On the morning of Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against Buffalo last April 20, tough-guy defenseman Sean Hill stood up in front of his Islanders teammates and told them he wouldn’t be joining them for what turned out to be their season-ending elimination game. He would be serving the first game of a 20-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Hill looked them in the eye and said he didn’t do it, didn’t take the steroid for which he tested positive.
This afternoon at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Hill will be face-to-face with his former teammates again. After sitting out with an ankle injury since Jan. 11, he’s been told by Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire he will play against the Islanders. If anyone from last season’s team asked him again, Hill would tell them the same thing he did last spring.
Not all of them would believe him, and Hill understands that. Recalling that emotional morning in Buffalo during an interview with Newsday last night, Hill said, “That’s something I felt I had to do. I’m sure a lot of them believed in me. I know some didn’t, but the ones I care about a lot believed in me. I know what I’ve done and what I have not done. I had a [drug] test right after the season, and I had no trace of anything.
“I took a lie detector test right after the season, and I passed. I don’t know how [the positive drug test] happened, but I can tell you I have no problem going to sleep at night.”
As far as the NHL is concerned, a lie detector test doesn’t trump a positive drug test. Hill was a free agent at the end of last season, and just the day before Game 5, he said he hoped and expected to return to the Isles. That didn’t happen. No offer ever was made. So, Hill went into free agency with the remaining 19 games of his suspension hanging over his head and a stain on his reputation as the kind of tough, team-oriented player teams want defending their blue line.
“I took the lie detector test going into free agency for people who had a problem believing in me,” Hill said. “I thought it would help my credibility.”
Hill doesn’t dispute the validity of his positive drug test. But he’s steadfast in his assertion that he didn’t intentionally take a performance-enhancing substance and has no idea how it found its way into his system. Some might describe that as “the-dog-ate-my-homework” defense. That’s why Hill took the lie detector test.
Still, he will live forever with a cloud of suspicion as the first positive under the NHL’s performance-enhancing drugs program. “To this day, it definitely comes into my mind almost every day,” Hill said. “I try to make sense of it. I’ve exhausted myself trying to figure it out. What did I do? Why did it happen? There is no explanation.
“I had a ‘therapeutic use’ exception to use a testosterone cream. I knew the league would be paying attention. What sense does it make for me to do something else? It’s ridiculous.
“I’ve messed up a lot in my life. But if I made a mistake, I’d own up to it. I wish I had a reason I could give you for what happened. The scary part to me is that it could happen again. When you have no idea why it happened, what happens the next time? That’s what really scares me. Why couldn’t it happen to a young player? What if he got blackballed from the league? Why couldn’t it happen again?”
Hill said he was informed late last February that he had tested positive. Under the rules of the NHL program, he had the right to an appeal. Because of confidentiality provisions, Islanders management wasn’t informed of the process until about two weeks before the suspension was handed down. The players first learned of the situation on the morning of Game 5.
“I thought it best to appeal rather than sit out 20 games in the middle of the season because we were making a playoff push,” Hill said. “I knew the appeal would buy me some time for the playoff push. I thought I owed it to them. I could do the most for the team in that regard. But I knew I wasn’t going to win. They test the B sample after the A sample. They came from the same sample, so, it wasn’t going to change.”
After the season ended, Hill declined to speak with the media about his situation on the advice of his attorney. He felt it was necessary for his survival in the NHL. That decision wasn’t popular with reporters or many of his teammates with the exception of Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro. “I talk to Ricky quite a bit,” Hill said. “He’s a close friend.”
In Hill’s situation, it takes a leap of faith to believe his story. His track record as a “character guy” in the locker room is one argument in his favor. Islanders coach Ted Nolan said he loved coaching Hill and hoped he was telling the truth.
But in this day and age with the scandal in baseball over steroids and the use of human growth hormone in the spotlight, it’s tough for an athlete in Hill’s position to find comfort.
Asked for his thoughts on former Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who is pleading his case before a Congressional committee, Hill said, “You hear guys say, ‘I never knowingly took anything.’ It’s like saying, ‘A trainer gave it to me,’ and they pretend not to know what they were taking.
“Before this happened to me, I just assumed, ‘Oh, yeah, he must be doing that.’ Now, I’m very careful to judge. It’s hearsay from somebody. But I know what I haven’t done, and it doesn’t add up to me.”
Comments (71)
Sorry for a redundant post (for some), but I want to catch those who might only have time to check this blog on weekends.
Any Islander fan who supports the Islanders' plans for a new arena, please help us (we're a group of fans and citizens) by signing up at
www.lilighthouse.com
We are organizing to publicly advocate approval of the Lighthouse project and we need numbers!! Even those who do not live in the Town of Hempstead, please join us!!
