There will be enough to keep everyone interested around the Islanders this week, what with Mike Sillinger playing in his 1,000th NHL game Thursday and Al Arbour coming back to coach on Saturday. Players also will go out in pairs to various Nassau County schools tomorrow morning to read to students as part of a Literacy Day effort.
In any event, the team looked ready for a fresh start at a spirited practice today. Ted Nolan congratulated the players at the end of it on how hard they worked. Basically, no matter what caused the big loss to the Hurricanes Saturday—rust, inactivity, whatever—the attitude was, “Saturday? What Saturday?”
Nolan had the same lines going—Sillinger flanked by Andy Hilbert and Bill Guerin, Mike Comrie between Ruslan Fedotenko and Trent Hunter—and he finished the session at IceWorks with a rousing best-of-three scrimmage. Blue Shirts vs. Orange Shirts, each “game” was five minutes of four-on-four sudden death. If no one scored in regulation, they went to a shootout, which happened twice.
Players were into it: When someone on the Orange side had a question before the faceoff, someone from the Blue bench yelled, “We’ll explain it to you later.” Brendan Witt, a defenseman not usually confused with Sidney Crosby for his one-on-one moves, scored two shootout goals for the victorious Orange. After the second one, one of the opponents shouted that it was unfair to use Witt on two shootouts, adding, “He’s too good at it!”
* * *
Just an observation from Saturday: At about 11 at night, a few people wearing Devils jerseys were walking to the Long Island Rail Road waiting area when someone, assuming they had come from the Garden, asked them, “Who won, the Rangers or the Devils?”
A man in a Devils shirt said, “They both lost.” Then he went on to explain that both teams played home games (as did the Islanders—and where else can you see three major league teams playing one sport in the same metro area on the same night?) and that he and his friends were at the train-friendly Prudential Center in Newark.
The point is, there were more than a few Devils fans on LIRR trains that night. That is, there are more Devils fans on Long Island than we thought.
Comments (53)
I will admit that after watching that last "game" I was hoping for a bit of yelling instead of congratulating, but Nolan knows best. I dont want to remember that last game, either- the Islanders just arent the kind of team that can give anything less than 100% and expect to win any games.
And let me say that I am absolutely green with envy over the gorgeous Prudential Center. It seems so beautiful. Its also really sad that, even though I LIVE on LI, I could get there faster and MUCH easier than getting to NVMC. I wish... well, I wish what every Islander fan wishes. :(
I can't go on Islander TV at work, but did Witt score on DP or Dubie???????
The NVMC is a good place to see a game. But let's hope that if the powers that be decide to build a new arena they do it somewhere else.
I assume Mr. Wang has his hopes tied to developing that real estate into something special. Just what Long Island needs... another mall... but with a 22,000 seat arena to rest in when your shopping is done.
What a great idea... NOT!
Does anybody know what the status of the SMG deal is? I thought they were stuck in the NVMC until 2014... is that the case?
That's when the lease expires, though the county can condemn the lease and pay a separation sum if it chooses. Again, we need to start going to the Coliseum (those of us who live in the area) in order to prove this is a viable hockey market and a sound investment. The initial burden lies with us, the fans.
Steve Zipay reported in August that the Coliseum renovation is due to be completed before the 2011-2012 season. So that would mean that, including the current season, we have 4 more seasons in the Coliseum in its present form. Zipay reported that the new building will seat 17,500 and have 80 luxury boxes, but the website of Wang/Rexcorp's venture to renovate the Coliseum (http://www.lighthouseli.com) mentions a number of 20,000.
JPinVA -- The plan, which I hope they stick to, is to add an enormous amount of public and green space to the site, which as we all know is presently nothing but asphalt. It is true that part of it will consist of shopping and restaurants but, if the description on the website is accurate, it's going to be a multi-purpose development that is mainly NOT a shopping mall. There'll be a performance space, convention center, athletic complex, etc.
It is true, unfortunately, that the lease with SMG expires in 2014. However, Wang and his allies do appear to be building a wide range of support. Hopefully, they'll wield enough clout to get the County to condemn the SMG lease before that.
