On the Islanders Beat

It's time to part ways. Enough is enough. I agree whole-heartedly with your assessment here Greg. I think you could/should have added that Ruutu probably hammed it up a bit too though, as Mike Sillinger was quoted as saying, not that it changes circumstances of the ugly incident.
Simon's roster spot has to go to someone else. And perhaps he shouldn't be back after whatever fate awaits him from the league office.

I agree. I braught two of my friends from work to the Isles/Rags game last year and it was their first game. I've been hyping up hockey to them and what did they see? A great game get decided by some washed up goon!

RELEASE SIMON!

It's embarrasing to all Islander fans that a classless person like Simon is still allowed to wear our jersey!

You're so right Greg. I can't even imagine how difficult this is for Nolan. The NHL will render a decision, and perhaps that will make Ted's decision a little easier on him.

Greg: Let's call a spade a spade. Your subtle error in the blog heading did not go unnoticed, it should have read "Simple Simon".
There is no way on earth Teddy can keep protecting such an unappreciative player as Simon has turned out to be this year. He doesn't offer anything positive to the team so do the right thing and let him go Nolan. Don't worry about filling his spot on the PP either as that will sort itself out too. Just pretend his surname is Bergeron, Gervais, Meyer, Campoli or any of the other players who receive virtually no latitude when even one mistake is made.

Why did we ever get rid of Goddard?

Stupid Simon ... gone. The sooner the better.

Greg, this may be the best blog you've ever written. I'm glad to see the organization is taking a stand and refusing to continue to condone this ridiculous and destructive behavior.

Simon's time on this team is over. Here's hoping he never causes any real damage.

Thanks for taking a break from your time off Greg to address this issue.

I tried to post a comment last night "in-game" right after the incident but my browser kept timing out. I actually thought at the time that other fans were flooding the blog to make comments themself.

I, as other dedicated Islander fans have mentioned, really was rooting for Simon. I wanted him to come back from last year's embarrasing, disgusting and bone-head move on Hollweg to reward Nolan's confidence and pay-back the fans of the team.

Well this was the last stand... as much as I want the best for Simon .... the Islanders come first. He let us ... the fans down .. he let Nolan's loyalty down ... he let his teammates down ... and he let ALL FANS of the NHL down.

In the previous thread I saw some people post that Nolan better not let Simon play anymore, of he should be fired. I honestly don't think it's Nolan's decision anymore. I think there is a good possiblity that Simon will face a "Lifetime" ban being this is two hanious moves in just his 26th game back from his last suspension. He was just gone for 25 games and just eclipsed that same amount last night .... Simon certainly has a short memory.

If the league doesn't ban him ... I think it's Snow's and Wang's decision, not Nolan's. Wang has to know that Simon is bad for business... I just think Wang is too loyal. However he is a business man and maybe he can put personal feelings aside. I also think that Snow will take more hits against his reputation as a GM if he lets Simon return after Simon gets what ever is coming to him from the disciplinary wing of the NHL. So Snow has to realize it is over for Simon. The Isles don't need any more negative publicity.

I also think ... as AZS has pointed out numerous times (both sober and with a good buzz) ... regarding this subject .... but it's time to bring in the youth. I'm not saying tank the season. It is just time to bring in some young guns. The deadwood hanger's on aren't doing any better. If Satan who I like a lot brings in a good offer they have to pull the trigger. We need to restock the prospect pool.

Others have echoed those feelings in a less colorful way than AZS ... but still as relevant and valid in their opinions. Us long time Islander fans have endured the pain of a fruitless rebuilding project over a prolonged period of time, even as we watched the product off the ice erode as much as the product degraded on the ice.

I think the Isles can restock and start putting out a highly competitive team with good drafting and prospect mining in 2 years of deep drafts. I'm willing to deal with a young team that competes hard and improves than to watch the team run out of gas come playoff time.

I think one a notable thing about Simon incident was the reaction of fans at the game. Most people didn't see it. While I was able to see Ruutu on all fours, nothing else was happening, and I was kind of surprised that a player was down with no other altercation or jawing between sides.

Then we saw Jackman heading to the box, and the reaction was, "Huh?"

When it was announced that Simon was assessed with a five-minute major and match penalty, rather than booing the refs, which is customary if not ritual, the reaction was more like, "What did that idiot do now?"

About the only person who may be pleased with Simon is Bergeron, who reverted to having perhaps his worst game of the year. He was absolutely clueless with the puck, and in addition to his opening gaffe, probably cost the Isles 40 seconds of the last 56 in the game with additional mishandling.

Btw, I mentioned before how I thought teams were shutting down the Isles in their own zone by taking away play along the boards. While I agree that we could use a pure scorer, I think if there's one thing this team needs more anything, is a reasonably skilled and decisive puckhandling defensemen on each pairing, who is merely capable of moving the puck up the middle in our own end. If a defenseman can't do it, let a forward start the rush to simply break down defenses.