And many many thanks to all those who have already signed up...
Sorry, here's a clickable link:
http://www.lilighthouse.com
Greg,
I've told you this once already, you're blogs are horrible. They are too long. Get to the point and get a quote to back your point off. Either do that or have Mark Herrmann do your blogging. Please for the sake of your readers!
Sean, Point Lookout
Good article Greg,
pardon me while I rant.
When the Sean Hill story broke last year, my initial reaction was to raise the "NHL vs the Islanders" conspiracy issue again. The timing of the announcement and the importance of the player named set my "Oliverian" (Stone) pea brain wheels in motion. I was shocked that the NHL chose that moment to publicly air some dirty laundry at the expense of the Isles.
Reflecting back on it now, I am still not convinced that my feelings were unfounded. But those feelings are tempered now. Apparently Sean Hill was guilty of SOMETHING. What that something really was will probably never be known. Indeed, the "timing" of the announcement by the NHL was most likely coincidental.
But the whole "Sean Hill incident" and it's implications to the Isles at the time are a microcosm of what is happening in our society right now. And "what is happening in our society" is a greater threat than my original "NHL vs. The Isles" conspiracy musings.
What is Happening?
On one hand we have athletes, driven by the trappings of success, power and money, going to any lengths, jeopardizing their own health, in order to get an edge over their opponents.
On the other hand we have the powers that be, whether it be the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA jockeying to be the leader, are at least trying to give the appearance of being the leader, in this morphed War on Drugs.
Who's winning?
No one
Who's losing?
As usual, the fans.
WHO are we to believe? WHAT are we to believe? WHY should we believe? HOW can we believe?
And, now to add fuel (or rolling rock) to the fire, CONGRESS is involved.
As if we needed any more confusion on the who, what, where, and how, we now have arguably the least trustworthy organization in our country sticking their noses in, and THEY ARE DRAGGING IN ATHLETE'S WIVES!!!
"Yossarian!!! Get me outta here!!!"
"I'm out of order? You're out of order!! This whole system is out of order!!!"
Somebody, please stop the madness.
Somebody, please clean out the temple.
I want athletes to be able -AND WANT TO- feel comfortable about the toothpaste they use every morning. AND ONLY TOOTHPASTE.
I just wanna watch a game and feel good about everyone involved.
Thank God HBO aired the "Miracle" documentary about 1980 today.
Okay, I feel better now.
Writing beats Wellbutrin.
Off to the gym, where's my ibuprophen?
Just watched the Ranger/Flyer game. Biggest difference when the Isles play the Flyers and the Rangers play the Flyers is that the Rangers fight back. Once again this game illustrates that the Isles as a team are too soft.
I forgot to mention best wishes to Pat Dapuzzo he sustained a nasty injury in that game and I hope he is okay.
I hope posts like that of Sean's don't discourage you, Greg. Your posts aren't too long at all, and I appreciate a thoughtful and well spoken post over a cheap quote and a quick note.
Go read TSN if you want a knee-jerk observation and a quote that's been cut to bits.
That said, I see both sides of the Hill situation. I guess it's not out of the realm of possibility that he had a freak false positive, but really, what are the odds? They have been doing these tests for several seasons, why would he come up positive if he weren't taking some kind of off the board supplement?
However I won't pass judgement on the guy, he was a positive player for us last year and I hope he logs a good season with the Wild.
Nice piece, Greg... thanks!
As always Greg, great post. Not sure why someone would have a problem with you writing detailed blogs about our Islanders, maybe he has trouble reading??? Back to the game!
::: Shrugs :::: That is why we need a franchise type forward like Gaborik ..
BTW ... speaking of future franchise forwards....
Steven Stamkos of Unionville, Ontario would probably feel at home in Uniondale, New York. One can dream ... the way it looks right now ... the Isles probably will end up in 29th and the winner of the draft lottery will be the 28th ranked team bumping the Isles back one spot.
BTW .. even if LA ends up with the #1 overall pick... they might grab one of the prized defenseman since they are in the need of D more than offense.
You beat me to it Isle in NJ, time to hope for Stamkos!
I assume Ted Nolan wanted to win the game tonite. Why then, is Andy Hilbert and Fedotenko on the ice in overtime. The Islanders needed to score a goal, if Nolan hasnt figured out yet, that Hilbert CANNOT SCORE, i really dont know what he's been watching.
Andy Hilbert is the new Oleg Kvasha.
Hilbert scored tonight!
Mike: Hilbert may be the same kind of OFFENSIVE dissapointment that Kvasha was, but he is a way more all-around hockey player... You need to realize that there is more to hockey than guys scoring... Hilbert is far from the problem on this team... I don't agree with Tank on during OT... but Hilbert has played 2 great games and deserved the ice time... Oh, and like Billy B. mentioned Hilbert did score tonight!
