Last Call for Blake Comeau?
by Mark D on Aug 12, 2010 12:56 PM EDT
in Roster Manoeuvres in the Dark
Email
Print
Last season the Islanders had two first rounders entering the final year of their contracts. Both of them were entering their fifth year of on-and-off NHL stints. Both were around 160 career games. Each showed an ability to score in the AHL. At the end of the season, Jeff Tambellini and Sean Bergenheim had played their last games for the Islanders.
This year Blake Comeau is entering the final year of his contract. Entering his fifth season as an Islander he has a total of 168 career games. Comeau has been tantalizing Islander fans with his offensive explosions in March and April the last two years. It's easy to see how this might be Comeau's last chance to secure a lasting spot with the Islanders.
If Comeau starts out slow again, how long do the Islanders give him to turn it around? With the addition of P.A. Parenteau, the eventual additions of Nino Niederreiter, Jesse Joensuu, Matt Martin, Kirill Petrov and Kirill Kabanov, there is bound to be a lot of competition on both wings the next few seasons.
The positive for Comeau is that despite his early season struggles he has continued to improve season to season. While Tambellini and Bergenheim both had their NHL production level off, Comeau has gone from 15 points to 25 points and 35 points last season. If he can continue that progress he'll definitely be around and hopefully be a part of an Islanders offense that is older, wiser and more productive.
For Comeau it's not going to hinge specifically on his production. Last season only Richard Park and Nate Thompson (both gone) averaged more ice time among forwards on the Penalty Kill. It looks like he might be getting more responsibility on the PK. It's not just on the PK that Comeau will be seeing more responsibility. Until March last season Comeau was getting almost non-existent ice time on the Power Play. From March on he saw PP time more often but finished the season with only 1 PP point. Even if Comeau gets less even strength time next year it looks as though he will be seeing more time with special teams.
Blake Comeau looks like he is going to be given every chance to succeed next season. Even if his production falters he can still show he deserves a spot by helping to improve the Penalty Kill. If he does produce, and can score on the PP while helping the PK, Comeau will definitely be back for many years to come on the Island.
The next two to three years are going to involve tough decisions. With players like Comeau, Bergenheim and Tambellini you have to figure out the ceiling on their potential compared to the youngsters making their way up the system. When you have been close to the bottom of the league for three straight seasons, almost no one's job is safe.
69 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
The Matty Moulson Chat
It almost appears that Comeau had the same chat that Matt Moulson had with Gordon at the beginning of the year. Hopefully he turns into a nose for the net guy in the early parts of this year. That could stretch the ice depending on who they pair him with this year. I’m thinking he will be on the second line. Possibly with Frans and Shremp? That could be an interesting line. However in the unlikely event that Nino makes the team from the beginning…who knows what will happen.
What he was able to do at the end of the season last year has to happen in December for the Isles. Perhaps then the fans can feel as if we have a chance to see some post season play.
It is official, I am moving back to Long Island in about 2-3 weeks.
Line combos speculation
I don’t think we’ll see Schremp on a line centered by Frans – the sample size from this past season indicates that Schremp’s skillset works best at center, getting space to make the puck move around. Combine that with Frans’ status being solidly penned down as our primary 2-way center and we’re not going to see them on a line during the normal course of business.
I do see Comeau and Schremp combining well – they were working well off each other when they shared ice, although I don’t have the Corsi numbers handy to verify that beyond “feel”.
I could see a line of Comeau/Schremp combined with a down-and-dirty guy working well – Comeau working the halfboards and shooting from outside, Scremp taking advantage of space in the slot to use his puck-handling, and the down-and-dirty guy (Matt Martin? Nino?) holding the defense in tight on the crease, screening the goalie, and gobbling rebounds.
I think that in the long run, we may see a lot of lines with Frans and KO and someone else, a combination shut-down/fire-up 2nd line.
Of course, a lot of this is going to hinge on whether Bailey stays on wing or goes back to center…
From Dobbler Hockey, this is all his production.
