How To Fix The Islanders: An Outside View
by Brandon C. on Jan 11, 2012 11:35 PM EST
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PrintHey folks, let me start off by saying a few things.
One, I hope I don't sound like a troll, just a Rangers fan that lives with two Islanders fans, is friends with a lot more, goes to Islanders games regularly, and witnesses first hand how the team-and their fans-suffer each year.
Second, I am not fully in tune with the Islanders budget, so if any of my ideas appear impossible, please let me know.
Third, I am a strong believer that the Islanders can be a playoff team in the next 1-2 seasons if they handle their transactions right. Big if, though.
Anyway, here I go. Here is how I would fix the Islanders and turn them into a playoff team soon enough.
Make a strong decision on Mark Streit- I personally change my opinion on Streit quite often. If the Islanders believe they can be a playoff team in the next 1-3 seasons they should keep Streit for not only his defensive play, but also for veteran leadership. If they believe they need to rebuild, there is absolutely no purpose in keeping Streit, and they would be better served trading Streit. I lean towards keeping Streit as of now, only because my plan would help the Islanders make the playoffs sooner rather than later. If the Islanders need cap room, trade Mark Streit immediately. Hate to say it, but he makes the most sense to trade given his age.
Find the Coach of the Present AND Future- You know better than I do if Jack Capuano is that coach, but no more changing coaches often. Whoever the Islanders coach in 2012 is should be the coach for the future. No hesitation.
Sign a Free Agent Goalie- There are two RFA's I'd look at, and two UFA's I'd look at. Courtesy of Capgeek, I'd try to sign or trade for Tuukka Rask or Cory Schneider of the RFA's. Perhaps, given that both of their teams have goalies, they could be had for less than market value. As for the UFA's, I'd try to sign Josh Harding, Brian Elliot, or Jonas Gustavsson. All three are young, and could cost a small enough amount for the Isles to get them. Use them to compete with/sort of mentor Poulin, even if that means letting Montoya go.
Find a way to get a Top Defenseman- There are enough UFA's where the Islanders should be able to get at least one defenseman this off-season. Remember, the Islanders could trade Mark Streit if they have to free room, but a Streit-led package for a top defenseman simply does NOT make sense, as no team would trade for an older version of the player they are dealing. Find an old defenseman that actually could have a good season, and provide toughness and leadership. Think Steve Staois but much better.
Draft an NHL Ready Defenseman- Regardless of the possible signing, I'd go defense in the draft over goalie/offense. Look at how Adam Larsson and Michael Del Zotto are helping the Devils and Rangers, and look at how the Islanders could use that help.
Find the Sneaky Value Players- Big goal for any team. There are always those FA that sneak through the cracks and end up having big seasons for relatively little $. P.A. Parentau was one the Islanders picked up themselves. One of those can go a long way.
Ditch the Oldies- Don't bring back Staios, Rolston, any of the old guys that slow down the team and take alternate captains spots. I already explained how to get veteran leadership, but rather than signing players specifically for that, sign players that would count that as a bonus to their skills.
Get rid of the Alternate Jerseys- I'm sorry, but those are horrawful. (Horrible+awful)
Fix These Stats, Keep this in Mind- (from an earlier comment of mine)
-Have least goals scored in NHL
-Fourth worst differential in NHL
When it comes to specific players the question has to be players value vs. value of acquired players.
Look for trades for everyone, see what you could get, answer the question, make the choice.
Anyway, I think if the team is built correctly around Tavares/Moulson/Okposo/Grabner it can be successful sooner than later. Let me know if I'm insane or genius or in between.
Best of luck, and if you do become successful stay away from the Rangers!
Submitted FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or SB Nation. If you're reading this statement, you pass the fine print legalese test. Four stars for you.
