On the Islanders Beat

Good Deal. Garth is getting all of the young guys locked up.

MY girls will be happy. Bruno is young and has room to grow this year. A solid signing IMHO.

Excellent! :)

Now find someone to put the puck in the net and hire Quennville or Tortorella and lets get to Round 2 at least in 09!

Wonder if Ziggy can still play =P

The Islanders are a joke. Terrible team, terrible arena, terrible fans (last in attendance AGAIN)....... Why don't the Islanders just fold? Why should they be permitted to embarrass the National Hockey League any further?????

15 years without winning a playoff series. Geesh!

I REAAALLLY did not expect that you could post on here without a name or an email. Apparently you can -- hence all the "Anonymous" posts. Wow.

Gervais. Meh. Two days ago, some here were talking about a good trade of him to Montreal. Three years on a one way deal seems a lot, but it is cheap.

Congrats Bruno!!!

Like someone said previously...now we need to work on scoring.

A lot of "IFS", but I'm counting on Guerin and Comrie to get 20 goals. The question is who else can contribute...we have several players with 20 goal potential. Let's see:
Tambellini
Hunter
Okposo
Comeau
Sillinger (?)
Bergenheim

Any thoughts on who will deliver?

Once again right years at the right price. I personally think Garth has had a good offseason. Now lets see how those kids do on the ice. Visit my Islanders blog at:

http://floridaislesfan.blogspot.com/

So will Freddy Meyer be traded? He seemed to be getting better at the end of last season, surprisingly...
And there's an extra forward also. Please please please please get rid of First Base Andy...

Hock -

I think Okoposo and Bergenhheim are the only hopes on that list.

If Sillinger can stay healthy, he's an excellent player for our team. But, with the hip and his perhaps "fractured" relationship with Garth, the forces may be against him.

Congrats to Bruno and to Garth... I think that is a fair deal ... others have already stated why it's fair.

I think Bruno is going to have a decent year ... he looked in good shape at the last day of Prospect Camp ... guess he was training with DP.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Bruno has a 3G / 15A season ... and finished plus 3. :)

As far as the 20 Goal Scorers are concerned ... hymmmm ... well last year I expected Tank and Miro to pot 20+ and 25+ respectively ... so I'm not so sure who would be in the 20G club this season.

For those long time fans ... doesn't it seem comical that we're looking for 20G scorers?? LOL!

I'm gonna play Hock's game just for SnG's.

Tambellini - 18G / 10 PPG - 2 SHG
Hunter - 14G / 3 PPG - 1 SHG
Okposo - 20G / 9 PPG - 1 SHG
Comeau - 17 G / 3 PPG - 0 SHG
Sillinger (?) - 12 G / 4 PPG - 2 SHG
Bergenheim - 21G / 8 PPG - 1 SHG

Now admittedly ... I pulled those numbers out of my a$$ ... and it's basically wishful thinking ... because truely there are so many things that can happen this season ... and we are still 6+ weeks away from training camp. But it would be cool to see how close my guesses came next April.

TMC .... Newsday will not get rid of the Anonymous posters because they get revenue for the clicks to the site. Every Anon has the potential to view one of the ad banners on these pages (doubt very much they'll respond to the ads) ... so we end up reading their Rot so Newsday makes $$$ ... but hey ... they make themselves look foolish ... so I just brush those posts aside.

Please read this ;
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=244291&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl

Now it's really only a matter of time before Wang, a very good businessman, moves this team or sells it off and the new owners will move it.
Sad time for Islanders fans folk.
Remember, I'll be there with the camera crew filming the tears in the giant parking lot.
What Dynasty? The long island who is what your kids will say. hahahahahaha

But long-term, the players aren't singling out any particular franchises and saying 'that's got to go'. They really would like to see all the existing franchises survive, if that's possible."

Than why don't the Islanders spend some of that cash they have left over and bring in some talent to save this team?
I'd say the players are against coming to LI because the ownership and GM are the laughing stock of the league. There's no reason to come to LI when no one shows up to watch the games.
Forget the Lighthouse Wang-doodle! Fix the team before we lose it!

Teddy

yup Wangs going to waste all his money keeping the Islanders here just for the fans huh?
Would you like to buy a bridge?

I agree. The Islanders should just fold. The National Hockey League has been embarrassed by this downtrodden organization one two many times. From their miniscule attendance figures, to their front office to their pathetic play on the ice. Get em out of here. How many times do we have to see a mostly empty Mausoleum crowd being made fun of by the ESPN crew? It's bad for our sport.

Sir W ... just got caught up with posts on previous thread.

Kevin M. .. gave me a preview at the rink ... LOL!!! He's a character.

When I said .... "My arguement was that you can't compare Torts to Arbour... you just can't. Torts couldn't hold Arbour's clipboard."

You said ... "I don't think you can measure a mans career until it's over. Torts is a young guy and will coach somewhere in the NHL again. He has lots of years left to prove himself. To say that he couldn't hold Arbours clipboard is just dumb. I thought you were above that."

Look ... I wasn't knocking you personally... I just thought you represented my comments inaccurately .... but I stand firm in the belief that Torts couldn't hold Radar's clipboard ... seriously now ... not many coaches could. No matter how dumb you might think I am for saying it.

There are only 3 legendary coaches IMO ... Bowman, Blake and Arbour ... those 3 are the cream of the coaching crop ... and history supports that ... and true .... there were other extraordinary great coaches in the history of this league ... but those 3 are the gold standard IMO.

Listen Sir W .... if you can't measure a man's career until it's over ... then how can you compare him with Arbour?

I agree ... Torts has a lot of years left in him ..... which means he still has a lot to prove before he can be mentioned in the same breath with Arbour ..... Tampa had ONE outstanding year with Superstars with him behind the bench .... and they had only ONE 100 point plus season ... in the age of 82 games and over time / shootout loss points that doesn't say much to me.

That isn't why however I don't put much stock in JT .... I just don't agree that is coaching style is suited for THIS Isles team .... hey ... maybe if you can alter time and throw Johnny Torts in Al's spot ... perhaps JT would become a legendary coach ... but that is a question we will never have the answer to.

When I said .. "No wonder why most people here get frustrated with you on here. That is where you lose me Sir W."

You said .. "Wow!! Cut me to the quick. Because I really care what some of the trolls here think. There are some good hockey minds here."

Sir W ... That wasn't a knock about how much or whether or not you care ... it's was in reference to your insistant droning over a specific comment that some makes ... that you spin out of the context of their original comment. When someone clarifys themself ... then you still harp on your original insistence.

We can disagree that you think Torts would be good for the Isles and I think that he's not the best answer among the candidates available. So what? It ends there ... because either way neither one of us makes that choice... or even has the information and first hand experience to make an informed decision on it.

Just don't misrepresent my comments. That is all I asked ... and when you ask something to back up someone's statement ... don't play Mr. Bank examiner and ask for something to backup the information that backs up the information.

We are all pretty much in the same boat as you ... as fans we make our decisions and opinions with the best info out there that we have and our own experiences. Even the two most agreeable people on here have their own opinions ... and as you have said in the past ... that is fine ... because we are entitled to those opinions.

When I said ... "wouldn't of qualified for the playoffs under normal circumstances ... that was the year the shoot began."

You corrected me by saying ...."It was the year the shoot beagn" ( I'm going to assume you meant shootout)."

Yeah Sir William .. you got that right .... I meant to say ... "IT was the year the shootout BEGAN" ..... ;) ... touche my friend. Typos are a biotch ... aren't they?

And once again ... I have to scold you for your misrepresentation of how you spin someone's comments to mean something else in your reply ....

You said ..
"As for the S/E. Well it's not where you start in the playoffs but where you finish. The regular season is only an elimination process. It makes no difference how many teams from each division get into the playoffs. It just matters who gets to the Finals.
The S/E rep had to get past every other team to make the Cup Finals and they did it. I don't see how you can argue with that."

First off ... I'd like to say .... there is a reason why the playoffs are considered the REAL or SECOND SEASON ... it is because they are long and grueling ... and I didn't knock Torts or Tampa for winning the cup in 2004 .... I stated that a few times they were the power house in the conference ... and was fortunate to play in the weak S/E division where they can amass some points .... and Yes ... in the regular season ... it does pad their point total a bit to play in a weak division. I don't see how you can argue with that.