I feel bad for the guys that might think Saturday will be a night off for them. Rest assured that Al is going to try and win this game.
Anyone that plays like a bum will benched and Arbour will get in his face.
I am sure Al would sit down with Ted for quite awhile asking him how he wants him to coach the game.....Nolan will tell him which lines, 1st PP, PK, etc.
One important caveat is that they don't yet have all the approvals they need... they've got the approval and support of the state and the county, but are now waiting on the Town of Hempstead. Once that goes through, then they can announce that this will really happen. Here's a good summary of what the project will be. It's quite different from a shopping mall:
http://www.allbusiness.com/operations/facilities-commercial-real-estate/4417302-1.html
the light house project.thats what they call it will be the nicest thing in all of hempstead but politics is always in issue as well. here is the website: http://www.lighthouseli.com/news/092007.php The only thing that was not approved was the huge light house which has since been taken out of the plans. Thats why i believe they will approve it some time after election day. We can only pray but i still love the collisuem either way..i m there to see hockey and they have great views from all over.
And by the way, the Devils did us a huge favor. The opening of The Rock puts pressure on Nassau to show it can get things done, too... and the improved attendance will be a signal that teams can thrive in the NY suburbs. (The Devils have had worse attendance problems than the Isles if you consider that they have been a winning franchise and still have not drawn well... when the Isles were consistent winners, they regularly sold out the NVMC.) I hope the developers also learn that lesson that accessibility to public transportation can have a big impact on attendance.
The size and power of the bureaucracy in Nassau County is probably greater than anywhere else in the nation. For Wang to get anything to go through, he will have to grease many, many palms and see that many, many people are taken care of. He knows this. Is he prepared to "play ball" as it were, or does he plan to fight the good fight and continue to insist on doing things his way? His original, rather grandiose plan was reduced to something far less spectacular the last I heard.
Either way it's unlikely to me that the isles will even play in a renovated arena, much less a new one, in the next decade.
I have to hold out hope. I have seen the arena areas in Columbus and St Paul. They are fabulous. If we were to have that sort of district on Long Island, the benefits to the sport, and to the county would be remarkable. I think the real difference is that perhaps if the Coliseum was in the center of a more financially devastated area of Nassau, there would be more movement. But the surrounding area in Uniondale has already been revitalized. Personally, I don't care where the Islanders play, as long as it's ON the Island somewhere between Nassau and Suffolk. But we may need a minor miracle or a regime change to start breaking ground.
There seems to be a general consensus among the bloggers that Andy Hilbert's time has come and gone. While I do admire Ted's loyalty and patience with Andy, it's time to revisit his place on the team. His effort seems to be there but the lack of finish warants a sit down. Nolan has done so with MAB after a much shorter period so it's only fitting that Hilbert tries out the pressbox cuisine. We can only recycle the "Nolan type of player, a role player or a grinder" for so long before reality becomes the main factor. I do agree about a twenty game period needed for player assessment but our "role Players" aren't up for any awards and in some cases the reviews are bad. We can only have so many Simons, Parks, Bates and Hilbert style players on one team. After factoring in the similar checking roles of the Sillinger and Hunter types, it doesn't leave much in the way fo scoring options. When go to guys like Comrie/Guerin and Tank don't have a top effort or are shut down, it becomes realtively easy for other teams to shut us down. Is the time not ripe for a trade since Bridgeport's prospects like Tambellini don't figure into Ted's scheme right now?
It may be too early for a trade, especially since a lot of our commodities will be undervalued for now (Exhibit A: Zhitnik getting us Meyer when he got Philly Coburn). More than anything I think Ted owes it to the team to see what we have in terms of scoring options. Andy "First Base" Hilbert does absolutely nothing in the offensive end, and I haven't particularly liked his defense either. As I've said, if it's time to sit MAB again Ted should sit him for 3 games while he practices on the wing, just to see what you have. That way Aaron Johnson moves in to pair with Sutton and Ben Walter can be called up to take his place on the 4th line. When you don't have a balanced offensive attack you have to see if anyone in your organization can score. If not, then consult my list in the previous blog thread to see the potential scoring wingers we could acquire.
