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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email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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

Part 1 covered the coach, part 2 the goalies. Part 3 gives us a look at the Islanders blueline thus far in the season, and moving beyond the 2011 campaign.

Many of us — me included — still believe that a seasoned NHL coach can help a great deal, and many of us like to put all the blame on DiPietro. Well, it is not all the coach, and not all on DiPietro.

As the 2010-11 season folded, and the Islanders were once again left with a high lottery pick, the mandate from GM Garth Snow was to obtain a defenseman. Someone who could be a part of the team for years to come, with experience, but still young and hungry enough to be a part of the Islanders long term solution. Having been stonewalled in free agency for 3-4 seasons, it became clear the Islanders may have to find their man via another way.

The Defenders That Never Were
In reality, I see two players who fall into this category. James Wisniewski and Christian Ehrhoff.

In the summer of 2010, the Islanders pulled off what was viewed as a coup, sending a 3rd round pick to the Ducks for veteran defender Wisniewski. A player that played with a real edge and fire, who could generate 45-50 points from the blue line. A Physical version of Mark Striet if you will.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, the Wisniewski and Striet dream was ended before REM sleep really began. With Striet’s season ending injury, Wisniewski was in effect left to carry the blue line load by himself. While the Wiz is a solid NHL defenseman with excellent upside, he is not a #1 defender, or someone who can carry a team. It was not long after the season started that the Islanders slid deep into the abyss ending Wisniewski’s run as an Islander, costing Scott Gordon his job, and ensuring a high pick in 2011.

With Striet coming back after his lost season this fall, the Islanders wanted to be sure they found someone who could give young players like Calvin de Haan some time, and help teach other young and developing defenseman like Andy MacDonald and Travis Hamonic the ropes. Having been rebuffed by free agents, Snow wasted little time, and traded for the rights to Christian Ehrhoff, fresh off his cup run with the Canucks.

But as soon as he came in, he was gone. What was a good attempt proved to be nothing. We will never really know if it was Ehrhoff who wanted more than the Islanders could give, or wanted to give, or if the number of years were the issue or if simply put, Ehrhoff had no desire to sign with the Islanders regardless of the terms or dollars. Free agency once again came and went, but unlike 2010, there were no post arbitration trades to bolster the blueline, leaving the Islanders with Striet returning from major injury a few journeymen bottom pair defenders and a few very good young players yet to reach their potential.

In addition, the Islanders let Radek Martinek go, and did not sign Jack Hillen for another stint on Long Island. With the Ehrhoff failure, and the lack of the ability to bring in other blueline help via free agency fans were very critical of allowing Radek Martinek to walk. The funny thing about this, is that Martinek — as good as he is when he is healthy — has not had a single healthy season. He is not a point producer, and in effect, he is a #3 defender at best. Certainly, retaining an injury prone Martinek would not address the Islanders problems, and I don’t for a moment believe Snow was wrong to let him walk — even after losing Ehrhoff or other free agents. Needless to say, Martinek is unfortunately hurt again. Only 7 games played thus far this year for the Blue Jackets.

While they need help being so young, Travis Hamonic (3) and Andrew MacDonald (47) are the current home grown defenders for the Islanders that should be a part of the teams core for years to come.

The Current Crop

The 7 players that make up the Islanders back end are a mix of vets and youth — some look to be part of the long term solution, some just stop gaps.

Striet’s return is a godsend for the Islanders but the rust is evident, as is the burden of his captaincy. He tries to keep things light, but he is clearly under the stress of trying to carry the team from the blueline, and frankly, he is trying too hard. By all accounts, Striet can be one of the leagues better defenseman — when he focuses on the task at hand. My advice to him is to lead by example on the ice playing the simple, effective and compact game he always played. His trying to do too much is causing undesired and costly fumbles. it is a lesson from Patrick Flatley. Flats was never going to be an offensive dynamo, but he lead by example. He did the little things, and did not take a shift off.

Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau are one in the same. Both are acceptable stop gaps for games here and there, but they have both struggled. Both have had a few good games, and many indifferent games. I just don’t seem to notice either doing much good on any level. They don’t single-handedly cost us games, but they just don’t seem to do much. Both may be potential trade targets as depth defenders to a playoff bound team at the deadline. I would take a 3rd rounder for either, unless they can be part of a larger package.

Travis Hamonic has continued to impress. A call-up last season, Hamonic has become a steady force on the blue line. What clearly distinguishes him from the others on the blueline is his toughness. No one else on the Islanders defense corps is nearly as tough. He plays with a welcome edge and fire. He reminds me a great deal of Dave Langevin; quietly going about his game, but at the same time you saw him level someone from time-to-time. He can shoot, make good passes — he possesses a strong overall game. As of now, I would suggest he is our #1 defenseman. Sadly, he should be our #2 or #3, but as we lack a true #1 or #2 he is relegated to being our best defender. He may evolve into a #2, but I am not sure he will ever possess the complete overall game. But defenseman take a little longer, so anything is possible.

Coming off difficult injuries last season, Andy MacDonald has a very solid game for the Islanders. He won’t get the points that Striet or Hamonic may get, but he is effective, can log minutes and do lots of the little things well. Right now, Id like to see him spend the season staying healthy, and continuing his development. He is not a #1 or #2. He is likely a second pairing defenseman if done “the right way.” Still, he is very reliable.

