Now that the Islanders are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention thanks to an epidemic of injuries, it almost seems as if they have an excuse to extend their six-game losing streak to put the franchise in position for the highest possible pick it can get in a very deep draft. But don’t tell that to coach Ted Nolan.
“If anybody ever suggested to me not to do what I do and try to win hockey games, that’s unacceptable,” Nolan said yesterday. “I’m going to coach this team, and if we win the last eight games and get the No. 18 pick versus the No. 3 pick, that’s what we do. As players, we never ever take it any other way. That’s important. Once you let losing creep into any facet of an organization, it’s bad news.”
Following the Isles’ 3-1 loss to Toronto on Tuesday, Nolan expressed his disappointment in the effort put forth by some of his veteran leaders. He reinforced the message with a “bag skate” yesterday at practice that had tongues hanging out when it finally ended.
With two practice days before the Isles’ next game against the Devils Friday night in Newark, it was a convenient place for Nolan to push his players. But if the effort doesn’t improve in the final eight games, it could become a regular thing.
“I was embarrassed, and they should be, too,” Nolan said of the loss to the Maple Leafs. “The way we played was inexcusable. Today was just a taste if we’re going to perform the way we performed [against Toronto]. If they want to waste our time, we’ll waste their time. We’ll skate every day. In pre-game skates, we’ll skate for an hour. I don’t care. What we’ve got to do is get a strong message that non-competitive performances are not acceptable.”
Nolan’s signature always has been his ability to get his team to play hard and make life as difficult as possible for the opponent. He’s not about to change his approach to get more tickets in the Steve Stamkos lottery. He’ll maintain his commitment to building a winning attitude and let the chips fall where they may in the draft.
DIPIETRO UPDATE: Late last night, the Islanders announced that surgery performed on goaltender Rick DiPietro's right hip by Dr. Marc Philippon was a complete success. According to Philippon, DiPietro "will have no trouble at all being fully ready when training camp opens in September."
Comments (49)
I agree Teddy! A high draft pick would be great but lets put forth a better effort because themass is still watching!!!!!!
LETS GO ISLANDERS!!!!!!!!!
Ted, tell your tale of woe to someone else who might believe you. Next it'll be pigs can fly and cheques in the mail. Of course you don't want a losing atmosphere becoming the norm in the organization but I hate to break it you but that's what it's been for years!!!! We definitely need to be in the Stamkos sweepstakes and if assessing the youth and resting the injured accomplishes that then you'll have done more to rebuild the franchise by having lottery balls than having no brains.
If Nolan is not happy with his veterans' performances, then it's time to let the kids play the bulk of the minutes. Put two Bridgeport lines together as the top two, and you'll get the effort. Forget the score. Nolan we'll see the effort he's looking for. The veterans will get less minutes, and pray that they will have a spot next year.
Killing them in practice now is not the answer. Where is the Merit System now? If Hilbert and Park get first line minutes, then why aren't the kids, who are putting in the most effort, not getting more time.
For the Islanders....no better time then the present. If we lose games, it wont be because of a lack of effort from our prospects. Give them the ice time, and stick with the Merit System.
No way the top brass let's us get the #1 pick. The league hates us.
And thank god, there's more money to be made in Hamilton.
Stamkos will never want to play in the ghettos anyway.
Ah, it was nice while it lasted.
Good-bye Islanders. Good-bye
Well you got one thing right troll, the league does hate us.
You'd think the Rag Trolls would want the Isles to have a clean win on Friday over the Devils (2 point game). Ranger's are within shouting distance of 1st place in the East.
Shows you where their priorities are.
Clearly, these are not Ranger Fans, or even HOCKEY FANS as much as they are Islander haters.
Sad, sad, sad.
Teddy will make a great politician someday.
"Well you got one thing right troll, the league does hate us."
NHL Network showed game 3 of the Isles/Spoilers 1984 series late last night. (Moments in History) I forced myself to watch the 1st period and it dredged up old memories.
The "hatred" that Hal references was never more evident than in that game/period.. Pivotal game in a 1-1 series. (For SOME reason the NHL changed the series format that year. It oddly became 2 at home THREE on the road and 2 at home).