The S/E has sucked as a DIVISION ... I NEVER stated that Tampa and Carolina sucked what else do I have to say to get that through to you?

BTW ... if you are only looking at Tampa's playoff perfomance as you seem to be fixated on the fact that Tampa won the cup in 2004 ... then what is the sum of all of Tampa's efforts under Torts in his entire tenure as their coach?

Not much better than the Isles as a whole ... missed the playoffs twice under Torts in the same time frame the Isles missed the playoffs twice ... and the Isles have played in a stronger division. Also ... yeah ... ONE Stanley Cup is the jewel of his tenure.... all the other years mired by mediocrity with a top talent roster. Tampa has only passed the 1st round when the won the cup & made it to the 2nd round the year before that. The more I look at this .. the more Torts really turns me off. Blahhhhh!!!

.... and last but not least.

You said to Kevin M. .... "Kevin M,......Leave 19 ISLES be. Beleive me, I can take it. And I don't mind from it him, because at least he sometimes knows what he's talking about ( how's that for a backhanded
compliment).........Sir William"

Very nice SW .... LOL!!! That was more like an inside out compliment. ;)

Sir W ... relating to other business ... and questions you had.

I haven't heard anything from Julien regarding coaches ... I asked on Tuesday and he said that any buzz regarding the Isles vacated coaching position has been relatively placid ... they've been so busy collecting data and scouting reports on the recent draftees and updating their database with the existing rosters of ECHL, AHL & NHL clubs.

Julien added though ... and said if he did ... he wouldn't tell me .... he said don't think that coaches and players (mostly young ones) don't read blog comments. They are very keenly aware of fan sentiment ... and if I post anything that could only point to them ... they lose a sense of confidentiality ... which is a big part of what their business relies on. So he kind of shut the door on me for any future questions about that.

I noticed the last few times I've tried to pry something from him he's been resistant. I wonder if they are clamping down on what they perceive as their intellectual property? All I was able to get from him on Tuesday was .... Yeah ... I heard the Isles stable of young prospects got a good look last week ... and looks like the Isles have some solid depth without even showcasing 2 potential future stars in Petrov and Ness. He left it at that. Makes me wonder exactly how they get their info.... Isles TV? LOL! I know we supply them with game footage during the course of the season and drafts ... but who exactly are the pro-scouts? Does Morrow give them the info? I doubt it. Maybe I should apply for a position with his company.

I've said it before and will say it again: HUGE transition time for the Islanders. Just didn't think it would've involved the coach, when I and many others first said those words.

Time for the final piece to this new puzzle to happen.

Busey I don't know why? Maybe just tired of being pi$$ed on every year?

I've only been following hockey for 5 years or so. I chose the Islanders because I am a Met fan and well, the Isles also seem like the lil brother underdog which is what I tend to follow. Besides, I wasn't going to hop on the Devil Bandwagon, and I'm not one to go with the fan favorite more established teams like the Yankees, Giants or Rangers. Poor me eh?

I have to say this much though. Although I've only found this site during the draft I've learned a lot about my fellow Islander fans. There are the solid hard core fight on types when things don't always go as they had hoped. Then there are the ones who have nothing positive to add and only spew out venomous rants.

Maybe it's just me but doesn't that seem counter productive? When players read these blogs they must feel the fan base is volitile and that is why they don't show up at NVMC. Granted. I've only been to 2 games in my life in the 5 years I've followed this team, but I live on the Jersey shore, and go to school while working 2 jobs. I'm only 22 so I hope to go to some more games when I have a real job.

I bounce at this club, and the other night I was speaking with this guy from Ontario down at the shore for vacation. He told me more about the Islanders then anyone I've ever known. He said the Islanders were one of the most successful franchises ever, and they are going through a bad 15 year spell mostly do to ownership and Mike Milberry. He is a fan of Detroit, but said the Islanders need patience, and the fans really have to give Snow some leeway since he really just is starting his 3rd season. He thought the Islander had a monster draft.

I'm not down on the Islanders at all, but then again I didn't have to deal with this for 15 years, but I'll tell you one thing. If the Islanders are going to build its fanbase the fans themself have to start getting behind this team and pushing.

I'm not a hockey intellectual, I've only played street hockey with my friends. I can't claim to be a hockey guru like some of you guys seem to be. However I know how to be a fan. I'll support them though this dark time. It's harder to re-build an empire from the ruins then it is to start from scratch.

Newsday. This site has trouble posting comments. Thank god for reverse navigation before I figured out how to get a post through. I had to reset and get a new security code.

19 ISLES.....According to NHL.com the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the NHL league winner since 1926. That's 82 years. Allowing for multiple winners (Arbour, Bowman etc) only a select few coaches have ever won it, probably less than 40.

That's pretty good company Torts and Hartley are in. For all the tens of thousands of games coached in the NHL these two men stand among very elite company. Anyone (not necessarily you)
can spin it however they will, but the fact remains that both those coaches have done something that very few people have.

I simply like Torts passion to win better.

As for your typos, that was not the point. You claimed that the Oilers only made the playoffs because of the shootout rule.

My point was that all 30 teams played by the same rules. Period
It had nothing to do with typos (which we all are guilty of).

Some of the more long winded posters are bound to have more typos by the law of averages. ( another inside out jab) LOL LOL.............Sir William

LOL Sir William.

I think what 19 was saying was that Arbour and Bowman were the elite of the elites. Well, that is how I saw it. If by your own standards you view Tortorella in the same class as a Bowman or Arbour, well, that is your opinion. Some people place a certain pedigree to certain players and coaches. By my own standards you have different classes of players and coaches. Consistency is a criteria that I myself use to apply to those classes.

Some coaches step-in-it and are blessed with a stable of thoroughbreds, some coaches are left with a barn of broken down never beens, and some inbetween. Arbour and Tortorella both were blessed with star players. The arguement then is who was better at developing players into an elite consistent winner? Who was able to ice a team that can play any type of game for over 6 or 7 years.

Does winning the cup once as a coach enable that coach to take any team thereafter and create the same magic again? If that were true, even our beloved Al Arbour would of succeeded again. Actually, he came close again in 1993. If sneaky Pete hadn't been injured by a cheap shot (he wasn't the same after), and the Isles' defense didn't get banged up (Pilon played hurt since Pitt), then maybe they'd come close. Hey, injuries are part of the game. So what happened, happened. But it's nice to think Al could of had a great Swan Song.

Sir William, 19 said you were good people last night. I agree with him. I agree with you that Tortorella is a good coach. I just agree with 19 and some other people that perhaps Tortorella is the wrong coach for this team at this time. However the burden of that decision is on our fearless leader Garth Snow.

Like the Tambellinini signing, I am just having trouble understanding locking up guys that really haven't proved to me that they are solid, contributing professional NHLers. Gervais is average at best and deserved a 1-year deal for under a million. I don't his stats and seeming injury-prone status deserve this. My Islanders...I am so disillusioned.

troll - get some help dude or start taking your meds again. you really need it.

More Isles negativity...

A Q&A with Jack Johnson of the L.A. Kings....

Question: I know it is still early, but what's your call on the worst NHL hockey city?

Johnson: (Laughs). Oh, I'd have to say the Islanders' rink and the area just around there was the worst (laughs).

-----

Question: Okay, how about the best?

Johnson: I think the best place was New York City, Madison Square Garden.

-----

Question: Nice, so on the same road trip you experienced both the best and the worst?

Johnson: Yep, sure did (laughs).

Source: http://www.insidesocal.com/kings/2008/07/post.html

You wonder if the Coliseum and lack of fan support is actually helpful to the Islanders.

Just look at Johnson's comments. He is basically saying it is downright depressing to play before an empty Coliseum crowd. Naturally, I bet he (and many others) do not put in the same type of effort that they would in other arenas.

So this is beneficial to the Islanders, and harmful to the Rangers. When a team plays at the Gareden, the are pumped up, the crowd is in to it. They give it their all. They play the Isles at the Coliseum and they are depressed by the near empty crowd they play before.