Milan Jurcina brings the intangible of size to the Islanders. Frankly, I like that he seems to be using that size a bit more, but not nearly enough. He has a great shot as well, and again, does not use it enough. Still, he makes a nice addition to the Islanders, and I would not be against resigning him this off season for a 1 or 2 year deal. He can continue as an effective second or third pair defender, and continue to provide some time to younger players like de Haan, Donovan and others.

Steve Staios’ arrival was viewed by many as a waste of time, but he has filled in as well as can be expected. When you are unable to sign a free agent, or your young players are not ready, this is what you are left to do. Which is to say, Staios has been doing just fine. Surprisingly I like his game far better than Eaton’s or Mottau’s.

Outside the aforementioned 7, they is Dylan Reese. It seems that Reese gets the call on emergency loan which means he does not need to pass through waivers, and when he does, the Islanders play better. That should tell management something.

What to expect

The Islanders clearly do not have a true #1 defender. Mark Striet is not that guy right now, and frankly, may never be. In reality, he is a great #2, with Hamonic and MacDonald as the second pairing. Ehrhoff and Wisniewski would not have been the game changing #1′s either, but I would welcome either to the team as they would raise the quality of the blue line significantly. While a true number one would not be here, a top 6 of Wiz, Ehrhoff, Striet, Hamonic, MacDonald and Jurcina would be a gigantic leap forward and our best collective blueline in nearly 10 years.

But for the time being, there is very little the Islanders can do, or for the fans to expect. I would not be so determined at this time to bring in Donovan, Ness or de Haan — all doing well in Bridgeport this season. I would be very much resistant to trading Hamonic or MacDonald, and while Striet has struggled, I am not on board with trading him for a perceived higher value — plus we need the salary on the books. Plus, those three represent half the blue line, and thats the half we want to keep.

If anything, we may see a player like Staios get moved at the deadline for a 3rd round pick or less making way for Reese the final 20 or so games. In addition, Mottau and Eaton will be eligible for trades as UFAs. I would expect one or two of those three moved before the deadline. I would not mind seeing Wishart get another chance. I am not fully sure why he is not getting a longer look. He brings size to the line up — size that is sorely needed, and while he had some questions to his game, he may be worth another look.

But overall — don’t expect Shea Weber, or Ryan Suter any time soon.

Who can be done, and what would  your choice be?

Sure — by all accounts Snow tried, but on this, he has indeed failed. Like Charles Wang having one major item on his to do list, Snow had one major item on his. Both men failed.

Perhaps Ehrhoff or Wisniewski were not worth the big deals they got with their respective teams. I would have to agree with Snow that giving Ehrhoff a 10 year deal is not the right move for the Islanders. Plus, as mentioned, I really don’t see either player as a #1. Doughtly is a #1. Perhaps Suter is, and Weber certainly is. But the availability of those players was unlikely. We don’t know if any would want to be part of the Islanders solution or not, and we have no idea what we would need to give up to get such players.

It is all the more concerning that we lack a game changer on defense right now within the prospect pool. While Nino and Strome look good, and even I would have gone for Couturier at this past draft, one has to wonder where is our big time d-man going to come from?

I find it equally concerning that a deal like the ones for Dion Phaneuf went down and the Islanders had nothing to offer to try and get him?

This is where Snow seems to be a little bit gun shy. But it could just as easily be that he can’t make a deal to land a big fish like Phaneuf, Richards, Carter or any other stud player because of the situation with the arena, Charles Wang, and the state of the franchise.

My choice would be to package the Islanders first round pick to try and pry a stud loose somewhere. A young player who can be signed long term and be part of the team for a long time. A rental is not viable. A 35 year old should not be the center piece of the deal. It has to be the right fit. Ultimately, the opportunity may be there for one of Weber or Suter if the Preds can’t keep both. It would certainly help but can the Islanders convince either as free agents to become part of the Islander solution long term?

In the absence of having those answers, the Islanders have little choice but to look to within for the solution. I also am more inclined to deal this years first round pick because the last thing we need on the Islanders — talent not withstanding — is another 6′ forward. We need a 6’4″ defenseman who can play 25 minutes a night. If someone has a suggestion, we’d all like to hear it.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

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.

In part 1, in the midst of some real problems, there was a great deal of talk about Jack Capuano and the need for “an NHL coach” for the team. Well, it is become increasingly clear since that installment, that Cappy is going to finish this season behind the Islanders bench barring a complete and total collapse. And, I would expect Cappy to start the 2012-13 campaign. Snow is not going to change coaches like underwear. Any designs on seeing recently fired Randy Carlyle, Jacques Martin or someone else behind the boys in blue and orange is pure fantasy. I even recently read a post about getting Mike Keenan.

And while some like putting the teams troubles  all on the coach, there are also players to contend with when it comes to any sports team. Today, I will give my 2 nickles worth of thoughts on the Islanders goalies. I still have to get some of my thoughts in on the Defense, forwards, and of course Garth Snow and Charles Wang.

We began the year all groaning. Another season with 3 goalies. It did not work last time, and it was unlikely to work this year. Those who thought it would be fine are right — so far, and those who thought it would be bad — are also right. It is bad because early on, in the midst of our skid in November, we had no roster flexibility to bring in young players to possibly creates a spark. On the other hand, the decision on who dresses has been easy as one of the three has been injured at any given time. (Insert DiPietro joke here….)

