Independence Day Bits: In which Dany Heatley doesn't dictate terms
by Dominik on Jul 4, 2011 6:30 AM EDT
in Bits o' Islanders News
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PrintIf there's a type of player about whom all my attempted objectivity flies out the window, it's the type of player who:
...commits a youthful mistake that causes a tragedy, but gets off kindly and is embraced by the community in which that tragedy happened, but then demands a trade from that supportive community, and gets a big fat contract with a no-trade clause, then demands a trade from the team that gave him that contract, then wields that no-trade clause to block a reasonable trade and instead forces a really bad one so he can land on a Cup contender.
So yeah, I'll be honest: I think it's really funny that Dan(n)y Heatley has been traded to the Wild, who were 21st overall last year, and ranked 26th in 5-on-5 play (not exactly Heatley's strength...except when he wants to). What's the over/under on how long before he asks out of this one?
Better yet: Martin Havlat, a fun player who has been jobbed by a few teams in his career, goes to a team that's an annual contender.
I jest about cap circumvention, but apparently somehow Richards' and Christian Ehrhoff's contracts are just fine, but Max "Turtle" Talbot's deal is not.
Islanders Links
- So there isn't really much Islanders news (though we'll have a new post up at mid-day). But here's Scott Gordon talking about his new gig with the Maple Leafs.
- And here's a look at two realistic Josh Bailey scenarios at Dobber Hockey: He settles into a role, or he doesn't.
- And here's a review of the Islanders 2011 draft picks from Hockey's Future. (FanShot is here.)
- On Kirill Kabanov's wild ride to his NHL contract [FIXED. Sorry about the bad link earlier]. Per CapGeek, that contract is near the max on rookie salaries, but with just a $10,000 signing bonus and no other frills.
Hockey Links
Among the coverage of Brad Richards' cap-circumventing contract with the Rangers, I found this quote most amusing:
I’m excited to get to meet some of the young players. When we played them in January, it was probably the hardest team to play against all year.
When the Stars met the Rangers in January, Dallas hadn't won in four games. They tied the Rangers that night, dropping the shootout bonus point.
More:
- The weekend's signings create some interesting cap situations in Buffalo and Washington, among others. See anything there you like? Related to that, Spector's rumor roundup from Sunday.
- And did all that movement make Philadelphia better? (No. And Chris Pronger is not getting younger.)
- They also make Ken Campbell paranoid, as he is wont to be.
- Here is your sortable list of free agent signings at TSN.
- And here is a review of Atlantic and Northeast performance on the market [FIXED. Sorry about the bad link earlier...]. Playing it smart earned Garth Snow the second-best grade in the division (behind Pittsburgh).
- And here are some of the forwards left from a Nashville perspective. The Preds just dumped Matthew Lombardi, who only got two games in before a concussion sabotaged his season. Salary dump in prep for...?
- Ted Leonsis is giddy about having a proven goalie in Tomas Vokoun. And cheap! That's gotta make an owner happy. Sure makes a GM happy, too. GMGM, that is. And playing for a contender sure makes a goalie happy.
Have a happy 4th if you're celebrating, remembering, barbecuing, beach-surfing (like me), or just generally blowing stuff up. (Legally, I assure you.)
(For our international readers: July 4th is the U.S. Independence Day, which is a day of heavy travel to summer holiday destinations, and occasion for people to take great risks with their children, their fingers, and their belongings in the quest to blow things up and create pretty colors.)
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Wow
I think the Sharks win this trade, freed up cap space (they need to sign Burns,Couture) and Havalt is better defensively. Heatley would have to a better year than the last one to turn this trade around for Minny.
In loving memory;Dad thanks for making us Islanders fans, ACC 1918-2011
Havlat
is a very strong player…he’s having to be traded from ottawa is one of the reasons they never won a cup….chara leaving for ufa is another and greater reason
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 4, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Earth to Scott Gordon...
From that Scott Gordon article, the following quotes:
"The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the top franchises in the NHL, and seem to have turned the corner as far as being a team that can contend for the Stanley Cup.
“I’ve been in that situation where it was a rebuild, and to not have to go through that again and be able to keep going in the direction of trying to win a championship is great.
