Bits: Trottier reassigned(?), mini-camp continues
So much going on for an early July day and so much being discussed here [Jankowski here; mini-camp here; silly Nabokov here; Kirill Kabanov here; and the agents' praise for Snow here]. That can only call for a links dump:
- Chris Botta breaks that Bryan Trottier's role as exec. director of Player Development is over, though he's
stayingHOPING to stay in the organization. [IPB] - Nino, on being picked by the Isles: "I'm in a great situation." ... "I can go back to Portland for a year or I could be here, which would be fantastic. They have great coaches here and I can learn a lot."[Newsday, sub.] Thankfully, the official site carried more of Nino -- and for $5 less!
- On Jankowski: Katie Strang's sources tell her he was "blind-sided" by the move, that Snow will take on more responsibility, and that it was not a cost-cutting move. No one's going to speak on the record on that, but that's hardly a one-sided platter of info. [Newsday, sub.] Botta on the same, as it broke yesterday.
- Third-rounder Jason Clark, in camp this week, is excited and was expecting to be a 5th-rounder. [Eden Prairie News]
- John Tavares reiterates that playing in the NHL at 18 was hard, and Doug Weight was a huge mentor. [NYI]
- Botta posts the video of yesterday's Kirill & Kirill interview. 7th Woman also had her take on the Kirills.
- NEW: Botta also posts video of a good interview with Travis Hamonic.
- Meanwhile, for fun: Poor RudyKelly at Battle of California's life has been ruined by the whole Ilya drama. Which is okay though, because RudyKelly's "friends" say he doesn't have much of a life to begin with. Meanwhile Quisp, who has been all over this in a totally different obsessive way, examines the Devils cap if the Post is to believed (which it usually isn't).
Thought for the day: Have you been reassigned yet today? If not, what are you waiting for?
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I know lately we’ve been called a manic-depressive bunch, (which I certainly don’t believe), but this personnel shuffle is a bit obnoxious. Jankowski and Trottier were two people most fans were keen on, and in a span of 48 hours or so we’ve lost one and the other has been removed from his present position. I always felt Trottier had a good rapport with incoming players that extended our hand to prospects trying to make their way onto the Island. I guess I’ll never know the true rhyme or reason but it’s disappointing (without pointing a finger) to lose some quality execs.
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
Trots
From afar I always appreciated his rapport with the prospects, but I confess I also wondered how the rest of his role played out. In his previous stops he was a well-liked assistant coach and a wrong-guy/wrong-time head coach, so you just never know how these “hockey lifers” fit the different roles they see. (e.g. Cairns as prospect shepherd? Really?!
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
oops…that wasn’t finished: What I meant to say with Cairns was that, “yet it works. We think.”
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Player Development Director is an even more nebulous title than Assistant GM, so I’m not sure what the definition of his duties even were. Just hope everything works out for the best for him.
I always assumed / envisioned Trottier as an ambassador to the young kids. A kind of guy to make the rounds to all the players, kick the tires, see how they’re progressing and how their morale is. Maybe ease the ruffled feathers about. I don’t know, again, that is what I assumed, and I was ok with that.
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
Me too. Seemed like a guy who had some hockey insight (I remember him talking about faceoffs and coverage with some of the young centers) and also build a non-threatening rapport and connection with the team’s history for the youngsters. The lovable old uncle with stories from back when and lessons for now. I’m sure he could still easily play that role without the fancy title, of course.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
I kind of had the same impression, but it seems that’s Cairns role as well as stated before. Was he involved in setting up the prospect camp, working with the scouts to determine who to extend an invite and other details or was he just a great guy to get out on the ice with the young players? If its just a fancy title they could have just left the title and assigned new duties.
Just odd considering that Trottier at one point was an up and coming working his way through the ranks as a coach after his seventh ring working for the Avs and then he fell into the pit of Sather and all went horribly wrong with his coaching career.
Actually, we do not know if Trottier was indeed removed.