No...Andy Hilbert is Andy Hilbert.
You wanna see Kvasha? I'll show you Kvasha.
Josef Vasicek.
HE is the new Kvasha. What a waste. Trade them all. Dispose of the useless Hilbert, Hunter, Bergeron, Berard, Satan, Comrie, Tambellini, Fedotenko, Martinek, Vasicek, and especially the gutless, horrific Andy Sutton.
Keep Bergenheim, Comeau, Park, Sim, Sillinger, Guerin (for leadership only) Campoli, Gervais, Meyer and Witt.
Bring up Okposo next season and play him with Bergenheim and Comeau. What free agent or trade will help at this point?
Aggghhhhh.
Uncle Deuce,
Except for Martinek, I'd have to agree with you.
Watching the Rags-Flyers and Edmonton-Calgary games, I cant help but feel that the isles are the softest team in hockey.
There is so little passion ...who cares if trent hunter hits people...do you ever see him hurt someone?
Its okay that we cant score. But, man, hitting and fighting is effort.
i only caught ot, cant believe that little turd scored. obviously there is more to the game than just goals, there are different roles, I guess his is the PK, but is he really vital to it?? I think Bergie could replace him on the PK without missing a beat
Well ... they did play an exciting game last night ... I wasn't pleased with the outcome ... but I was entertained. I still liked what I saw from the kid line. They aren't perfect ... but Tamby made a great move on the break away .. but that was a spectacular save. It's games like this that the kids can use to get better.
Is it me or does it seem like DP is losing his positioning? Is he getting back slower? Or maybe it's the defense / back checkers not taking the trailer. I'm not ready to hold the loses over his head yet. I just notice more goals being given up. We have our top 2 defenders back ... so we can't cry about our defense being decemated by the flu, or nagging injuries.
BTW .. as was noted by our esteemed TV hosts ... Jaffe and Rose .... Martinek stepped on the puck ... a freak thing that happens.
I really liked the moves Gaborik displayed last night. Gotta tap your hockey stick for a guy like that.
That's it for now ... no diatribe.
It'd be nice if our all star goalie could give up less than three goals at least once during the most important stretch of the season. Don't think he's held the opponents to two at all since coming back after that Carolina game that Dubie started. Not like he's getting shelled with shots either. Under 30 most of those game (I think all of them, actually, don't remember for sure) and just 18 last night. Maybe it's "frustration" or whatever we were speculating yesterday, but at some point you gotta get over it and play some hockey. Sorry, I know DP is untouchable on this blog, but I'm just calling this one like I see it. Maybe it's an injury, but then please step aside and let the healthy guy go in that case, because there are some BAD shots getting through, and DP's respectible numbers have been in freefall since that Boston game. Vesa Toskala has better numbers than DP does now, and it sure ain't the team in front boosting that guy's stats.
KH ~
I signed up...Now you know who I am :) !
Next year this team obviously needs some serious offensive help or we will be going through the same dsicussions next year. They also need to get a lot tougher. I do not care what anyone says, an enforcer and a pest are a MUST on every good hockey team. If we are going to keep playing the kids and get younger, they need help.
Simon's time has come and gone, and Hill was a cheat, but they were very key last year to this team.
I almost feel sorry for the BOBBLEHEADS.....They are in a no win situation. We have SO MANY HOLES, our stadium issue is a joke, out talent level is putrid (outside a select few,) and no FA's want to come here.
The only way to build this team is to draft them. That is a sad but true fact. The whole face of the organization needs a change. I said ALL OF LAST YEAR, the Wanger needs to way overpay a great hockey mind to come in and give the team a boost. I like Snow, but he is not going to attract and big names. We need a HUGE figure in the game and someone that demands respect.
Once we get that type of GM, Nolan is the man to do the coaching. He has won with kids. He has won with veterans. The locker room loves him. HE simply needs TALENT !!!
***So keep playing hard Isles. I am rooting for you every night. Yet in my opinion it starts at the top. The order of change is this for me:
1) A Huge name for a GM
2) A strong draft next year.
3) Sign a FA (if possible) that is a scoring machine. A true #1 liner
4) A young enforcer
5) A Steve Webb type. Bring energy back in the barn and piss off others!
6) Our Def and goalie are strong. Some how keep them happy!
7) Ship MAB and Comrie to weather station in the South Pole.
YEAH!!!!! What KH and Steady said!!!
Steady ... it is kind of ironic that you mention this: "I almost feel sorry for the BOBBLEHEADS.....They are in a no win situation. We have SO MANY HOLES, our stadium issue is a joke, out talent level is putrid (outside a select few,) and no FA's want to come here."