Lo and behold, one of our strongest forechecking shifts came in the 3rd when MAB was able to be start a play by skating up the middle in our own end, breaking down the Pens defense, and allowing us to establish some positioning in the offensive end. Although, my heart was in my throat seeing MAB start the play, I believe we will continue to have difficulties in our own end and gaining the neutral zone until are D-Man are capable of carrying the play on their own. Otherwise, teams will continue to just lay back and focus on our forwards along the boards and daring our D-Men to make something to happen.

On that score, Campoli and Gervais should be given more of a chance to show what they've got--and we should be willing to live with some rather huge mistakes as they attempt to make this part of their game.

I appreciate that the penalty hurt the team. However, Ruutu is a complete jack arse and anyone who plays against him knows that. Comparing Godard and Simon is insane--yes, they are both heavyweights.But, Simon is a pretty good player and a top notch player for a "heavyweight". So, the crys to toss him aside dont address the need for physical presence on this team. Who fills in for him? The Isles dont have the skill to play finesse Buffalo -esque hockey--they need to grind and play physically. Hunter may throw a ton of hits, but not a single player on the opposition is scared of him. When Avery, hollweg, Orr blah blah smack DP around, who will avenge that? Look, what Simon did was wrong. But, his role is crucial. If the Isles cant hit and play physically, why the heck watch them? They cant score and when they do it aint pretty--we need grit more than ever. Let the league do what it will, but, Id welcome Simon back. Im confident that when the going gets rough, hed back a teamate. Let Ruutu seek him out for revenge--oh, thats right, he wont drop the mits. Let hockey justice play out on ice. If we have no Simon, we are a soft soft team. Thats a fact.

Simon should be done with the Isles. I couldn't believe he did that. There is no place for that in the game. I hope he doesn't see the ice again in the NHL.

The teams motto that's plastered all over their website

Heart, Character, Grit

Yeah, when I think of Simon the 1st thought is usually character ...

hey thanks for the youtube video of the incident..that is so embarassing and disgusting..simon has to go, and as much as i love ted nolan, if he pushes for simons return, i think simon and nolan both need to go....Bring up the young guns let them play, and please for the love of god, and the well being of all us islander fans, please get rid of hilbert...i beg you snow get rid of this guy...as much of a hustler he is and pretty decent penalty killer hes just horrible..if ur a professional, u have to be able to put the puck in on open nets, hes had sooooo many open net opportunties its just embarassing..get rid of him and simon, bring up tambi and walters..LETS GO ISLANDERS

Posted by REIDS | December 16, 2007 22:30 :
"Let hockey justice play out on ice"

Swinging your stick at Hollweg isn't justice. Jumping on and punching Fedotenko isn't justice. Simon is part of the problem with hockey. He is one of the guys who doesn't have any respect for the game, for the trust his teammates and coaches have placed in him, or for the opponents who compete against him.

You want justice? Deliver a big, clean hit on the guy next time you get on the ice. There are both the pests who get away with too much and the enforcers who don't understand how to protect and stand up for their team. When a guy makes a dirty play, you don't retaliate by trying to injure him. You can protect your teammates without injuring an opponent. Simon doesn't understand this, and has shown that he doesn't intend to try and understand it, so get rid of him. He doesn't deserve to play hockey.

This team has too many low skill players that wouldn't be picked up on waivers (i.e. Hilbert, Meyer, Simon etc...) I think the saving grace for the long term is that I see no way they will be in playoff contention come the trading deadline. Snowy will have to face the music this year and be a seller @ the deadline, maybe then we can restock. The Isles are a team with a good goalie pretty good defense (with a couple glaring exceptions) and a horrid offense. If they don't rebuild now they will waste DP's best years (the next 5-7) being mediocre at best.

Simon needs to either be suspended for the rest of the season or banned from the NHL.

Wang also needs to come down hards and release Simon. The only thing I am glad is now we have roster spot for someone else

Blake Comeau has been recalled

REIDS: are you serious with Simon, he is not the old Simon, he gets us penalties and we lose 4 min a game PK for him. He fights and holds on for dear life. Besides we will not be seeing him anymore thank god. His role is crucial on any team but he could not play that role. Bootland and brennan can fill that role.

Anyways, who cares how they score, last i checked a goal is a goal

I actually feel horrible for him. He obviously is messsed up enough inside to do something like this and disappoint his teammates and especially Ted, a person who has stuck by him with unbelievable loyalty.

How could you do this, Chris? To your team? To the coach you love? To yourself?

This stuff just cant be tolerated. You have hurt the people who were standing by you, and for what? Just to get last licks against a guy everyone knows is a jerk, anyway? WHY? There was no point to it, and I cant justify it at ALL. :(

Chris has a problem. I hope the Islanders get him some help, and I frankly dont see how he can just come back and play after this, no matter what the NHL says. I guess time will tell.

Its just so disappointing.