"Getting the opportunity to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs is like being part of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox."
Hey, Scott, maybe somebody failed to tell you, but the Leafs haven’t made the playoffs since the 2003-04 season, which is longer than the Islanders’ current drought. Cup contender? In what universe would that be? And, yes, they’re certainly done rebuilding – the Bruins, that is.
Lastly, you like coaching the Leafs because of their history? Now they definitely have that, but the team you used to coach had a little bit of history too, not that it ever seemed to matter to you though.
All that said, however, I want to thank Scott Gordon. Without his inability to communicate, his asinine “overspeed” or whatever the hell it was supposed to be and his complete inability to coach defense, the Islanders would never have been sufficiently awful to draft Tavares, Nino and Strome. In that way, I will look upon his tenure as a critical part of the rebuild, which, I believe, will result in a Cup before Toronto ever sees one again.
by rmblifn on Jul 4, 2011 8:18 AM EDT reply actions 9 recs
Love it!
All that said, however, I want to thank Scott Gordon. Without his inability to communicate, his asinine "overspeed" or whatever the hell it was supposed to be and his complete inability to coach defense, the Islanders would never have been sufficiently awful to draft Tavares, Nino and Strome. In that way, I will look upon his tenure as a critical part of the rebuild,
I do believe I’ve made this point a few times… I guess I didn’t say it, so Ben won’t refute it.
Happy fourth everybody! Drink responsibly! Surf responsibly… and for goodness sakes blow things up responsibly!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I knew you'd come through for me!
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
challenge accepted
Well, you kind of put me in a difficult spot there, almost forced me to step in to not lose credibility, right, heh?
I just don’t understand how you guys seem to approach this interview (or of course similar stories about Gordon in the past). There’s unquestionably one statement in there which makes you wonder, namely the one about the Leafs having turned the corner. That’s debateable, but why not indeed discuss that topic then and look at where the Leafs stand in comparison to the Islanders for example? Or for those interested in Gordon’s work, talk about how smart it was to join that organization at this point, etc. Why instead reading stuff, which simply isn’t there, into it. If you don’t care about Gordon, which is perfectly fine, just don’t care about him, forget him, don’t read his interviews.
A large part of the interview is not about comparing his situation on Long Island with the one in Toronto. It’s about how he felt during the past six months and how working for the Leafs compares to other options he might have had or might have got in the future if he had passed on the Leafs’ offer. It’s very clear statements about (the history of) the Leafs organization are made from that point of view – he’s excited to work there, but that in no way implies he wasn’t excited about the job with the Islanders or history of the franchise here.
I’m also quite sure he doesn’t think the Leafs are much closer to cup contention than the Islanders. It’s just that this time around the starting point of him with a franchise occurs in a different situation. I think everyone understands he’s happy to not have to go through the same kind of rebuild again. Because what he got to work with at the beginning was perhaps the worst roster around the league since the lockout. But once again that doesn’t mean he doesn’t acknowledge the progress of the Isles’ rebuild. He said lots of good things about the Isles in a couple of interviews in the Newsday (where on the other hand guys like Nielsen and Streit had kind words for him), but those kind of interviews are somehow never really discussed around here.
Anyway, even the debateable statement about the Leafs having turned the corner is not really inappropriate or something. You could also read this as someone being nice to his new employer and positive about the situation. I guess that’s a common thing to do in sports. Or why did Capuano talk about playoff hopes at several points last season?
by BenHasna on Jul 4, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
...the problem with Gordon for a LOT of us, Ben is his.....
…..EGO; the lack of vision, flexibility – an attribute which Cappy has since demonstrated in abundance and, yes, I DON’T think it’s any coincidence that the team posted the second-best record in the East once Gordon was released, injuries or NO injuries – is what makes Scott Gordon so resented by those who feel he contributed to much of the November swoon due to that intractability…..and this interview only reinforces our perception of him being an unthoughtful egomaniac…..
Scott Gordon the only man that got fired from the Islanders and found a WORSE coaching job.
I read about Scott Gordon for one reason, and it is not about Scott Gordon, it is about his perception of the Islanders and how that perception can further slant coverage from the “Center” of the hockey universe. In fairness, he can’t say the Leafs suck and they are fortunate that they have a captive market.