Al Montoya is proving to be an NHL goalie. Another scrap heap pick up for Garth Snow and the Isles.

The Goalies of Today

Right now the Islanders have three goalies — 2 of them belong in the NHL, one barely belongs on an skate sharpening machine. We all know who is who.

Al Montoya came in and won the job of starter with his steady play last season. He deserved the home opener start, and his play thus far this season save for a very small percentage of ones he would like back, Al Montoya is the clear cut Islanders number 1. He is on a 1 year deal this season, and I would have to believe (and please, make your case if I am wrong) that he is in line for a contract extension. Although even i could speculate about a trade of Montoya — which I’ll do later on….

Evgeni Nabokov actually reported this time to the Islanders, and he has been adequate for the team. He is certainly a step off from where he may once have been, but one has to wonder if that has more to do with team defense and a lack of goal support. With DiPietro being…you know….Dipietro, we should be kissing Nabby’s glove hand that he showed up.

If Nabokov is the eventual “odd man out” and he is traded it certainly allowed the Islanders some stability in the crease during his time here. If he stays and completes the season on Long Island, it is still a “win” for the Islanders as it keeps Poulin and Nillson in Bridgeport which is where they belong at this time.

Rick DiPietro.

Is there any more that really has to be said?

He is the final element of the Mike Milbury “error,” representing everything that was/is wrong with that time, and the man who in essence destroyed a model NHL franchise. Not only can the man not stay healthy — he is the worst goalie I’ve seen play in a long time. It might be because of his injuries — he cant move the way he maybe once could, but that 5¢ head has crippled him since he arrived. The reason the team plays better in front of Montoya or Nabokov is self evident. There is only one thing left to do — advocate for the man to retire. If he cares about the Islanders as much as he says he does, then he needs to pack his gear and walk away — forever!

Evgeni Nabokov has been a good back-up for the Islanders. Snow was shrewd enough to toll the contract.

Mike Milbury once said that DiPietro was the best puck handling goalie he’d ever scene. My question was, “yeah, but can he stop the puck?” If DiPietro wants to play the puck so much, I always wanted to ask him why he does not changes positions — try defense. Sure he strung together some reasonable stats when healthy, even a few shut-outs. But he has never amounted to anything of consequence that was positive for the Islanders. Considering we gave up the chance at drafting a player like Gaborik or Heatley, and having Roberto Luongo as the franchises goalie, the impact of that draft is still being felt, and will be as long as Rick DiPietro remains an active member of the Islanders and Gaborik, Heatley and Luongo continue on their stellar careers.

The Choices Moving Forward

The first step would actually be to take on additional salary. As much as I would like to, waiving or releasing DiPietro removes his $4.5 million cap hit, and we need it in order to be cap compliant. So the first order of business really has to be adding salary. That is an argument for another post — who, when, where.

Putting salary aside for a moment, eliminating DiPietro is the only viable option, finishing the campaign with Montoya and Nabokov. But, that too has issues. Both have needed time off for injury, which is why having the three goalies has worked to a point. It appears that with the team going no place this season, rotating the status quo may be the prudent move.

Trading one of the three is a possibility should all three prove healthy for a long stretch, and a deal comes in that you can’t refuse.

What to expect

If the team slides into complete oblivion, they will make a move with their goalies, but I would hold Snow to his word from the Newsday article. He will likely finish the year at this point with what he has. The problem this season has not been goaltending unless #39 is in the crease. Overall, inconsistent play and the lack of offense has been a bigger issue then the goaltending. Think about it… other then a few games

Who would your choice be?

By all means — I love reading your thoughts, and get your own take. My choice would actually be to listen

to all offers for starters, and as crazy as this may seem — Montoya might be the one I would trade.

Rick DiPietro — a rusting, dusty relic from the Milbury "Error" — he represents everything wrong with the Islanders over the past 15 years.

Here is why.

His value is far higher then Nabokov’s. He is younger and has played far better. He is an inexpensive option, and can be traded without question as he lacks the NMC that Nabokov has. This means moving Nabokov would be contingent on his approval. So any desire to simply trade Nabby to Columbus is wishful thinking. But trading Nabokov to a team like Columbus and bringing in a player perhaps with some size… a big center to give Strome time next season…. a big blueliner who can log lots of minutes and be reliable?

Of course in any deal, it can’t be a rental. It has to be a player signed long term or young and willing to be part of the long term solution.

Montoya alone is not getting us an All-Star mind you, but of the three goalies — he is the one that would be easiest to trade. Sending Nabokov to Detroit at the deadline is not getting us a second round pick — and if Detroit or anyone offers Snow a second, he should make that deal and laugh all the way to the draft podium in June.

Ultimately, the goaltending reigns look to be heading in the direction of a possible duo of Montoya and Poulin.

Happy Holidays!

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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Following a successful sweep of a five-game home-stand that featured wins over the Islanders, Oilers, Sabres, Devils and Blue Jackets, the Boston Bruins departed the Hub for a three-game road swing, with stops in Long Island, Montreal and Buffalo.

