An Islanders Retrospective: Those who have Guarded the crease
by Mark D on Aug 5, 2010 6:30 AM EDT
in Islanders of Yesteryear
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The history of starting goalies for the Islanders has been consistent for the better part of 30 years. Even the seasons that the goalie depth in the NHL was weak, there were prospects waiting for their chance. This summer we saw the possible future in goal, as the reality is that Rollie is turning 41 and Rick DiPietro's future is unknown.
Mikko Koskinen, Anders Nilsson, Kevin Poulin all stand ready to continue the rich goalie tradition on Long Island. It's a tradition of mostly home grown goalies coming up through the system and translating their potential to the NHL. There have been some hits and misses, along with some outside veterans brought in to bridge the gaps, but it's worked.
If you take the shortest route in getting from Billy Smith to Dwayne Roloson, it looks like this:
Smith - Hrudey - Healy - Hextall - Salo - Beezer - Osgood - DiPietro - Rollie
There are a lot of teams that would be jealous of that list. Nearly every goalie has been a part of either a Stanley Cup winner or finalist. This list includes every goalie that played more then 20 games during a single season with the Islanders. There are actually very few players on this list who played just 20 games. Many of them started for the better part of a season or shared starts with someone else. After the jump, the list begins with two goalies taken in the expansion draft and ends with a 40 year old proving he can still play.
Gerry Desjardins
It's tough to find someone with worse NHL luck. Finally getting a chance to start for the second year Kings, Desjardins was a bright spot on a poor team. Across two seasons he had 63 losses in 103 games before being replaced and traded to the Blackhawks. After three seasons of backup in Chicago, he was picked up in the expansion draft by the Islanders. In two seasons splitting starts with Billy Smith, he racked up another 52 losses in 80 games. Looking for a new start, Desjardins bolted for the upstart WHA. While the Islanders retained his rights, they traded them to the Sabres. An out in his contract allowed Desjardins to return to the NHL and start for the Sabres. Unfortunately after two winning seasons for the Sabres, a freak eye injury ended his career early.
Billy Smith
The Man, The Myth, The Legend, Billy Smith was taken in the expansion draft and split starts with Desjardins to being his career. Seventeen years later he had four Stanley Cup rings, the career record in playoff wins, a Conn Smythe, a Vezina, and was the last original Islander still with the team. Unless Rick DiPietro plays out his whole contract, Smith will most likely be the longest tenured player in Islander history.
Chico Resch
Picked up by the Montreal Canadiens as an unsigned free agent, Resch found himself buried in the Montreal system behind a plethora of experienced veterans. Bill Torrey took a chance on the long shot prospect in a June 1972 trade which paid off by the 74-75 playoffs. Chico was not just in net for the historic comeback from 3-0 against the Penguins, but in the comeback from 3-0 against the Flyers that fell just short. Chico and Billy were one of the all time best goalie tandems as they split starts for most of the 70s. Chico only got one start during the first Stanley Cup run and was traded the following season to the Colorado Rockies. He struggled along with the rest of the Rockies/Devils for 4 seasons before being traded again to the Flyers. With the Flyers he watched the rise of rookie superstar Ron Hextall before hanging up the pads.
Rollie Melanson
The original Rollie the Goalie was a 3rd round pick of the Islanders. Taking over for Chico, Rollie never reached quite the same heights. He was a solid backup and allowed the Islander to keep Smith under 50 games during the regular season. Rollie was eventually pushed out by budding youngster Kelly Hrudey and traded to the North Stars. After two years backing up in Minnesota he found his way to the Kings and was their starter for two years. He was replaced by Glenn Healy, who was then traded for fthe same Kelly Hrudey. Following his LA stint he played a handful of games for the Devils and Canadiens before retiring.
Kelly Hrudey
Hrudey continued the tradition of quality goalies for the Islanders. After being taken in the second round of the 1980 draft, Hrudey spent time in the minors before getting his first callup in 83-84. He went on to play five seasons for the Islanders and was the first full time starter to replace Smith in both the regular season and playoffs. During the 88-89 season he was traded to the Kings for Mark Fitzpatrick. He went on to be the starter for the Kings for seven seasons and a key part of their Stanley Cup run. Hrudey finished his career in the bay area playing two seasons for the Sharks.
Mark Fitzpatrick
Before being traded to the Islanders, Mark Fitzpatrick played a handful of games for the Kings. In the off-season following his acquisition the Islanders signed his former LA teammate Glenn Healy and they proceeded to split starts for three of the following four seasons. The one season he didn't split starts with Healy? Fitzpatrick was recovering from eosinophilia myalgia syndrom, a rare disease which was supposed to stop him from returning to hockey. Picked up in the expansion draft by the Panthers and the same man (Bill Torrey) who had traded for him, he went on to a long career as a solid NHL backup. For fighting his way back to hockey, Fitzpatrick was rewarded the Bill Matterson Trophy following the 91-92 season.
Glenn Healy
An undrafted free agent out of college, Healy worked his way up the King's organization eventually becoming the starter in his final season in LA. Signed as a free agent by the Islanders, Healy was at best an average goalie who split starts with Fitzpatick, Jeff Hackett and Steve Weeks over his four seasons. But in the end he worked his way into the hearts and minds of Islander fans during the 92-93 playoffs. The upset of the two time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins could not have happened without Healy's incredible play. Healy (along with some help from the posts) played absolutely out of his mind in the seven game series. Left unprotected in the expansion draft following the playoffs, his rights were moved between four different teams before he ended up with the Rangers. He backed up Richter for four seasons before moving on to the Maple Leafs and playing four seasons of backup for them.
Jeff Hackett
It's easy to forget that among all the Islander goalies that came and went in the early 90s, Jeff Hackett was among them. A former second round pick, he played a total of 43 games on the Island mostly due to Mark Fitzpatrick's lost season. Unfortunately he was left exposed to the expansion draft following that season and was grabbed by the Sharks. He started two seasons for the Sharks before being traded to the Hawks. In Chicago he was the long term backup to Eddie Belfour before eventually replacing him. He was traded to Montreal, starting for two seasons before backing up Theodore for the following three. He finished off his career as a backup for the Bruins and Flyers.
Steve Weeks
A career journeyman backup goalie, Weeks played 23 games for the Islanders in 91-92. He was mostly signed as an insurance policy in case Fitzpatrick couldn't return to form. In the end the Islanders traded him to the Kings for a late round pick, and Weeks went on to play a handful of games over the next two seasons before retiring. The only other notable thing about his career is that he was the starting goalie for the Rangers during the 81-82 season.