Hey Anon: you must be on to something because the NYR have been having trouble against the lsles in LI and NYC the last couple of years. Wow!!!! I know nothing gets me more pumped than corporate meetings so playing at MSG would really be a great place to showcase my talents....

But seriously would it really matter if the Isles left. I know to the hard-cores like us it would... but what about the regular fan. I mean this team was hot as hell two years ago... moving up in the standings, got a gamer like Smyth... and if my memory serves me correctly only like 12k showed up to his first game... On the other hand when I went to game 3 vs Buff on a monday the barn was rocking...

I get to go to a few NYI-Phi games a year and that place is a great place to see a game... even 2 years ago when they were horrible the fans showed up to weekday games.... thats why this rebuild may be more detrimental than ever anticipated. Fans weren't showing up when the team was competing. What about when they are bombing.... consistently... I wish I could make it to LI for more than like 5-7 games a year, but thats all I can do.. When you sign up for Center Ice they ask you who your favorate team is... to teams make out on that?

HEY KEV, I do not rank Torts with the greats, yet. But he is very young and who knows?. I just think that any coach that has won the Cup deserves a lot of credit. It's by far the hardest trophy in sports to win.

I don't think that the Original Six coaches had it as hard as it is now. Win 8 games and win the Cup. And all the teams were close geographically.

That's why I do not think that the Isles record of 19 straight playoff series win will never be broken. But hey, I never expected to see anyone break Lou Gherig's record either.

I just feel that the next coach has to be someone who takes this team by the back of the neck ad kicks it in the ass. We need some fire here. Someone who just hates to lose. I also think hiring Torts would give the franchise some respectability that it sadly lacks. Right now the league and all it's pundits are laughing at the franchise. I doubt Torts would put up with anyone laughing at him or his team......Sir William

I have to agree with Sir William here. If any of you believe the Isles under Ted Nolan were a team that "hated to lose," then you weren't watching carefully. Rather, the Isles seemed very complacent at times last year while going through the motions and allowing inferior teams to walk all over them.

Everyone loves to cite the lack of talent or injuries to Witt, Silinger, or DP as the reasons for last season's collapse. But the truth is that the Isles last year proved they could compete with some of the best teams in the NHL. And with a full healthy lineup they still failed to show up on many nights throughout the season.

I think Tortorella is needed for this reason. I think the Isles younger players need to learn right away the kind of mentality it takes to endure through grueling 82 game season and so I think the "voice" in the locker room needs to be of the type Tortorella would bring. I'm not sure how important the head coach is in terms of "developing young talent" as has been often discussed here. The assistants etc. should be primarily responsible for developing players, whereas the head coach should be more concerned with overall strategy, work ethic, and encouragement.

I don't think any sound-minded individual would put Tortorella in Arbour or Bowman's league, but it does say something about a coach if he's got a ring.

The next Ranger fan who comes on here, whether anonymous, or with a true handle or as an imposter, and posts a comment about the Isles not deserving to be in the league or on Long Island is not a hockey fan.
If the Isles leave you are destined to watch hockey on your boob tube.

Let's face it jackasses, if it were not for the Islanders, THE RANGERS would be the laughing stock of the league.
Hundreds of millions spent and ONE CUP in 68 years.

And the best rivalry in all of sports is the Isles/Rangers Rivalry.
PERIOD.
Without the Isles, the homeless Ranger fans(can't get your hands on a corporate ticket) have no place to go to catch their favorite team.

CUZ YOU AIN'T GOT THE MONEY TO SEE A GAME.

You people are friggen HYPOCRITES.

You love having the Isles around.
You would not see live hockey with your favorite team without NVMC.

Try to get real with yourselves.
Get a grip.

Or simply move 2 time zones away and pay your pennies for NHL Center Ice.

Children.

505

It's not that fault of the Ranger fans that Johnson made these comments. Blame yourselves.

Good day.

Candy ... I agree with your overall comment. I think Torts would defintely be an upgrade over Nolan .... especially for his more recent experience in today's NHL ... and you hit the nail on the head when it comes to who is responsible for the actual developing and teaching of young talent. That being said ... a head coach also spends a lot of time with kids more than you'd expect. He's just as much invested in them as anyone else would be.

Torts is in a special class of coaches because he has a ring ... and we all know ... look at the Rags ... just because you have talent .... doesn't mean diddly squat unless you have the coach who can do something with it.

Torts as Sir W has mentioned repeatedly ... would blow some fire up the team's collective asses ... I'm just not confident that the kids would respond positively to that ... on the other hand .. maybe Torts would temper some of that fire with the understanding that he's dealing with 20-23 year olds still learning the finer points ... if he can do that .... he's definitely got the goods.

505 ~ ^5 .... well said my friend.

Anon / wuss who doesn't post a handle..... who the hell cares about Johnson?? Seriously now. All he did is make himself a target .... goodluck in NVMC Johnson. LA Blows. Kings ... a team that lives in a bigger shadow under the Lakers than the Rags do under the lowly Knicks. At least the Isles have a rabid following. I've been to Kings games in LA where that bigger building seems more empty than NVMC... but I digress ... I'm not going to get into a pissing match about a team on the other side of the continent ... who gives a feret's a$$. Besides, Rags can't beat the Isles much at MSG or NVMC lately.. what's their lame excuse?

I can't believe the same troll is harping on the same attendance thing since the genesis of this board...which was YEARS ago. Hey Logan, get your pen and notebook ready, we have some breaking news here - Islander games don't sell out. I never knew that before.

FINALLY!!!!!! this is probably the FIRST article ive read in a long time, in reference to worst trade, worst signing, worst anything, THAT THE ISLANDERS ARE NOT APART OF!!!!!! But our cross town RIVAL the RANGERS ARE!!!! What is this world coming too...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=screenshots080723

Wow it felt pretty good reading the rangers made the 2nd worst off season overpayed signing with WADE REDDEN!!!!....Before i read the article, I said to myself..Im sure the ISLANDERS will be on this list w/ STREIT or WEIGHT!! even though i dont think we overpayed, I figured, we are the ISLANDERS....

Come on LADIES AND GENTS!!! To all the pessimistic fans on this BLOG...CHEER UP!!! Things are moving forward for the better... I feel it...Its gonna be a long JOURNEY, but we all need to STICK by this team and continually support these YOUNG kids!!! WE NEED to fill up the rink and SUPPORT!!! We need to show these kids we BELIEVE in them, CHEER FOR THEM and the ONE of my biggest PET PEEVES are when FANS BOOOOOOOOOOOOO there own team!!!!!! YOUR NOT a fan if you BOOOO your own team...FANS CHANT LETS GO ISLANDERS even when they are down 5-0 in the 3rd....NOT BOO THEM OFF THE RINK!!!!!!!

Im trying to switch my work schedule so i can ATTEND more games this season, or possibly look into a 10 game package...Just finished COLLEGE, and going for my MBA next year im gonna be strapped for cash, so im will do my best to get to as many games as possible...IM hoping my company supplies me with a few games this year, which they usually do!!!

PS....Im looking to get into Human Resources, entry level...Gettin my MBA in Management w/ a concentration of HR...Gettin my HR certification first, then gettin my MBA...I know we have alot of BUSINESS people on this BLOG, If anyone knows of any AVAILABLE positions or can HELP a FELLOW die hard ISLANDERS fan out, it would be much appreciated!!!

Bravo Tonysac....

BRAVO.

Good luck with your job search.

Garth could probably use a little HR consulting right now.

There’s a very long Q&A with LA defenseman Jack Johnson conducted by Don Fulton on the Inside the Kings blog for the LA Daily News. He has a number of interesting thoughts about developing confidence in the NHL and life during his first season and his relationship with ex-teammate Rob Blake, his mentor who is now with the Sharks.
At the end, he was asked “What’s your call on the worst NHL hockey city?
“Johnson: (Laughs). Oh, I’d have to say the Islanders’ rink and the area just around there was the worst. (laughs)
“Question: Okay, how about the best?
“Johnson: I think the best place was New York City, Madison Square Garden.”

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/the-morning-skate-carcillo-throws-em-so-might-the-khl/

There was a show on early this morning on MSG plus called Islanders Illustrated I think it's going to be repeated this afternoon, anybody catch it? Was it any good?