Nolan shouldn't have to answer questions, yet he does because of his insistence of sticking with lost causes (Simon, Hilbert, MAB).

I like Nolan ... but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

AZS (answering question from the previous thread)
Tambellini has been given multiple opportunities. He's played 56 games in the NHL with little more than andy hilbert type scoring success, and he doesn't play a solid defensive game. I don't know that much about the kid. He most likely won't get another chance this year unless Bergy or Tank have extensive injuries... and nobody wants to see that.
Walter is stuck behind the core of the team. Though a lot of people can do without Comrie, he's not going to be benched so Walter can play... the same goes for Vasicek, Sillinger and Park.
A mid season deal will probably remove Satan from the roster. Park will most likely fill that spot, leaving the fourth line center spot for Walter. He should get 30 showcase games where he can prove he can rise up as highas a second line center.
It looks like comeau is going ot get an opportunity with Simon getting (at least) benched. Park between jackman and comeau isn't going ot scare anybody, but they could get 6 good minutes if they can push the puck and spend a good amount of time in the offensive zone.
Simon may have packed on the last straw, but he did help up and down thet lineup. As much as most people like to fantasize about tambellini being the second coming, he couldn't beat simon out for a roster spot...
As far as being "Nolan" type of players, look who has STUCK from this organization. Bergy goes out and bangs every night. He finishes his checks, he wins one on ones for the puck, he pushes the puck, he moves it... Is that a nolan type player??? I HOPE SO. He's not burning the light, but he can play NHL hockey.
For all the complaining about Hilbert, he hustles, he plays solid positional hockey... and he creates scoring opps... he just doesn't finish. Neither of those guys, rightfully so, are scared for there jobs when tambellini hits town.
I do agree, I don't want to see the kid get traded. Because he does offer depth... a good example is probably Jeff Hamilton. He scored at every level, but he was a defensive liability. He's on an NHL roster now, 5 goals, -6 on carolina... I bet Lavs would rather have a guy like Hilbert he could get 15 quality minutes out of... mostly for the PK.
Yes, I'd like to see a little more youth on the team.... but their scoring woes can be turned around by staying out of the penalty box. This team can not be successful killing 7-9 penalties a night.
Simon being gone will help with that. But the worst offender is Comrie, because he can skate, and takes way too many obstruction penalties .. the same goes for Guerin... The first scoring line shouldn't lead the team in penalty minutes.

JP,

I again do hear where you're coming from, but my whole thing with Tambellini is that he's never really been given a chance - in my opinion.

I was looking at his career stats and he's never even averaged 10 minutes of ice time - either here or his brief time with LA.

Now, this could be looked at two ways - he hasn't earned the ice time or he wasn't give enough time on the ice to show what he can do. Personally, and I know this isn't going to be a shock to you ;-) I'm going to choose the fact that he hasn't been given much time out there to show what he can or for that matter cannot do ...I think to fairly evaluate him he should be given the same ice time as others on the top 2 or 3 lines.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/stats?playerId=2936

And while I appriciate Hillbert's hustle 5 points in 31 games is unacceptable ...I don't care how much you try ...if he were getting 4th line time with PK duties I don't think many people would complain because we like his hustle, but when you're getting 13 minutes a game it's not asking a lot to show some point production

Folks, the Isles have a basic problem -- lack of offensive skill. They have excellent 2nd, 3rd and 4th liners; what they don't have is first-line talent. Comrie-Tank-Guerin would be a fine second line. Sillinger-Hunter-???? (Park) and Vasicek-Bergy-???? (after Miro is traded) are OK. But there's no premier scoring talent here, and none is coming anytime soon. There is no impact player at Bridgeport (do you want rookie grinders or vet grinders?).

Hilbert has to be dropped to a 4th line/PK. A guy who can't finish can't get that kind of time.

And has anyone noticed how slow Isles look? They look like they're standing still these days.0

The Isles have no margin for error. Selfish plays like SImon's are killers, as are stupid penalties -- one difference this month is that Isles are killing 6-7 PPs a game, not 3-4-5. Huge difference.

Simon will get at least 10 games. It will be hard to bring him back after this -- his play has deteriorated markedly, and the selfishness of this act goes against everything hockey players ostensibly stand for (team before self).

Chris Simon is clearly not fit to play in the NHL. He has some sort of aggresion problem and can not control his anger. It is an embarassment for him to be an Islanders and worse, he can truly injure someone threatening not only their career, but the way they live the rest of their life. If the NHL does not rule down with a lifetime ban, the Islanders need to release Simon.

Ted Nolan should not be blamed. Yes I think that Nolan plays Simon too much on the PP or top line, but Nolan knows that Simon is wrong. I dont think Nolan will allow Simon to play for him again. Nolan will sympathize with Simon as a person and feel bad for him and probably try to mentor him, but he definitely does not condone what Simon did or should this put bad light on him.

