LOL. well done.

How the hell is this team gonna stay in last place if they keep getting rid of the people that had something to do with it?

The Isles’ vacuum stylized management system means … We fans only get to see what they want us to see.

One of the things that Isles’ management had wanted us to see is that all was well … That we were going to rebuild via the draft, and to have no fear about the rebuild … Because the Islanders have in their scouting arsenal a brilliant Chief of Amatuer Scouting in Ryan Jankowski. So we buy that rare piece of tibit from the management, because …. Well … they are willing to feed that to a starving fan base that will digest any positive news… and yes … It sustains us for a while.

Now they tell us he’s not worth the renewal… and that Garth is going to assume his responsibilities, and to leave it at that.

Well … as an intelligent, yet sensitive fanbase the Isles have … it makes us question. Since we haven’t seen any results in picking up stud free agents … we hang our hat on what the “Oraganization” touts as a well stocked and talented prospect system. Our “Perception” is that Ryan Jankowski has been the catalyst of this steady, slow yet positive rebuild.

Our “Perception” is that Garth is running the team’s day to day operations, very busy with the business of running an NHL team, so busy that he barely has time to run to the four corners of the continent to check in on prospective draft selections, and existing prospects … because as it is soooo understanding … There’s a shit load of teams around N.A. (including High Schools). Don’t even get me started on Europe.

Obviously we know that scouting is a team sport … but like a team on the ice .. that team has to be managed, tweaked and focused on results. That was Janks job … and my “Perception” is that he was a maestro at it… because they told us so … not only the team … but other reputable media outlets. Heck … Team Canada’s site touted his accomplishments with the Islanders regularly.

So one is left to “Perceive” that the Isles have their 70s / 80′s version of Devellano … Torrey had the brilliant Jimmy D … and Garth and Janks was this generations team builing power players. That’s what the Isles’ front office has been telling us for 3 years during the dark days of the rebuild.

So BD … can you blame the fan base, after last week’s Kovy PR debacle that an inflammed fanbase reacts to another Isles’ fart in the tent?

Perception, and managing fan expectations is the key to keeping things steady in the storm. Nick Giglia and I spoke of this after Garth traded down for Bailey on Logan’s site in ’08. Bailey may not of been the choice that Nick and I favored … and the guy (Colin Wilson) was right there for the taking. He traded down again… and took a guy who I read about briefly. Perhaps Garth / Janks made the right choice … but wasn’t it Garth that said “our scouts thought Josh was best for our team” … Garth goes by what Janks and the scouts say … He’s as personally equipped with the time to make these choices as we are with the Hockey News’ draft special edition.

Scouting is a science … not a perfect science … but the guys who’ve been doing it their whole careers are the best ones at doing it.

I don’t know shit about half the guys in the first round other than what I have read… I try to resist the temptation to go by what other fans say … because they read the same stuff in the media I read. We have stats, and at best a two paragraph quote from a coach or ISS.

John Tavares was a gimmie … he’s been out there so long. I just hope that Garth’s “added” responsibilites help him keep the eye on the prize.

In a positive sense … maybe these responsibilities will enable him to get some grass roots experience, that will only sharpen his drafting accumen. One can hope.

My biggest issue right now with the Islanders has to do with the underlying theme you touched on.

Who is in charge of the PR for the New York Islanders?

There is a way to do things. A civilized and dignified approach. Unless the guy was fired—holding some sort of photo session, a retrospective (as you say) a simple THANK YOU would go a very long way toward controlling, massaging, and keeping some order in the blogosphere. Perhaps in different circumstances, that may not matter—but the blogosphere IS the NEWS SOURCE for the NY Islanders. So managing it should be part of the PR strategy.

PR 101 dectates that if you have “bad news” you want to release it first so that you can control the story—at least for a while.

What bothers me as well is the way in which people are being treated. Some may see that as “touchy-feely” but a first class operation would have handled Biron differently. A first class operation would have thanked Jankowski for his hard work and years of service to the Islander family. A first class operation would have been forthright with the fans, and while you don’t need to discuss the mans detailed health issues which are private, you could simply alert fans to some truth—that DP is not going to play because he has “this” or “that,” and it is not a big guessing game.

If the PR strategy is, “lets say nothing so that everyone keeps talking about us…” then the person in charge or PR needs to be fired. It is not a good thing when front office news dominates a franchise—particularly from your own fans.

During the days when the Isles were a model franchise, the front office was hardly a factor. We did not hear about this kind of nonsense. If a member of the Islander family took a new job, they were thanked. How many times would Jiggs & Eddie make it a point to say, “on behalf of the Islanders we would like to wish person X the best of luck as they are taking a new position….”

I think what Isles fans want is to be treated with a certain level of intelligence and decency. They are tired of being played.

BD—Id love to get into the details of how the Isles work their PR structure, and how it compares to other sports teams. It would be a VERY interesting comparison and read. I believe it will speak directly to the core issues the Islanders face.

THis move is just part of many smll moves that looks cheap, bizarre and has a cost cutting angle to it…whether you agree to it or not.

The fact Jankowski is not renewed does not change or affect my world…realizing after the first two weeks of Free Agency that the Isles will be a good 8 to 10 points out of a playoff spot come next spring… makes for a long year…

It definitely was not handled properly, but there is concern since how can Snow be the GM AND the head of scouting? That doesnt make sense nor is it logical, who runs the office while he’s checking out a player in Latvia? ahaha

The isles need to learn to connect with their fans, Snow is very smart, but he doesnt seem to be socially “on the ball” in that he doesnt really care about the public perception, even when its fans of his team that are the ones upset or at least looking for an explanation.
No one says he has to pander to anyone, but he should be upfront and accountable to fans for his decisions.