Another title for this blog after my upbeat assessment of the Islanders’ progress to start the New Year might have been “Oops.” Or maybe “Famous Last Words.”
But that’s the beauty of sports. You can’t predict what might happen. Now, the Isles have lost five straight, heading to Carolina to play the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes Saturday night, and they are having frightening difficulty finding the net.
To make matters worse, Miroslav Satan, who has spent most of this season wondering what happened to his scoring touch, has an ankle injury so swollen that he kept it in ice today because he couldn’t get on the ice to practice. And Shawn Bates suffered a hand injury against the Devils that will force him to miss at least the Carolina game.
Both came back from those first-period injuries in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Devils to complete the game, and coach Ted Nolan was grateful for the effort. “Both of them were hurting,” Nolan said. “Bates’ hand was so swollen he could barely hold the stick, and Satan could barely get his foot in the boot. It was pretty gutsy of them to come back and play.”
As a result of those injuries and an earlier broken right foot that sidelined defenseman Radek Martinek for up to four weeks, the Islanders made two roster moves yesterday. Defenseman Allan Rourke, who was called up as the emergency replacement for Martinek, returned to Bridgeport and was replaced by Freddy Meyer, who has been nursing a back injury since he was acquired as part of the deal for Alexei Zhitnik on Dec. 16. To replace Bates, the Isles called up Frans Nielsen, who will become the first Dane to play in the NHL.
With Martinek out, the activation of Meyer will give Nolan a chance to see both him and Chris Campoli together to evaluate which can help the most with their speed and offensive ability. Meyer is said to have an edge to his game, and Campoli certainly has shown his toughness and has delivered some big checks since being called up.
Maybe this is a chance for management to assess some of its prospects before trying to make a deal for veteran offensive help before the Feb. 27 trade deadline. Ultimately, management’s commitment to winning this season will be judged by what the Isles do at the trade deadline. That will tell the story about whether the decision to trade away Alexei Zhitnik and Mike York was a straight salary dump or truly a move to clear cap space to get what the Islanders need to make a legitimate playoff run.
Snow has emphasized owner Charles Wang’s willingness to use his resources to put together a winner. We’ll see.
Yes, the players in the locker room now obviously have the ability to produce enough scoring to win because that’s how they got to 19-13-3 before this losing streak. Still, it’s clear the Islanders need one more proven scorer to spread the offensive load, improve the power play and give them the firepower to compete, especially if Satan doesn’t get going on a consistent basis.
Once the Islanders get past the top line combination of Jason Blake and Alexei Yashin, it’s hard to say where the goals will come from. Mike Sillinger has been pretty consistent and might be developing the chemistry to get Andy Hilbert going, but that’s about it. Viktor Kozlov and Satan have been streaky, and Trent Hunter has evolved into more of a defensive forward.
Many fans obviously want to tap Bridgeport’s roster, but the Sound Tigers haven’t been lighting it up either, and they also have been ineffective on the power play. Who exactly is banging down the door in Bridgeport to be called up? Maybe Jeff Tambellini, who has 17 goals and a ton of speed, but where does he fit?
Let’s play a little rotisserie hockey. Put your suggestions in the box, using only Islanders and players from Bridgeport to form four lines. Here’s mine: Blake-Yashin-Hunter, Tambellini-Sillinger-Satan, Kozlov-Richard Park-Hilbert, Chris Simon-Bates-Arron Asham with Randy Robitaille as a scratch.
Comments (39)
The deeper we get into this funk, the more I'm warming up to the idea of promoting one of the kids strictly for the shakeup effect. That said, if we're going to do that, it would need to be along the lines of what Greg discusses, giving a scorer time on a scoring line. Bringing someone like Tambellini or Nilsson up to give them fourth line minutes doesn't do them or the team any good.
The guy this team misses is Bergenheim, he's just the type of forward to crash and bang that would have been great to watch with Yashin and Bates. The new NHL is about speed and we LACK it big time.
Bergenheim, Yashin, and Bates
Hunter, Kozlov, Satan
Hilbert, Sillinger, Asham
Park, Bates, Simon
If they only had a guy to give Satan the puck. Hello, Robert Nilsson? Why is he in the press box instead of on the ice? I don't know if Tambellini is quite ready to make the jump, but Nilsson showed what he could do in the big leagues last year. He's a gifted puck handler who creates offense.
Blake-Yashin-Hunter
Satan-Kozlov-Nilsson
Hilbert-Sillinger-Asham
Simon-Bates-Park
Good point about Bergenheim. I'd have liked to see him and Grebeshcov both on this team but I guess they both decided to go back overseas.
I don't know why you guys are so high on Hunter for the top line either. What the heck happened to him? His rookie season really was a fluke.
