AS PER CURLEY


3:40 pm - Saying, “We have to find some secondary scoring,” Scott Gordon has broken up the talented young duo of John Tavares and Kyle Okposo.



A big part of the change also has to do with the expected return of Frans Nielsen. The head coach liked the way Nielsen and Okposo played together last season.



“You wrestle with breaking up what’s not broken,” said Gordon, referring to the impressive play of Tavares and Okposo. But his team is winless and scored just one goal last Monday against LA and Saturday against San Jose.



Besides Matt Moulson’s claim on a roster spot and with only Trent Hunter sidelined by injury, Gordon said, “What we have right now is what I thought we had at the beginning.”



Here’s your possible line combination for Wednesday at home against Carolina:



Moulson - Tavares - Weight

Bergenheim - Nielsen - Okposo

Tambellini - Bailey - Comeau

Thompson - Park - Jackman


http://www.islanderspointblank.com/

Whatever.....either way, Gordo needs a couple wins in a row........fast

welcome back, Nielsen! :punk:

I'm surprised he would mess with the first line. At least wait until someone goes into a slump.

Is Tambellini taking Schremp's spot?

:thumbsdown:

Yeah...take the two guys who are playing best and break them up. That makes sense.

WTF. And having KO on line two with Franz? Well, there goes KO's play. One of the reasons KO and Tavares work so well together is that they both will go to the net so they know where to look for eachother. Moulsen has been the same way. Now KO will play with a guy who won't go to the front of the net in Franz, who is never going to be anything more than a 3rd line center?

:dontknow:

Just leave Tavares and KO and Moulson alone and light a fire under the other lines. Threaten their playing time. Besides, I think Franz AND Bailey would benefit from playing with Weight.

And for the love of god, no Tambelini.

Further proof we need a change at the helm.

Bergenheim will completely destroy KO's game with his wild, unpredictable game. Nielsen should come back on the 4th line with limited time at least for one game. Schremp has been playing well, why does he get the bench, keep Thompson there.

Gordon is killing me. The only thing that's been any success and he's got to screw with that.

GARTH, DO SOMETHING!!!!!!

Sure, mess with the only line that produces. Disaster. Then again, they haven't won a game with the lineup the way it is.

well the only exciting part of the isles has now been broken up...but, I want to think that this is somewhat of a good move...4-5 games in and only one line looks good, with no wins..He has to sep. them...Now we get to see just how good okposo and tavaras really are. They have the opportunity to make their teammates better, share the wealth. Isn't that the point?

I can't agree with you more here Webby.

I understand the idea of trying to create two strong lines, but this doesn't do that. Franz isn't EVER going to be a top 2 center. You are right that he shouldn't be promoted like that in just his first game back.

I don't get sitting Schremp. WTF. I thought this kid was a no cost project. Tamby has had 2+ seasons to get his head out of his arse, but its so firmly planted up there, all he can see are Rangers fans. Schremp needs to play and needs to play top 2 line minutes and with skilled players to show what/if he can do. Does Tamby need that time to show he can skate 35' from the net and no closer?

I'm usually a patient guy with players and coaches. I'm certainly patient with the rebuild, but Gordon is making me say :dontknow: . I'm seeing with him the same thing I saw with Theiren in Pitt last year and Hanlon two years ago in DC just prior to them being fired. No one is accountable. It would be one thing if our guys were playing to their ability and we still sucked, but we are not getting "average" play from guys like Bailey, Bergie, Gervais, Biron, Rollie, Tamby and others. The only ones who are playing their "average game" or above it are KO and Tavares and Moulson. That is not acceptable when that many people are underachieving, but Gordon is doing nothing about it. That's the same thing I saw from Hanlon and the same I saw from Theiren at the time they were canned.

I think OTH has made reference to "acceptance" of underachieving. That should never be tolerated, but it seems to be under the guise of "they are just kids"...and its BS

garth should have "sprinkled" a few more FA's over the summer so we wouldn't really be having this problem :disgraced: :torrey:

Agreed.

I'm shocked at the outpouring of emotion about this line reshuffle. Winless in 6 games, but the line change...now THAT is a disaster.

