Taking Stock: Islanders Risers and Fallers through 10 Games

… is rising like a pair of boxer shorts that sticks out above the waistline of your pants. If you have a big shirt (forwards coming back to clear rebounds) you really don’t see it… but you know eventually there will be a kid behind you on line at the supermarket that can’t stop laughing.
He has risen to his level of mediocrity. He jams up play behind the net. Can somebody explain to me why he was up around the hashmarks with a defenseman back to pick up the puck. Isn’t this teh exact play where Macdonald told him to get out of the way last year… RICKY NEVER LEARNS… he wants to be THE SOLUTION but all he does is add to the problem.
He has been giving up rebounds, and though it hasn’t manifested itself to this point YET you know he’s going to give up one of those goals where it looks like he’s looking for a contact lens.
Am I picking on Ricky… maybe… but we have two goalies that can tow the line… I just want him to stand in line like everybody else…. two losses… and a ridiculous SO appearance…get to the back of the line.

since Gretchen Won Season 8. Mondo deserved it so much more, he was a more interesting designer and about ten times more interesting to watch during the season.

Will be the biggest case to prove Capuano’s system of meritocracy. NOBODY has earned a promotion more than Matt Martin. He is the physical presence that every line on that team needs… and playing with Jay Pandolfo is no reward.
To the contrary… When Brian Rolston shies from the scrum…backwards… to take a 40 foot slapper 10 feet wide…
It’s time to sell real estate CAP MULE!

I am no professional by any means, in playing or coaching. But having played for 30 years and coached for another 8, I do know the game itself. To me the biggest problems plaguing the Isles right now is simply the breakout. There is none! Pucks are just being dumped up the boards to nobody, wasting possession. And every time the defense retreats to play a dump in to our zone, they look like they are panicking just to get it clear. You cannot sustain any offensive pressure, 5 v 5 or otherwise, without a breakout. That not only falls on the players but the coaching staff. They have to implement a system that works.

As far as players are concerned, JT is the shizznit. He is the real deal and will be for a long time coming. Man, this kid just gets better and better. Moulson looks to be floating lately and I like the work ethic and puck possession skills of PA. As great as Frans is defensively, he is just not a typical 2nd line center to me. KO has been the most disappointing Isle to date, as I am unsure if we are ever going to see the 25 goal, 60 point winger we all thought he would be. Josh and Blake have to go before their value decreases all the way down to zero. Watch Comeau next game. He plays hard when he wants to and when he doesnt, it is very noticable. 90% of his hits are against the boards and not the opposing player. Rolston has been Ok for what we signed him for but I am one of those who is not on-board with Reasoner. Don’t really see the upgrade over Zenon, other than in the penalty box. With the upcoming schedule, a November swoon like last year could be looming. Shots on goal are very deceiving. How many real opportunities did they have last night? First period was sluggish, second was good and the third, down a goal at home to a team with 2 regular Dmen out of the lineup was absolutely pitiful and disgusting.

Just my 2 cents.

I may like to see him come up. DiBo didn’t impress me when he was up last year but he’s been really good this year in the AHL from what I’ve seen

our forwards – plain & simple

and should start making changes among the bottom performers

its that simple

The reality is that Snow can’t make a trade I think because we are putting more value on our guys that the rest of the league does. I’m sure teams would pay for JT & MM, and maybe even Grabs, but unless Snow starts unloading Prospects that have not quite shown their true worth yet, I still don’t think there is enough on the roster to trade. Some have mentioned here it might be time to trade Bailey or KO, while we still can.

Second issue is the D, as a whole needs to get the puck up and out much faster. Only Streit can make that out of the zone pass, and make it stick. Seems the rebuild is not as far along as we would have liked, they should bring up some AHL bodies, DiBo, Cizikas. We weren’t winnin the cup anyway, so they should sit the Old Guys ( crap, they are all younger than me ) and keep finding out what they have.

but that’s what makes this site fun isn’t it?

I have not been impressed with Staios and expect more from a top pair defenseman, and I think the fact that Streit has looked good but not great is all a product of who he’s been playing with, when he has to cover for him, can’t take as many offensive risks b/c of him, etc. I wouldn’t call Staios a faller, but I wouldn’t call him a riser either.

I’ve been so impressed with Reasoner (I guess I don’t disagree as much as I thought).. He is a true ‘veteran’ presence, he doesn’t make glaring mistakes and you always take notice when he’s on the ice, just consistently makes the right play, something that we don’t see Rolston or Staios doing.

Side note: I want Montoya to start more, I feel like he hasn’t played a game in ages (probably a product of the long layoff)

Grabner – needs to work on finishing a breakaway. (Obvious). Does not have the hands or puck control to be an effective PP producer. Needs to swarm the net more. All of his goals are from breakaways or tap ins around the net.

MacDonald – needs to play like he is our best dman and the team is counting on him. Seemed to have taken his foot off the gas since Streits return.

Hamonic – He is fine. He’s had 1 bad game so far.

Okposo – see MacDonald. Needs to play like he is our teams best player and everyone is counting on him. Has taken a back seat to Tavares and his will and urgency has dipped considerably.

Bailey – tough case here. Would put him in the same boat as MacDonald & Okposo, but on a lesser extent. He shined the one chance he was put in the spotlight, but has disappeared in the shadows since. Is too talented to be buried on a 3rd line and cant work his way out of it. Experiment with him in a more significant team role. (Cant hurt at this point)

Comeau – has clearly established himself as a 3rd line player and as a 3rd line player he is fine.

Rolston – is just not an effective NHL player anymore.

Tavares – needs better talent around him for his true star to shine

Martin – integral part of the team. Has enough skill and hockey sense to be more than a 4th line player.

Moulson – great hands around the net. Competes hard on the backcheck. Doesnt bring much else presence wise.

P.A. – nice vision and puck control. not talented or consistent enough for top line minutes.

That Rolston can hit rick in the head so hard that he gives him a damn concussion but during a game he doesnt shoot the puck anywhere near the opposing goalie, let alone hurt the guy.

Because there are so many questions. The facts are:
A. Tavares is a beast
B. The goalies have played fine and so equally that the only difference between them right now is based on personal preference. (Viva El Cubano Grande!)
C. For Bailey and Comeau to have no points 10 games into the season is not acceptable. Ditto Okposo’s 3 assists. These are offensive players that are not producing offense. Only turnovers and wasted possessions.

Maybe line changes spark some goals. Maybe they don’t. Maybe these guys need to figure out how real live NHLers break losing streaks for themselves. I just hope something happens soon.