On the Islanders Beat

Don't gotta convince me. Looks like you have been reading my posts.

Everyone is quick to jump down MAB's throat. Yet nobody jumps on Comrie b/c he is a favorite of Ted Nolan. All I hear is "Comrie has done his part this season," and "Comrie has been a bright spot." All I have to ask is what the heck is so damn good about a leading scorer who wont reach 60 pts and is a minus 20????

Isles record with MAB = 22-16-7
Isles record without MAB = 9-13-0

The numbers speak for themselves.

(Patiently awaiting all the locker room cancer nonsense).

Mark -

In citing the SHG against Satan in the Flyer game as evidence/justification for saying it was possibly a mistake to deal Bergeron, you're necessarily assuming that Bergeron himself wouldn't have been directly responsible for a goal against - shorthanded or otherwise. That's clearly not a safe assumption.

The Isles defense since MAB's release is clearly better, especially in their own end. And the PP was woeful even with the "MAB Bomber". The Islanders scoring trouble stems directly from the lack of a true PP quarterback. A defenseman that can skate the puck and threaten offensively even in 5 on 5 situations. MAB does not come close to filling that role. Perhaps that 3rd rounder eventually will.

Cincy you're dead on in acknowledging that the Isles are a sound defensive team and lack offensive prowess. But the Isles were adequate defensively before MAB was shipped out, so I found it strange to ship out MAB who was our lone offensive threat from the blue line.

This brings us back to McCabe. Again, I had no problem with the MAB trade if Snow had planned to get McCabe. (Maybe he will this summer?)

Obviously MAB is no defensive wiz, but now he have Satan/Gervais/Meyer heading the point on the PP. Yes our PP wasn't clicking before the deadline, but now my only fear is that it has no way of ever coming back to life.

Candyman,
I was guilty all year of going back and forth on MAB.
And for that reason alone.....I am glad to see him gone....especially in view of a 3th round pick.
I just couldn't stand seeing him on our blue line.
The other team's blue? Sure. ON THE PP.
But, I sense that is NOT what Nolan wants. He wants two way players, all the time, with an emphasis on the D.
Especially out of D-men.

And as far as the "cancer in the locker room" theory, yeah, I agree, that argument holds no water.
Reggie Jackson was a cancer in the locker room.
Billy Martin, in his playing day, was a cancer in the locker room.
There are thousands of great athletes who were "cancers in the locker room".
As long as THEY WIN, it doan mean nuthin...
Great, even simply good, coaches, turns cancers into cures.

Islander505 said: "There are thousands of great athletes who were "cancers in the locker room".
As long as THEY WIN, it doan mean nuthin..."

That brings us back to the numbers I wrote in my initial post. The Isles won more with MAB than without. 6 games over .500 with, while 4 games under .500 without.

I just felt the Isles were a more complete team with him than without. If our main goal was to make the playoffs at the deadline than we should have kept him around (or in the press box if Nolan felt that was the best chance to win). MAB was worth more on our roster this season than the 3rd rounder.

Perfect post Cincy !!!

MAB is horrendous....Don't believe me ask the Isles...Don't believe the Bobbles ask his fellow players...Don't believe his teamates ask the Oilers. Don't believe the Oilers, ASK ANYONE IN THE NHL that simply had to offer us more than we got for that bag of donuts. If his shot is sooooo good. If he is such a PP expert, where were the offers???

The PP was pathetic with him. Last year and this year, he gave up more shorties than any defensman I ever watched play the game. We were the worst scoring team for 80% of the season with him.

You cannot blame the head coach, then blame the asst. coach, then blame the fact MAB is not here. The simple fact is the team is no good. Take away Nolan and a select few and you have a NOTHING !!!

This franchise is in a ton of trouble. I have been posting this for two years....The BOBBLEHEADS have ruined it !!! Wang is a MORON when it comes to hockey. Until he gives the keys to a hockey mind, we are screwed.

All those that wanted the kids and no Simon....Enjoy the games against the rags and all the liberties they take....This new clown #3 (as I like to call him) has showed me nothing....Cannot skate, poor positioning, and is a punching bag! When you go to a NEW TEAM Mr. #3....You are supposed to provide a spark....You are like a wet rag.....Nice trade Snow.....Another clueless BOBBLEHEAD !!!

p.s How come everyone said Blake was a cancer in the locker room ??? Why can't people use the same arguement about MAB??? IF it is true....It's TRUE

Candyman,

C'mon let's get real. In terms of Ws and Ls this is how it breaks down, per your #s:

Isles record with MAB = 22-23 (that's right, a loss in OT is still a L even if the NHL puts it in another column)

Isles record without MAB = 9-13

So, this is a below 500 team, 5 games below, unless you buy into the NHL system, which you obviously do. And you may argue that MAB was not the sole reason we were below 500, but I would say he probably cost us at least 3 of those 5.

And to 505 - great posts today man. Well said.

So now a shootout loss (a crap shoot) is just as bad as a regulation loss.