I was talking about this with my brother. That the Isles so many holes / problems that they dwarf anything he ever had to face as a goalie... I said it's tatamount to Snowy having to play goalie in "regulation" sized goaltending gear in a soccer net... and he's facing the Ottawa Senators. My brother got a chuckle out of it ... but it's a fact.
I like Snow on a personal level ... so I want him to succeed. I just don't think he was the right person at the right time to do what the Isles need. I have to say ... Neil Smith in the short time he was with the Isles did do a decent job. Witt stands out in my mind. That said .. he didn't have enough time to screw things up either.
I think a great experienced hockey mind should be at the helm. Snowy should of been an assistant GM first ... instead he was an assistant "backup" goalie. I gave Wang the benefit of the doubt ... I wonder who gave Wang the advice to move Snow into the front office. I know it wasn't Patty LaFontaine.
We need a well respected experienced GM ... maybe FA players will take the team more seriously. I'm not throwing Snow under the bus ... he just hasn't shown me anything positive yet. If anything ... I am kind of negative on his moves thus far. One day he'll have the chops to become a good GM .. but the Isles are in no position to wait for that time to come.
I too like Snow on a personal level. He seems like a great guy. Most hockey players seem like great people (except for two on our team :) ).....
This team is in such a desperate state, they need a big kahuna!
IT all starts at the top. Look at EVERY succesful orgainzation and I will show you a great owner, a great GM, and a great coach!
They all have a plan. They all have a vision.
We have the coach. We have the Goalie. Now fill in the rest !!!!
p.s All of Chowderville is still in shock. Lucky for them they have a quiet guy like me around to make them all feel better. Like peas and carrots we are! LOL LOL LOL !!!!!
Steady,
So what's the "33" on the Rolling Rock label stand for?
First GA last night was BEYOND SOFT.
Kid line was good last night, yet no sighting of them on the PP or OT.
Steady,
"Lucky for them they have a quiet guy like me around to make them all feel better."
Time for a new wardrobe, Steady:
:
http://www.customink.com/designs/newlife/7345246-1491302?cm_ven=share&cm_cat=email&cm_pla=Body_txt&cm_ite=designname
Putting on my corporate hat for a post.
I think if Wang is as brilliant a businessman as he seems ... should change the way the Isles / Dragons (does anyone go to their games either) ..... do business.
They should get a sports business mind ... make him / her President ... this person should only know how to manage risk and know how to stretch a dollar ... the person will be strictly a business mind and give the Vice President of the team (a VP for hockey) the resources to handle Hockey Operations ....
The VP will set the budget ... and handle all things regarding hockey operations ... and not player personel. Promotions, marketing, and sales will also fall under this person's responsibilities.
Under the VP is the GM (someone with carte blanche to run the team) ... A very experienced person / hockey mind .... ALL player, scouting and development decisions go through this person. The GM shouldn't worry where the money is coming from ... just have a set budget and be able to work their magic and not worry about other things.
Asst. GM will focus on taking care of the details assigned to him by the GM ... best suited as a former player and / or player that is familiar with the team's personel throughout the organization. A scouting specialist. Keeping the GM and Coach up to date on the player development situation.
Director of Player Development .. Trotts is actually a great fit for this ... A person who can teach and has the respect of young players, and knows how to develop a players strenghts and work to improve on a player's weakness.
Coach ... Ted is a great coach ... and he should only need to worry about the guys on the roster ... and how to best match up against the next team they are playing.
Of course it is all easier said then done ... just my frustration by the way the team has been managed the last 15 years seeping though.
505....Just ordered that shirt...You the man...That is priceless!!!!
My gramps told me the "33" on the label meant two things.
The number of words on the label (count them on an older bottle) and the year Prohibiton ended!
Although the owner never told the TRUE MEANING that was the industry belief!
"505....Just ordered that shirt...You the man...That is priceless!!!!"
Actually it's off of Neil Best's blog. Must give credit where credit is due.
Hey all ...enjoyed reading your posts ...
I agree with pretty much all that's being said ...
Really all that's needed to fill the seats is a winner. And Steady hit it on the head when he spoke of the mountain of problems the Isles face. Really they need to hope to finish last, win the lottery and pick #1 to draft Stamkos. They need legit young guys that can be marketed like DP.
Look what the Mets did with Wright and Reyes. Yes, the Mets have the ability to attract players, but it was two of their own home grown guys that poeple like the most. People get more attached to their own prospects, and generally give them more time to grow with the team.