The Isles DOMINATED the 1st period, even though there was a steady stream of Isles to the penalty box with phantom calls at the behest of referee Dave Newell. Yet Kallur and Bossy were lucky to SURVIVE the period.
The "canadian" announcers were even in on it.....must have been the fathers of Lucifer and Beezlebub.
Wife was up as well, and laughed at me getting angry about a game played 23 years ago.
I turned it off after one period of a 1-1 game in a 1-1 series.
I had seen enough to remind and REINVIGORATE me about how PISSED OFF I was at the time.
Fig the NHL ---let's beat the piss outta everyone.
themass, miggsey.........
Give it a rest...Whaddya think Teddy's supposed to say?
Anything different and he and the Isles are looking at a fine from the NHL.
Just keep mixing up the lines Teddy.
(And DO give more time to the kids).
A "bag skate" in practice yesterday?
Appropriate choice of words.
Stay on that theme Logan.
Habfans.com has a trivia show with guests and prizes this weekend, we cordially invite all fans over for the festivities.
Good point 505 I watched the same program. Forget the last 22 yrs of proof positive anti NHL/Islanders "war". It's only a matter of time before they take way our once wonderful dynasty for a so called stronger market. It's the final nail in the coffin and the NHL is getting ready to hammer it home.
I pray this never happens. But I really believe the league is run by Rangers fans, and we all know how they're the worlds most famous haters!
Sadly there really isn't anything I can do about it. I'll just need to face the simple fact that hockey might not always be on the island.
I buy my tickets, to wear my jerseys, I teach the game to my kids.
If the brass don't do something extremely major to get some high level crowd attracting talent in the door, all I see is doom.
Please excuse my defeatest morning attitude.
I'd just like to see the team in better contention for the playoffs, division, conference.
Any RANGER FAN that wants to see the Islanders move is simply not a hockey fan. They actually are not even a sports fan. They are simply lost!
It is the best rivalry in sports!
You think a Yankee or Red Sox fan would want one of the others to move or fold ??????
Get a clue troll. You do not know hockey, you cannot talk hockey, and you are not even a Ranger fan if you want their biggest rival to move!
Heck what would you do with your time all day ?
Hey Cournoyer....
"Habfans.com has a trivia show with guests and prizes this weekend, we cordially invite all fans over for the festivities."
Here's a trivia question you can use for a $1000.00 question. (I'll put the money up).
Name the current NHL executive who's team was defeated by the Islander's in a year they were expected to to win the Cup, who's face was bludgeoned by Clark Gillies in that same series, who was VIDEO TAPED when he coached the Ranger's saying that 'I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE THE NEW YORK ISLANDER organization.
As always, please put your answer in the form of a question.
Cuz we question why he is allowed to have ANY SAY OR POWER over anything having to do with our organization.
I think 505 said it a few days ago. Nolan has changed the lines every game since they have been eliminated. He knows what he's doing.
There's another one of those league rules (not only the NHL, but every league) where once you are out of the playoffs you are playing upside down. Every team from 17-32 shuld be dropped in the lottery pool... so... if you finish 17th or 32nd you have teh same chance at the 1st pick as you do for the 17th.
Having said that, I'm pretty sure the Islanders would always have a lead ball, while the leafs (or canadiens if they were to be in it) ball would be filled with helium.
hey... he said it again today... sorry I missed it.
Huh? What?
what good is a rivalry if it only matters to one side. YOU GUYS!
How many games have you won after playing us? 8 times a season that place is sold out because of our fans. Who cares about playing the islanders? Not US. The Devils and Philly make for some pretty good rivals. Boston was once a nice rival. Then there's always the Pens. Certainly a different team will be moved into the Atlantic, they could make for good rivals. Point being is that you know without us there's really nothing interesting about the Islanders to the rest of the world. What is interesting to the rest of the world is a new team in a new town with new jerseys and coaches and management etc. etc. etc. and new money. money runs the world. money owns you and me and that team and it's choices.
YOU don't understand hockey. you are in complete denial.
But that will make it all the better when they're moved, because the looks on your faces will be all over every single paper. Crying, mad, etc. etc. I'll be down there with a film crew, cameras in faces. I'll make millions selling it back to you. The day your hearts broke, the day hockey for you is over. The day you learn that you don't matter to anyone but yourselves. The NHL hates you, and so do Rangers fans.