EV BERGENHEIM,SEAN – COMEAU,BLAKE – TAVARES,JOHN 5 14.71%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – SCHREMP,ROB – SIM,JONATHAN 3 8.82%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – THOMPSON,NATE 2 5.88%
EV BAILEY,JOSH – COMEAU,BLAKE – TAMBELLINI,JEFF 2 5.88%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – JACKMAN,TIM – SCHREMP,ROB 2 5.88%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – JOENSUU,JESSE – SCHREMP,ROB 2 5.88%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – NIELSEN,FRANS – OKPOSO,KYLE 2 5.88%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – JOENSUU,JESSE – PARK,RICHARD 1 2.94%
SH COMEAU,BLAKE – PARK,RICHARD 1 2.94%
SH COMEAU,BLAKE – NIELSEN,FRANS 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – NIELSEN,FRANS – SIM,JONATHAN 1 2.94%
PP BAILEY,JOSH – COMEAU,BLAKE – MOULSON,MATT 1 2.94%
EV BAILEY,JOSH – BERGENHEIM,SEAN – COMEAU,BLAKE 1 2.94%
SH COMEAU,BLAKE – OKPOSO,KYLE 1 2.94%
SH BERGENHEIM,SEAN – COMEAU,BLAKE 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – JOENSUU,JESSE – TAVARES,JOHN 1 2.94%
PP COMEAU,BLAKE – MOULSON,MATT – TAVARES,JOHN 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – OKPOSO,KYLE – TAVARES,JOHN 1 2.94%
EV BAILEY,JOSH – COMEAU,BLAKE – NIELSEN,FRANS 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – MOULSON,MATT – TAVARES,JOHN 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – PARK,RICHARD – WEIGHT,DOUG 1 2.94%
EV COMEAU,BLAKE – JACKMAN,TIM – PARK,RICHARD 1 2.94%
PP BAILEY,JOSH – COMEAU,BLAKE – NIELSEN,FRANS – TAVARES,JOHN 1 2.94%
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Comeau and Schremp combined for 7 of Comeau’s 35 points.
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Thanks WebBard!
Throwing out the SH/PP numbers there, of his 27 even-strength points, 7 came in lines with Schremp and [Sim/Joensuu/Jackman]. (8 came on lines centered by JT, although I’m not sure how to rate the ones which came on the JT/Comeau/Bergenheim line given the departure of Bergenheim.)
When you separately consider players who you might call “net agitators” when he skates with them (Sim, Joensuu, Jackman, maybe Tambellini?) he’s got another 10 points when in combination with them.
Going back to Dom’s report card, the community graded him an 8/10 for his results against our expectations, so we all have a fairly positive perception of his progression as a player.
Here I’ll stop to quote Dom quoting himself:
Random Fact: (Not exactly a fact, but…) Comeau’s game is passing first, as shown by his stats, but he possesses a dangerous shot when he 1) uses it, and 2) drives to the net to get it off.
To more clearly state my read on it, Comeau is confident in moving the puck from the halfboards, which is why he tends to pass first. He’s less confident in his shot because he knows he has to drive to the net for it and for whatever reason has difficulty generating the amount of space he needs to feel comfortable to do that. So if I were a coach, I’d put him on a line with players who can create space (moving the defense out of position, agitating at the net) for their linemates.
As a final factor, the consideration of Park’s departure impacting Comeau’s PK ToI is here to play too. Is Gordon going to keep Comeau’s even-strength ToI down to make sure he’s ready to go on the PK? Does that put him into bottom-six minutes? How does Gordon envision Comeau’s role going into this season, given his record of improvement the past few years and the status of the present roster?
One last thought occurs – is it possible that Gordon might decide Comeau’s point output from this past season is a solid level, and try to turn him into a more defense-minded winger to put with Frans on a shut-down line to match the opponent’s top lines with?
by MTBVibe on Aug 12, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Interesting stuff
…And not just ’cause you quoted me :P
Your point about PK use and if that cuts down on his EV role … that sounds near verbatim like a tiny part of the post I’m working on for tomorrow.
