You don’t see many games anymore like the fight-fest the Islanders had against the Rangers Monday night at Nassau Coliseum, and when you do, it’s usually in the preseason when points in the standings aren’t at stake. But that doesn’t mean tough guys have gone the way of the dodo bird in the NHL.
The Isles failed to re-sign free agent Arron Asham last summer when he asked for a raise over the $900,000 he was making after an 11-goal season, so, now they’ll have to face him every time they play the division rival Devils. But it’s not as though Islanders general manager Garth Snow ignored the need for toughness over the summer. The list of free agents he signed includes Darryl Bootland, Kip Brennan, Gordie Dwyer, Tim Jackman and Matthew Spiller, all of whom pack a wallop.
Most likely, they will spend the majority of their time with Bridgeport this season, which should be fun for Sound Tigers fans, but there undoubtedly will be times when the Isles call on their services. For instance, Bootland, Brennan and Jackman are expected to dress for tonight’s Rangers rematch at the Garden because the Islanders likely will sit out veteran Chris Simon, who was the target of so much Rangers venom on Monday, and goaltender Rick DiPietro, who came to Simon’s defense after he was jumped by two Rangers.
Earlier this week, the Rangers’ Sean Avery, who sat out the game at the Coliseum, said he was looking forward to the resumption of hostilities at the Garden. “He talks a lot,” Brennan said. “Obviously, everybody wants to be playing in a high-energy game like that. He’s a player who likes that kind of play as well.”
Avery is known as more of a pest than an enforcer, with all his yapping and his provocative tactics to get opponents off their games, and he had enough skill to total 18 goals and 48 points last season. If he takes on a guy like Brennan, it will be a surprise.
“I’ve been playing long enough that I know my role,” said Brennan, who was ejected on Monday after a fight with Rangers enforcer Colton Orr. “I know what I have to do. They’ve brought in a few players this year to help out the team. It’s definitely a tough job. You have to be willing to go out there on any given night and fight for your teammates. That’s what it’s all about, brawling and scratching at the end of the line.
“You have to definitely like it to do it. It’s part of the game. It’s taken a different [tack] in the last couple years, but it’s still there. You have to have toughness in the lineup so no one gets to take cheap shots.”
Asked if he thought Orr and the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg were running around trying to take shots at Simon, who still has five games left on his 25-game suspension for a stick-swinging incident last season in which he hit Hollweg, Brennan drew a distinction between true tough guys and the pseudo variety.
“I know Orr,” Brennan said. “He’s a respectable player. He doesn’t take cheap shots. Hollweg was definitely trying to stir things up.”
Like Avery, Bootland was on the sidelines Monday for the Islanders, and he’s looking forward to getting a taste of the action tonight at the Garden. He’s been in the Detroit organization the past four seasons, so, the Eastern Conference is new to him. Bootland has some real hockey skill. He had 27 goals and 29 assists two years ago with Grand Rapids in the AHL and scored another 18 goals as part of his 31 points last season with the same team. But he knows the primary reason the Islanders wanted him.
“It doesn’t make it tougher when you have to go out and fight,” Bootland said. “Just enjoy it. I’ve always said I play better when somebody’s trying to kill me. It’s definitely part of my game. If I can come in and fill spots and I can bring a little toughness to the game, that’s what I’ve got to do out there. I know that, and I’m prepared for it.”
Boxing is part of the summer training regimen for all enforcers. In Bootland’s case, he works in Ontario with a trainer named Jamie Fawcett who has experience in ultimate fighting and kickboxing. Of course, fighting on ice adds a different degree of difficulty.
“You try to get stronger, and the more you fight, the more you learn,” Bootland said. “We do a lot of boxing on the ice and off the ice. When you’re skating since you were two years old, you can stand up a little easier than the average guy. Balance is one of the big things, and you work on it every day.”
In addition to the technique he has picked up from Fawcett, Bootland said, “You watch everybody. You watch guys fight before you play against them. It’s a good thing for youtube.com. That’s all I’ll say.”
Asked if he keeps a book on potential opponents, Bootland said he also relies on scouting reports from fellow combatants. “You just know because you talk around,” Bootland explained. “I ask Si and I ask Kippy and everybody that knows. They all help each other out.”
