Is this a preemptive strike?

As I first reported on Twitter on Thursday the Islanders are in discussions to host a preseason game next season at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the future home of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.

This is not the first time the Islanders have used another venue to push the reality that at the end of the 2014-15 season their lease with Nassau Coliseum ends. During the 2008-09 season when Kansas City was considered their hot relocation destination, the Islanders announced they’d be taking on the Los Angeles Kings in a preseason game the following season at the brand-new downtown Spirit Center.

While there has been no movement between the Islanders and Nassau County on a new or refurbished arena, and a clear message has been sent that the team is not presently for sale, more possible routes could open if Brooklyn, Suffolk County or Queens were to make guarantees.

READ MORE ON MY BLOG ON CBS New York/WFAN…

And more from CBS New York from yours truly.

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Since this past Aug. 1′s failed referendum in Nassau County, it has been silent on all fronts. But as a team struggles, invariably people hear things or  rumor and innuendo just get spun out of control quickly by a hungry fan base looking for anything to look forward to.

The latest message board fan site fodder rolling around and being inflated is just that. It is about some group, including a former player who has interest in buying the team. You can’t blame the energy and excitement in the notion. Fans rightly are wishing for a resolution that leaves the Islanders in New York and settles what has been a disturbing open-ended situation that rarely features any answers…

READ MORE ON CBS New York…

And if you missed it, read my featured piece on concussions in hockey is now an epidemic on CBS New York. It is an eye-opener. READ IT HERE!

And more from CBS New York from yours truly.

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However, something happened on the way to making the NHL more palatable to the masses. You might have noticed that your favorite player or players have been missing in action quite a bit this season.As of Thursday, 51 NHL players have been lost to concussions this season. On that list is the player many believe is the league’s best, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played in just eight NHL games since suffering a concussion on Jan. 5, 2011.

That list has become a gargantuan story this season, much to the alarm of the league and teams, who have in the past attempted to minimize what independent medical experts have been citing for years: hockey has a concussion epidemic on its hands.

< READ MORE ON CBS New York >

Other pieces on CBS by BD:

HOW PLAYERS, NOT THE ISLES COACH WILL WALK PLANK THIS SEASON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE? TELL THAT TO NY ISLANDERS FANS! 

Next up on CBS will be a blog addressing the new calls for Jack Capuano to be fired, and why that will not happen. It is more about the veterans of the team who are on the firing line. Should be up tomorrow.

Happy holidays and have a great & safe New Years eve and day.

BD

Excerpt:

Over each of their last 10 games, the Islanders have kept pace with the Rangers and have shown they might actually be better than what their overall record is. The Rangers are elite and playing like it, going 6-3-1.

And whenever these two get together, you can almost certainly throw out their records. The Islanders won the first of two meetings at Nassau Coliseum, 4-2 on Oct. 15, and the Blue Shirts returned the favor a month later.

The Islanders have an opportunity build on their winning ways thanks to a bit of a turnaround from late November into December. They are riding a 5-3-2 stretch that has moved them within 8 points of the final playoff spot, and are coming off a sweep of Northwest Division-leading Minnesota and Winnipeg, which is just a point out of the eighth spot in the East. READ MORE!

As for Mike Milbury…

Excerpt:

For instance, Milbury told Dupont: “I understand the culture and implication and conclusion some would draw from this.” He might be eloquent on television as an analyst for NBC, but those are far from the types of words he uses on a daily basis, if you get my meaning.

The injection of public relations into news is always something to be war of. Sure, you want to get the other guy’s take, but when your other witness in this type of alleged incident is the parent of Milbury’s own child, you can’t expect much.  READ MORE!

TIPS, THOUGHTS, READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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A conflicting tale of Mike Milbury alleged assault on a 12-year boy is coming to light. There seems to be a wide disparity between witnesses’ observations on the post-peewee game antics that has landed the off-air NBC analyst in hot water, crimes and misdemeanors.

Per this new take, evidently Milbury was merely breaking up a fight that developed post-game in a shoot around between his son and the 12-year old. All he was doing, per witnesses now quoted, was breaking them away from one another.

“No one was punched, kicked, or assaulted in any way,” … “I grabbed the other kid by the sweater to stop a fight and, yeah, I swore at him. That’s it. That’s what I did.”
-Mike Milbury said to NESN

In knowing much about Mad Mike, I’d like to use my imagination a bit to put forth some scenario where that would make some sense. Despite that this take will not be advocated by Milbury’s law team, paid for by his many years toiling on Long Island, I would like to think it would get their full support.

Scenario:

Mike Milbury is watching his son play hockey. He tried and tried to convince Junior to take up the cloth. After all, not many people know this, but the very prim and proper Milbury clan is very close to the clergy. But alas, much like his father, he has an innate feel for the game. Mike can’t disagree here, since he has an amazing ability to judge hockey talent. 

Junior is going to be a star. He skates like Gretzky. He works his stick like Mario Lemieux. He shoots like Bossy. He is the greatest thing on skates since Mary Lou Retton.

Mike watches the game while sipping some warm tea with honey. The air is tepid; the sun feels good on his brow. He slips away from the game itself, and begins to contemplate his next move as potential general manager. What will it be? Toronto? Burke is clearly in over his head. Perhaps LA? So many opportunities to consider…

Hark! Milbury feels something awry. On the ice, his son is getting battered and pummeled by some behemoth.

“Not my boy!” he cries, bounding from his seat and onto the ice. He moves like a cat, thanks to his thick regimen of Pilates and Tai Chi.

Mad Mike runs through the din, separated the two boys, grabbing the behemoth by the sweater.

“Off my kid, you big meanie!” he admonishes sternly to the boy.

Then Mike takes Junior by the arm and walk off into the sunset, those around him clapping and cheering. A real American hero.

My second piece, today, is on Isles 2008 2nd round draft pick Corey Trivino who was arrested and charged with a few things, including attempted rape. Please give it a read. We go into a bevy of issues that surround a young man…not as an excuse for him, but to understand what are some elements that might have led him to such a shocking arrest and dismissal from BU.

Please give them a read.

- BD

After the Isles loss, Victor Hedman was spotted at UGG in Manhattan walking around. He was asked 4 or 5 times by people if he was Tom Brady.

His response: “No, I’m Victor Hedman”

They: “Who?”

No love for Tampa’s defensive stalwart.

Our suggestion?

See if you can pretend you are Tom Brady to this woman…

Might make the confusion worthwhile!

We know a few games ago the Isles were fragile. Well, what happens when they are broken?

What Has Come To Pass

Back over the summer I warned on what plans the Isles had with one Blake Comeau. In fact, if you follow me on twitter, I’ve been saying it since the end of last season. Despite the 24 goals and 46 points within last season’s chaos, the Isles saw him as a bottom 6 player, to play the 3rd line to be exact. In fact, some wondered if he was only one of those players that could only be a difference-maker within complete chaos and bad teams. With kids coming up and development of prospects, his fate was sealed.

Lo and behold on the third line he was placed, not helped by his training camp play. Comeau has had start issues before with the Isles, landing in Scott Gordon’s doghouse as well.

The Isles original plan was to have three offensive lines. His linemates was Josh Bailey, and to play on the other wing was to be P.A. Parenteau. This changed when Niño went down to injury, and PA found himself back in the first line plans. PA ended up having incentive to play his ass off and is sticking to that first line. See, sometimes competition is a good thing.

But more on that later…

What turned out in the third line was a complete stunt of play and effectiveness that the isles offensive plans turned to mush. The Isles turned instead to a one-line team that could be focused on and contained. So it is small wonder that they have fallen into a tailspin. In fact, it was my number issue I cited for the offense in my preseason primer. Where would the scoring come?

While other player outages have also gone along with Blake Comeau’s, those others like Bailey, Okposo, Nielsen and on defense: Andy MacDonald (takes a while to get to 100% from last years injury) and Hamonic have found at least glimmers. Comeau instead went into freefall.

The “Imminent” Deal That Never Happened…

Back during last summer, Comeau was almost dealt, likely in the “deal that never happened”. You might recall the alluded to deal that others made after Hunter for Rolston happened. Well, once August 1st failed vote in Nassau County, whatever deal that was to be also went kaput… Likely due to the $$$ that also would have came back. Charles was not going to eat more loss over and above maintaining the bottom cap floor level when he felt fans failed to be the job done in Nassau County.