Nolan is a Yanks fan. I like that!
I can't imagine that the organization is mulling any type of deals at this point. This team needs to play some games. It's hard for the players to play and it is equally as hard for management to assess the team when it has played all but one game in 13 days. After the Devils game the team looked like they were gelling. We were scoring plenty of goals, had 4 lines rolling and getting great special teams play. We needed to work on 5 on 5 and the transition game but the layoff is killing the team. Remember there is only one puck on the ice; so not everyone is going to score. guys like Sillinger & Hilbert and Bergenheim as well as others don't get power play time so their goal totals are going to be lower (need to be better at 5 on 5 to change that trend). I also think it is BS to state that THIS team needs to play with 100% effort every shift every game in order to win. I think that cliche stands true for every team in this league. There is way to much parity in today's NHL for any team to just coast through their schedule no matter how much talent they have (ie. see the Rangers).
I see all the talk about the proposed new arena; I was just curious to see where the Islanders would play home games during the renovation of the NVMC? I can't imagine they could pull off the renovation of the building during one summer. Any ideas?
Coral Springs,
The plan is to do it over 3 summers, without affecting play during the seasons. I imagine they may have late home openers those years to accommodate the work. Also, I think they'd work on things like the new concourses and outside work that don't affect the fan experience during the season.
Icelander...At least be original and not take the dumbest name ever given to the Isles, by that raisin looking moron the shmooze. What a loser. Look up his ratings! Laughable!
Congrats you and the TRAP won last night...Hows that 55 million dollar offense looking? LOL What a joke organization.
Raglander Contraction,
With a record of 4-6-1 so far, you might want to hold off on mouthing off. Rags played 2 more games then Islanders, and are still 1 point behind. You sure aren't making PO's playing like that.
Come back and mouth off, WHEN/IF your team actually looks respectable, and has the record to back it up. Otherwise you just embarass yourself.
Raglander Contraction, here is something to be proud of...
"The celebration shouldn't last too long. The Rangers still have just 19 goals in 11 games, the lowest total in the league." -Zipay
wow it sure is funny to see how the rag$ fans come out after 1 little win.....it truly is comical
anyways back to the isles, i think they have to put MAB on the forth line or back in the press box. from what i've seen of him he looks horrible
i'm going to college down here in southern pa and coming home to the island wed. Hope to go see the games thur and sat. any good ticket deals going on with the isles that i should know about?
Thanks Nick for answering that question.
Typical Rag fan crapola. I hope that guy Icelander gets hit in the head with a golf ball today, one preferably with an Islander logo on it. Karma baby, Karma!
I watched a bit of the Rangers game last night. It looked like every Ranger player was acting like Yager. If they had a scoring chance it didn't go in, they'ed through a mini-tantrum.
One thing I've noticed is that when the Islanders are playing well they keep firing away at the net. They don't pause for a sympathy pose at each missed opportunity!
Kevin T.
Icelander is it to cold to pump gas today or are you working at the Self Serve?
As for the Rags....You are beyond comical. Your team is supposed to win the cup with the money you spent and you are DEAD LAST in goals scored. You are BEHIND an Isles team that was completely rebuilt and picked to finish last. You have played TWO MORE GAMES then us! LOL LOL LOL LOL
Now go help the kid on line at the smoothy machine and leave the hockey talk to the grown ups!
Mark Messier...Shouldn't you be crying somewhere ???? Wahhhhh I drop the puck at the game tonight.......Wahhhh it is Adam Graves night......Wahhhhhhhh It is Richter night.......Wahhhhh it is opening night! I have NEVER seen a grown man cry so much in my life!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMD5Cs3Gag0
islesfan222,
Bring your student ID to get discounted Loudville seats....they should sell them at the ticket window all the way to the right. This game looks like a total sellout so I suggest you get to the Coliseum EARLY if you don't already have tickets.
Where in Southern PA? I'm coming back to NY from my client site in Philadelphia on Friday in advance of the game. They told me I may have to work from home Saturday night and I laughed.