"but I would say he probably cost us at least 3 of those 5"

He's won us a lot of games as well. Everyone loves to pick and choose with MAB.

p.s. I dropped the MAB talk right after the dead line. It's not my fault Herrmann brought this back up. ;-)

I have said this before. The Islanders can't score goals. Nolan is a terrible coach. The stats with MAB playing and not just show how dumb the guy is. At least the Islanders a constant for one thing every year…. letting all the fans down

505...That was my point with Blake last year...H may have been a bad locker room guy, but he PERFORMED....He was a reason to watch the Isles....How much would you guys have LOVED for him to HOG the puck and put a few in this past weekend ????

To All: sorry for being Mr. Dougie Downer lately....That game vs. Philly really really REALLY bothered me ! I have been going to Isles game since before I could walk....I was NEVER as upset with my team and my fans as this past weekend. It hurt !!! It made me not believe !!! For a guy who's favorite saying is YAH GOTTA BELIEVE.....That hurts !!! I am really depressed over this team and who is heading it ! Hopefully something can snap me out of it! Until then it is up to 505 to lead the cheers !!! :)

Ovechkin....Good luck making the playoffs....You last cup was WHEN ???????? Move along before I beat you down!

Key here is that Snow is a horrible GM. Had no problem with getting rid of simon if the islanders brought back an enforcer, they didn't. Had no problem getting rid of MAB if they brought in a PP specialist and they didn't. Snow is in so far over his head it is laughable. Now Nolan is irritated with Snow so who knows how long he will be here.

Great point Ed....The same point CM was making on an earlier thread about getting McCabe.

That is what I have been saying for all the years of the WANGER aka king bobblehead.

They are LOST !!!

**Get rid of Simon, get a goon ....Get rid of MAB, get McCabe.....There is a reason LaFontaine ran for the hills....As did Smith and all the others with a hockey mind !!! **

where did you read that Nolan is upset with Snow?

Anonyms
I am an islander fan. I am just honest unlike you. I have been watching them disappoint me year after year. I also love Ovechkin. I am really sorry that I forgot that you were a big part of the Islanders winning 4 straight cups. You did a great job sitting on your behind watching the games. They should give you a banner at the coliseum. And by the way big guy Washington will make the playoffs this year and the Islanders wont and Ovechkin will win MVP. Huet makes a very big difference he is a solid goalie. Get ready to watch the islanders get blown at tomorrow vs. the Rangers.
Dmoney-
In today’s nhl overtime losses are points. So no it isn’t the same. How can you not want MAB on this team? Another good point by Candyman about Comrie. He is so soft defensively. It’s not all about scoring goals. Why do you Comire bounces from team to team he might have the ability to score goals but he is no better then a second line center at best. This team is made up of 0 first line forwards luckly we have DP to keep us from being even further down the sewer.

Also great post Ed couldn't agree more

Candyman, and now Ovechkin

C'mon, let's get real (I am starting to see a pattern here). Shootout or OT loss, they still LOSE THE GAME per the current system, points or no points. That last column should be ties, as that is the way the game should be played, and something all "real" fans (probably yourselves included) were fine with. But regardless, the other team scores more goals than you during the course of the game, and I count that as a loss.

So again, if you want to twist the stats and validate the NHL's ridiculous system, go ahead and consider this team above 500. I am not fooling myself though, and I think if everyone took this approach, and considered the misfits, vets, and old farts on this team, you might all be pleasantly surprised with the achievements they have made this year. Yeah, I said it, achievements (I am not gonna go into the details of the achievements I think this team has made - I will try and convince you all of that some other time).

And, again, if Snow could have made those deals and gotten quality D-men to QB the PP in return for Mr. Turnover, or quality enforcers in return for Mr. Washed Up, don't you think he would have? Do you all think he is trying to get the worst deals possible or something?

Sorry, meant to add youth to the "misfits, vets, and old farts" line

Ovechkin said:

Washington will make the playoffs this year and the Islanders wont and Ovechkin will win MVP. Huet makes a very big difference he is a solid goalie. Get ready to watch the islanders get blown at tomorrow vs. the Rangers.

Yas, you sure are a great isles fan. What a tool

p.s What do you have to do with Ovechken winning the MVP, except sitting on your a^^ and giving him man love.

p.s How do you know the Islanders are gonna "get blown?" with Ovechkin out of town you gonna do the Isles?

I have to agree with D-Money on the points thing. I said it earlier though in a shorter, less eloquent post that the 3 point game is partly what has screwed us over this season during the trade deadline. Because of the pity point numerous teams are tricked into thinking they are in a better spot then they really are. The NHL loves this because it keeps fans in the seats and they can point to the standings and say "Look how close the competition is!" You can be only 4 points out of a playoff spot, but then if there are 2 teams tied for 9th and a team tied with you in 10th, how close are you really to making it in? We looked (and STILL look really) that with a few wins strung together we could make the playoffs. This did in fact happen with our 6 game streak, but then the same is true for every team in the exact same position as us and they've been winning more then we have. This is why we weren't straight up sellers at the deadline even though I believe we should have been. I did not advocating a fire sale, but at least moving Tank or Satan to clear some space for rooks and hopefully a free agent in the offseason seemed like a good idea.