If they can't draft Stamkos, then either Beach or Wilson might be good choices. I know this draft is full of amazing "D" men, so if they feel that's the best route, then so be it, but the Isles need a scoring center or winger in a bad way. Plus, this draft is so deep they could probably pick up someone nice in the front end of the 2nd round aswell ...
I'm not afraid to say this because I know that you all know where my heart is ...but while I'm hoping for the young guys to improve and show something I want - no, we NEED, this team to lose as much as possible ...
Here is my list - not much different from your's Steady, but here we go ...
1) A strong draft this year and next year
2) Hopefully the Town of Hempstead will approve the Lighthouse so atleast Wang knows he's got that coming down the (Turn)pike
3) Okposo will be up - that will get people excited - play him on the PP and with you best centerman
4) Don't overpay, but try and bring someone in ...there are going to be guys out there this offseason, but really, the Island - as of right now - isn't a "hot spot" ....
"If you build it they will come" ...both true about the team and the stadium ...
If you build from them draft and build a real team then the fans will come - regardless of where you play ...but if you build the lighthouse other players will want to come aswell ...
I keep saying it but look at the Pens - got lucky with Crosby - got the new arena ...also got Malkin and Staal ...not saying that we will draft a "crosby" but youth can lead to a lot ...look at them now ....
Really worried about not getting the new arena ...without that they'll be gone ...
505... you said previously that the first goal against was beyond soft. Thats what I thought until I saw hilights from the Wild's feed on "On the Fly: Final." They showed a view from right behind the goal scorer and there is no way Rick saw it... I'll be the first to blame DP when there is a soft one, but none of the goals yesterday were his fault. The game winer against Pitt was his fault... deflected or not....
AZS, I think you've hit the nail on the head with everything you said. I'm also glad I'm not the only one driving the Colin Wilson Hype Machine anymore. He'll be an interesting case because he tore up the WJC and plays in an intensely defensive system at BU. This will likely make him more responsible in his own end while also allowing him to use his considerable offensive skills. I'm hoping the Isles can get 1 or 2 more first-round picks and have Wilson still on the board later in the first round - teams could be spooked by his actual numbers at BU and forget what a force he was at WJC. 9-17-26 doesn't necessarily promote top 5 pick, and maybe the Isles could even, if they finish low enough, come away with 2 of those 3 centers you mentioned. It should be interesting.
The Lighthouse is naturally my first preference, and I am currently drafting a petition to post online directed at the Town of Hempstead to open up debate and approve the project as quickly as possible. However, I'm still convinced that Brooklyn is Wang's backup plan rather than selling and moving the team or the hare-brained Suffolk County idea.
This team can be rebuilt in very short order if they can attract a key free agent and the kids mature as they're expected to. I'm hoping Garth shows that he has the guts to dismantle the team in the same way he had the guts to bring in Ryan Smyth, which I will believe was the right move FOR LAST SEASON until my dying day.
As a fan, I feel the weight of history on my shoulders, because, as other people have pointed out, I think this is a pivotal year in the team's history. Let's rebuild this team around youth and skill, rally around the Lighthouse, and the New York Islanders will rise again!
Also, did anyone else notice Okposo had a pretty good weekend? 2G 1A in his last 2 games....not so bad.
themass, there are always going to be reasons why shots weren't stopped, but an "elite goalie" in this league HAS to stop more than 14 out of 18 shots on a given night. It's one thing if a failure to do so is sandwiched in between solid efforts, but DP hasn't had a good start now since he's come back in that Boston game. If he's still hurt, then he needs to swallow some pride and let Dubie start until he's healthy. If Dubie can turn out some starts like his last couple, then that's preferable to a hurt DP, I think. I don't really think it's worth it to risk further injury, given the long term commitment, to try to salvage this season.
If he's not hurt, then he needs to get it together, because he's obviously capable of playing A LOT better, and lately his numbers have been dreadful, and while the team's play has something to do with it, there are plenty of goalies for really bad teams that are facing more shots and not letting in some of the goals that the Isles have lately.
the islanders should unload almost everybody get prospects and picks
Hymmmmm ... Looks like Wade Redden may be available this summer.
Just got back from Minnesota, and what a beautiful arena and place to see a game. Too bad, we couldn't win--although I like that Hill took a penalty that gave us a chance to win!
Steady and 19 Isles--you guys wrote posts on the condition of the club (current holes and what to do) that are spot on. But when we started on that path, what happened? Neil Smith and Pat LaFontaine quit within 40 days. Something is amiss at the top and you really have to wonder if this team is about hockey or just the Lighthouse.
Oh well, back to our dump and battling traffic to see Tuesday's game.
I'll take the 5th overall pick anyday over squeezing into the playoffs as the 8th seed and then getting eliminated in the first round as the rangers will. While we won't get any other first round picks from trades, there's a chance we could get a second rounder for satan or bergeron.