TO ALL: ... I know that I'm just a grumpy old fan but I have to say that today's players are SPOILED. Thes kids that need "nurturing and development" really need a boot in the ass. They shoul be on their knees thanking God that they have the talent and good fortune to be playing in the NHL. How many of their teammates in college or juniors are working in factories or at entry level jobs just to make ends meet?

What they need is a healthy dose of discipline and responsibility.
That's why I favor Torts over the other coaches.

My first indoor games started at 5 am on Sunday mornings at the old World's Fair rink in Queens. I took the bus and the subway loaded down with all my equipment and hoofed it from the train station.

I know, I know. I sound like my father telling me that he walked 2 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways, every day.

But I am just making the point that playing in the NHL is a privilege. But it is also a job that pays very well. So I do not see where players need to be pampered to do the job that they are being paid so well to do.

That's why I'm grumpy. I expect people to work as hard as I did.
I was in charge of over 50 people in my prior employment and if they didn't bust a gut everyday, I got rid of them and brought in someone who wanted to work.

So I guess I just don't get all this " be nice to the young players" attitude. I want a coach, not a care bear.......Sir William

Sir William ... I agree with you 1000000% there ... my oposition to a hardass coach really is based on the makeup of today's primadona players.... I'm not saying that today's kids don't work hard .... but if they had to experince what their dads and grandads did at the rink ... they'd probably take up skateboarding or something.

I used to have to get my arse up to Yonkers for some games while living on Staten Island ... let me tell ya ... Yonkers was a cesspool of a rink to go to. I'd get there for 1am practices because you couldn't get ice time. My teammate Tommy Bee would drive 4 of us in his old Dodge Charger with a hole in the floor ... and a screw driver to put the car in drive. That old battle axe of a car got us all over the tri-state area for 2 years.

One time we took a train to the Staten Island Ferry, then subway to Grand Central Station to hop on the Metro North ... and then a taxi to the rink .... 2 and half hours from the time I walked out of my house to the doors of the rink ... and it was a bloody 15 degrees outside ... thank god we beat the pants off the other team. I guess we were peeO'd. There after we called that other team the Westchester Wussies.

Our hockey gear could be stuffed into a normal gym bag except for shin gaurds and helmut ... we didn't wear as much padding back then.... no wonder I'm deranged.

Hey Sir W .... I was going to bring up Mike Keenan in a good comparrison to Torts.... I think Mikey only has seen 3 playoffs since winning the cup with the Strangers ... that is also another reason why I don't put much stock in coaches that are "one-hit" wonders while icing an all-star team.