For all we know, he is the one who said he doesnt want to do it anymore.
Unfortunately, nobody is telling us anything so at this point, who knows?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
and that's the point, isn't it?
If we knew the whole truth, we might conclude, “Hey, this makes perfect sense. Management knows what it is doing.”
Instead, nobody got out in front of this story and nobody’s saying anything now. They are acting like they have something to hide, so naturally people will assume that they do. That’s what makes me crazy about the whole thing.
It is indeed
This is why I appreciate when Botta adds benign-but-telling facts like: “The Islanders have yet to release statements on Jankowski and Trottier, or post the news on the official team website.” Same way Logan used to do it: State the fact, the reality, and if that fact seems at all odd to the reader, then the reader can make their own conclusions.
Don’t mean to keep harping on this, but I could write a dissertation on it. The reason you issue press releases, the reason you provide explanatory interviews, is because people are going to WANT TO KNOW what the thinking is. The Islanders cannot both leverage and play up the fact they have much beloved Islander greats like Trottier in the organization, and then act like it’s merely a private internal matter when they are reassigned/let go/whatever.
And while we know nothing yet and it’s hardly been even hours since the news “broke,” this is why you need to have stuff ready — and approved — for when it does. Maybe they planned to announce it later in the month, not during busy mini-camp week when they’re focused on other things. But they had to know people would notice the absence of both men. You have to try to control the timing and tone of the message, but also be prepared for when the news gets out before you intended. And since I’m pretty sure their PR staff already know that, it’s up to ownership to trust and authorize the PR side to do their jobs.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
by Dominik on Jul 8, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I do not believe there is a PR Staff
I am not joking, I do not think there is any group specifically dedicated to PR in the Islanders organization.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 8, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I do know for a fact they are there, and are liked by outsiders. I have the impression from the outside that they are either overworked or under-authorized (or both).
Of course, every PR flak believes they should have a more important seat at management’s decision-making table. Not a decision-making vote, mind you, but rather a seat where they can know what’s going on at all times so that they are better prepared to handle media inquiries (ha!) and assuage us manic depressives. I’ve no knowledge of the situation, but my pet suspicion from reading Botta pre-dismissal was that he had this philosophy of PR, and the org did not.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
I don’t know, I’ve gotten used to the organization mistreating the Legends through the years and only caring about them because if they brought them in for a special night they could sell more tickets.
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
A men brother
I’m expecting them to change the retired number system so that people can bid to have their names put on the backs of jerseys in the rafters instead of the ones currently there :)
Yea Webby. It’s awesome reading in Sports Illustrated about Mike Bossy selling Humpty Dumpty potato chips. sigh
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
Let me clarify, I’m not saying at all I approve of it. I’m still angry about the way the organization treated Goring when he was the coach and then how they treated Henning (naming him Intern coach and announcing he was fired when the season ended).
It’s nice when the Legends are around and a part of the organization, but sometimes you have to wonder how much they actually do and how much of it is just to parade them around for meetings with fans.
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
Exactly why the legends were pissed and disenchanted for so many years. Sounds like they’ve been repairing that. Hope they haven’t stopped.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Something fishy going on here
What is going on within the confines of the organization? Jankowski is out and Trots is reassigned. I am hoping that we are not going to go through another embarrassing situation similar to the one that took place with Neil Smith, Ted Nolan, etc…
I agree with albeezle and do not want to jump to conclusions or point fingers but I always heard that Jankowski was an excellent evaluator of talent. Aren’t the islanders in a rebuilding mode and are relying on up and coming talent? What gives……
I am hoping that we are not going to go through another embarrassing situation similar to the one that took place with Neil Smith, Ted Nolan, etc…
Im fairly certain this will surprise you, but I was not “embarrassed” by either of those situations. NS is the one who should have been embarrassed since he is the one sho didnt get his contract in order immediately. I was more embarrassed when the Isles hired him to tell you the truth- he will always be a Rag in my mind.