It’s really interesting what his role could be — if it’s more PK focused, I hope he doesn’t get discouraged by any lack of minutes/offense that could result. This all sort of goes back to player identity (which is apparently becoming a favorite topic of mine). I guess I just hope the line of understanding between Gordon and Comeau is better than it was between Gordon and Bergenheim.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Corsi certainly does verify your feel
I liked Schremp and Comeau a lot, too, just from watching the games and their Corsi numbers indeed are pretty good. Both benefited a lot from playing with each other, were able to outshoot the opposition quite clearly together, but were outshot each when not together.
Comeau and Schremp together: 315 Corsi total events, 0.541 Corsi ratio
Comeau without Schremp: 1145, 0.471
Schremp without Comeau: 622, 0.486
As always, that doesn’t automatically mean that they have good chemistry, other things could lead to such numbers. In Comeau’s case for example, time without Schremp meant often time with Tavares and because much of that time with JT came in December/January, when JT was in a big slump, that number is down a bit logically. Or for Schremp, time without Comeau, meant also time on the wing early in the season, when Gordon tried to find a role for him, and thus we wouldn’t expect that number to be very high anyway. But surely, their numbers together look pretty good and I’d in any case want to see more of them together this season.
Interesting point about them working well with a down-and-dirty guy. Corsi kind of confirms that, too. Jon Sim actually hurt every forward’s Corsi numbers, except for Jackman, though marginally (3.61%) and in a very small sample size (105 Corsi total events) – and Comeau. And the numbers are pretty significant indeed. Of course, the sample sizes are pretty small here and it surely needs to be said that they played together, when they were in a really good shape individually, and that they played against relatively easy competition mostly.
Sim with Comeau: 235, 0.557
Sim without Comeau: 1325, 0.425
Comeau without Sim: 1225, 0.473
Comeau-Schremp-Sim: 165, 0.576
But well, Sim was the only winger getting significant ice-time together with Schremp and Comeau. Already Jackman and Joensuu are both down to (below) 40 Corsi total events together with Schremp and Comeau and everyone else spent even fewer time together with them. So, Sim perhaps deserves a bit more credit than I would have given him for his play on this particular line. But then again, I really wonder why they couldn’t do even better with someone who’s a better all-around player. So, as I said elsewhere, I’m hoping for Parenteau to shine on a line with Comeau and Schremp, but your typical down-and-dirty guy seems to work pretty well, too.
By the way, the “funny” fact about Comeau’s season (-2 overall) is that DiPietro ruined his +/- stats. In those few games of DiPietro (205 Corsi total events), Comeau went -8, because his line didn’t score a single goal and DP at the same time stopped only 82.98% of the shots when Comeau was on.
That’s weird, if I remember right didn’t Okposo struggle with DP in net too, or was it Biron?
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Yeah, that was Biron.
These numbers of course don’t tell anything really about either the goalies or the players – the sample sizes are so small. In DiPietro’s case with Comeau, it was 39 shots (8 goals). In Biron’s with Okposo 140 shots (24 goals). But really, it’s so weird and it shows how much +/- stats can be inflated indeed. At first glance, there’s not much more there, but some other numbers might be funny to look at and I’ll try to put together a fanpost in the next few days.
timeonice.com
Most of the Corsi data are available thanks to the great sites of Vic Ferrari. You might have seen the stats sheets for a single game - Dom always links them in his game recaps. Just change the game number in the URL there and you can get the stats for any game you like.
Then, there are team sheets for the whole season (takes some time to load). Check out here how to play around with the URL to get all kind of additional information. For example, if you add &shawn=91 (player number) you get the Corsi stats for John Tavares and can see how he did together with everyone. I’ve run all sorts of stuff there. It sure takes some time, but I have the data available pretty handily now.
by BenHasna on Aug 13, 2010 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
People should rec this comment
Just so it stands out and anyone who’s interested knows where to find that stuff. (I should also put it in a post somewhere, maybe on the sidebar.)