Candyman:

I agree that when they moved MAB I thought Snow was going hard after McCabe. Have to wonder why that didn't happen.

And I will NEVER watch a game and cheer for this team to lose (I was at the Philly game in section 308...right next to those Flyers fans, I screamed until I had no voice left to try to cover 'em up) but each loss hurts less and less as they string together and the thought they might get a really good player in the draft. I have faith in Nolan and I have faith that DP will back to his game-stealing form. Things aren't as bleak as they seem (Steady!). We've seen this team do great things with practically nothing, lets see if they what they can do with a little bit of something.

I went yesterday when we failed to score on 53 shots. It was pretty hard watching them mess that game up--a must win. But it was quite clear no one was willing to pay the price in front of the net. Just a barrage of low percentage outside perimeter shots. Most goalies would have had a shutout last night.

Bag on Comrie all you want, fellas, the guy is having a career year for himself. Maybe not a career year for a legit 1st line center, but at least a career year for him. What more can you ask for? The guy also fights occassionally with other teams' players, and appears to be well-liked by his teammates. Unlike MAB, who only fights with his own teammates and is well-like by other teams' players.

And, Question, I agree with your question:

"where did you read that Nolan is upset with Snow?"

I am curious about this, because I have seen some print quotes from Ted about playing the players you have to work with. And, it does appear Snow is more apt for the youth movement, but I have not seen any public comments to this effect directly, and I do worry.

This is where I agree with Steady that you need a GM that hires a coach with the same vision, and I am concerned Snow and Nolan may not see eye to eye on the kids. Is it cause for concern, maybe, but I would like a source...

Wow... you guys are special.
2 losses and the sky is falling.
You're lucky to still be in the race after the pre-season polls.
It's pretty easy to do the "EVERYBODY SUCKS" thing.
Steady,
Davison doesn't suck. the guy got off the plane and played on the first pair with Witt out. Get used to him, becasue he might just be around for a while with this fragile D. Learn to love.

I'm glad MAB is gone. Not so much for the locker room cancer thing. But pulling the TO a few months back pretty much punched his ticket. Haven't we had enough of that crap. the same thing goes with Blake. What happened to Vain Gretzky? He's doing wonders in TORONTO. I guess Sundin is no Randy Robitaille or Alexei Yashin.

MAB got tossed in EDM, he got tossed in Long Island and next year you'll see him getting tossed again. This is a kid with a killer shot, nice acceleration on his skates and a cheap contract... and he can't make it work anywhere... do you think it might be HIM.

the main job these guys have is to ENTERTAIN. If you weren't entertained by that game you may need to seek a different team.

Sure, it's frustrating being on the wrong side of the playoff bubble, but YOU finally got what you asked for. The kids are up. They are getting good ice time. As long as they are still in contention the games will be meaningful.... and the next two are HUGE. What more could you have asked for after 7/1/07...

It's like watching the ten commandments... and we just got to the red sea...
Stone 'em!!!! Stone 'em!!!!

YOU ARE THE REASON NOBODY WANTS TO PLAY HERE!!!!

Vasicek... exit... 7/1/8
Fedotenko... exit... 7/1/08
Satan... exit.... 7/1/8

You say good riddance... I hope you have this wonderful attitude waiting for kyle to pan out (or maybe not)... what if tambellini has 5 goals by 1/1/09... are you gonna shoot him from the grassy knoll.

I want to see the reaction when they sweep the rags... please post that Snow sucks... and we should have kept MAB... and Davison sucks.

For the first time I'm proud to be Michele Obama!

D$, Comrie is 814th in the NHL in +/-, 4th worst in the NHL. Comrie does the "bagging" all on his own.

Again I ask, what's so good about having a career year when you are always being scored on more than you score at even strength?

I have said SNOW sucks during the 6 game win streak I predicted.

I will say MAB sucks at my funeral.

I will try and lay off Davison, but did you see some of the hits our guys took against Philly and Florida ??? Ask Bruno !!! The one time he fought he got crushed and TURTLED !!!

HE does that against the Rags, and I will have him shiped out of town by years end! :)

Mike Comrie is not the problem on this team. The inability to draw free agents is. Seriousy... Drury and Smyth took less money to play elsewhere! Even though they have plenty of cap space, I think the Isles are scared to grossly over pay after the Yashin deal. At this point that is the only way to get prime FA to come here. Someone said that they are in the process of rebuilding...and I agree. But I believe they have no choice but to get 1 year FA until they have the proper building blocks in place. Let's hope that happens sooner than later

Candyman - We must also remember that Comrie has not had any true wingers to really play with. This would only count toward a piece of his overall percentage. I personally think that stupid toe drag Comrie actually executes 1 in every 20 times has had more negative effect not only his +/- but this team overall.

MAB should not have been traded but I feel this scenario played on
deadline day...Snow wanted to trade Simon and to keep Nolan happy he traded MAB simply for the sake of keeping Nolan happy.

Even though everyone feels as if the sky is falling, I believe we are only 2 more victories out of the 6 games remaining to winning the Hummer Metro Ice Challenge. If you add that to the possibility of getting the 1st pick in the draft I'll be somewhat happy with this season.