And letting a coach go? Is that really embarrassing to you? It happens constantly- in most organizations. I just dont see the “embarrassment” in it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 8, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe embarassed is the wrong word, but...
it doesn’t paint the prettiest picture of this organization. Smith, regardless of where he came from, was hired to be the GM. He lasted 40 days here, I believe, in a capacity that was not what he understood it to be. Again, that may be his fault, but the perception is that he was hired to do a certain job, wasn’t actually hired for that job, and then was no longer a part of the organization. All this happening in a span of 40 days. Very strange to outsiders, I would think.
Also, hiring and firing of coaches happens all the time. No big deal. It is the timing of these things. If I recall correctly, and I honestly may not, but Nolan was fired in the middle of the summer, because of a disagreement of the direction of the organization. OK, no problem. This one isn’t so bad, because they told us why he was fired!
This team has been dealing with a perception problem for a long time. This doesn’t help our perception. We are fans, and we are torn over these things. Ask a free agent how they feel about moving their family to a new place while facing such uncertainty. It’s not gonna happen, not to the guys who can demand top dollar. They’ll even accept less money to play elsewhere, and a great deal of it is the perception of the club. True or not, it doesn’t matter.
Letting a coach go is not embarrassing in itself…..it was the way in which it happened. I am pretty sure that, like me, you were excited to have ted nolan here as a coach. He was a players coach who had success in Buffalo. We made the playoffs during his short tenure. And then what? he was fired because he clashed with GM Garth Snow regarding the youth movement and “rebuilding” of the islanders. We are ALWAYS rebuilding.
Now we have tiny Napoleon behind the bench. He had an issue with Guerin. He had an issue with Witt. He had an issue with Campoli. Funny, he has no issue with the front office…because he and Garth are boys.
Word gets around the league from veterans like Guerin, and media outlets, regarding the moves and decisions made by the front office. All the players love Doug Weight, how come he is not signed…….
All the players love Doug Weight, how come he is not signed……
My bet: They’re waiting to see how far under the floor they are, to see how big his bonuses need to be.
Nolan was a bad exit, but I don’t fault Garth for that. He had only just gotten full authority and it sounded like he tried to find a place where they could see eye-to-eye. (Understandably so: Snow decided on a youth movement; Nolan, a veteran coach, knew his contract would expire right in the depths of a bad season or two.) When you realize you can’t, you have to make that move no matter how late in the summer it is.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Timing of these
For news and PR purposes the timing/optics are awful. But from a business-reality standpoint, this is the start of a new year in the cycle, almost their fiscal year. So after the draft and free agency is generally when contracts are up and re-organizations like this happen.
Similar thing happened in St. Louis, where they had Pleau set to exit as GM on June 30 as Armstrong took over on July 1. (Of course, I must add that a difference there is that the plan was fully communicated to the public, with no ’i’s left undotted…)
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
I agree on that point Dom, but from what has been said, Jankowski was blindsided. Must be nice to have a “good to the last drop” philosophy in the organization, I can see how that will exemplify an endearing quality about the team. OR something…
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
True. If it was a case of a good and respected soldier suddenly falling out of favor, that reputation is going to get out. If it was a case of them quibbling over money/offers/roles and then the Isles decided, “this isn’t going to work,” that’s different but will get out, too. (To be fair, dismissals usually do feel blind-sided for the guy exiting.)
Of course, since they apparently have zero need to fill his position, guess it doesn’t matter if it scares off other candidates, LOL.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
True. Dom, you seem to have more insight in to what happens with the isles than most. I read in several media outlets that jankowski was an excellent talent evaluator. if we are in need of rebuilding through the draft why would jankowski be let go? Is Garth becoming a little too obsessed with control?
outside of tavares, I don’t really see any any game changing players that have been drafted under Garth Snow. I would have done everything in my power to trade up to number 3 to pick up Gudbranson, because everyone knows we need size and nastiness on the blueline.