Why was Comeau almost dealt? Well, in his contract negotiations he and his agent were far apart with the Islanders. Snow wanted a #2 or 3 defenseman, having been unable to sign Ehrhoff. In the end, Comeau signed. Any deal to be struck via trade was long dead despite the terms of “imminent” or “next” still touted around. Garth was hamstrung thanks to Charles, and then had to change gears.

So we instead had this long sordid seasonal tale of Blake Comeau’s stats, 4th line drop, not even a shot in his last game for the Isles. Meanwhile a crowd of forwards had developed. If the vets were not going to carry the team forth, the vision and mission was still in player development. Comeau was never considered a piece of the Isles system or rebuild. He was, like others deemed expendable like Nilsson and O’Mara who were shopped until they paid for a Ryan Smyth rental years before, predated the 2006 system and method installation that the Isles use still.

Comeau was shopped, but his stats and contract were detriments that continued to hang like an albatross on his value.

A Little Trade Reality, Folks…

The art of trades, which nobody seems to understand when writing, reading or commenting about hockey, is that beggars are not choosers. If you have a guy sucking, nobody is going to pay anything. Trades and negotiation are about positioning. It is not EA’s NHL 2012.

Someone calling others about trading a player is not in a solid footing in negotiation. It is a shame that this is again and again failed to be understood as people, even the mainstream press, fail to get this key element into their head.

In short, Garth had NO trade footing with Comeau. He set a price, and probably did not get even anything near it or acceptable below that value. To not be shown as weak, and to be able to have footing on future deals, the Isles stick to their price set or at least within their reason. He did not fold so that he can make sure that he has sway for future, probably more important deals of the future than some guy who is washing out of being a forward in one of the weakest teams and biggest opportunities in the league. I mean, let’s get real here. Had Comeau played his ass off, he could have been back on the 2nd line. The Isles have stuck with the hot hands.

So as that meeting with Capuano and Garth happened, large decisions were made. They chose to break this fragile egg and stuck group. Examples would be made. Room created. Comeau was waived with the intent of knowing he would be likely claimed. This will not be the end of such moves, especially if Rolston does not do more in the next few. You might see him go next via waivers, where call-ups and kids keep the Isles still above cap floor, and more room made.

The odd element to all this is that 99.99% of Islander fans have been screaming for Blake Comeau to be off this team for weeks now. Waived, traded for scraps, whatever…just get him gone – was the mantra. Yet suddenly, when waived, an about-face came screaming about trade value: How could be let go for nothing?

Why Players Sit

While Isles fans seem to now take a microscope game-to-game, screaming about others sitting, facts are that there has been a competition for roles. Organizations SHOULD have competition for roles. Competition for playing time. Those are elements that create growth and development. I think Isles fans have been lulled by the years the Isles had none and roles just given away to the dreck of the league.

Before we fans forget about Andy Hilbert and more, let us recall the times when the Isles had ZERO competition for roles. Sure, I can agree the stats and standing weren’t much better, but fact is the Isles have a lot of kids in development now vying for roles, and can we agree for argument’s sake that they are not fully developed yet?

So Nino sits, and there is a bang the gong of conspiracy. There are no conspiracy or money issues weighing here. He is not being sat to avoid bonuses. They did not have him do training camp and preseason on the top line to have him sit. But fact remains his camp was stunted due to injury and has a crowd at RW on the NHL team. So if he has to sit a few games as the Isles try to sort out those forwards and get others going, so be it.

Everyone wants the Isles to sort out the offensive issues and get players going, then they complain when they actually sit someone.

We are far from a turned corner, let’s be honest here. But there seems to be some distance from the listless and “fragile”, as cited by assistant Scott Allen during one of the Isles worst games in recent memory when Sidney Crosby returned to walk all over the team. The Islanders feel they moved one fragile element off the team and into the Western Conference. The braintrust considers that something of value… whether Comeau wakes up or not. Meantime, Okposo, sat for a while, has turned on the jets like careers and seasons are at stake. Hmm, I guess the Isles knew what they were doing there.

I bet when Nino finally reaches the ice and plays like a rabid dog is nipping at his heels, maybe the will be a method seen within the fan and peanut gallery madness?

We shall see. Just as we will see what shakes out at forwards.

When Nino does return to the ice, expect to see on a line with Ullstrom (up for now), and Josh Bailey (playing better, have you noticed?). Potentially, this “kid” line could be the very thing the Isles need for that 3^rd line to finally make some sort of difference.

IF YOU MISSED IT: My piece wondering if the Isles are just a bunch of heartless tin men! Read it here!
IF YOU MISSED IT: My talk with a goalie scout about the Isles goalies and prospects! Read it here!

TIPS, THOUGHTS, READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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“When you play this game, you need to play with fire. You need to have passion. You need play with determination. You need to play with desperation… When you lace up your skates, the guy across from you, the guy on the left and the right of you, they need to know that you’ve got their back and you’re going to play for one another. That just didn’t happen tonight.”

- Jack Capuano, coach of the NY Islanders

Good words to hear, especially when the confidence of this team, besides the work ethic, has eroded over the course of many games.

There are two prevailing opinions. One by fans, another by those in hockey on how to proceed.

FAN-SIDE: One of the severe issues affecting these Isles is if the lack of players that EXUDE work ethic and commitment, instead those bide their time at Bridgeport. Michael Haley? Gillies?

When the Islanders chose to upgrade the 4th line center position from Konopka and let Haley stew at Bridgeport, they took out an engine and hard edge to this team that has not been replaced by anything much on the stat column. So, if one wants to judge and also give Garth Snow a bit of a learning experience: Sometimes, Garth, LESS is MORE.

By making that change, there seems to be a lot less on ice in terms of passion, grit and determination.

Can it be any clearer when the team is resting some hopes on Nino, and Matt Martin has rightly held on to a spot, that maybe adding some heart and soul might help?

THE HOCKEY COUNTER: An argument can be made that a mere 4 minute guy or some 4th liners just do not do the amount of time nor really lead to a goal to make any kind of difference. That the problems for the Isles are really a massive outage by key players on defense: Streit and Andy McDonald. On offense: Okposo, Bailey, Comeau. Even Nielsen needs to bring up the level as a #2 center.

Both argument require a change within to change fortunes. 

If you think on the counter argument, then you see how there is a large percentage of the team just in a funk. A 4th line or fighter guy will just not fix the many problems….

That might even be more disturbing because it is NOT just a simple case of one or two turning it around. Garth and Capuano need to get to the bottom of what is affecting many players here. And I am not sure the coaching staff has the experience or the tools to deal with it. That is another deepset problem when you have a very raw coach with a raw team, with a GM with no rebuild experience beyond the current project. So any hiccups or speedbumps to the rebuild quickly become mountains to climb as everyone needs to figure things out.

Further on the FAN-SIDE of argument is that Blake Comeau’s play has been more than inconsequential. It has been abysmal.  What better message to give to a club to someone who is not even part of the 2006 to present Isles system to be dealt. Yes, maybe you don’t get value, but again… sometimes less  is more.Garth was quick to send Zhitnik out of town for being a lockerroom problem. The Wiz was wizzed over to Montreal rather quickly just last season. Maybe it is high time to remove a malaise and jolt those kids who seem to be floating through a game vs the champs. Could this team be better served to move him even for low value? One wonders, even on the HOCKEY-SIDE argument that this might work as well to send a strong message to the players. It certainly might. But wouldn’t it be far more hockey value to work with him over the stretch to turn his game around, to create better value while helping the team? Yes, also.

The difference between the FAN-SIDE and the HOCKEY-SIDE argument is will this team turn to kneejerk reaction to appease the fans..who DO matter. OR stick to the course, turn it around, also appeasing fans…just a bit further down the line.

The fan reaction is deserved, in either case. This team should have come out working on how they turned a corner last season.

Even for the game lastnight, they should have come out gangbusters, looking to topple the champs. To beat them at their own game. Instead, the Isles sleepwalked through a loss. It was reminiscent of the game before Scott Gordon was fired last season.

There is a lack of passion and going through motions that forgets that this is a game and that this team and players are empowered with the ability to change that course or at least give the other team a bit of a fight. If they cannot get their act together, maybe that system and priority is in question where talent and hockey sense is only half way, and the other is a will to win at ALL and ANY cost. We don’t know what went on in the lockerroom after, nor any meeting after. But you can be sure it did not sit well with any player.