Ron Hextall
Ron Hextall was a fan favorite in Philly, but left as part of the famous deal for Eric Lindros. After a year in Quebec he was dealt to the Islanders. When we were talking about the 93 Islanders Playoff team, I think Dom said it right when it came to Hextall:
What an infuriating, infuriating move that was. Maloney bought stock in ‘87 Hextall when goaltending had moved well past the era of Hextall vs. Fuhr. Seeing the Habs-Nords ’93 series was a great contrast in goaltending movements passing each other like ships in the night:
After a season of starting for the Islanders he was traded back to the Flyers for Tommy Soderstrom. He played the next five years for the Flyers, rotating in and out of the starters spot. In Islanders' history I think Hextall is most remembered for being utterly obliterated by the Rangers in the 94 playoffs.
Jamie McLennan
The 22 year old rookie actually outplayed Hextall during the regular season and was given the chance to save the team in the playoffs, starting the last two games of the series. During the next two seasons McLennan struggled behind a deteriorating Islanders team. In May of 96, it was discovered that he had bacterial meningitis and he nearly died while at the hospital getting diagnosed. In a rather questionable move, the Islanders released him the following July. The Blues signed him a few weeks later and after a season of play in the AHL he was ready to return to the NHL. He wonn the Matterson in 97-98 and had a long career playing for the Flames, Panthers and Rangers after his stint with the Blues.
Tommy Soderstrom
Acquired in the Hextall trade with Philly before the 95 season, Soderstrom eventually won the starting job before the season was done. Unfortunately for the Islanders he was unable to replicate his success in the following season. His SV% dropped from a career high of .902 to .877. Towards the middle of the year highly touted prospect Eric Fichaud was given every chance to take over the starters reigns. Soderstrom returned to Sweden following the 96-97 season.
Eric Fichaud
Fichaud was a highly touted first rounder traded by Toronto for Benoit Hogue. As I've talked about Fichaud in the past, there isn't much to add. A few injuries lead to Fichaud never reaching his potential. Tommy Salo outplayed Fichaud and eventually won the starters position. He struggled to hold on in even the Expansion happy late 90s era and was relegated to the AHL for the last few years of his career.
Tommy Salo
Another Swedish goalie, he struggled in his first two stints for the Islanders. He stacked his resume in the IHL though, backstopping the Grizzlies to back to back Turner Cups and picking up the league MVP, Rookie of the Year and Playoff MVP awards. With 20 wins in 96-97, Salo had nearly as many wins as the Islanders had in all of 95-96. Injured early on in 98-99, the Islanders acquired Felix Potvin in the hopes of an upgrade. Instead when Salo returned he proceeded to outplay him before being dealt to the Oilers. He started six years for the Oilers before being dealt to the Avalanche and then returning to Sweden.
Wade Flaherty
Wade Flaherty played his first full WHL season the same year he was drafted, 1988. He retired following his final AHL season in 2008. In that time he played for four NHL teams in eleven seasons, but is probably most remembered for his Islanders stints in the late 90s and early 00s. He played 60 of his 120 career games with the Islanders during this period as third string backup. Flaherty was a player whose AHL success just never translated to success in the NHL. Even during his last AHL year he lead his team with a .917 SV% over 31 games.
Felix Potvin
The Cat was a great goaltender during the 90s. Season after season he put up respectable numbers for the Maple Leafs. But something changed when the Leafs signed Curtis Joseph. As Potvin requested a trade so he could start elsewhere, the Leafs saw his stock drop with every outing. When Salo went down hurt, Milbury dealt Berard to the Leafs for Potvin. Unfortunately the change of scenery didn't help much. He posted a sub .900 SV% during both seasons on LI for the first time in his career. He was eventually dealt to Vancouver and replaced by a tandem of Weekes and Luongo. Eventually he returned to his old form while playing for the Canucks and Kings before retiring during the lockout.
Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes was picked up from Vancouver in the Potvin trade. The Islanders were his third team in four NHL seasons since being picked in the second round in 93. After half a season of sharing goalie duties with wunderkid Roberto Luongo, Weekes was traded again to the Lightning for the first round pick that became Raffi Torres. After starting for a season in Tampa, Weekes was traded again to the Hurricanes. He started for two seasons for the Canes before playing backup for the Rangers and Devils. He retired following the 08-09 season citing a history of injuries.
Roberto Luongo
The fourth overall pick in the 97 Draft and highest goalie taken in the draft up to that point, Luongo's playing time for the Islanders was short. Splitting time with Kevin Weekes, Luongo was solid but unspectacular in 24 games. Following the drafting of Rick DiPietro, he was traded to the Panthers. He quickly unseated veteran starter Trevor Kidd in his first season in Florida, posting five shutouts on a team that finished with only 22 wins. Unable to come to a deal with the Panthers, he was traded to the Canucks. In Vancouver he continues to start to this day with yells of "Luuuuu" following just about every save. Yet postseason success has evaded Luongo and the Canucks.
John Vanbiesbrouck
The old veteran was signed by the Islanders in the hopes that his presence in net would stabilize the team. In what was basically his last full season, Beezer had one of his worst seasons in a decade. The former Ranger, Flyer and Panther was traded at the deadline to the Devils in hopes of winning a cup. His history of coming just close to winning the Cup (being traded before the Rangers 94 run, getting swept in the finals by the Avs) continued as the Devils fell one game short of winning the cup that year. He retired after spending one more year as backup in Jersey.
Rick DiPietro
The first goalie ever taken at the top of a modern NHL Draft, DiPietro learned what the fire was like rather quickly. He started 00-01 struggling with the IHL Chicago Wolves. With the Islanders struggling badly, it was decided to give DiP a chance in the NHL. As one might imagine, this did not go well. Fortunately Dip played the next two seasons in Bridgeport and quickly adapted to the pro game. He played a short ten game stint in 02-03 before taking over the reigns in 03-04. He quickly became the Franchise player that is expected of a first overall pick. He went on to represent the US at the 06 Olympics An unfortunate injury has sidelined his career, but the future might still be bright for him.
Chris Osgood
Long considered to be a product of playing on great Red Wings teams, Chris Osgood became expendable to the Wings when Dominik Hasek was signed. Looking to add a quality starter to a much improved Islanders team, the Islanders grabbed him off of waivers. He came through for the Islanders and quieted the critics with a solid season. He backstopped the Islanders to their first playoffs in nearly a decade before being traded to the Blues. Osgood eventually found is way back to the Wings, winning a Cup and getting them to back to back finals before giving way to Jimmy Howard.
