Post by Optimonk on Oct 9, 2008 9:38:42 GMT -5
I am an Islanders fan, and trust me that is some hard work. Right now the team is rebuilding, but no one says that. The owner, GM, coach, media, etc. just gloss over that fact.
Let' us discuss the recent history of the Islanders. Charlie Wang hires Neil Smith. Neil Smith quits, Charlie Wang hires Garth Snow, a puppet basically. Garth hires Teddy Nolan, Garth fires Teddy Nolan, hires Gordan - Gordan, he used to be a goalie in his playing days...a pattern emerges. Aside from giving Ranger fans an all too easy opening with Gordan and Fishsticks and all that, I think he could be good for the team's development. Then he breaks out "over-speed." "Over-speed", Jaysus as me pops used ta say, but I digress.
Let's move on to the team itself.
As I understand it the first line will consist of Comrie centering Okposo, and John Sim. I'm crossing my fingers that Sim will play a bit more than last year when I am pretty sure he managed all of about two minutes before going down for the season. This line has potential, I mean it doesn't stand up to say, Ottawa's first line, but with some grooming they could actually be successful. Comrie is completely underrated, and was a total one way player in a two way system last year. That equals disaster. That and the fact that the endless line tinkering displayed on Long Island in 07-08 never gave anyone a chance to gel. Okposo is going to be great Okposo is going to be great - say it with me. It is the mantra of Islander fans everywhere. I would feel better if they had a slick LW skating with them, but it is not meant to be.
Word is the second line to be the Weight, Guerin, Bergenheim combination. Ah, remember the days, this is the part of the movie where everything is in blue tone, and movement is stretched out, while the camera shoots from an unfortunate angle; a flashback basically. Berge's a all out player, and he likes to move. I have a vague sense that there are going to be some offside calls in the beginning of the season. Is Weight can regain some of his danger this line has the ability to do things very slowly, so slowly you never see them coming. Sneaky pants and all that.
Third line - Hunter, Comeau, Tambellini. Trent, remember when you were a rookie, please, remember. Hunter is one of the best in his own zone. Also one of the cleanest players. His hits are all legal and they are plentiful. He just needs to find his touch again. I think it's under his couch. Tambellini needs to prove his NHL level worth. I mean is one of the best in the AHL, but the clock is a ticking on the NHL. Tick, tock. Comeau has wheels and potential.
Speaking of potential remember when Grath traded an entire class of NHL caliber players to get Ryan Smith over here for a two week vacation in New York, yeah that was great.
This brings us to my idea of the 4th line. Richard Park, Frans Nielsen, and (drum roll) Josh Baily (at least to start the season)
This is a line of two wild cards and Park. For those of you who are not entirely familiar with Park, he is the player everyone loves. I have never seen anyone who works harder. I love watching this guy play. He kills penalties, he skates with abandon, he is never out of place. If only his hands where a bit looser...
You cannot speak of Josh Baily without speaking about the draft. What a draft, I must say that I was impressed with old Garth and Co. Granted we need a nasty D man in our system, but we need scoring, hell we need everything except Goaltending (fingers crossed). The hope is that Josh will center Okposo and they will be some kind of wonderful, but that is in the future so we must wait and we will see.
Sillinger anyone? Still hurt. With all the hiring and firing why does our Strength and Conditioning coach still have a job?
Defense. - underrated.
Really in the end I have this mental image that when one is skating down the ice and Brenden Witt is waiting for you all you can see behind him is the impending apocalypse - that's right, Witt bends time and space and shows you your doom.
That and Martinek is one of the most under-the-radar d-men in the game. His positioning is without flaw. We need him for more than 50-60 games.
Mark Streit came over in what I like to call Bergeron take II . A defensive liability brought in for his shot. I can only hope it will not be the disaster that Bergeron was. If anyone remembers the problem with him is he didn't shoot the puck, well why are we paying you, certainly not to defend. There is no hope that Streit will have the kind of year he had in Montreal, because he isn't in Montreal, but it will be nice knowing he can take the shot, and this will make Witt less inclined to do so. Witt should never take the shot.
Campoli and Gervais are two young good d-man but they should not be thrust into roles they aren't prepared to take yet. Patience.
Sutton is there to goon and goon he will.
As for our eternal Goalie, He lost weight, he is much more flexible. Last year he came into training camp like a body builder and that totally screwed him. Two years, two hip surgeries, and we do not want a trifecta here. My only plea is that he is not invited to the all star game.