In either argument, Garth and the Isles think-tank must be willing to change gears and figure out the best course of action. Whether they get a different coach: someone cranky and vicious that maybe that the players DO NOT like, so be it. If it requires the team deal some dead-weight and send a powerful message…so be it. If they just need to stay the course and work through this, breaking thru….so be it.

Whatever needs to be done, it better be the right thing because fans are starting to get restless, frustrated and tuning out. That is a very bad thing the team CANNOT afford in the longrun.

With Ullstrom called up, Nino needing to get up to speed post-injury, I’d expect both to be in the ranks. This means Comeau and perhaps even Bailey sits. Ullstrom plays LW and center, which gives the Isles a lot of options. But, Ullstrom is also more of a bottom-six projection. So expect him on the 3rd line to start. I’d expect Okposo to be back in also. This is perfect timing with the Penguins coming up with Sidney Crosby about to return. The Isles should take it personally that the Pens look at the Isles as a soft-patch to get Sid the Kid eased in.

IF YOU MISSED IT: My talk with a goalie scout about the Isles goalies and prospects! Read it here!

TIPS, THOUGHTS, READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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As a scout who has seen a lot of goalies, what is your take on DP’s playing simply gauging the quality of the play, and not worrying about the contract or injury history?

DiPietro is an elite talent when healthy. His natural reactions and footwork is simply outstanding. He has really active hands, he’s one of the best puck-moving goalies in the world, and he’s a battler. He has a positive mindset, he’s mentally tough and he’s capable of stealing wins. It is impossible to not bring the contract and injuries into play, however, because that has a major influence in the emotional elements of goaltending. Every goalie will tell you that the position is mostly mental; what he has gone through would break a normal man’s heart and shatter their confidence. But he never gives up. That is to be commended, and I think most fans should give him credit for not retiring. He is under intense pressure to make up for lost time, and even though his body might not be able to handle it, he still fights. That plays a big role in how he plays in a game, and says a lot about his current situation – he’s still out there. He owes that to the fans and ownership, and they owe it to him to try and cheer him on. It may sound silly, but getting support from the fans goes a long way in helping him.

 

Much thanks to Justin and make sure to follow him on twitter and check out his site: TheGoalieGuild.com and also GoaliePost.com. 

Thoughts? Need a puke bucket? Like it?

Weigh-in below in the comments…

The Islanders start is not one for the ages, but lately it seems that fans seem to be whipped into a frenzy. First with Nabokov and agent seeming to spout off to the peanut galley, then once the rumors get cooking, catch flak and start saying the “party line” on record. Then suddenly we talked about the fate of the coach. Actually I wondered that aloud weeks ago, but it was of late that the machine whirled and started to hammer the coach and then, now, Garth Snow. The machine will keep going, and fans will be riled about all sorts of things, but the one to blame for many issues is one Charles Wang. The buck stops with Charles who seemed to kibosh intent to make moves post-August 1st. It is Charles who let Mike Milbury remain for years, and let the Isles sink into an abyss. It was Charles who hired and then butted head with Neil Smith. It was Charles who selected Garth Snow, and in the wreckage of a season gone wrong with Ted Nolan at realm, who then invested his trust in Garth and the draft system to constitute a rebuild that not just was for the NHL on-ice, but also to refurbish the Milbury decimated and rotten prospect system and pool.

It is unfortunate that it has been so slow, and still has a jury out on if this rebuild pieces are really all that is needed. I’d be leaning towards that some changes and corrections to it need to be made since this year seems to be lacking a lot of elements. Garth has attempted to use free agency to land key items, chasing many a free agent, but with no playoffs in a few years and a venue also atop that, it has made it difficult to be a player unless they damage their longterm. Perhaps Garth should have made a crazy deal like Ehrhoff’s 10 year deal for the Sabres? As crazy as it was, the fact it is front loaded might have be the saving grace with a new CBA and surefire adjustments going to be eaten in the near future.

Ehrhoff’s stats this season, at his current rate will put him near 50 points, something the Isles coveted and regarded him as a #2 dman. He is also poised for a -20 season, at current rate, but +/- is a flawed stat and hardly indicative of value.

Should have Garth overpaid, despite clearly being fiscally conservative since his start on Long Island? This season’s offkilter drag and the glaring need for scoring and defensive depth seems to indicate that you do get what you pay for, and that leaves the Isles and Isles fans wanting this November. 

There is certainly a lot of season to go, and with the rebuild chip of Nino Niederreiter poised to return tonight, it will certainly be a welcome sight. Nino spent the preseason working with the top line, but will likely be placed on the 2nd or 3rd to jumpstart the listless. What does Nino bring to the table? Quite a bit, and though people should not expect the kid to blaze a path of glory with his stuttered start due to injury, he will bring things to the team that are missing and sorely needed.

I corresponded with my friend over at The Prospect Park, Jess Rubenstein, who has watched Nino at Portland and who has been singing his praises before the Isles picked him. When I was in LA at the draft, Jess had mentioned him often as being a gem of a pick and exactly what the Isles needed.

So is it all solved? Hardly, but if the Isles can get some scoring generated, and the Isles can scrape their way to .500, it would be far more within expectations. And to that, Nino, besides Bailey or Okposo turning on the jets, can be a big difference-maker.

What I would not do is jump off the ledge just because a pied piper is playing a familiar song. 

READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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GOON:

In our support of the lack of hockey movies, comes this info from the movie company to us.

“We have a great throwback hockey movie coming out and we would love to get your support. Its violent and insanely funny.”

Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill and Liev Schreiber
Written by Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg (SUPERBAD and  PINEAPPLE EXPRESS)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Synopsis
Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of underperforming misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

The film opens on VOD on 2/24 and In Theatres 3/30

Based from the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey”

www.goonthemovie.com

Official Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/GoonFilm

Some more on the movie comes from Slash Film

Things To Heat Up….and not in a good way.

No matter how anyone chooses to spin last night, most who watched with half a wit saw a team outplayed in two periods, the first and third. The Isles came out awkward and disjointed. Then in period 2, it was they who turned on the Jets… But could not get anything past Pavlec.

It would be the 3rd period where this young team would need to keep pressing, but it was Winnipeg who controlled the pace and sealed the win as the Isles once again got trapped in their own zone.

So here we are a year removed from the tailspin of Oct 20th of 2010 onward and we see the Isles last win here in 2011: October 15th vs the Rangers. With teams like the Capitols, Bruins, Avs and Canucks on tap, things will begin to heat up if the losses keep mounting.

Someone is going to take a fall if things continue. It might be an addition by subtraction move by getting Comeau elsewhere, or it might be an assistant coach takes a fall first. Isles hoped that this team would somehow compete for a 8th spot. But the reality is they really expected a 10 to 12th spot as per the rebuild and free agency realities. Right now they are at 14th and not moving anywhere upward.

This is a problem and they cannot let it remain.

Solutions?

Nino coming in and Comeau demoted to a 4th line might be next on tap.

Despite talk of trades, very little can be gotten for unfulfilled potential (aka Bailey). Comeau is the likely suspect (as said for weeks now)

Yes, Isles have defensive issues and a ridiculous 3 goalie tandem…but neither are the cause of this skid out. Got to handle the big elephant before handling the few gorillas in the room.

Any ideas? Comment away…

Last week we looked at the Isles offense and asked if the makeup of the lines would lead to enough scoring to make playoffs hopes a reality. This week we look deep at the bigger and more porous issue of the last few years…The defense.

Late last season, I was told that the Islanders would be far more focused on defense than offense in the offseason. This came true as offensively, they only added to the 4th line with two upgrades. It was the defense that would become their focal point, feeling that bandaids added two summers back was just too little.

We saw this in the Isles move for the rights to Christian Ehrhoff. The Islanders had high hopes to make them their #2 guy, allowing those like Hamonic, de Haan, Ness and even MacDonald to gain their way developing at their pace to fill out an eventual to be their defense. Leaving room at the bottom, and sealing up the top with more than Streit is why they let Hillen and Martinek walk. They had bigger longterm plans and it was finally time to start making room.