You know, like brothers in the same foxhole.
Comments (71)
I'll admit, I do miss fighting the game today, but the best games to watch is when it gets chippy and players are taking the body and playing with an edge. I think we have a bunch of those type players this year with Witt, Sutton, Sillinger, Hunter, Guerin, etc. I really like the makeup of this team, it will be interesting to see if the chemistry they showed in the past Ranger game can lead to a successful season. By successful season, I'm not saying they have to win the cup, but I would love for them to challenge for the division and secure a playoff spot other than #8.
We all want the cup obviously but hopefully with the change in culture (i.e. no more Yashin, new captain, continued maturation of DiPietro, Ted Nolan year #2) the Isles can improve upon their performance from last year.
I also like the makeup of this team. If Snow/Nolan start bringing up the kids in the next two seasons, this could be a really good foundatation of things to come. Not to mention, trying to get enough picks for this years deep draft, to restock our prospect pool.
I'm optimistic the team is moving in the right direction.
I agree with both comments. I am sure looking forward to finally being able to watch this team play tonight. Other than I -TV brodcasts this is the first televised game. It should be fun.
It will be interesting to see who Nolan elects to use in the shootouts this year. I know Satan has been good and Nolan has confidence in him; but with Kozlov gone it will be interesting to see who fills that void. I am not sure if any of the new FA have had much success? Any thoughts?
Darryl Bootland, Kip Brennan, Gordie Dwyer, Tim Jackman and Matthew Spiller.
These guys will lead us to the promiseland!!
As far as shootouts are concerned - Comrie, Bergenheim, & tambellini will be used.
Wow. I hadn't check this blog in a while and was happy to see real conversation.
I sold my tix for last week's game against the Rangers and obviously missed an entertaining night. Which leads to the comments above. My number one goal as a fan and season ticket holder is simply to have them be competitive and entertaining on a nightly basis while figuring out what to build on for the future. On paper, this looks like a better team than the one last year, but 32 of our games are against teams within the division that should be much better as well--with the exception perhaps of the Devils, who will nonetheless remain tough. Thus, expectations should be kept in check.
Here's to an exciting year!
Merrick I couldn't agree more...
TSN's preseason power rankings has the Isles at 17. Wow, that's a boarderline playoff contender. Maybe they learned something after watching the Isles last year.
Here is the site if you want to check it out.
http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/feature/?fid=549
Everyone in our division except the Flyers is ranked higher than us :( :(
http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/feature/?fid=549
With regard to the comment by Coral Springs ISLE fan, I think Mike Comrie looks like a player that would be successful in the shootout. He was 3 of 7 last year and with the amount of shootouts the Isles tend to be involved in that number should increase.
My short list is: Satan, Comrie, Guerin, Vasicek (maybe), Hunter.
One other point. I really hope Bryan Berard makes this team. I realize that he is not the best defender and him and Bergeron are very similar players, but I've seen him QB a power play and I really like his game. The Isles are going to need as much offense as possible. What does everyone think about how the defense will shake out?
if you also look closely at that tsn list they have the isles picked for 8th in the eastern conference on their power rankings. they're one of the few even giving the isles a little bit of respect.
If Berard couldn't play in Columbus and the lowly Leafs didn't want to bring him back with their porous defence; why on earth are we considering adding his defensive liabilities to this team? Yes, he can bolster our PP but chances are good the PK will get more work because of our other short comings. It's time to be realistic and build from the ground up. Penguins did it and they're about to reap some rewards.
As far as the defense goes, amazingly, I think it hinges greatly on Martinek. When healthy he's EASILY the most underrated Dman in the NHL. Unfortunately he's missed such huge chunks of the past few campaigns its been hard to notice. If he can keep himself healthy (a big if) the defensive corps is that much better. I am concerned that Berard and Bergeron are essentially the same style player, and both are susceptible to the blue line turnover, but MAB was slightly better than i expected last year, if he can show a little more improvement in control and positioning, it will be worth it to have that shot looming in the back of a goalies mind...
???
Simon won't be playing tonight? Figures...tough guy at home, a no-show on the road.