Standings

The Bruins currently sit in a tie for second place in the NorthEast division with the Buffalo Sabres, as both squads have secured 24 points on the season. The B’s and Sabres are both two points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs. Boston also sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, three points back of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Team Leaders

Despite rapidly cooling off over the past week, Bruins sophomore sensation Tyler Seguin continues to lead the team in all of the major offensive categories. The 6’1″ Brampton, Ontario native has matched his career-high of eleven goals, while adding ten assists and potting three game winners in nineteen games played. Seguin is also second in the entire NHL (Shea Weber is first (+18)) with a plus/minus rating of +17. Rugged fourth line winger Shawn Thornton has restored his place atop the stat sheet when it comes to PIMs, registering 39 of them through 19 games of action. Boston’s top two shut-down defenseman Zdeno Chara (25:16) and Dennis Seidenberg (24:35) are numbers one and two respectively when it comes to average time on ice per game.

Through 13 starts this season, B’s netminder Tim Thomas has shown no signs of slowing down. The 37-year-old Flint, Michigan native has posted a 1.77 GAA and a .938 save percentage, while winning nine games for Boston this season. Meanwhile, Finnish goaltender Tuukka Rask has been nothing short of stellar in the pipes for Boston as well. Rask has posted a 2.32 GAA and a .919 save percentage and has won his last three starts.

The Boston power-play sits at 18th in the NHL, scoring at a 16.4% clip. On the flip side of that, the B’s penalty-kill is currently 8th in the league, stopping their opponents 86.5% of the time.

Boston 6 , New York Islanders 0 (F)

This past Saturday evening, the Boston Bruins paid a visit to the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island for a date with the New York Islanders.  Sparked by a two goal performance from Chris Kelly, the B’s steamrolled the Isles to the tune of a 6-0 victory. Saturday’s game was not much of a contest, as the Bruins put three past Rick DiPietro in the first period and three behind Anders Nilsson in the third and ran away with it. The Isles never had much of an answer for the B’s throughout the night, and Boston was able to win their 8th in a row.

Boston 1 , Montreal 0 (F)

On Monday night, the B’s paid a visit to the team that last beat them, back on October 29, the Montreal Canadiens. Late in the first period it was Boston defenseman Andrew Ference who would score a goal for the second straight game. This would be the first 2-game goal streak of Ference’s 14-year NHL career. As it turns out, Ference’s goal would be all Boston needed as they skated away with a 1-0 victory thanks to a 33-save shutout from Tim Thomas.

Three Stars Of The Week

1.) Tim Thomas – Back-to-back shutouts for the defending Vezina trophy winner has lowered his GAA to 1.77. Thomas is simply not slowing down.

2.)  Chris Kelly – Two goals and two assists in the past three games for Kelly; Continues to prove his value and durability.

3.) Adam McQuaid – Scored his first  goal of the year last Thursday against the Blue Jackets, while playing top-pair minutes and shutting down Rick Nash and Jeff Carter.

What’s Next?

As mentioned above, the Bruins will be taking on the Buffalo Sabres toninght in Western New York, prior to returning home for a brief two-game home-stand. The home-stand will feature a matinee contest against the Detroit Red Wings on Black Friday followed by the first ever visit to TD Garden from the new-era Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night.

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I have been waiting.

I have been patient.

But the dysfunction of the franchise has once again caught up with me, and I am going to take a guess that I am not alone in my dread. What began 2 months ago as hope that this season would afford the Islanders and its fans meaningful games in March and maybe April have evaporated like the morning dew on a Spring day. The brightness of the prodigal “son” proved once and for all that this Islander team — yet again — is not capable of competing. The no-show against the Florida Panthers on opening night was not a forewarning enough. Perhaps the goose egg laid against the Winnipeg Jets should have shown me. Maybe the 2 ass whippings at the hands of the defending champs. But last night sealed it for me. I gave them about a quarter of the season, and realize — it’s more or less done for 2011-12.

A season that had promise based in large part on what transpired during the final 4 months of last season.  Where did it go wrong?

Is it the coach and his staff that are not getting enough out of a talented group of players?

Is it a nasty funk the players are in, and no coach is going to change it?

Is it the arena?

Was it the lack of moves over the summer?

There are a number of “reasons” and we can all speculate, but until we are actually in the room, speculation, supposition, and the word of those in the room are all we can go with.

Though my disappointment is clear, and I am hoping that some moves are made, the rebuild can’t be called a “failure” as some fans are suggesting.

Last night, after the game, and in reading some tweets, going back and forth with some fans and followers, there are a number of things that I think we need to be realistic about, and it is not going to make any of us happy.

A Coaching Change

I suppose its possible if the team loses really big like the last 2 nights , but I don’t think it will happen — not a year after they brought Capuano in, and not right after giving him a new deal. This is the guy they wanted — the management, the players. There was no doubt. No ambiguity. There was no search done by Garth Snow and Charles Wang. They zeroed in on Jack before the end of the season if you recall, and made it official soon after the end of last season. They would need to be blown out the next few games in a row before Cappy is let go.

There is a possibility. The way this team is right now, I can see it happening, which would give Snow the mandate to make a change — considering the real culprits can’t be all fired, including the owner.