Kenny,

Fair points.

themass,

Never said Comrie was the problem. I just don't agree with the high praises he has gotten from Isles management and fans this season.

Mike Comrie may not be the only problem on this team, but I was not happy about a one-year extension at roughly 20% more pay. If this is transitional, so be it, but Mike Comrie is NOT a $4 million player.

No Mark,

Him missing an assignment every game was not worth him scoring one power play goal in a week. Definitely not worth it!

I'm one of the people that wanted the kids and no Simon ...

And I can't wait for the game against the Rags.

Sadly, Nolan still won't give the 4th line more than 8 minutes a game. I believe Tamby played about 6:30 (with 3 shots) ...Comeau with about 8:50 and Colliton with about the same as Tamby ...I mean lets not act like these guys are getting any ice time - although I sure does seem like they're creating when they are out there ...I can see why they're not getting more ice time ;-/

Plus, Steady, what's your deal with Simon. You ask me to drop it with the guy yet you can't stop talking about him like he's some great equalizer.

If he was out there tomorrow or on Thursday what would he do? He's not an enforcer anymore ...the only one on this board more stubborn than me is you ;-) ....The Isles have Witt, and Davison (whom I'd rather have than Simon - atleast he'll drop the gloves like a man) ...the Rags have a bunch of pests who are afraid to drop the gloves ...they'll mouth off to Park or someone small and not do a thing ...

Can we please just stop talking about Simon like it was 7 years ago??

I just like to annoy you and Candy Man :) :)

Seriously, I could care less about Simon. I just think he should of been replcaed. As MAB should of been replaced. When playing young players, you need an enforcer.

I told you our young guys would get run....They are....Bruno got plastered. Comeau has been getting slammed..Tamby has been pushed around...NO ONE IS HELPING THEM.....All I ask is that Simon be replaced, and so far the guy #3 that needs to attend my sons "Learn to Skate" program has not shown me squat!

I told JP I would give him some more time, and I will.

Fair enough ...

I do look at them getting run as a welcoming to the NHL ...Eventhough Gervais has been here for a while it looked like, and I didn't see a replay, like he had his head down in the neutral zone ...maybe that might fly in the AHL but you'll get your bell rung in the big show and he did. Overall I didn't think that was a cheap shot or anything ....

Clearly Comeau has been messed with more than I would like ...I feel like in a situation like what happened with him and the stick to the groin/ sucker punch any vet on the team should have dealt with it. Sadly, they felt Berard jumping in was enough. Hunter and Vasicek and big guys and while they're not "enforcers" by any means, should have jumped him when they saw him again ...

I do agree that it's good to have that main guy who patrols the ice but I think the Isles vets dropped the ball by not, as a team, coming to his aid on the next shift or next game ...

but time will tell with "#3" ;-) ...I won't even use his name either till he shows us something! ;-)

On MAB and all players,coaches,GM's we as New Yorkers we love the players we they're doing well and when they don't we're on them like flys on sh*t! We should of keeped MAB b/c he brought something to the table and that was his shot. We bring players in for their speed,shot and a few other reasons. Pronger knew what the guy can do! Just my thoughts.

Let's not get too crazy about #3. He wasn't brought in to become a top line replacement. He has done a fair job. He has played 3 games. All three were okay with a new partner every game. He dropped em once, and did get housed, but he was helpless in a 5 man rotation yesterday... and they still only gave up ONE GOAL.

If we "keeped" MAB steady woud have been "PAYED" in "pane"

Anonymous,
Breathe in Breathe out. Try to relax don’t get so angry. What we have to say is just opinions. We will see at the end of the season who is right and who is wrong.

Round 1 goes to me. A dominating 10-2 win. Alexander “the great” had 5 points. (3 goals and 2 assists) He now has 52 goals on the year. The reason for my love for Ovechkin is the way he plays the game. He goes hard every shift. He celebrates every goal like it’s the game-winning goal in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. He gives it his all. He is physical; fast shoots the puck accurately and hard. He is everything I try to be as a hockey player. In today’s world of sports its rare to see the passion and dedication from any athlete let alone a superstar like Ovechkin. You asked what do I have to do with that? Nothing I just enjoy watching him play and really appreciate how hard he plays.

The reason I said that to you about the Islanders is because you pointed out Washington not having any cups and the Islanders having 4. Obviously neither one of us had anything to do with that. As I said before now with Huet Washington is a team to beat. Martin Brodeur even questioned the trade and praised Huet for his play. I am a huge Islander fan and always have been, however it’s just really disappointing to see a team year after year that doesn’t compete. (Never getting past the first round of the playoffs) I am only being realistic about my expectations for this season. I truthfully believe we have no chance and it is lost. We simply can’t score goals. I hope the Islanders beat the rangers tomorrow night, however the fact is the Islanders cant score and the Rangers are one of the hottest teams in the league.( 7-0-2 in there last 9) The point I am trying to make is I am only giving my honest opinion. In no way do I mean to offend you and I apologize if I did.

WOW!!!!! If the Isles could bundle the passion expressed on the board today ... they'd be slaughtering every team they play against.

