November slide?

[isles31]

Slip slidin' away

Every. $%!#$%. Year

 

[ScaredStreit]

Just wondering why most people here actually thought we'd be a playoff team again-or even be better than last year? Did people really expect every young player to improve, for Nabby not to show signs of aging, for Donovan to really replace Streit? Even if those things all happened-are we really that good of a team?

Not trying to bash anyone, I just really don't get all the love for the state of the team and the future.

 

[blinkman360]

Amazingly enough, this team is only 3 points out of a playoff spot. I know it's early, but if they can just get on the right track, they're in a fine position.

Agreed. Still too early to panic, but I do believe a new(quality/respected) head coach would go a long way. Otherwise there are at least 3 things that need to happen for us to bounce back. One would be getting healthy(Vis and Vanek, specifically). Two would be either Tavares entering beast-mode or another line picking up some of the slack(much like the Grabner-Nielsen-Bailey line to start the year). Three would be Poulin. If he can settle in and play like a #1, it would obviously go a long way.

There is a lot to be frustrated about, but still it's a little too early to completely throw in the towel. Lots of hockey left to be played.

 

[blinkman360]

Just wondering why most people here actually thought we'd be a playoff team again-or even be better than last year? Did people really expect every young player to improve, for Nabby not to show signs of aging, for Donovan to really replace Streit? Even if those things all happened-are we really that good of a team?

Not trying to bash anyone, I just really don't get all the love for the state of the team and the future.

Well, we were a playoff team. That's one. We only lost Streit, who most looked at as a complete liability defensively anyway. There were a lot of expectations riding on Donovan, and I don't think they were out of place. He was a very solid prospect. Maybe not a blue-chipper, but a guy who IMO could have been expected to give us at least what Streit gave us defensively. I think most thought the offense would take a hit from Donovan replacing Streit, but his defense has been a surprise to everyone.

Either way, the beauty of having all of these quality D-prospects is that you don't have to go with Donovan if he doesn't look up to the task, and when Reinhart outplayed him(and many others) in TC, it looked to me like he would be Streit's replacement. Unfortunately the Isles were looking too closely at the offense we were losing, and assumed Donovan would be the better fit for that spot. It's come back to bite us.

Aside from that, I do agree that it was never a guarantee for this team to make the playoffs. Regardless of how our young players developed this year(or didn't develop), I think everyone knew that if Nabby regressed we would be in trouble. Unfortunately not only has he regressed, but we lost our 2nd best defenseman, our 4th or 5th best defenseman, and our 2nd best offensive player. We were pretty thin to begin with, but this has all but crippled us.

I'd honestly like to see where we would be right now with a healthy Vis, and healthy Vanek, and Reinhart instead of Donovan. Even with Nabokov's struggles, IMO Poulin has played well enough to win in front of a solid defense.

 

[JohnTonelliRises]

^Not to mention a head coach who hasn't the slightest idea of what is going on...

 

[ScaredStreit]

Well, we were a playoff team. That's one. We only lost Streit, who most looked at as a complete liability defensively anyway. There were a lot of expectations riding on Donovan, and I don't think they were out of place. He was a very solid prospect. Maybe not a blue-chipper, but a guy who IMO could have been expected to give us at least what Streit gave us defensively. I think most thought the offense would take a hit from Donovan replacing Streit, but his defense has been a surprise to everyone.

Either way, the beauty of having all of these quality D-prospects is that you don't have to go with Donovan if he doesn't look up to the task, and when Reinhart outplayed him(and many others) in TC, it looked to me like he would be Streit's replacement. Unfortunately the Isles were looking too closely at the offense we were losing, and assumed Donovan would be the better fit for that spot. It's come back to bite us.

Aside from that, I do agree that it was never a guarantee for this team to make the playoffs. Regardless of how our young players developed this year(or didn't develop), I think everyone knew that if Nabby regressed we would be in trouble. Unfortunately not only has he regressed, but we lost our 2nd best defenseman, our 4th or 5th best defenseman, and our 2nd best offensive player. We were pretty thin to begin with, but this has all but crippled us.

I'd honestly like to see where we would be right now with a healthy Vis, and healthy Vanek, and Reinhart instead of Donovan. Even with Nabokov's struggles, IMO Poulin has played well enough to win in front of a solid defense.

We were the worst playoff team in a shortened season. If we had the same playoff setup last year as we do this year-we would have missed the playoffs (PIT, WSH, NYR in the metro) (MTL, BOS, TOR take atlantic) (OTT and DET take wild cards).

Streit was sub-par defensively-we all know that. But he wasn't terrible. He was also great on the PP, if for nothing else he could create to create more space for Vis/whoever else were to play the point. Anybody who thought that Donovan was going to be able to replace Streit was kidding themselves (and yes I said this in the offseason). Donovan is a young defensemen-and it's very rare that a 23 year old defensemen jumps into the league and isn't a liability on defense. (for the record I don't think Streit is worth what he got paid-BUT we have a plethora of cap space and most of our core locked up so I honestly don't think it would have been an awful signing-especially considering Yashin's $2.2million is rolling of soon).

Injuries are a part of the game-this is hockey. Every team deals with it. It's not a good excuse. Deep/good teams still find ways to win while dealing with injuries.

I agree with you on Poulin. I think he's played well enough most nights for the Isles to win. At this point I think he's a goaltender who's not going to steal many games-but not blow many games either. He's one of the bright spots on the team so far.

 

[MDIsles]

Don't look now but the Isles are last in the Metro. No please, don't look.

Can't wait for the "We Suck" chants at the old barn to start soon!!!