Greg .. .enjoyed your article: Will the Isles be Sellers or Buyers at the deadline?
I don't think the Isles have a choice. The should either standput or be a seller. I think the later is more appropriate being as you put it the Isles are sitting at the poker table with a full house of pending freeagents.
Garth may say he's not ready to make moves for the future because they are still trying to win games. But lets face it ... it has to say that. Even if the Isles win the next 7 games before the deadline outright ... that may only find them in 7th to 9th place pending what other teams in the conference do.
Do the Isles gamble on the future to solidify their position at one of the lower playoff positioned teams? Maybe they just miss the playoffs and at the same time miss the opportunity to draft a franchise type player?
Last season was a different story. I believe if my memory serves me right that the Isles were in 6th or 7th place and playing very well for a solid month when the Isles gambled on Smyth and even had a shot at 4th place. Back then I thought the trade was a gamble. Considering the low quality of players that we lost ... I can accept that Snow was trying to elevate the Isles chances ... and even though I didn't agree witht that trade. I'll swallow that bitter pill and move on.
The Isles talent organization depth currently is a C- ... that isn't promising for a team that is already in a freefall. One player a team doesn't make ... so I don't see Okposo as the answer to the team's offensive woes. Look at Atlanta ... they have Kovalchuk & Hossa ... and they used to have Heatley before Hossa. Atlanta is still struggling for stability.
Isles are solid in goal which helps them greatly since that position takes longer to develop a player. Hasek was a late bloomer. Turco was a late bloomer.... Roy and Brody are exceptions.
Tell Garth that the diehards are willing to accept some losses and a losing season or two in order for the Isles to get their house in order. I want stability ... franchise players make it easier to sell the Light House Project. I went to games in the late 90s only to watch them lose on some nights ... Fichaud wasn't really an exciting goalie to watch ... but I can deal with the kids today ..
What killed the 90s for me was that the organization was in disarray, and no commitment to the kids ... b/c it seemed like the Isles were the development team for the NHL and the kids left to become stars for other teams. Lets not do that EVER AGAIN.
That said ... I'm still rooting for wins every game. I can't root for a loss ... however the losses will not hurt as much anymore since I know that there is a silver lining named Stamkos ... and some other great prospects.
Anyone see what happened to Zednik? Yeesh I hope he's alright, the guys already been through a lot.
Posted by Nick
However, I'm still convinced that Brooklyn is Wang's backup plan rather than selling and moving the team or the hare-brained Suffolk County idea.
Nick. I live a few blocks from where 'the rat house' is going up and would flip if the isles moved there. have you heard anything concrete about this or is it more a feeling, hunch etc.?
and just to be clear, i know nassau is their home and that is where they belong. but i have always felt if the suits and crooks out there don't want them or keep up their money/power long enough, wang would be wise to make such a move.
Batty, I don't know any inside information in particular. I just think it would be a wise idea, and since the arena is already being built it would make sense to have that as a backup rather than working on a whole new arena plan. The Lighthouse is my preference by far, I mean I'm working with KH on the advocacy group (HINT HINT - sign up - www.lilighthouse.com). However, I wouldn't be all that angry if Wang finally decides he's had enough of the bureaucracy and back-scratching and piggybacks on the Barclays Center. Either way this team needs stability and progress in all its forms.
As for Zednik, my thoughts and prayers are with him. When I saw the replay on the NHL Network I couldn't even move or speak.
Merrick:
I remeber posting the day La Fontaine quit and I started really calling the upper brass the BOBBLEHEADS. I remember a select few getting all over me for dumping on the Wanger.
I stand by my call from a couple of years ago. This guy could CARE LESS about us winning games. He is a shrewed business man (which all these guys have to be to get where they are) and he is all about the Lighthouse project.
Why did all the great hockey minds leave us right away???? Why is it that the only GM we could come up with was our back-up goalie and his 750K contract that went against our cap? Why is it that we got Ted Nolan from exile ? Why is it we only get guys at the end of their careers and people in walk years ??? We boo and hate Ryan Smyth......Can you blame him?
This franchise was built by a man with a vision. A brilliant hockey mind and a brilliant coach. The owner stayed out of it!
Now we may get lucky and have the best of both worlds. Wang may get his $$$$$$$$ and we may get our new stadium and all the plus' it brings with it!
YET, until everything changes at the top we will NEVER win squat!
WE NEED A HOCKEY MIND AT THE TOP !!! WE NEED A SCOTTY BOWMAN TYPE RUNNING THE SHOW AS GM !!! (I realize scotty is a coach, but you get my drift!)
