On the Islanders Beat

Right on, Greg. Any smart GM stays aware of the useful players that could potentially become available. Something doesn't necessarily have to come from those discussions, but I'd rather see Garth out there trying to improve the team than being passive.

However, I was very interested to see the deal Buffalo made. A 2nd rounder in 2009 and a 3rd in 2010 for Steve Bernier? Stunned Garth couldn't have matched or beaten that.

I have to agree that any trade that included Okposo would not be worth it to the Isles, not even for Boyle. Lukiwich was ok when he was here, but certainly not an upgrade over Martinek.

The deal does make sense for SJ as they have to go for it NOW.

I still want to know where are all the RFA offer sheets that were predicted this year...............Sir William

You'll likely see more now that the marquee UFA's are off the board.

Also, Sir William, in response to your question last thread: San Jose got the best player in the deal, but Tampa was over the cap. I was amazed that San Jose still gave up so much for Boyle when they knew that Tampa didn't have a choice but to trade him.

Normally I like your stuff Greg. But I don't think this is a Trade we didn't make.

We are among the FA bottom-feeders of the league until we have the foundation in place. No top player with a no-trade clause is going to agree to come the Islanders as they stand now. The only exception is a D-man in Toronto with a wife from the area.

Kevin T.

NIck Obviously there were other offers for Boyle and SJ wanted him more. A team is allowed to be over the cap until the roster is formally set, so Tampa was under no obligation to make the trade immediately. They had plenty of time to wait it out.

I think that there is a common misconception, that just because a team wishes to move a big salary player for cap room, means that they are willing to do it for nothing or even pay for it. I think that the Boyle trade just proved that. They moved the player and got a good return. They did not just give him away.

The idea that Toronto should give away an additional asset in order for the Islanders to take McCabe is a bit off. It is not happening. If the Islanders want McCabe then they are going to have to pay for him. He may go below his normal market value because he will only accept a trade to the Isles. This puts Toronto in a bad barginning position, but they can always send him down to the minors, much like Lamarillo did to Malakov, Mogilny and Matvichuck and a few others. See how he likes riding the bus and staying in crappy hotels for a season until he accepts a trade.

All Toronto is obligated to do, is pay his salary. He is not guaranteed a spot with the big club....Sir William

Toronto just signed another Dman from Sweden. He is 27 years old, so I doubt that he is ticketed for the minors. Things just got much more interesting in Toronto..........Sir William

Of course Toronto is only obligated to pay his salary. However, on the other hand, how can they expect to get any value from him when they keep talking him down in the press and dropping hints that they might ask him to stay away from the team once training camp starts? Who would want to trade assets for a guy that costs almost $6 million against the cap, and who, according to his own team, is not any good and not welcome on the team currently?

The Leafs aren't exactly helping themselves if they really intend to trade McCabe.

if there is one guy i want snow to get, its maxim afinagenov from buffalo. i dont know about his contract status but im reading buffalo is shopping him. this makes so much sense for us if we give up something along the lines of gervais, one of our 2nd rounders, plus a late round pick. if we're going to trade for players, they must also be young and fit into our youth movement. your thoughts?

Get a boxer and another center to keep Comrie away from the kids.

sir william mcabe cannot be sent down to minors because he has a no movement clause which means they cant send him down to minors. the most i would offer for mcabe is gervais straight up.

defense would be

witt mccabe
streit martinek
campoli sutton
meyer

more importantly our power play would probably be top 10 in the league with streit campoli and caber

Sir William ... McCabe has a NO MOVEMENT CLAUSE ... not a No Trade Clause ... he can't be sent to the minors .. or traded . the most he can be moved to is the Press Box ... or bought out.

That is why TO is hamstrung....

Regarding Boyle ... San Jose had no competition for Boyle ... so no other teams even had the chance of wanting Boyle more ... He only wanted San Jose .... whether or not San Jose had knowlege of that to increase their bargaining power ... who knows.

Happy 4th of July all.

ehhhhh .. db ... ya beat me to the punch ... I got sloppy seconds... LOL!!

Damn Refresh button ... no wonder I had to re-enter another security code.

Sir jack off. McCabe can not be sent to the miors you ignorant blow hard. Stick to ping pong.

Thanks guys, most reports I see just mention that he has a No Trade clause. I did not know that he has a No Movement clause.
With the Swedish signing, push has to come to shove before camp, I would think.

If it is true that SJ was the only option for Boyle, then Tampa did very well for themselves. How come if SJ had Tampa in such a bad position? Why didn't SJ just tell Tampa take it or leave it for
Carle staright up since SJ was their only option? It seems to me that they overpaid when they were the only game in town.