Without going back and quoting who said what ... I'm just going mention a few points made by others on here.
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MAB ~ He should of never been traded unless they had a replacement. PERIOD... The Isles PP was horrible as it was ... and throwing Satan back on the point doesn't fix the defects that MAB brought to the power play.

First off ... Satan is not a defenseman ... as bad as MAB was defensively ... Satan is worse at the point. Secondly .. MAB has a good hard shot ... you can't deny that. He brought something to the PP in that regard... a defender couldn't cheat on him as much ... especially since MAB started shooting on the fly more. Thirdly ... with Satan on the point ... it means one less good scoring threat down low ... that means you have to replace Satan's scoring touch down low with someone else... you dilute the potency of an already weak power play.
Lastly .. you can't blame MAB for the Isles poor power play .. the main problem is .. NO ONE INFRONT OF THE NET ... I don't know how many times it has been brought up. The Isles do nothing but pass around the perimeter. MAB taking bomb shots from the blue line does nothing if nobody gets infront to create havoc.

505 also made a good point when he brought up the Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin comparissons... touche 505 .. that kind of said it all.

Candyman is right when he brings up MAB's prowess on the PP .... it was wrong to trade the only player that produced on the PP ... the crazy thing is .... MAB spent a good portion of the season in the press box ... and he leads the team in PP Goals. The Isles were too close to a playoff spot to bail on a player that cost them more to acquire than what they gave to dump him.

Third round pick????!!!! For those happy with that deal ... when do you think that player is going to be ready to step in and help out? 3 years? 4 years from now? The Isles are in the hunt right now .... that was a HORRIBLE move ... if there were no takers ... they should of kept him.

Sorry Steady .. but MAB as much as he made the paint in my living room peel everytime he coughed up the puck is more valuable then a 3rd round pick at this time in the season.
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D-$ .. I'm 1000000% with you when it comes to the 3 point games and the losses in OT / SO.... I HATE that aspect of the game ... and it totally skews the standings ... anyone with half a hockey brain knows it too. Theoretically ... you can lose every single game in OT / SO ... and have 82 points for the season.... WTH is that?

I think if the NHL wants any credibility for new fans of the game ... they have to do something about the point system. 2 point games or 3 point games .... can't have it both ways.

Healy called it exactly what it is .... a "Pity Point" ... since when does the NHL have to be nice about losing? The big bad NHL players have their feelings hurt if they aren't rewarded a point for making it through regulation tied? BS .... you don't deserve a point for losing.

I don't see the big mystery...the Isles are just not a very good team right now. I'm an Islander fan and I'd like them to win, but you have to score to do that. I think MAB is an awful d-man, and he did add a shot to the PP...no argument on either count. What we have isn't gonna do it in this league, and with or without him...we're just not that good. We may be in the future...but we aren't now. That's just reality. I don't want to see them roll over, but I'm also realistic.

Well,

back to back against the rags and it may well put an end to the season. I truly believed this was a playoff team at the beginnig of the year, when they went on a 7 game losing streak and I beleive it now. Dont get me wrong this team has absolutley no skil whatsoever. They are a bunch of 3rd and 4th line grinders filling out the roster but that is what the islanders are going to be until they can develop their own stars because until a new building and facilities are available Wang can offer all the money in the world and they are not coming here. I have accepted this fact. The irornic thing is that they are playing good hockey jsut ther goals are not going in. It is just like baseball it always seems that when a team slumps at the plate one hit, one dying quall, texas leaguer starts a rally and the team gets hot again. That is what it will take for the islanders. The puck hits a skate, takes a wierd bounce. deflection something and this team will settle down and just play and they will score its just the nature of the game. Also a hot goalie just like a hot pitcher can carry a team a long way. We are all sports fans and we know this. I see it this way. Ugly goal sparks scoring on team. DP is refreshed gets hot and carries team into playoffs. The Islander playoff season starts tommorrow against the rangers. Time to step up. I will say this now. The islanders will make the playoffs. let me repeat will make the playoffs. Whether you believe or not everyone get on the train. We are going to the playoffs. Lets go Islanders.

Ovechkin,

Huet is French (not French-Canadian). That's enough of a reason not to like him.

19 ISLE in NJ 22,

And that was my main point--very nicely said by you. Like it or not, this team is better with MAB than without. Giveaways galore and locker room turmoil, and a blast from the point, the Isles simply got more points when he was around than when he was not.

Now I'm ready to jump down Nolan's throat. The Kid line simply needs to play. Tambellini has been working hard and creating

....chances. Comeau needs to be on the first line. How does Nolan not see this. This is why Nolan is a bad coach--a great motivator yes, but he stubbornly sticks with his vets even when all logic points to the contrary.

OK ... now that I'm all warmed up.

LOL!!