In response to the Islanders having to bring up younger players, I agree. I think that Tamby deserves to be playing over a guy like Hilbert, but Hilbert has had some shining moments. The problems is that Hilbert's plays is not scoring goals, its being physical, working hard and being defensive and the Islanders have too many players like that. We should bring up Tamby and Comeau and hopefully allow these players to mold into solid NHL player.

As a team the Islanders have to stop cycling on the boards so much and crash the net and find rebounds. Create traffic, take shots and the goals will come. Enough with the exterior work, they have to work inside and thats the way to score.

I am loyal but how do you defend this repeat behavior. I am twisted enough to blame it on passion and rough play but I am not stupid enough to think this is an acceptable response. Simon's 9 lives are over it is sad to say. He lost all cred that was already a sliver I hate to say. He is a good guy and I would look the other way if I was his teammate but I am afraid he is a liability now. How can he be trusted? I am confused and I am not simply because I am loyal to the Isles but I am speechless when it comes to defending him now. I look like the ass if I do. Sucks really. The tough guy role in the NHL is still there a bit, guys still respect the looney who protects the lot at all costs but why? why did he do that? I think it was Ted Donato who once (as a bruin perhaps) kicked upwards with his skate as a player was going to "address" him. I remember losing all respect for him and this is very similar. it sucks, I do not want to feel this way about Simon but how can a sane person thing any other way???

Posted by JPinVA
The first scoring line shouldn't lead the team in penalty minutes.

this pretty much says it all in a single sentence. other than simon, guerin and comrie are the 2 most penalized forwards on the team. this is a fundamental, self defeating problem. it also means they are not legitimate top line players. this team does not have a legitimate top line at present.

Ted Nolan ought to play a little game of Simon says with Chris.

Simon says take a seat.

Simon says pack your bags.

Simon says get off our island.

Please get rid of this guy and call up Ben Walter.

Tambs has not had his chance in the NHL. 56 games scattered through seasons. Its even harder to come up and play for the Islanders than most teams b/c you do not have the support players on our team. He should be brought up for the rest of the season but it would be hard since we do not have spot for him. If the Islanders want to continue bringing him up and down. He is trade value is going to be down. If you let him play, last year he had 3 assists in a game for the Isles. he set up scoring plays and that is why I am supportive of him as well as our team not scoring. He has not had the ice time to be labled as of yet.

I think Hamilton is a good player, one we gave up again. Hilbert is great defensively and on the PK but how many games so far we could we have had if he could just score. This year has been a couple so far. For all the good Hilbert does, he needs to be held accountable for blowing chances. This is what Hilbert does, he comes down on a break away and takes a slap shot every time...how about going in on the goalie and making a move. He has had the time, it seems he is stuck on breakaway shot mode.

I think Bergy has been playing great as well and hope we do sign him again.

I am done with Simon. I gave him the benefit of the doubt last year because Hollweg's hit was clearly a run from behind (sorry Rangers fans I don't care what Mullet-Man says) and he was out of his mind reacting to it. I thought he should have just started punching Hollweg rather than stick swinging but I was willing to forgive this year and give him another shot. I think he's blown it. Another stupid move, at a crucial point in a game and he had no reason good or not to do it. I don't want him back. He's a liability in every aspect of the game.

As for Satan its hard because he is one of my favorite players. Earlier in the season when he started to wake up he looked to return to dominating form but he's slumping again. Where are those great moves from earlier in the season? I caught the Rangers-Coyotes game yesterday and started to get envious of the 'yotes play. I know it was an anomally as they are lowest scoring team in the west but they skated hard, went to the net, and controlled the puck much better on the power play. And they are primarily a youth movement. I think they will continue to rise. Ted take a page from the great one!

Well, the whole Simon charade was wearing thin even before this incident. I'll be pretty disappointed if even Nolan defends him this time. Nice write up, Greg. Spot on.

Posted by 19 ISLE in NJ 22 | December 16, 2007 21:51...

"...In the previous thread I saw some people post that Nolan better not let Simon play anymore, of he should be fired. I honestly don't think it's Nolan's decision anymore... If the league doesn't ban him ... I think it's Snow's and Wang's decision, not Nolan's. Wang has to know that Simon is bad for business... I also think that Snow will take more hits against his reputation as a GM if he lets Simon return after Simon gets what ever is coming to him from the disciplinary wing of the NHL."

As always, I appreciate your well thought-out comments. But I disagree with this part of your last one. I think it definately has to be NOLAN'S decision to let Simon go. It's Nolan, not Snow or Wang, that has taken the heat for giving Simon yet another chance this year. For the sake of his own reputation, and for the sake of his credability with the team, Nolan has to be the one to give Simon his walking papers. In fact, it would be best if he could do so BEFORE the league renders its decision on the incident. This sends the clear message to the team, league, EVERYONE... the Islanders are a class organization. Nolan is a class coach. You play first and foremost for your TEAM. Simon betrayed that not just once, but TWICE. Nolan needs to re-establish his credability.

