The Calm Down Thread

[Islander Prophet]

oh my, trying to stay calm here is something I'm not sure I'm capable of doing...unfortunately until we start winning some games

 

[scott99]

This is still a very flawed team. Anyone who thought the playoffs were a lock with this squad was kidding themselves.

I expect them to be in the race come March but they are what they are - a mediocre team.

I knew the minute they didn't go after a solid d-man or goalie in the offseason, we weren't going anywhere. The 2-0-1 start was just a mirage. We are now 4-9-2 since then. 10 points out of a possible 30. Trust me, they won't be in the race in March. The most exciting hockey we will be watching in these parts, will be on TV, the WJHC in Dec/Jan and the Olympics in February.

 

[Paulinho]

More like...

Reality.

 

[blinkman360]

More like...

Reality.

LOL. That Cappy shot is epic.

 

[DPSNAGS]

Garth needs to Add depth to our D. All it is. You will not win games in the NHL when donovan/carkner/ness/hickey/martinek round out the bottom 4 of our team. Maybe Macdonald isnt having his best season but the lack of depth for this defense is the teams most glaring need. More than goaltending at this point.

If this continues for another week, time for garth to make a move. EDM made a move to try to salvage their season with BRYZ. if this continues, may be time for garth to pull the trigger for a defenseman

 

[Wedregast]

Garth needs to Add depth to our D. All it is. You will not win games in the NHL when donovan/carkner/ness/hickey/martinek round out the bottom 4 of our team. Maybe Macdonald isnt having his best season but the lack of depth for this defense is the teams most glaring need. More than goaltending at this point.

If this continues for another week, time for garth to make a move. EDM made a move to try to salvage their season with BRYZ. if this continues, may be time for garth to pull the trigger for a defenseman

Yeah, I agree. Having Donovan/Ness/Carkner on any teams top 6 will cause any team to tailspin.

 

[BTrotts19]

As poorly (and we have been down right awful) as we have played against a relatively weak schedule, we have also beaten Pittsburgh, Boston and Phoenix-3 of the better teams in the league. This is truly one of the most bi-polar teams I have seen in recent memory. The worst regression has been Nabby. Another year older but I was quite satisfied with his regular season play last year. He got burnt out in the playoffs and that Pittsburgh team was loaded. This year however, he really needs to step aside. Do I have full faith and confidence in Poulin, of course not, but this is the year we need to give him a full tryout to see what we have in him. This team was NEVER going to challenge for the Cup this year. Injuries have hurt us (Viz most notably) but to think that because Viz and Strait got hurt cost us a run in the playoffs is crazy. Strait, while better defensively than most of our current D, is not a difference maker, he's just a little less bad. With all that said, is it completely out of the question we make a run-NO. Maybe TV comes back and develops some chemistry with JT. Maybe PMB gets out of this current crapfest he is laying and regularly contributes shakehead). Maybe the defense gets into a routine and learns where their partner is and can keep the lid on for most of the games and maybe Coach Nitwit develops some trust in Poulin and he actually pans out. I think the offense will be fine, over the course of the season. The PK, we are not THIS bad,at some point we swing the pendulum the other way and it begins to look good again.

I figured this season would be a half step back, but thought it would be more due to Neslon, Donovan and maybe one other rookie developing and Nabby having a slight regression from last year. Donovan has been disappointing, Nelson gets an incomplete but has looked pretty good in games he has played and Nabby, well he has really killed us in some of our closer games. Poulin has looked better than I thought so need to hope he has turned the corner but won't know until he gets a fair shot. I think we can still make a run at the playoffs-not gonna go deep but that is fine IF Nelson, Donovan and Poulin get a chance to develop.

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Our "high powered" offense has faced a lot of backup goalies, with little or no success. Factor that in with our defense that cannot defend, add in our goalie problem, and multiply by our ownership/management disaster.
You are right, I feel better already.

 

[stranger34]

Our "high powered" offense has faced a lot of backup goalies, with little or no success. Factor that in with our defense that cannot defend, add in our goalie problem, and multiply by our ownership/management disaster.
You are right, I feel better already.

The offense was fine until Moulson got traded and Visnovsky got hurt.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Trust me, they won't be in the race in March.

They should be. There will still be 20+ games left. There will only be one or two teams that will no longer have a realistic chance at the playoffs at that point and I don't think the Isles will be one of those teams.

 

[blinkman360]

Our "high powered" offense has faced a lot of backup goalies, with little or no success. Factor that in with our defense that cannot defend, add in our goalie problem, and multiply by our ownership/management disaster.
You are right, I feel better already.

I don't see a problem with the offense/forwards. The forward personnel makes little difference when you are spending 75% of the time in your own zone, due to your defense being absolutely pitiful.

Honestly, our forwards are literally the last thing on my mind.

 

[Riseonfire]

I don't see a problem with the offense/forwards. The forward personnel makes little difference when you are spending 75% of the time in your own zone, due to your defense being absolutely pitiful.