I'm going to go a different direction than you guys and breakup Yashin and Blake in an attempt to get others going.
Here's my roll...
Hilbert-Yashin-Satan
Tambellini-Sillinger-Blake
Simon-Bates-Hunter
Asham-Kozlov-Park
Robatille and Nilsson sit but could interchange with Tambellini and/or Asham.
WHatever Teddy does, we need some shaking up and some wins. And Garth had better pull us a top two line scorer so Hilbert could drop down to a 3rd or 4th line in my scenario.
There are other people I would love to throw into this mix (O'Marra, Comeau, Okposo) but either they're 1 year away or in college so I'll try and be realistic
Hunter-Yash-Blake
Nilsson-Sillinger-Tambellini
Hilbert-Kozlov-Asham
Simon-Bates-Park
Enough with this Hunter as a defensive forward garbage. There are other people who should be handling those duties ...he needs to be putting the puck in the net
Forget these, let's do this, shal we?
Blake-Yashin-ParkPark is very similar to Jason Blake, I think they would work together. Tambellini-Nillson-SatanLet's try moving Nillson to Center. These guys are two, speedy guns which would offset Satan rather well, I think. Robitaille-Sillinger-AshamA couple of playmakers next to main faceoff man Sillinger could make a pretty good line, provided that Robitaille could play a wing, which I think he could. Hunter-Kozlov-Simon>this line will bang some bodys, i think. I'm not a big fan of putting Simon on the top line at all. Let's let these guys bang the bodys. ReleaseAndy Hilbert: This guy was a mistake. He has no real talent, in my mind. TradeSean bates: Lets put it this way. I don't totally want to let him go, but he is doing nothing for this team.If fails, make switches, but the first switch i'd make is to swith Park and Kozlov.
I was trying to use hTMl tags, but that obviously didn't work too well. Sorry.
this is my 2 cents
blake-yashin-hilbert
hunter-kozlov-satan
bates-sillinger-park
simon-nilsson-asham
-blake-blake-blake
-blake-blake-blake
-blake-blake-blake
-blake-blake-the little asian dude who can't score but make charlie happy
Blake-Yashin-Simon
Hilbert-Sillinger-Hunter
Asham-Kozlov-Park
Bates-Robitaille-Satan
Satan isn't scoring and taking away from players who could be scoring, or need to get started. Demote him to the 4th line and give him second string powerplay time. Move him at the deadline for a younger player or another aged veteran that might do better. He's dead weight at this point. I like him, don't get me wrong, but he is certainly not 2nd line material anymore.
where is dennis grebeshkov playing these days? he looked like he could be a nice defensemen - smooth skating, didn't make too many mistakes, positionally sound, excellent passer and good vision.
I agree that we miss Bergenheim big time, Wang needs to get a little more flexible on his deadlines. As for lines, both Hilbert and Robatille should sit along with Gervais when Martinek gets back, but he's my lines:
Simon-Yashin-Blake
Asham-Sillinger-Hunter
Kozlov-Bates-Satan
Tambellini-Nielsen-Park
Edgar,
Grebeshkov is playing in Russia because the Isles wouldn't give him a 1-way contract this season
Every time they bring new guys up on short notice, nothing clicks. There's a five day break between games coming soon... they better use it to figure out how to find each other on the ice and locate some chemistry. Ted waited and waited to bring Campoli up from bridge because he said "good isn't good enough." Ted... Pull a rabbit out of a hat and find a way to make it BETTER or the season won't even qualify as Good.
My lines-
Blake-Sillinger-Bates
Kozlov-Yashin-Satan
Hunter-Tambellini-Hilbert
Simon-Park-Asham
Blake and Bates are -very- fast skaters, and with Bates' ability to chase (and keep) the dump-in, he really could benefit from another forward that can keep up. Sillinger is working hard lately, and it could really show through the work of Blake.
Kozlov and Yashin are great puck movers, and Satan needs to be fed fed fed.
I say call up Tambellini- given the losing skid, he might be the right guy to step up and play the hero role.
Everyone on the 4th line is physical, has the ability to put it in net, and generally works their ass off. Keeping these three together can wind up being a good way to keep the puck deep, or make a dent on the other team's stamina.
---
By the way, what was the deal with letting Jeffrey Hamilton go?
He was clutch in a few call-up games last year, and has 11 goals and 10 assists with the Blackhawks this year... which isn't exactly great, but, I mean... with a better team, especially on a line with Yashin or Kozlov, he could have easily been that extra scorer we need so bad.
Also--- Hamilton is earning a mere $475,000. Compared to Satan's 4.25 Million. They have nearly the same stats. Talk about cap clearing.