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Thanks for taking the time to point these things out, I'll give some of my opinions and reasonings:
Streit situation- You say “If the Islanders believe they can be a playoff team in the next 1-3 seasons they should keep Streit for not only his defensive play, but also for veteran leadership”. In 3 seasons, Streit will be 37yrs old. There are only 4 people in the NHL playing top 4 minutes at 37+ years old, 1 is oft injured Pronger, 2 is oft injured Salo, 3 is oft injured Gonchar, and 4 is legendary unphysical Lidstrom. Streit will likely be a bottom pairing d-man by then and likely be a mediocre at best PP QB/point man by then. Streit will likely be a health question mark(injury waiting to happen quite possibly), a slower d-man, and a less effective all around d-man. Likely, Streit will be a bottom pair puckmoving d-man on a playoff team by then(think Jack Hillen but with less speed), but the age/health/productivity questions he will have at that time make it a why carry a question mark for a bottom paired d-man situation? I don’t know, that’s just my take on it. We’ve had a lot of injury prone older d-men, and if you look around the nhl, we sort of could have guessed this coming(but not this drastic). I think he’s not going to be worth keeping because of the decline he’ll have and health concerns by that time, but that’s just me. Trade him now I see while he has a high price tag and can fetch a 2nd/3rd rounder(if wiz can fetch a 2nd, Streit can fetch a 2nd rounder). This season’s done, might as well try out Donovan/Wishart/Ness/others to see what they might be able to bring to the table next year starting/depth wise.
Find the Coach of the Present AND Future: Agreed, I like this idea, but agree it should be next year. Reevaluate Capuano after this season and then decide if we should fire him or keep him. But if we don’t think he’s the longterm answer, definitely bring in the guy with the gameplan and coaching style that will coach this future cup contending team.
Sign a Free Agent Goalie: Probably not, as long as Montoya doesn’t have long term issues from that concussion. Goaltending hasn’t been our problem this year, and as long as DP isn’t in net. Montoya is strong and looks like he can play at the league average at minimum when healthy, and Poulin is being groomed as the future #1, and next year splitting starts or even as a backup would be the perfect time to bring him up to speed I’d think (barring any injuries). Worst comes to worst and injuries hit during the season, there is always a way to trade a mid-round draft pick for an averagish goalie.
Find a way to get a Top Defenseman: I’d love to get one, but it has to be the right guy and the right deal. Obviously Suter is gonna be the big UFA d-man next offseason right now. Given our defensive woes, his age, and his 2-way abilities, I’d offer 5yrs @7mil/yr to him without blinking. He’s that good and we really need a cornerstone/stop gap to fill in for a while till our “other D high D prospects/picks” (Mayfield and likely our early 1st or early 2nd round draft pick this year) to mature. That fails, I’d still like to pick up a stop gap to fill-in that isn’t Suter but still a top 4 guy, like say: Gleason or B.Jackman or maybe Liles(possibly Wideman) on a 3yr deal @ 4.5mil/yr because of our hole. If not, should fill it through trade but don’t have to. We could just fill it in with 2nd/3rd class, “younger than 30yrs old”, UFA’s on 1 or 2yr deals. Not much can be worse than Eaton/Mottau/Staios(even Jurcina) have been this year in a top 4 role.
Draft an NHL Ready Defenseman: Ryan Murray is pretty much it, and even he shouldn’t be brought into this crap storm and should highly likely spend another year in juniors. I do agree on drafting a d-man in the 1st 2 rounds, but I don’t believe he needs to be nhl ready, and is likely better in juniors another year than wasting his 1st year on his ELC for playing with a likely non-playoff team.
Find the Sneaky Value Players: Grabner’s and Moulson’s and PAP’s are really rare. But if you play the waiver wire game, you could likely fill-in a 4th line hole with a young guy who has potential but was never given a true nhl spot. Not sure we can find any “should be” top 6 guys there, and likely not, but a possible 3rd liner around the wiaver wire or ahl, maybe. D-men, not likely.
Ditch the Oldies: Agreed. Don’t resign Eaton/Staios/Rolston/Mottau/Pandolfo/Nabokov(if he’s still here) and don’t replace them with anyone older than 32/33yrs old(preferably 30 or younger).