JPinVA.......Tambs has not been given an opportunity at ALL..I agree w/ you nautik..tambs may have 56 nhl games under his belt, but they have been scattered, u dont get experience by playin 2 games gettin sent down, beign called back up to play 1 game then gettin sent down again,he needs a legit amount of steady time in the line up w/ more then 4 mins a game..im not saying hes gonna turn the team around, but he has talent, and if nolan shows confidence in him throws him in the game for 15 mins it will boost tambs confidence with the puck...and i also agree with have no first line scoring threat, i said this in previous posts..we have 2 second lines, a third and fourth..we need offensive threats on a first line, thats what a first line is...we need to really start building offensive for DP, this guy has turned out the be a top goaltender in the league...its time to show him we really want to win and start bringin in some scoring ability on this team or what is the point of signing DP for 15 yrs, if were just gonna sign 2nd, 3rd and 4th liners and struggle for the 8th playoff spot every year...its time bring in the taletn now while DP still has all his energy and desire to be on the ISland...if we keep this up, i dont see DP wanting to stay an islander much longer...

One more thought on Tambellini, which I think people are missing.
The Isles are giving guys opportunities based on situations where they can help now, or at least allow for some sort of improvement.
Tambellini got an opportunity to play on the top line with limited defensive responsibilities, and he blew it. that doesn't mean that he shouldn't get other opportunitites, but where do you fit him in.
Everybody has a solution, but nobody thinks it out.
Do you sit Tank? NO WAY
Do you sit Bergenhiem? Give up on a prospect that is finding some level of success, for one that hasn't?
Do you want to disrupt the most productive line by moving bergy to the checking line? This might work, but I don't think Nolan is ready to drop Hilbert just yet.
Do you sit Hilbert? This might be the most plausable, but it really doesn't make sense. Hilbert's main responsibility is to be the lead forechecker on the line responsible for shutting down the opposing top line. Tambellini can't do that. He can't shut down the other teams checking line... or at least he hasn't shown that ability yet. Hilbert, for all of his scoring woes is a positive to the team.
Things might shake out at the deadline becasue Satan will most likely be offered up for some sort of organizational help becasue he's a lame duck. I think we can all agree that Satan is a solid NHLer, but may be more valuable as trade bait, than he would be in the playoff push. That move will probably make room for a solid opportunity for Tambellini, or Walter (if Park moves up to play that wing).
Either way... PATIENCE... I'm sure Jeff understands that... and I think he knows that it is better to get 18+ mins in the AHL than it is to get 6 mins in the NHL... for now.
He's one of those guys that could use 15 pounds and hooking up with a guy like Goring to understand how the undersized guy with speed can play a solid two way game.
Sometiems I think it would be better for him to learn how to play without the puck. He needs to work on his ANTICIPATION and awareness... but at this point in his career he might need more of a rabbi than a coach... his dad should be able to help him with this, as steve was an overacheiver and was a solid third line player.
In the organization, I definitely think Goring could make Jeff a better player.... people forget that Butchie might be the second best coach in the organization. I'm surprised he's not leading Bridgeport now that Milbury is gone.

Well you KNOW my name IS Simon
And I LOVE to do DUMB things
I GET suspended each season LONG.
So come & do DUMB things with ME.

Come and do Duuuummmbb things....with....meeeeeee.

Enough with Nolan type players. Garth needs to look at bringing in talented players. Chicago has Samsonov a proven scorer that may need a change. They need a powerplay defenseman. MAB for Samsonov. This team is slow & are playing lazy hockey. It's time for a shakeup. Also if they want a Nolan type player Edmonton is wasting away Raffi Torres. The fact of the matter is Nolan may be a great people person and motivator but is not a good tactical coach. Too many times the team is being run over & he lets the game get out of control where a simple time out would have callmed things down. And I'm sorry to say but Snow is way in over his head. this is where Neil Smith's reputation might have gotten us something in a trade by now. Everyone is looking to rip off Garth. The only player of value we have is Okposo & they are not trading him. There is no true first line foward on this team.

Samsonov? C'mon now. Did you see him play anywhere towards the end in Boston? Then there was the debacle in Montreal, and now he is absolutely horrid on Chicago - he's doing worse than Hilbert! Change of scenery? Maybe to the Russian Super League...the scenery's been bad for this guy everywhere he's gone. We all want to see the team do better, but further damaging what's left of the system to bring in more veteran reclamation projects will only dig a deeper hole.

As for Nolan's coaching...some specific decisions are definitely questionable, but he does a great job in other areas too. When he coaches games away from home, and does not have the benefit of the last change, he still manages to get Witt out on the ice against the other team's superstar more often than not. And he gets his defensive line out there against top lines pretty consistently as well. That's good coaching, so you have to give some credit where it's due.