Garth Snow
When the Islanders brought in Osgood to start, they also brought in veteran backup Garth Snow. In stints for the Flyers, Canuck and Penguins Snow proved to be reliable. He showed is value as the Islanders went from Osgood to DiPietro and Snow helped to bring the youngster along. An injury ended his playing career, but not his association with the Islanders. He moved up to the GM's office taking over for the recently departed Neil Smith. He continues in that position today, overseeing the rebuilding of the Islanders in hopes of getting that fifth cup.
Wade Dubielewicz
The undrafted college prospect became a regular for the Sound Tigers racking up 60 wins across three seasons. He took over the backup spot from Mike Dunham in 06-07 and led the Islanders on a four game winning streak to make the playoffs. DiPietro's injury the following season put Dubie in the starters spot. Across 20 games he led the team in SV% and GAA. Becoming a free agent, he was unable to come to an agreement with the Islanders and left for Russia. Signed by the Islanders after Joey MacDonald went down, on the trip through waivers the Bluejackets picked him up. Dubie went on to play 3 games for Columbus and 3 games in Minnesota while returning to his old stomping grounds in the AHL.
Joey MacDonald
Long a mainstay for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the Red Wings, Joey MacDonald finally got his chance to start in the NHL in 08-09. This chance was due to the unexpected lingering of Rick DiPietro's injury. MacDonald himself suffered an injury and ended up finishing the season as backup to Yann Danis. He showed flashes, but a bad Islanders team didn't exactly help his consistency. He signed with the Maple Leafs following the season and played with the Marlies. After the stopover in Toronto he returned to his old stomping ground with the Griffins.
Yann Danis
The Quebec native signed with the Canadiens following his collegiate career. After playing mostly for their AHL team the Hamiliton Bulldogs, Danis signed with the Islanders during the 09 offseason. He was expected to be the emergency netminder, but injuries moved him quickly up the depth chart. Danis was impressive enough to keep MacDonald on the bench after he returned from injury. Following the season he was signed to be the backup for the Devils. After only appearing in 10 games he currently sits unsigned on the free agent market but should get some interest from an AHL team.
Dwayne Roloson
Rollie the Goalie (the second) had a long climb to the NHL. He showed flashes in stints with the Flames (2 seasons) and Sabres (2 seasons) during the 90s. But his big break came with the Minnesota Wild. He proved himself while splitting starts with Manny Fernandez. Eventually the Wild went with the younger Fernandez and dealt Rollie to the Oilers in 05-06. With the Oilers he posted a .927 SV% in the playoffs and was the driving force of their run to the finals. If not for Rollie getting hurt in the first game the Oilers might have won that seven game series. Although he was consistent for the Oil, they never got back to the playoffs over the next three seasons. At 39 and looking for a two year deal, the Oilers decided to go with Nikolai Khabibulan. The Islanders were more then happy to sign him and he eventually took over as starter full time after a short lived platoon with Marty Biron.
Marty Biron
Brother of former Islanders prospect Mathieu Biron, Marty proved to be unable to break his family's bad luck on the Island. He was a fan favorite during his time in Buffalo but eventually lost his starting job to Ryan Miller. Traded to the Flyers he helped them bounce back from one of their worst seasons to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. After another season in Philly, Biron found himself a free agent for the first time and was looking for a big offer which never came. The Islanders signed him giving them two possible starters, but Rollie eventually took the ball and ran with it relegating Biron to backup and third string for periods. After the season he signed with the Rangers and is currently their backup to the Queen.
That brings us from the dark days of the early 70s to the hopefully bright future of the 10s. Thanks to a nearly 20 year career from Billy Smith, the Islanders net has been surprisingly consistent. Historically the Islanders have been a team that uses goalie tandems instead of a definitive starter and backup. For the most part only Tommy Salo and Rick DiPietro have been solid starters for multiple seasons. Also interesting to note how the Expansion draft gave to the Islanders (Billy Smith, Desjardins) and took away (Healy, Hackett, Fitzpatrick).
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Great Trip down Memory Lane
Oh how I loved Glenn Healy. We used to call Hextall, Ron “I choke in playoffs” Hextall. Will never forget Beezer having to dye his hair blond during a playoff run and the chants of Ozzie! Ozzie! filling the coliseum.
I’m hoping this season Rick regains his all-star form and I can’t wait until Mikko takes his turn in the net, but I’ve got to wait until Lawson gets his shot too.
Great job as usual.
www.7thwoman.blogspot.com Updated almost as often as PointBlank, but not quite.
Thank you very much!
I loved Healy too, the 93 run was my first time watching hockey. I couldn’t believe when the Islanders let him get away. I suspect if Rick regains his old form, the Islanders will keep him at 40-50 max starts on the year and keep a backup capable of playing the others.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Everytime I look at Healy I see Emilio Estevez
Not to slight Healy because he was a force in the Isles net but I see Gordon Bombay every time I would look at him. I loved his 93 playoff post game interviews.
It is official, I am moving back to Long Island in about 2-3 weeks.
At first I thought it was a typo...
but I gues not.
This is a very god read, and I enjoyed it very much. I actually remember all of these guys, with the possible exception of Eric Fichaud. Thank you.
However, my family’s Newspaper Editor genes force me to note that it was Wade Flaherty not Flathery.
If that can be edited/changed it would avoid long minutes of typo induced torture for me.
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Aug 5, 2010 8:12 AM EDT reply actions
Thanks and changed. I double checked the spelling of just about everyone, I must have missed his.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
You’re a good man (I think). Thanks.
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Aug 5, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Hextall...yikes
I think I blocked out the whole Hextall season until now. One thing I do remember is that sense of utter dread every time the puck came anywhere near him. Also, when they picked him up, my first thought was, “Why the hell would they do that?” A truly scary year that was.
I was a huge Healy fan too back in the day. He was one of those goalies who actually made saves and not just let the puck hit him like the goalies do today. Still, when he was ‘on’ you got the sense that it may not last long. He didn’t give up stinkers like Hextall did but the rebounds Healy gave up made you understand that the Isles were on borrowed time.
Great article. Big fan.
Totally agree with you on hextall
The only good memories I have of him are benching him in NHL 95
by RobsMustard on Aug 5, 2010 1:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Same here, McLennan got the start or I traded for Healy all the way.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
LOL
I think I lasted one game with him before I had to kick him to the curb.
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
Great article :)
One thing, it seems Yann Danis is KHL bound
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
BTW
Id rather have seen him come back than see the Isles sign Niemi.
Of all the stupid Twitter rumors… (rolls eyes)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
TMC, if your worried about stupid rumors your going to pull your hair out before the season even starts. The Islanders are one of the few teams with Cap Space, and that means they are going to be the subject of where just about anyone might go.