All in all the pre-season record is not terrible, but we were shut out twice and I expect that to be the course of things as the season progresses and the newbies gain their footing. It is a rocky road, and that isn't even touching on the Long Island politics that are stopping Mr. Wang from building a beautiful and awesome center/stadium for the Islanders. I have nightmares about the Kansas City Islanders.
take care
Let' us discuss the recent history of the Islanders. Charlie Wang hires Neil Smith. Neil Smith quits, Charlie Wang hires Garth Snow, a puppet basically. Garth hires Teddy Nolan, Garth fires Teddy Nolan, hires Gordan - Gordan, he used to be a goalie in his playing days...a pattern emerges. Aside from giving Ranger fans an all too easy opening with Gordan and Fishsticks and all that, I think he could be good for the team's development. Then he breaks out "over-speed." "Over-speed", Jaysus as me pops used ta say, but I digress.
Let's move on to the team itself.
As I understand it the first line will consist of Comrie centering Okposo, and John Sim. I'm crossing my fingers that Sim will play a bit more than last year when I am pretty sure he managed all of about two minutes before going down for the season. This line has potential, I mean it doesn't stand up to say, Ottawa's first line, but with some grooming they could actually be successful. Comrie is completely underrated, and was a total one way player in a two way system last year. That equals disaster. That and the fact that the endless line tinkering displayed on Long Island in 07-08 never gave anyone a chance to gel. Okposo is going to be great Okposo is going to be great - say it with me. It is the mantra of Islander fans everywhere. I would feel better if they had a slick LW skating with them, but it is not meant to be.
Word is the second line to be the Weight, Guerin, Bergenheim combination. Ah, remember the days, this is the part of the movie where everything is in blue tone, and movement is stretched out, while the camera shoots from an unfortunate angle; a flashback basically. Berge's a all out player, and he likes to move. I have a vague sense that there are going to be some offside calls in the beginning of the season. Is Weight can regain some of his danger this line has the ability to do things very slowly, so slowly you never see them coming. Sneaky pants and all that.
Third line - Hunter, Comeau, Tambellini. Trent, remember when you were a rookie, please, remember. Hunter is one of the best in his own zone. Also one of the cleanest players. His hits are all legal and they are plentiful. He just needs to find his touch again. I think it's under his couch. Tambellini needs to prove his NHL level worth. I mean is one of the best in the AHL, but the clock is a ticking on the NHL. Tick, tock. Comeau has wheels and potential.
Speaking of potential remember when Grath traded an entire class of NHL caliber players to get Ryan Smith over here for a two week vacation in New York, yeah that was great.
This brings us to my idea of the 4th line. Richard Park, Frans Nielsen, and (drum roll) Josh Baily (at least to start the season)
This is a line of two wild cards and Park. For those of you who are not entirely familiar with Park, he is the player everyone loves. I have never seen anyone who works harder. I love watching this guy play. He kills penalties, he skates with abandon, he is never out of place. If only his hands where a bit looser...
You cannot speak of Josh Baily without speaking about the draft. What a draft, I must say that I was impressed with old Garth and Co. Granted we need a nasty D man in our system, but we need scoring, hell we need everything except Goaltending (fingers crossed). The hope is that Josh will center Okposo and they will be some kind of wonderful, but that is in the future so we must wait and we will see.
Sillinger anyone? Still hurt. With all the hiring and firing why does our Strength and Conditioning coach still have a job?
Defense. - underrated.
Really in the end I have this mental image that when one is skating down the ice and Brenden Witt is waiting for you all you can see behind him is the impending apocalypse - that's right, Witt bends time and space and shows you your doom.
That and Martinek is one of the most under-the-radar d-men in the game. His positioning is without flaw. We need him for more than 50-60 games.
Mark Streit came over in what I like to call Bergeron take II . A defensive liability brought in for his shot. I can only hope it will not be the disaster that Bergeron was. If anyone remembers the problem with him is he didn't shoot the puck, well why are we paying you, certainly not to defend. There is no hope that Streit will have the kind of year he had in Montreal, because he isn't in Montreal, but it will be nice knowing he can take the shot, and this will make Witt less inclined to do so. Witt should never take the shot.
Campoli and Gervais are two young good d-man but they should not be thrust into roles they aren't prepared to take yet. Patience.
Sutton is there to goon and goon he will.
As for our eternal Goalie, He lost weight, he is much more flexible. Last year he came into training camp like a body builder and that totally screwed him. Two years, two hip surgeries, and we do not want a trifecta here. My only plea is that he is not invited to the all star game.
All in all the pre-season record is not terrible, but we were shut out twice and I expect that to be the course of things as the season progresses and the newbies gain their footing. It is a rocky road, and that isn't even touching on the Long Island politics that are stopping Mr. Wang from building a beautiful and awesome center/stadium for the Islanders. I have nightmares about the Kansas City Islanders.
take care