In general, if you Google Corsi Number you’ll generally find several links that talk about it and point you to sources. I only know enough to be dangerous.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Thanks, rec'ers
…and anyone who clicked on the WOWY Corsi-JT link and waited for it all to load learn instantly why BenHasna is a saint for digging up what he has.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
by Dominik on Aug 13, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Johnny Comeau Lately
Comeaus steady improvement is both a mark of the team’s improvement and his physical maturation. The kid man is 24. This is when you should begin to “judge” a player. Yes, you can make assessments on “potential”, but this is where you find out if those assessments were correct.
He is under the gun a little with Petrov, Rakhshani, Ullstrom(?) and Kabanov in the pipeline. As I’ve stated before, you can’t really just a 20-23 year old on the work done in his developmental years on a, yes… SHITTY team. He’s going to have to be productive this year, and then the Isles will hae some GOOD problems facing htem next year. If not, well, Garth can sleep the good sleep knowing that, at least, he gave him a fair shake.
I think Comeau will have a solid 40-45 point season getting some PP time, but being even more relevant on the PK.
I’m guessing his best hope is as a very productive, PHYSICAL, presence that is getting solid late game minutes.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Identity
Reminds me of the whole identity crisis (or maybe that’s too dramatic. Identity “search”?) all these not-quite-first-liners have to go through — all the harder when he’s conducting the search on a bad team going through constant change. Even his hot run at the end of last year looked like evidence of the on-going search, when he said he’d finally decided to take the advice to shoot, shoot, shoot.
Comeau has been effective at times when he: 1) hits more; 2) or shoots more; 3) or does smart PK work. Can he consistently do all three? That’s probably his best bet for carving out a long-term role and earning a new contract.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Dom, what’s your take on the fact that he’s the forward with the highest PK ToI/game remaining from the Isles roster this past season? (The two with higher averages were Park and Thompson, for overall PK ToI for this past season, both Frans and KO had more than Comeau but also played 15 and 19 more games respectively.)
Certainly makes me think he'll be a PK fixture
Unless they have someone else in mind, I’d bet that means that’s a primary part of his role — even if it means fewer prima offensive line minutes like you theorized above. (I think you and I are tapping into the same vibe today…)
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
PK Lineup...
I’m surprised Ozzyfan hasn’t posted a “Who will be on our PK this year” fanpost… but until he does…
I really think that this is going to be a year for Bailey and Schremp to get more involved in the PK.
Frans will still be the main minute guy because he’s always available (NEVER IN ATHE BOX).
Kyle did some of his best work on the PK, and adds the explosiveness that keeps the points on their toes.
Comeau is another good offensive threat on the PK and if they slide Kyle a breather Comeauy should get these minutes…
BUT… when possible you should have two centers on the ice, or at least two guys who can take face-offs and still function on the PK… WHY PARK WAS SO VALUABLE.
Bailey and/or Schremp need to step up here… of course weight and Konopka should be able to help whe they’re playing (Does K-nop even kill penalties effectively?) But I think Bailey needs to do this before he gets PP time over Schremp, who seemed to be more offensively creative than Bailey when given the opportunities. But Schremp shouldn’t be totally off the hook for PK minutes. He’s got good quickness and makes good decisions with the puck.
That all being said… Comeau and Frans should be the first PK unit.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Schremp
I really think that this is going to be a year for Bailey and Schremp to get more involved in the PK.
I definitely wouldn’t argue about Bailey stepping up and getting more time on the pk. I was surprised to see Robbie’s name mentioned only because I have never thought of him as a penalty killer. I wonder how much experience he has, going back to junior hockey, on the PK. I wouldn’t be against experimenting with him in that role and it would be interesting to see how he handled it. Penalty killing I think is one of those things that you really don’t know how well a player handles it until you see him out there killing penalties. Does Schremp have experience killing penalties in the AHL or in juniors? I would be curious to know. Do you have any info on that?
No history...
…that I know of. The Isles PK lost Bergy, Park and Thompson. I don’t think Martin is going to be on the PK (just too slow). I don’t know the stats, but I don’t rememeber bailey getting a lot of PK time last year… and you’d think he would be a natural. To me, RSH has the tools… but tools don’t make you “effective”… you have to own it as Frans has done. They won’t have a lot of size on the back line again, so I think it’s vital that they have good offensive forwards on the PK to give the smallish D better clearing options.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
They won’t have a lot of size on the back line again, so I think it’s vital that they have good offensive forwards on the PK to give the smallish D better clearing options.