The Leafs are NOT in a re-build, they are in the middle of a perpetual SUCK. That is their history, their present and their future. Coaching the Maple Leafs is like coaching the Cubs, remember the Yankees win.
Nassau Coliseum lost a veteran and an original Islander fan. ACC 1918-2011
I debated whether to poke fun at Gordon's comments the way I poked fun at Richards'
But obviously I needn’t have worried!
I really think he was just giving the same stuff you “have” to give and will give in any situation, but I’m still amused by the Hater’s Ball this became.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
The bottom line...
Gordon had a hard time taking the roster he was given to a level that was acceptable to most of the fans, and more importantly, the GM.
Is Gordon a “bad” coach? I can only give my opinion here… and I’d say NO. What I would say was that he was definitely the WRONG coach (which I have many times).
He is in a much better position now, and should emerge in a year or two with a better opportunity and that much more experience under a guy who I think handles a much tougher situation, better.
I wish i could subscribe to Gordon’s between period interviews (if he’s allowed to do any) under Toronto scrutiny… rather than Rob Carlin’s.
“Scott, the team looked a little flat out there in the second. What do you think they need to do in the third to get back in this one?”
[crickets]
“Scott? Coach Gordon… where are you going?”
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
by JPinVA on Jul 5, 2011 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
great coaches
assess and now each players ability, potential and liability/dependibility…the routinely are able to get the best out of at least most of their players…i’d give benefit of the doubt b/c gordon was a rookie in nhl, but i don’t think a smart coach would be trying to change players to a system that may not have been on par with ability/talent, but rather, would have adapted his system to the talent and abilities of his players.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 5, 2011 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
That has been a point of contention...
…all along.
When I wrote up my Fan Post about why I thought Cappy would succeed it was based on how the roster was built, and has continued to be built. That roster was not built to generate the bulk of it’s offense through agressive forechecking.
Add to that he had no defense for teams that easily broke down his forechecking scheme, and were NEVER prepared to play from behind… which they often found themselves doing. When they were fortunate enough to build a lead they lost it due to fatigue, and not being able to battle the basic strategies they employed.
Plus, I think after the first month when Sutter ripped Gordon’s balls off and threw them in the areener, I bet he lost a lot of respect. I know I’ll never forget how the Devils ROUGHED THEM UP after Mottau tried to decapitate Frans… and Gordon left Fritz on the bench, claiming he wasn’t ready.
It’s hard to buy into a system that drains you with little success, and a coach who cares about the score of a meaningless game when you’re getting mugged. That was definitely a culture change FOR THE WORSE.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
I for my part think Gordon is a pretty good coach, though certainly not an elite coach, (yet). On the other hand I’m not convinced he was the wrong coach. Obviously, we’re very far apart there and part of the reason is what you say here.
Gordon had a hard time taking the roster he was given to a level that was acceptable to most of the fans, and more importantly, the GM.
I just highly doubt this is true – at least with respect to the GM (and to the realistic fans). I think Snow must have been happy with what they achieved in 09-10, finishing just three games under (modern NHL) 0.500 despite some serious obstacles, such as Witt’s decline, JT’s slump, DP’s comeback, etc., and coming off a brutal season. Really, the roster and particularly the circumstances given in that year, no one inside the game could think Gordon didn’t take them to an acceptable level. Though 79 points is nothing to celebrate I really believe it’s quite an achievement with that kind of roster and full credit goes to the guys who carried that team (Nielsen, Okposo, Streit, Moulson), but indeed also to Gordon. If his systems were that bad or he just the totally wrong coach for that given team I can’t see how that team still finishes with 79 points. Impossible.
Then, no question, Gordon made mistakes early in 10-11 and all fans – myself included, heh – as well as the GM were unhappy and Snow correctly changed the coach. But it wasn’t so much because Snow thought Gordon’s systems were wrong or Gordon didn’t take the team to an acceptable level, but just because Gordon lost the team during that awful spell. Sure, blame him for that, but I’ll never get why people since have questioned his systems, but most of all his personality so much.
