Probably 2008 pre All Star break when we were flirting with the division, taking the lead (or tying) at various points. Then DP went down. Then we became the worst team in the league.
We tanked late that season when there was no hope for a pick. At least I like to think.
We tanked late that season when there was no hope for a pick. At least I like to think.
I don't really think so. All those injuries and two backup goalies that were used as a tandem. I can believe that Campoli and Comrie would have said at least something veiled about the team tanking, if it was even remotely true. (I bring them up because they would have the opportunity to do so)
That dropping in the stands seems to correlate with the injury to DP and almost weekly injuries to almost every guy on defense last year in the second half.
But believe what you want.
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New York Yankees 2009 World Champions!
Great, we now have fans of this once storied franchise suggesting that it "tanked" (insufferable HF word of delusional types who project on to others their own tendency to quit when things get tough) last season, without a hint of discomfort.
I was wondering if anyone else heard that last night. Renney, former coach of the Isles' mortal enemy, seems certain they will be a playoff team THIS year. Color me surprised, though my inner homer has felt they'll finish as a #6-8 seed (if they can remain moderately healthy) even after the miserable first few weeks of the season. I still wouldn't place any money on them making it, but if they keep their confidence up and continue playing like they have the last few games, they'll be a shoe-in.
As it has been said many times around here good goaltending will carry the team a long way. IMO the (on paper awful) Isles D has made significant progress the last couple of games and made the opp shoot from further away than during the dreaded loosingstreak - that has allowed Roloson/Biron to control the rebounds.
Gervais is finding his feet, Streit is getting back to his old self and Sutton has been nothing short of magnificent (considering it is..... well, Sutton). Martinek has stunked though....
BUT the november-schedule has a lot of road games (so far only one road win - OT against Caps). Many questions are easier to answer after the Leafs game Nov 23.
poor goaltending hurts you for more than great goaltending helps you.
- poor goaltending can make even great teams lose games (see detroit)
- great goaltending can only moderately help a bad hockey team
goaltending was a key factor in the isles finishing last....and it exposed some of the weaker players on the roster even more, especially on defense.
although the defense (and whole team) is healthier this year (knock on everything), the lack of talent and depth cannot be overcome in the long term, even with good goaltending.
that said, the progress we have seen (very recently) and expect to see this year will be a direct result of the play of a handful of players: okposo, tavares, nielsen, streit, bailey
these core players have significant upside (in varying degrees, of course) but these are the players that make or break this team.
players like weight, hunter, the 4th line, etc - what you see is what you get, they won't improve much at this stage but need to be healthy.
hopefully, the surprises (moulson, tamby so far) will give that extra dimension but I'm not sold on these players as yet - optimistic though.
others, like bergy, comeau, schremp - need to show more - all teams have players in this category.
the defense is troubling because we only have streit and a lot of marginal NHL players, none of whom are getting better. The next wave of defense is 2+ years away from even making the team IMO. This needs to be addressed - despite the short term successes we've seen, in spurts.
tavares has been better than i expected. okposo has been as good as expected. these players will lead us up the standings and that's the progress i'm hoping for and expecting.
the playoffs, maybe a bit far-fetched at this stage but who knows....colorado's in first place!
poor goaltending hurts you for more than great goaltending helps you.
although the defense (and whole team) is healthier this year (knock on everything), the lack of talent and depth cannot be overcome in the long term, even with good goaltending.
Yep and here's hoping our current tandem plus the reconvalescent Dipietro end up stealing their fair share of games this year. That'll ultimately be necessary if this club is gonna fight for one of the last two playoff spots.
The defense seems to be "confident" in the goaltenders and the goalies are, of course, allowing the defensive group to look less deficient - something last year's tandem couldn't often do.
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hopefully, the surprises (moulson, tamby so far) will give that extra dimension but I'm not sold on these players as yet - optimistic though.
I'm not sold either.... both will hopefully continue to etch out their nitch as NHL regulars, but Moulson has - as expected - been slown down in the goalscoring department and Tambellini looked VERY human again last night.
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others, like bergy, comeau, schremp - need to show more - all teams have players in this category.
Going back to playoff hopes, we're gonna need these types of players to have some offensive impact along the way. Comeau is the most likely candidate.
Fact is, our first line is certainly NOT a first line by any traditional understanding of the term and will be shut down more nights than not. For a shot at the playoffs, not only will the odd contributions from other lines be necessary, but another line must be found that scores as much if not more than our supposed first line.