Get rid of the Alternate Jerseys: I’d like that, but I could care less as long as the team is winning.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Continued:
Fix These Stats, Keep this in Mind: These can really only get better. Our goal drought and old slow bad defense has been killing us. Next year should defintiely be better and I like your methods on how to get there. Good points.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
I can't believe I have to say this...
There are only 4 people in the NHL playing top 4 minutes at 37+ years old, 1 is oft injured Pronger, 2 is oft injured Salo, 3 is oft injured Gonchar, and 4 is legendary unphysical Lidstrom.
You forgot Steve Staois…
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jan 12, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
lol. I don't even wanna talk about him.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Re: Streit
Just to your point on Streit, remember the argument many made regarding why Tim Thomas is going so strong at this age – he really hasn’t played an NHL-length season until after the lockout which means he’s only had to endure the longevity of 82 games for 6 years now. Gonchar, Pronger, Salo, all have done this since the age of 24 at the latest (Salo). Streit on the other hand may still be just as good in 3 years because he won’t have played NHL-length seasons for as long as the aforementioned 3.
by ENV79 on Jan 12, 2012 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Another variable with Streit and Thomas
Remember Thomas’ off year? And how he was on the trade market?
Apparently he was dealing with a hip issue all season. Had surgery.
There is a chance Streit, though old, can rebound in year two post-surgery. Fortunately he’s signed through then and they’ll have a chance to find out before deciding whether to extend or rent him out.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I hear you, but you still have to worry about fragility and slowing down in skating. Age takes it toll, even with less miles on the car.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Draft an NHL Ready Defenseman
No one sticks out as being ready from day one. Dumba is too small. Reinhart has a high ceiling and fits our needs really well (probably my early favorite…says he wants to be the next Shea Weber) but all I keep hearing is he could use a couple extra years to fully develop. The rest of the top guys are puckmovers like the rest of our system and could use some time to bulk up anyway. If we picked up a Reilly or Murray I would think they would be treated like De Haan. Given a hard look but ultimately found to need another year or two of development.
It would be nice to have a Larsson available but I think we will have to settle for someone a few years away.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Agreed. No matter which D we draft, none should be in the NHL immediately.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
by OzzyFan on Jan 13, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Look at how Adam Larsson and Michael Del Zotto are helping the Devils and Rangers
Don’t remind us!
/shakes fist at NHL lottery machine
No worries
Ryan Strome will be turning Adam Larsson inside out for the next decade.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 12, 2012 9:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
Thanks for stopping by
Now get out!!!!!
just kidding.
or not. maybe.
In any event thats a pretty fair representation of the Isles needs. I agree on Streit, we probably would be better off dealing him but this team is SOOO hurting on defense. Plus it would be getting rid of the captain, that title has been thrown around way too much last the last few years. Though it could usher in the era of a younger core player taking the role.
Speaking of defense, Islanders can’t attract free agents. I don’t expect us to land any of the upper tier players unless you want to lend us whatever magic charm Sather uses to convince players that playing in Manhattan is a whole lot better than playing 20 miles east of Manhattan. Only way is going be through a trade, and who trades away a younger stud defenseman? Draft is an optin but it takes a long time for the majority to develop. I don’t think there is a real diamond defenseman in this draft.
No offense but I look forward to the day when you are stopping by to curse us for another Islander victory at MSG rather than advice on how to fix us. I’ll come. or not. maybe. :)
Haha, that’s expected!
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
The Islanders attempt and fail on Erhoff is why I'm in no rush to dump Streit
Asset management is great, but you can’t gut a team and expect players to keep competing. They still need some hope they can win. Erhoff was Snow’s attempt at picking up a top pairing defenseman and stil lcoudln’t do it by overpaying. It is hard to attract players to Long Island so they can’t be too quick to try to max out value for those that they do have.
In two season, Streit is a 37 year old UFA. If he can still play you can re-sign him, if he’s Staois/Witt you no longer have his cap hit. The hope would be that in two seasons, the Islanders are a more attractive destination and can fill the hole by signing an UFA..
by Hockey1919 on Jan 12, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
They should tell the players they are moving to Hawaii, have them fly around a bunch of times until the fight times are equal and put a giant lei on the Coliseumn. Then they can get FA!