Again, one could have handled the situation better, Gordon definitely made some rookie’s mistakes there, just wasn’t experienced enough or the whole structure around the team wasn’t stable really to come through somehow there. But again he didn’t fail enormously in terms of taking the team to a certain acceptable level. The team played almost on a comparable level the rest of the season and simply didn’t have much more in it, also because of injuries and how training camp was set up, etc. Part of this has been acknowledged by Garth lately, e.g. through the signing of Reasoner, making clear that they lacked that kind of player last season and were ultimately not good enough through three lines to rely on a guy good at faceoffs (and other stuff) to lead a 4th line consisting of at least one additional fighter.
And the thing around the Carlin interview, well, I could never take the perspective you’ve taken there. It’s not an honorable thing Gordon did there and maybe it would be wrong to just forget it, but I don’t think it’s worth mentioning all the time. Really, if we consider the circumstances, what kind of a roster he was given to work with in year 1, how hard it is to keep things together in such a season, etc. I think we could forgive him getting a little pissed at a reporter who might not know all that much about the game and think this whole rebuild thing can be done in a couple of seasons…
by BenHasna on Jul 5, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well, isn’t the record a function of your structure, your talent, your “circumstances”, how sloppy you (don’t) play, luck, etc.?
Apparently, if your structure is awful you can still have a half-decent record, thanks to a wealth of talent and things going your way. But the Isles’ situation in 09-10 was totally different of course. They lacked proven NHLers badly and as mentioned had quite a few things not working out for them (Witt, JT, DP, also Martinek’s very early injury). Remember, Witt was their primary shutdown defender for 20+ games, Gervais played 30+ games with Streit, Reese played 20 on the 2nd pair, Kohn played 20 on the 3rd pair – all way, way above their pay grade. Look at the roles these guys, and also Sim, Park, Schremp, Tambellini, (Weight) had that year and where they’re now. Except from Gervais (and hopefully Schremp) chances are none of these guys will ever see NHL ice again.
Really, you need to explain how it’s possible to gain 79 points in this competitive league with such a roster and at the same time a complete lack of structure and sloppy play.
that makes sense
He probably insisted so strenuously on structure and form because the team wasn’t talented enough overall to compete on any other terms. The system had to supply the deficit.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
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Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jul 4, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know what you expect Gordon to say?
His first season he got the job without being able to prepare anyone for camp and with his Goaltenders being Yann Danis and Joey MacDonald. John Tavares is from Snow’s inability (or not wanting to) bring back Dubie more then anything Gordon did.
Someone as to take the fall for the early years of the rebuild, and it was Gordon. Doesn’t mean he can’t coach considering the high regard he’s held in. Hell, even Scott Bowness is still an assistant coach in the NHL.
"I bet Calgary wishes they had a backup goalie as their GM" - Pauly C
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
LOL Rec'd
Leafs have not won the cup since 1967…outside of the Cliff Fletcher years…the one and only time that team had a legit GM….the Leafs have been in a constant state of rebuild.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 4, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Atlantic NE link
Anyone have that Atlantic/ NE link mentioned above? Current one leads me to Dobber’s
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 4, 2011 8:35 AM EDT reply actions
Ack, my bad...
Thanks Thaddeus.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Sorry, this is off this post's ...
topic but I think kind of important nonetheless.
Anyone see today’s Daily News editorial about the arena deal?
Yikes.
I’ve purposely tried to avoid the press coverage lately because it’s been pretty much all negative and I’m ascared, but this piece is scathing. Who knows how many LI’ers read the News these days, but I hope not many, because this is just the sort of diatribe that people are swayed by.
I’m very nervous.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/07/04/2011-07-04_manganos_folly.html
GARBAGE.
Ant of course the comments section busts out the trusty ol “If the owners can’t find the financing on their own, then don’t build it”
Such clueless, IGNORANT people. But if their primary source of information is the Daily News, I understand why.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jul 4, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions
How long does it take for a comment to show up?
I actually registered on that site just to respond to that bs article. lol
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
NM there it is.
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
In all fairness.....
