Bridgeport Islanders Discussion 2021-22: Playoffs Start May 2

[MJF]

I guess some cults are built on the trust that the head can do no wrong and I think many here seem to carry that mindset. It’s quite simple if we have a losing AHL team , we either draft poorly or develop poorly which is where Thompson comes in. Just pick

Drafted poorly for most of Thompson’s tenure. I don't see how that's debatable.

But if we had drafted well, most of those players would have bypassed the AHL and gone right to the NHL from their amateur teams.

 

[MJF]

Did anyone notice yesterday Thompson dressed 8 defensemen? I can't think of which 2 had to play on a forward line. I also don't know if Dal Colle or any other forward is hurt

 

[Seph]

I’ll continue the debate. Why not?

The only forward who spent meaningful time with him was Cizikas. He wasn’t there for Beau, Lee, Nelson or Martin.

Meanwhile, there have been many high picks that never developed under his regime. We can blame Nino and JHS all we want but a solid mentor might’ve helped irrespective of his coaching abilities. Carter Verhaege is looking like a fail too, no?

So, if you are complaining about his development of players, then apparently I was not exaggerating what you were saying to make a point. In which case, you already have my response above.

Also, Verhaege is very much looking like a success in terms of development. Or are we blaming Thompson for trading him away?

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I’ll continue the debate. Why not?

The only forward who spent meaningful time with him was Cizikas. He wasn’t there for Beau, Lee, Nelson or Martin.

Meanwhile, there have been many high picks that never developed under his regime. We can blame Nino and JHS all we want but a solid mentor might’ve helped irrespective of his coaching abilities. Carter Verhaege is looking like a fail too, no?

Actually, we've had this discussion here in this thread more than several times over the years.

The key question has ALWAYS been the following:
Which highly rated forward failed under Thompson's tutelage in BPort, was let loose, and went elsewhere to thrive?

And the answer is none. Not a single one.

Not one NHL-caliber player who was a hot prospect, much less a surefire blue chipper, was placed in Thompson's hands and went on to fail, only to make it with another club.

And before anyone throws Verhaege into the equation (who was sooo highly rated as a what, a 4th rounder(?), that he was one of five contracts moved to the Island in the Grabner deal), remember that he was traded by Snow to pick up a 3rd string goalie. At that time, he had played well in the ECHL and then came up to BPort and started looking good - under Thompson's tutelage.

Snow used him as an asset to gain an asset. Nothing Thompson can do about that.

Verhaeghe then spent another 3 years in the AHL before he really got a shot and has ultimately - bit by bit - taken advantage of it. And more power to him! Awesome story there.

But he didn't fail under Thompson's tutelage. He wasn't some blue chipper we were all banking on who we let down and then he nailed it elsewhere.

As for JHS, he was a homerun risk from Day 1. He was a risk that Snow clearly was willing to take. Many around Islanderville fandom felt he didn't get a fair shake of the stick. Then again, it's not like he ever ripped apart the AHL offensively and then he went to Sweden late last season and bombed - not for one team, but for two. Could he still make it? Sure... but it ain't happening here and it ain't happening for teams where accountability plays such a huge role in the franchise culture.

BTW, bad move throwing out Nino Niederreiter's name in this scenario.

1) That the Islanders threw him into the fire on the fourth line with Pandolfo and Reasoner to the tune of 1 point in 55 games was HARDLY Thompson's fault. He actually had 3 goals and four points in six games on the farm under Thompson's guise that season.
2) Nino then spent the entire ensuing seaon in BPort, where he had 28-22-50 in 74 games. But guess what - Thompson wasn't the coach. He was an assistant up on the Island that season.

There's literally like next to no connection between Thompson and Niederreiter.

But looking at it factually, as far as AHL production is concerned, Nino basically killed it in the A at that young stage of his career. That Snow had problems with Nino's agent and Nino himself was disgruntled is an entirely different topic.