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
Just so you know
giving the option of a humor choice in a poll is asking for it to be chosen around here.
Not bad though, makes a lot of sense. Although I don’t think the team will draft a defenseman in the first. Of course I also thought that they wouldn’t draft another Center in the first, so I’m bad at those predictions
"Line brawl på Long Island!? Matt Moulson i huvudrollen!!!?! Wot!?" SwedishIslander
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I'm an outsider also but just some observations.
Why wasn’t Tavares named captain? He’s the franchise player and is going to be around a while and try to take the team to the next level.
The Ducks want a defenseman a prospect and a pick. Why don’t they deal for Ryan or Getzlaf? I could see the Ducks wanting a guy like Streit to help out on defense.
I don’t follow the team that closely but it seems that there are too many problems to count and Mike Milbury truly set the team back 20 years.
Is hockey hard? "I don't know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we're standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don't know, you tell me. Next question."
-Brendan Shanahan
by RichieToGabbySCORE on Jan 12, 2012 10:21 AM EST reply actions
Anaheim wants a core player for a core player
Ryan or Getzlaf would require one of Okposo/Moulson/Strome/Nino/Grabner-types. A move for Ryan or Getzlaf has the risk of setting the rebuild back even further.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jan 12, 2012 10:24 AM EST up reply actions
Of course
I didn’t expand on what I think the complete offer for one of Anaheim’s core players would be, just saying that they’re not taking a 35 year old defenseman and draft picks. It starts with one of the core pieces on the Isles and then expands from there.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jan 12, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
The Islanders still don't have the depth to make these upgrade type of trades.
You need to be deep in several positions before you can start offering potential for short value. The Islanders after so many years of milburymanagement were devoid of depth. Two more drafts withmutliple picks per round will allow them to be able to misread the potential of a couple ofplayers in a trade and not leave them gutted and lamenting what could have been. Any trade they make now leaves them with new holes and less potential.
by Hockey1919 on Jan 12, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I also thought Tavares should have been named captain, FWIW
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
Not necessary at the time, let him play the game. He has an A and that is fine.
He isn’t the type that needs to wear an C to take the game seriously. Besides he has his landlord doing all of the yelling at the refs for him from the bench. Why bog him down with that too?
by Hockey1919 on Jan 12, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
What *also* floats?
I hope I don’t sound like a troll, just a Rangers fan
Witch!
No, thanks for stopping by and offering perspective. (Sorry I have nothing more to add at the moment. Still going through your post and Ozzy’s response. Cheers.)
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
Wait. There's more than one sensible, sober Rangers fan out there?
Just kidding. Good observations. What you’re asking for isn’t unreasonable (although most of us would say that a goalie isn’t 100% necessary, provided Montoya’s health). The problem is, like God and U2, the Islanders move in mysterious ways. How they go about getting these fixes done is what makes us pull our hair out.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
One stat the Islanders lead the league in
Is Sneaky Value Players That Came From Nowhere (SVPTCFN).
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 12, 2012 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Exactly, more of those
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
That sounds great in the abstract, but it seems to me like the Islanders already found more than their fair share of those guys…..though I would love to find a top-4 D in the rough….
Otherwise, great points and very sound overall.
by Nick (LetThereBeLighthouse) on Jan 13, 2012 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
My observations
Pretty much agree, especially with Goal. We are betting the house on Montoya and Poulin. Both have injury records and Nilsson is not ready. I believe the single most important player is the Goalie- the ones that go in count the same as the ones you score! The goal position with the exceptions of the elite guys are reasonable in terms of money, let’s get a good one.
Streit has been commented about a lot. He is probably no longer part of the rebuild and is worth more now than a year from now. On the otherhand a #2 pik unless you are very lucky is usually 2 or even 3 years away from making the NHL and maybe even another year from being a top player on a team. Unfortunately we don’t have that time. If Snow is serious about making the play-offs next season and CW gives him the dough, than Streit would be an important part of the mix.
good stuff
Unfortunately I can’t pick you as our next GM. I remember what happened with Maloney. =D
More substantially, I think the Isles are all-in on Montoya and Poulin, with Koskinen and Nilsson as fallback options. I don’t see them investing in another keeper. (And I love Josh Harding, have been a fan for a number of years.) Ideally, they get lucky in the lottery and land a kid like Ryan Murphy, make a big splash by securing a strong FA defenseman, and maybe make an under-the-radar move to secure another reliable veteran D.