On trades...it's not just Snow. Lots of teams have players they want to move and are not getting decent offers. Even Burke, who everyone considers a genius out there in Anaheim, couldn't find a good deal for Bryzgalov when so many teams are in desperate need of goaltending. Lots of teams are looking, there's just not an active trade market now for whatever reason. There have been a few transactions, but not much - especially considering how many teams there are out there with very obvious needs. In that regard, I actually commend Snow for not making a trade just for the sake of making a trade when teams are clearly not ready to give up anything worthwhile yet.

Samsonov is a big no in my books as well..I think MTL put him on waiver last year or were about to. He would be a cancer on our team.

I am not sure what we need. I know it is obvious to go. lets a get a #1or 2 dman and a goal scorer. I always have the feeling we may have the one of worse teams on paper but we may only need one more character guy...and i hate to say but like Avery was to the Rags last year. I just hope we do some moving.

We need to be sellers this year at the deadline

"Everybody wants to Rip off Garth..." No shitake sherlock... every GM wants to rip off every other GM.

"Neil Smith's reputation" .... LOL

Do you even realize how silly that sounds.

Snow put a pretty good product on the ice last year. He and Nolan made a playoff team out of a roster that was picked to finish last in THE LEAGUE last year.

This year he got burned by his efforts to make a playoff run last year, but still managed to fair pretty well. There are loopholes that can't be managed under the constraints of the CBA... like ancillary personal service contracts and other things that organizations with deep pockets can afford. That's where the league needed to step in and say, "you want to be a free agent, then you go to the highest bidder... you can't choose who that bidder is... sorry" But not in the BETTMAN NHL.
Guys would play for the rangers for a dollar more than the CBA says they're worth, and have Dolan give them a $10M contract to host a pre-game show. Who's to stop them.
Wouldn't you rather play for a team that has a good chance of winning the cup, rather than one that relies or presence to even have a chance.
Neil Smith's reputation is to over spend for veterans past their prime. Snow has found some diamond's in the rough, while they've had to filter out the ahl mediocrity that Milbury left them.

this team is better now then it was 18 months ago, and the system will continue to get better once they can put together a few good drafts. Until then, give the guys some credit for obtaining and (in some cases) improving players like Sillinger, Poti, Kozlov, Hilbert, Hill, Sutton, Guerin, Vasicek and Tank.

So, take your neil smith bologna and take a hike. More than likely we'd now own the rights to Forsberg if Smith was in charge.

If you hadn't noticed... PHO 5, Rangers 1... PHO 4, NJD 1.... PHO 2, NYI 3....

I think Nolan is doing a pretty good job with what he has.

BTW: I don't necessarily disagree with this, but this blog has been brutally honest about the Simon situation. It took a lot to return back to my pre-islander assessment of Simon, but I have to agree after seeing what he did saturday night. The boy just isn't right in the head.
And that's too bad, because except for those momentary lapses of judgement he's a lot better player than most people give him credit for... but those moments ARE HUGE, and way outweigh his positives.
I really thik the organization needs to make a stand here and end his relationship with the team.

Simon should have been gone after last year's incident.

He is an embarressment to the team.

Please cut him. Now.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Simon's return from suspension coincide with the Islanders going into a slump. Is there something to that?

Yes the Islanders lost against Pitsburgh but the way they played that 5 minute major was awesome.

As for Satan, I think he gets a lot more room out there when the team is playing aggressive. He's a keeper, don't trade him.

Kevin T.

to JPinVA get off your high horse. Last I knew it was a free country & I can express my opinion. It was Smith who signed Sillinger,Witt, & Poti. So as you so eloquently put it in your post to me Why dont you take a hike Sherlock!!!!!

That's true... then curiously said, "I don't want to be a part of this".
My instincts say that is becasue Nolan gave the Bill Parcels speech... He wanted to write the grocery list if he was going to do the cooking... and Smith didn't much care for the players he just signed... and the direction the team was headed in.

Well.. they headed for the playoffs. Do you think they would be somewhere better with Smith as the GM, and possibly Glen Hanlon coaching... or some other dust rag like sterling.

I bet Wang got a little perturbed when Smith offered Messier $20M to come out of retirement... He was probably listening in on the extension and told him to go to his room.

Snow is a pretty sharp guy, and he was the type of player that showed heart and loayalty. The team was good to him when he was going through the problems with his brother, and I think there is now a real bond between him and Wang.

He may not be the best at what he does, but sometimes grit and determination work out... and Nolan is the best coach this team has had since arbour.

It's a pretty good situation... why complain so much.

as for it being a free country... I'm sorry... you definitely have the right to make a silly point.

I wonder what the team would be like if they kept Luongo.
I wonder what the team would be like if they drafted Heatley.
I wonder what the team would be like if they didn't deal for Yashin.
I wonder what the team would be like if they had Pyatt and Connely.
I wonder what the team would be like if they had spezza and chara.
Why did they fire laviollete?
Why couldn't torrey have left the team in better hands.
Why did ownership have to suck every dime out of the team from 82-99.
Why did they sign the cablevision deal.
why did they sign the SMG lease.
can I go on... I have the right...

