Newsday: Staples midseason grades

[CREW99AW]

The head coach made this pregame comment about Okposo, before yesterday's Caps game.
https://twitter.com/StapeNewsday
Arthur Staple‏@StapeNewsday
Re: Okposo, Capuano said pregame he doesn't mind mistakes as long as guys are working. Okposo works; not always smart work, but he works.
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A few things jump out in Staples article, where he grades the players. I'd give goaltending better then a C and I agree that Okposo's been the biggest disappointment. Staples points out, basically what I've thought: Snow's not selling low on 24 yr old Okposo, who's still in the cheap yrs of his deal: $2m this season and $3m next season. Get back to Snow in 2014-2015, when KO starts making really big bucks.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/colum...800?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
GOALTENDING: C
Evgeni Nabokov needed to carry the Isles through the first half without a confident backup. Rick DiPietro is in Bridgeport now, though, and Kevin Poulin has to show he can win games when playing occasionally. Nabokov has done well, but needs to do more


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Kyle Okposo
Coming off shoulder surgery that cost him half of 2010-11, Okposo's slow start last season was explainable. His current one, with two goals in the first half of this season, is less so. He's been playing with more confidence the past month with little to show for it, but he has the faith of his coaches and Garth Snow, who has rebuffed plenty of low-ball offers for the former first-round draft pick.


KEY TO THE SECOND HALF: Evgeni Nabokov
The Isles have been riding the 37-year-old goaltender through the first half, and despite a low save percentage of .905, Nabokov has provided some stability. He needs an even stronger second half, though, if the Islanders want to make a real playoff push. The Islanders are 0-10-1 when scoring fewer than three goals this season, and that's not a recipe to win playoff-type games.

 

[redbull]

Pretty generic stuff from a beat writer. I learn more about the team by listening to you bunch of anonymous putzes

 

[camper*]

Pretty generic stuff from a beat writer. I learn more about the team by listening to you bunch of anonymous putzes

pretty bland

 

[CREW99AW]

Pretty generic stuff from a beat writer. I learn more about the team by listening to you bunch of anonymous putzes

I gotta admit, I prefer to get an idea of what the coaches or gm are thinking.

I've come away from watching several games, thinking Okposo played hard and we saw one of his better efforts, only to read comments in the post game thread about what a bum he is. Get him off the team.

The only way I'm interested in seeing Okposo dealt at this point, is if he brings back say Goligoski. Or maybe Snow takes a deep breath and says the **** with Nino/Sbisa's agent, Sbisa fills a role and moves Okposo for Sbisa.


23/24 yr old Sbisa has struggled in Anaheim, with fans questioning his hockey sense. Like NYI fans question Okposo's hockey sense. Anaheim has 42 yr old Selenne, 38 yr old Koivu and Perry all becoming ufas this summer. They have very strong blueline depth.

27 yr old Goligoski has struggled this season in Dallas' top pairing, after playing well on the Pens 2nd pairing. If Snow made this deal, he'd have to let Streit go. Goligoski would be replacing Streit on the 2nd pairing.

 

[Levi Walking Bear]

B- for the defense is high considering the Isles are right near the bottom in goals against. Not that it's
Just totally on the d men but to make the play-offs they need do better in the third period.
Not that this is anything we do not know.

 

[crashthenet]

Not a great read today. A little too fluffy for my liking.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

pretty bland

Yeah, pretty much fluff.

 

[kasper11]

B- for the defense is high considering the Isles are right near the bottom in goals against. Not that it's
Just totally on the d men but to make the play-offs they need do better in the third period.
Not that this is anything we do not know.

Can somebody please explain to Staple that Offense is not the same as Forwards and Defense is not the same as Defensemen?

Pet peeve. A hockey writer should know better and use the right words.

The difference matters with a team like the Isles. The "Offense" should get an A-/B+. The team is 7th in the league in goals.

The "Defense" should get an F. The team is second to last in GA.

That said, I give both the forwards a B- and the defensemen a C+. Both groups have contributed to the offense, and both have contributed to the lack of defense. Tavares is the reason the forwards have been better as a group.

 

[Levi Walking Bear]

Can somebody please explain to Staple that Offense is not the same as Forwards and Defense is not the same as Defensemen?

Pet peeve. A hockey writer should know better and use the right words.

The difference matters with a team like the Isles. The "Offense" should get an A-/B+. The team is 7th in the league in goals.

The "Defense" should get an F. The team is second to last in GA.

That said, I give both the forwards a B- and the defensemen a C+. Both groups have contributed to the offense, and both have contributed to the lack of defense. Tavares is the reason the forwards have been better as a group.

Those grades you posted are proper. Too bad Staple has been watching something else or getting his inside
hockey info from Wang.

 

[petrocelli]

I expected a player by player ranking.. A grade for the defense in general and another for the forwards is lame... weak.