I think the Isles have the best defense in the Atantic division. Philly seems to be on the slow side and the Rangers marjinal. The Devils will always get by on Brodeur and overall team defense.
Maybe it's merely by default, but pound for pound and depth wise, the Isles defense is second to none. You can play any scenerio of offense and they now have the parts to plug in.
Play an antagonizing team and you have Spiller to dress in the place of a Campolli or Gervaise.
Play a speadster team they can plug in Berard (should they sign him) to play Pittsburgh.
They may be able to give Witt a night off here and there.
To believe that the ISles have the BEST defensive team in the East is truly a fantasy prediction. How can a knowledgable hockey fan come up with such nonsense, next you will be telling me that Wang and Snow make up the best owner/mgmt group as well. Get ready for a 12th place finish in the East.
Nobody was gutted more than the Isles?
How about Philly?
St Louis?
Buffalo?
New Jersey?
Oh, I almost forgot about the Rags who lost Nylander, Ortmeyer and Cullen.
Please don't start with this canard again. Two of those "six leading scorers" were innefective for half the season. Primarily talking of Yashin and Blake.
I's like to know who the other four were. Please don't tell me Poti (whom the Rags foolishly let go).
Isles defense
Radek Martinek
Mark Andre Bergeron
Brendan Witt
Andy Sutton
Chris Campolli
Bruno Gervaise
Freddy Meyer
Mathew Spiller
Drew Fata
Brian Berard (Invited to camp)
Please find me another team in the Atlantic that can boast this much depth. Outside of the top six there are plenty of guys they can plug in.
You Rangers fans are extremely stupid if you think New Jersey, Philladelphia, Pittsburgh or the Rags are this deep. Fact is, YOU'RE NOT!!!!
Nor is any other Atlantic Division team.
Just got invited to go to tonight's game at MSG (a friend got the company seats for the night). Got to love those corporate seats :P
realistic hockey "fan":
"Everyone" picked the Islanders to finish in last place last year also. Shows how much "everyone" knows.
Let's Go Isles!
Oh, silly mem I forgot that the Rags have Tyutin and Girardi.
LOL
And crappy Paul Mara who can score 2 goals against teams like Florida but can't get ourt of his own way against anyone else.
Here's the great job the Rag defense has done thus far this preseason.
vs NJ
Win 4-3
vs Phi
Loss 0-5
at NYI
OT Loss 4-5
Det
Loss 1-6
WOOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!
There will be people at the garden and just as many pucks to go between Flukqvists legs.
I'm a career -98.
I kick ass and will bring the cup to Manhatten. There are plenty of teams that will fall all over themselves for my services. I make Sheldon Souray look like the second coming of Ray Bourque.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/1801
Here is what the deepest defense in the Atlantic Division has done thus far this preseason:
Thrashers
OT LOSS 4-3
Boston
LOSS 3-1
Montreal
WIN 3-1
Montreal
OT LOSS 3-2
Rangers
OT WIN 5-4
Devils
LOSS 6-1
Now give us the typical hypocritical comments, reasons and excuses that only apply when coming out of an Isles fans mouth.
You are too easy of a target Caesar.
He look at that!!!!
The Isles have TWICE the preseason points the overhyped Rangers have.
And Having played two more games have only allowed three more goals!!!
NY Islanders GF15 GA21
NY Rangers GF 9 GA 19
YOUCH!!!!!!
Someone please tell Logan that he's allowed to post on his blog more than once a week. Hey Greg, take a look at Zipay so you know what to do.
So your post proves the Rangers offense has not clicked. Thanks no one noticed.
It also proves that your GA is worse.
So. YOUCH???
Deep you are DEEP! (up to your ears in your own stuff)
huh?
Man it is just pre-season. I don't think either team has played a game with the full compliment of their players yet. And it is not going to happen tonight either. I think the only score that will mean anything tonight is on the fight card.
You have to look deeper than the score. For instance: When the Isles top line of Guerin, Comrie & Fedatenko have played they have produced points. DP has played well in net in the minutes he has played. To me that is a good sign, but it still is pre-season so can't assume anything yet.