Anyways ... I hope all are having a great weekend ... I'm out again. Later Skaters.

~~~ 505 ... what do you think of that Yankee trade?? I'd like it better if Posada was healthy .... that is gonng hurt down the stretch.

19Isles..
Great trade by Cashman.......I was sorry to see Ohlendorf go. I think he will be a good one down the road...at least he gets to go somewhere and get some time.

I fear that we have seen Jorge catch his last major league game.

37 year old catchers with a serious shoulder surgery is not much different than 37 year old centers getting hip surgery.

Whoops....last post was me...I was having fun with Neil Best on his blog with the "rick Swenson" name and forgot to change it.

Speaking of the Yankees trade, I went to the Pirates web site to see what the Pirates are saying about the trade. It sounded like what the Isles said about the moves they made at this years draft. "It will give us organizational depth and make us competitive in the years to come,blah blah blah.As an Isles fan, I say to all of you Pirate fans "I FEEL YOUR PAIN!!!!"

The Islanders really won't be all that young next season. They will probably have as many 30+ players in the opening night lineup as most teams in the league.

Guerin
Weight
Sim
Park
Sillinger
Sutton
Witt
Martinek
Streit

Then if you think about it, most of the so called "kids" really aren't "kids". They are young players who have pretty much in limbo for a while:

Bergehheim
Tambellini
Walter
Neilsen
Walter

The only "kids" i see making the roster are Okpose and Comeau, possibly Bailey (but he should be sent to juniors IMO)

By contrast, the Flyers will have 7 30+'s in their lineup, the Rangers if they don't sign Shanny will have just 4 (if you count Roszival who will be 30 by opening night), the Pens will have 6. The Devils on then other hand will be loaded with over 30's.

Whomever asked about Islanders Illustrated on MSG Plus... It's a very well produced, informative 30 minutes that will have you yearning for them to start the season already. Josh Bailey did a great interview with Shawna Ryan and our favorite announcers all speak their minds during a good segment.

Well I don't think Jack Johnson put out a hit on the Islanders, so see I can actually be objective...I took a different perspective on it.

Quotes like that make the case for a) the Lighthouse to move forward as quickly as possible, and b) the Islanders to put out some kind of marketing/PR program to show the true merits of Long Island. We who live or visit the area know that the Island has some gorgeous places and is, for most, a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Visiting players mostly know the depressing drive from LaGuardia, MacArthur, or Republic Airports, and the asphalt jungle surrounding the Coliseum. If that was the only experience I had of an area, I wouldn't consider it that nice either. MSG on the other hand has a major location advantage, and everyone with half a brain knows how wonderful the City is.

The negative perception around the league is borne from a lot of exaggerated points with nuggets of truth in them. We love the Coliseum, but the fact remains that it's a crumbling dump compared to the new arenas being built all over the league, and it sits in a desolate sheet of pavement. Once the arena renovations begin and the area around comes alive, perceptions will change. The Islanders should also, as I've suggested before, put together a 30-45 minute promo presentation of Long Island starring Bossy, Trottier, Gillies, Christie Brinkley, and other local celebrities and Islanders who've made their full-time home in the area. They should then send this video to every agent who represents an NHL player or a draft-eligible prospect, in order to prove there is more to this area than what visiting players see.

The perception can be changed, but you have to blame the team's PR as much as the setting for it. Let's get shovels in the ground for the Lighthouse as soon as this SEQRA nonsense ends, and let's take back our team.

I have to comment on the Islanders Illustrated, it was informative and had some great Josh Bailey goal highlights, but it did feel like it was produced by a local high school at times. Steve Mears looks like he hasn't slept in weeks. There is something unnerving about a man who looks like he hasn't seen the sun in the middle of the summer. Having said all that, Isles Illustrated does leave you wishing for colder weather.

I for one am looking forward to this season. Who the coach is does make a difference as to how the Isles will play day in day out, but I can't get too caught up in it emotionally. Not yet. When the Islanders turn into this years Blackhawks, I'll be satisfied. If they crash and burn, I suppose I'll mosey on down to the Mausoleum with marshmallows. Either way I remember reading Newsday on the LIRR in July of 1997, stunned by the news that our new owner John Spano thought he was living a David Mamet film, and thought he could con the NHL. That was humiliating. This coming season on the other hand has a great upside. We could have a really exciting season ahead. I can live with a crazy owner, as long as they stick to the plan.

Let's go Isles!

Back on land.

I see I have not missed anything except for Troll city and the Ranger Fans stopping by to throw some jabs. Has anyone told them they lost their three best players form last year yet???? No JAgr, No Shanny, No Avery.....My god they are going to be one boring team to watch next year.

Still no coach.....???? Sooner than Later Bobbles....You cannot tell me they did not have someone in mind, knowing Nolan would be axed. Get it done!

Stability is the key to any franchis and any business. You would think the Wanger would know this!

Hey Steady, no troll here, just a Rangers fan

Zherdev scored more goals than any Rangers forward last season and if you think he is a boring player, than you have never seen him play.

Henrik Lundqvist actually is the Rangers best player and he is still around and anyway, when has being an "exciting" team every translated into trying to be a winner anyway?

As a Isles fan I would like to see garth bring in a coach with creativity on both sides of the ice.
On paper the Isles dnt scare many teams. I think they have a solid team returning-especially if DP can be patient in net.
I liked Nolan as a coach but he played a defensive style game-reason why the Isles were in so many 1 goal games.

I think this team can be better if they open the offense up....

Go Isles!

Nick: Well said and a good thought. I think if the Islanders did a little research on a team such as the Edmonton Oilers they might be able to compete a little better in free agency. I have heard a lot mentioned about the so called "ride from the airport to the arena perception" and one of the teams impacted by that was Edmonton and of course the Isles have the same problem. I bet the Chamber of Commerce already has a nice DVD of Long Island and maybe it only needs to be edited to include the Islanders. Just a thought.

The Islanders will be a different team with a different coach, but lets not forget that a guy like Mark Streit will open up the offense a heck of a lot more than your coach will without a guy like Streit. Campoli should also help as he had a decent breakout pass coming out of his own zone. If you have no transition you have no odd man rushes which at 5 on 5 is where your best odds are at scoring. On the PP you need a guy who can get you in the zone and setup and do it on the first try with a buck 45 remaining on the PP instead of 20 seconds.

I would like to see the new coach get guys to play to their strengths and protect them from situations that expose their weakneses. (Example from last year...Satan on the point on the PP and NOT down low) Another example off the top of my head is Trent Hunter going to the front of the net? Why is the biggest guy on offense with a proven scoring touch not planted in front of the net where he can have ample scoring opportunities? That always made me scratch my head.

Dude...If Lundquist is your best player you have a lot of problems.

He cannot even beat DP head to Head.

Zherdev is a good player with a very very poor attitude. If he gets upset, NY will eat him alive.

My point was your team had a very good nucleus that got torn at the seams.....You were gutted like a Bluefish.

Not trying to argue, as I put my own team down and realize we have our own problems.

Then again, I do not go on your blog b/c I could care less. Et tu ????

Steady. Don't mention DP's name in the same breath as Hank's, that is an insult to all hockey fans. Who cares how many times DP beat Hank and Brodeur last year? What does that matter when two teams made the playoffs and Mr. Glass got hurt? AGAIN.

If you're telling us that you would rather have DP over Hank, then you are clearly insane. Listen, your best player is a 34 year old stay at home defenseman (who'd I'd love to have, by the way), but that doesn't say much for the rest of he roster. Do you watch hockey??? Lundqvist was the Rangers best player over the course of the entire year, Jagr was for the last 4 weeks. He's the best goalie in the East and the third best in the NHL (Luongo, Nabokov).

I agree, they'll miss JJ. Shanny and Avery, not so much. Shanny couldn't move from the All-Star break on and Avery just wasn't worth 16 for 4. Zherdev and Naslund will pick up JJ's slack. Dawes & Sjostrom will pick up Shanny's and more. And, Callahan and Voros will pick up where Avery left off.

Now, begin with the "wee one" and all your tired comebacks, you know, "I've forgotten more hockey than you know", that's my favorite. That's right, I'm a Ranger fan commenting on the Isles blog, and no, I'm not the Troll that ruins both boards. Just commenting back on you comment.

Let 'er rip if you must.

Steady,

well, Lundqvist can beat DP health wise head to head any day of the week.

And I actually have never seen DP as a finalist for the Vezina trophy, not once.

If the Rangers had signed Avery to a 4 million dollar a year deal coming off wrist and spleen problems, you'd be laughing at that.

Naslund is just as productive as Jagr was. Stats, have a look sometime.

Just because this is "your" blog, I don't think gives an Islander fan like yourself license to spout out lies and misinformation about my team

Interesting read, and a glimmer of hope for the future:

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=369048

Brian....You are too funny. Do you just come on here and stalk people or what? Funny how I have no clue who or what you ever write about, yet you know all about me......Guess I got a fan! Guess I am the one you wish to be like huh ?? Actually 505 said you posted on another site that I was the best blogger....GOTCHA!

If you think DP cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Lundquist...You are wrong. Switch teams in front of them for the past couple of years and DP would bury him. Look at Lundquists stats before they got Avery and before in 06 they switched to a team defense style.....He was avg at best! How many times did he get pulled last year?

To you and Dude.....LMAO that you will not miss Avery. Keep drinking the kool-aide.....Look at your record in 06 and 07 without him in your line up. As for Jagr....My God are you kidding me that Naslund and the cry baby will make up for his production. You are off your rocker. Teams had to adjust their whole game plan around Jagr. He was a one man wrecking machine. He simply could not be defended by one player alone. Now you have NASLUND ??? LOL LOL LOL LOL ......as for Shanny...Ever hear of something called chemistry? Leadership? pressure player?

