Frustration breeds patience into optimism

I think maybe for the first time since the offseason of 2001-2002 there is a high level of excitement and optimism in Islander country. There have sadly been many more downs than ups in the last ten yrs. After an amazing regulaer season run...postseason injuries to Peca and Jonnson put us out of the post season that yr in a 7 game war with the leafs. One of the best seasons in franchise history. Sadly, that was really all that came about with a team that could have been so much more. Peca was never the same after that hit...Jonnson continued to play hard but had post concussion syndrome...players like Hamrlik, Parrish, Bates, and Blake slowly departed. We traded our future away for half for rentals like Ryan Smyth and Janne Ninnamaa. Sadly the Yashin trade set us back 10 yrs as him and Miro came to be a bust.

The two moves that hindered us for so long was the Bertuzzzi and Luongo deals. Not to say Mark Parrish didnt give us anything. But Kvasha was a bust and well...we saw what Luongo's replacement did, As well as that night mare of a contract.

That and the mid season firing of Peter Laviolette never made sense...the only thing he ever did was go to the cup finals twice...winning one with carolina.

Garth Snow and his scouting team has done a fantasitc job. Streit will be back for a full season, Okey, Frans, and Grabner will be playing a whole season together...JT in his third season will prove to be boom or bust. Hopefuly living up to his expectations. Moulson and paranteau will help him in having his break out year.

The one thing that scares me is we need a blue liner to go along with Streit. We need another number one. Hopefuly we draft Larrson whom is just so perfect for us. The third line is a big question mark. What can Bailey give us? Can he step up? Is nino going to make the team? Is trevor gillies just another worthless goon like Cairns?

What are we going to do with Nabokov? Will DP and Montoya be 1 and 2? or will Snow finaly get the hint DP will never be the same all star form as he once was?

optimism and high hopes are abound this season...theres still alot of work to do, holes to fill...but lets see what we can do. Perhaps time will tell.