Alas, in free agency, they were unable to seal up that spot. Frustrated, yet gung ho, Garth Snow, who never divulges plans, let Katie Strang know that he was planning to make a trade to to get that #2-3 guy that they needed.

As late July came around, the Isles moved Hunter for Rolston. It was then that rumors flew that another deal was about to happen, likely with the unsigned Blake Comeau. But when August 1st shattered Charles Wang’s feeling of Nassau County support, they changed tactics and whatever and whoever that would have attached extra cap was scrapped.

Since then, defense has held, even though they still feel that they’d like to improve that area, specially as de Haan develops in the minors. Thus, as Blake Comeau, signed at a very reasonable rate compared to his and his agents asking price this summer, is once again in a new Isles coaches doghouse, the rumors and feeling is that Comeau might again be shopped for some reasonable improvement in an area the Isles brass feel is paramount for any kind of playoff hope.

It remains to be seen if the Isles can even get anything more than picks and prospects, despite Comeau’s 20 goal consistency. I think that #2 dman is far fetched via trade when we know that the Isles are reticent to deal any rebuild pieces thus far. Nobody deals something for little unless trying to make cap room in a rush…and we are past that point, ladies and gents.

So we are stuck with the Usual Suspects, with Jurcina as the 7th man, replacing Bruno Gervais who had hit a ceiling almost 4 seasons ago. He comes with wingspan and size, even if the play is sometimes inconsistent. I dare think that nobody would disagree that this is a clear upgrade.

Eaton remains a smart mid-defender to have, but one has to think if ever Comeau is dealt to upgrade the D, Eaton might have to go along to be a stopgap IF the other team doesn’t have a crowded backline.

It is more Mottau that would be the expendable one here.

So, chances are this D is what we are left with unless Garth can pry an upgrade, which would allow them the room to keep Matt Martin up front if they did deal Comeau.

So don’t hold your breath for any changes unless Isles get desperate. And at only 6 games, the Isles are far from anything near that.

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Well here we are, on the cusp of another Isles season. It’s been a long haul for the Islanders faithful last few seasons, if not last 15 years. It has been very tolling on most hardcore fans over the Nassau Coliseum situation. As I warned back on August 1st and in subsequent blogs, no RFP went to Queens. So a lot will still cause us fans much anxious moments as the roller-coaster of Isles futures further capitulates us to and fro from our seats, our hands aching from gripping the bar. We will go deeper into that soon enough, but now its time for some checking of the magnifying glass to see what we have with these 2011-2012 NY Islanders.

Offense:

Line 1: The All Star, His Pal, and The Rookie

It has been heart warming to watch John Tavares be exactly as we all hoped, growing to the player that seems to be leading the team in scoring and being the first line center. Tavares is on the cusp of all star level. So when things changed this summer from Charles after the August 1st debacle, Garth moved fast to wrap up their biggest asset for the next 6 years.

Loyalty to the home team is something that the Islanders clearly look for with those psych testing and analysis when drafting players. By doing so, they assure a straight course for the rebuild, which finds players who will stick with it and with Long Island. This attribute, which many other teams do NOT do, is brilliant and the results have quieted the cacophony of lame guesswork and conjecture by many in media who thought Tavares would not want to be on LI, nor remain.

In your face, suckers!

Watch as the rest of the Isles core also will buy in for the long haul, naysayers. For the Islanders process might be on par with none other than the Oakland A’s on breaking the mold to the NHL’s old school team building.

With Moulson, Tavares’s buddy, you have a nice finesse and handler who also will ride the first line this season. He needs to grow a bit more to break past 60 points, which needs to happen if the Isles want to make the playoffs. First lines really need to find a 70-80 range, and though Tavares seems ready to break through, I am not that sure Moulson is there just yet or if his ceiling is quite at that level. This might be the the test of Moulson being a first liner past this season.

Nino, aka the rookie, evidently has shown enough in the preseason and camp already to displace Parenteau to line 3. This was a battle many thought, including myself, that would carry on over the course of the season. So kudos to El Nino to already being tried and poised to be there at the start of the season. By doing so, it puts him in the drivers seat for the Calder. How many rookies get placed on a first line? Moreover, when the team has some realistic hopes and mission to make the playoffs? It is a ballsy move by the coach and GM. The payoff MUST be over 50 points for Nino to belong there, and for these Isles to playoff bound… Even 10-20 points more is needed. Clearly there are big expectations for the rookie.

Line 2: Growing Up

Line two is the defensive wunderkind Frans Nielsen, who is in the final year of his own contract. His competition this season is with third line center, Josh Bailey. Whoever develops and clearly becomes Isles third line center of the future is between these two (Strome will be #2 center down line). After this season, there might be only one…so watch this one play out.

The second line is another line that must blow up, and it is Kyle Okposo who might hold the key for that to happen. Okposo has everything down playing-wise, except for the tally on the stat chart. He must find it this season to take the next step.

Michael Grabner, with the Isles unlicensed Warner Bros. Gremlins shirt being sold in their official store, has been a waiver wonder. 34 goals clearly shows that Florida gave up far too soon on their prospect, who instead got opportunity and reprieve on the Islanders. This year needs that and more from him.

The 2nd line must produce, and with Grabs, that will likely happen.

Line 3: The Expendables?

Line 3 for the isles will also be an offensive line, used much like line 1 and 2. Here might be some things that will be interesting to watch. Josh Bailey is very much in his make or break year, never mind that he got a two year contract. This is the year that he shows promise to what the Isles projected, or becomes a low cost piece to deal come deadline or next summer.

The same also can be said on the tradability of his line counterpart, Blake Comeau. The kid is capable of 20-25 goals. However, Blake pre-dates the Isles system, and he was someone whose rights were being shopped around not too long ago before coming to a contract agreement. That contract agreement, by the way, is very frugal and attractive for what might be his likely being shopped later on.

P.A. Parenteau shifts from line 1 to here, for now. Will his numbers be the same? Not likely.

BUT, if Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau come on strong in key years, PA’s will also follow. The Isles do need this line to be more than expendable to make a playoff run. So if this line falters or these key cogs fail to up the ante, then there will be some changes. This line is the most likely to see some changes if things don’t go well.

 Line 4: The Depth of Vets

If you have not noticed, it looks like Haley and Gillies are more set to revolve in as-needed. Gillies will remain with the big club. This leaves the vets to fill it out…

Brian Rolston, Jay Pandolfo/Matt Martin, Marty Reasoner – grinders and with some speed. Some scoring. Some of everything.

Above all, as injuries are bound to happen, these players have enough upside and ability to also play on other lines. This provides a depth that the Isles have not seen in a long, long time.

So, in conclusion, for the Isles to achieve the playoffs, a few things NEED to happen here on offense. Lots of question, luckily, this season is where we will have some answers. Even some answers to the long term rebuild.

There is not much to say about Mark Streit being named captain because it was pretty clear when Doug Weight hung up the skates that he was the only viable candidate besides perhaps Kyle Okposo.

It is tremendously silly by those touting that John Tavares should have been named captain. This team needs a leader and someone with a few years under their belt at such a vulnerable juncture. Tavares was, is and will never be that kind of guy. Doesn’t make him any less of a player. Just people, fans, bloggers and media need to separate contract and scoring from the leadership role of a team. Apples to oranges.

Other vets like Brian Rolston and Marty Reasoner are just too short term and too new. Though both of who seem to be working on some kids this training camp as Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau have been lodged with each as linemate respectively. This wasn’t random, folks.

Centering Expectations and Futures

While we are deflating some opinions, let me deflate the thoughts of Ryan Strome being on this years team. Not happening. Needs another year, to fill out and gain mass, and most of all… No room.

In fact, if you look at the center position, you have Tavares, with perhaps Strome growing to that 2nd line center or an alternative #1. So, what then with Frans Nielsen and Bailey?

There is a lot on line for both players. If it’s Bailey finally breaking out, well… Frans is a UFA after this season. If Franz is the better man this coming year, expect him to be locked up. What of Bailey? Well at his contract, he is a bargain for another team to take a shot at a prospect who might be a better fit elsewhere.

 Funny how those possible expendable players have very svelte and attractive contracts, don’t you think?

In Conclusion

With the team rounding the corner and moving up, it will be time for it to make some hard decisions soon on goalies, centers and more. The 2011-2012 season is huge for these Isles. Judgments are beginning to be made that will affect this team far longer than this season. I’d pay a lot of attention than just standing around being giddy or you’ll have missed quite a bit.

