amazed me. I almost forgot. However, I think goalies have a good arguement. Since players today have better sticks than the logs players used back then, it gives them an advantage with shooting .... why can't the goalies take away some of that advantage. Ultimately .. I think the NHL & NHLPA have to come to a middle ground with this.
4) Make the crease a NO FLY ZONE?? JP .. didn't you see how many times Bobby Ny "flew" through Pete Peeters' crease during the 80 cup? There were some hilarious comments ... and refe