You want this troll to go away. Stop your troll. :)
Good bye Islanders. Good day.
Gus....
"You want this troll to go away. Stop your troll. :)"
Hey Moron, the "troll" you refer to is the same guy who does the same things to BOTH boards.
The "trolling" has nothing to do with good solid hockey fans on either board. (Which you, unfortunately, have now DISQUALIFIED yourself from).
Take a little time out of your hate filled Islander day and go read Zipay's board this morning. Me and TJ and Dude and Up in the Blues were discussing THAT SAME SUBJECT already this morning.....
AT YOUR EXPENSE.
Bye bye Gus
What is more rewarding 1 Cup in 68 years or 4 Cups in 36 years ?
What the heck is a troll?
Hal,
"What the heck is a troll?"
The lowest form of hockey scum.
Ranger (and Islander) fans who come onto the blog boards of opposing teams (Logan and Zipay's boards) to get their rocks off by writing venomous posts in order to demonstrate their submasculine sexuality.
It's been worse than what you see today. It is a minor inconvenience to have these people, but it does take detract from the generally good discussions that occur on BOTH boards.
Specifically, there is ONE person who goes on both boards lately cloning the handles of regular posters and writing nonsense.
In the case of poor Gus, who apparently needs a trip to a deli for some comfort food....like DEBBIE DONUTS....well, I'll let the Ranger fans handle him.
Just ignore them. (I know, it's hard to do, I am VERY guilty of running off at them).
In fact Hal, you CAN see a troll.
Next time you are at a hockey game. Keep an eye on the Zamboni as it leaves the ice.
Ya know how there are always a few chunks of ice shavings left behind on the ice as the truck leaves the playing surface? To be shoveled up attendants?
If you look closely you can see the trolls scurrying away to all corners of the rink as the attendants approach them with their shovels.
They think that by virtue of their presence there, that they are automatically hockey fans.
But they are simply mobile ice worms.
(And yes sports fans....ice worms REALLY DO exist--saw them with my own eyes in Alaskan glaciers).
Troll=Ice worm
http://www.nichols.edu/departments/glacier/iceworm.htm
It's good to see Ted cracking the whip on these guys.
They need it baaaaad!!!
Come on into the IslandersPirateHaven for a cup of joe. Board's only a week old and is starting to grow!!!! You're all welcome to take some of your lengthy posts and pop them over there as well.
IslandersPirateHaven
http://z9.invisionfree.com/IslandersPirateHaven/index.php?act=idx
Can you handle the freedom?
We're now ranked 27th place overall.
What position were we predicted to finish at the beginning of the season?
Steve Stamkos could save this organization. You'd have Stamkos, KO, DP, sign a guy to play with him and sign Campbell to improve the PP and there you have it. It sounds so easy doesnt it? lol
Is Nolan still in the running for coach of the year? What a lot of people on here don't understand is that where you stand after 82 regular season games determines if you go to the playoffs and how successful your season was. It looks like the Isles are going to finish somewhere between 26 to 30th overall hardly a successful season. I guess TSN knew what they were talking about when they ranked the Isles so low. I heard this goalie the Isles brought up likes to fight maybe we'll see a fight before the end of the year.
Steady;
SPOT ON!!!!!!!
Rangers Fans whishing the Isles to move just don't get it. If the isles were to fold or move the Rags would not be far behind. That rivalry is the only thing that gets hockey coverage around here in the regular season.
Any hockey fan in the New York Metro Area hoping for that needs to get their head examined.
Chickendirt;
AWESOME board you have there. A few day ago I said I would sign up and just got around to it now. I hope it does well because the community definitly needs something like that. I wanted to be a sports writer growing up and took some lit classes in college.
Perhaps I can get a little practice there. The other boards don't really offer that opportunity. Mostly they want everything mashed into one thread under one topic. You start your own thread those guys jump down your throat.
Best of luck!!!!! I hope some more from here sign up there. I love reading a lot of you guys,
Congrats Gus...The dumbest "post" in quite sometime.
You compare your rivalry with Philly and the Devils with ours ???
You obviously are not a real Ranger fan and most likely the Troll from both boards.