***
I understand thoroughly the questioning behind whether there should be a coaching change at the AHL level. I do.

And it's clear that Thompson's claim to development fame lies in blueliners as he had major working time with de Haan, Pulock, Pelech, Mayfield, and Toews.

But we're not being sincere in pretending that there were some really promising forwards who were clearly ruined by Thompson. The forwards of note that this team has drafted pretty much skipped the AHL. Those who didn't, namely Dal Colle and Holmstrom, have each seen gradual progress over three seasons of AHL activity, respectively. Heck, unexpected prospect returns have been seen under Thompson in cases such as Koivula's.

There just isn't any solid argument that Thompson has failed to squeeze NHL water out of raw stones that should have, well, seen NHL water squeezed out of them.

 

[The Real JT]

While I don’t agree with everything you wrote, you made some excellent points.

Not to be a d!ck but I had to throw one of your optimistic preseason posts in above to make a point.
Edit: Your post didn’t get inserted but you were optimistic regarding the talent level preseason.

Since when does winning not matter? Yes, the AHL is a developmental league but there’s too much talent there not to be at least average.

I may not convince you today but Thompson will be let go sooner or later.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Not to be a d!ck but I had to throw one of your optimistic preseason posts in above to make a point.
Edit: Your post didn’t get inserted but you were optimistic regarding the talent level preseason.

Over the years, I have admittedly contributed more than my fair share of too positive - and too negative - posts.

Since when does winning not matter? Yes, the AHL is a developmental league but there’s too much talent there not to be at least average.

There's sound logic in feeling a culture of winning is surely worth striving for and one can't help but think our franchise somehow has decided not to place much emphasis on that the past decade.

When we've talked about this point over time, we've kind of looked at what veteran personnel has been brought in as well as just how good our prospects have been in recent years, especially in the goaltending department. I've often thought we looked halfway decent on paper, but then looked around the league at some other rosters and noticed that most other teams had some bonafide AHL vets (often ex-NHLers or proven topscorers) who were still in a productive phase of their careers. You know, the kind we seem to have right now in Andreoff, Terry, and Czarnik.

As others have mentioned above, we've had our fair share of poor drafts over the past decade.

I certainly can't argue that Thompson is a "winner". I also can't argue that winning has been something his bosses have been demanding of him.

It would have been nice to win more, but if you don't really have the horses and it's not the goal of your operation...

Moreover, how many coaches out there in the AHL are simply better than Thompson? How do folks in the AHL business view his body of work compared to his peers?

Would be intersting to hear about from a correspondingly informed source.

I may not convince you today but Thompson will be let go sooner or later.

There will be a time in which Thompson is no longer the head coach of the Bridgeport Islanders. I thoroughly agree.

 

[BarzyClub]

Did anyone notice yesterday Thompson dressed 8 defensemen? I can't think of which 2 had to play on a forward line. I also don't know if Dal Colle or any other forward is hurt

Was wondering where Bardreau and MDC were…

 

[MJF]

Was wondering where Bardreau and MDC were…

I think MDC has played in just 1 game for BPI. Not sure if he or Bardreau are hurt.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

I think MDC has played in just 1 game for BPI. Not sure if he or Bardreau are hurt.

Both are hurt, week to week based on what Thompson said a couple weeks ago.

 

[MJF]

Both are hurt, week to week based on what Thompson said a couple weeks ago.

Thanks.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Salo now up to 8 pts this season. Promising for next season most likely.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Robin Salo goal from 11/12/21

 

[JKP]

Robin Salo goal from 11/12/21

A power play goal!! Forgot what those look like...

 

[doublechili]

Robin Salo goal from 11/12/21

Bailey looked good in that clip!

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Bailey looked good in that clip!

Explains why he has been so listless this season. Unbeknownst to most of us, he's been splitting time with BP is his spare time. lol

 

[seafoam]

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

He’s not in tonight so decent chance he is practicing with isles tomorrow at UBS. I’m not convinced he is ready yet but seeing him in AHL he is smooth puck mover as advertised and isn’t a disaster in his own end. His ability is sorely lacking on our blue line so hopefully he is ready.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

For those watching....