,,,,,,, the guy’s screen name is “eugny420”…….. He would have actually read up on the issue…but….there were lots of big words and stuff….
by H0PPY on Jul 5, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Couple of things about that
It’s an article written by an unnamed author in the “opinion” section. Which probably means half the “facts” are wrong. Statements like “no bank would pony up funding on affordable terms.” when speaking about Wang doing it on his own like the Yanks and Mets is not rooted in fact (unless said schmuck has a copy of CWs finances).
I went to the meeting last week and will be working on a write up about it, but the thing to consider here is that anyone that can write a sentence can sound like they know what they’re talking about, when in fact they don’t. On one side you have people complaining that Wang is looking for a land grab and sweetheart deal, then on the other, you have this jackass complaining about the state not making Wang own everything. These people are Ridiculous. Did you see the latest thing on the referendum cost here they are reviewing that because there may not be enough air conditioning so people may not vote? I shot you not, that’s happening. You know why? Because old people (who vote things down) hate heat. You don’t see anyone complaining thy there’ll be no ice cold beer so youn people may not show up to vote right? I mean, how long does voting take that air conditioning is that necessary?
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 9:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Unfortunately, inaccurate ...
superficial, short-sighted and narrow-minded as it may be, this is the kind of stuff a lot …uuh, voters … base their decisions on. That’s the scary part.
I hope nothing is taken for granted and there’s still a legitimate and intelligent PR move in the offing to offset the wave of negative opinion.
I know...sometimes, voting is bad
You can never account for the level of understanding people have on a given subject…further, you can never account for the level and direction of the propaganda spewed toward the end of confusion or someone else’s agender.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 10:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You can never account for the level of understanding people have on a given subject
That’s why you try to ram it through in a special election in August. The hope is people don’t figure out what’s going on.
That article is terrible, but so is the county’s approach to this thing. And the one merit of that article is that the revenue pro*j*ct**ns really are kind of laughable.
Ugh...need to proofreader from the iPhone
Looks like I’ve already blown off 3 fingers.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 10:08 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah...
and hockey players and fans need their ice don’t ya know…if it is too hot you might not get hockey players and their fans to show up and vote…
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 4, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Over the LINE, Keith!
but the thing to consider here is that anyone that can write a sentence can sound like they know what they’re talking about, when in fact they don’t.
Dude, you’re tossing my entire livelihood in jeopardy. Keep talking like that and next people will figure out I’m a 12-year-old girl working for a spam company in Singapore.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jul 4, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Haha
I’m one of those shakespearian monkeys on a hot streak!
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 7:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
hbgdhgdszjtdsjzghdh
dbhgzbfdgbzgbdzgzfcgfhdagdghfgszg
Doh!
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 4, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry...
…that was my Homer monkey, not me.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 4, 2011 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks, dose; OT or not, links and discussion topics are always welcome in bits posts
Anywhere, really, but especially our link dumps.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Living in Atlanta.....
….I couldn’t be happier to see Heatley exiled to the Wild. I was pleasantly surprised by the way such a conservative community embraced him after the incident, and completely disgusted by the way he shunned Atlanta after the fact. He is one of those players I PRAY never plays for a Cup-winning team.
by H0PPY on Jul 4, 2011 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I think it's a damned shame
that they couldn’t find someplace colder to send him to.
STOP effin' messin' with my FnGO!!
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Jul 4, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
what exactly did heatley do
wake me up when the isles start to play
by DarthDoyle on Jul 4, 2011 11:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I’ve heard curious things about how well he served the community service in his sentence, too.
Basically, I think it’s great people went out of their way to give a young man a second chance and forgiveness for a tragic mistake. It’s what you do with it afterward…
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Not even close....
While I will admit that I am not completely familiar with all of the details surrounding the Cizikas hit, the Heatley incident was HUGE news down here for months, and I am almost POSITIVE that we did not get half of the story…. In the Heatley incident, I have a very strong feeling that alcohol WAS a factor, and had he not been a multi-million dollar local sports hero, he would have been in MUCH more serious trouble…. It is known that he was drinking shortly before the accident, and I wouldn’t be the LEAST bit surprised to learn that his blood-alcohol level was heavily “massaged” to protect a rich, high-profile athlete…. If you saw the stretch of road he was driving 80 mph on, you would really have to ask yourself, “WTF was he THINKING?!?!?”