How do you know how the new guys will adjust to NY? You took known assets and exchanged them for lesser unknown assets. Poor move.

How many cups combined do your replacement players have ?

Please do not respond to this...Move along...You're small poatato's.....Go post on your blog. I will not respond to your childish, nonsensical replys so don't bother.

p.s You were picked to win the cup last year and lost to a young Pitt team...After your goalie got lit up like a pin ball machine and did not protect a 3-0 lead in game 2....Simple facts!

Steady,

Everyone who knew what they were talking about predicted both the Senators and Penguins were better than the Rangers last summer.

Hey, did you miss the part when Pittsburgh traded all it's youth for Marian Hossa in an effort to win the Cup last season? Not that different from you guys "going for it all" in the Smyth trade.

Hossa dominated in the series vs the Rangers. Probably the biggest reason they won the series. The Penguins made the finals, remember?

Steady,

you talk about childish remarks, however you always are the one who does it!

I have a feeling that you are the troll that has infested these boards for 3 years.

You cannot have a hockey discussion without getting personal, it's hysterical.

Show me where I got personal?

Just move along. Not ONE PERSON on here wants or cares what you say. NOT ONE !!!

I come here to post with fellow Isles fans and could care less what you or other Ranger fans think.

I can admit that the Isles have a long way to go before they are back to legit.....Yet, you Ranger Fans cannot admit your team just let go all it's heart and soul. Funny how that works.

As for you accusing me of being a troll...Come on Pal...A troll is someone who goes on other teams boards and throws jabs. WHY ARE YOU ON HERE? WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE ISLES ??? Ever hear the term "He who smelt it dealt it?" You are the troll.

I have never and will never go on your blog b/c I could care less about your team and your fans. Isles have there own problems and that is what I care and talk about.

Just move along.

Steady,

You know someone can't win the hockey argument when they resort to the "why are you on our blog" defense constantly like you do.

your comments regarding Lundqvist just confirm what a psychopath you really are, maybe your brain is what has been "gutted like a bluefish"

In 3 years, Henrik's GAA has been 2.24, 2.37, 2.23

He has been a Vezina finalist every year he has been in the NHL and led the NHL with 10 shutouts last year.

I actually don't recall him being pulled once last year, but I am it happened a couple of times, but every hall of fame goalie has been pulled a time or two.

Henrik led the NHL with 10 shutouts last season and added 1 more in the playoffs.

All this and he is only 26 years old.

He is the premier goalie in the NHL considering his age.

And stop saying DP's name in the same sentence, the only thing they have in common is that they both were drafted the same year, and which team got the best value of those two draft picks?

and Steady, just to refresh your memory, I am hear because I was told of this:

"Has anyone told them they lost their three best players form last year yet???? No JAgr, No Shanny, No Avery.....My god they are going to be one boring team to watch next year."

It's just an assinine comment and one that had to be confronted, I don't care what territory I am posting in you Rangers obsessed wack job.

Yea, I like your posts, you seem knowledgeable. Besides, you good for a laugh when you lose your mind. like now. GOTCHA?? Who's childish? I've posted here before, you don't know me?? I'm crushed. 505 seems to know me though. Makes my day.

Don't worry, things are pretty good for me, good wife and good kids, tough economy though, although my job is really not effected by the economy, I'm a civil servent. Give you a hint, don't break the law in NYC. But no, I don't want to be you, I like my own life. I'm glad you think so highly of your's, everyone should be like that, there'd be more happy people around.

Back to our discussion, switch teams? That's the best argument you have? Hank has had three great years, even though he suffered through migraines at the end of '06 he was still outstanding. He carried them to the playoffs the last two years and had a clunker in game 1 against the Pens but was great the rest of the series. To answer your question, he got pulled once last year, how many times did Mr. Glass get pulled?

Yep, Avery was wearing out his welcome and he's still not worth 16 for 4 given his production. You'll forget him when you see what Cally and Voros do to the defenseless Isles. JJ was great for the last 16 games and the playoffs, pretty invisible before that. I agree with you that they'll miss him, but I'm saying his production will be covered by the guys I mentioned along with the young guys who've had a year under their belt (Dubinsky, Dawes,Sjostrom,etc.). And beleive me, Shanny was anything but clutch last year, he hasn't been the same player since the collision/concussion with Knuble in '07. Yea, great in the locker room, but Drury is ready to take over that role.

I really don't beleive that hockey falls under the "Can they handle NY" argument. It's not like hockey is all over the back pages, you guys know this as much as Rangers fans do. If there is a mention other than Zip's or Logan's article than that is a banner day for hockey fans. Page Six isn't following these guys around all day ala Jeter and Wright (unless your name is Avery). So I'm comfortable with the new guys acclimating.

I'll keep posting on "your" blog and on "mine".

So there is my counter. Now go back an re-read your post and both of mine and ask yourself this question.......who's childish???

My God are you insecure or what? Could care less what you do or how you live. None of it cahnges the fact you are a Ranger fan posting on an Islanders forum for attention.

As for me getting a ticket in NYC...Don't make me laugh. I have nor will ever get a ticket in NYC. Sorry pal, my bro is a detective and with his card and mini shield I could probably give you a ticket. Way to many people on the force and DEA that got my back. Again...Simple Facts !

Just move along. You're boring!

Dude- We are obsessed ? The only time the Ranger name is used is when guys like you and Brian come on here with your nonsensical troll comments.

The Isles have been a thorn in the Rangers side since their inception. You would think being a team in NYC that you could let it go. So we won more cups in a row than you will ever see in your life. Just let it go.

Ummmmm Steady

You are on a Islanders forum talking about the Rangers.

YOU

You started it, I am just letting you look stupid for it.

I actually would like to read so more of why Henrik is so bad, I need to be enlightened more.

Yea, that's what I meant. I was going to hang out and wait for a guy named Steady so I could give you a ticket, nevermind. Good for your brother, must be a good guy.

Not looking for attention, just doing like Dude said. You made an assinine comment and we're calling you on it. Why kind of attention do you get from posting anonymously on an internet blog???? If you think that gives you attention, you need help.

Again, whose childish??? We made good arguments and you come back with nothing, nothing. Other than that "we're boring". Good one, don't forget to bring you lunch box home and do your homework.

All I said to the TROLLS ......Who you BOTH said you are not.....Was that they come on this blog and talk samck while their team lost their 3 Best players.

Being and Islander fan who obviously does not like to lose to the Rangers, I can tell you with 100% certainty that the THREE you let go scare me more than anyone else you have and anyone you brought in to replace them....Is you take a POLL, I am sure others will agree.

So, do not say I do not back up my arguements....THOSE ARE FACTS ! JAgr, Shanny, and Avery I hated....Why did I hate them...They were AWESOME at their rolls....You replaced them with a player that saw his stats spiral down, a cry baby that palys when he feels like it, and ???????

Now please....Just drop it. You are wrong.

Why does MSG chant DP sux ??? Same reason they chant Pitvin sucks...They play or played GREAT against them. I never go into an Isles/Rangers game saying....Ohhhh no how are we gonna beat Lundquist....Sorry, I do not ! I did however think..."Uh oh Avery is gonna be all over DP and the kids....How are we gonna stop JAgr ?? How are we gonna stop Shanny on the PP ?? "

Steady,

you care a lot more about beating the Rangers than I do about beating the Islanders. I want to win the Cup.

in all seriousness, what the heck are we supposed to do?

Jagr left for a boatload of money in Russia

Shanahan is 900 years old

Avery signed for more money in Dallas than we were willing to go. I think that they were nuts giving him that contract, but, it's their money.

what are the Rangers supposed to do, cry about it and not do anything? I don't see one intelligent Rangers fan claiming cup right now.

Again Dude...I do not care. TRUST ME

I was making a simple TRUE statements to the trolls that come on an ISLANDERS BLOG.

If you do not care about the Isles, why in Gods name are you reading our posts. I'm sure if I went on the Rangers blog I would find 5,000 posts that are negative or ignorant toward the Isles. I will never know, b/c it will never happen.

I do not care.

p.s You are right for not talking cup. You just gave up your three best players. :)

Dude:

I was enjoying your comments up until the tired "you care more about winning the rivalry then we do". I am just sick of that generalization. Both sets of fans get heated in the rivalry otherwise you wouldn't be able to hear the back and forth on TV and you wouldn't have this back and forth on the blogs. There are posts everyday on this blog about some fan who can't wait for the demise of the Islanders.

I know you directed that comment at Steady but he only mentions the Rangers when the trolls come on here with their BS. Otherwise the conversation is on the next head coach and what needs to be done to be a contender.

I will say Lundqvist is phenomenal, but to say DP doesn't compare is ridiculous. He is the sole reason we won those numerous low scoring one goal games last year. He kept the puck out of the net with an abysmal team in front of him that couldn't score. During the last two years both goalies have had comparable save percentage and GAA before DP got hurt, and Lundqvist has been on the better team for both those years. Look beyond the bias a little bit.

Steady--Why are you entertaining these idiots?

Check Botta's blog....

http://nyipointblank.blogspot.com/

Does anybody know what happened to NYISLES. Did Sparky kill him or kidnap him? Maybe he grew up and became the Burger King........Sir William

Does anybody know what happened to NYISLES. Did Sparky kill him or kidnap him? Maybe he grew up and became the Burger King........Sir William

Happy Birthday Mr. Snow. I hope this is your last year as the GM of this team that you are now helping Wang drive into the ground.
Bad luck to you Sir.