I’m surprised no one was willing to take a chance on Danis. He seems the perfect type to sign for cheap and hope he gets hot when it’s important.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
if your worried about stupid rumors your going to pull your hair out before the season even starts.
Sigh. The rational part of my mind knows you are right. thank you. But you see, its seeing Isles fans themselves who actually LIKE this pathetic assinine ridiculously stupid idea that makes me absolutely crazy. Crazy!
Where the hell did ANYONE get the idea that Niemi is a “good” goalie?
The Hawks won all season not because of but in SPITE OF their dynamic duo!
The idea of trading for Huet was bad enough, but at least the Isles would get picks and prospects out of it. But signing Niemi as a FA? Jesus, I couldnt think of many stupider moves than that. The Isles dont even NEED a goddamn goalie- they already have FIVE under contract for next season, WTF would they do with SIX? But even if they DID need a goalie, which they frickin DONT, Id rather sign Dubie, Danis, Theodore, ANYONE other than a guy who sucked balls even with guys like Toews, Kane, Hossa, Buff, Keith, Seabrook, etc etc etc playing in front of him! UGH!
OK,,, calm down, TMC…
IMO Danis is a victim of a buyers market. Its a shame, too.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
The Mind of Metal...
The rational part of my mind
Is that the part that causes you to scream at your television when (assuming here) a third line LW:
1. Creates a scoring opportunity for himself, but misses.
2. Battles along the boards for 3/4 of his shift then only backchecks at what appears to be 80% because he’s flat out of gas.
3. Takes a lazy penalty…. that wouldn’t have been a penalty through his whole hockey life.
4. Goes after the puck on a dump in, throws a hard body check, wins the one on one for the puck, only to find that his linemates are gone and replaced by the two guys who pick up Gordon’s cleaning and wash his dog on Tuesday mornings.
Just checkin’… I’ll get over this eventually.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Yes. :)
-Because all those things you mention are things that every other hockey player deals with, as well… and many of them are far better at their jobs.
I’ll get over this eventually.
I know you will lol… perhaps it will help a little bit that 29 other GMs didnt swoop on in and immediately snag Bergie the gem, as some Isles fans were predicting?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 6, 2010 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Have you seen the list of LW's still available...
Bergie probably wants the opportunity to be a middle six producer, and a valid NHL salary… and he’s probably going to have to settle for a devalued opportunity because of the crap position the Isles put him in… the crap position they put anybody with their inconsistency and their penny pinching ways…
But, as you say, every player has to deal with it… I am one person who will be rooting for him to make the best of whatever opportunity he gets.
…and can’t wait to see the utube video of you screaming at the TV when he scores for Philly against us to knock us out of the playoff race.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
We still need a 3rd line left winger
So there is still a chance of him coming back. His spot hasn’t been filled yet. You never know, I didn’t expect sim back at all but garth proved me wrong there with a 4th line opening. There are still a handful about of better options on the open market then him, but I’m not sure garth wants to or is allowed to spend the extra $1-2mil/yr salary it would take to sign them over bergie. He still comes fairly cheap and pretty reliable.
Go isles or Go home.
It has been reported...
that Martin will be given every opportunity to make the team. They also have Joensuu (but he’d have to have an OUTSTANDING camp). Releasing bergy, IMO, was more about giving them an opportunity, than it was about giving Bergy ANOTHER opportunity to fill that role. (I just refuse to believe that it was any negative criticisms of another Islander first rounder EX-ISLED that was the cause). In all fairness, he should have overcome any adversity bestowed on him by the Big Top Isles… but that doesn’t mean I can’t root for the guy.
Nino may not be a lock for this year, but a strong season in Portland and thte decision to start his pro career is a lock. I’m pretty sure they are banking on a combination of Nino, Moulson, Parentau, Martin, Joensuu, Gillies as they move forward… i wouldn’t expect any LW signings except for depth, and that’s what Sim was.
So I respectfully refute your assessment.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Sa-very-lo
Why is it that whenever I try to picture Tommy Salo in an Isles jersey it is always with Dan Cloutier standing over him throwing punch after punch after punch into his mid-section?
Thankfully all I have to do is look at this pic
And I always feel better about who came out on the better side of that fight.
Wheel of Location, Turn Turn Turn. Tell us the location that we will play.
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
A few weeks ago there was a post about guys who came up with the islaes as the next big thing and typically ended up in relative obscurity. I’m pretty sure Eric Fichaud is unchallenged as the goalie on this ignominious team. So much hype!!
Claude LaPointe didn't make as good a pun, sadly.
by LaChance at Glory on Aug 5, 2010 12:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
When I think of Fich I remember him passing out in net.
Too much fun with Caber and the other boys in the party house.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Agree or Disagree
Gerry Desjardins vaguely remember him, he was OK on a bad team
Billy Smith Nothing more can be added to what has already been said of "battlin’ Billy!!
Chico Resch Provided quality goaltending for a team that was maturing, 4 cups would not have been possible without his play as team matured!
Rollie Melanson Good goaltender on a team slowly declining after the 4 cup run.
Kelly Hrudey Second BEST goaltender AFTER Billy Smith!!!
Mark Fitzpatrick Average goaltender at best, slow and tall, not a good combination.
Glenn Healy Good goaltender and should have been a long term Isles backup.
Jeff Hackett Never stood out as great BUT also not noticed as being terrible.
Steve Weeks DO not remember him!!!
Ron Hextall Super Star player acquired long after his prime!!
Jamie McLennan Average goaltender who never stood out as great.
Tommy Soderstrom My nickname for TS: 5-hole Tommy, small, stood back in the net, gave up too much of the net. Dark days of NYI goaltending!
Eric Fichaud NEVER given a fair chance by MAD Mike’s man love for Tommy Salo.
Tommy Salo Overrated, slow who did NOT play his angles well. YET he was forced on us as THE starter over Ficahud, No notable accomplishments with the NYI
Wade Flaherty Average goaltender who never stood out as great. If I am correct he had a good run with the Blackhawks.
Felix Potvin Super Star player acquired long after his prime!!
Kevin Weekes Average goaltender who never stood out as great.
Roberto Luongo NEVER got a fair shot with the NYI, ANOTHER MAD MIKE deal.
John Vanbiesbrouck Good solid veteran goaltending, glad to have seen him make it to the finals with FLA.
Rick DiPietro Potential: TOP five goaltender in the NHL: REALITY: jury still out on this!!
Chris Osgood Excellent veteran goaltending, lead the team to playoffs after the 8 year drought.