Thank god, only one more week of predictions and assumptions. The clock on the ISles website counting down the time till the season starts can't tick fast enough.
It appears that someone is practicing the big lie theory. If you repeat it often enough, eventually people will believe it.
Smyth was not one of the Islanders top six scorers.
Hill was not one of the Islanders top three defensemen. Although if he played for the Rangers he'd easily be one of their top two.
Where's Mick Vukota when you need him?
When the Isles finally put the real product on the ice they are going to be a lot less inclined to drop the gloves than last year's version was.
Witt will play tough, but not drop the gloves.
Sutton will play tough, maybe even "edgy" (dirty). But he's not Eric Cairns.
Sim won't come close to the pre-injury fightcards of Asham.
I don't expect too much violence from Bergy, Vasicek and Fedetenko.
Comrie will drop them more than blake did (NEVER).
So what we are seeing in the pre-season is Nolan allowing his guys to get some retribution for last year when the rangers ran all over them when Asham was hurt and Simon was in street clothes.
And there wouldn't be anything wrong with sitting a guy who needs a breather to get Spiller, bootland, Jackman or johnson in there just to keep orr, Hollweg and Avery off key players.
JP~
Yo uare way way off base on this one. The 08 Isles are ten times tougher than last years team.
Read all the articles on the type of team Nolan has put together. Also read what the players are saying.
Last years team had more pure hockey talent, this team has more grit!
What are all you "I'm dedicated rags fan" doing on this blog. Don't you have a train to catch?
I guess mommy won't let on the dangerous choo choo train, and the big bad city.
I guess mommy won't let you on the dangerous choo choo train, and the big bad city.
Ryan Hollweg with a high sticking penalty and interference penalty in about 8 minutes of ice time thus far. Yeah ranger fans, he's a totally clean player. By the way, someone needs to tell the 5 ranger fans in the stands that Denis Potvin retired decades ago.
Only things to take from tonights game in my opinion is as follows:
1) Campoli is like a pinball again this year. He bounces off everyone he tries to check. He does not have the muscle to play against NHL Players.
2) Even Sam the beak Rosen admitted the Isles played NOBODY!
3) The Gomez line looked very good.
4) M.A.B still has a cannon of a shot!
5) Berard is going to make this team!
6) Hollweg is the biggest wuss in the league. He runs away form fights and lets guys fight for him. He is also very dirty. I do not see why you need him and Avery? They are one and the same!
7) Other then the fighting, pre-season is hard to watch!
8) Bootland just beat the living bag out of Tyutin. Then gave the "whatever" chirp" sign to the whole Rags bench :) :) Him and Brennan are the best!! :)
"are as follows:" sorry.
One thing you forgot. The Rangers Fan that they interviewed in the seats might have been the dumbest person on this planet.
Duhhhh I have 40 jerseys. Duhhhhh I wait to see if I should wear them. Duhhhhhhhh
Is it me or does Hollwig look like a catchers mitt?
What a COWARD!
Ok got my first look at the Islanders and needless to say I am not impressed. I understand that they didnt play the entire squad but hunter, mab, campoli, gervais, fedetenko, sim were still in the lineup. Now, I dont care about winning or losing a preseason game however I do look at players playing hard and competing. Tonight I didnt see anything. What shocked me most was the team looked out of it and lethargic. I was waiting for some of the guys that are on the bubble to make some statements and for the veterans that were in the lineup to step up and produce some scoring chances and goals. That didnt happen tonight. The most dissapointing was Sim and Fedetenko. I was told that sim was an agitator who can skate and bring energy. Where was it? Fedetenko did absolutely nothing until the second goal and I think he didnt even play in the second period. In my view the best player for the islanders tonight was cumeau! Eveytime he was on the ice and touched the puck he was forechecking, working the boards and creating chances. I think he has hopped over Tambellini on the depth chart. we'll see. Bergenheim scored a goal and then disappeared. I was just looking for some more enthusiasm from the team as a whole and looking for the veterans that were in the line up to get things going. Only reason that raises a flag to me is because the isles are a team that needs all 25 guys on the bench to produce. Roll 4 lines and 6 dmen consistently against all opponents. They have played alot of games so maybe they were gassed a little and Ted Nolan had a death in the family so that could be factors. One week until season starts so lets get this sorted out.