Well yeah
…and if he wasn’t drunk, why allow him to drive sober after that? Either way, it was a gross lapse of judgement.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 5, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
In other news
Matt Moulson is Jonathan Quick’s something or other! And he caught a shark!
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
Is backes a bro-in-law too?
If we could trade for Moulsons family, we’d definitely be on the playoffs next year.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 10:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Too? Would that imply someone is already his brother in law?
Bc if Matt Coulson has a brother in law that is brand new information to me
I'm the only RFA to get a qualifying offer worth less than the year before
by Chris McNally on Jul 4, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
We need to find a Moulson cousin to take one for the team on Ovechkin.
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
Bro-in-law?
Is that like someone your sister/brother is friends with who likes to drink Natty Ice, play video games and wear shirts with popped collars?
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Guess Minnesota arent the only ones catching Sharks these days
I'm the only RFA to get a qualifying offer worth less than the year before
by Chris McNally on Jul 4, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dom the kirill kabanov link takez you to somethig about he flyers
wake me up when the isles start to play
by DarthDoyle on Jul 4, 2011 11:38 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
takes...damn smartphone
wake me up when the isles start to play
by DarthDoyle on Jul 4, 2011 11:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sorry. I blame my weak beach wi-fi connection
But probably, it’s the strong beach beer I’ve been drinking.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
mmmm beer
wake me up when the isles start to play
by DarthDoyle on Jul 4, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Link should be fixed now...
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
You guys probably already saw this
but it made me giggle anyhow:
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
by NSOsFan on Jul 4, 2011 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
hot dogs
Did anyone watch the hot dog eating contest? The announcer was commenting on one of the contestants eating style and said “Alex burrows take note!!!” it was great lol
by bigmike92 on Jul 4, 2011 1:05 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Excellent photo
Heatley looking sad with a banner reading “WIN!!!” behind him.
Sums up his career
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
You have no idea how happy I was to find that photo
My disdain for Dan(n)y is really bad.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Yeah
Disdain is a common feeling towards him. I have it as well
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Awww
Someone made Grabs scared he was traded!
"I think we consider too much the luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm." ~ FDR
Brad Richards:
When Richards said “I’m excited to get to meet some of the young players. When we played them in January, it was probably the hardest team to play against all year.”
Correctly interpretted: “Damn that Lundqvist is amazing and signed for a good amount of time. If he can get any offense all year, their a repeat playoff team.”
On Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/ChrisBottaNHL/status/87957249091321856
http://twitter.com/#!/NYIFYI/status/87959735558619136
Predictions?
I really don’t know who he’s targeting. Has to be a Top-4 Dman right? And why a forward? I thought we had our Top 9 “figured out”
we might be including a forward in the deal for the D man
so he probably wants a replacement in return, if this is true
"Mario Lemiuex… I used to respect you."- Turgeon1992
I think Montreal is trying to do something big
Maybe Suban is the target. Someone said he and JT(our assistant G.M.) are buddies.
This IS the year.
They are really good friends:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=541752
But the mouth isn’t at the top of my list for acquisitions, but the way things have been going, it’s been the JT and buddies team: Moulson, Strome, and his newly made buddies on the team. Subban would be a great acquisition, aside from his defense being a work in progress, his offensive game is really high end and he’s a great puckhandlers and he’s a great skater and he loves to throw big body checks and he’s RH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCXeUTtEeF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPmezulAX8g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EteYiH1WCOk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhKmP_gv80
Subban may need to mature...
… but he would defintely be a top four guy on our roster for a long long time. I havea afeling that Subban replaces Streit, with more grit and offensive upside after a few years. PK will be an all star for years to come.
There is no way we’re getting him though… not without giving up somebody like Moulson or Grabner… and that just isn’t happening.
If Snow could get away with something like Strome + a pick I’d be all over that. Work done, close up the shop… we’re going to the playoffs… and we’ll be a Cup contender for a decade (as long as we’re still in existence).