Note: Still checking into the Isles and the ECHL Kalamazoo breaking off their affiliation. I am told that is likely over stats and playing time for Isles players assigned there. Expect a new affiliation coming soon. Isles will not just have only Bridgeport. That would create a three-goalie crowd in the AHL as well.

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You do not need much hockey acumen to know that three goalie systems do not work. You just need to be a recent Isles fan to recall that it was not that long ago that a subpar DiPietro, a backup playoff caliber Dwayne Roloson, and a rusty and off scheduled Marty Biron who was relegated to a press box.

Goalies aren’t wind-up toys, who just need to be wound and placed on the ice on a whim. They are mercurial and eccentric people who have rituals and habits to somehow get the desire and focus to have rubber pucks slapped at them at high velocity.

The addition of DiPietro, who had nary his own schedule to get up to NHL speed, just his own competitive all-be-damned edge and his friendship with Charles Wang to ride right into goal, threw the Isles goal minding into a tizzy. The team, much less the goaltenders, never recovered. That trade deadline Garth actually considered dealing both Biron and Roloson, knowing a vet could be had later that summer to be backup to their 15-year albatross.  Nobody bit on Biron, and even Roloson would not get near the Isles barometer of value.

Other teams can tell you other horror tales of three goalies. There is just no schedule to it. No working around it. Invariably, someone sits or has their knee blow up like a kid’s balloon to be perhaps shaped into a dog or a hat until next season.

In fact, the 15-year deal of Rick DiPietro has become one of the worst thought out contracts in all-professional sports. What has become clear, whether you root for the guy or just want him to get punched in the face by Mike Tyson, is that he has finally has the potential to be a disruption to the equilibrium, general health, and the future of the Isles rebuild starting this season.

Sorry, just no getting around this anymore. No more dancing around the subject.

Neil Smith knew it was a bad idea. Not that he was acting like any hero as he and the internal staff had a virtual war go on during his brief tenure. However one of his final acts was an attempt to countermand Charles Wang’s desire to give The Rick a longterm insane deal by calling his agent to arrange a meeting to do a more reasonable 6-year term.

That was the final straw. Their battle then went underground into an under wraps NHL courtroom-like drama of testimony later on, as the Isles booted Neil, kept the system in place, and moved to Garth Snow. Charles then hammered out the deal that makes Isles fans moan in the night.  The final moral to this story is fan; player and team beware of contracts outside the normal scope. Nobody can live up to it. Just ask Mike Richards and Philly.

So now here we are, another year, and Rick DiPietro even lower in Isles fans minds. His play last year, despite better health showed poorly on the stat charts. His numbers cannot be pinned on the substandard defense alone when Roloson could take that same and make him look like gold. Of course, his comment last season seemed to light a fire under fans where it was viewed that he dismissed any and all other goaltenders to actually pushing him, much less perhaps pushing him out. He was so obtuse to his reality and situation in that interview it seemed like a bit of a put-on.

Rick hates the press. Anyone who knows and has dealt with him knows this. Getting clarity or even a story on your own terms out of him is near impossible. Much has been made of his flip egocentric comment. With no sly wink or twinkle of the eye, we are left with the sad reality. He doesn’t “get it”.  With his now opposite standpoint this summer via interviews, it is clear he’s talking the talk, but does he know the walk anymore?

Does Rick understand the hard truth that most fans are about ready to move on? Now or later, the writing is on the wall. He just knows he has a friend in Charles that gives him more leeway than commonsense would allow.

This all said, it is not like the isles were exactly thrown from they playoffs due to Rick’s trials and tribulations. The timing of Rick’s trouble was not grand, but it isn’t like it killed the Isles cup hopes. It wasn’t like Poulin must start or sit. He is better to develop at Bridgeport until it is clear where he need to be. It’s not like Kosikken was knocking at the door as he was scrambling to sew the holes in the back of the net.

Enter Al Montoya, who never got his shot in two places thanks to good prospects and scouting as the Rangers had Henrik and Phoenix has that other guy… Ummm… oops, nevermind… Bryzgalov is the Flyers goalie for the next 9 years or until they fail in a playoff round.

Montoya looks like one of those late bloomers. No huge top goalie projection anymore, but a solid steady guy who can do whatever needs to be done perhaps. Or until a wunderkind erupts, sending him packing or backing up for a third time. That’s NHL goaltending.

The problem is the Nabokov Situation, which is about as concerning as the Bonnie Situation in Pulp Fiction right now. Here is a guy who won 44 games in his last season in the NHL, despite tanking in the playoffs, which seemed to kill his realistic value when he and his agent overrated and overvalued him last year.

The Nabokov situation is more trouble than a good cup of coffee

Here is also a guy with a track record, despite being “too good to play for the lowly Isles” last season when they pulled him off the waiver wire. Talk about your hang-ups. He has a playoff reaching (despite tanking) pedigree, who also is now in the mix for a mere song this season thank to the righteous and rightful tolling of his contract by the NHL. He will cost the Isles a mere $570,000. Hell, that’s less than Andy Hilbert.

As DP was able to stay relatively healthy last season, chances are he will do the same this summer and out the gate. The problem is that he is not even a shade of his former self. My belief is that level that the Isles need him to be and play is what will only send him to the IR again. This is a problem.

There is also the problem of The Rick’s head. Rick, who was the guest of an all-star game just once, likes to compare himself and his situation to that of Tom Brady. The only thing at DiPietro has in common with Tom Brady is his pay grade. The problem is that he is no such level. He is far more comparable to Drew Bledsoe…another top pick and face of the franchise of the New England Patriots who got swept out of the way.

The sooner all recognize this reality the better it will be for all.

The Isles PR department story is that this could be a triple threat. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a three-prong problem with no sure thing of a solution. What the Isles need to hope on is that someone here or elsewhere goes down like a Mangano Referendum vote. Only if a team comes looking for a Montoya or Nabokov, or DP has an orbital bone relapse courtesy another goaltender who tires of his still almost rookie-like on-ice behavior, will this come to some sort of temporary conclusion. Unless Montoya or Poulin becomes ready to take the reins and not let go will this begin to become clear-cut.  That or DiPietro gets some sort of bionics.

Until then this potential mess will get Messier.

Errr… messier.

Triple threat indeed.

Nino has been penciled to play this year on the Isles since early this summer, if not last year. They knew what they had with Nino last year, and knew he was ready this year for the big club. They have slotted him to play a line with Blake Comeau and Josh “Last Minute” Bailey.

They see Nino eventually being a first line winger, but he will have to unseat P.A. Parenteau who had 20 goals and over 50 points. The question is not IF, but when for Nino, who is rated very highly by the Isles internal staff. He is projected by the Isles as a first line winger. Expect him to start on that the third line unless he IMMEDIATELY clicks with Moulson/Tavares – something I have said since last May. If he does make the top line out of camp, Parenteau shifts to line 3.

The real battle that will occur this preseason is on defense by their 2009 first round draft pick, Calvin de Haan. de Haan is projected to be a top-two defenseman. This is why they made so many moves to scoop him up at No. 12 after getting John Tavares at No. 1 in 2009. de Haan was on the young side of the draft, and his body has filled out since.

De Haan can win a spot on this defense in their preseason…. IF and WHEN he gains that spot, whether it be at season’s start or midseason as a call-up remains to be seen; but anyone who does not think that the Isles future is with de Haan slated as a top D-man is just plain mistaken. He is a key component of the rebuild and their defensive futures, even over Travis Hamonic who is a projected 3rd/4th D-man. I like  Hamonic, but he has been a bit over-hyped and rated by previous bloggers.. thus overhyped by fans and message-boarders.

Those that de Haan, Hamonic and other kids will need to usurp are the journeymen D-men that the Isles brought in last year. Everyone will move down a notch, and cusp players like Mike Mottau and even Mark Eaton can easily be displaced by youth being served.

Keep an eye on defense this camp, because unlike the offensive lines which have been pre-pencilled… a lot of question marks here.  The Isles, as I wrote way back in May, wanted to do more than the patchwork of Band-Aids they placed on the defense last season. However, they were thwarted by reality when their aggressive move to grab Christian “10 year Buffalo” Ehrhoff did not pan out as a pre-free agency signing. Garth Snow was also aggressive on day 1 of July 1st’s free agency. But when they saw all their targets go, they changed gears and then just merely upgraded two spots on their bottom 6… Something i warned about that very day. One via free agency, the other via trade.