The Isles have Philadelphia and then a home-and-home with the Devils — I could see the Islanders losing all three by 5-6 goal deficits, and being shut-out in the process. We always do poorly against the Flyers, and Zack Parise reminds us all of the fact he should be an Islander had any one of us been the GM that year. He is guaranteed at least 2 goals in each game (or so it seems)

I like Capuano. I think he is a good guy.

Not to be cold — but good guys don’t cut it in this business. The players need someone who knows how to balance ass kicking and nurturing. There any number of buttons that need to be pushed, and they all need to be pushed on a little bit, all at the same time. It is a delicate balancing act, and one I am not sure Cappy is up to managing. I was hoping that having Doug Weight on the bench may help as a liaison between coaching staff and team, or the addition of some vets who had been through the wars — but they have all given up on each other.

The Choices

Left to right, Bob Hartley, won the Cup in 2000-01 with Colorado, Michel Therrien, Cup finalist with Pittsburgh 2007-08, Marc Crawford, won the Cup 1995-96 with Colorado

The Islanders would do well to go outside the organization, but they likely won’t. Hartley, Therrien or Crawford  would all offer a completely new direction, new voice and new systems — all desperately needed. This is still Scott Gordon’s system with tweaks. But my guess is if Snow pulls the trigger — it will be one of Dean or Doug to finish out the year.

Should they do it?

I think they should. I think at this point, somehow, the players need a completely new direction. We said this just a year ago, and it messes up the stability that Snow has been trying to bring in after a decade of disaster under Mike Milbury. But he made a poor choice in both Gordon and Capuano. And what good is stability if they are stable losers?

A young team needs some experience, and someone who commands a certain level of respect. If I walk into the room and say to any of these players that they need to play with more fire and passion it does not have as much weight as a guy like Marc Crawford or Bob Hartley who have their names on the Stanley Cup. I would have added Ken Hitchcock to this list, though some feel he is too cerebral.

What to expect

Depends on what happens. If they are crushed in the next 3 games — and I mean crushed — expect a change. If they compete but lose the rest of the year, Cappy finishes the season.

If they do let Cappy go — expect Doug or Dean. That is what this organization does. They don’t bring in the “real” people. So far, the only time that has worked for the Islanders is Laviolette — and as soon as he showed he was “real” he was fired.

Who would your choice be? Any of the three above or would you recommend someone else?

Ill have more on the players, the GM and the owner down the road — (been crazy busy)

Happy Thanksgiving — and I am truly sorry to all the Islander fans, my son included who I apologize to regularly for making him an Islander fan. (How sad is that…)

UPDATE: 12:15pm — Source is confirming Garth SNow has the authority to do what ever is needed to save the Isles season. This came from Chris Botta and Eric Hornick via Twitter. Is that a first “rumbling” something could happen to shake up the team?

UPDATE: 1:49PM — Arthur Staple Tweets — Garth Snow confirms to Newsday he has no intention of firing Jack Capuano (Can’t say I am surprised)

Today we learned of the imminent return of the league’s undoubtedly most talented forward, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsbugh Penguins. Suffering a concussion on January 1, 2011 after a collision with then-Washington Capital David Steckel, Crosby has not played in an NHL game since January 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Penguins PR staff announced early on Sunday afternoon that Crosby would be back in the Pittsburgh lineup on Monday night when the New York Islanders visit the Consol Energy Center.

Now, Crosby’s return is without doubt fantastic news for the Penguins, the NHL and the entire hockey community. In any situation a league playing without it’s number one superstar is sure to face it’s obstacles; just ask Roger Goodell about losing Tom Brady in 2008 and Peyton Manning in 2011. The league and the sport simply isn’t the same without that player.

However, the return of Sidney Crosby, and Versus’ (or NBC Sports, whichever they like to be called) imminent decision to preempt the scheduled game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens in order to broadcast said match-up between Crosby’s Pens and the New York Islanders is what has revealed a fundamental problem in the NHL’s marketing strategy.

The Boston-Montreal rivalry is ageless. A tale as old as time. For as long as there as been the NHL, there has been hatred-a-brewin’ between the B’s and the Habs. Countless classic encounters have taken place between these two storied franchises. From the days of Maurice Richard, To Bobby Orr and Patrick Roy, all the way up to today’s confrontations between Zdeno Chara and Max Pacioretty, these two cities have seen it all. This rivalry is undeniably the best the NHL has to offer and way very well be the best in all of sports.

Instead of treating the country’s viewers to another classic bout between these two original six rivals, and a chance to watch as the defending Stanley Cup Champions go for their 9th straight victory, we get to watch Sidney Crosby’s ten minutes of ice-time against the worst team in the Eastern Conference — the same team that was just on the receiving end of a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Bruins on Saturday night –.

The problem that the NHL has created for itself is that it is constantly limiting it’s growth potential. Through the constant pushing of guys like Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, the league is limiting it’s audience. The way the NHL and Versus are forcing the same handful of players, while great for the teams involved, is unhealthy for the league as a whole.  Now, one can argue that the use of this tactic is to draw in the casual fan who might have more interest in an individual talent, rather than a team as a whole. However, if you are able to draw in these casual fans, you are creating an audience that may only be interested in watching a game that features one of the over-marketed players.