I just read Wang's statement on the Simon incident and while I'm glad he is getting suspended by the orgainization enough with this bleeding heart compassion nonsense. This guy is a repeat offender and has already been given numerous chances and has basically spit in the faces of those who gave him those chances. Enough is enough with this guy I don't want to see him in an Islander uniform again. BTW the best coach the Isles have had since Arbour is in Carolina his name is Peter Laviolette and he has won a Stanley Cup.

Isles give Simon time off to get help
http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=225410&hubname=nhl

Thoughts? Obviously more to come from the league when they're ready to make a decision...

So I guess in your world if some one has an opinion that does not agree with yours you just need to belittle them. Since your going to bring up Parcells he won 2 Super Bowls & went to a 3rd when a GM gave him the ingredients & told him to make me a Super Bowl Champion. When he was in charge buying the ingredients & cooking what has he won. So as you said again so eloquently in your post you are free to make another silly point.

I was agreeing with Wang statement until he allowed for a return of Simon. So we are going to take a repeat offender, give him time away from the game where he only going to get older and more rusty and then have him back again? I hope the NHL suspends the crap out of him or he decides to finally retire. I am glad the Islanders are worried about his personal troubles but enough is enough. Doesn't make any hockey sense to bring him. Yes he fills a role but he hasn't been very effective in that role for a while. I'd rather bring Jonathan Sim back in next year with Jackman or Bootland holding his spot.

I think this team plays better with Simon out.

"When Chris is completely ready, he will be a member of our team again." - Charles Wang

Utter, complete, and total failure. All credibility lost.

I literally just can't watch this debacle of a season, not for one more single game. Its insulting.

Simon is done.
Stick a fork in him.
He has played his last game in the NHL.

Doesn't anybody think this may be a way to keep him away from the team for the rest of the year in a more dignified manner than simply cutting him? For once, get off the ledge and try to give the team's management the benefit of the doubt.

"I wonder what the team would be like if they kept Luongo.
I wonder what the team would be like if they drafted Heatley.
I wonder what the team would be like if they didn't deal for Yashin.
I wonder what the team would be like if they had Pyatt and Connely.
I wonder what the team would be like if they had spezza and chara."

It's funny how the Islanders always seem to make the wrong move. You never hear Detroit go, "I wonder if we should've kept Shanny". Or Colorado go, "I wonder if we should've kept Forsberg." Or the Devils going, "I wonder if drafting Zach Parise was a good idea."

Good teams don't need to reflect on the past. They make good moves to improve the team & go on from there. Sure, a lot of teams make mistakes, (think Tampa is missing Khabibulin?), but the fact is they make enough good moves to counter a mistake.

Right now, the Isles seem more concerned about avoiding autograph seekers by driving their cars down the Coliseum ramp at 70 mph instead of parking. They should be focusing on hockey & scoring goals. If they put in a much an effort improving their shooting & passing that they do by trying not to sign their names to the "crowd" of 10 people waiting outside, they'd be a tremendous team!

This is not about autographs of course, (I did have to vent about that though. It's not like we have Crosby, Ovechkin & Kovalchuk on this team that get bombarded with autograph requests). The fact is that the Isles are the Ralph Kramden of hockey. Ralph: "Nobody's perfect." Alice: "YOU are. You've been wrong every time." They should be making a strong effort to get the right players on the team, not getting the most out of "head cases" like Simon and "projects" like Vasicek. Most every other team makes an effort to get the best players possible & the elite teams go one step beyond that & get the best players PERIOD.

Look at the past Cup winners over the past 12 years:

Detroit: Yzerman, Shanahan & Lidstrom
Colorado: Sakic, Roy & Forsberg
Dallas: Modano & Hull
Tampa: Lecavalier, Khabibulin & St. Louis
Devils: Brodeur, Scott Stevens & Claude Lemieux
Hurricanes: Staal, Recchi & Cam Ward
Ducks: Selanne, Pronger & Giguere

The first player mentioned on each team, (except the Ducks), was drafted by that team & stayed with them their entire career. All the other players were acquired either by free agency or trades. Now each player listed isn't just a "good" player, or ssomeone designed to "fill a role" or "adjust to the system" or eeven be a "work in progress". NO. These players were among the elite in NHL history & are either Hall of Famers or well on their way. Who was the last "elite" player the Islanders had? LaFontaine? Turgeon?

Every team gets a chance at getting better either through the draft, free agency or trading. Otherwise, they may as well eliminate 20 teams & have just the best going against each other. The fact is the Isles have shown poor judgment in getting players. I don't want guys who "fit" or "could be better" or "need a change of scenery" or who Nolan could get "the best out of". The Isles need players who can win now. Who can produce now. Who want it. I just don't see that in Simon, Hilbert, Hunter, Comrie, MAB, Berard, Gervais, & I'm sure I'm missing a few in there. There are players out there who can make this team great. It's up to the Isles to get them and with their recent history, I have my doubts.