By the way, 2 other things:
1. I'm coming around to KH's point from the last thread. If MAB converts to wing he should sit in the pressbox for a week and practice on the wing before he's allowed anywhere near a game situation because he does need to learn some of the unique tendencies.
2. I'm very disappointed nobody's commented on my nickname idea for Andy Hilbert. I know I'm running with JP's "he looks as awkward as a 14-year-old trying to unhook his first bra," but I think it's fitting....from now on I will only refer to him as Andy "First Base" Hilbert (since there's no way in hell he'll get to second).
I know we were ready to crucify Blake for his slow start last year (dumping him single-handedly cost me the title in my fantasy hockey league), but "First Base" Hilbert is different. Blake had previously shown offensive flair playing with people not named Sidney Crosby. Hilbert has given me no reason to hope he can do anything beyond performing a role 5 other players on this team do better.
Mr Icelander;
You do understand the rags are the worse offensive team in the NHL and they are not the best defensive team either..so you havent been paying attention to the NHL. oh also..you dont win cups in october...you lose them
Not to mention you beat a TAMPA TEAM that is 0-4 ON THE ROAD!!! WHoaaaaaaaaa
Isles#9,
nice name toolbox.. u do understand we have more fans in our crowds than the rags do..well the rags sell out but seems merril lynch couldnt get rid of all there tickets for yestersday game...ur crowd was real loud last nite....lol
Also,
So we do student tickets...u understand that u can go to a carolina game for $9,99..no u dont b/c once again the league doesnt revolve around the rags....please if you commment please know hockey or something.
Its more like pay $200 a ticket for bad seats and watch an expensive product not work...hmmm gomez....hmmm drury...gomez was sick last nite he missed an empty net goal from a foot away
thanks have a nice day.
New Old Building: I'm a litle skeptical after going through the links and checking out the plan. First of all, if I remember correctly, the two main arteries into the coliseum; Hempstead Tpke and the MDWBRK PKWY are still going to be the only two main arteries into the complex. I'm no urban planner, but that's SUICIDE.
They are going to try to put a PUD (Planned Urban Development) into that ocean of asphalt. Nice intention, I really don't see the attraction.
1. I'd like to see an overhead view of the complex. Where do people enter, exit and park for all the different things that will be going on. If you LIVE THERE you'll have to factor in an hour to your commute to just get across Hempstead tpke to the Roy Rogers (or whatever it is now).
2. What happens to NCC, and the concerns on Charles Lindburg Blvd (sorry chuck if I spelled that incorrectly). Do they just get BURIED.
3. Even if they "re-do" the colliseum over three years... it's still the coliseum. Why would you gut a public arena with HUGE access issues, and spend all that time and money when there is almost no question at all that the ACCESS ISSUES will remain... and most likely GET WORSE.
4. One of the reasons that the Devils moved was to give it's public ACCESS. If you're coming in from east of Islip or West of Jamaica you really don't want to drive to the coliseum. That really limits your base. If you do take the LIRR to the games you are slave to the shuttle schedule from the station. I didn't see a LIRR stop in any of the plans.
5. Come on... an athletic center... A huge complex dedicated to conditioning and sports medicine... three NHL size rinks... 20k sq foot work out facility... Did LI completely change since I left... are all those 250lb, hair teased to the moon, mary kay billboards that filled the wrap around lunch lines at Wendy's now going to fight through the traffic to get on a treadmill... I think that fad left us with the 90's. It's nice to know that there is enough expendable cash after property taxes and private school tuition to afford private learn to skate lessons for your kids... but I don't see who is going to pay for that either... except maybe a BAIL OUT tax five years after construction is finished.
6. Why not find a place with ACCESS already, and dump $500M into it's development. Hasn't anybody ever heard of PUBLIC WORKS. That money doesn't just disappear. It creates JOBS, Revenue, may rebuild an area that has been lost and revitalize a commercial aspect of the community once passed over. It also re-establishes commercial traffic trends....
I'm sorry... I just don't get it. I'd rather see Nassau, Suffolk or NY State invest in redefining a bit of land and let that ocean of asphalt become an office park that doesn't really need public transportation.