I still believe that once these guys are all healthy at the same time, some combination of the following will give us THE best opportunity to find that regular 2nd line scoring.
I know that the mandate thus far is to have Tavares be a center, but the first 15 games have shown that although the odd scoring will happen, it can't be assumed that we're gonna be in the playoff hunt with the current line constellations. Really... if Pitt could put Sidney on the wing his freshman year, then it simply has to be tried with Tavares at some point and NO-ONE on this team can currently dish off the puck like Weight can.
Aside from earning the ice time (always good), I really think that the Comeau-Bailey-Okposo line was often our best last year. It hasn't been tried even once this season, and from a pure chemistry standpoint, I believe Bailey profits considerably from having the stronger, puck-possession-loving Comeau and Okposo on his line. Both can pass and shoot enough to still make use of each other.
But heck, if Comeau is having his problems in Gordon's eyes, then we'll have to wait a while for this line.
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the defense is troubling because we only have streit and a lot of marginal NHL players, none of whom are getting better. The next wave of defense is 2+ years away from even making the team IMO. This needs to be addressed - despite the short term successes we've seen, in spurts.
See it the same way. And even Streit isn't looking as good or effective as last season. de Haan and Hamonic look to be the system's only D with top 4 potential and who could make an impact within two seasons. No quick fixes here.
To note though, MacDonald is doing fairly well in BPort this year, seemingly raising his game to yet another level thus far in the season.
However, with respect to the bolded part above, I do believe we're seeing Hillen getting better and better. What upside he actually has is probably minimal, but we should be fair in his case, because he is looking more and more solid and does rush that puck a bit better than just about every Dman we have. This will be his first full NHL season (from the look of things). I, for example, can see why he is in the line-up instead of Freddy Meyer. In addition, he seems to be helping Witt be more solid and secure. They appear to be mutually beneficial.
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tavares has been better than i expected. okposo has been as good as expected. these players will lead us up the standings and that's the progress i'm hoping for and expecting.
the playoffs, maybe a bit far-fetched at this stage but who knows....colorado's in first place!
last place, hopefully never again.
Amen.... once again, both Okposo and Tavares are gonna hit walls this year. I'd even say they've kind of hit one already, despite the recent team success. Constant tweeking of their games has to be made.
In summary, after 15 games, I'd say the keys to making a run at the 8th playoff spot are gonna be:
A) Goaltending even being able to steal a few games on its own.
B) A second scoring line presenting itself as a regular threat.
If the rest remains as has been, then these two categories will be the difference-makers, IMHO.
[quote=CIsle] but Moulson has - as expected - been slown down in the goalscoring department and Tambellini looked VERY human again last night.
In my opinion, the line of weight, bailey, and tambellini was the best of any line last night. While Tambellini looked "human", the rest of the lines didn't generate squat. Say what you will, but Tambellini was generating chances, in the right position, and initiating contact. He was a bright spot last night, along with Bailey.
Great, we now have fans of this once storied franchise suggesting that it "tanked" (insufferable HF word of delusional types who project on to others their own tendency to quit when things get tough) last season, without a hint of discomfort.
No words....
Not the players.....not one of them. (someone did go shopping for talent at the thrift store exclusively, though.....)
Not the players.....not one of them. (someone did go shopping for talent at the thrift store exclusively, though.....)
odd thing is, Moulson has been far better than Tanguay in the few games they've played for their respective teams this year.
I've seen a few Tampa games and Tanguay looks completely lost out there. Were it not for the name on the jersey, he'd be scratched - he's that bad. Vinny has looked equally horrible, but I'd say he's earned the right to play through it.
Not saying that thrift store shopping is at all preferable, nor that Moulson is better than Tanguay, but for the many times we chastise our owner, gm, coach for poor decisions, we don't often applaud them for great non-moves.
Namely: Komisarek
I admit I wanted him signed (although I always hated his play with the puck and how he often jumped out of position to pretend to be Scott Stevens) - he's been horrid in Toronto.
Tanguay, Beauchemin - all been disappointments.
I don't think these are necessarily smart GM moves or non-moves, it's likely they are a result of fiscal constraints - but we can't know for sure.
Like when we decided not to re-sign Blake.
Or when we decided to keep the #1 pick and Chara, rather than grab Yashin and Muckalt - oops?!