Garth Snow Good back-up, nothing else did well for us in net.
Wade Dubielwicz Wade: Right place-right time, good play BUT is NOT an NHL #1 starting net minder.
Joey MacDonald He was OK, given time I saw enough potential for him to develop into a solid NHL goalie, AGAIN: “given time”
Yann Danis Same as Joey Mac……given time!!!!!
Dwayne Roloson He is the Chico Resch of this re-build, he will provide solid play and give confidence to the young team in front of him, will give way to the eventual #1.
Marty Biron Never won anything of any significance, Philly knew, Buffalo knew, and now the Isles know. Too small plays too far back in his net.
Eric Fichaud NEVER given a fair chance by MAD Mike’s man love for Tommy Salo.
I could be wrong, but I was looking at old articles recently on Fichaud and it sounded as though the opposite was true. Milbury wanted Fichaud to be the answer in net, while Bowness decided to go with Salo through the 2nd half of the season which began with Salo and Fichaud battling it out. Salo and Fichaud were somewhat close, but the shutout difference between them points to Salo being better.
And its surprising to see you consider Hrudey the second best goalie after Smith. Hrudey played on some good teams, and I’d have to go with either DiPietro or Salo. Salo was on some bad teams that were badly coached.
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Fichaud had the speed, reflexes, and quickness head and shoulders above Salo. Salo by comparison was very slow and lumbering. I seem to remember that wheter it be Mad Mike or Bowness, Salo would start 4-5 games and then Fichaud would get a bone tossed to him and get a start, then back to Salo.
Billy Smith played on good and great teams, Hrudey too played on some good teams, as well as in LA. I still rate him as 2nd after Smith. Salo I would rate in the bottom third of the list. IMO
by Russel Ginart on Aug 5, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
5-home Tommy should go into the top third of your list if only for his fantastic head gear preferences.
Claude LaPointe didn't make as good a pun, sadly.
by LaChance at Glory on Aug 5, 2010 3:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
5-hole* Tommy… Or 5- home Tommy could work too I guess!
Claude LaPointe didn't make as good a pun, sadly.
by LaChance at Glory on Aug 5, 2010 3:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LMAO
That is so right, I forgot about the canary cage he wore!!!
by Russel Ginart on Aug 5, 2010 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Here, I dug this out. This was basically the begining of the end of Fichaud’s career as the shoulder never returned to full health and Salo took the reigns of the job. But before he got hurt he had played the last 8 of 15 games
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/03/sports/hockey-some-feelings-are-hurt-and-so-is-a-shoulder.html
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Cool find
I miss when the Times covered hockey.
I forgot all about Kenny missing the Olympics
I had no idea it was because of a rift with Coach Forsberg
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
The Times is great for going over the outright insanity of the Milbury years. So many Milbury quotes, if you use their site search engine and look for Milbury it helps explain why Snow is so quiet today.
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by Mark D on Aug 10, 2010 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Great Post Webby...
…IMHO Chico was the 2nd best “Islander” goalie…. there’s no doubt in my mind. People forget that before the 1980 season it was Chico and the MAD MAN… It was Chico who won their first playoff series, and Chico was the 1A in the rotation until Smitty just went MONEY on everybody.
Putting Rick “NO PLAYOFF SERIES WON” DiPietro in the class with these guys… really? I love what Rick brings to the game when he’s healthy, but to mention him in the same breath as Smitty, Chico, and to completely leave out Healy.
As ISLANDERS nobody has ACCOMPLISHED more than these three. If you’re talking purely about skills, as Islanders, you could add Osgood, Salo and Rollie (Luongo was too raw as an Islander)… and if you widen the scope to include “once Islanders” but include their accomplishments throughout the league the debate would just give me a headache…. way too many horses in that race.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
As ISLANDERS nobody has ACCOMPLISHED more than these three.
No question on that.
But no other Isles goalie has had those kinds of teams in front of them, either.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 6, 2010 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Chicken v Egg
They all had better coaches… that’s for sure. In 1975, Chico came on late to be a BIG part of that team’s success.
Leading scorer: Denis Potvin
Leading Goal Scorer: Bobby Nystrom
young guys Trottier and Gillies were going to become HOF players… but they weren’t there yet, and they were missing Bossy to where they could say they had ONE ELITE LINE.
That year was my induction into hockey and I didn’t have a clue how special that team was at the time… but looking back over the past 15 years, that may have been Al Arbour’s best year as a coach, because it planted a seed that helped them overcome the disappointments in the next few seasons to become one of the greatest teams off all time… in any sport.
There were some other pretty talented teams in the league, but only one of them had a goaltender that can boast not shaking hands as the winning goalie in 19 consecutive playoff series. THAT’S A HOF GOALIE…
When (if?) Ricky is shaking hands as a winner after a playoff series, then I’ll think about it… but there’s no way, right now, with his “body” of work can you call him a “great” Islanders, never mind a “great” goalie. You might even say the best thing Ricky could have done against Buffalo was opt out to the goalie who got them there… and then got shat upon. Instead… well… no need rehashing… it is what it is.
Nothing personal about rick… he just hasn’t accomplished much in the uni.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
I love(d) depietro when he was healthy for the most part
He showed how much potential he really had before the injuries. Definitely could have been a top 5 goalie in the nhl if healthy with a good defense ahead of him. But if DP somehow turns his career around and wins 2+ cups and 2+ vezina trophies with no more big injuries then I don’t see why he can’t be in the hall some day after that. But, he needs to stay healthy and be at the top of his game for that.
Go isles or Go home.
And if the Queen had balls...
Definitely could have been a top 5 goalie in the nhl if healthy with a good defense ahead of him.
But he isn’t… and when he did have a good defense(AUCOIN, JONSSON, HAMRLIK, MARTY) in front of him, and played a style that was perfect for his puck handling abilities all they did was get embarrassed by a Tampa team that Milbury tried to MELT. There were four shutouts in that series… only one by DP, and an argument could be made that they didn’t have the firepower (Kvasha was tied with Hunter for the scoring lead)… but DP wasn’t anything special. He gave up 3 goals in all foour losses…albeit one in OT. A trapping team that is led by Oleg Kvasha and Trent Hunter is not going ot score 4 goals against a hot playoff goaltender.
… and that’s pretty much the case for DP to be considered a "great Islander goalie. I guess you’re not one of the guys who rememeber holding your head in your hands and thinking "WTF are you thinking, when he’d try to clear the puck up the middle of the ice with an opposing player bearing down on him… or when he’d come out to the half boards and try to make an outlet pass… when the other team WASN’T changing.