****The Zednik thing was the grossest thing I ever saw on the ice (except some of MAB passes and Comries shots) Makes you think twice about having your wee ones play the game. Thoughts and prayers to him! UGhhhhhhhhh Do not watch it if you have a weak stomach! **********
Posted by Nick | February 11, 2008 09:32 Batty, I don't know any inside information in particular...
i have to admit , i thought of this possibility as soon as plans for the nets / atlantic yards project were known. i wonder about the feasibility of wang and ratner actually getting together on something like that. also, construction on the 'rat house' will be starting in the near future and a hockey scenario would require planning. if wang does have such ideas, the status (ie. lack of progress) of the lighthouse could force his hand to make his play very soon. it's funny, but wang's first love is basketball, hockey was an afterthought for him, and there is a general consensus that ratner cares nothing about sports and bought the nets only as a precursor for his "rat city' project. wouldn't it be ironic if a move to brooklyn by the isles - unlikely as it may seem -also involved a change of hands re: the nets ? wow!
I have to agree with the posts about DP.
Earlier this season, and not too long ago, shots like those that found their way through against MN were banging off his body left and right. The stats show it (although I am not going to start digging things up ).
He seems to be a little slower in reacting, and just a hair off with his positioning. I am not a goalie or goalie coach, but you can tell something is off. I don't think it is an injury, just a little dip in focus. I think Dubie for a couple games in a row could re-ignite that fire.
Continuing my Comrie-Watch. He was back to his old ways at the half-way mark of the game.
Nice run of 2.5 games. He protected the puck & made smart passes. Alas, the sloppyness is back.
Kevin T.
Wondering if anyone else has heard about this...
There's talk about a recent twist in the apparantly "chilly" relationship between the Islanders/Wang and Pat LaFontaine. Word has it that Brian Burke, the Ducks' GM, asked for a pass to have LaFontaine sit with him in the Ducks' box during the recent game between the Isles and Ducks. The Islanders supposedly refused to issue the pass, telling Burke they'd be happy to issue LaFontaine a credential to sit in the alumni section, but wouldn't issue a pass to have him sit with the opponent's GM. Burke then went and bought LaFontaine a ticket and had him sit in the Ducks' box anyway.
Anyone hear abou this? I do recall that there was a game earlier in the season during which LaFontaine made an appearance in the opposing GM's box. Was it one of the Buffalo games?
I haven't posted in a while. I just read through the posts. I was surprised to see very little about the Hill situation.
First of all, I am/was right with you 505. I'm not sure what in that blog entry changed your mind about Hill and his transgressions.
Hill was a character guy all the way. He was a gladiator all year.
There seems to be a special set of rules for the Islanders.
It's hard for a fan who GAINED so much from an organization that was the MODEL for success, to jump ship... The ship was sinking for a long time there.... and when it seemed to have navigated through the cluster of icebergs it's own support system started firing torpedos at it... Bettman is a firt rate A-hole!
There is definitely an NHL agenda to make this team move, because it (THE NHL) is well beyond the capacity for expansion. Bettman completely F'ed that up...and now he needs a lamb to send to the slaughter....
As far as what is going on with the team right now, this is all going to sort itself out. We can be optimistic all we want, but I wouldn't expect a solid turn around for at least two years. If we get lucky in the FA market this year it could happen a little sooner, but the team shold be entertaining AGAIN once the cloud of the trade deadline passes. There are a lot of guys who are uncertain about their futures right now, and they are surrounded by the kids who are going to make them move their families somewhere else after the season... the locker room can't be a happy place right now. But in a few weeks things will settle down. there will be some new faces, some kids will feel secure about the chance they will get over the last third of the season, and some guys will be breathing a little easier with extended contracts...
I await seeing Comeau, Tambellini and Nielsen getting 12-15 mins a game. I also expect to see walter (my top choice as an NHLer when I saw BP play earlier this year) He will be their second/third line center when the dust clears...
Just give it time.
Zednik should have put a band-aid on it and gotten back out there.
Cincy-
The LaFontaine incident was reported by the NY Times. While I'll question their veracity on politics, I won't on sports.
http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/07/islanders-said-to-snub-lafontaine/
To paraphrase--gulp--Bobby Knight, this is a Mickey Mouse organization, that might be an insult to Mickey Mouse.
you guys are priceless. ripping on Nolan and Snow. They've done a great job so far, give them a break. Everybody is screaming and yelling about Tambellini. Well guess what guys, from what I've seen from him he's nothing special. Scoring in the minors doesnt mean jack. This has been a perfect season. The Islanders were competitive for most of the year but instead of getting the 8th spot and losing in the first round they tanked at the end of the season, we can trade our guys for prospects, sign some FA's next year, get an awesome guy in the draft, and begin building a team that can win the cup. And hope Snow wont trade away everybody like Milbury did (McCabe, Jokinen, Bertuzzi, Luongo, Spezza, not drafting Gaborik or Heatly etc.