Prior to the change of schedule for Monday’s game, the Pittsburgh Penguins already had four of their next six games slated to be on national television (NHL Network, Versus, CBC). While fans are being force-fed dose after dose of Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers, the talents of players like Colorado’s Matt Duchene, Carolina’s Jeff Skinner and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos aren’t being properly showcased.

If the NHL ever plans to grow to a point in which it can surpass the popularity of the NBA, MLB, or even the NFL (that’s a long-shot), the league must do a much better job in properly managing and marketing their teams, as well as their superstars.

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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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Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Horton–Krejci–Lucic

Caron–Kelly–Peverley

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Thomas

Rask

Scratches– ….. Pouliot , Kampfer

– Tonight’s game can be seen on NESN (Edwards, Brickley) and heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers), the flagship radio station of the Boston Bruins.

NEWS & NOTES

– The Bruins will be playing only their fifth road game of the season tonight –the latest they have ever played their fifth road game — after playing twelve of their first seventeen within the cozy confines of TD Garden.

– It appears that Islanders’ forward Kyle Okposo will once again be a healthy scratch tonight. The 23-year-old Minnesota native is a former first round draft choice and posseses far too much talent to be sitting in the press box. Coach Jack Capuano must find a way to get him going.

– It is unknown who will be between the pipes for the Isles this evening, as the New York Goaltending carousel continues to spin. What we do know is that Evgeni Nabokov –who started on November 7 in Boston– is out indefinitely with a groin injury. Meaning it will either be Al Montoya or Winthrop, MA native Rick DiPietro in net for the Isles.

– The Boston top line of Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton and David Krejci produced a combined four goals and four assists back on November 7, when the Islanders visited TD Garden.

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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. 

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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

Don’t look now but befallen Bruins’ forward Marc Savard may have developed psychic powers while recovering from Post-concussion syndrome at his home in Peterborough, Ontario. Okay, while that may not be entirely true, the 34-year old pivot surely had a good handle on what was going to take place on Monday night at TD Garden. Savard tweeted from his new-found twitter account, @MSavvy91 , “…watch my boy Horty #bignight” and “And my boy Looch also going to have #bignight” about 4 hours prior to game-time. Despite not even being in the same country as his two teammates, Savard certainly showed a connection to the B’s wingers as they both managed to put up big numbers against the Islanders on Monday.

Entering Monday’s contest against the New York Islanders, the B’s top line of Lucic, Horton & David Krejci had combined for only 10 goals and 10 assists through 12 games of play. All of that despite a 3-game goal streak from hulking left winger, Lucic. The B’s knew they would need increased production from their top line if they are to succeed this season.

Lucic followed up on his 2-goal performance from Saturday night in Toronto by adding a goal and an assist on Monday against New York. Not to be out-done, Horton, who spoke last week of not feeling like himself after suffering a concussion during game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals last June notched two goals and an assist in the Bruins’ 6-2 victory over the  Islanders on Monday evening at TD Garden.

After getting on the board first, thanks to Benoit Pouliot’s first goal as a member of the Black & Gold, the B’s would never trail during Monday’s game against the Isles. Smashing home a rebound after a centering feed came into the crease courtesy of Jordan Caron, Pouliot made it 1-0 Boston at 1:32 of the first period. After scoring his first goal since February, perhaps Pouliot can use Monday as a building block to a strong season.

“He’s a guy that’s working hard, he’s trying to find his way on this hockey club, trying to adapt. His work ethic and compete level is there.” — Claude Julien

Nathan Horton and Tyler Seguin would then tally one goal a piece only 0:29 seconds apart, mid-way through the first frame, putting Boston up 3-1. Despite a late period goal from Michael Grabner, after a nice feed from John Tavares, the B’s ended the first with a 3-2 advantage. In a second period that saw much of the same as the first, as we saw end-to-end action with neither team being able to capitalize on it’s scoring chances, both teams were held off the board in the 2nd frame.

Early in the third period, the floodgates would open, as Boston would add two more, only 0:49 seconds apart, to go up 5-2 over the Isles. The first came from Milan Lucic, after a beautiful give-and-go play with Nathan Horton that lead to an easy tip in for the 6’4″ Vancouver native. Less than a minute later, it was Horton who slipped a rebound past Montoya after a Joe Corvo slap-shot from the right point. The Bruins’ ability to score two goals in such a quick manner this season has been a huge factor in their success:

“Well that’s a big thing for us, is definitely that shift after a goal. It’s huge and I think Krech’s (David Krejci) line did it tonight back-to-back. That’s one of the biggest shifts in hockey. So right now we’re doing a good job at capitalizing on it.” –Tyler Seguin

David Krejci would add an empty-netter at the 17:12 mark to secure the 6-2 win for the B’s, capping off a 3-point night of his own (1G/2A).

In what was the scariest moment of the night, B’s winger Daniel Paille stopped a Steve Staios slapshot with his face at the 3:09 mark of the third period. Paille fell immediately into a heap, clutching his face as blood spilled out onto the ice surface. Paille was helped off the ice and down the corridor to the Bruins’ dressing room for treatment and examination. Head Coach Claude Julien said Paille would be examined by specialists after the game.

