WAAAAAY too early to start calling draft picks one way or the other. In addition, we have 4 drafts of picking in the top 5 (Bailey was selected 9).

- keaner17

I'd say it's 5. Bailey has to be considered along with the others they selected with the picks they got for trading down. I think when all was said and done it was Bailey, Ness, Niemi and Ullstrom? Could be wrong about that.

John Shannon @JSportsnet
Eugene Melnyk just told PrimeTime Sports that MCooke intentionally hurt EKarlsson and he is in the midst of a forensic study to prove it.

once again i'm not defending snow but so far

harmonic martin cizikas look like good picks so far. ullstrom has shown potential. we can nit pick the first round picks..but they have done a good job after the first round.

once again i'm not defending snow but so far

harmonic martin cizikas look like good picks so far. ullstrom has shown potential. we can nit pick the first round picks..but they have done a good job after the first round.
- NYI78

Much too positive for this blog!!!

I agree that we should trade them for picks/prospects, however the team is presently still in the playoff race so I can't place any bets on what Snow does or doesn't due between now and next week. Word was that he was going to be sure not to have another PA situation this year and would be more proactive to sign guys or deal them. We'll see.

As for my 2015 'theory', It would make no earthly sense for this team to not go all out once they're in Barclays. They will finally be profitable and based on advertisers, Barclays and newfound media attention, the team will be under a good bit more outside pressure to perform. Beyond that, Wang will also finally be on a foundation that allows him to profit.

From a simplistic, open-minded point of view, consider that this team is still losing $16 million per season. So if he dumped $10 million more in salary, those loses climb to $26 million...for what? To maybe make $2-$3 million more in sales? Nassau and SMG make huge profit shares of those admission prices so if Wang spends more, to lose more, he's essentially throwing money away just to help Nassau and SMG (two entities he despises) make more money. I think he's rather bitter towards both parties and is more than willing to eek things out until he can get out of that building. Hence...2015
- keaner17

Why wouldn't they be going all out now so that they can maximize the profits come 2015? If the team still is floating around being average and no talent is brought it why would attendance change much there? Also consider most isles fans don't live near the Barclays center. It's a trek and a half to get there from the island compared to what it is now.

I just think if wang was serious about owning this team for the long haul, he wouldn't be running it like a cheap johns and he wouldn't be in hiding

once again i'm not defending snow but so far

harmonic martin cizikas look like good picks so far. ullstrom has shown potential. we can nit pick the first round picks..but they have done a good job after the first round.
- NYI78

That 2008 (Bailey Draft) has paid off in spades

Bailey *
Ness
Hamonic *
Niemi
Petrov
Donovan
Ullstrom *
Poulin *
Martin *
Spurgeon
DiBenedetto

5 players from that draft with the team
2 in the near future (Ness, Donovan)
1 hopeful for the next couple years (Petrov)
1 Traded (Niemi)
1 left unsigned (Spurgeon w/wild)
1 I think we released??? DiBenedetto

XxNYIxX

Why wouldn't they be going all out now so that they can maximize the profits come 2015? If the team still is floating around being average and no talent is brought it why would attendance change much there? Also consider most isles fans don't live near the Barclays center. It's a trek and a half to get there from the island compared to what it is now.

I just think if wang was serious about owning this team for the long haul, he wouldn't be running it like a cheap johns and he wouldn't be in hiding
- Isles316

Why there have been many owners in it for the long haul that did it on the cheap, & where is he in hiding????

XxNYIxX

Why there have been many owners in it for the long haul that did it on the cheap, & where is he in hiding????

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Ok, then if he is doing it on the cheap for the long haul why is that all of a sudden going to change in 2015? Wang is also a lot less visible than ever. He isn't attending games, he hasn't had a quote all year even about his business ventures. Maybe once.

