Enough is Enough
by The Fitz on Jan 10, 2010 2:09 PM EST
Email
PrintOK. I have had it. I was never one that thought this team needed to have a designated enforcer, and I still do not think they need one. But somebody needs to step up and protect John Tavares. Two more times last night he was on the receiving end of a cheap shot and not one of his teammates stood up for him. This needs to stop.
There are plenty of big, tough players on this team that can stand up for our future superstar. There is Trent Hunter, Tim Jackman (when healthy), Andy Sutton and Brendon Witt (when playing). But I am going to focus on two players: Kyle Okposo and Blake Comeau.
Blake Comeau has the size and natural ability to be a very good power forward in this league. He just needs the heart to put it all together. Comeau needs to sit in the video room and watch tape after tape of one player: Clark Gilles. The first power forward. What do you think Gilles would have done if Mike Bossy or Bryan Trottier was elbowed in the face? He would kick the you know what out of the player that did that. I am not trying to compare Blake Comeau to Clark Gilles, or saying he needs to end up being as good as Gilles. I am arguing that he needs to model his game after Gillies. And in order to do that, he needs to start stepping up for his teammates.
Kyle Okposo is the future Captain of this team. I am think we can all agree that there is no question about that. They would not have given him an "A" at the age of 21 if the captaincy was not in his future. Now he needs to start acting like a Captain. Kyle is not a small guy. He is very strong, especially for his age. He needs to show that he is the unquestioned leader of this team and start to stand up to players that take cheap shots at our best players. A great Captain cannot just be a leader in the locker room; they also need to be the leader on the ice.
This is not to say if someone put a big and CLEAN hit on one of our star players that we need to go after the other team. I have very strong feelings about that as well. When Sutton lands a crushing hit on a player and the other team comes after him, I commend him for never fighting the other team. There is no need to. He has done nothing wrong. Other teams in this league need to stop acting like a bunch of five year old's when one of their teammates get hit hard legally. That never used to happen. Gilles would not go after someone if the hit was clean. This is a new phenomenon in the NHL and it needs to stop. But that is a debate for another day.
Submitted FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or SB Nation. If you're reading this statement, you pass the fine print legalese test. Four stars for you.
40 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I didn’t see long stretches of the game last night, but I agree blatant cheap shots against JT need to be answered. The one by Aucoin, which I called cheap, didn’t bother me as much (So you pushed him into a movable goal and drew another penalty. Nice job, tough guy.) as the elbow.
I don’t think Okposo is a guy who’s ever going to get in fights, so I’d expect some leadership from the vets in the room on how to respond. Absent Jackman and Witt, I’d like to see it from Sutton or Hunter or Sim. Of course they spent the next ten minutes on the powerplay, and then being shorthanded in the 3rd helped blow the lead, so responding with vengeance is easier said than done. Throwing some deliberate board-rattling checks (enter Sean Bergenheim?) would be nice.
On Comeau: I know he talked at the beginning of the season about becoming a true power forward, but I don’t see anything in his play to make me believe that’s his path. He’s not that big and during his fallow periods he shies from the battle areas. I like that he’s willing to throw checks when he’s on his game, but I don’t think he’s ever going to physically intimidate anyone.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
With regard to Okposo, and anyone else for that matter, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a fight to stand up for your teammates. It can be a big hit as well. And Okposo can do that. He just, at least in my opinion, needs to be the one to step up and do something about these continued cheap shots on Tavares since he is going to be the long term leader of this team.
On Comeau, I am not willing to give up on him on being a power forward. I may be wrong but I really think he has the ability to get there. He’s got a ways to go to get there. But there have been flashes this season of what I think he can become.
I originally thought JT should be on a line with
Moulson and Hunts…and they have not been shy about stepping up. I still like the idea of calling up Trevor Gillies for selected games.
And Okposo can do that. He just, at least in my opinion, needs to be the one to step up and do something about these continued cheap shots on Tavares since he is going to be the long term leader of this team.
I see. Yes, I agree KO is going to have to do that. Since so much of the core is young, I’m hoping the vets are guiding guys like that. It’s a fine line, that ambiguous “team toughness” without becoming Flyers/Carcillo sideshows, but the Isles need someone to help push them to that line.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Easier way to do this
You don’t need size or strength, you just need to burn teams on the power play after the stupid penalties. That how the Pens and Caps do it.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
BC
Are you ready to respect Schremps game yet? Hunts is so bad… Isles vs Wings cause hey ya never know. Lets go Islanders!!!
Hunts is fine
His stats are better in every way than Schremp’s. And he hasn’t even been on one of the hot streaks he is known for. If Schremp continues to improve and the team progresses as I hope that it will, I could see him as a PP and SO specialist and, of course, someone to step in if someone like Hunts or Josh goes down.
"Hunts"
Hunter got some good breaks when he came back to get his point streak goin, yes he was in the right spot and yes he finished but with his speed he needs things to fall in his lap. His stats are ok and may better shremps only because first two months of the season when Schremp was lucky enough to crack the lineup he didnt get much playing time… Hunter has a nice shot and is a big body., average hands and is an average passer. Were stuck with him and he is not the worst player in the league or on the team but he is far too slow to be a scoring line forward. He may be the slowest offnesive player in the league. He doesnt get to passes and he cant make anything of good position with the puck. "Hunts isnt half the player Schremp is. “Hunts”… what an awful contract…
Sorry but aside from a few things like:
Hunter has a nice shot and is a big body…
…I disagree with pretty much everything else you said here.