Before August 1st, Snow was still aggressive. It was reported by myself that Blake Comeau was being shopped. Comeau was an expendable chip  who predates the Isles new system, who has scored 20 goals or more. So as Garth was still pushing that aggressive playoff desire button, a 2nd or 3rd dman was still a desired target. In fact, when Trent Hunter was dealt for Rolston, some reported that a followup deal was to happen immediately.

Lo and behold, it did not happen…

1. August 1st and Charles Wang’s frustration has now changed Garth’s ability to spend and deal.
2. Comeau and his agent blinked and he signed to the Isles offer. It took him off the table for now, but his price also allows the Isles an option to deal him later if need outweighs Wang’s new cap floor dictate.
3. Rather than wait, Garth and John Tavares/agent locked in a 6 year deal. This was a brilliant move that avoids issues in subsequent years with venue and Nassau issues, and Garth’s locked down spending. Rebuild pieces are to be retained at all cost. And if you think the Isles psych profiling of draft and rebuild pieces look for loyalty… You’d be right. How good would be a rebuild if you didn’t look for players willing to stick it out and be retained? A wise system, indeed.
4.  Isles can afford to see what pans out in camp from the kids, like de Haan, and also those vets they gave invites to before seeing what comes loose from teams before the season starts. Isles can still wheel and deal, but it will now depend on who is available and at what cost. So clearly, based on other outside factors, not exactly a guarantee or necessarily a sure thing. So don’t hold your breath here.

So watch for what portends on defense, and on how the Isles three line offense meshes. A lot of this season depends on the kids panning out. Also keep an eye on Matt Martin, who has to fight to gain a roster spot. Haley, Rolston and Reasoner are pencilled in at the 4th line, with Gillies floating as pugilest. So Martin and even Ryan Strome have their work cut out for them to make the team. For Strome, he’d have to show he can make the top 3 lines. IF he does do this… to which I feel he could use another year… then you might see the Isles forced to make a move to create that space.

What You Should be Reading:

TSN’s Scott Cullen with a sharp eye on Long Island.

Interesting take and juxtaposition of the horrible DiPietro situation and contract along with the John Tavares signing by Dustin Pollack of the DigitalJournal. Only one disagreement with that piece is that Luongo really HAD shown that he was the answer in goal. The reason he was dealt was due to flack over what Luongo wanted contractually along with his agent to Mike Milbury. 

Have a bit of an issue with the Isles PR staff writing their own pieces when there is a bevy of good bloggers that they are supposed to be touting, supporting and all that via the blog box. Here is one that fastens their goalie threesome as some possibly triple threat. Righhhhhhht. Won’t be messy at all. (we’ll address the three-headed goalie beast next blog)

Speaking of threesomes… Here is a good one. Eyes on Isles have a threesome of writers previewing the Isles this year. Make sure to give them a read. 

The always excellent Lighthouse Hockey starting a series of ranking of the top Isles properties under the age of 25.

Note: Chris Botta has moved on, and I’ve gotten a lot of emails asking what is up with that, feeling conspiracy. Not true. Botta might be lacking a deep explanation, but anyone who has seen that his AOL FANHOUSE association ended can guess that job comes first. Isles have nothing to do with it.

The Isles, after sending me all sorts of press releases and such all summer before August 1st, now have cut me off from emails since. The price of actually actually having some desire for integrity instead of  being a PR parrot, I guess. Stay classy Isles and Charles Wang! 

Now something a bit more personal:
My mother, a survivor of two cancers, is going to Los Angeles to walk in support of her childhood and lifelong friend who is dying of cancer. Please give any amount or just pass along word via twitter or facebook.

Thank you.

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HOCKEY LEGENDS PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR W20
FOUNDATION AND COMPANIONS IN COURAGE FOUNDATION

NEW YORK (September 19, 2011) –NHL alumnus Steve Webb and Hockey Hall
of Fame inductee Pat LaFontaine began a 550-mile bike ride this morning
from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in route to the NHL Powered by
Reebok Store in New York City in support of their respective charitable
efforts, the W20 Foundation and the Companions in Courage Foundation. Both
are expected to complete their historic ride on Wednesday, September 21 at
12:00 p.m. ET with a special celebration at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store
in midtown Manhattan.

“The NHL is proud to support these two hockey legends as they embark
on this epic charitable ride. On behalf of the NHL family we proudly salute
Pat and Steve, and wish them the best of luck” said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL
Vice President of Community Affairs.

LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation is an official
philanthropic partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and helps to
create “Lion’s Den/NHL Legacy Classrooms” featuring Cisco System’s online
conferencing system, WebEx, which allows young patients to connect to
family, friends, schools and teachers anywhere in the world during a
hospital stay.

The Foundation has now opened 12 Lion’s Den rooms throughout North
America, including two with the NHL in Boston, Calgary and Montreal. The
NHL unveiled the first fully functional “NHL Legacy Classroom” at North
Carolina Children’s Hospital to commemorate the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Plans for an “NHL Legacy Classroom” in Pittsburgh were unveiled during the
2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to commemorate the outdoor game.

Webb’s W20 Foundation provides young student ice hockey players with
partial academic scholarships to continue the pursuit of their hockey
dreams. Now the organization also highlights athletes as influential agents
of change and creates opportunities for athletes to give back in their
communities. Webb will also commit a portion of the ride’s proceeds to fund
Alzheimer and dementia research in Ontario.

The riders will be joined by a support team that includes Graham
Fraser, founder of Centurion Cycling, host of North America’s premier
series of distance bicycling events.

For more information on how you can support this please visit
www.CiC16.org
or www.w20Foundation.org.  To follow the progress of the ride, fans are
encouraged to visit www.W20Foundation.blogspot.com. ]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38698/feed/ 0 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38409/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38409/#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:52:46 +0000 BDGallof http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=38409

B.D. Gallof
9/9/2011

Also posted on Huffington Post
(please give a click) 

 

You can’t change the past but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future
- Anonymous quote on a tea bag label

I recall an old college buddy’s candid observations of 10 years ago. He spoke of the memory of the bizarre reality of a plane crashed into the idyllic morning of downtown New York City. How when the planes hit that body parts rained down onto the streets and sidewalks. That macabre description transferred an imagery that added to my own as I watched far more “safely” from about 30 blocks away in midtown that fateful day.

He described the panic, as there was realization that the buildings were falling from people who had come far too close. As the towers fell, people raced over one another to get away in sheer animal-like panic. He described on how those he passed-by in that mad scramble did not make it. When the debris hit, filling the air with the dust many would carry in their exodus out of the city later on, he described it as is trying to put your face in sand and attempting to take deep breaths. The dust was thick and choking, and those panicked scrambled survivors found it impossible to get even a breath for what seemed an eternity. Imagine escaping that crazed lunacy of the buildings falling only to feel that you are now suffocating, covering in that white miasma.

He walked in a dull shock along with so many others, crossing the bridge into Brooklyn. His visage can be seen from in some newspaper photo, his girlfriend holding a just as bewildered small dog. I’d find the photo, but I do not even want to see it again. It is part of those memories that come tumbling out each time a year. I don’t want to add other photos to mesh into that locked box that pours out of me each September. Don’t think I could take much more added in anymore.

It haunts me to even write about that conversation, just as it haunts me to even write another piece about 9/11. I have usually repeated my piece from 2007 each year feeling that I had no further words to give on the subject. Well, now it is 10 years later, and though those who died are still gone, it is those survivors, this nation, that also seems to be missing since then.

In ten years, it seems we have not walked very far from those towers fall. Where an area still sits waiting to be rebuilt is no different than our shattered psyches and memories that still leave us haggard and covered in a foul dust even years after. Where each year high-powered lights blaze to fill that empty space to show the ghosts of two towers in the night’s sky. Yet what fills the space in our empty hearts and minds since then? What light straightens our staggered souls?

That idyllic morning is far-gone. That halcyon daze of being outside the whims and schemes of religious zealots tumbled along with each floor of the towers that morning. The pitch-black smoke of jet fuel melting metal, people, offices, and building material has fouled far more than a morning air. For in 10 years we are no different than those on an exodus from Manhattan, trudging along with soured acrid air filling raw lungs and throats, while covered with soot and detritus.