Anybody explain that?............Sir William

sj overpaid because they lost out on campbell and they needed to get a top offensive d man to run their power play. their window is closing on winning the cup and they couldnt take the chance that carle would be the guy to do it. they also couldnt be sure that sj was the only team that boyle would accept a trade to.

DB I understand why SJ wanted him. But according to 19 Isles (who is a reliable source) Boyle would only accept a trade to SJ. So SJ was in the drivers seat much like the Islanders with McCabe.

And didn't they just sign Rob Blake to take Cambell's place.

For my money Campbell is the most over paid player in hockey now. He is not in Boyle's class.

So, I am a bit confused why SJ paid such a high price when they were the only game in town.........Sir William

because san jose needs him blake is a shell of the player he used to be. i dont think campbell is overpaid at all hes 29 and got 7.1 per year he is the prototypical new nhl defenseman. heres the difference san jose gets boyle it might mean a shot at the cup. if the isles get mcabe it might mean a shot at the playoffs. plus san jose was one of the teams im sure he would have accepted a trade to not the only one.

Thanks for the props Sir W but Greg Logan's article is where I got my info that SJ was the only team in the running

Regarding the NTC vs. NMC confusion ... you're not alone ... McCabe's situation is generally reported as a No Trade Clause .... which a lot of people understand ... when No Movement Clause is used ... people don't always relate to that since it generally isn't used much.

regarding the SJ not pressing Tampa .... who knows? Maybe they were only aware that 6 other teams were in contention and was not aware that Boyle only waived his NTC to go to SJ... thusly they offered up some good booty to TB .... shifty work by TB if you ask me.

See Sir W.... it says this at the top of this blog's thread ....

Greg Logan~ "As it turned out, San Jose was the only team for which Tampa Bay defenseman Dan Boyle agreed to waive his no-trade clause. None of the other six teams involved in the bidding for one of the NHL's top offensive defensemen ever got the chance to step to the plate. That includes the Islanders, Philadelphia, Vancouver, Ottawa and Atlanta."

Sir yaps a lot . Now you are saying they over paid? You filp flop more than a blue fish on the deck of a ship.

TB got a great deal. Pisses me off that we can't except our former back-up to just gut another team in a trade like that. Not only are we hampered by being a small market team, but we also have an inexperienced GM. I do see Garth making progress....but he's not quite there yet. Let's just hope for TREMENDOUS chemestry this yeat.

When Anaheim puts Schneider on the block, you can be sure as hell that Garth Snow will be calling. I really am keeping my fingers crossed that we don't give up too much for a 39 year old offensive-defenseman who is at best a second-pairing defenseman!

Mr Annon, If SJ was the only team in the running, then yes, they overpaid. If the other six teams had a chance to up the offer then they did what they had to do to land Boyle. Understand?

Enjoy the bluefish...........Sir William

MaCabe eats 5.75 on the cap for the next 3 years, however he earns 6 mil, then 4 and change each of the last 2 years.

Kinda hate to say it but if were near the playoffs he'll be here at the deadline. I

sles will not max out the cap in the next 2 years so it only about the actual salary. im not a fan of him really but 4mil per is what finger(3.5) and streit are making, its not too bad.

if witt is moved at the deadline then its almost a no brainer, who else will they replace him with, unless he actually wants to still stay, who knows?

MaCabe eats 5.75 on the cap for the next 3 years, however he earns 6 mil, then 4 and change each of the last 2 years.

Kinda hate to say it but if were near the playoffs he'll be here at the deadline. I

sles will not max out the cap in the next 2 years so it only about the actual salary. im not a fan of him really but 4mil per is what finger(3.5) and streit are making, its not too bad.

if witt is moved at the deadline then its almost a no brainer, who else will they replace him with, unless he actually wants to still stay, who knows?

MaCabe eats 5.75 on the cap for the next 3 years, however he earns 6 mil, then 4 and change each of the last 2 years.

Kinda hate to say it but if were near the playoffs he'll be here at the deadline. I

sles will not max out the cap in the next 2 years so it only about the actual salary. im not a fan of him really but 4mil per is what finger(3.5) and streit are making, its not too bad.

if witt is moved at the deadline then its almost a no brainer, who else will they replace him with, unless he actually wants to still stay, who knows?

Ohhhhhhh the pounding headache. Last night was a rough one.

I got an idea for all my fellow Isles......Let's give Snow a Grade so far in the off-season and explain why. Okay teachers get out your red pen and go to work.