As much as I like hearing this from Fischler and Renney I am not buying this.
The stretch run to solidify a post season berth is entirely different than any 4 game winning streak in late October and early November. On top of that, this teams D is really limited and easily exposed.
Stretch run hockey you have limit your mistakes and this D corp is simply not capable of that. Last night it was evident that when this team plays something like 5 games in 8 nights the D corp becomes royally exposed.
There no one back their that can excute clean tape to tape stretch passes and outlet passes. It limits your transition game as well as ability to take advantage of situation where you have numbers going the other way.
This team is not a playoff team. They will probably tease us all to about late January or early february.
odd thing is, Moulson has been far better than Tanguay in the few games they've played for their respective teams this year.
I've seen a few Tampa games and Tanguay looks completely lost out there. Were it not for the name on the jersey, he'd be scratched - he's that bad. Vinny has looked equally horrible, but I'd say he's earned the right to play through it.
Not saying that thrift store shopping is at all preferable, nor that Moulson is better than Tanguay, but for the many times we chastise our owner, gm, coach for poor decisions, we don't often applaud them for great non-moves.
Namely: Komisarek
I admit I wanted him signed (although I always hated his play with the puck and how he often jumped out of position to pretend to be Scott Stevens) - he's been horrid in Toronto.
Tanguay, Beauchemin - all been disappointments.
I don't think these are necessarily smart GM moves or non-moves, it's likely they are a result of fiscal constraints - but we can't know for sure.
Like when we decided not to re-sign Blake.
Or when we decided to keep the #1 pick and Chara, rather than grab Yashin and Muckalt - oops?!
I too wanted Tanguay, and was excited about the possibility of signing Komisarek this offseason. While the season is still young, and the players you mentioned may still turn it around, the evidence against signing UFAs just keeps piling on. If you make a list (since the lockout) of all the successful UFA signings, you'd find most to be huge dissapointments. There are a few exceptions: Chara, Savard, can't think of anymore off the top of my head.
Usually it's the minor moves that put teams over the top. The Red Wings drafting and developing 3rd round pick Franzen. Bruins signing Wheeler, developing Lucic and Krejci. The Streit signing for us last year, and so on.
Fans aren't patient though, and mistakenly think that more money spent will translate into significant winning bumps. What's more troubling is that some GMs think this way too.
I don't really think so. All those injuries and two backup goalies that were used as a tandem. I can believe that Campoli and Comrie would have said at least something veiled about the team tanking, if it was even remotely true. (I bring them up because they would have the opportunity to do so)
That dropping in the stands seems to correlate with the injury to DP and almost weekly injuries to almost every guy on defense last year in the second half.
But believe what you want.
I'm talking about 2007-2008, DP's allstar year, when we lost all hope (after being in a playoff spot with about 2/3's left in the season) we threw it out to get a good draft position. Which we gave up to pick up Bailey. Not last year 2008-2009. Sorry bout the misunderstanding.
odd thing is, Moulson has been far better than Tanguay in the few games they've played for their respective teams this year.
Beware October's "stars".
Personally, I want Tanguay once the calendar turns to a new year and the games take on a different importance. Talent wills out. He's got more than Moulson.
Impatient me.
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Any Islanders fans who actually watched this embarassment last season and then has the...um, whatever to suggest this team tried to lose ("tannnnnked" ) is beyond delusional.
No strings needed to be pulled by the front office to facilitate failure. (As if that actually happens, anyway.)
The team on the ice sucked! Or are some still in ****ing denial?
Last edited by Trottier: 11-05-2009 at 11:15 PM.
Reason: spelling
Personally, I want Tanguay once the calendar turns to a new year and the games take on a different importance. Talent wills out. He's got more than Moulson.
Impatient me.
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Any Islanders fans who actually watched this embarassment last season and then has the...um, whatever to suggest this team tried to lose ("tannnnnked" ) is beyond delusional.
No strings needed to be pulled by the front office to facilitate failure. (As if that actually happens, anyway.)
The team on the ice sucked! Or are some still in ****ing denial?
I agree with you, but you can't fault this type of reaction after the team gives the fans a semblance of winning for the first time in two years.
This is not a playoff team unless Dipietro returns to All-star form and does some serious damage. With that said, we all desire PROGRESS, and we are receiving progress.
I'll take what I can get. Let's get a win in NJ tomorrow night.
) is beyond delusional.