We are nothing without you ??????? Ummmm who has a chant that was voted the # 1 CHANT in msg that is towards Dennis Potvin?
Who come to our boards and posts stuff, you or me ???
Who is known as the greatest hockey team in USA history ???
I live in Mass. which is by far one of the biggest hockey places to live in USA.....They could CARE LESS about the Rangers, yet they hate the ISLANDERS....They hate us for the same reason many other teams do.....SHEER DOMINATION in the late 70's and 80's.
Do we stink right now....Your darn right we do. BUT our fans still come out and talk hockey. From what I hear your blog is around 5 people (3 of which know what they are talking about) that talk about the Rangers when they are playing well.
The TRUE smart Ranger Fans HATE YOUR BLOG b/c of the fair weather fans and ridiculous chatter. Midnight, John, Mookie, etc. are all Ranger fan season ticket holders, and they COME HERE to talk hockey.
So you keep rooting for the Islanders to move to Ontario, or whatever ridiculous other notions you have. I for one hope the Rangers are in my hockey life FOREVER. Without them and a select few other teams, hockey would not be as much fun.
Yankees dominated Boston for 76 years correct ??????? Was it still considered a rivalry even though at the time lopsided?
Mets and Braves are considered heated rivals, yet the Braves have owned them correct ?????????
My point is there is nothing better than a great rivalry no matter how the other teams are playing....IT ALWAYS SWINGS !!!!
p.s I believe the all time record vs. each other is as close to .500 as you can get !!! EXCEPT in the RING DEPT. OF COURSE !!!
“If anybody ever suggested to me not to do what I do and try to win hockey games, that’s unacceptable,” Nolan said yesterday. “I’m going to coach this team, and if we win the last eight games and get the No. 18 pick versus the No. 3 pick, that’s what we do. As players, we never ever take it any other way. That’s important. Once you let losing creep into any facet of an organization, it’s bad news.”
Darn right. To think it's okay to lose because it may help you draft at #3 or #4 - which may or may not to turn out to be a better player than #14 or #15 - is to have the mindset of a loser, As I recall, Mike Bossy was picked 15th or 16th. Check some of the names that went before him. I believe Ahmad Bradshaw - the explosive Giants running back -- was one of the last picks in the entire NFL draft. 500 guys were picked before he was. Now, I'd bet there's not more than 2 or 3 g.m.'s in the entire league that wouldn't trade their #1 pick next year for him. And the NHL draft is even more a guessing game than the NFL draft. To not try your best to win is a loser's way of playing sports. And if anyone thinks the coach is posturing and 'saying the right thing', they don't know this guy. It doesn't mean though that they can't try to win mostly with the kids. At this point, the kids give them a better chance than the invisible man satan and the rest anyway.
Posted by exguy
To think it's okay to lose because it may help you draft at #3 or #4 - which may or may not to turn out to be a better player than #14 or #15 - is to have the mindset of a loser,
or even #1
Well said ex...and well said Ted Nolan.
Do people really want the young guys just coming up to see a team that has "thrown in the towel?" Do you want other FAs to see this? Do you want draft picks thinking "wow, this team tanked last season" and wishing away their 3-year entry level deals ready to spring into greener pastures as soon as the 1st big offer sheet comes in (aright, double edged sword because if these draft picks are any good, we should get pretty good compensation in return if they sign an RFA offer sheet)? Maybe your answer is yes if you want the team to stay this way forever...and to which I would say you are probably a Rags fan
But no way Nolan et al are going to let them throw in the towel. Now, he may do some things that may appear to make it harder for the Isles to win (like the line changes), but I have to admit I think he is just trying to put out a competitive team and see what he has player and chemistry wise for next year.
My point is that the Isles need to do everything in their power to attract players, and foremost is to build a culture of winning. I am truly heartened by the insight KH has provided, mostly the fact that the Hockey minds that are here are looking long-term and have a plan.
I know some don't think that can happen under this current regime, and we should topple Wang/Snow the way we toppled statues of Saddam...but, hey, they guy is opening his pocket book to try and sign some top talent (for whatever ulterior motives that might surround the Lighthouse) and this team is starting to build a young core.