I, personally, like the guy. I wish he was better because he’s got the BSD mentality that a championship team needs… the only problem is that he doesn’t have the BSD game… or has yet to prove it.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Oh no,
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had lots of wtf moments with DP in net or handling the puck or some decision making. And I agree wholeheartedly he is not in the great islanders goalies or close to the hall of fame categories right now. I was just saying, if he ever heals completely from his injuries, don’t write him off for not having the POTENTIAL to put up a couple cups and vezina trophies in his future. He isn’t near there now, but he certainly could accomplish this stuff because he is still 28 and has had a number of amazing saves in his nhl career in the net prior to injury. That’s all I wanted to say. AND DON’T TALK ABOUT HIS EARLY PLAYOFF NUMBERS. Everyone knows goalies take more time to mature to the nhl level then skaters. He wasn’t close to his prime and still a young young gun in that playoff series you were talking about. Even in the 2007 playoffs against the #1 Sabers powerhouse, he still only had 2 true full seasons in the nhl at that time. And his injury trouble started right around the time he should have been entering his prime at 25. Give him some leeway.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS SIMPLE QUESTION:
Before DP’s injuries, What did you expect from him in his next full healthy season in the nhl with no injury trouble or problems?
For me, he was easily looking like a no question top 8 goalie in the nhl, I expected him to be playing at the top of his game like the competitor he was finally and throwing up a top 5 goalie season. Not a doubt in my mind at that time made me think that we didn’t have not only one of the best goalies in the nhl, but a future top 5 goalie for at least 8yrs barring injury problems(dum dum dum). Your opinion please?
Go isles or Go home.
I know I expected erratic/inconsistent
DiPs numbers were always fairly respectable, and e did come up with big saves at times. I always thought his problem was on the nights when we weren’t scoring much (which translates to usually) and he would become far too aggressive an create problems for the already struggling team. I don’t know how much different things would have been because the team around him actually got younger and worse. It all depended in his focus and channeling that intensity which was always a problem. Even last year when he came back from the injury for the couple of games, he was still having those moments, so I doubt that that channelled aggression has developed yet…and at this point in his career, it may never. Couple that with the injuries and age and he may not physically be able to make up for the risks he takes.
by Keith Quinn on Aug 6, 2010 3:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What I expect from DP...
To be a slightly above average NHL goaltender, with very good, but oft-misused puck handling abilities.
I’ve seen a GM try to justify the most idiotic draft and trade scenario in NHL history by firing a coach that took a team to the playoffs for the first time in forever.
I’ve seen an over-enthusiastic veteran make rookie mistakes.
I’ve seen a goaltender that performs at a high level when fully physically capable, but in all honest we may not have seen that since his first year under Sterling.
So why would I expect anything else. DP was and could again be a nice poster boy for the franchise… he wasn’t even the best goalie in the Metro area, he was third of three… in the state the same ranking applies.
Does he SUCK, no. But, again, the only thing that seperates him from the 29 other starting goaltenders is his puck-handling… and that’s more oft than not a problem… but he’s OUR PROBLEM.
My contention is that DP was probably damaged goods when he was drafted… and nobody did any research on it because one Mike Milbury was blinded by his boner for a NE goaltender that would make Luongo’s agent go away. (and I’ve also speculated that those trips to scout the kid may have been more pleasant than we know).
Right now you can’t make a case that he’s better than an ECHL backup goalie… because that guy would cost you $25K a year, and can stand up on skates in a game.
the whole “a couple of cups and a vezina” is laughable… Those are things that are team oriented… if you said he could carry a team through the playoffs to a cup, like Roloson almost did… then I’d be skeptical, but it’s not impossible… a lot better goalies than him have ended their careers with neither a vezina*, nor a cup… there’s one on the other side of the river… we can give the rangers all the crap in the world, but they definitely win that matchup.
And if you don’t want to believe me, would you trade them straight up right now? case closed.
*I’m not sure what the criteria for the vezina is, but if it’s MVP Goalie the queen should have won two already because nobody has won more games for a completely distracted team in the history of hockey.
My cup is 3/4 empty, How 'bout yours?
Your a bit harsh on him
“he wasn’t even the best goalie in the Metro area, he was third of three… in the state the same ranking applies”-Comparing him to Lundqvist and Brodeur is what’s laughable in your argument. Your comparing a guy who has been hurt for a lot of his career to heavy work-load top 5 nhl goalies, both those 2 goalies arguably the best in the game. If DP was healthy all the time with no injuries it’d be fair evaluation, but it isn’t close.
Obviously, a team needs to be built around a good goalie for him to win a cup/vezina trophy or roy, brodeur, and lundqvist would each have 7 cups a piece. Your arguing some idiotic things, but your early points are mostly good. And from his potential, he was definitely capable of bringing a team deep into the playoffs if need be pre-injury.
Could he have been damaged goods? Maybe, but we may never know that.
Is it fair to compare a maturing goalie in his early 20’s to experience veterans? Hell no, YOUNG kids make mistakes, especially young maturing goalies.
Is it fair to compare an injury plagued goalie to an nhl workhorse? Hell no.
Did he have top 5 goalie potential? Unquestionably, just by saying his potential was barely above average shows that you really are straight up against the guy because he’s been hurt a while and had a couple of on and off/wtf moments in the nhl WHILE still being a kid and maturing in his early 20’s. Lay off him, he gets enough shit already. If you ever hear his interviews and know about his personality, then you’d know he’d be on the ice if he actually was even close to being able to play every other night but he isn’t.
Stop the silly argument. DP’s ceiling before injury was nearly sky high in the nhl, he didn’t have barely above average potential, he had franchise goaltender potential and you even said “face of the franchise” but didn’t want to admit it in bolder words. Right now, no one know what will become of him, but me and I guarantee tons of nhl analysts expected the early 20’s kid named rick dipietro to be an all-star, Top 8, franchise goalie once he hit his maturity peak. End of story.
Go isles or Go home.
I understand the hope
Everyone had for DP. He was a great kid with a lot of potential and personality and because we got rid of another 1st round goalie when we got him. But let’s face reality, lifetime 2.79 with a .905 sv% and 15 so. Now, open this link, start clicking in goalies and compare career numbers. http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/stats/bycategory?cat=Goaltending&conference=NHL&sort=111
Don’t even bother with your Brodeurs and Luongos, check out the Legace, Toskala and Mason types. Hall of fame is going to be out of the question. I wish him well, and wish he could have hit that potential, but really he had one pretty good season and one middle of the pack season and everyone wants to tout this guy as something. I’d rather have at least 6 other goalies on this post…and who knows, Chico’s hips may be in better shape!
by Keith Quinn on Aug 7, 2010 12:16 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
AGE
AGE was my argument, not everyone is a brodeur in their early 20’s in the nhl, a lot of players(especially goalies) need time to mature before they are nhl level ready. An example would be luongo in his early 20’s. Look at his numbers and play across the board and everyone would say he’s an average goalie with great potential. Then boom, Luongo hit his peak and is now easily a top 8 franchise goalie in the nhl. Even with an overall bad year last year for him, he is still in the top 1/2 of starting goalies in the nhl all around stats wise.