I give him a.... C -

Reason: I think all to often he has shown he is a gambler. This may or may not be his fault. Maybe he is simply a puppet, but he must be judged as if he is his own man.

By gambler I mean he takes too many chances....Took a chance on the Smyth deal, took a chance on Bailey and trading down, and is taking a chance on a small defenseman who is a one trick pony.......Yet he did fill a need in the qb pp position. He did stock pile picks for the farm.......As the Oracle predicted he did basically nothing in F.A and traded a sure thing pick.

So for those reasons he get my C - !!!

If he does extra credit and gets my my pes and goon he can move up to a C + or B - !!!

Looks like the fishsticks are gearing up for another lottery pick...one day the blind pols who have been fleecing the cash out of Nassau County for fifty years will be remembered as the a-holes who let the Islanders move to points west or north.
The clock is ticking on the mausoleum....

Steady:

Gonna have to give him a B grade for this off season.

before the draft, we were at the bottom of the league in terms of prospects: He fixed that.

We needed someone who could quaterback the powerplay: Striet can do that, so Garth wins there too.

As far as the free agents go, I think if the kids were played more earlier on in last season, i think then Snow would have been more active this year. If the kids improve this year, and this team is better than some are predicting, then Snows grade goes up for NOT making any big moves.

McCabe an islander again. I like the idea. I liked when he was here. Only way I would take him is if some how Toronto could take some of that salary hit. I wouldn't want him pulling more then $3.5 - 4.0 Million. I would give up little to help out Toronto's situation.

Morty .. the only thing is ... under the current CBA teams cannot pay part of a player's salary that they have traded... ala the Washington Caps when they traded Jagr to the Rags ... they are going to have to be a lot more creative to do that.... The McCabe to Isles drama is getting old ... seems to come up every slow news day.
-------------------------------------------
Steady / Netminder .... I'm gonna split you guys somewhere in the middle ... I give him a C+ so far on his mid-term off season grade .... Snow supporters might think that is a bit low ... but considering I used to grill him on everything .... that is an improvement.

People who would like to see Snow canned will think I'm nuts for being so generous.... but honestly ... we're only halfway through the off-season.

Why do I give him a C+ ... well .. basically .. and Steady also mentioned this ... the Isles need a pest and enforcer ... even better if it's a package in one player ... it's not an option ... it's a must have ... and we'll never know if he made an offer for Georges Laraque to know if he even put forth a good offer ... so not getting Laraque can't be held against him.... but it doesn't negate his responsibility in obtaining a player to fill that role. So far he's a no show in this area ... so it's a big fat INC.

I was one of the thousands of Islander fans calling for Snow's head on June 20th when he traded down to #9 to get Josh Bailey .... I was insensed... no need to go into detail here .... most of you know the feeling.

However ... on June 21st ... I had to find myself eating crow ... because after reveiwing the draft in its entirety I saw that Snow did a fantastic job .. I'll even add outstanding to that ... he gets an A- for the draft .. he restocked the farm getting the Isles much more needed high level prospect assets. If 3 out of 6 become stars .... the Isles will be OK .... and they need a playmaking center for the future... I was NEVER sold on Filatov ... I'd of taken Wilson before him... and that is documented on here. Trading down for Bailey earned the Isles 3 more picks this draft .. and 1 pick next draft ... just to slide down 4 spots in a deep draft ... and sure ... ALL these players drafted are a gamble ... that includes Filatov. But it also allowed the Isles to take a flyer on Petrov.

Free Agency - Well ... now there are comodities that we are more familiar with ... Weight ... his record speaks for itself... I was not on board with acquiring Weight when the rumors first surfaced ... but then the terms of the deal were not painful .... and he's only had one off year recently ... and when it comes down to it ... the Isles did improve at center and it gives the kids more time to develop... I just hope it doesn't hurt Nielsen's or Walter's progress ... or maybe it makes one of them expendable prior to the start of the season ... the jury is out on that one...

Streit .... he's what the Isles need in a PP QB ... we've been screaming for one since training camp last year .... now we got one ... yeah ... defensively suspect .... but nothing like MAB .... any comparison to that pitching machine on skates is totally off-base. The addition of Streit and Weight to the powerplay thrusts a healthy NYI team to the middle of the pack on the PP ... and that in itself with a healthy DP gets the Isles maybe 8 more wins ... I know it's just an arbitrary number ... but how many 1 goal games did they lose? So it could end up being 10 or 12 games ... who knows.

Free Agency .. you can only give him a C- when you compare what other teams did in the last 4 days.