Bridgeport is now 5-10 in 15 games. Sure, three of those losses were in OT.

Yesterday, they gave up a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Hartford.

This is what I want to know...

I keep seeing that Koivula, Durandeau, Holmstrom, and even the likes of Jenkins, MacLean, and Coskey are getting on the scoresheet.

So, uhhh, what are Terry, Andreoff, Czarnik, and Panik doing? How is this team losing 66% of its games?

I mean, these guys are supposed to be the difference makers this year.

 

[BarzyClub]

My take :

-they’re Top 10 in the A scoring
-Given up the most goals in the league
-Golyshev has cooled off and is scoreless in the last 6
-Panik is a -8 . Looks like he’s really not into the whole playing defense in the AHL thing.
-lots of moving parts in and out of the lineup with the veteran rule . Tough to retain chemistry that way.
-Appleby should be up with Skarek . Time to cut ties with Schneider
-Bolduc, Hutton , Ladue are slowly getting up to speed
-Vets are letting the younger guys develop.Czarnik and Andreoff are actually shooting a lot and Terry’s looking good.
-Need more commitment to team defense . Guys are running around and not playing their position

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

For those watching....

Bridgeport is now 5-10 in 15 games. Sure, three of those losses were in OT.

Yesterday, they gave up a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Hartford.

This is what I want to know...

I keep seeing that Koivula, Durandeau, Holmstrom, and even the likes of Jenkins, MacLean, and Coskey are getting on the scoresheet.

So, uhhh, what are Terry, Andreoff, Czarnik, and Panik doing? How is this team losing 66% of its games?

I mean, these guys are supposed to be the difference makers this year.

Young players have played pretty good, Panik has been better lately but at beginning looked like a guy not wanting to play in AHL. They get goaltending and they win and when they don’t they lose it’s simplistic but in most of losses there has been at least one questionable goal allowed. Golyshev hasn’t done much since the early streak, the issue is also they have lack of centers who can produce offense. It’s organizational issue, Koivula isn’t a center even though he is playing center. I really was interested in Adams but he ended up in ECHL so who knows what they saw in camp with him.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

For those that have watched BP games, who has been their best fwd this season. Looks like a call up will be forthcoming, would prefer a call up on merit. Looks like Panik doesn't deserve to be called up looking at his stats line.

 

[PK Cronin]

For those that have watched BP games, who has been their best fwd this season. Looks like a call up will be forthcoming, would prefer a call up on merit. Looks like Panik doesn't deserve to be called up looking at his stats line.

It's not always about stats though. Panik is/was an NHLer who understands his role and can play it effectively. He won't be overwhelmed with the moment and will provide some stability out there as a veteran who can be trusted to not mess up, which is sometimes what Trotz is looking for more than anything. I wouldn't mind seeing Golyshev get his look now though, this seems like the moment he's been waiting for. They also likely need to bring up two bodies just to have an extra.

 

[DerekKingSnipes]

For those that have watched BP games, who has been their best fwd this season. Looks like a call up will be forthcoming, would prefer a call up on merit. Looks like Panik doesn't deserve to be called up looking at his stats line.

Koivula easily, Durandeau would be next along Maclean who I don’t think has NHL contract.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

It's not always about stats though. Panik is/was an NHLer who understands his role and can play it effectively. He won't be overwhelmed with the moment and will provide some stability out there as a veteran who can be trusted to not mess up, which is sometimes what Trotz is looking for more than anything. I wouldn't mind seeing Golyshev get his look now though, this seems like the moment he's been waiting for. They also likely need to bring up two bodies just to have an extra.

I don't think we can count on the Trotz dimension the he prefers vets over young players 100% of the time anymore. Though In more cases than not, he will lean on the veteran more. I think this had more to do with the Isles not having many younger options. I think the Salo call up over the trusted vet in Hickey is a positive sign he has a higher risk to reward outlook. He also showed this with Sorokin last year in the playoffs. If a younger player can play, he will use them.

 

[MJF]