Now look at DP’s pre-25/injury numbers. You see a similar story, but instead of DP fulfilling his potential, he got possibly career ending injuries. Now look at 06/07 numbers, his career year so far at the age of 25. He showed everyone that he was a top 10 goalie that year, arguably and likely even a top 5 goalie that year for what he did with the workload he had and numbers he put up. And his starting/majority playing D-core for that year:
Witt and Martinek-solid shutdown players-Arguably both great top 2 potential d-men that year and played like it.
S.Hill-37yr old defenseman who had lost some steps as a top 4 and was overworked. Had an ok year.
T.Poti-Horrible defensive defenseman, I might even want MA Bergeron over him on D, eh probably not lol. Bad year.
2-familiars:
Campoli/Gervais-Both bottom 2 guys and both unreliable and it showed in their numbers compared to the team’s. Campoli-turned 23 at the time Gervais-turned 22 at the time so it’s not their fault they were put in a role they weren’t ready for.
I don’t know what you think, but from looking at everything, I see no reason why I shouldn’t have believed that DP was a legit future top 8(maybe even top5), franchise goalie without injuries. ANYONE who would think otherwise at the time had their heads up their asses. The sky was literally the limit for him. NOW, is another story, but I’m just so tired of people talking like DP was nothing, when he absolutely showed tons of signs he was going to be the franchise goalie we’d all hoped him to be and one of the best in the league. What happened happened, but don’t say the kid was overrated, because he wasn’t in any way when you looked at the age he did things and the players he was given in front of him to do them.
Go isles or Go home.
How???
Can you say that the people who have so far been right had their head up their asses? We were all duped (including DP) because he was a #1 overall pick (Based on one amazing college season and some tournament play) and we traded another first round goalie after we got him. We all know that the NHL tries to market some guys and DP was a good looking, articulate, fun loving ambassador for the game kid with some potential. They oversold him plain and simple. Possibly even because he was an American. That being said, I agree JPinVa, above average, not great, and puck handling skills that didn’t translate to the NHL like Brodeur’s did. (How many times did I have to listen to Howie Rose compliment him on it while DP was in the process of a give away. They basically ignored it and blamed the D). Is there Corsi values for zone time when DP was in net? Turnovers? Maybe he made his D worse by overplaying the puck.
Again, I had hope, I liked him, and I hope he rounds into form, but if this team ever takes another goalie #1 overall (and to be honest, I never want to even have a #1 overall unless we trade for it) I will be pissed! Some of this isn’t his fault because of the injuries and they hyped him as a Jesus Christ/Patrick Roy hybrid.
Also, espn saying our site says he is changing style/mehanics a bit to prevent injury…I think it is one of DPs tweets on the official site.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/players/stats?playerId=1108
What do you consider above average?
From seeing him play in the nhl, the ahl, in the olympics, world juniors, everything together showed me he was without question a franchise goalie and would be a top 10 goalie in the nhl for a while once he hit his prime. Before injury, he showed what he could do while still only in his early 20’s. He had all the signs of becoming that top 10 goalie we expected him to be. His career year even suggested, in my post above, in many aspects showed he was becoming a top 8 goalie and the real deal we’d hope for. Was he becoming brodeur? No, he’s not one of the best goalies of all time, that’s a rediculous comparison. Was he becoming say, like what jonas hiller has become of lately, a top 10 goalie that you can rely on in the nhl and playoff times but isn’t a superstar per say? Yes, I didn’t have a thought in my mind otherwise.
If what you guys say is barely above average as a bad top 16/18 goalie, then yes. I do believe you guys have your heads up your asses about what his potential was. A top 10-top8 goalie as above average, then I whole heartedly agree with you.
Go isles or Go home.
That's more like it!
I guess we aren’t understanding each other. Yes, in a 30 team NHL (I’m not sure how many exactly and too lazy to check) 15 being average, I would say somewhere between 10-15 with random seasons top 8 and random 15-20. But I think people saying “franchise goaltender”, gives people the impression of “franchise player” (like Roy, Hasek, Luongo, Miller), and that was what I’m getting at. Hiller I would agree with, but there are a lot of teams with Hiller like guys that didn’t get the hype or the draft status, and I think that’s what clouds the argument. And like it or not, at this point, the guys with their heads up their asses were right. If you would like to place monetary eta on the outcome of DPs career, I’m in! I’ll say no vezinas, 0-1 all star appearances (can’t count injury replacements I want straight up selections), and 2-3 playoff series wins. You?
by Keith Quinn on Aug 7, 2010 2:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Now we are pretty much on the same page.
As for betting on his future. I never said he was going to be healthy, I just said if a miracle cure finally happened and finished his career with us then I’d expect something good since he still is young. I’d expect a top 10 goalie that takes us to at least 1 cup and gets at least 1 vezina trophy in a good 10yrs with us if cured. But, I honestly believe his career is done. Knee injuries are serious and it has proven to kill at least a few of his prime years as a goalie and definitely hurt his max potential. I don’t know what we prefer after this year with less then 10games though.
A buyout? Probably not the best, I’m sure we can milk him in the ahl and leave his contract there till it runs out if he still has problems like this. And then let him be.
Kikko definitely looks like a future nhl starter and lawson could fill the backup role, hopefully problem free for a little bit. And the rest of our farm is in the lower mix right now.
Go isles or Go home.
Agreed!
And amen! Please DP give us a few solid years of # 8-20 goaltending until Poulin and Kosskinnen come through. Heal well, steal us a cup and be as close to as advertised as possible!
by Keith Quinn on Aug 7, 2010 6:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I disagree about Fitzpatrick, I think he was a pretty good goalie who just always ended up playing behind a better goalie. could of been a decent starter if given a chance. he was actually once a pretty highly touted rookie. Weeks had similar career trajectory- journeyman backup. He is on the NHL network sometimes and seems like a likable guy. Hackett and Flaherty as well. Serviceable journeyman backups. Also, not sure how I feel about Osgood. Has had incredible years but also has looked pretty below average at times throughout his career as well.