What is the definition of insanity...

as much as i would rather the lines stay together when reading that i was willing to give it a shot..until i saw tambellini in and shremp out. :puke:

Can JT & KO at least play together on the PP? We can suck for the rest of the game, but for heaven's sake send the best guys out together.
Next we will be doing the shoot out alphabetically.
What is the Vegas line on our getting Taylor Hall?
I think the Sound Tigers need Jeff Tambellini more than we do.

:yes:

Sometimes I have the urge to shout "Let's Go Sound Tigers" instead of "Let's Go Islanders."

Schremp - Tavares - Tambellini

Killer line of doom. You saw it here first. E5. Lock it up. :moon:

I believe the definition of insanity might be breaking up your one line that is competing night in and night out, but not making any expectations or consequences for those lines not competing?

Why is Tambelini getting rewarded with going back in the lineup when he's done NOTHING for several months, but Schremp, who's played hard and looked decent is the odd man out?

Please explain that insanity ... other than the fact that Gordon is just throwins poop against the wall to see what sticks because he's fearing for his job.

E5 :rofl: :rofl:

And what stops you? The scenery? :D

winless in 6 with a joke of a system and a coach without a clue is insanity
line change is not. Last time I checked it is a long season. And the consequences of making this change cant be any worse than the results we have witnessed so far.

I don't like this either, but here are some points to consider:

First, Weight should not be on the first line. Swap him and Comeau.

I'm not against the Frans KO combo, it worked last year.

Schremp should be in, Thompson or Jackman out.

Look, we haven't scored so he's changing it up. Maybe this shows whoever plays with JT plays well, I don't know.

And I have seen him change line combo's during games a number of times so I don't think this is etched in stone, either. If, and this is a big if, we do get scoring from the top two lines becuase of these changes than I'd at least recognize it as a good move. If not, Gordon is gonna get fried on this board and rightly so.

Question- while it appears most of us don't like this move, would we be bashing the guy for keeping the status quo? He at least understands there is a problem. While his solution may not make sense to a,lot of us at least he's trying something.

And one last point- we ARE only 6 games in. I stand by what I said previously- let's give him 10 more games and see where we are.

Yeah, I'm gonna see how it works before I go on ripping on Gordon for this.

Like he said, it's the argument of why fix what isn't broke.

But the thing is, while that one part wasn't broke, the rest of the machine was.

A team cannot compete with one line that scores, and three that just skate around to occupy time and space.

Let's see how it works out before we make it seem like the world is coming to an end.

I keep telling you people Tambellini aint going anywhere at least for the rest ofthis year. He's on a one way deal which means he aint likely getting sent down.....and no team is gonna be looking to acquire him. He is on a very long leash and they will give him every opportunity to prove himself.

I keep saying that but a lot of you guys don't believe me.

The whole New York Islanders organization has done absolutely NOTHING for several months. Why is Jeff the whipping boy everytime something is wrong?? THIS WHOLE TEAM IS WRONG.

I give Gordon credit for trying to do something to fix the no-wins situation. I don't agree with breaking up a successful line, however what are his options? Snow has given him no one else to work with. The fact that Tambellini is returning to the line up and Schremp sitting is absolutely ridiculous. I don't know what the answer is- but something must change - we must have effort during all three periods from the entire roster- not just one line. Spreading the "hardworking" line among all the lines to achieve this just won't work in my opinion.

When you've gone 6 games without winning, its time to change up the combo.

I have no problem whatsoever with changing lines.

Tamby may not be going anywhere, but if he's invisible (again) Schremp will see regular ice. It is more than time for Tamby to actually have a game with a goal and a couple of helpers. Personally, and maybe selfishly, I would love to see that happen. Then get Schremp back in in ADDITION to Tamby and put one of our so called tough guys (Wrecker, Jacman, Thompson) on the shelf either as a scratch or to the Bridge.

I agree Tamby isn't going anywhere due to the one way, but I also think if he doesen't show something he'll be right back on the healthy scratch list.

Could they possibly be showcasing him? Haven't heard anything on the regualr rumor blogs, but you never know.

I have no problem with Gordon putting Tambellini in and holding Schremp out.
Schrmp showed some good puck handling and playmaking potential but he had no results.
I've been very vocal against Gordon but you have to make some changes with lines if the team isn't winning.

Next step is benching, then it's player personnel moves, lastly it's coaching changes.
We've been following hockey a long time and we know the routine.