We can't expect Snow to be able to do much during FA .... the $$$ offered between teams isn't that much different in a lot of cases .... all the teams have to operate within the same cap parameters ... so that even might inhibit RFA signings .... teams near the bottom of the cap floor like the Isles can offer more b/c of the space they can work in .... BUT ... the Isles don't offer a state of the art training facility like most teams .... and when these players visit the NVMC .... they have a dressing room much akin to the ones I get to use at the local rink.... not kidding either.

So they don't really have a positive image of NVMC .... and the fact that the team had no real core of up and coming youth aside from Okposo ... and the promise of Tamby having a break out year .... there is no short term realistic shot at the team being a top threat to win the cup.

I heard Don Meehan once say on XM... after money .... the biggest things his top clients concern themself with is the team's facilities .. the quality of life in the area .... and the team's short term ability to win the cup. He said there are a few teams without naming names that find it hard to land a big FA because of things like the training facilities and even fan support ... I think we know where that puts the Islanders.

So to borrow a phrase that Steady uses to describe what Nolan has had to work with .... Snow might just be trying to make lobster salad with a can of cat food ... except he's just not as good at it as Nolan.

I have some more thoughts for later ..... what else is new? LOL!

When you factor in what San Jose gave up at the trade deadline to get Campbell then you have a team giving up a tremendous number of assets just to get a puck moving PP quarterback D-man. In the short term it is a good move, but down the road they may miss all of those assets.

Rate the GM: I'll bite at that one.

Grade: B

Very good draft. He needed to rebuild the farm and he accomplished that in a "very deep" draft. The draft grade may have been A+ if he would have got the impact player all were expecting. But that player may have been taken, we just don't know it yet. When I look at what Toronto paid for Schenn, I feel as if our draft was even better. To give away two more picks for a stay at home D-man seems too high a price to pay for a team that wants to rebuild as well.

Free Agency: Clearly know pick ups that will make much of a difference at the gate. But that does not mean it was a bad job by Snow. But my thinking on this is that he needed a PP QB desperately and he took care of that on day 2. He got a guy that does not break the bank, the term (5 years) fits well with the rebuild they are going through and the guy is only 30 years of age. Streit will not only improve the PP but will be a guy that greatly improves the transition game. A huge upgrade over MAB who could not make the outlet pass. The other glaring weakness among many was the center ice position. Bailey would have to be lights out in camp to make the team, Sillinger is a risk because there is a no guarantee he will not experience a setback after hip surgery (I hope he plays to start the season). But the reason why I like the move to get Weight is because combined with Streit you have two guys that can distribute the puck and create opportunities for your wingers. I guess Snow's thinking is that he will roll dice with his young forwards to see if they can put the puck in the net. I am one of those people that believes in chemistry and it is something that you can't teach or force. Weight & Guerin clearly have that chemistry and the numbers support it. A one year deal with incentives for Weight makes sense if you are rebuilding. It keeps the captain happy, it allows Bailey another year to grow and it takes the pressure off of Comrie to be that #1 center we all know he is not.

From what I have read, Sim is a guy that is an in your face agitator who has a good wrist shot and can net you 15-20 goals. I really want to see him play. I also think the enforcer will come from within. I personally would rather see a homegrown fill that role. Does Kip Brennan have a shot? I know he is big and tough, but can he play or is he a liability if he is not fighting?

Still more time to make a trade or RFA offer sheet. You know Garth has Toronto's 2nd round pick from this years draft and an offer sheet to a RFA would cost him that extra pick which he has two. If the team tanks this year he can pick that pick back up by offloading some of his vets such as Guerin, Sillinger, Witt or Weight.

19 isles / coral springs

nice evaluation. I agree with much of what you two say.

I do think the enforcer comes from within the system. Still more moves to be made... even if they are subtle ones.

DOC

19Isles.....Good post...Only thing I can change in wht you said is the part of getting a pest and enforcer in the same person....No can do !!

The pest is sooooooooo much better at his role when he rarely fights....Webb became so much more annoying to others when he would hit and hit and hit an hit some more and than just skate away and SMILE .... Avery is a master of that....Barnaby as well.....Tucker..... Ruutu.....Cooke.....

They will all fight, but they are so much more annoying when they pick and poke and smile.

Kip Brennan BETTER make this team if we do not bring in another goon.....I am all for the kid movement, but I cannot get that last Rags game out of my head when Avery kept hitting our kids. I could not stand how teams just pushed us around. Say what you want, intimidation is a huge part of the game of hockey. HUGE !!!

By the way.....For all of you that think the WANGER is a good owner...Nice guy....All that nice stuff....Read this:

Charles Wang's career as CEO of Computer Associates was marked with controversy.