However, he did a great job of finding Moulson and Schremp
We do believe based on TWO sources (K. Strang and C. Botta) that Bryan Trottier is no longer Player Development Director. Everything else is speculation. I THINK, with no inside knowledge or basis in fact or fiction, based on the limited information that we have from limited sources that the Islanders are re-structuring their draft and development program. This is entirely my OPINION.
As I said with Janks
An organization that seems intent on spending to the floor (barely and with nearly a quarter or that money going to guys that haven’t played, Yashin and DP) needs to be better at drafting and developing talent than anyone else if they are planning to be successful in any way shape or form. It would appear that nobody, other than a couple of insiders, has any idea how removing folks improves us on those dimensions. The Isles need to be spending more on drafting and developing than their competitors so that they can develop and consistent flow of talent to be even remotely competitive if they are going to fund the on ice product the way they do. These areas will become even more critical when/if we ever climb out of the draft lottery and actually need to have better insight into later round picks than our competitors.
I also concur that the timing and approach seem to lack class which effects the perception of those you may be trying to hire for any position.
An organization that seems intent on spending to the floor
But why try to sign Kovy if they were intent on barely making the floor? With the guys they haven’t signed yet (Schremp, Moulson, Weight) they are halfway to the floor, so you can’t argue that they are intent on spending to the floor.
We have no idea how much the Isles spend on drafts and developmental, but Snow has restocked what was basically a bare cupboard when he took over. We have more promising players in the minors/juniors/whatever then I could remember in years past.
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
True we don’t know exactly how much they are spending or how much it is relaitive to others but. Based on Botta’s comments when one of the scouts left for greener pastures about the organization having fewer scouts than alot of the richer clubs we can guess. We also haven’t seen any news about adding folks in those areas anywhere or even a suggestion that it may be coming. As for the floor, it’s where we are and where we have been for a while despitre protestations to the contrary. We didn’t sign Kovy and may have never actually been all that serious aobut it, we don’t know that either.
But we’ll never know why they have fewer scouts. Last draft for example, we picked 2 Minnesota High School kids, we picked Dehart because the Islanders watched him playing with de Haan, and Rosen because somehow Snow saw him and liked him.
Last year you have de Haan being drafted because Snow liked what he saw of him while reviewing tape of Tavares, both goalies were from the same general area of Europe (Finland/Sweden) another Minnesota High School kid in Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas who was from the OHL like JT and de Haan.
If you go through the drafts, the Islanders seem to be concentrating their scouting on certain areas, maybe they don’t think they need more scouts?
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
a disturbing trend you have cited
Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango ?
-sorry, that pic just screams Boh/Rhap to me
Yes I agree, that really does look strange
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 8, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Ironically, most teams do this
Check out this “Fishing Hole” post at Copper & Blue. (Warning: charts with pretty colors).
It seems teams can’t help themselves from favoring certain areas. In a way, it makes sense. If you figure everything beyond the 2nd round is a crapshoot, you want to at least feel like you really know the player you’re picking. And since it’s so hard to cover every single region thoroughly, among non-top-60 prospects you probably only really know the guys you’ve seen a lot while scouting other, better players.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
just devoured that article Dom, that’s pretty awesome. Did anyone else notice we had the second most picks from 05-09? behind LA? We’re also fairly pedestrian when it comes to divergent results. I’d imagine the USHS/USHL rhetoric is that those players would eventually end up in the NCAA anyway. Jankowski had a lot to work with there.
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
When I was doing my pre-draft Euro-centric stuff I noticed that similar trend as well. The couple of Scandinavian picks have actually been outliers in Snows trends. This was his fourth draft as GM, he’s selected a grand total of three European based players, Koskinen, Nilsson and Ullstrom.
He tend to pick NCAA-bound Americans (Nelson, Lee, Kessel, Ness, Donovan, ect.) and overaged, even if slightly, Junior players (DeHart, DiBenedetto, Lee again). This is actually a rather smart strategy as with the NCAA kids you have 3-4 years to make a decision on them and the overaged kids you have an extra 1-2 years on their resume so their developmental growth is clearer to see.