The fact that we are debating anything important about the Isles this late in the season after what happened last July is amazing. They have no business being where they are. The main reason they are where they are is because of DP ... and even with his bad start .... Dubie too. The defense stingy at times has helped out ... but has not been perfect by any stretch.
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Our forwards??? Barely worth mentioning. There is the huge debate about Comrie now ..... Comrie is not a $4M dollar a year player .... I think Snow is rolling the dice on Comrie ... not because he thinks he's worth the money ... but because he's worried since Comrie will finish on the team as the leading scorer ... he'll get some notice during FA period ... and go bye-bye ..... and then we have no 1st line center with 2nd line talent ... So then he'd have to promote a 3rd line center to the top line ..... That is why he signed Comrie to only a ONE year deal... Snow is buying time .... that is what he spent the $4 million on.

Comrie being the top scorer on the worst offensive team in the NHL isn't saying much.
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The Islanders are not going to land any PRIMO UFA's ... right now anyway ... there is a buggaboo about the Isles that I think players are steering away from. Other than the building situation, the reputation that tarnished the organization in the mid to late 90s and the lack of a good core of young players .... I don't see why players wouldn't want to play for the Islanders ... an organization with a great history and tradition.

You have to ask yourself this ... and clear yourself of your Islander bias and love for the team .... if you are a top tier ... 30 year old NHL offensive Stud ..... like say Jarome Iginla ... What would make you want to play for the Islanders?? They don't have a great supporting cast ... so the Isles would have to pull off a trifecta and score a stud power play quarterback for the defense .... like a Pronger or a Campbell, a top tier center .... like Lacavalier .... and a top line winger like Iginla .... and they'd have to probably to conspire with all three parties ... so that they agree ... that they'll only sign under the conditions that all 3 of them are brought to the team .... Kind of like what Billy Guerin and Mike Comrie did before agreeing to sign with the Isles.
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The DP situation .... I know that he is our franchise ... and he has had troubles as of late .... He's had to deal with a really rough time personally ... so I'm willing to give him some slack ....

That being said .... I still believe he's hurting some where. His #'s after the All-star game are sub-par with his normal numbers.
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My brother reminded me this evening of the first really bad thing that happened to the Isles in the Mike Milbury error. Hello ... BRETT LINDROS .... Although I always looked at that as a combo Maloney / Milbury mistake .... because didn't Maloney draft him ... but Milbury signed him to the contract? My memory fails me there.
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Snow ... well ... Snow has finally convinced me that he doesn't have the chops yet to be an NHL GM ... he should of started somewhere else in the front office. The more I think of it ... and put my biased as a fan of Snow aside ... I start to wonder .... WTH was Wang thinking? He pretty much told a seasoned ... well networked NHL veteran GM and front office guy to "Go Scratch" ... and takes the back up goalie from his hockey team to become the GM of his team and force him into retirement?? HUH?? Does Snow's salary still count against the cap?

I know Snow has a business degree ... but he hasn't had the chance to apply any of his business acummen towards any NHL hockey operations business in his entire career until Wang gave Snow the keys to his shiney new organization.

At first I didn't really critique Snow hard following the lack of activity he had with the trade deadline. I was releived he didn't sell .. and that he didn't give away the farm (not that there was anything to give away) .... but after seeing the PP fall flat on its face the last 4 games going 2 for 23 ... and trading their leading PP goal score away for a bag of pucks ... makes you wonder.

I sure hope that Snow isn't making his decisions by reading this blog ... because he'd get a different answer every day.

I'm almost afraid to see what Snow is going to do at the draft table this June ... it will be the first time he gets to select a draft pick in the first two rounds.
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That is all I have to say for now ... I have tons more .... big surprise eh? .... but I'll save it.

The next two games are a HUGE 4 points.

The Question: "if you are a top tier ... 30 year old NHL offensive Stud ..... like say Jarome Iginla ... What would make you want to play for the Islanders??"

The Answer: $$$$$$

Agreed candyman...but the # of years on a contract can't be more than 4 or 5. And right now it isn't worth signing a FA because this franchise isn't going anywhere in that time frame. Plus the UFA class this year is a$$. Might as well wait until we have a supporting cast with more than one year contracts to develop from

Candyman ....

That Answer: $$$$$$$$$$$ turned out to be NOTHING ... last July .. Smyth and Drury signed to different clubs for less $$$$$$ than the Isles offered .. and both were stinging turn downs .... In Smyth ... we lost a player who knew we bet the farm on ... and in Drury we lost to a lower bid from our bitter rival.

A freeagent wants two things .. yesss the money ... but the Isles don't print their own money .... and they aren't the only team with cap room to pay that money ... but just as important .... if not more .... a freeagent wants to join a contender ... a team with a solid core of players that he can take to the level of top contender.

The $$$$$$$$$$? He just might find it in Atlanta next season ... who by the way ... is building a solid core ... and has a good amount of young talent ... or to St. Louis or Chicago ... both of whom are building a solid promising core with a deep prospect pool.

I am not giving Comrie high praise, but (and let me clarify) he is having a career year OFFENSIVELY. This is the one guy that actually does SCORE occasionally (albeit not as frequently as we might like), and leads the team in POINTS. I'll let him have the 1000th worst +/- in the league at this point, because - sadly enough - he is one guy that is remotely "skilled" offensively on the team that is being given a real chance in terms of TOI.