Fitzpatrick, supposedly his illness meant he should have never been able to play another game. He even admitted that he lost a step, but made up for it in better angles. That he managed to put together a pretty respectable string of seasons as a backup is amazing.
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Yeah, I always respected him more just for battling back to the NHL from his illness, and always wondered how differently things would have played out had he not contracted that disease. I was young at the time and it was a while ago but wasn’t at one point Healey really slated to be Fitzpatrick’s backup before his illness? I seem to remember the isles being high enough on Fitz that he seen as their starting goalie of the future.
Considering they traded Hrudey for Fitzpatrick and signed Healy as a free agent, I get the feeling they were higher on Fitz. But they also had a long history of platooning goalies up to that point.
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Nice list
Some good and bad reminders of our past. Now, we can only hope for rolly to repeat his play last season, but this time he will have a hell of a lot better d-core in front of him. Should be a very impressive season for rolly if everything works out like it should and he still has it.
How many people thinkg Lawson keeps the backup job with dp hurt and how many of you think Mikko gets given a few games this year to show what he’s got? Everyone in the organization thinks mikko is the future starter and lawson is a parttime fill-in, but the question is how early is too early with him?
Go isles or Go home.
I think if Lawson does a good job as backup you probably won’t see Mikko. If he struggles, then I suspect towards the end of the year if BP is out of the playoffs or not fighting for a spot you could see Mikko get a start or two.
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I think if Lawson does a good job as backup you probably won’t see Mikko. If he struggles, then I suspect towards the end of the year if BP is out of the playoffs or not fighting for a spot you could see Mikko get a start or two.
I agree with this- provided Rick cant play. If he can, then all bets are off!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Miss Metal Chick
Nice to see you again, I remember you from the Newsday blog, hope you are well. Go Isles 2010-11!!!!!!!!!
by Russel Ginart on Aug 5, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Topix?
Thank you! :)
Yeah, good times. Newsday is horrible now- no convos there anymore, its just not made for it.
Lighthouse Hockey and TheNHLArena are my mainstays now. :)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Blogs
Yeah, I pretty much just stay here and Chris Botta’s Point Blank site.
by Russel Ginart on Aug 5, 2010 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Great as usual!
I was cleaning out a closet and came across Desjardins first-year Isles card. He looked sad on it already. Guess he knew what was coming. Unfortunately came across Dave Chynowski’s(sp) RC at the same time,lol.
Nice write up as usual Dom. Nothing to really add, despite seeing all of them. As far as the future, Mikko needs to improve that shaky glove hand. Juggles too many from the 2 games I saw him in the ECHL playoffs. Still can’t figure out how a goalie as tall as him gets beat top-shelf glove side. Maybe it was just nerves……..
Thanks! I could only wish to be as good as Dom though.
I completely believe that Desjardins looks sad on his Islanders card.
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Actually
The fact that people mix up what you and Dom write is IMO because both of you contribute very high quality pieces.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Aug 5, 2010 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I kept it to Goalies who played 20 or More games in a season, Draper only played 7 games. That’s why Dunham isn’t on the list as he only played 19 and there’s a handful of others like Valliquete who had a few games here and there.
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Draper!?
Wow, blast from the past. There are some journeymen like that who had wonderfully convoluted blip careers as backups. Draper is actually another Blues-Islanders connection (I keep track of these, unfortunately) as he dressed for several games as Blues backup without playing, having been swapped back and forth with Winnipeg for “future considerations.”
Lighthouse Hockey: More defensemen than we know how to spell.
That’s why Dunham isn’t on the list as he only played 19
SO close… all of his years working for the org and that night he was almost backup again couldnt count as one game lol?
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
haha, I was so close to being done with this article, when I saw Dunham only had 19 games I was so happy. My thoughts on him are pretty much the same as from the Backup article I did two weeks ago. A Very talented goalie whose potential was ruined by injuries He would have been the perfect backup to DiP if he was still able to play, but he was so bad in his year with the Islanders he was obviously done. A 3.74 GAA and .889 SV% are numbers you can get from just about any AHL level goalie. Thus its not surprising that the next 3 backups (and for that matter 4 of 5) are AHL Lifers in Dubie, MacDonald, Danis and Lawson.
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Rollie Melanson
I was pretty young but I loved Rollie Melanson, if only because he had a really cool name that was fun to say. I was really to young to appreciate him or Smith, so Hrudey was the first goalie that I remember watching a lot. And he was really fun to watch, with those small leg pads and awesome helmet. I was recently just watching playoff highlights from the early 90’s Kings on the NHL network. I was recently discussing this in a different post but its amazing to see how goaltending has changed and evolved since the butterfly style came out. Hrudey would make incredibly athletic saves and then let in a soft goal you would never see go in today. I think the modern hybrid butterfly style is more fundamentally sound than the old flop around stand up style. That older style is a whole lot of fun to watch though
Smith
Was just fantastic. I was very young during the dynasty years (about 7-11 years old), but because of those teams, EVERYONE in my neighborhood played street hockey and some of us in a league where we had the misfortune of being the Rangers because the Isles were already taken. Anytime we practiced in the neighborhood, and somebody got close to the net, all you would hear is “Billy Smith!” and the crack of stick across shin pads. The man was simply as intimidating a presence in the net as Gillies was as an enforcer. He created guys like Hextall and he doesn’t even come close. Him and Gretzky exchanging spears is one of the highlights I can visualize to this day (Smitty flinging his equipment all over the place like he got shot is classic) and he was as clutch as they come. They don’t make em like tha anymore!
by Keith Quinn on Aug 5, 2010 7:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
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|
Tue 02/07 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Montreal
|
Thu 02/09 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Los Angeles
|
Sat 02/11 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Florida
|
Sun 02/12 | 3:00 PM EST |
|
@
Winnipeg
|
Tue 02/14 | 8:30 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
Buffalo
|
Sat 02/04 | SO - L 3 - 4 |
|
@
Ottawa
|
Fri 02/03 | OT - W 2 - 1 |
|
@
Carolina
|
Tue 01/31 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Toronto
|
Tue 01/24 | OT - L 3 - 4 |
|
@
Toronto
|
Mon 01/23 | L 0 - 3 |
Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New York Rangers
|
50 | 33 | 12 | 5 | 71 |
|
Philadelphia
|
52 | 30 | 16 | 6 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
53 | 30 | 19 | 4 | 64 |
|
New Jersey
|
52 | 30 | 19 | 3 | 63 |
|
New York Islanders
|
51 | 21 | 22 | 8 | 50 |
(updated 2.5.2012 at 4:42 PM EST)
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