We (Ranger fans) have a blog on the Daily News, Journal News and countless others like BlueShirt Bulletin etc...... it's good to know we have two at Newsday as well, since the Isles blog is basically a Ranger Blog with all the Ranger talk. Good to know,.

Face it, unless the Rangers are town, the Mausoleum is well the Mausoleum. Nobody is there, there is no atmosphere. You will have a player like Johnson from the Kings making his comments. There will be one less Ranger game at the Mausoleum this season. Islander management cannot be happy with that. Average attendance will drop even further, if that's reasonably possible.

Actually Ted Nolan was the sole reason the Isles won some games last season and the season before. And the Islanders fired him. BWWWWWWWWhahahahahahaha.

Just another sad moment in the Isles last 20 years of futility.

At LAST, someone after my own heart. From Chris Bott'a Blog:

[quote] These would be my requirements:

A teacher. (They will all say they teach. Some of them will be full of it).

A man who is eminently trustworthy and a team player.

A coach who just wants to coach.

Someone who won’t be thinking about where his next NHL job is going to be. Someone who won’t view the Islanders as if they’re a mid-major like Vanderbilt on the way to Tennessee.

A strong communicator with the fans via the press – accommodating, accessible and articulate without being a phoney media kiss-ass.

A man who will commit to Long Island – not just mouth BS about how much he loves it here.

****

You have to dial up John Tortorella. He may be the best head coach available. My hunch, however, is that Tortorella knows his next move is a big one. He has the luxury of taking his time. Like Pat Riley and Bill Parcells, Tortorella will likely wait for the right job for him, and I would be surprised if it’s the Islanders of 2008-09. If I’m wrong, would it be a blast and make the Islanders that much more entertaining and intriguing? Oh yeah.

****

Although the Islanders have changed coaches a few times this decade, this will be their first thorough coaching search since the summer of 2001. One morning seven years ago I was surfing the net and reading about the Bruins leaving their assistant coach Peter Laviolette at the altar, instead hiring Robbie Ftorek. I look up from my laptop and there’s Mike Milbury in my office with a well-dressed young man. “Chris, have you met Peter Laviolette”? I knew then that Pete would beat out the finalists at that time, Bryan Murray and Ted Nolan.

This search will be fascinating, shaking up what’s usually a quiet time around the league. Not only is the list of candidates impressive and filled with plenty of big names, but it could be revealing for another reason.

You could have up to a dozen men interviewing for the Islanders head coach position. With the exception of Gerard Gallant, all of them are outsiders. This means a lot of people may learn about Garth’s management style and the inner workings of the Islanders front office. This means – in this rumor and innuendo-filled business, more catty than the cattiest of workplaces, where stories end up in newspapers and on the web – you’ll probably hear a lot in the aftermath from the guys who didn’t get the job. Off-the-record and spineless, of course.

There will be plenty of notes in Sunday columns like this: “One of the candidates who didn’t get the Islanders job says…”

Naturally, a lot of it will be horse-hockey. But it is something Garth and the Islanders should keep in mind. Until you get to 2 or 3 finalists, I would keep it close to the vest. Everything said in that room in the next two weeks has the potential to get out.

****

In my view, the leader by a nose before the process begins is Bob Hartley. He has a solid relationship with Garth Snow. More importantly, I’ve heard from several fairly-impeccable sources that he really wants the job, likes what the Islanders are doing and is 100% committed to signing up for the program.

In my view, the man best suited for the opportunity is Paul Maurice. I’m aware Maurice may not not be the most exhilarating choice, but the Islanders do not need exhilarating. They've done that. They do not need a big name or a showman. They just need the best coach for them.

Maurice may not have the best track record of the candidates, but I believe he brings the best of everything this challenge requires (see above). Coaches tend to not last long, but you have to go into the process looking for your Ruff or Trotz. And of all the candidates, Maurice is the one I can see thriving on Long Island for ten years, working well with Garth - and Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey and the rest - for ten years.

This endorsement was NOT paid for by the People for Paul Maurice. I don’t even know any of Paul's people. [/quote]

Paul Maurice FTW.

I enjoy reading the back and forth on this blog but rarely comment. I respect what the regulars have to say like Steady and Islander 505 because they really seem to care about the Islanders. I have been an Islander fan since Dave Hudson was the first line center. I try to be very objective. I've seen the Lundqvist and DP comments and lets have a reality check. Lundqvist is better than DP. He's one a Gold metal, was and will be a Vezina finalist, and he is not a baby. DP never won a playoff series despite having a respectable defense in from of him, always gets hurt, gives up soft goals at the worst time, and is a crybaby. I would take Lundqvist any day and that's coming from an Islander fan.

Dipietro will be 27 years old when the season starts. He was the first pick in the NHL draft. And he has never won a playoff series. Nothing more needs to be said.

Scotia,

Botta kinda touched on something and I will elaborate a bit on it.
And I have purposely not commented about this til now, cuz I was hoping things would work themselves out.

I don't like how this selection process for a coach is being conducted and in effect dragged out.
An "exhasutive search" for a new coach is all well and good, but all too often bad decisions are made when one is "exhausted".

Garth is gonna interview a baker's dozen and THEN narrow the list?
Uh uh, sorry, narrow the list and THEN interview who's left and then MAKE A DECISION.
The way things are progressing we could very well be announcing our new head coach the day before opening night.
Smells to me like Wang and Dey have got their hands in this.

So what's it gonna be BOBBLEHEADS (there Steady, I finally said it), blue smoke coming up from the Colisseum means no decision, orange smoke means we have a new pope?

Camp is only a coupla weeks away and our spiritual leader has already missed rookies camp.
He's gonna have a lot of film to watch.

The Christians out here are fearful that we are gonna be fed to the LYINGS again, Bobbleheads.

Need I bring up the fact that it is pretty clear to most of us out here that Nolan was gonna be canned before the season began?
Have you bobbleheads never heard of rolodexes?
Never talked to any headhunters?

GET A NEW FRIGGEN COACH ALREADY.
This isn't rocket science.

Just my opinion.

Steady, we chant DP Sux because he's a crybaby, d-head who apparently likes to fight 20 year old goalies who have never dropped their gloves. NOT because we are afraid of him, that is a FACT, "take a poll". Enjoy the next 12 years with him (probably less given his injury rate), I KNOW us Rangers fans will.

All right, I see your point on what you call the big three. You, as a fan, feared them no matter how misguided that may be. I'm just curious why you fear them now that they are gone but all last season you ripped them, odd. Not that I'm surprised by your flip flopping, Obama.

I'll let it go because you seem to be the type of guy whose argument consists of saying the same point over and over again while yelling "drop it, I'm right". Excellent debating skills. To be honest I was hoping for a little more, maybe 505 would be better to debate with, he seems intelligent. Steady, you bore me.

Hey, AZS. Aren't you the same guy who said he was the one on Isles TV giving the Rags fans the finger but when people went up to the guy in that video at future games he had no idea who this AZS was????? I remember some guys calling you out on here about that and you disappeared for a while, never answering that question.

I remember them saying the guy was like "I don't know who AZS is but I'm not him, everyone's been asking me the same question". Why is that AZS? Why?

Brian,

"To be honest I was hoping for a little more, maybe 505 would be better to debate with, he seems intelligent."

You just blew your whole argument with those closing words, and demonstrated a clear lack of perception of anything intelligent.

So, like.......when does Zipay get back from vacation and reopen his day care center so you Ranger fans can get back to your more familiar pacifiers?

505

I think one of the important points in that Botta blog entry was the fact that this is really the first time since 2001 that the Powers That Be have conducted a real SEARCH for a coach instead of jumping after someone. I am not terribly concerned about taking a month to find the right fit. Yes the issue could have been brought up a month earlier, but I think the PTB thought that there might still be hope for Nolan. We all saw how THAT worked out.

I want Snow to pick the right guy, HIS guy. The guy who will, along with the PTB, lead this team out of the wilderness. If that takes til September, I'm really OK with that. Obviously, we'd like to see it sooner, but the most important thing is to get it right.

[quote]
1. A teacher.
2. A man who is eminently trustworthy and a team player.
3. A coach who just wants to coach.
4. Someone who won’t be thinking about where his next NHL job is going to be. Someone who won’t view the Islanders as if they’re a mid-major like Vanderbilt on the way to Tennessee.
5. A strong communicator with the fans via the press – accommodating, accessible and articulate without being a phoney media kiss-ass.
6. A man who will commit to Long Island – not just mouth BS about how much he loves it here.
[/quote]

This is what we need. Go find it Garth. Do it right.

How did I blow my argument? I was conceding that Steady just couldn't carry on a debate without yelling and trying to end it. Not sure I see your point.

Brian if you are an officer, maybe you should simply get back to work ???

I have not yelled or used any childish remarks. What I have done is told you why I wrote to the "Trolls" what I think of your team after, they came on this blog 6,000 times worrying about us.

You my friend are the flip flopper. You post to others that I am the so called only intelligent Isles blogger, but then when you come at me, and I fight back (the same way I write to everyone I might add,) you do not like it? Now I am a yelling child b/c it is directed at you. Too funny. Cannot say one is good when fighting others on points you agree with, but then trash that same person when he comes at you!

I NEVER wrote to you first. I NEVER directed any of my comments to you.

Again I ask.....If I went on the Rangers blog and told them how good the Isles were and why I think the guys replacing our ex players are good, what kind of reaction would I get??? I could turn that blog into Isles talk in ONE SECOND !!

I would never do that. Not enough time in the day and I could care freaking less. I come here to talk to other Isles fans. You come here to stir the pot. How mature is that?