In building up CA, Wang engaged in fifty takeovers followed by immediate firing of top management and key employees. His strategies had provoked descriptions like "rapacious", "heartless" and "Attila-the-Hun", largely driven by the draconian practices he engaged in with acquired companies, although these tactics were legal in the State of New York. The most notorious of these practices included forcing the employees of an acquired company to sign new employment contracts on-the-spot at a company meeting without prior warning - employees who refused the sign at the meeting or wished to have the contracts reviewed by a third party prior to signing were immediately fired.

He also alienated many in and out of CA by his paternalistic, family-oriented management style. In 1979, three years after CA's founding, Wang had installed his older brother Tony, a onetime corporate lawyer, as president and COO. Tony held the position until his retirement in 1992 to make way for Sanjay Kumar. In 1998, Nancy Li, Charles Wang's second wife, was named CA's chief technology officer. Wang has argued that the investment community was punishing CA's stock because of his refusal to override his sense of familial loyalty to avoid the appearance of nepotism.

In 1998 Wang had initiated a $9 billion hostile tender offer for the shares of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). The Washington Post weighed in on the side of CSC's management by alluding to CA's "ties to foreigners". It was a pointed reference to Wang's origin and CA's clients in China. The suggestion was that becoming linked with CA would jeopardize CSC's contracts with U.S. government agencies. Wang dropped the tender offer, blaming the uproar on racism and inflated national security concerns.

HE then went on to quit jsut before all his buddies went to jail and got huge fines....

****So when I pick on him for putting his son in law in charge of PR now you know why.....Soon his wife will be coach, hi son will be GM, and I will be in jail for going batso !!!!! ***

Also if you think a man of this nature will not pick up this team and move and not even bat an eye lash you are fooling yourself.

He and his FAMILY practices could careless about you and I ... This guy is a wheeler and dealer...Like all corporate bigants usually are.......

The Lighthouse project is all about the almighty dollar...Which is fine...His money....His team.....Just do not be fooled gents....This BOBBLEHEAD is a power hungry man that only cares about surrounding himself with people he can control !!!

Let's just hope he wants to always be on Long Island and his wife can set up the power play, his son in law know his way around Moosejaw to find a fighter as GM, and his niece can grill a good hot dog for in between periods.....IF not.......Bye Bye to the team we love !!!

"... and I will be in jail for going batso !!!!! ***"

ROFLMAO, Steady....
I think you posted that entire Wang "expozay" just to suck up to Sir William. Cuz I GUARANTEE YOU he will follow that up with an equally damning diatribe against our very own Genghis Khan.

How unlike you.

i will grade snow on the draft 2 ways

1. if petrov comes over to ny islanders in the next 3 years.

Snow will get an A plus in the draft if petrov comes over to the usa in the next 3 years. The reason i believe this is filatov and petrov were very close in rankings this year the only thing that separated the two players was the contract in russia for petrov. so in essence snow drafted 2 top 10s in petrov and bailey and 2 first round picks and very possible impact players in ness and trivini. and also got 2 possible very good players in toews and niemi. there is a very good chance that 2 of these players will be stars and 2 to 3 others will be solid nhl ers.

2. if petrov never touches u.s. soil

Snow gets a b minus.

As far as free agency I will give him a b.. streit and weight will help the power play immensely and that alone should help us alot during the year.

Right now Snow gets an INCOMPLETE.

It's one week into FA and he made two signings. Not bad, not great.

The Draft was a home run as far as restocking. But it is yet to be determined oe any of those picks will work out.

The Smyth deal turned out poorly, but not for the lack of trying. Besides none of the players who left here had a future under the present coach. Props for taking the chance. Boos for taking it on the wrong player.

Sim. Last years first FA signing has yet to show us what he can do. You can't blame Snow for a season ending injury.

So, to my mind, none of Snows moves have yet to play themselves out. Before you can grade how he has done, some of the players need to be fairly evaluated. And that will take a couple of years minimum.

So INCOMPLETE it is.

505, Gotta laugh at the Wang article. You and some others should remember seeing something similar before. HMMMM...............Sir William

Hmmmm.......

Anthony Rieber announces that "he is back" (from wherever he was for about a week) at 6:50PM in a blog on the Final Score and the "troll" who impersonates myself and others on this blog returns (from wherever he was for about a week) within the same hour.
Incredible coincidence!!!

The same Anthony Rieber who admitted, in writing on a live Yankee game blog, that he "has trolled from time to time".

Life is just full of coincidences, I suppose.