Well put.
It would be interesting to see how Schremp handled the PK. I don’t think being an effective penalty killer is just about being a good defensive forward, its a whole different ball of wax. Hence your point about Martin. Speed is very important for forwards on the PK.
Agreed
Hockey intelligence (and some serious guts) is very important in that role. I have my doubts whether Schremp’s hockey IQ is ready for it, but I am intrigued by the idea eventually.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
PK
Yes, I have my doubts as well but it is one of those roles that is really hard to assess a players value in that role until you see him out there, killing penalties.
power play
i have always been a big believer in comeaus potential. he has enough skill to play anywhere from 2nd line to fourth. his passing skills are vastly underrated. if weight is in fact going to be back,then i would like to see him tutor blake on how to run the pp point from the walls where he is comfortable anyways. its really easy to root for a guy that throws a lot of hits while primarily being a finesse player. he performed well with jt,so gordon will give him a longer leash than the past 2 seasons which hopefully will translate into a legitimate breakout season for him
by Lakewood Islander on Aug 12, 2010 2:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Last Call for Blake Comeau?
I have followed Comeau’s career closely since he was drafted and I have a one word answer as to whether he should be brought back after next season, YES.Will he be brought back?Who knows?
Isles wings
Only one Islanders winger should feel confident about his status with this team past 2011, Kyle Okposo. Everyone else needs to be looking over their shoulder pads at the kids coming up. Gillies, Parentau, Weight, and Moulson are on 1 year deals and Hunter could be in danger of being boughtout next year. Comeau is more versatille than any of those players.
Besides, no gurantee Petrov is over for 2 more years, and the other kids (Nino and Kabanov will still be only 18 once the season starts). No need to rush these kids. Martin, Joensuu, and Rahkshani are a different story.
As long as Comeau continues to improve, he’s not going anywhere.
I can assure you that Hunter will more then likely finish his contract with the Islanders, unless he gets traded to a playoff team (and yes, a playoff team would be interested in Hunter) in the final year of his deal.
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Lee, for the most part I agree with all your points. However,
Hunter could be in danger of being boughtout next year.
I cannot even imagine a scenario in which this statement is even the slightest bit likely.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 12, 2010 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think we'd buyout hunter either,
who would replace him as being our towering power in the commercials then? lol. Honestly though, he’s a good 3rd liner even when he’s banged up and having a bad season, so I doubt buying out would ever be an option, especially because his contract is inexpensive.
Go isles or Go home.
Since I mentioned Kabanov
Botta Tweeted that Kabanov is going to get a chance in training camp, if he doesn’t make it he’s going to go back to Montcon.
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Le pant, le pant
Me likey. Salivatin’, want more.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Mr. MOTO
Didn’t we all know this over a month ago?
Next Tweet:
Pterov will be here for camp, Isles are working on his entry level contract and exit strategy.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
great news
…if it proves accurate. It’s not as bad as the old days but I still take the wait-and-see approach when it comes to these “get out of the KHL” deals.
My latest contract is for 31 years.
A month ago it was unclear whether Moncton wanted him back … but also whether he’d definitely get a shot in camp, wasn’t it? Although far be it for the Islanders to rule out any 1st-rounder to make the team three months later…
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
I'm pretty sure
Flynn said he’d welcome him back right after the draft. Kabanov said Flynn was very important to him.
If that kid wasn’t going to Isander camp after all the hype I’d have been very… very surprised. I don’t think he has a shot to make the team, but camp, then moncton seemed to be the plan for at least a month(July 7th to be exact) … or maybe I was just tuned into the crystal ball.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
I think we knew he’d be at camp, but not sure how much of a chance he’d be given considering he is rather small.