Honestly, our forwards are literally the last thing on my mind.

I agree. Our offence is suffering because our forwards are getting tired in their defensive zone. By the time we get the puck we need to dump it in and change. Then repeat.

 

[rikker]

It's been 4 games.

Isles are 6-9-3 for 15 points in 18 games

Last year:

Isles were 8-9-1 for 17 points in 18 games. Including a stretch where they lost 5 in a row and 7 of 9.

That is a difference of only 2 points!

I hate seeing comments like "I'm done" or "This team blows." Yeah it looks bad right now, but it always looks bad when you are losing a few in a row. It happens to every team and it seems to always happen to the Isles in November. After that they go on this tear and everyone will say "With the way the Isles are playing, we can beat any team."

I'm upset with the teams performance lately, but I know they will bounce back and I'm not ready to jump ship and this is a thread for people to be optimistic. The Isles will turn it around because this is the same group of guys from last year and they know they have it inside of them.

wow. just goes to show, that some don't even read the posts. they just jump in with both stomping-feet, ready to stomp on any kind of hope or positivity. after you posted this, i thought, "wow. maybe we CAN have one thread in which the same old negativity isn't found".

i am wrong. sorry dude, good try though. maybe we can start our own discussion board, where i don't come away after reading, feeling like a non-profit psycho-therapist, trying to talk most down from the ledge.

kool-aid, delusional, Snow lover... here it comes. can't wait...

just curious, mods. how do you define a troll? if someone NEVER says anything positive, is that being a troll? i know if i always talked about everything being perfect, i would be ridiculed. seems like the negatrons take over EVERY thread.

but whatever. come at me...

 

[MattMartin]

wow. just goes to show, that some don't even read the posts. they just jump in with both stomping-feet, ready to stomp on any kind of hope or positivity. after you posted this, i thought, "wow. maybe we CAN have one thread in which the same old negativity isn't found".

i am wrong. sorry dude, good try though. maybe we can start our own discussion board, where i don't come away after reading, feeling like a non-profit psycho-therapist, trying to talk most down from the ledge.

kool-aid, delusional, Snow lover... here it comes. can't wait...

just curious, mods. how do you define a troll? if someone NEVER says anything positive, is that being a troll? i know if i always talked about everything being perfect, i would be ridiculed. seems like the negatrons take over EVERY thread.

but whatever. come at me...

To you and the OP. Am I happy with the team's play at the moment?...NO! Do we have some glaring holes?...YES!.

 

[Slim Cognito*]

Just goes to show that you cannot rush a rebuild. It takes about 15 years to properly rebuild, otherwise you end up in "limbo" (i.e. not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top draft pick).

 

[MattMartin]

Just goes to show that you cannot rush a rebuild. It takes about 15 years to properly rebuild, otherwise you end up in "limbo" (i.e. not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top draft pick).

TYVM!!!

We have a huge prospect pool in the D department and that's where we need help (besides a better option then Nabakov)

We need to see what Donvan,Nelson, and Poulin can do BUT, that will come with mistakes, and trying to win hockey games while seeing if the kids are ready is a tall order.

Next up is Strome and Reinhart (most likely) for next year.

Then the Islanders will have to decide on Pedan,Mayfield,Pelech,CDH, and Pulock, all again by trying to win games and make the playoffs at the same time.

Very difficult decisions ahead and our glaring need on D is not far away but will come with patience.

The only way this will work out correctly is going by the UFA department to pick up some D. Easier said then done considering that's what everyone else is looking for also.

 

[rikker]

Just goes to show that you cannot rush a rebuild. It takes about 15 years to properly rebuild, otherwise you end up in "limbo" (i.e. not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top draft pick).

i agree that a proper rebuild from scratch takes time. let's be honest. Snow had nothing to begin with. no trade worthy assets. Yashin? Dipietro? Milbury gutted the team. it's like he climbed on top of the team, took it's shoe off, and beat it mercilessly with it.

so yeah, it will take longer than a team like Buffalo, who has/had Miller, Vanek, Roy, Pominville to get it rolling (probably the equivalent of 6 1st round picks, or more).

i keep thinking back to Detroit, how they were the doormats for so long, and how they've turned things around. not that we are close to mimicking their successful path. we still have a ways to go. just using it as inspiration.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Just as easily as we fell from 6th (?) to 12th, we can go back up again this early in the season. Call me concerned if we are in 12th place come December.

Why do I have my head in the clouds-just because I'm not panicking? I'd hate to see what you'd say if I expressed any optimism for this team, instead of just trying to be level-headed.

This isn't overreacting, I think you're missing the point. Myself (and a few others) said in the offseason/preseaon that this team will NOT make the playoffs. They are NOT that good. Prospects don't mean anything if they never achieve their "potential".

You know what else is worrisome? We lost to (literally) 3 of the 5 worst teams in the LEAGUE so far.

Columbus (twice), Philly, Buffalo (we haven't played the other 2 in the bottom 5).