Where is Peter Falk when you need him?

This team is too old and too young at the same time. It would have been a good team ten years ago when Witt,Sillinger,Guerin and Weight were in their prime but I would really be shocked if they all make it through the season without getting hurt. And the young guys haven't shown much yet. Okposo is the only one who has star potential. Tambellini, Comeau,Bergenheim,Neilsen and Colliton at best will be average, dime a dozen NHL'ers who can be easily replaced. I would give Garth a "C". He hasn't made any bad signing like signing Jason Blake to a long term deal but he hasn't made any trades to improve this team like Paul Holmgren of the Flyers has. As much as I hate to say this, I think the best thing that can happen for the Isles is to get the first pick in the draft next year and keep rebuilding. Hey, it worked for the Penguins!

goislesgo ...it's not that I disagree with you because in many ways I don't - but I wanted to bring up something you wrote ...

you said that Tamby, Comeau, Bergie, Neilson and Colliton are "average" and "dime a dozen" - and to be honest they haven't done anything yet to prove that wrong so I don't take issue with that part, but how can Snow make trades to improve his team if all the Islander prospects are a "dime a dozen"? I know that on message boards we often here fans creating unrealistic trades, but in the real sports world people aren't going to take Gervais and give us some young talented scoring center ...

But I agree about the rebuilding - and I wasn't trying to sound arguementative ...

i disagree i think comeau, bergie and to a lesser degree tambellini have second line forward potential and of course i think okposo has first line potential.

I sure hope that Tambellini develops into a 25-30 goal scorer and that Comeau and Bergenheim can score 25-30 goals too. This will be Tamby's year to see if he's a real NHLer or an all-star minor leaguer.I just think that Bergenheim and Comeau will end up more like Federtanko and JoVas than Zach Parise. I sure hope I'm wrong though.To answer AZS, Garth traded Aleixi Zhednik for Freddy Meyer. Holmgren then got Coburn from Atlanta for Zhednik. Why couldn't Garth make that deal? He has not shown that he is very creative when it comes to trades. He seems to alway play it safe. So until he makes some trades for players that become part of our future,I'll stick with a "C".

To be fair, a player's value always goes up at the trading deadline, so that trade could have been done then. In December, it was a salary dump, and ironically it helped free the cap space used to acquire Smyth.

uh oh..

http://nyipointblank.blogspot.com/2008/07/code-ted.html

The less snow does the higher the grade. Give this team a chance to gain some experience. The next few years we should spend little in the FA market and far less in trades. Wait until the team is pushing itself to the 8th spot in the east. Teams that pull in FA trying for a quick rebuild I would bet fail more often then succeed.

At the end of this year or somewhere in the middle you will also see Nolan go. I don't see him as a good fit for a young team. This team is going to have alot of players that do not play his gritty style.

1010,

Just read the Chris Botta blog myself - it's a shame he'll be stopping it on the 7th - really good blog ...

Steady, you night not want to read this particular one ;-)

That being said, after reading it I feel even stronger that I want Nolan gone. I just don't feel he's interested in coaching a team thats rebuilding ...a team that needs to play youth ...you doesn't seem to appriciate the chance the Isles have given him ...and those quotes of his are rediculous ...maybe on a different team he would be a perfect fit and I'm sure Vets like playing for him - I mean who wouldn't love getting crazy ice time regardless of production right? Well, I could go on, but it's not worth it ...

What do we all think will happen with Nolan? Finish out his contract at the end of the year and leave? Sign an extension? Get fired at some point during the season?

I think that if he doesn't play the youth in meaning situations - the PP and regular minutes - that he'll be let go during the season ...if he goes along with the plan then he may survive the season ...but it sounds like a bridge thats burning ...

I think I'm even more in favor of Newsday hiring Chris Botta as a supplementary Islanders writer, to examine the stuff above and beyond Greg's already-excellent coverage. I remember going to the Open House, talking to Ted, and being taken aback by his standoffish attitude toward both the team and any possible extension. I'm not in the business of being the Godfather here, despite having Sicilian ancestry, so I won't play the angle that Ted should be grateful and acquiesce to all the Islanders' wishes just because they were the only team to give him a shot in the NHL.

However, something will clearly need to give in this situation, and quickly. This is going to be a young team this year, and the biggest possible success will come from understanding what we have in the system in order to fill holes and make deals going forward. That means, as mentioned, the kids need to play meaningful minutes. Personnel decisions should not be aired out in the press by either Garth "One Eyebrow or Two?" Snow or Ted "I'm Playing Joey Mac Because I Was Told To" Nolan. Any disagreements or problems currently experienced need to be handled in-house, and above all, if a decision has to be made, Ted Nolan cannot be made to look like a martyr. An appearance of infighting or unfairly firing an admittedly excellent coach would likely set the team back in the perception battle another 5 years or so. This has to be done professionally, and regardless of the decision, we can't look like a circus franchise.