I'm not saying trade Satan, I'm saying there are many options. And in a slump like this, maybe picking up cheap talent could shake the current lines, anyway.
I guess the annual Islander swoon was put off by a month, instead of December it was January. Now tonight they will get it handed to them by the Rangers, and in a few days the annual 10 game losing streak will be complete. I hope Nolan now has realized Yashin is a waste, and they unload him this summer. This team is so hard to watch.
Blake-Kozlov-Satan
Tambellini-Yashin-Simon
Hilbert-Sillinger-Hunter
Park-Bates-Asham
i think yashin and tambellini would click, and blake could get kozlov and satan going.. of course, we need to rid ourselves of robitaille for this to happen..
I'm a big fan of Ted Nolan and his philosophy of hard work - but maybe we could have guys on the team with talent? We have a lot of guys on the top 2 lines that would be 3rd and 4th liners on other teams. Maybe it's time to bring up some of the youth that have the ability to skate and score (Nilsson, Tambellini,Comeau) as opposed to the guys that may work hard but can't finish?
I say trade satan for a guy like darcy tucker,this is the kinda player that will light a fire under their ass!! And what i see of Kozlov,this guy does not give effort,bench him!!,i would also let go of bates,i think his time is up with the Isles,and Hill is too slow,so is Witt!! bench some guys,call up some spark from Bridgeport!!!
what we need is a second line center that will get satan going and help our powerplay. i am a big fan of lecavalier. he's young, talented, and he competes. i wouldnt mind giving up nilsson to get him. what we also should remember is that many of our new additions have one year deals. poti, simon, kozlov all fit in this category and if it were up to me, i'd bring poti back and let the others walk. simon disappoints me because he barely uses his size to get to the net (same thing with hunter) kozlov is talented but insanely slow (the new oleg kvasha) i hope that next year we call up some of our youth and hopefully they can gel during training camp unlike they did this year. i still see this team in the playoffs and they are capable of being a cinderella team but i'm even more hopeful that next season will be the one we've been waiting for all these years.
keep the faith and get to the coliseum!
I agree with you azs. A lot of people are overlooking the fact that this team is not filled with talent. Because of our cash cow Yashin, we do not have a skilled roster. I like the way Yashin was playing and hoping to see more, but his injury has definitely shied him. Nolan has done a marvelous job with this team, but in no way is he a miralce worker. He makes the guys play the best they can, but like you said their best is 3rd or 4th line talent. I don't agree that bringing up the Bridgeport kids is an answer because that didn't work the years the Islanders were miserable and I'd rather miss the playoffs then put to much pressure on our young players and traumatize them. I think Snow needs to pull the trigger on a trade and I am just wondering how many points he wants to be behind before he realizes we need another player who can put the puck in the net.
Get ladislav nagy from the phoenix coyotes. He is on a one year contract for 3 million dollars which means if it works great resign him. However if he doesnt work out you can let him go at the end of the year. I think he would help our power play immensely. Nagy put up 1 point per game the last 3 years(145 games 140 points with 62 on the power play). Nagy would fit right in on our second line but more importantly he would be on our # 1 pp unit where he would give us a huge boost not just for this year but for years to come as he is only 27. Due to his slow start this year, previous injuries and ufa staus next year you would not have to part with nillson. probably just a prospect and one of those 3rd picks we got from philly.
i've been away a few days - but i must say this particular blog has some good posts, inciteful stuff. It helps to return my pride in beeing an islander fan.
What Joshua says about yashin is interesting. Perhaps yashin was brought back too quickly. With more time off he could have recovered more fully and thereby maintained the confidence level he had before his injury. and the team would've bonded and matured by being forced to play without him.
azs said it very well. this team doesn't have enought TALENT. SKILL. So nolan has to broaden his criteria for the players he decides to use.
This all is very noteworthy. it's the first time this year that nolan's decison making has come in question. Does he in fact fully understand the crucial need for skill and speedd in the new NHL? He saw after the first 3 games that the team wasn't fast enough to play an up-tempo style, so he adjusted the STYLE, not the PLAYERS. it seemed to work for a while, but it only carried the team to a .500 record - not good enough for playoffs. Does nolan now finally see that the skill / grit balance now needs to be adjusted more toward skill?
d b's comments on nagy are spot on - IF, and only IF we could land him. But phoenix has been winning of late and might not be aa seller at the deadline. If they are, nagy would be an excellent addition.
I like your lines but will tweak them a little. I like the mix of a little size, speed, skill, and toughness on each line.
Blake-Yashin-Hunter
Kozlov-Sillinger-Satan
Simon-Nilson-Tambellini
Park-Bates-Asham
Hunter has been playing hard, so maybe he should be rewarded with more ice time. Guys should see the incentive to play hard. He play more defensive to allow Yashin and Blake to attack. And he'll go to the front of the net to allow Yashin and Blake to work around the perimeter while setting the screen.