We have plenty of lines that are out there to play defense, and yeah, Comrie and HIS LINE don't pot enough goals to offset the ones he's on the ice for, but +/- is IMO as much a product of the team as it is the player. Think about how little scoring there would be on the team if he and Guerin weren't scoring the occasional goal. I mean, c'mon, what do you expect from the lowest scoring team in the league? Look at our "defensive" guys like Hunter. Even they suck with +/-.

All I am saying is be careful what you wish for, because if Comrie was gone next year, then where would we be? Don't we want some FAs that stay more than a year? I hear that all the time on here. The whole thing about is he worth $4 mil is another question, but someone said it earlier: we have to overspend, even for the 2nd tier guys.

I am NOT saying Comrie is the savior, and I am not saying that I think he should get 1st line minutes next year. I am just saying the guy is having a career year for what he is paid to do: put up points. He ain't paid to lead the league in plus/minus last time I checked.

I gotta be honest, I'm gonna sit back, and enjoy the end of this season for whatever it is worth, even if that is really just enjoying watching the KIDS go through their GROWING PAINS and knowing we are doing what needs to be done: building a (hopefully) solid core of guys that will keep this team on Long Island for many years to come, with DP at the center of it all (fingers definitely crossed). You guys bash the bobbleheads and their predecessors for mismanagement of the YOUTH, but are the first to criticize how small and fragile they are. GIVE THEM SOME TIME. ALL OF THEM.

I know the key word up there is HOPE and TIME, and many of you are out of it. And I recognize the fact that it is a lot easier for me to be more casual about it cause all I pay to watch the Isles is about $140 a year for Center Ice. For those of you that pay for tickets, especially SEASON tickets, I have a totally new respect for you all from reading this blog. You are paying good money for a mediocre product. Harder to watch in person I am sure. I hear the PASSION on here day in and day out, from the frequent commuters that come from NJ and Mass for games, and would be there with you all if I was within driving distance. And I hear the issues about management, but you know what, we could all wake up tomorrow and…

That being said, enjoy the rest of the season as much as you can and in whatever way you might, whether that be hoping the wheels come off and drafting Top 5 or hoping that they make the playoffs, no matter when or in what position (I still agree that the idea of a 1st round against NJ or OTT scares me a lot less than walking into Buffalo last year).

AND YOU GOTTA BE IN IT TO WIN IT. GO ISLES!

That is why you have to over pay the $$$$$$$$$$. Not an extra $1mil over 5 years like we offered to Smyth. What's that an extra 200k per season? Not enough (although I'm glad we didn't sign Smyth). But the right player? We will have to blow them away.

Who would we blow away? Any ideas?

D$, then I guess we differ on our definition of "career season."

These comments are sounding like a GD funeral. There are 15 games to play and only 5 pts out of a playoff berth. Another good streak to end the season and we make it. Remember last year when we played the rangers and they had the chance to eliminate us and we won 4 straight without DP. Here we are in the same place we were last year with MORE GAMES TO PLAY PEOPLE!!!. and DP ready to go. DP understands it is going to fall on his shoulders. That is what franchise players do. They carry the team. We islander fans cannot complain now about our team. We can do that in July when FA season starts and the Draft. But these are the players we have. We have proven players in Guerin,Comrie, Tank, Satan,JoeV, Witt who have won cups and/or been to the finals and know how to get it done in crunch time. I say Islanders finish 12-3 thats 93 pts and in. It can be done. Lets go Islanders.

Career season for perhaps Comrie's standards ... but 20 goals? Ovechkin just hit 52 goals tonight ... and he was mired in a 7 goal scoring slup... The fact is ... as you mentioned Comrie would have been gone next year ..... So Snow had to overpay him the $4M salary ... as Candyman put it ... that is why we have to over pay the $$$$$$$$ .... which brings me to the point of everything I mentioned .... the Isles have to over pay for 2nd line talent ... because they can't even get 1st line talent to sign with them even when they over pay them.

Candy ... I agree ....with your career season assertion.

D$ ... My definition of a career season? ... Blake last year ... Kozlov last year ... keep in mind .. Kozlov got his 25 goals while shuttling between the Isles 2nd and 3rd line and killing penalties last year .... Comrie might hit 25 goals this season .... and he's supposed to be our 1st line center and top PP center. I'm not knocking Comrie ... he is on a bad team .... and if he were a 2nd line center with those numbers I'd be content (although his +/- leaves something to be desired ... yes team stat) ... my whole point was .... Snow is paying big bucks and wasting cap room by over paying for 2nd tier players.

Hunter may still be a bargain ... but long term signing for a 2nd / 3rd line player .... still may be the right move.

I'm watching the ducks and senetors.... I'm sorry but MAB really sucks and I would have been happy with a 4th round pick. Look how much better berard looks now!

ALL------RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

The Board is ALIVE AGAIN....

I would have been greatly, no SEVERELY, disappointed if I flew 10 million miles back east to an absent Islander nation.

You folks have started out the week properly,
ESPECIALLY after the way the last week ended.

Jisles.........
LOVE your post, tell me where to be on Thursday and I AM BUYING!!!!!
SPOT ON!!!