“Yeah, a little scary moment. Just looking at what happened there, the puck kind of jumped on (Steve) Staios there and it’s one of those times where it’s good he had a face shield on. It’s good to see him- you know, we saw him here before he went for an X-ray there and good to see him walking around and feeling fine after that.” – Milan Lucic

KEY STATS

Goals–                        NYI (2)          BOS (6)

Shots–                       NYI (26)          BOS (37)

Power-Play–           NYI (0-4)        BOS (1-1)

Penalty-Kill–           NYI (0-1)        BOS (4-4)

Three Stars– ….. 3.) David Krejci  ….. 2.) Tyler Seguin  ….. 1.) Nathan Horton

What’s Next?
Next up for the B’s is a visit from the red-hot Edmonton Oilers (8-3-2) on Thursday night,  as they continue their 5-game home-stand. The Oilers, who visit Montreal on Tuesday before making the trip south to the Hub, have been lead by the “Kid Line” of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers’ top line has produced a combined 12 goals and 20 assists through 13 games this season. It will be the second edition of “Taylor vs. Tyler” as the number 1 & number 2 selections from the 2010 NHL Draft will face-off against one another for the second time, and the first at TD Garden. For the Isles, next on the docket is a visit to the Pepsi Center in Colorado for a match-up with the Avalanche on Thursday.

Thanks For Reading!

As all of you may know, the month of “Movember” is now upon us. A storied tradition in hockey as timeless as the “playoff beard”, Movember has been a staple throughout many a dressing room in the NHL over the years. At this time I ask you all to please consider making a donation, no matter how small, to help fund the courageous battle that many are fighting against one of the toughest opponents of all: cancer. If you would like to donate, please click on this link: DONATE.

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Following a 7-0 trouncing of the (then) NHL-best Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday, the Boston Bruins return home to host John Tavares and the struggling New York Islanders. Losing six consecutive games prior to Saturday evening’s 5-3 home victory over the Washington Capitals, the Isles sit at 4-5-2 (10 Points) and 14th in the Eastern Conference. With the Bruins currently sitting at 5-7-0 (10 Points) , the loser of tonight’s contest will have sole possession of dead-last in the East. Despite winning two in a row and appearing to be on the mend, the Bruins will face a tough test in a young and offensively potent New York Islanders club on Monday at the TD Garden.

Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Horton–Krejci–Lucic

Pouliot–Kelly–Caron

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Rask

Thomas

Scratches– ….. Peverley, Kampfer

– Tonight’s game can be seen on NESN (Edwards, Brickley) and heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers), the flagship radio station of the Boston Bruins.

KEY NOTES & STATS
– The Bruins will be without the services of versatile forward Rich Peverley, who has missed practice the past few days with a “minor undisclosed injury”.

– The Bruins are kicking off an all-important 5 game home-stand that also features visits from the red-hot Edmonton Oilers, the Buffalo Sabres, the  New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

– After his team had dropped it’s sixth consecutive game, back on Thursday November 3, head coach Jack Capuano used a major shake-up to his forward lines, that included the introduction of a new first line (Moulson–Tavares–Grabner) and the promotion of former-Bruin Brian Rolston to the New York 2nd line , in an attempt to give his team a spark.

– Bruins’ winger Milan Lucic, who has scored 4 goals in the past 3 games, has registered 10 points (5G/5A) in 12 career games against the Islanders.

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Winless through 6 games  — 0-4-2 — and heading into what I consider to be the make or break of the Islanders season, there is a real risk the Islanders will find themselves completely out of it, and playing out the string in another lost season before Thanksgiving for a second straight season. What is disheartening, is that the expectations for this current squad was much higher then what we are seeing thus far, even though I conced, it is still a bit early to hit the panic button.

While they have had some success in their careers, both the second and third unit of the Islanders are choked with problems.

Starting with the second unit, there are some realities we need to come to grips with. The “home run” pass to spring Grabner is not going to work night in, and night out. It has to be an opportunistic play, not a bread and butter play. Frans Neilsen — for all he brings to the Islanders, is not a second line center. He is a perfect third line defensive center however. As much as that line had success last year, it is time to break it up and use Frans where he will do the most good. Kyle Okposo is a bit of a mystery. I think he can be guilty of trying to do far too much. He brings an awful lot to the Islanders, but right now, offense is not it, and in all honesty, it has never been the core of his game. It almost appears as if Okposo is at odds with the idea that he is supposed to be a power forward who grinds — using his body to create space and drive to the net to get the dirty goals.

Josh Bailey is becoming a major disappointment to Islander fans as he is pointless through 10 games along with wingman Blake Comeau

The third line is a discombobulated mess. At this point, I don’t know what to make of Josh Bailey. The franchise made a big mistake when they had he remain with the team in his rookie year, and then compounded the problem last season when they brought him back from Bridgeport too soon. The season was already lost last season when they recalled Bailey. Had he finished the year in Bridgeport, he could have rebuilt his game and perhaps been a more effective entity then he has become. Now he is being used as a third line center — something that is really not his game. Josh Bailey may not be a scoring dynamo — but he is not a defensive center either. His line mate Blake Comeau also looks to be out of sorts. He too is running away from his game. He is not using his body physically at all, and coasting too much. The times the Islanders had their best chances last night and throughout the season is when they elevated their physical play a little — a big check will do that — clear some space to move forward. In Blake Comeau, we are supposed to have a guy creating room for Bailey and Rolston and it just is not happening.