The major D in the UFA market (for now, at least) look like Suter, Garritson, then a step down to guys like Roszival, Kubina and Wideman… The Isles could make a strong play for any of them… well, ok, not Roszival, who is hella expensive, but they should also look into folks like Scott Hannan ($1.0 M, 33 next year), Bryan Allen ($3.15 M, 32), or Matt Hunwick ($1.55 M, 27). Hunwick in Colroado is an interesting case because the Avs are going to be on the hook for three big-name RFA defenders: Kyle Quincey, Erik Johnson, and Ryan Wilson. It would cost assets, but the Isles could look into taking on Hunwick, or grabbing Wilson in trade and then re-signing him (his qualifying offer would be about $1.4 million).
The Isles could plausibly field a backline of:
Hamonic ($875K, 22, RFA), Hannan ($1.75 M)
MacDonald ($575K, 26), Hunwick ($2.2 M)
Streit ($4.1 M, 35, UFA), de Haan ($1.47 M, 21)
Reese, Donovan, Ness as seventh and call-ups
If they nabbed a third good D they could use de Haan, Donovan, and Ness as the waiver-exempt callups and slot that other D alongside Streit.
Just improving this area of the club would make a marked difference in how the Islanders could play and how productive they could be – and that’s if nothing else happens. Factor in the departure of FA forwards like Rolston and Pandolfo in favor of arriving prospects or perhaps a solid midlevel FA forward, and we’re looking at a credible team.
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 Jan 12, 2012 2:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I defend Garth Snow saying it isn't easy to find defenders, but maybe we too often look at the obvious choices.
The Coyotes got Runblad and a 2nd rounder for Turris. Would the Islanders make a similar deal with Bailey or is there a similar deal to be had? I don’t see much of a difference between Turris and Bailey. The Islanders depth is at forward and there may be a defenseman that we aren’t even thinking of available.
I think the potential is still high for Turris, and Bailey’s potential is consistently dropping.
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
And yet their numbers are quite even.
If you consider Bailey was drafted a year later, has played nearly twice as many games and points per game .35 vs .41 favor Bailey. Amazing that perception could differ so much from reality. Even last season Bailey out performed him so I don’t see how Bailey’s stock falls any more than Turris.
You could also say that Turris is a malcontent refusing to sign. What I think Turris has is more name recognition coming out of Juniors because he played for Canada in the Worlds and that automatically translates into better Junior player since their is more media coverage. In this case, Bailey was too busy toiling away in the NHL.
by Hockey1919 on Jan 12, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
agreed
Bails is a better overall player as well. Turris seems quite disinterested in his own end.
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 Jan 12, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn’t suggest Roszival, he will just disappoint you and make you wonder what the heck is happening whenever he’s on the ice.
I see Montoya is a FA, and while he has played well I always worry about concussions and injuries for young goaltenders. I’d take a long look at the market before bringing him back right away.
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
Montoya's injuries this season keep him in the "small sample size" category
No one knows what he can do over a full season, he was an AHL back-up last season, played 20 solid games, looked good to start the season and then has racked up injuries the rest of the way. Some of which may be comparable to what held him back in the AHL.
We’ve seen this act play out far too often in Islander country to be comfortable in goal. If he comes back strong and the price is right I think he gets re-signed to a reasonable deal. He can’t ask for big money at this point.
by Hockey1919 on Jan 12, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Lol. I have watched many Ranger games over the years, and my ranger fans friends hated roszival.
What do you mean they won 4 cups in a row? Is that possible?
Agree......