It is ten years and we are still gone. Not just those who died. It is all of us who survived. It is all those who stare at ground zero and still see the open gaping wound. It is all of us who survived left to pick up pieces of the scrambled reality and face the cold hard fact that nothing would be the same again. Nothing has been the same, illusions and facades dropped like a house of cards. Since then, those cards have been blown of the table.

I sit and wonder if Pearl Harbor stood the same for many people as long as ground zero has sat forlorn. But upon some research, it does not appear so. A week after the Attack on Pearl Harbor began one of the largest salvage operations in history. By just over a year later, several ships were repaired, some actually then serving in battle during WWII.

We as a nation have not done enough with the World Trade Center ground zero. It lies unfinished like so many other things that America used to stand for before two jets slammed into the Twin Towers.

A lethargy and heavy weight still drags upon us as a country and a people. It has been a massive albatross around the neck of a nation who has not been able to do much right nor been able to step past it.

Time is supposed to heal all wounds they say. Instead, it has been more like Groucho Mark’s remark: “Time wounds all heels”. A nation of downtrodden lost, and bewildered souls crossing some sort of bridge of ten years, feet aching, still wondering what happened and when would things ever be the same again. For everyday ground zero lies undone while this nation sinks further into recession is another stone to bear upon already drooping shoulders. How much more can we take? How long must we wait to step forward?

For everyday more rhetoric spout from politicians, groups, and fears assail us from our media channels and websites. With no solution or progress, we will continue unable to heal. Instead it will sadly serve to seal our fate as a doomed generation, unable to move much past that bridge that we have been stuck on now for a full decade. Every year, that gaping wound grows bigger, further separating who we are and who we were. One day, we might not even recognize who we were on that other side. If so, the terrorists victory that day would be complete.

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Joe has an impassioned and essential non-partisan plea and plan on how things can get done, and it’s worth a read…

Joe Conte:

The Islanders are not done in Nassau County; in fact, the failure of the bond referendum has placed a new emphasis on privately developing the Hub. Our role as fans and supporters of development should now be to change the conversation on what should be done to revitalize the Hub and keep the Islanders in Nassau County. Some of the best and brightest minds are now developing plans for the Hub, so the question now becomes, how do we best utilize the land and keep the Islanders in Nassau County.

To do this, the four main players who will ultimately determine a) what becomes of the Hub and b) if the Islanders remain there, must work together and execute a well constructed plan.  Nassau County, Charles Wang, a yet to be determined developer, and our beloved Town of Hempstead have important roles to play; ones that if they truly embrace will allow them to come out on top and really get Nassau County back on the right foot.

The county has the most important role to play since it owns the land, the Coliseum and is the government entity that decides who gets to develop.  Despite their outsized role, there is really only one critical decision they have to make to ensure the project is done right; and that is to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ).  I repeat an RFQ, not a request for proposals (RFP), it is imperative and here’s why.

If the county were to issue an RFP, there would be limited flexibility to the project and to conform to the Town of Hempstead’s zoning regulations (see what happened to the Lighthouse project).  We have been down this road before, and to paraphrase Albert Einstein “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

An RFQ is a game changer.  RFQ’s allow for flexibility and for the final development to be created through an evolving process that gives a voice to all parties, which is essential for building political support.  As we learned from the Lighthouse project, all the public support in the world for a project does not mean it will be approved; support must come from all governmental and non-governmental entities in order for the project to truly be revolutionary.

The days of a developer cramming a project down a community’s throat are over.  The new and more successful development strategy involves the community from stage one of the planning process.  Using a crowd-sourcing platform, developers can now directly engage local communities. Residents can then give input into the design, feel and composition of the project.  By including the local residents in the planning phase it gives them a sense of ownership in the project.  Public ownership of the project increases those whole feel a vested interest in seeing the project completed, and; those people more likely to apply pressure on their representatives to make sure something gets done.

Once the county sets the stage with the RFQ, the onus falls on Wang to ensure the Islanders are a part of whatever plan is ultimately conceived from our RFQ process.  Working as a partner of a development team is something he must do.  It is the only way he keeps the Islanders on Long Island and cements his legacy through development of the Hub.

Wang should be done sticking his neck out when it comes to developing the Hub.  Twice politicians from both sides of the aisle have now burned him, so it stands to reason that he would not even want to be the lead on the new proposal (I have no idea if he does or not).  So what he should be doing is holding meetings with all parties who will be submitting qualifications to the RFQ.

All Wang needs is a seat at the table, which would allow him a level of influence; he needs to give up on the idea of complete control.  More importantly, it allows for a more experienced team to navigate the project from start to finish. Wang has not proven himself to be a successful developer. Despite his failures, it does not mean he is not the same successful businessman who put forward the most ambitious plan this Island has ever. Developing is hard because dealing with government is hard.  Politics is finicky; politicians are interested in their own survival.  It’s time for him to let professional, experience developers come in, and do all the hard work.  Then, he can take the credit for keeping the Islanders here and putting together the team that got it done.

The development team that ultimately wins the RFQ must be innovative, flexible and have experience in engaging in both the bottom up, community crowd sourcing approach, while at the same time have the experience in lining up political support from the elected officials.  This is no easy undertaking, but there are successful developers out there with the track record to get it done.  Wang must be open and willing to work with them.

I know every major developer and development team is circling the Hub like a pack of vultures, looking to sink their teeth into most valuable underdeveloped land in the county.  That’s fine and encouraged; no idea should be turned away.  But at the same time, we are only going to get one shot to revitalize the Hub, which means the project needs to be cutting edge.  If you narrow your qualifications to a developer who fits that profile, your options of which developer you want winning the RFQ become a lot more limited.  I do not need to stress how important development of the Hub is to Nassau County, you all already know this, so we must work to ensure we are having the right conversation about what we ultimately want to see done at the Hub; one that comes with the blessing of all the government localities.

Which brings us to the Town of Hempstead, who will determine whether the project maximizes its potential.  Moving forward we all must give the Town a clean slate, and I say this as one of the most vocal critics of their actions in the past. Let bygones be bygones and encourage everyone to work together.  Long Island’s future is too important to allow past grievances from standing in the way of progress.

The Town must take a proactive role in this process, something that they did not do last time.  This requires constant communications with the development team that wins the RFQ, so they can let their concerns and desires be known.  While it is easy to demonize them for their actions with the Lighthouse project, they did raise legitimate concerns, such as who would pay for the infrastructure upgrades.

The consciousness and conversation about development is changing on Long Island and our leaders in the Town are not too ignorant to realize that.  The Town just wants their say, which they had zero of last time.  As long as they are engaged from day one, are given a feeling of ownership in the project, they will come on board.  If this is done right, there will be too much pressure on them not to be.

Despite the doom and gloom forecasts for Long Island and the Islanders, there is no need to throw in the towel just yet.  There still remain four years on the lease and a hopefully the feeling of urgency gets the ball rolling.  Islander fans and residents of Nassau who support the type of development that would revitalize our local economy need to continue to stand together. The referendum was voted down not because of an anti-Islander or anti-development agenda.  In fact, we have a lot more allies in this fight then we may think.

We are in the dog days of summer. There is nothing worse for an Isles fan than an August where so much is left up in the air. Its been a long long month. The venue effort failed. Free agency was with minor solid piece on the bottom 6, which I warned long ago. The second move to bolster the bottom 6 came via trade.

So there you go. Weight retired and now works in-house. The Isles re-signed others, and basically most is all to be seen and assessed at training camp. So many questions remain in the air, it is almost thick and noxious.

For those still trying to play armchair GM, IF and when the Isles sign Bailey they will be at the cap floor with his contract plus players bonuses/incentives. Add in Nino likely making team and should eradicate cap floor wonder. So might want to retire the calculator and pen.

Samsonov rumors hit the feeder the other day, and it is likely a strong warning shot at Bailey and his agent who seems to be making a habit of contract standoffs. It is fair warning that time is running out and Bailey is in danger of missing the season due to Charles Wang’s directive of all being signed before training camp. Bailey might want to talk to Bergenheim to see how that went. After August 1st, Charles is even more set, so it’s not good scenario for Bailey, nor will help his development.