Ok, then if he is doing it on the cheap for the long haul why is that all of a sudden going to change in 2015? Wang is also a lot less visible than ever. He isn't attending games, he hasn't had a quote all year even about his business ventures. Maybe once.
- Isles316

Because he wont be losing the money he is losing at the NVMC

XxNYIxX

Ok, then if he is doing it on the cheap for the long haul why is that all of a sudden going to change in 2015? Wang is also a lot less visible than ever. He isn't attending games, he hasn't had a quote all year even about his business ventures. Maybe once.
- Isles316

I need to just start posting a link to the mini book I wrote about this.
Consider this, we are losing $16 million per season...FACT per Forbes magazine (yes cable contract included). If Wang were to have gone into this season and added $10 million in payroll, he would then be $26 million in the negative. For what? Maybe $2-$5 million in gains? That would put him further in the hole at around $20 million . Meanwhile, because SMG and Nassau get substantial gate percentages and concession shares etc, they would profit off of his increased losses. From a team and fan persepctive, yeah losing sucks. But from his perspective, he's gaining nothing, in fact he's losing money while providing additional profit to the two entities that have screwed his team over for the last decade. I doubt he's too eager to do that. So instead he takes a dollar budget attitude until he gets to a profitable area where Nassau and SMG will profit off his losses no more.

WAAAAAY too early to start calling draft picks one way or the other. In addition, we have 4 drafts of picking in the top 5 (Bailey was selected 9).

So we have:
Tavares, Nino, Strome & Reinhart. Tavares is obviously a legit star and while some will say that was a slam dunk, I'd remind them that at the time of the draft, there was a lot of debate about the three-headed monster of Tavares/Duschene/Hedman. Nino should join the team next year so we'll find out over the next 2-3 years how that went. Strome is nearly as sure of a bet as Tavares was. Elite skill, another star in the making. Reinhart can very easliy become our number 1 dman. While I'll concede that our pick of Bailey wasn't a favorite of mine, he's not a terrible player and could simply be a late bloomer. Granted we traded out of a top five spot but none of the players available to us at that time have exactly set the world on fire. We could have drafted Filatov.

Regardless, I don't see how anyone can say the last four years of 1st rounders weren't the best but then when countered with the potential of these players potential respond by saying "we'll see".
I'd say our draft record has been pretty decent when you consider some players that Snow brought in in later rounds.
It's said that approximately 63% of 1st round picks go on to have lengthy NHL careers. Only a small portion of them actually reach the NHL in the first two years. Certainly with kids being drafted at 18 years old these days, it's tough to say that we've been unsucessful with top 5 picks when the oldest not currently playing isn't old enough to drink.
- keaner17

The league & Canadian media conspired against the Isles, playing up the hype of Hedman & Duchene in hopes of tricking Garth into picking differently. They KNEW Tavares was good enough to build a winning/contending team around but even though they couldn't trick Garth into VH/MD, alas, he out-maneuvers himself through inaction and other various bad decision making. NHL Consipiracy> GM Garth

I'd say it's 5. Bailey has to be considered along with the others they selected with the picks they got for trading down. I think when all was said and done it was Bailey, Ness, Niemi and Ullstrom? Could be wrong about that.
- UIF

The main reason I didn't count Bailey was that the Isles didn't have a first round pick the year prior. Snow effectively was forced to trade down to acquire more picks. I also think he traded down because the player he wanted went off the board. That said, I'll say fine Bailey....who happens to be playing on the Islanders second line presently. He may not be a 30 goal ppg player, but not many players are.

I need to just start posting a link to the mini book I wrote about this.
Consider this, we are losing $16 million per season...FACT per Forbes magazine (yes cable contract included). If Wang were to have gone into this season and added $10 million in payroll, he would then be $26 million in the negative. For what? Maybe $2-$5 million in gains? That would put him further in the hole at around $20 million . Meanwhile, because SMG and Nassau get substantial gate percentages and concession shares etc, they would profit off of his increased losses. From a team and fan persepctive, yeah losing sucks. But from his perspective, he's gaining nothing, in fact he's losing money while providing additional profit to the two entities that have screwed his team over for the last decade. I doubt he's too eager to do that. So instead he takes a dollar budget attitude until he gets to a profitable area where Nassau and SMG will profit off his losses no more.
- keaner17

Wango-Tango is LOSING in HRR, no question but he has control of the box office sales for the NVMC, so the amount he is losing is smaller than what it seems.
I would hope your theory about embracing mediocrity to spite SMG & Nassau Co is just that. If the players ever thought or found that out, there'd be a revolt.