But the truth is if he didn’t cost so much, I’d take him over 3 of our D, whose names we all know
I voted that you sucked
Because you like baseball just as much as you like hockey. Which is like a man that says he enjoys sleeping with sheep just as much as he enjoys bedding young, buxom women.
@DigDeepNYR
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Blueshirt Banter
Not bad ideas by the way. Most importantly I think is doing a lot with a little bit of money for the Islanders. They have little choice in terms of who they can aggressively go after and who they can realistically sign in terms of Free Agents. It has been a long time since a quality free agent signed with the Islanders, which is unfortunate but not shocking.
The Islanders should continue to embrace that their team is about work ethic and effort and not about overwhelming opponents with skill, they just don’t put the same quality of players on the ice that other teams can afford to. Getting rid of the “oldies” isn’t a bad idea, but having a few veterans in the locker room is important for the development of the young kids. The key here is getting good bang for your buck.
I really and truly hope that the Islanders can become a more competitive team in the near future, I personally think that they are already on the road to that with some of the young guys you guys have in the lineup now and coming up through the prospect pipelines. A goaltender, depth scoring, and reliable defenseman is what every team needs. The Islanders are no different. Going after a reliable (and not injury-prone…) goaltender is absolutely crucial for the Islanders. Having a revolving door in the goal crease isn’t the best approach but what other choice have you guys had?
Again, I wish you the best of luck and a good second half of the season. Have a great new year gang.
@DigDeepNYR
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Blueshirt Banter
What’s wrong with sleeping with sheep?
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
You from New Zealand?
@DigDeepNYR
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Blueshirt Banter
No, but I’ve been to New Hampshire if that counts
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
"Every day is a great day for hockey."
At least they don’t sleep with lobsters.
Like those savages in Maine do.
@DigDeepNYR
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
Blueshirt Banter
What's happening here?
This thread is full-on invasion of Ranger fans, and of course it involves f#ck*&^ sheep!
Somebody left the gate OOOOOOOOOOOOPEN!
Sorry. I had to.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 13, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 6 recs
aiiiiiiieeeeeeee
LOL
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
Oh my god, I hate you for this.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Jan 13, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
I don't get what was wrong with PGI's post
if you don’t like it you can drive away in your Hyundai, rest your feet on your laser measured weathertech floor liners and thank god you pay so little for car insurance!
by GreekIsles83 on Jan 13, 2012 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And when you get home
You can recline on a leather sofa from Bob’s that cost HUNDREDS LESS.
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
ReCLINER after reCLINER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 13, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
That depends
Is the Hyundai driven by a cute girl with a really annoying voice that only sings songs about Hyundais? And is Jeff Bridges narrating it?
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
That song is now stuck in my head and has been for the past three hours.
Thanks, PGI…
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
My work here is done...
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
OMG
I juat laughed so loud that Im afraid my coworkers heard me across the hall lol. I had to pull the whole “yeah I was coughing” thing lol!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 13, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
I know this is a mistake
but could someone post a link for this? I don’t usually see the home feed commercials, so I’m not familiar with it, but you guys reference it so much I kind of want to see it.
You asked for it!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIjGaDUp6FY
Just in case anyone cared, the song is by LP and called “Into the Wild”. Its not that bad…except when played twice a commercial break!
I have also learned this on guitar, Mrs. GreekIsles83 is not happy.
by GreekIsles83 on Jan 13, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
For all you thugs: Trevor is back!!
http://www.hockeyfights.com/forums/f44/binghamton-vs-bridgeport-1-15-12-a-169063/#post2398352
Still waiting for a GOZO
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 16, 2012 8:11 PM EST reply actions
wrong thread damn.
Still waiting for a GOZO
by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Jan 16, 2012 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
I had to stop reading...
…after this.
If the Islanders need cap room, trade Mark Streit immediately.
I really can’t believe some of the LHH regs responded to this post. Yeah, thanks for stopping by… looks like your mom got the note about the ivory soap shortage and you can go back to your regularly scheduled hobby.
I've had enough! It's time to call out Garth Snow!
@JPinVA
by JPinVA on Jan 17, 2012 12:31 AM EST reply actions 1 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.