Isles want to roll three lines of scoring. Rolston or even Reasoner can sub, but Isles have a spot for either another kid or a vet to take if Bailey and his agent fail in this game of chicken. As a penciled 3rd line center, not much leverage for Bailey, though he’s still a part of the rebuild plan.

Speaking of Question Marks….

DP is still the starter till camp begins. Montoya, for all the lauds, there are just way too many fans thinking that Al is guaranteed to be the saving grace. Many a goalie have had hot hands, consistency is about doing it a full season or at least taking it into the new one. Too many are anointing him savior without a shred of indication that he is besides just hope. Let’s see how it continues, shall we?

In all honestly, even the Isles are unsure on how things will transpire. DPs knees and quality of play have caused more fan alarm than Hurricane Irene. Poulin, Koskinen, Nilsson all are in system. Nabokov is a wild card. An elder who has been a starter, who didn’t want to report, yet is here all the same. His future is in his hands… Whether it be for the Isles or dealt elsewhere later on.

Despite the Isles desire to upgrade the defense, something they attempted with the Ehrhoff attempt, and something they still desire. This all falls back to my statement back  in late April. The Isles wanted to place more than just bandaids on D like the year before. Sadly, it did not happen as they intended and things are still just not where they want it to be. But now that August 1st has passed, there has been a change in that rush to deal. Though the rebuild and vision for Garth remains, the ability to spend or try to has diminished.

There is no trade on the fire. No sudden next move everyone is waiting on with bated breath. All gone, kind of like Mangano’s venue referendum. The Isles no longer are in the mood to spend, and will measure what they have in-house unless something low cost falls into their lap.

What nobody is simply willing to say is that for the first time since Charles Wang took ownership of the team there is a change from ownership on spending. More indicators of this will peer out as the season begins, unless there is a change of mind from the top. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

They made minor yet solid improvements on the offense. But it is in so many places that improvements need to be made to reach the playoffs. It remains to be seen if someone can make a jump or growth to offset the deficiencies that remain on the Islanders. And if those things happen, can a Nabokov or Comeau be dealt to get what is needed down line? Who knows for sure anymore. Certainly not the Isles who will need camp to see what they are dealt, and then the season for development.

You can have all the experts in the world predict, but in the end, it’s hard to gauge how so many elements will come together. It will take continued hot play from Montoya, the development of Nino and the not mentioned de Haan who the Isles feel is a projected top two dman… To really make things solid. All this and the continued development of the kids, plus some steady leadership and some depth by those like Reasoner and Rolston will be key.

A lot has to happen and come together to make playoffs a reality, but Chef Garth has a lot of smart ingredients in this pot that can make it happen. Hope you brought your appetite. Might want to pack some TUMS just in case, as well.

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NHL vs Isles Fans Continues…

The NHL ended up whining about, and as a result, put a kibosh on the fun for Isles fans, who haven’t had a lot to celebrate this summer, a replay of the infamous game versus the Pens where they suddenly turned into Network’s Harold Beale screaming “We’re not going to take it anymore!” with fists and goals.

It is a shame that many were not able to see an entire picture. It was lost in that game by those mostly unfamiliar with the double standard to how good teams and stars are protected and those that aren’t are left to their own devices in this “new” NHL. It got lost due to the clear hypocrisy of an owner complaining about hockey violence when his own team led then league on penalties and employed one it’s worst offenders. Far too many missed the larger issue that this was really about. The NHL’s failure to protect the little guy, then focusing on them, denying the reality that the atmosphere created the situation.

The Isles and Isles fans know this double standard well, having watched many teams get away with it. A few years earlier, the Isles did not employ any pugilists, hoping to just have grit and physical play exude from it’s regular players. It was not long before all saw it as a mistake as players were constantly taken advantage of. You need to have a clear and present danger to have the assholes of the league aware of the price to be paid. I know it is blunt but it is an accurate picture to everyone BUT Pens fans, the league itself, and the officials who took it upon themselves to teach the Isles a lesson in the last game they played as players went for phantom calls. Something far more disturbing than the original game.

So, sadly, a game where players stood up for themselves as a team, in what was one of the worst tailspins in season in recent memory is now deemed not to be celebrated by a league who seems to care more about a silly replay while ignoring Isles fans with the dire situation with the venue. Maybe now, past August 1st there has been a realization by the league how fucked things have been and will be… where the Brooklyn bunch just visited the NHL offices for a “general” meeting.

Let me assure you, the Nets owner isn’t interested in buying the Isles. So more likely just about options on what Brooklyn can provide IF it comes to that on a temporary basis.

The Trade That Everyone Acted Like It Was Happening…
But did not. Hmmm, wonder why.

Funny how some next trade was on the fire suddenly cooled down. As I said weeks ago, several things happened here…

1. August 1st has made an indelible mark on the organization and team. Things have changed and they are not so gung-ho to make a financially charged change via trade straight away. Deniers will see more instances of changes on team vision as we go along.
2. Blake Comeau signed a reasonable deal. A sudden turnaround to price and he is off trade market at this point. But one thing about signing cheap is easy trade material later as well. Let’s see how that pans out as Isles have depth on forwards and lack on defense.
3. Teams don’t make deals just because fans, bloggers and press say they should. The Isles would still like a #2/3 dman but unless things change, expect them to take much time assessing what they have. Whatever iron was thought to be hot has cooled and people need to start reading into it is more likely NOT to happen now.
4. Komisarek is not suddenly going to be an Islander. I have hit on these rumors about as much as I hit on that other one that hits rounds with Semin. Neither will be an Isle. Komisarek used the Isles as a fulcrum to get the lucrative TO deal. As I said years ago, he actually wasn’t that hot to play in his hometown. Now, with his play, injuries and that contract, isles are not going to bring him in. Why would Isles pay a premium for a #5 or #6 defender with no offensive upside? That’s right, they wouldn’t. Stop buying into unfounded rumors. Nothing to it.

Nin-Now

Evidently some are wising up that Nino will be on this years team. I said this months ago. Unless he suddenly has a regress of two years of development he is ready and so are the Isles who might pencil him in on the 3rd line alongside Bailey and Comeau to begin his NHL career. The longterm plan has always been to have him on the top line as he and Paranteau juxtapose spots based-on ceilings and development. Just a matter of “when”. So expect him to start on that 3rd line and then depending on production and development, will see from there.

Bailey Deal Still Not Done… 

Speaking of when… Funny how nobody is talking about Bailey not being signed yet. Remember Charles Wang ever-echoing decree of if not signed by camp, not going to play. So something to be done soon. One can extrapolate the sides might be far apart. Well, so was Comeau. So I wouldn’t worry and expect a deal soon.

This said, with Reasoner and Rolston, team has some insurance on still making the 3rd line a threat. This said, the isles still believe in Bailey’s development and projected potential. They need him to grow on that 3rd line. They also need his deal to finally get them to the salary cap floor…

Back in Black…and Wish It Stayed Away

As I reported on twitter quite a while ago, a source cited the third jersey would suck, was black and looked awful. Lo and behold, ICETHETICS, a site my source even gave when he told me he had also seen it and that the design was godawful. Well both source and Icethetics was dead-on. It is the jersey and it looks like horse dung. Those who are about to have an apoplexy over it, please remember it is just a shitty 3rd jersey. It’s not like the Gordon’s fisherman debacle.

But, the fact that on the 40th anniversary that this crap was all they could come up with instead of a smart savvy retro style is just another nail in the coffin of the business-side antics of the Isles and proof positive that there is a lot wrong with their vision, reality and own sense of what Isles fans want. Embarassing effort, result and an insult to fans. Maybe they will get message when it flops. Ok, probably not.

 Maybe the Isles should have been more concerned about the 40th anniversary jersey instead of who is saying what about their Yashin overtures.

Silly Isles.

And speaking of silly…

A Note To The Nut

Sadly, a few nuts are still on the Newsday conspiracy parade. Diatribes on blaming everyone else have flooded the comment sections of websites, boards and blogs. Time to take a long look in the mirror old chap, and might be time that admit your own personal agenda has taken you far off your original and noble intent when you began your blog years ago.

Blame whoever you want, truth is there is a lot to go around…

BUT for anyone who is supposed “information” provider on this ledge and these unhinged stark, conjectures and paranoid ravings which ended up in spam folder on this site and who has spammed other sites with this drivel… shame on you.

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