That said I agree with alot of people. Brealing up the Moulson-Tavares-Okposo line is questionable but as mentioned, we haven't won yet so I can't complain about Gordon on this one. Has to try something different. Let's see if it works.

I would've changed personnel and tried other combos with lines 2-4 before I tampered with line 1.

I dont want this to turn into....

Gordon mentioned in some public outlet that he wanted Schremp to "do more"..Tamby hasn't played in about 3-4 games and Gordo wanted to teach Schremp a lesson.

As useless as Tamby is on the ice, he's even more useless in the press box, as he's not impressing any opposing scouts when sitting. Plus, he's probably running out of clean suits to wear.

One of the best photoshops ever.
Along with the expanding chin.

:rofl:

NTAAM but if what's being reported as the lines for next game are:

Moulson - Tavares - Weight
Bergenheim - Nielsen - Okposo
Tambellini - Bailey - Comeau
Thompson - Park - Jackman


L1 seems accelerationally challenged, but you have some guys who can score out there together. Let's see....

L2 will score if Nielsen can go, and if someone points Bergenheim to that 4'x6' square that is made to accept pucks.

L3 is the biggest wildcard. How bad does (the other) JT want to stick here (really here or anywhere, since if he can't make it here -- wait, that was done already)

L4 Eh. Hit someone. Cause somr ruckus. Feed Park for a shortie. If they get more than 8-10 minutes, see Plan C.

L5 Sim out of the lineup, as much as the guy is a hard worker & a pest, he's not going to score much less - he'll be back in soon anyway, as the next wave of injuries is going to wash over the Coliseum soon enough. I'd like to see more time for Shremp, but he had a stretch to start making his case, now we'll compare / contrast....

I think this is BEAUTIFUL!

Since the blind population has been unable to watch Islander hockey for so long, THIS GESTURE by the GREAT Flush Gorton will help us feel the dark void they do when we can no longer watch this putrid enema bag operation.

So let's all of us who can not watch embrace our newfound brotherhood with those who can not see. :hug: :disgraced:

Something has to be done and roster shake-ups are sometimes ways to generate success. I disagree with scratching Shremp even with little results so far. Bench useless Thompson and put Schremp or Comeau down on the 4th. It's clear the Isles need Hunter back. They also need a defense as young as their offense.

Hopefully Gordo doesn't go another six losses before putting KO-JT-Moulson back together.

We can disagree with what we THINK will happen with these lines, but we have appreciate that Gordon is making a change now and not in fourteen more losses. In Botta's post, Biron makes an excellent point about monday morning quarterbacks--fellow internet GMs/coaches.

Yeah, he sounds like a great assistant coach.

"We truly believe in James Bowie's plan of attack," lements Davy Crockett. Houston, under the Republic of Texas' PLAN, hired Bowie to bring in a change to mount success in the campaign and Bowie's new system will eventually lead to a fierce counter to Santa Ana.

Maybe he is. Go get the job of GM and make it happen.

I always wanted to try slapping on goalie pads! :banana: :cheers:

Haven't played goalie off ice in 20 years as a matter of fact!

My first act as GM is to have Zep co-anchoring the television commentary during home games!

yep. Completely agree.

Guys on the lower lines aren't getting it done? Call up Trevor and Jesse J and see if that lights a fire under guys like Bailey and Bergie.

Competition breeds (notice the spelling?) improvement. Why has Tambelini not improved one bit? Partly due to the fact that he's been handed a roster spot and hasn't done ANYTHING to show that he's earned it. And this is now going on year three with this nonsense with him.

As for Schremp, we brought him here as a project. Let the project keep working. He's played better than Tamby. What message does it send that a guy who's playing better gets to sit for a guy who's shown nothing in three years? Schremp is a skill guy who we are trying to give a chance to. Yeah, he hasn't racked up points, but he's gotten more chances for points in this 5 games than Tamby had in his last month of PT. That is why I have a problem with this.

They want to put Tamby back in the lineup? Fine. Put him down on the 4th line and give him a defined role. Didn't Comeau start there and EARN the minutes his first year? Because he had to compete!

Tambellini compete? But isn't he the chosen one? Tambellini is THE son of a former Islander. :rofl: