Islanders All-Decade Team: The general managers
by Dominik on Jan 25, 2010 6:15 AM EST
in Islanders of Yesteryear
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PrintIf the Canadiens can celebrate their centennial for two years, surely we can celebrate look back on the last decade for a month or two into this new one. Come Olympic break time, we may need the filler.
And so, without further ado: The latest chapter in Lighthouse Hockey's fabricated All-Decade Team: Who to pick at general manager?
I know what you're thinking: "The choices are far too many and far too qualified!" But you know, none of this would be possible without the contributions of each and every one of them. (You may consider what "this" is during your next post-loss meditation session as you get out your Milbury doll.) Yes, all three GMs of the 2000s played their part in making this beautiful little baby we're currently watching.
Whether the choice should be the one most associated with last decade, or the one who did the best job last decade, I can't really say. "All [blank] Teams" are really just nebulous discussion starters anyway.
More on each of these GMs after the jump, but we'll start with the easiest one:
Neil Smith (2006 - 2006)
Signed: Mike Sillinger, Brendan Witt, Tom Poti, Chris Simon, Andy Hilbert
Shipped out: Himself
Technically drafted (2006): Kyle Okposo, Jesse Joensuu, Robin Figren, Andrew MacDonald, Rhett Rhakhshani
Coaches hired and fired: He didn't have a choice. No really -- he didn't have a choice.
The only thing as amusing as the bizarre, Wang's World-like context for Neil Smith's 40-day tenure as Islanders GM is what Smith was doing soon afterward:
"Advis[ing] corporations and businesses on leadership development, management techniques and team-building."
No doubt he speaks to corporate gatherings and shares all the, uh, the team-building, committee-wielding ... "lessons" he picked up from Wang. That had to be a fun 40 days for all involved.
I've heard people pine for Smith (though not so much in Garth Snow's last season or so). I've heard people ridicule him after hearing his on-air commentary or citing his Rangers association. It's impossible to know what to make of what he would have actually done with the Islanders. The Sillinger signing was excellent, the Witt one was ideal for Ted Nolan. The other three were roster depth moves any GM might do.
A vote for Smith is a vote for irony, or the unknown, or one's own version of alternate histories.
Garth Snow (2006 - present)
I almost want to put an asterisk by 2006 for Snow, because like Smith Snow inherited Charles Wang's "committee" approach, the reins of which were not released until late 2007 or early 2008, depending on who you cite. While his earliest moves were meant for a club that thought it could and should compete with Nolan players, it wasn't until Snow got a year of this GM thing under his belt and convinced Wang to let him choose his own path (and his own coach) that we truly saw Snow's approach. Obviously, I'm generally happy with independent Snow.
Brought in: For the Nolan: Ruslan Fedotenko, Jon Sim, Bill Guerin (captain), Mike Comrie, Josef Vasicek, Andy Sutton, Sean Hill, Victor Kozlov, Richard Park. Also: Doug Weight (captain), Mark Streit...
Let go: Arron Asham ... Brad Lukowich ... Andy Hilbert ... the Yashin Buyout
Drafted: John Tavares, Josh Bailey, Travis Hamonic, Calvin de Haan, Kiril Petrov, tall Nordic goalies
Traded: Marc-Andre Bergeron for Denis Grebeshkov ... Bergeron for a 3rd-rounded that became Kiril Petrov ... Ryan O'Marra, 1st-rounder, Robert Nilsson for Ryan Smyth ... Mike York for Randy Robitaille, part II ... Alexei Zhitnik for Freddy Meyer and the 3rd-rounded that became Mark Katic ... Chris Campoli and Mike Comrie for a 1st-rounder (portion of Calvin de Haan) and Dean MacAmmond
Coaches hired and fired: He didn't have a choice with Nolan, either, but he eventually acquired the power to make Nolan go and bring in his own, Scott Go-Go Gordon.
Also: Kept all of North America on pins and needles wondering who would be the #1 pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Okay, maybe 75% of North America didn't care, but the rest of sure were fooled.
Mike Milbury (1995 2000 - 2006)
He was here before 2000, we know all too well, but the All-Decade Team has strict rules about considering only 2000-2009 performance. Thus, the ownership-forced Palffy trade and other highlights do not apply.
Signed last decade: Garth Snow, his eventual long-term successor; Mariusz Czerkawski ... Miroslav Satan ... Brad Lukowich; claimed Chris Osgood off waivers
Traded last decade: Kevin Weekes for the Raffi Torres pick (5th overall) ... Eric Brewer, Josh Green, a 2nd for Roman Hamrlik ... peanuts for Jason Blake ... Tim Connolly and Taylor Pyatt for Michael Peca ... Brad Isbister and Torres for Janne Niinimaa and a 2nd pick in 2003 ... Mathieu Biron for Adrian Aucoin ... Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, and a Jason Spezza-level pick for some guy ... traded Osgood for not much at all ... Peca for Mike York ... Mattias Timander for a 7th-round pick that became Chris Campoli ... Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel for Denis Grebeshkov and Jeff Tambellini
Also: Brought in Pronger! (Oh ... Sean Pronger.) Later: Lost Pronger for free! (Oh ... still Sean.)
Coaches hired and fired: Butch Goring (hired in '99), Lorne Henning, Peter Laviolette, Steve Stirling, Brad Shaw.
There were many more moves (though many famous ones happened before 2000). But I can only talk about Milbury so much anymore. Feel free to mention your favorites -- ha, he said "favorites" as in "favorite Milbury moves!" -- in comments.
Final Judgment
Obviously we wouldn't have Kyle Okposo without whatever level of sign-off Smith had at the time.
Of course, we wouldn't have John Tavares or Mark Streit or Josh Bailey or any number of prospects without Garth Snow. He even turned a disgruntled Chris Campoli into a first-round pick.
BUT: We wouldn't have Snow without Mike Milbury, who signed Snow for his less-famous job of goaltender at the beginning of the decade. A-ha! Thus, we can only conclude: Without Mike Milbury none of this would be possible. He must be GM of the Decade. Or not.
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Stirring the pot a little this morning are we? Putting Mike Milbury in a GM race, regardless of what decade, is asking for trouble. Granted he lived through some pretty tough ownership schemes and operated on a non-existent budget but he still managed to make that position look bad. “Without disappointment you cannot appreciate victory.” —Randall Memphis Raines
Will work...for playoffs.
we wouldn’t have Kyle Okposo without whatever level of sign-off Smith had at the time
Eh- thats presuming that any other GM would have come in and inexplicably refused to listen to his new teams scouts… which would be a terrible way to start off a relationship. Personally, I think that it took nothing from him to come in ice cold w/o scouting anyone and let the scouts pick a kid THEY had been watching for ages- and I think that pretty much any other man brought into those circumstances would have done the same thing. Therefore, I give him ZERO credit, because all he did was go, “Um, OK” in regard to someone elses scouting work.
We would have had Kyle regardless of Smith- IMO it was his destiny to be an Islander and to someday Captain this team to glory. Viva baby Kyle!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
I pretty much assume little credit (“technically drafted”), but I wasn’t in the room. And for the fun of the post I had to act like there was some feather in his cap.
The real lesson here is Milbury had the brilliant forethought to introduce Wang to our current GM — I mean obviously we read MM all wrong, he was ahead of his time. ;)
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
I’ve heard this story two different ways.
Smith’s story is that he wanted Okposo and everyone else wanted to draft someone else.
Wang’s camp says that they wanted Okposo and Smith wanted to draft everyone else.
Given the Islanders draft picks in the 00s leading up to that year, I’m leaning towards Smith. The first rounders were all pretty bad. But I don’t think its possible to compare with Smith’s past, since the Rangers seem to corrupt every GM into the same Ahole.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
Chris Botta has already completely debunked Neil smiths fake version of the story. And since he worked for the team at the time, he knows.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 2:19 PM EST up reply actions
ahh, I don’t read Botta.
But since he does/did work for the Islanders, whats it worth to him to backup Smiths story in comparison to Wangs?
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
He has not worked for the Islanders for years.
Look at it this way:
Chris Botta has no reason to soil his own repuation and blatantly lie over something like this.
Neil Smith however has every reason to lie and try and take credit for Kyle Okposo being an Islander.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve heard this story two different ways.
As a veteran of some of the most bizarre internal office politics I could ever imagine (which is to say: Damn, turns out people are crazy and manipulative all over this big planet), this is exactly why I tread lightly on backroom stories like this.
I don’t doubt what Botta was told, but I also look at this situation from the outside and assume that a few people know what really happened, and they (both Smith and his opponents) and all of their allies relayed what they want others (including the PR man) to hear. Lot of bad blood and confusion with that whole committee thing and with how Smith came in and exited. The Okposo pick looked so good in retrospect that of course whoever was there wants credit. Honestly, I could have a scout who was in the room call me right now and tell me the “real” story, and part of me would still just lean on the tried and true: “Consider the source.”
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
If we talk Snow trading, you have to include an extra part on the Freddy Meyer trade.
Traded Freddy Meyer for Alexei Zhitnik. The same season, Zhitnik would be traded for Braydon Coburn. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
I haven't forgotten
But I never blamed Snow for not knowing how desperate Waddell would be 31 games later. It’s not like what Waddell offered later was the market rate. I’m sure every GM checks “what will Waddell offer?” off his list before consummating a trade. :)
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
He didn't maximize value
but Meyer is still better than Zhitnik
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
You have to give Milbury some credit. If we’re judging him on this decade, he did a pretty darn good job. He did build teams that went to the playoffs three straight years after a seven year drought and probably would have achieved more if not for Darcy Tucker’s low-bridge on Peca and Laviolette’s little spat with Wang that cost Petey his job. In the 00’s he drafted DiPi, Bergenheim, Gervais, Neilsen and Comeau and traded for Trent Hunter as well as the moves Dom pointed out.
Also we wouldn’t have had the pick to get Okposo if Milbury had a clue on how to build a post-lockout team.
I never thought I would have such a passionate defense of a guy I would like to punch in the face if I ever meet him, but hey he didn’t do as bad a job in the last 6 or so years as people would like to think.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
Addendum
Hunter was traded for a 4th rounder, Anaheim used it to select Jonas Ronnqvist.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
Milbury was ultimately a disaster because he lacked vision and patience
Yeah, he may have made a few good decisions along the way, but his lack of vision of what it would take to produce a Cup winner and his inability to patiently develop prospects had ultimately disasterous consequences for the franchise. Yes, he brought in a few players who helped the team make a few abortive playoff appearances. To do that, however, he gave up on players like Luongo, Chara, Connolly, McCabe, and Jokinnen. He also gave up on the opportunity to draft Heatly or Gaborik and Spezza. I watched the Wings’ feed on the Detroit game. Their announcers were admiring our banners and noting all of Milbury’s disasterous moves. They reflected that, but for those moves, the Isles of the recent past might well have challenged recent great Wings teams. Those announcers were correct.
Of course, in general terms, hindsight is 20-20. Certain moves, however, can be anticipated to be mistakes. Goalies, for example, are typically drafted in later rounds and developed over a period of years. When a goalie is drafted fourth overall, as Luongo was, and is traded just two years later, that by itself is pretty good evidence that you have a GM who doesn’t know what he is doing. When you have yet to build up the core of a team through the draft and you trade away prize assets in blue chip prospects as well as top draft picks for a talented player who has never won anything save the enmity of his current franchise and then you reward said prima dona with an enormous and lengthy contract, the results are not hard to anticipate.
The basics of building a Cup winner are the same as they were when Bowtie Bill was GM. You build the core through the draft, you patiently develop those core players, and then you add to the core through carefully chosen trades and free agent signings. Free agency and the cap have made it harder to keep the core of a champion together long enough to repeat the kind of dynasty the Isles had in the 1980s, but the basic formula is the same. Mike Milbury never really understood that and that is why he was such a disaster.
Devils Advocate
That I did. Part of it was voting towards the future success of the franchise under Snow’s control.
My point with Milbury was everyone lately seems to forget that he did do a decent job from 2001-2004. If you asked an Islanders fan on January 1st, 2000, that a Milbury lead team would not only make the playoffs, but do it 3 years in a row, they would think you were insane. But they did. And I think if Peca had remained healthy and Laviolette learned to play nice with Wang, there wouldn’t be this discussion. Again, I never thought in a million years I would be defending Milbury this passionately… Maybe all this cold medicine is affecting my brain.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
And yes, I am a hypocrite.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
Ironically, heavy medication was the reason for this post appearing today — I’ve been in bed and had this one (mostly) in the can for such an occasion.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
this is a year early
Dom….the decade is from 2001-2010….shouldn’t the all-decade stuff be at the end of the 2010-11 season? I do think so. We’re celebrating a year too early (there was no Year 0).
If you want to
It’s a subjective pick, based on cultural norms and our love of randomly ascribing significance to counting numbers. People call them “the ’80s,” the ‘90s and so on. Sure, there was no Year 0, but there was a year 2000 that people thought was a big deal. Or as explained in the first post in the series:
Sure, sets of 10 begin with one, not zero — but picking a starting point when marking time is a subjective human pursuit, like picking your favorite player. We don’t call the avocado green appliance decade “the ’70s plus 1980,” so we’re not going to pretend “the aughts” continue past the fast-approaching Dec. 31, 2009.To me it’s a year early only if you want it to be. There’s really no compelling reason to choose any group of 10 years except the numbers look pretty. For the Isles, we could just as reasonably start their “decades” with 72-73 to 81-82, and so on.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
:) I am SO with you on this C2M, but alas (as Dom points out) society at large is not on the same page lol.
I tried fighting this in 1999, but nobody cared… and they arent going to start caring now!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
But “0” represents the new birth. A baby is not born at 1 years old. There has to be a year 0 for there to be a year 1. But alas all of this is arbitrary due to the fact that the true measure would be a decade based upon the year 2012 since the Isles year of inception. However since the world is ending in 2012 I think Dom is trying to get this in while there is still time.
Will work...for playoffs.
by metalcoconut on Jan 25, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
However since the world is ending in 2012 I think Dom is trying to get this in while there is still time.
You got that right. With the Islanders sniffing playoff territory in January, I’m starting to worry the world will end even sooner.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
No, there is no “0” in age. The moment you are born you are fractions or percenatages of 1 year, there never was a zero year.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
I believe that we are discussing semantics here but 10 seems like a good year to start from since the point of origin has to begin somewhere. The decade could start on 2011 but then it seems that you are ignoring the first 12 months of existance.
0 doesn’t qualify as a number then Gilbert Arenas doesn’t exist…and as far as the NBA is concerned that would probably be a good thing for them right about now. But he does exist and how great is that for hockey fans?
Will work...for playoffs.
by metalcoconut on Jan 25, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Look- I already said that I understand convention has to do with starting at zero. But in REALITY, if you start counting a group of- well, anything- you do not start with zero, you start with ONE. I could get into the mathematics of it, but this really isnt the place for it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
I have now made it my goal in life
To find everyone that voted for Milbury…
First off, Milbury deserves NONE of the credit for any players he drafted that are on the team now. He made every wrong choice possible when it came to bringing along prospects. He almost ruined DiPietro by starting him in the NHL too early.
Secondly, the 2000 draft is this decade. Not only does that include what should be the worst trade in NHL history (Olli and Luongo for Parrish and Kvasha) and the drafting of DiPietro first overall when we could have taken him fifth overall.
Thirdly the Yashin trade. Really, That’s all I need to say. Not only did we not draft Dany Heatley, Gaborik or Klsela, but the Yashin trade cost us Kovalchuk or Spezza AND Chara and Torres.
Fourth he FINALLY improves the team and fires Goring. Basically assuring what all long term Islanders fan believed, that Goring was just hired as a publicity stunt and not based on ability.
Fifth do I really need a fifth? We basically gave away a possible Cup conteder or at the very least a team that could get past the first round (based just on Luongo’s ability) for a team of overpaid underachievers without leadership (outside of Peca) and then complain when the team losses money that you can’t keep the same “level of talent” up.
We’ll always imagine what the 00s might have been like if Wang had the sense of Spano and was ready to fire Milbury. On one of my Milbury posts someone mentioned that upon buying the team, Wang met with a group of Islanders fans and was told two things specifically from them. One, Fire Milbury, Two Do Not Trade for Yashin.
