From the ultra-uber-mega Islanders blog at Yes! Islanders

Good point(s).

We should be getting back Nielsen for this stretch. :thumbsup:

It'll be interesting to see who sits when he comes back.

Well it won't be Weight at center, as per the Strang article in the other thread, with JT, Bailey, Schremp and Nielsen at center. What to do about Park? :dontknow: So long as they take him off the PP.

We'll also get to see if JT is all he is cracked up to be, if Bailey can step up rather then be sent on his butt, if Gervais is starting slowly or if he will regain his form from the end of last season. The entire D should be under the microscope, sans Streit, as they all have all been a bit slow/off their "A" games.

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Okay, let's judge the number one pick on a few games?

Gervais regain his form? What form was that?

"A" games. LMAO. Except for Streit, no one has an "A" game.

Don't forget to take him off the shootout list too while we are at it.

For me, I still don't understand how you put Park ahead of JT the other day - even if JT hasn't shown much on the shootouts yet.

9 games in 16 days after 4 games in 12 days. Welcome to how the NHL scheduler screws us every year.

I haven't looked but I am willing to bet we are stacked with games at the end of the season while the Devs and Rags get days off in between.

Like always.

At least we're not playing in London or on our usual 20 day western trip to start the season.

:disgraced:

I see your point. This stretch will go a long way to seeing what he is made of though. If he comes out averaging a point per game vs stumbling through and getting 1 or 2 points it will definitely pave his way regarding the fan base. If he stumbles then the pressure will build up. It may not be fair but I think it will happen that way.

Regarding Gervais, he was playing much better at the end of last year with Streit. Sure, I would probably take 3/4 of the players in the league over him but he's what we have.

Every player has an "A" game. Only problem is when compared with other players our "A" games seem like "C" games. Basically I was trying to say play up to potential.

Here is a little recap on what I considered to be the first defining stretch of the season. I have to say that all these games in a short period of time haven't had the adverse affect I thought they would, and we are racing out of it with a 3 game winning streak and some hot players.

Points

FINAL NYI (3) - BUF (6) 0
FINAL SJS (4) - NYI (1) 0
FINAL CAR (3) - NYI (4) SO 2
FINAL NYI (1) - MTL (5) 0
FINAL WSH (3) - NYI (2) OT 1
FINAL NYI (2) - MTL (3) OT 1
FINAL NYR (1) - NYI (3) 2
FINAL NYI (4) - WSH (3) OT 2
FINAL BUF (0) - NYI (5) 2

10/18 possible points. .55 average points per game. If this were to be kept up it would be about 90 points for the 82 game season. (We only received 3 points in our first 5 games so it is a bit lower than that).

We have:

Our first victory.

A 3 game winning streak.

A hot Jeff Tambellini.

Okposo is regaining his form along with Bergenheim and Streit.

Tavares is getting loads of chances. I think he is a lucky player. Call it skill, vision, hockey sense or whatever. He has it. By the end of this year he will be a lot better than now.

If we ended up with over 90 points for the season it would put us in the playoff race, although a very low 90's total would only be a tease. The team needs to average a higher point percentage per game to begin sniffing the playoffs.

I think making any big trades, unless they are salary dumps by other teams, would blow our attempt at rebuilding. I think you could argue playing well and making the playoffs could hurt the rebuilding process of this team.

I personally would like to see them make the playoffs and not try to add any new pieces unless it is for a song. Getting a fairly high draft pick would be fine enough with me. You must be smoking crack to think it is possible to get Taylor Hall this year anyway. The Leaf's are zeroing in on that one.

My 2 cents...

Toronto traded the pick to Boston to get Kessel. If memory serves, they actually traded 2011's 1st rounder as well.

You are correct...

Brian Burke is looking like a complete idiot up there, although its early, some of their fans are already calling it their worst team of all time...

Boston must be laughing to the bank...

You are correct. The Leafs don't have their own number one pick for the next two drafts and I think they threw in a second rounder either this year or next year as well.

Hahahahahahahahahha. Losers! :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: I hope they get the pick then.

if the leafs got the pick next year, I think their fanbase would commit mass suicide. :blink:

I think we need to start thinking of a trade deadline deal as our free agent period. We obviously have issues signing "stars" but we could always trade for one at the deadline and consider him as a FA pickup in July.

For example, let's just say for sh!ts and giggles that Tampa was finally ready to unload Sir Vinny. Why wouldn't the Islanders try and grab him even if we were 15 points out of the playoffs at that time? He is a proven sniper with a lot of years on his contract. At some point, the Islanders need to stop the rebuild and actually move forward. I'm not saying we are completely there now (even with this little win streak), but we need to do what Detroit does and mix vets with new guys.

Maybe we give up a pick and some of the non Okposo/Tavares/Bailey young guys for Vinny (whether Tampa would take that is another whole thread) but I think the Isles should be prepared to look at that scenario.

7 game road trip is coming up soon and this should be a huge test.

Wonder if dads will be invited?



:dontknow:

I'm scouring craigslist for friday Night tix @ The Rock right now

for tickets huh?

yea mang...Blue Moon on tap in that arena too !!! :punk:

That's what I was thinking until I found this. :letssee:

OMG. :yea:

If it helps......remember, I got your back. (especially if you're apartment hunting :cheers: )


I love Craigslist.

Hilarious One!(ADULTS ONLY!!!)

That cant be real. Please tell me that is fake.

:sick: :puke:

SO THIS IS WHAT A WINNING STREAK BRINGS TO THE BOARD :bag:

WINNERS embrace tornados!

Do winners have those pix of themselves to submit? I might have an old face shot somewhere, but the second portrait might be more difficult to locate.

:( I don't want to see a tornado, ever.