Personally, I want all this ridiculous BS to stop, and I want the right person for the job coaching this team.

I also second the point from AZS.....Whatever you do, Steady, don't click on that link.

In regards to Bottas blog. Well, why not fire Ted Nolan? This has been the MO for the islanderrs for what 15 yrs now.? They have had basically 10 different coaching changes in the past 15 yrs so why change a good thing now? Hope you can all feel the sarcasm. I think Ted wants to be an NHL coach. I believe he thinks he deserves an extesnion for being able to get this team to the playoffs his first year and lets face it they had a good chance to make it last year until the injuries. But Wang is a man who beleives in contracts and fulfilling them until they have expired. Then make the judgement after the fact. Criticize his businees style any way you want but that is the way he built CA into a mulit billion dollar a year company. He is very shrewd and that is whats worked for him. His methods are questionable but that is what has worked for him and he wont change his basic fundamentals when it comes to business decisions and that's what this is about. However, Wang and Snow have to let ted know what the expectations are for the team this season. It is apparant they are going through a rebuild.and both parties have to come together and talk about what they both want. If Ted does not want to be a part of it and he can get a job where he has a veteran team than you say good luck and move on. My gut feeling tells me that Ted wants to know if he will be coaching in the nhl beyond 2010 and I think he would not mind staying here if in fact he knew he was secure for at least 2 more seasons. That will give him 3 years to be a part of the rebuilding process and there is no doubt he can mold this team into a contender if given the chance. However, my gut also tells me that Wang and Snow will put unrelaistic expectations on Nolan to cover themselves when they fire him mid season or dont bring him back at the end. But the islanders will only look bad because Ted will come out smelling like roses get a good job and probably win the cup ala Peter Laviolette. What will be ironic is that Snow will hire the UM coach because he has good ties to Okposo. If that happens then I would have to really consider leaving the islanders for good and just hold the memories. So I am hoping this will come to some resolution but it is not looking good.for Ted and that would be a shame but like I said why change a good thing now?

LOL @ AZS & Nick ... I read Botta's blog ... and before even getting to either one of you guys' posts ... the first person I thought of was Steady .... LOL!!!

I'd try to run some interference and write one of my classic long ass posts so that Steady forgets about Chris Botta and his blog by the time he's finished with my post ... or at the very least it takes Steady a couple of days to read my post and he finishes after Botta's site comes down tomorrow night... but I think the cat is already out of the bag.

Actually ... reading Botta's blog really seems to point at Nolan as a big source of some of the infighting ... I try to read between the lines .... and quotes really can be taken out of context ... but I think that Snow and Nolan should just sit down this week ... and chew the fat and just air things out before rookie camp. They are both expected to act professional .. so they should both "just get over it" ... instead of "trying to get over on one another" ... the fans don't like it ... and I suspect players would not like it even more.

We all work with some people that we don't like .. or even like their work ethic ... but we manage to get through it and do a good job ... even on the same team.
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Nick ... I also was thinking the same thing about Botta on Newsday's site too ... A guest columnist on Newsday would be a great gig for Botta on the Cablevision owned paper. It also would help Newsday dispell any suspicions of the paper would be slanting to the Rangers since Cablevision owns them too.

Just think guys and gals ... the employees of this paper are now colleagues with the NYR.

I love Logan's coverage of the Isles ... but he doesn't seem to have the same "zip" as Zippy does ... no pun intended .. OK it was .. bad try too ...

Zip has more of a need to air his thoughts out on a daily ... and sometimes even an hourly basis on his blog ... I can tell you how welldone his hamburger was for God's sake ... LOL ... Greg seems content at just contributing on the blog when there is news or stirrings going on. Botta could share this blog space just like Baumbach and Rieber do on the Final Score.... I think it would be fun for the both of them ... and Logan wouldn't feel obligated to have to contribute all the time just so that the anxious hordes of Isles fans like ourselves can feel informed everytime something farts in Islander Country.

I am not as educated on players contracts, salary caps or player talents as most of you seem to be; I do see an Islander team that has nothing to offer star quality players ,such as Ryan Smyth, they wont stay long if you do trade your future for them.

The strengths of this Islander team, and thusly the key to keep them here on Long Island, are Ted Nolan, Kyle Okposo and Rick DePietro.