There are few things in this world I enjoy more than the English getting beaten like a rented mule.
by David Hanssen on Jul 8, 2010 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm guessing
Their main scouts happen to live in those areas, maybe they moonlight as Zamboni drivers (or moonlight as scouts). Suspect your right, they don’t think they need any more, cause it’s not like good hockey players ever come from anywhere other than those areas right?
Old, old, old.
Im sick of looking at Gudbranson kids name in that poll- F him lol.
How about a poll asking fans who they think will be the big surprise prospect to make the team or which prospect will make the best impression or something like that? :)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Ha, good call. I forgot the “latest” poll is now pretty moot. ::gears grinding, need oil::
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Good call TMC. I don’t know if you or anyone else for that matter, has watched any of the videos on the official site of training camp yet, but it has some nifty footage of the new kids. I found it interesting and admirable that Kabanov was translating for Petrov. Some might say that it’s nothing, I look at it as a step up in responsibility and maturity, and every little bit counts.
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
I just can’t wait till Kabanov starts pulling some pranks on Petrov
“Krill says he is better then Crosby and Gretzky combined and wishes to in the future be referred to as Krill “The Great Crostky” Petrov"
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
No doubt
A commenter on IPB who claimed to be Russian said it was a great interview, and when he asked, “What do you want to say for fans?” Petrov goes to Kabanov: “What am I supposed to say?” and Kabanov goes, “Just tell them you’re excited, happy to be here, like that.”
I can just picture their Russian conversations: “Look, all you need to know is say you love the fans, you’re happy to be here, and you really want to be a good two-way player. Drop in the word ‘hustle’ every once in a while and you’re golden.”
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Want a Laugh?
http://twitter.com/DealyaKovalchuk
This guy is hilarious.
DealyaKovalchuk
Oh hellz no. Garth Snow and that Wang dude are outside my door. Gotta pretend I’m not home…
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
Oh-ho, that’s good stuff.
Just finished lunch with Grossy. I had the lobster and he had the Pork Tartar. Grossy is gettin ready to negotiate the bill. Could be awhile
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
LMAO!!!!!!!!!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 8, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Paul Newman in Slapshot: "They brought their F#$%ING TOYS with 'em!!"
Anton Klementyev takes the wheel of the fishing boat.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
I just saw that. Am I retarded, or is he supposed to be defense? Tigers wrote forward. Is the sun getting to me?
I cannot wait for Rakh-tober.
You are correct
He is a D-man. And by the looks of it, Martin has him beat in the Beach Body competition.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
Must… resist… Red October… joke…
There are few things in this world I enjoy more than the English getting beaten like a rented mule.
by David Hanssen on Jul 8, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
With all this upheaval in the front office
Does anyone still think Kovalchuk is gonna sign here?
Are the Islanders still the only team that can afford his demands?
Yes, but I think the difference between the Isles and Kovy is that the Isles want to go short term (well 5 years compared to 10 years is short term) and he’s looking for a long term deal.
I’d consider it 99.9% done that he doesn’t come here.
The Swiss are Coming, The Swiss are Coming!
Seems to me Kovi wants the moon
Doesn’t matter to him who has the cap space.
This is turning into one of those long drawn out negotiations that mar a player for a long time. His contract is going to become an albatross around his neck.
There's something I find about that thread title.....
…..PROFOUNDLY disturbing; this IS, after all, the team’s all-TIME leading scorer we’re speaking of…..equal-opportunity disrespect; the Islanders don’t play favorites, anyhow…..
There is no reason to presume at this point- for all we know, this was HIS idea.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 8, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Reporteth Strang
The Islanders are trying to find Trottier a different role within the organization.
Lighthouse Hockey: "A f#$%ing haven of reason compared to practically every other Islanders site." --TMC
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