I'd bet there are plenty of 200 acre parcels along the LIRR that could serve as a new location. Think of the revenue generated by fans buying ISLANDER Passes for the LIRR which are specially priced and only good when the Isles are playing at home. Instead of driving to the Cloliseum, you can walk to your local LIRR stop. Have a beer or two on the train... Fans can come out from Manhattan... Brooklyn... Queens... that goes for NCAA Basketball... metallica concerts... BARNEY on ICE...
EXPAND YOUR BASE...
Why would you want to limit your customers to a 20 mile radius of your building... and people who don't mind driving with a .18 BAC... in bumper to bumper traffic.
Sorry... IMO the emperor is naked on this one.
Mr. Wang may want to stay with Software and industrial marketing.. where he has shown great savvy in the past.
Lady....You are talking to an imposter....Isles#9 is normally a good isles blogger.
As for a playoff series imposter.....How about you get over .500 and stop giving history lessons. You have won ONE playoff series and your first playoff GAME (last year) for the first time in 9 years..........while having the highest payroll.
Go back to your job, I think kids are vandalizing the Soft Serve ice cream machine!
isles#9
Atlanta's cheap product beat the rangers. That was there first win..hmmmmmm.
i m done with you ..how are we an embarassment. we have more history than the rangers..and more cups in the NHL> we didnt have to win our cups with only 6 teams in the league..
new york had to start the Islanders b/c you guys couldnt win.lol
i know he is using his name ..i m just addressing that guy
they win one game and come over here .get serious
Nick -- I don't have a better nick for Hilbert. I tried to think of a famous statute (hands of stone) or fumbler from the NFL (Warren Moon?) but nothing really good came to mind.
JPinVA -- Actually I do think that area still needs revitalization, and hockey is a very popular sport on Long Island among school age kids. So I don't think the idea of creating an athletic complex is crazy. Interesting that you think people are particularly out of shape and uninterested in fitness on LI. Having lived in several parts of the country, I don't have that impression. People are MUCH fatter in the south and midwest, for example.
On the issues of access and the need to link meaningfully to the LIRR, I completely agree with you.
JP- i agree with you as well...we need to have access to the LIRR for islander games but they turned down that option early this year, which means we would have to move...which could be good or bad.
LL -- When you say "they turned down that option," what do you mean? The LIRR rejected the idea of extending the train to the Coliseum, or the planners rejected the idea?
I fully blame the Nassau legislature for this, and when I attended the first Lighthouse public hearing last year (did anybody else go? I was the moron who wore the jersey) I blasted them over their idiocy. Don't we remember the abandoned freight rail spur that runs across Zeckendorf Blvd. down to near the Coliseum? THE RAIL LINK IS ALREADY THERE! They could line up 2-car trains at the Westbury and Hempstead stations and just run them constantly to the Coliseum. Build a little yard there to house the trains until it's time to send them back. This idea was too perfect not to work; it involved laying maybe a half-mile of track. But no, that was too tidy and neat for Nassau County.
They told me they didn't have the right to use those rails. Have they ever heard of eminent domain? Condemn the damn rails, take them over, and create a rail link through the Nassau Hub. All they had to do was take the same light-rail cars used in the AirTrain or something, deck the cars out in blue and orange, and get it going. Sorry, sore point for me....the essence of my argument is this could've been amazingly easy to do (same way the AirTrain could've been built for a lot less money if they used existing infrastructure) and instead we'll get some overwrought and inadequate solution.
Exactly, I'm right with you LL.
Also, MEMO TO LOGAN: The people have spoken. From now on Andy Hilbert will be called Andy "First Base" Hibert
KH- they turned it down last year to build a hub there. It was in newsday last year.. The huge lighthouse that was gonna be the center of everything got turned down as well, which it should have anyways.
They still are holding meetings and have alot of people on board.
i am about to go down there with a shovel and red ribbon and help them start soon..b/c some needs to do something...we need to make a proposal to suffok country ASAP. they will be more than willing to do it since they wanted an ECHL team..that right there should get Nassau going
KH,
To be clear... those billboards exist EVERYWHERE... I was referring to the fact that since I left LI, did it change to the kind of place where THEIR billboards were going to flock to this 20k square foot "complex".