Acquiring Doug Weight to help mentor the young Okposo, and signing Streit, and hopefully McCabe, to help Rick are smart moves to develop a team of the future.

Our team of the Dynasty years were not built by Free Agents. Trades and FAs came after the greatness was established.

Stay the course!!!

Don't Garth and the UM coach hate eachother.....their disputes would take the attention away from the teams performance though... could be a good move.

I think that Nolan is a good fit for this team. Both are trying to ressurect thier respective image to the league. May as well do it side by side. His inability to coach youth is total BS. He has coached in the juniors for crying out loud. The coaches job is to ice the team that gives the team the best chance of winning, so I can't blame him for giving more minutes to experience last year.

Hopefully the Isles stay competitive so they have no choice but to keep him around. But to be realistic... Botta probably has the most accurate perception from an outsider.... Oh man... I just had a vision.... Garth behind the bench.... what you think of that one Steady?

What do you do when someone says "Whatever you do do not look down?" You look of course.

Just read that blog....Too funny.

Whether your a Snow guy or a Nolan guy like myself, one thing is for sure....The upper mgmt are complete BOBBLEHEADS! How can Wang let this go on?

All I know is Nolan has WON with kids....Won the championship.

What has Wang or Snow ever won? What is their track record?

Look at all the coaches around the league right now...All the new opening this year.....I can GURANTEE you the second he leaves he is offeredd a job. Maybe by the boys at msg. Who will we get? Wangs old buddy Sanjay ??

This proves to me Wang is clueless. Snow is obviously learning on the job and being led around like a puppy. If Snow gets behind the bench I will again ask for you all to help raise BAIL MONEY !!!

Wang will have another person from his family in this organization soon enough.....Count on it !! You really cannot make this stuff up!

Well ... what I am going to say is just pure speculation ... not based on the now ... based on the "what if"

It seems to me that Snow is setting himself up to fail ... or look bad when it comes to Nolan. I think Snow may also be between a rock and a hard place ... being between Nolan and Wang ... Something tells me .... that Wang was putting pressure on Snow and Nolan to play his prized goalie ... Snow "was" a goalie .... and he knows Rick ... and that Rick is the kinda guy that is going to tell Ted he's 110% when in reality he's only 80% healthy... and NO goaltender can be effective at 80%... goalies are under rated athletes and in reality .. they require just as much if not more athleticism than a forward.

I think Snow knowing the spotlight was on him back in March ... didn't quite appeciate Nolan kinda calling him out about playing Ricky and he had to retort .. or was it the other way around???

I think with Snow's plan to re-build the team .. he also has to be realistic ... that the Isles will in all probability finish somewhere in the bottom 10 in the league ... if they finish in the bottom 15 - 20 it will be by shear miracle... seriously now ... I saw how the East Confernce has been stacking up against our Isles .... it isn't going to be pretty ... any injuries will make it worse ..... the Isles will compete under Nolan every night ... but fall short more than succeed.

I think Nolan has to be measure by the Isles' progress from training camp through next April .. he can't be measured by the team's record in the standings ... it just wouldn't be fair.

If Snow measures Nolan by Wins & Losses .... well .. then we might as well wave good-bye to Ted... and that right now in my opinion is just wrong ... and will set back the team both on the ice and PR department.

My suggestion?? Snow should take Nolan fishing or golfing ... and they should just shoot the breeze and reset their footing with one another ... it's in the best interest of the team and the team's future.

I think Snow will be judged on his willingness to go along with the plan, rather than being judged on wins and losses.

My whole beef with Nolan has been his refusal to play the younger guys. That being said - I understand his hesitation to do so. But, this year has to be different. He has to play the youth for the benefit of the franchise.

If he's a team player then I think things will go smoothly ...if he rocks the boat then he'll be gone ...if he doesn't play the youth then I think he deserves to be gone ...just my opinion ...

AZS ... well put ... that is it in a nutshell.
'(let the record show this is my shortest post ever.. LOL)

Botta's blog is probably gonna end up being covered in Newsday..then on TSN and the Isles will be forced to respond.

You guys might have an answer on Nolan's future sooner than later.

Just imagine if Wang would have hired Neil Smith and let him run the whole freakin show including hiring his own coach I have to think this organization would be in better shape than it is right now. As far as Nolan goes I am one person who won't get on his knees and beg him to stay if he wants to go.

At this point, there are only 2 people I wish would coach this team if they decide to dismiss Nolan:

1. The NHL Network Coach
2. Don Cherry

Talk about putting us back on the hockey map.