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Why camp at home is awesome
Could the Isles have picked a better year to Chinese fire drill their way into doing training camp on Long Island? Kabanov, Nino, Petrov, plus the established young thangs? That’s just pretty cool that fans are going to see them no matter what this year.
…Unless they do something foolish like only open one day of camp to the public.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
…Unless they do something foolish like only open one day of camp to the public.
Unfortunately, I see this as rather likely.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 13, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
For a team that needs buzz...
GRRRRrrrrrrrr…
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Well, we COULD.....
…..light up the Coli phone lines expressing our desire for more than one day; after all, if there’s the implicit suggestion of more money being spent as a result, maybe that will speak significantly to Islanders management )although I DO, unfortunately, have serious doubts as to its effectiveness…..)
And I wouldn’t want to actually wake up and upset the Telephone operators over there. I mean what else could they have going on?
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I would’ve thought it was a given that he go back to juniors, if not for lack of talent for then for lack of maturity or whatever you want to call his alleged issues that caused him to fall on draft day, as well as wanting him to get a full year of juniors under his belt. He missed a pretty big chunk of time last year with his wrist injury. I will still be shocked if he makes the team, but if he goes out there and shows Garth and Scott that he deserves a spot than more power to him.
The Issue was that the way he left Montcon, we didn’t know if he would be invited back/allowed back on the team.
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Exactly
Im thrilled that he has those two options, its exactly what I was hoping for.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 12, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
LOVE IT.
Love it, love it, love it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 12, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Oy
He looks like that manipulative kid on that Bravo “Next Great Artist” show.
…Huh…what…? No, I don’t watch it either; I musta saw a preview, yeah that’s the ticket.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
next great artist
I’ve never heard of that show. What kind of artists are they looking for? That would be cool if they are searching for the next Basquiat or someone like that, but given that its Bravo I am probably completely wrong
LOL
Your second thought is on the mark. Any Bravo show I have witnessed is 100% wholly the responsibility of Mrs. Lighthouse, although I admit there are some compelling parts of this one. I have a lot of artist friends, the process is always fun to gawk at, (especially since the writing process is almost purely internal misery).
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
bravo
Those bravo shows are like crack. Women seem especially susceptible to its lure but I will admit that flipping through the channels I might have stumbled upon Real Housewives of NJ. It is a show that leaves me feeling dirty and unwholesome during and after but one that sometimes I just can’t turn off. Just like crack. As for next great artist, Art is something holy and wonderful and I am sure Bravo is doing a great job of turning it into something else entirely. I just can’t wait until I can watch Mrs. Weight and Mrs. Martinek on Real Housewives of Uniondale.
Some of the judges and contestants were maddening, some of them were cool. The whole “here’s your challenge, do it by tomorrow” concept of these Bravo/reality shows doesn’t really do art justice, so it was amazing to hear one judge in particular act so disappointed when an artist didn’t compose what he wanted in less than 24 hours. “This feels contrived.” It’s like, you think?! Your whole concept is contrived!
We sort of sped through the series on DVR fast forward though.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Somewhere...
Ovechkin is wondering why his seat is missing…
Dominik signed me for 20 years, and all I got was a press conference and a voided contract...
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Comeau should be an isle a while:
Comeau’s season last year(even if up and down), was better then any career year that bergenheim or tambellini EVER had. Not to mention comeau is even a couple years younger then them doing what he does. Comeau has shown he is a stable 2-way player that is physical and has top 6 potential. That’s more then either Berg or Tamb showed in the nhl. Depending on Comeau’s year next year, we should pay him accordingly and keep him for a 2-3yr contract. IMO, at worst he has a really bad up and down season that equated to a 30pt full season which would make him look like a young and solid 3rd liner that we could use to replace hunter, throw on the 4th line, deal in the future, or keep as a depth player. Best case scenario, Comeau has a breakout 50pt+ season and shows he deserves the spot and a 1-2yr contract for top 6 money, probably worth around $2.5-3.5mil/yr. And depending on how he plays under that contract, we extend him and keep him as our 2nd line RW or let him walk after a contract year.