They might do it in LA, and have the expendable income to pay $300/mo for a no show work out facility... but I don't know if that market exists on LI... It might... it didn't when I was there.
Folks on LI are a little smarter than that. they more than likely will not pay for a gym like that for more than 6 mos, unless they use it... and i just don't see folks from Oyster Bay (just an example of average commuters) trekking all the way to Uniondale to work out... can you?
Nick,
that plan sounds way to sensible for any of the money grabbers to go along with it. Damn... did I say "money grabbers"... hmm... what got into me.... sorry.
Also... can I assume that "first base andy" is a reference to my comment last month about him looking as if he was trying to unhook his first bra... if so... I thank you sir...and I second the motion.
FBA... First Base Andy... love it!
In regards to Mr. Hilbert. He is an improtant cog on the PK. It's tough to give that up. I would however move him tothe fourth line, replace MAB with Johnson and bring up Walter as you suggested. I'm not crazy about 7 D when number 7 is getting 4 mins as a forward. that idea mayhave had some good intentions, but all it seems to have done is spurned a group of "MOVE MAB TO THE WING" supporters. the guy can't play "D" as a Defenseman. I don't see him playing responsibly as a forward, and he'd have to learn a whole new position.
The reason Johnson even had a hope to succeed there is becasue the guy HUSTLES, and he has had some experience playing forward in Juniors. A great slapper doesn't necessarily make a better forward. MAB just needs to work out his positional play.
He has become their worst defensive defenseman. Maybe they jsut need to bring Meyer back so he doesn't look so bad.
:-)
JP, I've come around to that line of thinking on MAB, which is why I think that planning this move would require 2 weeks of work in practice. It seemed to make the most sense currently since MAB was on record saying sitting out and getting rotated in would "rile" him. It could be billed to him as a way to take advantage of his offensive skills, utilize him on the point in the power play, and make up for the shortcomings in his game. It could still happen, though I understand your reservations.
Also, if you look at my question about Andy "First Base" Hilbert up top, I credited you from the start.
I have to say, so far, I am dead wrong about Hunter. Smyth is having a big year and Hunter cannot get out of his own way. As much as we rip Dilbert (and rightfully so) Hunter needs to start getting some grief. His last game was horrible. He is not scoring and not clicking with any line. The honeymoon is over.....Time to start figuring if he is a bust!
For those that love that he hits, answer me this.....Why is it that he gets under nobody's skin????? He hits everything that moves. That is true. How many hits are crushers? How many lead to turn overs? How many create penalties?
I like Hunter. I think he really needs to pick up his game though. Enough of being the loveable bald kid. Get pissed off and turn it up a notch.
Just my thought!
Can I confess something terrible? I am still so resentful of Smyth for screwing us that I wish him harm... I don't mean that I wish to harm him but I have to admit I find myself wishing he would get injured in a game and miss the season. Does this reflect an unhealthy level of Islander fanaticism? Should I see a psychiatrist?
Not at all KH. We're all Islanders!
KH~
I hear yah....Bottom line the guy has a family and made a decision that he felt was best. Believe me I wished nothing but the worst for him also. Then I started thinking. If I was a star hockey player and people called me MR. USA or MR NYER and I got traded to Edmonton, would I stay at the end of the year???? Then if Montreal offered me more money at the end of the year and I could be closer to NY wouldn't I go ????????
My point being, walk in his shoes. The guy was and never will be a NYer.
It is our back office's fault for trading for him. We have be down this road 3 million times, but bottom line the bobbleheads messed up. They got a player they should of known would never stay here when all was said and done!
With that said, I will boo him off the ice the next time he comes to NVMC. :)
Sorry, nick... somehow I missed that post all together. Thanks.
Steady I really miss Yashin. I don't know what will replace him. Maybe I will have to get a Dog just so I can kick it!
:)
Kevin T.
Steady,
That's a solid point about Hunter, but you might want to take this into account. Last year, and in his rookie season he was in different roles.