Give me an open wallet and no care whatsoever for the future of the club, I’ll give you a team that can get to the playoffs and lose in the first round.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
Give me an open wallet and no care whatsoever for the future of the club, I’ll give you a team that can get to the playoffs and lose in the first round.
So your name isn’t Glenn Sather? Sweet!
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
BTW...
Haven’t the Canadiens been celebrating their Centennial for 5 years now? It feels that long.
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
LOL- it really does.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
And do we even know for sure that they’ve stopped?
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
An I bet they will have another “Centenary” celebration in 2017-18 to celebrate their 100 years in the NHL.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
We only have to wait another 83 years for their “Centenary since the last cup win”
"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."
Aauugggh!
Don’t remind me. The only team in the last 25 years to win 2 cups when they weren’t the best team either year! Why can’t we get one of those every decade or so! whaaaa!
Because Montreal has a way of putting too many players on the ice and then they play Jedi Mind tricks on the refs to insure that there is not call.
This isn’t an extra man.
Will work...for playoffs.
by metalcoconut on Jan 25, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
This isnt an extra man.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
And why — of all the teams that could use some good fortune, why was it the Habs who had the fortune of winning 10 OT games in a row?
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Rags
Will the Rangers be shutout for the third time in a row tonight against the Pengos?
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Garth has to get discretionary extra credit for his pads, right? Even conceiving of them?
Claude LaPointe didn't make as good a pun, sadly.
by LaChance at Glory on Jan 25, 2010 6:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
If . . .
. . . all Mike Milbury had done was draft DP #1 overall — when we already had a franchise goalie and DP most certainly would have been available at #5, when Mike drafted Raffi Torres (OMG) — that alone may have qualified him as the worst non-Sather GM of all time.
The fact that Mad Mike has an impressive resume outside of that draft speaks volumes.
I see a lot of love for Snow here but not nearly enough hate over that suicide pact with DP.
Well, will you buy- IF his health holds up, AND he gets back to his pre-injury level, that $4 mil. per is a steal?
IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE 1975
No. Because Roloson is performing just as well if not better than DP’s best years for $2.5m/yr. And he’s signed for 13 fewer years to boot! Hooray!
And what a bargain he is!! I hope we can keep him as long s he wants….
Like we shouldv’e done with Osgood….
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
I mean . . . DP is a fine goalie. When at the top of his game, he was maybe cracking the top 10 in the league. But he is nowhere near the best, and you can — and the Islanders have — find much cheaper replacements that offer more or less the same contract.
That “suicide pact” isn’t as bad as everyone claims it is. Paying a good goalie 4.5 million a season isn’t bad, is it? Certainly not suicidal…. But many people have issues with the 15 years involved. Yes, DP was out for a year and a half.. But he is back, and looking strong. But that 15 years guarantees that the Islanders have a “franchise” player in their goalie.
And I would have to add that Snow can’t be totally blamed for that. You know Wang wanted it too.
And as other people have stated, trading Luongo and picking Ricky first was the biggest bonehead move he couldv’e made.
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Paying a 26 year-old goalie 4.5 million dollars for 15 years is a suicide pact. I think it probably is the definitional suicide pact, actually.
I mean, don’t get me wrong — the trend towards longer and longer contracts in general is highly irrational. But signing, say, Sidney Crosby at 20 years-old for 10 years makes A LOT more sense than signing DP for 15 years when the Islanders did.
What, are butterfly goalies injury risks or something? /sarcasm
It made sense only if DiPietro would definitely become a star and the salaries and cap would continue to escalate massively. I remember thinking, “Wow, he needs to play really well and salaries need to get really crazy for this to pay off.” Not completely out of the question but not a bet I would’ve made through age 40. I’m just grateful it at no point reaches max-level salary.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Financially, that isnt necessarily true, Dom. Rick will be getting paid 4.5M for the next 11 years. That is already a low price for a starting goalie. In a few years, that might be a low price for a backup goalie.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve definitely leaned on that point when defending/explaining the deal: it’s a low price for a very good starting goalie, but of course it’s leveraged by the fact it stays that high till he’s 40. In a sense, it was innovative: It was the first deal to try to circumvent the cap by spreading out money over the life of the deal, making the near-term cost more palatable.