Candyman,
I have sat here for the last month, reading and perusing, and perusing and reading your posts.
Your overall negative attitude is getting on my nerves.
You are in need of a serious ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.
Be there or be square......and stupid.
I'm buying.

19Isles.......you just get your sorry ass across two bridges or though two tunnels and shake hands with me.

And anyone else is welcome as well.

ISLES WIN TWO BY FRIDAY THIS WEEK SPORTS FANS!!!!!!

Garth may not have made that trade with only this year in mind, I agree with that much. It was a good move in my eyes if we use the 3rd rounder to the possibility of gaining a better player for the years to come(whether it be a D-man or a forward).

If the lighthouse project doesn't get done, there's no garuantee that the team will even be here when that kid gets to play.

Ovechkin MVP.

Thanks for finally coming over here.....
CUZ I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL YEAR WHAT ABSOLUTE MORON HAS HAD THE CAPS AS A TOP 10 IN AOL ALL YEAR.

The Caps ARE NOT gonna make the playoffs this year...
Why?
Ovechkin has made them an overrated team.
NO OVECHKIN----NO CAPS.
And any good D-man qualifies that.
Just ask Witt and Martinek...
And they play on the LOWLY Islanders....

505...You have just been appointed my SECRETARY OF DEFENSE !!!

CM...The fact you are calling Nolan a bad coach, has got to be just to annoy me :)......We have a hurt defense. We have NO pest. We have NO GOAL SCORERS...We have No 1 st or 2nd line.....We have NO enforcer. We have a kid line up here playing (who is mediocre at best at this level!)

How in God's name can you blame the coach ? He has WON at every single level in hockey. He mae lobster salad out of tuna last year. This year he is trying to make lobster salad out of CAT FOOD !!! You wanted the kids up here ...You got it !!! IF they deserved more minutes they would of got them!

My only pt. is Nolan is paid to make the playoffs. If the kids deserved more time and were ready for this level, they would get it.

** # 3 .....Welcome to the best hockey rivalry in the NHL...HEck in sports for that matter....... IF you do not put up tonight and play like a complete mad man, you will be crucified. Win or lose, show the Rags we are here to stay. Show them passion. Do not play like you did fvs. the Flyers.....That was all together sad!

MAB one last time ... then I'm not commenting on him again ... he's history.

If Berard is playing better without MAB ... then maybe there was a problem with pairing them up. Actually .. I always had a problem with that pair.

MAB for a 3rd round pick? The guy cost us Denis Grebeshkov and a 3rd round pick to acquire him!!! The math just doesn't add up. Especially when he is your leading goal scorer on the power play. Can anyone name our first picks in the 3rd round the last 3 years, and where they rank among prospects? I'll give you time to answer after you look that up in Hockey DB and then cross reference that player in Hockey Futures.

The fact that MAB is the Isles leading scorer on the PP is nothing for MAB to brag about... HE Sucks!!! But as bad as he sucked defensively ... he brought something to the team offensively that nobody else has.

Everybody forget how he exercised the demons of Ottawa back in January with 2PPG including the game winner? Ottawa hasn't been the same since. LOL!!

I think MAB will find a home in Anaheim. Ultimately he's a better match for them. With a HOF defenseman in Niedermayer and a good reliable two way defenseman in Schneider he'll see less minutes .. but will be a good 2nd pairing on the PP for them.

They are a better team man for man then the Isles ... so his defensive mistake will be less noticable since Anaheim's forwards are also better ... and he'll have to cover less territory to play defense even in the fast paced Western Conference.

Ironically I think MAB's speed killed him with the Isles ... it took him out of the play to many times. He'll never have the hockey smarts to be a solid defender .... he is what he is ... but my whole problem with the trade is what we got in return ... Nothing!!! Nothing that will help us get to the playoffs this year. That is my focus ... because I haven't given up on the team.

I think our PP went from bad to horrendous without MAB.

Now we can all disagree to the cows come home .. but that will not change the fact that our PP will be worse without MAB ... and if we don't make the playoffs because we were short a PP Goal here and there .... you will know why we didn't make the playoffs.

Steady ~ Great call on Nolan!! I love the anecdotes ... Cat Food to make Lobster Salad .... awesome ... LOL!!! Lets just hope he's using Fancy Feast or something that can pass .... this cat chow crap just will not cut it.

Also ... I'm not going to complain about the kids ... they are going to make their mistakes ... part of the process for every team that injects youth. Even Crosby makes mistakes from time to time.

... and well put about #3 ... he's going to sink or swim in these next two games ..... and he'll learn ... us NY fans will not forget how he played these two games win or lose.

I am a huge Islanders fan, but you must realize we are DONE!

Realize:

Flyers go 9-4-3 95pts at end

Isles must go 13-1-1 96 pts at end

That just isn't happening folks!

I predict we may go 8-6-1 86 at end
Flyboys then would have to tank at 5-10-1 85 at end

Anyways, Snow must GO and we need the Lighthouse or it may be lights out for us! I will then HATE hockey!

MAB is a moron! Glad he's gone his shot was about as accurate and Andy Hilbert hitting an open net! His defensive lapses were mindless not to mention he almost probably injured DP numerous times!