That doesn't change the fact that he might as well be a scarecrow (I really don't want to start a nickname here...) But he is a player that does have soem defensive skills.... and can finish when given the opprotunity. I'm cool with him in this capacity. The fact that the line is something like a cumulitive -15 is not good. Moving him up with Comrie and Tank should help him... but Guerin is a far better "proven" scorer... so it may not be beneficial to the TEAM.
But that is another positive aspect of Hunter. He is a team guy. He will go head first into the scrum. He is out of that Smyth mold... he jsut doesn't have teh size and maybe molecular structure to hurt players when he hits them. At his age, I don't see that changing much.... and I'm not going to throw him under the bus for that either. He's been a gamer. Maybe somebody needs to show him how to throw a check from his thighs, instead of being so upright... just send him a tape of Potvin doing damage 78-86....
there are plenty of guys that don't even try to hit... so I say, it is better to have hit and whiffed than to never have hit at all.
Perfect example is Tambellini... the guy hit everything, but he was like an ankle biter. I'm pretty sure he took the worst of every check he initiated, but he just kept going...after he'd get up off the ice... you gotta respect that... but he's also in the AHL becasue those hits didn't make him a better scorer, and they weren't putting the fear of god into anybody.
Next stop... BEN WALTER... I think this guy will make an impact. he has some size, he hits, and he's not afraid of the slot monster. He's going to be a good one.
Re: Smyth - I really think he could have stated his intentions sooner. I'm sure his wife didn't come to the realization that she would not stay on Long Island on July 1 (always seemed like a copout excuse to me anyway). That he left on the first available day could be looked at two ways: As Kevin T stated earlier, you can see it as Smyth giving the Isles time to pursue others, or, as I look at it, he clearly had his mind made up and bolted as soon as free agency opened up, but didn't want to take Crazy Charlie Wang out of the market so soon because that might have decreased the offers coming in to some degree.
And yes, Steady, without a doubt plenty of fault obviously goes the bobbleheads' way on that one as well.
In the end, though, I think Smyth is the perfect "missing piece" to a team ready for a cup run, and maybe not what the Islanders needed to become a true force. They still haven't found that, and the one-year deals they gave out for the most part this year shows that they recognize that they haven't yet found THE guy to build around. That doesn't mean that they can't put together a great season and make a nice run, but I think everyone recognizes that there is definitely a franchise forward role to fill here, and has been for quite some time.
Very good post Upstate!
Maybe Okposo will be our franchise forward next season. MIght sound crazy, but look at Kane for the Blackhawks this year -- a rookie who was taken in this year's draft! And he's 7 months younger than Okposo.
UIF,
That pretty much sums it up.
I jumped on the bandwagon when Snow went out and got Smyth... and it turned sour 7/1/7. I'm not going to kill Snow for trying, but it was a bad move in hindsight.
The only thing that might have been better was to go out and dump Blake at that point, because it was quite evident that they weren't going to sign him. I'm pretty sure there wasn't enough room in that building for Snow and Blake.
If that happens then they go into July with Nilsson, O' Marra and a first round pick...plus whatever they got for Blake, which might have been a first or second rounder (maybe as high as some good AHL talent).
But that is all behind us... water under the bridge. I think we all agreed last year that it was a solid try, and being forced by the ticking clock Snow pulled the trigger on something that could have brought, at least, a playoff series to LI. Who knows if that might not have happened had DP not suffered the concussions, and Mr. Hill not been on the juice... Marty not gone down... Zhitnik for Meyer... who knows...
We all have to try to live with the fact that we love a flawed franchise. But the misery will end... and hopefully SOON!!!
But unlike some, most of us are old enough to have lived through one of the most exciting periods in the history of any sports franchise. And that keeps us holding on.
So... just maybe Snowlan will take us back to respectability... and when Okposo gets here there will be soem buzz around the islanders and it won't be the buzzing of flies... like it has been, admitedly for so long.
FYI new thread guys
Nick:
Also, MEMO TO LOGAN: The people have spoken. From now on Andy Hilbert will be called Andy "First Base" Hibert
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I prefer Andy "Manos Di Piedra" Hilbert, like Duran - hands of stone