Healy: "Yes he fills a role but he hasn't been very effective in that role for a while."

Ha, I think Guerin has dropped the gloves more this year...

But...do we want him gone for good because he stepped on Ruutu or because he sucks?

There are arguments for Laviolette, and I would agree with you except for these points:
1. The team got worse after his first year. More as an affect of losing Peca, than his coaching... but he seemed to have lost the team even after Peca's return.

2. He had a team that wanted to go in three different dirsctions, and he could never get tehm on the same page.Yashin definitely wanted to play in a trapping style becasue he was slow as heck.
Peca, and peca jr (blake) wanted to play a more dump, chase and forecheck style becasue they excelled at that game.

3. He needed those two years to get the stones to be the coach he is today.

4. he had to work for Milbury... that was a death sentence from the get go.

Nolan already has the stones. HE makes decisions, and he lives or dies by them. It was his call to bring Simon back, and now he has to eat crow... but he stood up for one of his guys in a tough situation... That buys something among men.

Laviollete ran a sleepover for 13 year old girls. Now he knows he can't let things get out of hand. EXPERIENCE.

As far as X's and O's go, I'd have to say the team tightened up since Nolan arrived, and under the Laviollete they had some of the better defensive corps the team has iced.... and they could hold and hook... and still had a tough time keeping teams under four... with a tremendous goalie.
That may be comparing apples and oranges, but I like the play that Nolan promotes... I can't say I didn't like the Laviolette teams... but this one is fun to watch when it's on... crushing hits and hard fought goals.
They are three solid first line two way players away from contention... and they will get there soon enough.
If Okposo lives up to the hype last year and can be a forty goal power forward, they will be so close next year... but I'm not counting on it... he's going to have to put in at least 30 AHL games to prove he can play with MEN.

Greg, when you get back can we get some Okposo information?

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on who is the better coach but I am willing to bet if you polled all the GM's in the league and asked them who they would hire between the 2 more would hire Laviolette and I don't even think it would be close.

I think in terms of this debate, JP is 100% correct. The debate centers around who coached the Islanders better, Nolan or Laviolette. I think that given the fractured clubhouse under Laviolette and Nolan's success with a team to whom nobody gives any credit or respect makes him a better Islanders coach.

As for the other issue, I agree with Hilbert. We could drive ourselves crazy dwelling on the powerhouse this team could be right now. We have a hand and we need to rebuild the system. I think if Vancouver offers decent prospects and a high draft pick we need to take it in order to replenish the farm system and get this team back on the path to contention and league-wide relevance. In the meantime, I checked the list of UFA's for next year and made a shopping list.

We need to have patience here, because there were mitigating factors. It's too easy to say the Islanders should've signed a top-flight goal scorer in the off-season, but there really weren't any past a top-heavy first tier of free agents. Given this scenario, the holes in the lineup, and the cap floor, the team needed to build with spare parts. It isn't a reflection on the GM's ability as much as it was the current conditions and the necessity to be at a certain level under the cap. Let's all calm down, Snow does not seem to be the second coming of Milbury as of right now, and Wang is the only reason this team still exists. How quickly we forget that.

Pure speculation.. and yes... we'll have to agree to disagree.
There are a handful of coaches that I would want if Nolan ever left... but none of them would come here.
I think Nolan was the right man for THIS job.
Lavy moved to a better environment and proved his worth... I can't argue there.
We probably agree on more points than we disagree on...

They need a strong direction through the period of player movement. Sign guys you want to return, and trade everybody who's not tied to the floor.
They need a strong plan going into the draft. Target 5-10 players at each level and evaluate their cost over a three year development period.
Then they need to target two or three top free agents under 32 who can be first line players... or just let the kids run the store.
BUT DON'T GIVE UP ANY GROUND FOR ANY QUICK FIXES!

Upstate Isles Fan..

"But...do we want him gone for good because he stepped on Ruutu or because he sucks?"

Yes?

Watching Chris Simon on the ice is painful.
I have been wondering if he was wearing skates or street shoes.
If it wasn't for the side boards he wouldn't hit anything with a pass.
His only chance at finding the back of the net is if he is checked into it.
As far as being an "enforcer" now, from what I can see even the other team's goons are avoiding him, and it's not out of fear as much as it is an adherence to a mercy rule.
He has shown absolutely nothing this year (and last) other than a frequent ability to take a grossly stupid penalty at the wrong time.

In some ways I feel for the guy, it is a classic example of an old pro hanging on too long. Unfortunately, his frustrations over his own inabilities are manifesting in ugly ways that are detrimental to the team.

So long Chris Simon, thanks for the effort.
It is neither too early, nor too late in the season to open up a permanent roster spot for a Walter/Jackman/Comeau.

Just my opinion, I cold be wrong.