Speaking of trades, but don't look now everybody, but i think there's going to be some movement after this trade:
Carolina gets: Corvo, and Eaves
Ottawa gets: Commodore, and Stillman
My personal thoughts that i was looking for more trades by the beginning of next week, not now. This should be fun to see, but this is nice scene not expexted. I don't think we'll have to wait too much longer.
What?
Yeah ... I caught the Zednick accident last night ... "Freak Accident" ... I've seen some gory things on the ice before ... but that ranks right up there ... not as bad as Clint Malarchuck ... who ironically played goal for Buffalo in the 80s ... that was 10 times worse because you saw the blood squirt out of his neck like "Old Faithful' to his pulse. I'm surprised nobody brought that up.
About the Carolina / Ottawa trade ... that is a good trade for both teams .... I think it helps Carolina more ... even though the depth of players favors Ottawa .... Carolina becomes a bit more younger and mobile ... and they needed that. The thing is can they do more without Commodore and Stillman ..... I think for Ottawa ... they obtained 2 quality verterans .... but they already were stacked with them .... so do these guys upset the chemistry of a stacked Ottawa team? How does this affect their ice time ... less ice time means less production in most cases. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
So since Carolina and Ottawa fired the first big trade salvo before the deadline ... we might start seeing some movement. I hope that the Islanders make their moves soon, and other teams don't satisfy their needs lowering the stock of the Isles players on the block any further.
talent costs money and the Isles dont have chest like the rags do. However, heart and grit, and I mean hitting/fighting grit, dont cost much. Too many nights we go through the motions..the islanders are such a boring team frankly.
We need old school hockey back. Work it from there.
19 Isles
I'll go one step further with that trade. Joe Corvo was the key in that trade because both Commodore and Stillman are free agents to be this summer, so by erasing Corvo's $2.5 million contract, the Sens have enough to resign Redden to a contract or sign another big FA in the summer when/if Redden decides not ot return for Ottawa.
I'm usually a positive blogger and see the Islanders glass as half full vs. half empty. I usually don't single out players on a negative note and tend to defend some that are getting beat up on this blog... ie. Hilbert, Campoli and Gervais (before the season started) Blake, during the offseason... etc. but.. other than some good speed on a clean breakaway by Tambellini, he really doesn't show you much. Great save on a nice move and shot... too bad - it would have been good for his confidence and great for the team... but he is pretty invisible on the ice...
I really want him to be a star. But he just doesn't warrant the attention he gets. I think it's more hopeful thinking. Similar to when we drafted Bret Lindros... we wanted so badly for him and other guys like Dave Chyzowski, Scott Scissons and Brad Dalgarno to be the next great player. They all pretty much s*cked!
DOC
Doc, how do you know that yet? How many total NHL games has Tambellini played? Isn't the Isles' current situation largely a result of giving up on young talent before it's had a chance to develop? How can we possibly conclude Tambellini won't be an NHL star after just a few games? If we're going with the youth movement, we've got to accept a transition period while they develop.
Hey... I want the guy to be a star (Tambellini) I really do. I'm all for giving him time... and want to see the growing pains and willing to put up with them. I definitely think the guy should get 1st and 2nd line minutes (15 to 17 minutes a game), some powerplay if available... and see what he does.
All I said was that I just don't see it in him. He doesn't find the puck and the puck doesn't seem to find him.
Comeau seems to always have the puck on his stick whether it's the defensive zone or carrying it through the center ice or into the offensive zone and behind the net. The puck seems to find him... (or he seems to go get the puck). That's what I am talking about when I say I just don't see it in him (Tambellini)... but I am more than willing to let them give him ample time... because I WANT him to succeed just as much as any fan does. I also think that he DESERVES the opportunity to sink or swim. He's EARNED it!
Yo,
I am ready to be thrown off this board,
F all of you for wanting Stamkos.
F all of you for wanting another loss.
F all of you for bailing on this team.
I despise a lot of things about his squad, BUT I AIN'T QUITTING.
And if you want NO FINISH, NO PLAYOFFS, and a cheap schit write off, beancounter burial, on what has happened so far, FINE, GTFO!!!!!
DON'T COME BACK NEXT YEAR!!!.
Cuz I grew up in a RANGER ERA, (late 60's, early 70's) when REAL HOCKEY FANS, hated the Flyers.
So, f all of you if you're not rooting for the Isles tomorrow night.
John Brophy wouldn't let you in Commack Arena, if you were.