Our team isn't that good. Saying that doesn't make me a "chicken little"-it makes me realistic. Addressing scoring (the least of our problems) is NOT going to help. Bringing in a legit starting goaltending, a FEW more defensemen (not just 1) is what it's going to take.

We're currently in LAST PLACE in penalty killing, after SIX years of a rebuild? I think that merits some eyebrows to be raised and fingers to be pointed.

 

[ScaredStreit]

i agree that a proper rebuild from scratch takes time. let's be honest. Snow had nothing to begin with. no trade worthy assets. Yashin? Dipietro? Milbury gutted the team. it's like he climbed on top of the team, took it's shoe off, and beat it mercilessly with it.

so yeah, it will take longer than a team like Buffalo, who has/had Miller, Vanek, Roy, Pominville to get it rolling (probably the equivalent of 6 1st round picks, or more).

i keep thinking back to Detroit, how they were the doormats for so long, and how they've turned things around. not that we are close to mimicking their successful path. we still have a ways to go. just using it as inspiration.

Let's be honest-I agree 110%.

Snow inherited a team that made the playoffs.

Just goes to show that you cannot rush a rebuild. It takes about 15 years to properly rebuild, otherwise you end up in "limbo" (i.e. not good enough to make the playoffs, but not bad enough to get a top draft pick).

15 years?! Are you serious? It took the Islanders EIGHT years-yes 8 to win their first cup and start a dynasty-and that's while being an EXPANSION. I can't believe some of the things I've been reading in these parts lately.

 

[Sorge Georos]

That's the nature of this board...wait until the next four game winning streak.

That being said just look at The Avs and Blues teams from a few years ago that made it as an 8th seed but struggled for a few years after that.

 

[BTrotts19]

TYVM!!!

We have a huge prospect pool in the D department and that's where we need help (besides a better option then Nabakov)

We need to see what Donvan,Nelson, and Poulin can do BUT, that will come with mistakes, and trying to win hockey games while seeing if the kids are ready is a tall order.

Next up is Strome and Reinhart (most likely) for next year.

Then the Islanders will have to decide on Pedan,Mayfield,Pelech,CDH, and Pulock, all again by trying to win games and make the playoffs at the same time.

Very difficult decisions ahead and our glaring need on D is not far away but will come with patience.

The only way this will work out correctly is going by the UFA department to pick up some D. Easier said then done considering that's what everyone else is looking for also.

I agree with everything but to try and rebuild entirely thru the draft is difficult if not impossible. We needed to sign some veterans through FA, that can provide a bridge until the kids are mature enough to step into their proper roles at proper times and also change the mindset of an organization. I am convinced that some of the 3rd period letdowns we give away is because we don't have any veteran leadership that can teach a team how to win, especially in the 3rd period. PMB and Regin are not those type of FA's, that are reclamation projects.

 

[stranger34]

This isn't overreacting, I think you're missing the point. Myself (and a few others) said in the offseason/preseaon that this team will NOT make the playoffs. They are NOT that good. Prospects don't mean anything if they never achieve their "potential".

You know what else is worrisome? We lost to (literally) 3 of the 5 worst teams in the LEAGUE so far.

Columbus (twice), Philly, Buffalo (we haven't played the other 2 in the bottom 5).

Our team isn't that good. Saying that doesn't make me a "chicken little"-it makes me realistic. Addressing scoring (the least of our problems) is NOT going to help. Bringing in a legit starting goaltending, a FEW more defensemen (not just 1) is what it's going to take.

We're currently in LAST PLACE in penalty killing, after SIX years of a rebuild? I think that merits some eyebrows to be raised and fingers to be pointed.

The PK ineptitude is very perplexing because with Frans, Grabs, Bailey, Martin, and Cizikas at forward the PK should be a strength... unless the goalie and D are just that bad

 

[A Pointed Stick]

The PK ineptitude is very perplexing because with Frans, Grabs, Bailey, Martin, and Cizikas at forward the PK should be a strength... unless the goalie and D are just that bad

Does a bull ****?

 

[Slim Cognito*]

15 years?! Are you serious? It took the Islanders EIGHT years-yes 8 to win their first cup and start a dynasty-and that's while being an EXPANSION. I can't believe some of the things I've been reading in these parts lately.

Are we not, more or less, nearing the end of a 15-20 year rebuilding process (just 5 playoff appearances - all first round exits)?

 

[duster19]

I agree with everything but to try and rebuild entirely thru the draft is difficult if not impossible. We needed to sign some veterans through FA, that can provide a bridge until the kids are mature enough to step into their proper roles at proper times and also change the mindset of an organization. I am convinced that some of the 3rd period letdowns we give away is because we don't have any veteran leadership that can teach a team how to win, especially in the 3rd period. PMB and Regin are not those type of FA's, that are reclamation projects.

That and we have little to no discipline in our own end. It looks like we just skate around and what happens, happens. I've never seen a def so weak and oblivious to open men in front of our net. We are so worried about having 4 guys up the ice, we miss assignments all the time.