As you can see, I honestly don’t see comeau doing anything worth getting rid of him or letting him walk unless Garth had a vision that nino, petrov, and kabanov will all be nhl ready next year and play their positions like superstars in 2-3yrs. We can’t get rid of already well developed pieces in hopes of our prospects turning into superstars. It will cause us to take a step back in the rebuilding process, unless you are letting a 50pt comeau go and acquiring a 60pt player to replace him. That’s how I see it.
Go isles or Go home.
I agree. I always like Comeau. Hard working two-way winger. Would also like to see more consistency, not just on the score sheet but in his physical game as well. There were games where he was all over the ice, creating plays on one side and breaking up plays on the other. Then there were games where he was basically invisible. I’d like to see him hit more and get in front of the net more. I think he has a lot of raw potential. I saw that in the first game he played with the Islanders. He’s a good stick-handler, has decent speed, a good shot and good instincts- all the tools necessary to succeed. I’d like to see him put it all together this year.
I know exactly what you are trying to say,
Comeau in his 1st “true” full season in the nhl has an up and down inconsistent year while putting up 35pts in 61games and playing solid 2 way hockey. He is a really interesting case with a lot of skills. If he ever meshed everything together, I could see him being a career top 6 and dare I say 70pt forward? Wishful thinking, but could be a possibility.
Go isles or Go home.
Yeah, 70 points might be a little on the wishful side but hey, you never know. I’d be happy with 40-50 points given his good overall game but I’d love for him to prove me wrong and score 70 points!
Not this year,
down the line possibly. This year I’m expecting a 40-55pt season from him.
Go isles or Go home.
Yeah, there is so much raw potential on this team; JT for example, whom I think we’ve just seen the tip of the iceburg, that it is hard to predict what the team will look like a few years down the line. If Comeau is paired with an explosive JT, for instance, than 70 points is a real possibility
Yeah, a highly-skilled, lamp-lighting, playmaking center is golden in the nhl.
Maybe worth more, like platinum. lol
Go isles or Go home.
This whole thread's direction
…it’s getting me excited for hockey in the middle of an August Friday afternoon. You all are the best!
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
by Dominik on Aug 13, 2010 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
In this game you can talk about the usual stuff in a player – in this case Comeau: stick handling, his shot, defense, taking the body, etc etc… In the end its heart – given all the rest of the skills. This is best represented by the drive to the net – and being able to take the hit and get off a fast accurate shot. Think Ovechkin. The Jury is out!
I don’t get it. Are you comparing Comeau to Ovechkin? Or are you saying Comeau has heart..no heart? Anyway, I don’t think that drive to the net, being able to take a hit and getting off a fast accurate shot has anything to do with heart. Its simply about being able to drive to the net, to take the hit and to get of a fast accurate shot. Those are all skills. You can try to will yourself to the net but you are just likely to get flattened if you don’t have the skill to deke defenders. Whether you are out there for a paycheck or the love of the game, its about skill. I read Theo Fluery’s autobiography and he talks about how all the Russians he played with had no love of the game- it had been beaten out of them growing up in Russia- and were only playing in the NHL for the money. For them, he said, it was all about cars and watches and fancy clothes. With the fall of communism that may have changed a little but I still think that for a lot of Russian emigrates its still just a job. In fact that is true for most NHLers. If you want to see heart go up to Northern Canada and watch amateur reservation hockey- like the North Peace Hockey League- teams that compete for the Allen Cup. Those guys play with heart. Professional athletes are just that, professionals. If you’re looking for professional hockey players as role models who have heart and loyalty I think you are just going to be disappointed. Imagine John Tavares years down the line sitting out for more money, demanding a trade or signing with the Rangers because they offer him more money. I’m sure you remember Kirk Muller. As much as we all hate him, I think if we look at it objectively we can understand. And this is a guy who for years was lauded for his “heart”! It sucks but its the game. When you can have some emotional detachment from the players; enjoy them for what they do but don’t get to caught up in who they are, its easier to see stuff like that happen.
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
- Wild’s Marek Zidlicky drinks Lou’s Kool-Aid, waives no-trade for Devils
- 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
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.