Condolences to the Ted Nolan and his family
"RAG CONTRACTION" -- You can't seriously be bashing the Rangers' organization over that lawsuit, can you? This isn't some kind of nefarious scheme by the Dolans. Generally teams that think they can do better with their own marketing than the league can will prefer to keep it in-house. The Isles are a perfect example. We may not have the best team in the league, but we sure as hell have the best website. The Isles trailblazed with IslandersTV, the Blog Box and several other promotions. The Rangers and other teams have copied some of those ideas. Do you think the NHL, a proven loser when it comes to promoting itself, would have come up with those innovations? I doubt it. Not to mention that there is *no way* the league will have the same understanding of each local market that the teams do. Do you really think the suits in NYC will better understand, say, how to market the Oilers in Edmonton than Oil management will? Of course not.
I don't know if the Isles have the same concerns, but given the strength of their marketing operation, I would not be shocked to see them join that lawsuit.
If it is an issue of profit-sharing, again, not unprecedented. Richer franchises always look for ways around revenue-sharing, in all sports. Antitrust law is not my main focus, but from what I can glean from that article, the Rangers probably have a decent argument. However, it's also not hard to think of procompetitive justifications the league could come up with. E.g., a coordinated approach to marketing could yield competitive benefits to the NHL (and its teams) in their competition with other professional sports.
Surely there are better things to trash the Rangers about...
Funny, Isles play Harford, they need OT to win, LOL.
Rangers play Bridgeport, no contest.
The one thing, when the Rangers play a good portion of their Hartford lineup in a preseason game, there is still a lot of talent on the ice. The lineup the Islanders put on the ice was a complete embarrassment and says a lot about the lack of depth in the Islander organization. It's just the truth, you know it, I know it.
How is losing 4-2 (+1 empty net goal) with a 4th string goaltender in net for half the game a complete embarassment? I'll say it once again, you Ranger fans are the biggest clueless homers I've ever seen in my life. You know it, I know it.
The rangers new jersey's look like mini-dresses with the tails that they have.... like skirts... are they serious....?
weds in oct ,thats when it will count pre season is per season,and teddy will get the boys ready to do battle, hey avery when kip skates by you ,shut up and man up, na you'll just yap,b eye itch
hey rag fan$ tell your girl$ when they get into a fight it$ man to man and take off the helmet if you have a visor on.
LOL!! Over the two games, the Rangers outshout the Isles 73 to 42. Man, talk about a lack of skill on the Islanders, LOL!!!
Steady,
I didn't say they wouldn't be"tougher" or "grittier". I just saidthey weren't goingto fight as much as they are inthe pre-season. They DEFINITELY have more grit than last year.
I think that when the horn goes off their opponents will definitely know they were in a hockey game.
Don't get down on them for playing a lethargic game at the Garden. I don't get the pre-season sched. 5 games in 7 days... the top 16 never play together to make room for 10 guys who are trying to make the team.
That's all good, but you can't get a good feel for what the final picture is going ot look like.
I think they'll be okay next week.
I agree with the comment regarding Campoli being a pinball. He could not move anybody last night. If he cannot produce offensively then he is a waste of a roster spot (for now). He needs to add size and upper body strength. Lets save our judgements of the overall team play until the entire starting lineup plays. That looked like a lets not get hurt kind of game last night.
RAG,where have you been.Thought after last night you might have jumped out of a window.
Notice how the last two blogs here talk about fighting.That is because this team has a lack of talent to talk about.And the new jerseys look like the Flyers.
I thought that the white jerseys were horroble but they look half decent with the rest of the uniform.
I hope we can put to rest the Gomez money issue. This guy can distribute the puck. He's gonna be alright if he's surrounded by the likes of jagr drury and shanahan.
I hope the isles are more impressive with a full roster and play harder than last night. Henrik let a soft one by and hunter hustled to a rebound. That's it. Come on already. Oh yeah... Sorry miggs but campoli is not that good. I only would like to see him on the powerplay
The new Isles jersey looks like a piece of candy corn. Well, it is Halloween.