It’s just not a position I would have done that kind of term with, in part because of the unique nature of the goaltending position (only one on the ice at a time, team must believe in him, the load is not spread among multiple lines within a game, etc.). It’s a very tough one to navigate if things don’t work out, and I’d never bet on goaltending health/performance going 15 years forward.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
If DP stays healthy
wins a few Vezinas, and a few Cups, hockey historians will one day look back on this deal as a stroke of genius.
Thats a great way of putting it all, Dom.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 26, 2010 7:05 AM EST up reply actions
DiPietro was signed to that 15 year deal on Sept. 12, 2006
Snow was still a goalie then.
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
That’s because it’s been 2 years since Good Snow arrived!
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
While we're on GM talk
Spector said today in his THN column that Rutherford is clearing the decks for the Cane’s fire sale, asking Nik Wallin and Ray Whitney to waive their no trade clauses. Anyone on the Canes we should think about picking up?
With the D-Line particularly thin, I wouldn’t mind getting Wallin or Aaron Ward. They probably wouldn’t cost too much with age/contracts.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
Yeah, back in December. Personally I would like Wallin, always liked him. Wouldn’t mind adding Erik Cole too, add some size up front although he isn’t the scorer he was four years ago.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
Trades
BTW, according to TFP.com, Boston and Calgary have passed on Kovalchuk. Also, Edmonton says Souray is available…
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Everyone in Ed is available, especially the defensemen. They have an obscene amount of next year’s cap space taken up by the blue line, and a bunch of RFA’s this offseason as well.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think there is any one we want at the price though. Let’s not pull a Gainey!
IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE 1975
A couple of links
Dom posted these in the Sabres/Isles game thread about the Oilers:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=306283
http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/1/16/1254310/the-oilers-have-come-to-realize
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
Since they have won like one game in their last what- 13 games? I dont think thats so shocking of a prediction lol.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:51 PM EST up reply actions
Actually, no. It would have been sarcastic if I had said something to the effect of “Wow what a shocking prediction!” What I said, I meant.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like they have cap BIG issues- we can help for the right price. We’ll take Souray’s contract if you give us a draft pick too. I’m greedy, but mistakes come with a cost.
IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE 1975
No.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
Tambellini needs to go, and it will probably be the best thing for both sides. Tamby can find a place where he will play regularly and the Isles can just move on from this delusional idea he will miraculously turn into a 20-30 goal scorer.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:55 PM EST up reply actions
No to the comment I responded to:
We could give Tambellini his son too!!!
No.
IMO that has a 0% change of happening.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:56 PM EST up reply actions
You have to admit that the Tambellini experiment has run its course though.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
But you believe we should hang onto him? Why?He hasn’t done anything significant except sit on the sidelines, and yea…he was good in a couple of shootouts
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
In Baseball terms
He’s a AAAA player, excellent in the AHL, not so much in the big time. He’s Jason Krog 2.0
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions
Where did I say that? All I said is he isnt getting traded to his fathers team of all places- it is not happening. The other stuff, youre thinking of someone else.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:01 PM EST up reply actions
I know how to read.
AND I know my own thoughts.
I NEVER SAID “I believe we should hang onto him” in any way shape or form.
In the future if you want to know what I think of something, please ask instead of extrapolating on your own and telling me what I think. Fair?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
No.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
That wasn’t your reply?
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
OMG.
I already SHOWED YOU that was a reply to what YOU SAID.
Look at Jan 25, 2010 9:56 PM EST.
I think maybe you should get a better feel for the way posts go up and thread here.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
Sigh.
Dom, if you read this, maybe you will have better luck explaining it to this person.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:12 PM EST up reply actions
Unfortunately Souray is the one I think the Isles aren’t going to be a player for. He has a no-movement clause and has stated he wants to go to a team closer to where his kids live in LA. I think Gilbert, Visnovski or Staios are more likely.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
Any of these guys would add depth, just don’t want to lose any chemistry.
IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE 1975
Gilbert wouldn’t just be depth. 26 years old, just entering his prime. Statistically this has been a down year for him, but I think he would be a great addition.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
So who are the Islanders Trade-ables? Witt, Tambellini, Biron, Freddy, Jackman, Sim & Park? Would Weight bring us back anything?