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
No real idea on the targets,
but my educated guess would be that he is either targeting a team where he can make a deal for an uprgrade in the bottom 6 and a top 4 d-man or that he is targeting a team where he can make a trade for a top 4 d-man and top 6 upgrade that includes giving away one of our top 9 forwards(most likely :Bailey/PAP/Comeau I’d guess and least likely the guys locked down a while or at definitive center). Just my guess.
agreed
if reasoner can be expected to produce offensively as well as bailey did last year, and with Strome and other centres in system, bailey may very well be expendable…comeau and bailey to me are the assets Isles can afford to move at this point without hurting to core going forward….but i am in no way giving up on bailey, that would be insane considering where he ranks among all other forwards drafted in 2008.
by CanadianIsleslifer on Jul 4, 2011 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Washington Goalies and Islanders Goalies
This may have been mentioned in the past couple days (didn’t have enough time to read all 1500 comments), but the most interesting moves to me thus far have included Washington goalies. Let me make sure I have this straight: first they trade Varlamov, their 1b/1c goalie ($2.75 mil each of next to seasons) for Colorado’s 1st and 2nd round picks, which very well could end up top-5 in each round. Then they sign one of the top-5 goalies in the league, Vokoun, to a one-year $1.5 mil deal? So instead of having three average NHL starters fighting for the starting position, They now have a great #1 and two promising, young goalies in healthy competition for #2, a likely high 1st rounder, a likely high 2nd rounder, and save over $1 mil this coming season in real money and cap space?
Immediately it sounds like bad news for the Isles because Washington is now even stronger for this season and, likely, the future beyond. However, before too long the Isles may find themselves in a similar position with 2 or 3 good, young goalies on a strong team (and optimistically plans for a new facility)….Wait! I still don’t get how the Aves gave up even a 1st rounder for Varlamov. Was the market that weak? Is Varlamov an elite starting goalie?
Shifting over to Isles goalies before my brain implodes:
I know there are significant injuries to each of the four likely goalies: Montoya, Poulin, Nabokov and DiPi, but if each of them came into camp reasonably healthy, I like the Isles’ chances in goal this season. True, in addition to injuries, each has a major question mark: Montoya is unproven, Poulin more unproven, Nabokov hasn’t proven much lately and may not want to be here, and Rick is Rick. But at some point in the past, each goalie has shown some ability to be the starter…. Sure, I’d rather the Isles have two healthy goalies, each clearly capable of being the #1, but having 4 darts to throw at the board isn’t the worst scenario heading into a season in which a Stanley Cup for the Isles is an extreme long-shot no matter what kind of goaltending the team has. If the Isles aren’t going to have an elite goalie (Lundqvist, Voukoun), having a “good” goalie isn’t a very big upgrade to me. “Good” goalies have had less-than-stellar seasons lately (Miller, Halak, Brodeur, Khabibulin) while other goalies have surprised with solid play the past couple seasons (Reimer, Niemi, Boucher, Anderson). As an avid, if obsessed, fantasy hockey manager, I can say for certain that the majority of goalies have been wildcards in recent seasons. I’d still take quality over quantity, but quantity is more attractive than it used to be.
I know they are small sample sizes from this past season, but I’d take a chance with Montoya (.921) as the starter with Nabokov and Poulin (.924) as other options, assuming they are healthy. I don’t see a need to trade anything of much future value for a better goalie than Isles have now. Not this offseason. Take another year to evaluate Poulin and the two Nordics.
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jul 4, 2011 10:39 PM EDT reply actions
The problem I have with quantity over quality
Is figuring out when to play whom…if that can be figured out, great. But to me, that’s a gamble…I’m confident in our goaltending this season, but I expect some bumps along the way. I just hope Cappy can figure out which is the hot hand and how long to ride it.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jul 4, 2011 11:14 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
why Colorado gave up a lottery pick for Varlamov
The deal was actually just the second-rounder for Varlamov, but Ted Leonsis won a high-stakes poker game with other owners, and to cover the shortfall, the Avs owed him a first-rounder. So they tossed it into this trade. Bettman was there, and also wound up short, so he agreed not to veto this trade to cover his losses.
I mean, it makes as much sense as any other theory. The Caps couldn’t have ripped off Colorado on this deal any worse if they had strolled into the Pepsi Center and robbed them at gunpoint.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
by mikb on Jul 5, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