I gotta huge chuckle out of last nights game. The Isles have their thrid and fourth string goaltenders in net and all the Rags can muster is 4 goals on 40 shots.
Talk about over rated.
The Isles pretty much played their AHL squad the whole night. Hunter, Fedotenko and Sim did'nt get a lot of ice. When Hunter and Fedotenko did get some time they waltzed right in on Lundqvist like it was not contest.
PRICELESS!!!!!
That was the most low key I've seen in the garden. Lots of nice little chats with the Islander and Ranger fans (sitting right behind the Isles net in the second section..sweeeet).
Bergenheim played hard and generated pretty much all of the Isles chances in the flat opening period (Brennan and Tank picked up the slack after). And yes Campoli was soft as heck last night. He kept skating but there wasn't much he could do but shove late. Gervais did look better but the whole team was a bit slow. Rangers kept the puck in the Isles zone for the majority of first period and then it evened out. Lots of missed and off the mark passes all around.
Johnson got his butt kicked, looked like he got hurt early and couldn't get out of the fight. We got treated to a nice dance at center ice with Colton Orr. Why was there ten minutes for not fighting?
In goal I thought MacDonald played well and Morrison was atrocious. I am sure he wants the goal Shanahan scored back. Lundqvist didn't really get tested much and it was a lot less physical than I thought it was going to be.
And one final thought...as much as I want to rag on Campoli, Bergeron was by far worse. He looked uncomfortable with the puck and gave it away far too many times. Powerplay only please!
according to the ranger announcers, every single one of their rookies are going to be the next wayne gretzky,or bobby orr. i don't know what to believe
yeah the rangers are good, they've had so much success in recent years, and historically, for that matter.......so this is the big year???...LOL
i was so glad that you guys blew it so bad last year against buffalo, that would of hurt............too bad, but what do you expect from the rangers!.......LOL
greatest teams:
50's - canadiens/red wings
60's - canadiens/leafs
70's - canadiens/flyers
80's - islanders/oilers
90's - penguins/red wings
00's - devils
??????? - RANGERS - NEVER!!
Promising sign... I checked the lineups during tonight's preseason game against the Devs, and the Islanders played almost entirely no-names, and again did not start DP. The Devils had Brodeur in goal and used their regular lineup with only a few exceptions. And they still only won 2-1, with Dubie getting first star of the game. If our backups and minor leaguers can play almost even against their starters, maybe we're going to be pretty good this year.
Anyone watch the game? Any thoughts?
ISLANDERS LOSE AGAIN, LOL!! NOW 2-6 IN THE PRESEASON, LOL!!! ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUTSHOT BY 15 OR SO SHOTS EVERY GAME, LOL!!
RANGERS WIN, 3-2. 3 ROOKS SCORE. THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL QUALITY YOUTH!!!! THEY OUTSHOT THE FLYERS 39-26. MAN, THAT'S ALMOST AS BAD AS THEY OUTSHOT THE ISLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pats won only 2 games in Pre - season....How do they look?
Please stop showing your ignorance by talking about pre-season.
These Ranger fans are pathetic. All excited about pre-season stats. Guess what; the games don't count!
It's amazing how all the NY hockey fans post on this blog. It attracts more fans the rags blog.
don't forget that the rangers aquired jagr a few years ago and they still STUNK! i think that the organization must be cursed or something because they've bought so many seemingly good players over the years and have nothing to show for it!!
Enforcer Kip Brennan scored the Islanders' only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Devils last night at Harbor Yard Arena in Bridgeport. The Isles' lineup consisted primarily of players who will spend most of the coming season in Bridgeport as they used the minimum of eight NHL regulars for the second straight game. Isles goaltender Wade Dubielewicz made 37 saves but allowed goals by Zach Parise and Danius Zubrus.
don't forget that the piles aquired yashin a few years ago and they still STUNK! i think that the organization must be cursed or something because they've traded away so many good players over the years and have nothing to show for it!!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 30, 2007 4:45 PM
Was that year the rags had the highest payroll in hockey and didn't make the playoffs
Was that year the rags had the highest payroll in hockey and didn't make the playoffs
Posted by: #22 | September 30, 2007 5:51 PM
no