With Kozlov and Sillinger on the 2nd line, you can interchange both at the pivot. Kozlov seemed to play better at center while Yashin was out.
Simon, Nilson and Tambellini would make a great energy line.
Nagy would be good but I wouldn't give up too much to get him. I hope the Tampa starts to drop in the standings so that maybe they'll have to trade Vinny or Richards. I'd trade almost anyone for either of those guys.
In addition to our forward lines; what about revamping the defence? The Bruno Gervais experiment only wasted another year of Chris Campoli development. Campoli is what the new NHL is all about ( speed, vision and proven point production) Let's get him back to 20+ minutes a game
If the losing continues I would like to see:
Blake-Yashin-Comeau
Tambellini-Sillinger-Hunter
R. Nilsson-Nokelainen-Asham
Simon-Park-Colliton/F. Nielson
Hilbert (13th man in the stands)
You can take Satan, Kozlov, Bates, Robitille and get what you can for them at the trade deadline.
If we do turn this around this would change depending upon who shows they want to be here.
Charlie: lacavlier and richards are going to negotiate their contracts in tandem - word has it they've both already agreed in principle to take equal money at 4 million per. The difference will be in the deferred pieces for each.
Miggsey: I agree with you about campoli, but not gervais. He's only lacking experience right now - but his skill and speed are right up there and he's an excellent positionally. A real student of the game. And he's going to get bigger as he ages. Freddy meyer is the odd man out. He already is as good as he's going to get - 5th or 6th in depth at best. And c'mon, be honest - the isles are 2nd in goals against in their conference. Do you really see a problem with the defense? I don't. Martinek, Poti and Gervais provide their fair share. Don't risk beaking something that works in order to fix something that doesn't. The offense problem should be fixed by getting rid of dead weight up front - Bates and maybe even Hunter, as much as it hurts me to say that about Hunter. These 2 have no puck skills. Hunter is big and energetic, but is slower that slow and has even worse hands than Bates.
Lines stretching from the Coliseum to the Marriot at the Devils game two weeks ago, fans going crazy for Islanders hockey and packing the house. Then they lose 6 in a row. Is this franchise afraid of success? The frustration is killing me. This isn't New Jersey, a great team sells out hockey games here, but we can't figure it out. Can't even win the division.
Blake - Bates - Yashin (get Yash on wing until he is healed, and Hunter is to slow to keep up with Blake)
Kozlov - Sillinger - Hunter (nice grinding skill mix)
Tambellini - Nilson - Satan (maybe some youth will spark Satan - so sick of seeing him take bad angle shots)
Simon - Park - Asham
As for a trade for Nagy, he has top flight talent not likely he will be traded. But i would float Satan for Nagy - it could shake/shape up both players. More than likely it will take Satan and a 2nd rounder.
I think Rich T's Kozlov-Sillinger-Hunter line is a good idea. Kozlov is the skills guy, but he's not good in the corners. Sillinger and Hunter free him up to use his skill and Hunter might actually get more chances to use his shot since the D will focus on Kozlov. This combo is a winner.
so it seems everyone wants tambellini? nolan should do it!
Cincy: I agree on Gervais. He's okay but using the likes of Hill is only a stop gap measure. We should have had Campoli and Gervais both playing. Those two along with Marty, Poti and Witt would have ben a nice mix of experience and youth.
Cincy: I agree on Gervais. He's okay but using the likes of Hill is only a stop gap measure. We should have had Campoli and Gervais both playing. Those two along with Marty, Poti and Witt would have ben a nice mix of experience and youth.
you're right, miggsey. hill is just filling in as a stablizer on the back line. what we're really missing is the bouchard of last year. for long stretches of games he was the best backliner by far - offensively skilled and fast and energetic enough to get it done defensively in transition.
to tell you the truth, the key to this team right now is production from satan and kozlov. if those 2 score and contribute according to their skill level, the islanders are first in their division. the role players on this team are as good if not better than those on any other team. getting proction from the talent is the difference. it frees up everyone else to play the strong part of their game and it relaxes the netminder.
somebody before put it best though: it's a little curious we're calling up eric boguniecki and frans neielsen and still dressing randy robitaille when you have jeff tambellini and robert nilsson and blake comeau putting up roughly a point-per-game pace at bridgeport on a terrible team down there. how exactly did tambellini p*ss off isles management so much that he hasn't earned a call-up since game one of the season?
Right on Sheriff Mick!!! I'd rather go with Campoli, Gervais, Tambellini, Nilsson and Blake than fumble with the no hope plodders we see night after night. Either trade for what Ted wants or go young now.