Winning is infectious, and if the hockey minds that are there get their "plan" implemented, we are hopefully just a few years out from being consistently competitve and reducing substantial roster turnover. Add in a couple of good drafts, and that goes down some.
So, bide your time gents, all sports are cyclical, it is just taking the Isles longer to get out of the hole that had been dug by several years of mismanagement/ownership.
I think Nolan has the right mindset .... but ... skating them into exhaustion for punishment? This isn't the 1980 USA hockey team .... this isn't Denis Potvin missing the bus to Philly .... these guys really are not that good.
I'll admit ... there probably were a few vet deadwood skaters out there .... but at this point of the season I'm really wondering how many of them are among the ranks of the skating wounded.
Maybe that time could of been more productive making them work the power play till their blisters popped. The purpose of wind springs is to build stamina .... were they really just out of shape? Are they playing hurt? Or just lazy? If the deadwood players were just lazy ... then there is a bigger problem.
I don't think Nolan needs to justify how he prepares games to us ... I honestly believe that he has a warriors spirit and hates to lose no matter what.... because just because the Isles finish in the top 5 doesn't gaurantee that player will become a Super Star .... likely yes ... guaranteed .. no. exguy kinda nailed it on the head ... especially with the Bossy reference.
Still ... I'd rather see the kids play at this point and time. Why audition the potential UFA's for other teams to scout? Those players have already had their chance to perform over the first 74 games.... and that didn't amount to much.
I would like to see Nolan roll out 3 solid lines with equal distribution of ice time... and the 4th line get about 9-12 shifts in the mix.
I'd like to see the lines setup like this.
A- Tamby-LW Comrie-C Okposo-RW
B- Bergy-LW Nielsen-C Guerin-RW
C- Satan-LW Park-C Comeau-RW
D- Regier-LW JoVas-C Hunter-RW
Both Satan and Comeau can play RW/LW ... so they can interchange on the line as needed.
On D ... show me:
A- Spiller / Marty
B- Meyer / Fata
C- Johnson / Berard
D- #1+#2=X
Not much left on defense to even pick from.
D-money....
"Do people really want the young guys just coming up to see a team that has "thrown in the towel?" Do you want other FAs to see this? Do you want draft picks thinking "wow, this team tanked last season" and wishing away their 3-year entry level deals ready to spring into greener pastures"
With HIGHEST REGARDS to Marine Corps General Oliver P. Smith during the Korean War in 1950.....
"Retreat Hell! We're just attacking in another direction."
505 - you been a DJ before? Because I'll give you this - you sure can spin just about any situation into a positive!
D-money,
"505 - you been a DJ before? Because I'll give you this - you sure can spin just about any situation into a positive!"
Well, since you mention it, I do enjoy good music of all varieties, and am often called upon to shuffle CD's at various types of festivities, but I have never engaged in it as a profession.
As far as the rest of your post??
I'M IRISH.
In the words our Oscar Wilde.....
"A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing."
I'm a Ranger fan, but I'm certaintly not an Islander hater. I enjoy the Isles. They make me laugh. How can you hate something that makes you laugh? The Isles are a source of amusement for me. Every single day this pitiful organization is good for a laugh or two.
Hal,
"Seems like they really get under your (everyones) skin."
Nah,
... they're kinda like taxes, flat beer, old girlfriends or wives, dead dogs in the middle of the road, Jim Baumbach articles, or Mike Comrie's toe drag.....
No matter what you do to avoid them, it's inevitable that you're gonna encounter 'em from time to time.
As long as you don't allow to ruin your day.....life is good.
I am truly heartened by the insight KH has provided, mostly the fact that the Hockey minds that are here are looking long-term and have a plan.
With regards to this, where is the "insight" that seems to have reassured so many of the posters here? I've seen a poster who signs as KH and is evidently a member of a group promoting the expansion and development of what is colloquially known as the "Lighthouse Project", but I have yet to see any facts or arguments made to the effect that the team "Has a Plan" and is interested in the "Long-Term Goals" of the franchise.
What is that plan? What are those goals? What makes you think that management really understands the situation and has the knowledge and experience to deal with it? If you have reasons to support these suggestions, then please share them. For the amount of people that seem to have bought into this idea, there seem to be very few that can substantively say why they feel that way.