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
There are also some prospects: Kohn, Katic, the rights to someone like Stefan Ridderwall, guys who are down on the pecking order due to the organizational depth now at their positions, could bring something of value back.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
So who are the Islanders Trade-ables? Witt, Tambellini, Biron, Freddy, Jackman, Sim & Park? Would Weight bring us back anything?
(facepalm)
I cant believe how many times people bring up trading all these guys lmao. The Isles are NOT GETTING ANYTHING for those guys- other than Biron, maybe Jackman- except I dont se them trading Jackman. Its not gonna happen! Other teams dont want the players you dont think are good enough, they want the players that you want to keep!!! Is that so hard to see lol?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
AGAIN, where did I say THAT? Why do you keep reading what I say, dreaming up other thoughts, then crediting them to me?
I am talking about REALITY. If you want big name players, you dont give other teams piles of marginal players. But if you want to dream up scenarios in which the Isles trade piles of guys like that for great picks and prospects or NHL players, go right ahead. Make-pretend can be fun, I guess. Im just not joining in because I know its not gonna happen.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
ther teams dont want the players you dont think are good enough, they want the players that you want to keep!!! Is that so hard to see lol?
Dream on…
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Let me get this straight- in your opinion I am “dreaming” that other teams would be more interested in players like Kyle and Bailey and Moulson than they would be interested in Witt and Weight and Park?
WOW.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
And where in the world did I say THAT???
Holy SHIT.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
Let me get this straight- in your opinion I am "dreaming" that other teams would be more interested in players like Kyle and Bailey and Moulson than they would be interested in Witt and Weight and Park?
Your words…not mine
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Right. Look- it has become VERY obvious to me that you are specifically trying to fight with me, and I am not interested.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 25, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
I am not trying to start a fight. I created this thread for thoughts about trades..
Instead of contributing, you have come on and said we are stupid for thinking other teams would be interested in the players mentioned, and instead sais that other teams would only be interested in our better players. I do not believe the Isles would trade those players.
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
I am not saying oh, we’ll trade Sim for Kovalchuk. We were simply discussing what parts on this team and in the organization are tradeable. When talking about the bigger names on the market, I know, everyone knows, that you’re going to need to give up more than what we’ve talked about in terms of picks/prospects/ect.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
Not on topic
But one of the most disappointing things — and there are so many to choose from! — that I’ve experienced as an Islanders fan was when they let Healy walk only to see him go to the Rags and be replaced by . . . Ron Hextall, which —> fail.
Hextall
Every time NHL Network runs highlights of the Habs getting by Quebec in 1993, I die a little. One, because we could’ve gotten by Quebec no problem. Two, because it was so glaringly obvious that Hextall was no longer fit for this game. An old standup guy being passed by the butterfly revolution.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Off Topic...Sites I follow
TSN http://tsn.ca/nhl/
CBS Sports http://www.cbssports.com/nhl
The Fourth Period http://www.thefourthperiod.com
Hockey Leaks http://www.hockeyleaks.com/
Scout.com/Islanders http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=300&f=2314
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Well, since we're going OT...
The Albany River Rats are moving closer and closer to extinction… As someone that went to school in and lived in Albany for the better part of this decade, this is a really depressing idea.
Outside of drinking heavily, there isn’t much to do in the winter than go to River Rats games. I have some very fond memories of going to the Pepsi Arena/Times Union Center, getting the 5 dollar student tickets Wednesday and watching the Devils prospects loose time after time, including the colossal draft bust that was Ari Ahonen in goal.
I will pour out a 40 for my fallen homies if this move does happen and they move to the hockey hotbead of North Carolina.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
I remember when the Isles had a farm team in that are too. Saw a game on Tv when Travis Green was still in the farm system.
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
Yeah, the Capitol District Islanders, whose naming rights are now owned by a youth team in the area.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
That they did, but the banners for the team are now in the TUC for some reason.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Jan 25, 2010 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
Was just thinking of them tonight, what with the game vs. the District of Columbia tomorrow…
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
CBS Sports Rankings
Guess who’s Lucky 13? Your NY Islanders!!!!
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/story/12837135/power-rankings-senators-finally-get-groove-on
Lets Go Islanders!!!!
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