As for DP....You are way off base. You can have Lundquist and his weak glove hand. Head to head with the lesser team in front of him, DP owns him....Look up the stats. I have NEVER once seen Lundquist carry your team. If you actually think the reason your fans chant DP sux is b/c of the pre-season fight....Well you are more lost than I thought. Enjoy your day on the ISLANDERS BLOG !

p.s Why are you so obsessed with our blog site? Why do your fans come here if they only care about the Cup? Isles have been in your fans head since the 4 cups. Deep down it crushes al of you that you know you can never ever do what our franchise has done. It is like a Met fan trying to get back at a Yankee Fan....The Yank Fan will always bring up history and win the arguement. (I am a Met Fan mind you)...... I can admit the run they had in the late 90's will never be seen in Queens...and yes...It bothers me!

Brian,

"How did I blow my argument?"

I'll draw a map for you Brian...

"To be honest I was hoping for a little more, maybe 505 would be better to debate with, he seems intelligent."

The last 3 words.
Actually the 2nd to last word.

Steady,

why can't you simply have a hockey argument without turning to the "get off our blog" run and hide technique every single time.

It makes your argument seem very weak when you hide behind that on a constant basis like you do.

Instead of "looking up the stats" reagrding your wacky DP vs Henrik argument, why don't you SHOW me the stats you are talking about?

Because the stats I look at clearly indicate who is the better goalie.

Dude - I do not want to have "a simple hockey arguement" with you. That is my point. I do not care what you think or what your views are. If I did, Iwould of asked.

You can stay on this blog 24/7 for all I care. I simply just do not get it. This blog has aroun 10 Isles fans talking about the problems of the Isles. Why that would interest you is mind boggling.

What is DP's record vs. the Rangers for his career??? 11-3-3 or something liek that??? 3-1 vs. them last year....4-1 vs the Devils.....DP steps us in big games. Unfortunately the team has not had a lot of them the past few years. He was an All Star last year.....Then he got hurt! Give him the players and you will see his true talent!

is it? Is that DP's record vs the Rangers or is it "something like that" because I don't pay attention to either of the records when they play each other.

wow, anyway,who the eff cares?

If the most important thing to you is winning the tri-team contest every year, good for you!

Steady,

you talk about the Rangers constantly on an Islander blog, so as long as you continue to spout inaccuracies and false info about my team, I will be hanging around! I haven't seen you say anything about your own team for awhile now.

one more thing Steady....

I will bombard you with "my views" whether you like it or not if you continue to talk about the Rangers constantly.

Things such as "they are going to be such a boring team without Jagr" on an Islander blog will definitely keep the bombardment coming, so I would suggest you start dropping the topic sooner rather than later.

Dude, I welcome your contributions to the blog but do you mind doing something about the persistent trolls while you're here? Its hard to get a good conversation going in between their silly posts. Wouldn't be so much Ranger talk on here without them. Hope you're willing to bash THEIR inaccuracies along with ours.

Fair enough Dude....and what I will do is send the 122 assistants in my office to your website and make them talk to you guys on your blog all day..... everyday until you can never get a word in edge wise. Enjoy your season!

p.s "bombardment?" Like your hurting me? You make a fool out of yourself...Not hurting me. I HAVE NEVER brought up the Rangers unless I answer the occasional Rag troll that is jealous he has only seen one cup. You are the one that wrote to me.

I will never answer you again so do what you want.

No Jagr. No Avery. No Shanny. Enjoy your season!

Excellent use of assets, Steady. Must be some office you work in.

Apparently you can't come up with anything too good, so let's stick with, "get off our blog, argument over, I win" as your final answer. WELL DONE. Enjoy Mr. Glass for 40 games next year.

"I will never answer you again"? OK, take your ball and go home.

505, no disrespect intended, mea maxima culpa.

None taken Brian....
In fact I may have gone "over the top" with the "intelligence" references.
I was being "self-deprecating" when you alluded to the fact of having "intelligent" conversation with me in lieu of Steady.

I simply refuse to get into "my goalies better than your goalie" or "our fans are better than your fans" discussions with Ranger fans. Or any other fans for that matter.

It is pointless. And mindless. And serves no purpose. And can achieve no end.

I spend a lot of time on the Yankee blogs and rarely see any Mets fans on there bashing the Yanks, nor do I see any Yankee fans going out of their way to trash the Mets on the Yankee blogs.
While I never visit Lennon's Met's blog, I would hope that the same holds true over there.

NOW....when it comes to hockey around here?
GEEZUS....the trash is never-ending.

And I gotta tell ya Brian and Dude (and I am not ATTACKING YOU..this is simply my observation).....most of it starts on Zip's blog and flows over here. Look at Zip's latest blog entry today...about the pre-season schedule.
The VERY FIRST comment posted underneath is from somebody TRASHING the Islanders ABOUT THE PRESEASON SCHEDULE.
And that "underlying theme" is prevalent on most of the comments by people on Zip's blog....Nevermind what Zip just wrote about the Ranger's, most comments eventually get to "how can we trash the Isles".

And then that just spawns trolls to come over here and continue, and then we have our own idiots who go back over there.

It's madness guys, pure diarrheic madness.
And then quality commenters like yourselves and our own Steady get caught up in the idiocy and everyone is hurling invectives.

GIVE IT A REST FOLKS.

MY TEAM IS BETTER THAN YOUR TEAM, AND YOUR TEAM IS BETTER THAN MY TEAM.

Yeah, I think we all know that.

With sighs....from 2 time zones away.

Loyalty is one thing but let's not be ridiculous.
I would definitely rather have Lundqvist than DiPietro as our goalie (in a heartbeat). Lundqvist has been nominated for the Vezina 3 times now- 10 shutouts last year etc. DP has'nt accomplished a damn thing for us.
If the Rags wanted to trade Lundqvist for DP I say we take it.

Well said, 505. Understood.

Enjoy the day, you too Steady.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program........

Mark parrish has been bought out by the Wild with 3 years left on his deal. Man, never did a guy go downhill so fast as Parrish. From some of the Minn writers Mark was not well liked in the locker room and was in Lemaires doghouse for his stay in Minny.

I met Mark on more than one occassion and found him to always be fan friendly and downright polite. I wonder what his problem was with the Wild.

In any case trading Parrish at the deadline was one of Mad Mike bvetter deals. We got Tambs and Grebshkov. Grebs turned into MAB who turned into a good pick in this years draft. So, that's one for Mad Mike.

I am sorry to see Parrish fall so far so fast. He was a good Islander and a good guy when he was here........Sir William

We now return you to the Brian VS Steady show...........Sir William

Islanders are wondering why Ranger fans come here.

It's a very easy question to answer. Fot a few laughs. The Islanders a joke, a source of amusment.

I really don't understand the mentality of people who want to go onto to blogs of teams that they are not fans of. Its silly and childish but it only really affects us if we respond. I don't post very often but read the blog daily and enjoy the various views people share about the Islanders. To me, the purpose of these boards is to share thoughts and ideas with folks of common interest. I would really have no inclination to ever post on another team's board.... for what purpose and toward what end? As difficult as it may be the only way to maintain any integrity in this process is to ignore the folks that are trying to get a rise out of us. Just pretend they don't exist and stay on the Islanders' issues and topics. Its beyond me how someone can get their jolly's by trying to goad and insult people who are invisible to them other than their log-in name. Its one thing to have a spirited debate with someone at a bar or around the water cooler but you've really got to wonder what kind of need is being met by these childish ramblings from the "other side." Truly strange and disheartening.
I would encourage everyone to ignore, ignore, ignore. Don't stoop to their level and don't let their foolishness and idiocy get to you. I enjoy reading the Islanders fans views too much to let the "truly needy" mess up the process. As a native LI'er who now lives in Virginia these forums allow me to actively follow the team from a fan's point of view.

My feelings on the coaching candidates......As badly as I think Snow handled the dismissal of Nolan (so late in the off-season), and as much as I was a fan of Nolan, I do think Snow desearves some credit for assembling a pretty impressive pool of applicants. I wavier from day to day on who I think would be the best fit for this team. Hartley-successful coach who has a good relationship with Snow, so their would probably some good harmony between front office and coach. Maurice-has had some success in a very difficult situation, good with young players, etc. Tortorella-has a cup, fiery and demanding. Quenneville-consistend success with multiple teams, solid playing career, appears to have been well-liked by his players. And then their are the guys with the good minor league histories. I think Snow will have a difficult choice but it appears to me that all the candidates have the potential to be real positive selections.

Good post Spinner....Some times it is hard not to respond and in this instance I should of taken your advice......My bad!

As for the coaches coming in for interviews....Do not forget they might be using the Isles to create hype and deep down do not want the job. Just b/c they came in for an interview does not mean they want the ISLES !!! They just want to keep their "name" in the circus.....that is the NHL coaching circuit.

I will give Snow credit when he lands "his guy! " Then tells us why we should believe in the new coach. He has the spot light on him now and has a very very hard decision to make. Let's hope it is the right one!

we should sign parrish - he would be comfortable here and probably would lead our team in scoring with 18 goals

Spinner.....speaking as a Ranger fan, we come here for a few laughs. And believe me, the Isles are a great source of amusment. They are kind of like a gift that keeps on giving in terms of laughs. Understand, Spinner?

Even better amusement is the fact the Rangers were picked to win the cup last year. Now they lost DING DONGGGGG AVERY calling.

They are gonna be better than the funny pages next year.

How many cups they won in your life time ?

The Rangers have won one cup in my lifetime and the Islanders
ZERO.
Heck, the last time the Islanders even won a playoff series I was in elementary school. Now I'm married and in college.