I find it a bit suspect and not particularly reassuring when someone says something akin to "trust me, the future is bright and there is a plan, but I can't tell you what the plan is or why the future is bright".
I mean, maybe it is, and maybe its not. But those are some big statements to make if you aren't going to back them up with some facts and examples.
For my money, I'll believe it when I see it, and when its reflected in the performance of the hockey club. Until then, talk is cheaper than dirt.
Just my two cents.
NOBODY LIKED THE IDEA OF SIGNING ME AS THE 1A BACKUP FOR DP?? i have GRIT, CHARACTER AND HEART!!!!!
I cant feel my face......I cant feel my face!!!!
Frei,
here is KH's organization:
http://www.lilighthouse.com/
KH's organization (and Nick? or Merrick? I forget---BUT CERTAINLY NOT OUR TREEHUGGER FROM DENVER!!!!), is an ad hoc citizen committee.
here is Wang's organization:
www.lighthouseli.com
Each sight delineates "plans".
If your decisions/feelings about the feasibility/credibility of the Light House Project are based on the Isles won/loss record, uh, I think you're being just a little myopic.
The project goes a somewhat beyond the New York Islanders.
They are CERTAINLY central to the project.....but the project is a little bigger than just the Islander's.
tonysac,
"NOBODY LIKED THE IDEA OF SIGNING ME AS THE 1A BACKUP FOR DP??"
Actually, given DP's current physical condition, your resume is being bandied about as a full time starter instead.
As long as you don't mind me and Steady and a whiskey bottle in front of you, in lieu of Witt and Campoli.
"i have GRIT, CHARACTER AND HEART!!!!!"
No question. It's the beyond regulation size five hole that bothers some.
"I cant feel my face......I cant feel my face!!!!"
Arghhh....I just CAN'T bring myself to go there with some obscure myspace/youtube comments.
505...I think i can handle full time status as starting goalie...Heck with my 2 torn groin muscles, ill be keeping your whiskey bottle on my net, as long as i can play 78 games next season or until my liver fails...Maybe we can have a Pool of which happens first, 78 games in a row, or my liver failing after polishing off a whiskey bottle a period...
"Am I smiling, I cant tell 505, I cant tell"
Hey Anonymous you say the Islanders make you laugh???? Every year we've been laughing at your Rangers pal. Year after year your Rangers try to buy their way to win a cup and you get no where! Your team has the same problems we have. You guys get rid of players and then they become great players for other teams. Same as us. So go F yourself.
same problems?
our goalie has chronic hip problems too??
I better check this out...
I guess you missed the year after year. Just like a Ranger fan.
tonysac,
"ill be keeping your whiskey bottle on my net,"
Yeah, and I'm sleeping with your wife and your 16 year old daughter the same night.
Not a figgin chance.
"Am I smiling, I cant tell 505, I cant tell"
If your groin(s)--is there such a word as groins?-- are painful, you're not smiling hard enough.
505.....IM not married, nor do i have a 16yr old daughter...but i get the point...I guess ill bring my bottle of Hennessey then....And i dont believe "groins" is a proper english word, but hey im not an English teacher, so If people want to make up there own words, IM all for it..I mean heck, Snoop Dogg uses the word fo shizzle my nizzle...and people actually understand that when used in a sentence..so why cant we use the word groins...I say F it, and throw the word groins around like we mean it.....
NAPLES
See my earlier posts about Ice Worms....
No need to go there. It's all been said a million times.
It's all Barney Blabber......" I hate you, you hate me, we're an intermarried fam-ill-ee......"
Don't be an Ice Worm.
tonysac,
"I mean heck, Snoop Dogg uses the word fo shizzle my nizzle...and people actually understand that when used in a sentence"
TONY,
You have made it painfully clear that spending too much time on a beanbag chair with an oversized 5 hole (and a bag of Cheetos?)is not the life of choice.
But put the GD remote down, or parentally control the 3rd MTV option on your remote, and START LISTENING TO MUSIC!!!!
Just my opinion, i could be wrong.
Back to the Islanders Greg.
If everyone who always says "ignore the troll" actually ignored the troll he probably would have stopped posting here a year ago. There's no way I'd leave you guys alone if I were him going by the reactions he gets here.