Speaking of Brian Rolston — the biggest problem I have with him may not be his fault. Why is he not a mainstay on the top power play unit opposite Mark Streit at the point is beyond comprehension. He has a cannon shot, and too often he is on a second unit and not getting a chance to unload the shot. During 5-5 play, I am wondering if time and age is catching up to him. Even if that is the case, he can still be a vastly effective Power Play specialist, but is not being used in that manner.

Defensively and in goal the Islanders have been somewhat sound with one notable exception. Though he has not to be blamed for the goals against him thus far, Rick DiPietro continues to display an immaturity that at this point will never change. We are stuck with that 5¢ head for a long, long time to come, and it will plague the Islanders unless they grow to admit the mistake and either buy him out, or waive him to Bridgeport. Either way, that mistake will have to eaten. When he is in position he is doing fine, but his first instinct when ever a puck is dumped in — always — is to leave the crease to play it. Time and time again this is the scenario. Even when 2 opposing players are barreling in hard on him, he makes that move to depart the blue paint, to play a puck. He has no idea who is coming, or how hard they are coming in because his back is turned. He is consistently bad in clearing the puck always off the half wall where defenders are prepared and intercept the puck causing a flailing DiPietro to scramble. Thus far, he has not been burned, but it has been close. Last night he was knocked to the ice ass over tea kettle behind his own net, and had it not been for a bouncing puck, the point man would have had an empty net to score on.

The rest of the blue line has been as advertised. Mark Streit is still trying to rebuild his game, and while it is improving, you can see some instability which is natural. I think it will come around soon enough. Steve Staios and Mark Eaton are more or less as we expected. Travis Hamonic is the only physical defender on the ice, and that is going to be an issue moving ahead because while it is part of his game, he is not what I would call a crease clearing big body. That element is still sorely missing from the Islanders. There is no punishing big body to be found, and as of now Scott Mayfield is the only one in the Islanders system I see as that kind of player. And he is years and years away in Denver at best. Andy MacDonald looks OK, but his injury status concerns me. Is he truly ready and 100% or still feeling the ill effects? When a player that young needs regular maintenance days, I am weary of his ability to be fully effective. I need maintenance days too — but I am fat and 40.

Coaching and Management should be lauded for attempting to be stable and rational after some tough losses. But a 10 game sample is enough…and an 0-4-2 skid is far too long to wait around and see if the Islanders should start to mix up lines or even more.

My even more would suggest that while the team is young, there are no rookies on this team right now. Travis Hamonic is the closed thing we have to a rookie. Nino Niederrietter is not here yet. When he is, then we will have a rookie. The point being — players like Comeau, Okposo, and Bailey need to understand that they are well past their rookie seasons and must be accountable for their actions — or lack of them.

The problem the Islanders have is a lack of ability to move players around. My instinct would be to bench Comeau, Bailey and Okposo — bring in Justin DiBeneditto, David Ulstrom and Michael Haley. Again — I would think that Ulstrom could center the second unit with DiBo and Grabner, followed by a third line grinding unit of Neilsen, centering Matt Martin and Haley, along with the 4th unit being comprised of Pando, Reasoner and Rolston. Move Rolston to the top of the 1st PP unit…. Perhaps Ulstrom is not ready, maybe its asking too much of unproven players? But it would be a shake-up without making crazy trades. We need hungry bodies. If nothing else, it is making an example out of Okposo — a leader on the team. Players may start to wonder — if KO is being benched, what’s my level of play like? It could be a real motivator. But with the limit at 23 bodies on an NHL roster, and the inability to send anyone to Bridgeport unless they pass through waivers, the Islanders are currently stuck.

A trade may very well be in the cards to open up the log jam. Josh Bailey has no real value, and Blake Comeau has questionable value. P.A. Parenteau could be traded with some value, but you risk messing with the only line that currently is working in the hopes that rookie Niiederreiter can step in an be the top line left wing right away. It’s risky. Art Staple reported in Newsday there were 10 scouts in the press box last night, so something might be coming…

One thing that is coming this month — The Capitals, Bruins, Devils, Canucks, Flyers, Pens, Rangers, Avalanche, Habs and Sabers. That is our November — and the reason it is make or break. If the Islanders don’t go .500 during this stretch, they are going to be in trouble. And based on what we are seeing from these opponents, the Islanders have a very tall task in front of them.

One thing I don’t advocate at this time, a coaching change. Cappy has had the team playing reasonable well from an effort position with the exception of the 3rd line. He is a steady guy and the last thing the players need is a coaching change again. Unless it becomes evident the players are completely dismissing Cappy, he should remain. That being said — he made a mistake pulling DiPietro too early last night, and I don’t like how he is using Rolston on the Power Play.  The last 3 games alone could have easily been Islander wins. The game against the Pens, was the result of a poor call against Okposo when pushed into the net bringing the game to overtime, but they played well enough to get the win. The Islanders fully outplayed the Sharks, and were screwed by the ref’s fully! The last game — the Islanders outplayed the Jets start to finish. The bounces did not go their way — not one bit.

At some point, one has to wonder — will the bounce start to break a little in the Islanders favor. Tomorrow night, the Islanders face a very tough opponent, and Cappy has already said there will be line changes. My desire would be to start Nabakov or Montoya.

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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