I mean,
Hunts isnt half the player Schremp is
Technically though I guess thats true. Hunter he ISNT half the player Shremp is- he is far, far more.
Let Us Go, Islanders!
(Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 11, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
I am glad that I am not the only poster who thinks so
Hunts is the best two way forward we have—-BY FAR—there isn’t even a close second. What else can you say about a player who is a +5 on a team with a 26 goal differential. What else but what Garth has already said-Hunts is a core player who will never be traded…and at $2 mil a year is a steal…a great contract. A lot of teams would LOVE to have him if Garth was willing to trade him. Ideally, when this team gets deeper, he would be better suited to the third line…but he is definitely a core player. Schremp has yet to prove that he is anything more than a spare part…assuming that he has a place with this team in the future at all. I am starting to come around to that and I am keeping an open mind…but if I…or Garth…had to chose between the two today, it would be Hunts hands down…not even a discussion really.
so we want okposo to fight?
even though he’s 21, an inexperienced fighter, and had a concussion in the preseason?
i agree with the frustration of watching JT get abused, but we can’t magically make Matt Martin NHL ready just to watch his back… this subject was discussed time and time again with the Wrecker in the first 10 games when he got a mighty 3 minutes or less a game…
and the coaching staff will point to the teams record at the start to quell any debate about this issue…
why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?
If you read through the comments I said it didn’t need to be a fight. It could be a big check or something else. He just needs to be the one to stand up for his teammates. And if you are scared of him getting into a fight because of his prior concussion then he might as well retire now. Hockey is a rough sport.
i read your post, you imply fighting even if you dont say it… and if you’re not going to fight, then who cares if you stand up for anybody, all the pushing and shoving and bear hugs and face rubs and noogies in the world wont cow anyone into submission and certainly wont stop people from being rough with your star players…
why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?
I’m not gonna get into an argument here. We are just going to disagree on this one. I would like to see Kyle man up as a leader of this team and you don’t.
i’m going to be nice here, or try to since i dont want to argue on my bday either,
if I was on the ice, kyle would not have scored, because i woulda flown in a rage at Jovo, (and took a steve webb like beating) and the whistle would have blown the play dead… there would be no 5 min PP and i would be out of the game for instigating most likely… that’s the sad state of mind the team plays with… and asking a few players to play outside of that thinking is not fair, the team has no collective toughness, which is a product of their GM and Coach, they have turned down many chances to fight and have failed to rally around a fallen comrad all year… this is how they were built – and this is how they are coached
why isn't #16 hanging in the rafters?
Haha unfortunately I cannot. That is why I always use a vacation day on my birthday. No one wants to do work on their bday!!
I’ll take a job if you have an extra. This whole unemployment thing is for the birds!
/Note unceasing sarcastic laughter in background.
by burpchelischili on Jan 11, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
BTW, we share a birthday with...
Alexander Hamilton who, along with James Madison, was the brains behind the Constitution…
and
Jean Chretien, former Canadian Prime Minister
Hunts the best two way player?
wow… that crazy, let me know next time he makes a move and gets himself room for a good shot or makes a great pass. Let me know the next time he gets back in time to make a difference on D after getting caught in the D zone. What does he do that makes him a great two way forward? his hits??? they are soft… he is a 4th line player. AHL player. Okposo is the best two way player on the team and its Hunter is not even close.
As of today, Hunter is third on the team in goals per 60 minutes TOI, he’s tops in points per 60 minutes, and is fourth-best among forwards in goals against per 60.
I’m not saying those numbers are the end-all be-all, and he’s certainly not an All-Star, but he’s not a 4th-liner nor an AHL player either. His footspeed and lack of one-on-one moves conceal a very smart, efficient player, who is to credit for more goals for than to blame for goals against. He’s doing something right.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Robby Schremp
Has the skills that can lead us in the future. You guys better hop on the dangletrain cause we gotta lock this guy up before the Rangers snatch him.
Definitely need to add “hop on the dangletrain” to my lexicon.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
I am yet to be convinced that he is anything more than a PP specialist on a good team
I am willing to be convinced though
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
Next 5 Games
@
St. Louis
|
Thu 02/16 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
Carolina
|
Sat 02/18 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Ottawa
|
Mon 02/20 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
New York Rangers
|
Fri 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Winnipeg
|
Tue 02/14 | W 3 - 1 |
|
Florida
|
Sun 02/12 | L 1 - 4 |
|
Los Angeles
|
Sat 02/11 | OT - W 2 - 1 |
|
Montreal
|
Thu 02/09 | L 2 - 4 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Tue 02/07 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
55 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 79 |
|
Philadelphia
|
56 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
56 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 68 |
|
New York Islanders
|
56 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 56 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 3:50 AM EST)
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Tuesday’s Three Stars: 4-spots for Kovalchuk, Spezza; who throws a strawberry on the ice?
- Henrik Lundqvist survives Zdeno Chara shot to back of head for save of year candidate (VIDEO)
- Red Wings set NHL record with 21 straight home wins; Steve Ott: ‘That’s a phenomenal feat’
- Puck Previews: Red Wings go for wins record; Brian Boyle hates Bruins; Ruutu out 3 weeks
- Blindside assault leads to brawl, suspensions in Austrian Hockey League (VIDEO)
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Wings set NHL record with 21 straight wins at home
- WHL Roundup: A look at Tuesday's games
- Gallagher has hat trick and SO winner, leads Giants over Americans 5-4
- Thunderbirds end seven-game home losing streak with 4-3 SO win over Rockets
- Nabokov makes 37 saves, Parenteau scores winner as Islanders beat Jets 3-1
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
