All Entries Tagged With: "john tavares"
Top-20 best bang-for-the-buck NHL forwards in 2010-11
Yesterday I had a look at the worst goal scorers in the NHL compared to their 2010-11 actual salary, and without any surprise Scott Gomez was ranked number one at $1,142,857 per goal (7 goals for $8,000,000) more than $400,000 per goal than Matt Stajan who was ranked second. The list was not unanimous, as [...]
Backchecking: A Season Lost To Hope – Part 1
It has been a long while since I wrote a post about the Islanders, which is not for a lack of desire. Work has monopolized my time of late making it difficult to make posts these last several weeks. But it was not for a lack of desire to comment on a variety of observations [...]
Backchecking: Isles Send An Old Long Island Message — But Will it Stand?
In literally beating the Penguins last night, the New York Islanders seemed to respond to recent editorials, articles and blogs made through a number of different outlets over the last few weeks. There have been several calls to action for the Islanders players and coaching staff to have the Islander players begin to develop a [...]
Backchecking: “Thank you sir, may I have another?”
In the past two games, the New York Islanders have sent a clear message to the 29 other teams in the league. That message? “Thank you sir, may I have another?” Against the Penguins, the Isles were thrown around like rag dolls. Not the first time that has happened this season. Last night, John Tavares [...]
Backchecking: Moulson Says YES to the Island! Signs Extension!
Number 91, John Tavares and Number 26, Matt Moulson will be skating together for the New York Islanders until at least 2014 Breaking news: The Islanders did something good. Actually they did something very good. They signed a free agent. Not only did they sign a free agent, they did not, in my opinion have [...]
Backchecking: The Scrapheap Boys — Matt Moulson
There is not all that much to be happy about as Islander fans these days. The team is once again at the bottom of the NHL — sitting in 29th place at the midway point of the season. There is little hope that the Islanders can attract free agents in the summer, which is par [...]
Backchecking: Winning Some Games Through The Pain
If there is one thing that the New York Islanders have excelled at over the past 4 seasons — where they are among the league lead in the NHL and in fact the hockey world — injuries. The 2010-11 campaign is no different. The roller coaster season which started in solid fashion, also kicked off [...]
DAILY RUMORS: Could Tavares Refuse to Re-sign To Isles? One Canadian Writer Thinks So…
No question times are tough for the New York Islanders. Mired in a miserable 13-game losing skid. Their head coach unceremoniously dumped. A popular, well-connected Islanders blogger denied media credentials by a seemingly vindictive front office. An owner perceived unwilling or unable to spend what’s necessary to improve the team. The fan-base frustrated and dwindling. [...]
Backchecking: When Do The Isles Turn The Corner?
In the wake of Scott Gordon’s firing, Islander fans are left wondering yet again when the tide will turn for a franchise setting new records for futility. Most fans have been understanding when it comes to rebuilding the franchise’s on ice product. They can be reasonable — when medicated — and clearly see that what [...]
Backchecking: Scott Gordon Fired —Now What?
This morning we have learned that 10 games in a row is 10 games too many even for the patient Garth Snow. Scott Gordon was let go by the Isles this morning after 10 losses — and earning only 1 point over those 10 games. They have gone from top team in the NHL to [...]
Backchecking: Fans Participate in the Pointing Process
In the past couple of weeks, Islander fans and the media have already begun the downward fall of the Islanders season though the calendar is just into November. Fans on blogs and boards are calling for the termination of Scott Gordon, speculating as to who should replace him, “because we need a real coach.” And [...]
Backchecking: Panic Befalls The Islander Fan
So much for my last post warning that Doomsday was not upon us — if you gauge the average Islander fan, 4 losses in a row bring unyielding and wild panic. Fascinating! I only wonder if some of these frantic fans have ever played a competitive sporting event in their lives. I can understand the [...]
Backchecking: The Goat and The Hero
Perhaps it is easy to be at home to watch a game and make coaching suggestions. But in a game the Islanders should have won, with unbelievable heroics by John Tavares — Rick Dipietro wastes it and hands a game to the Panthers last night in Florida. While former Islander General Manager Bill Torrey was [...]
Backchecking: Good Teams Make The Breaks — Also: A-Mac Out 4-6 Weeks
(See below for News on Andy MacDonald) The Islanders of the lates 1970s and early 1980s found ways to win. If you are reading this and you are not familiar with the games from those days, see if you can find them online, or in some other form. It was like a ballet of perfection. [...]
Backchecking: Islanders Pluck Leafs — Steal A Road Win
Gutsy is an understatement. Coming into a hostile Air Canada Center last night the Islanders faced a Leaf’s team that had not lost a game this season. Through a little more then 60 minutes of playing time, a little luck, some fantastic goaltending and an exceptional overall team effort, the New York Islanders ended the [...]
Penguins Still Searching for First Home Win
The Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Islanders tonight on the front end of back to back games. This will be the fourth attempt by the Pens to win a game in their new digs, The Consol Energy Center. Already fans are dropping the word curse due to the Penguins less than stellar losing ways [...]
Game 1 – Blame DiPietro, Game 2 – Blame Gordon?
Its 12:30 on Monday, and this is unfortunately the first time I have had the chance to post my thoughts on the Islanders’ season opener, and what is a question mark move as the Islanders gear up for Game #2 against the hated New York Rangers for a Columbus Day matinee. First and foremost — [...]
Islanders Enter 2010 Season With Questions
As the Islanders begin the 2010-2011 season they enter with more questions then GM Garth Snow would have anticipated. With devastating training camp injuries to the 2 most important players on the team, Scott Gordon now has the challenge of figuring out who his number 1 defenseman and top forward will be. Mark Streit will [...]
Forechecking: The Wait and Debate Is Over — Islanders vs Stars
The time for all the observing and reporting is done. The time to speculate on who is coming and who is going is finished. The ministrations of management, the hollow promises from Hempstead, and all of the off ice stupidity of the summer is now in the past. Like it or not, this is the [...]
The “IF”landers — Can They Succeed in 2010-11?
I’m not too big on predictions for any sports team. There is no telling what can happen in any given game, let alone a season of 82 NHL games. We can be somewhat certain that the Capitals, Penguins, Blackhawks, Cannucks, Sharks, and Devils will all be high end teams — likely the tops in the [...]