The league & Canadian media conspired against the Isles, playing up the hype of Hedman & Duchene in hopes of tricking Garth into picking differently. They KNEW Tavares was good enough to build a winning/contending team around but even though they couldn't trick Garth into VH/MD, alas, he out-maneuvers himself through inaction and other various bad decision making. NHL Consipiracy> GM Garth
- jmo16

Lots of people thought Hedman could be one of the best dmen drafted in a generation. He had flourished in the Sweedish Elite league despite being a kind. Tavares' stock fell when scouts worried about his skating (rightfully so). What they understimated was a work ethic equalled only by that Crosby kid in Pittsburgh.

Wango-Tango is LOSING in HRR, no question but he has control of the box office sales for the NVMC, so the amount he is losing is smaller than what it seems.
I would hope your theory about embracing mediocrity to spite SMG & Nassau Co is just that. If the players ever though or found that out, there'd be a revolt.
- jmo16

You think they dont know??

XxNYIxX

Wango-Tango is LOSING in HRR, no question but he has control of the box office sales for the NVMC, so the amount he is losing is smaller than what it seems.
I would hope your theory about embracing mediocrity to spite SMG & Nassau Co is just that. If the players ever though or found that out, there'd be a revolt.
- jmo16

Amounts that Wang makes off gate attractions are included in the Islanders operating costs. It's part of the Isles Lease ammendment. So yes, it's included. I suspect that's why the amount two years prior had losses at $23 million annually.
I don't know if I'd call it 'embracing mediocrity' but I think it's a matter of simple business. There's not point in increasing your losses to help your foes. Not when you can weather the storm for 2 years and have a Phoenix-like rise from the ashes.

The league & Canadian media conspired against the Isles, playing up the hype of Hedman & Duchene in hopes of tricking Garth into picking differently. They KNEW Tavares was good enough to build a winning/contending team around but even though they couldn't trick Garth into VH/MD, alas, he out-maneuvers himself through inaction and other various bad decision making. NHL Consipiracy> GM Garth
- jmo16

wow.

Lots of people thought Hedman could be one of the best dmen drafted in a generation. He had flourished in the Sweedish Elite league despite being a kind. Tavares' stock fell when scouts worried about his skating (rightfully so). What they understimated was a work ethic equalled only by that Crosby kid in Pittsburgh.
- keaner17

Bossy dropped in the draft because he was deemed as a soft player with average skating ability. No doubt Hedman will be at minimum a very good defenseman for a long time but it's harder to find the real natural talents of a Sid, Stamkos or JT.

That 2008 (Bailey Draft) has paid off in spades

Bailey *
Ness
Hamonic *
Niemi
Petrov
Donovan
Ullstrom *
Poulin *
Martin *
Spurgeon
DiBenedetto

5 players from that draft with the team
2 in the near future (Ness, Donovan)
1 hopeful for the next couple years (Petrov)
1 Traded (Niemi)
1 left unsigned (Spurgeon w/wild)
1 I think we released??? DiBenedetto

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Captn will not be happy with this!!!

wow.
- keaner17

That was my exact same thought.. i even said it out loud!!


XxNYIxX

I need to just start posting a link to the mini book I wrote about this.
Consider this, we are losing $16 million per season...FACT per Forbes magazine (yes cable contract included). If Wang were to have gone into this season and added $10 million in payroll, he would then be $26 million in the negative. For what? Maybe $2-$5 million in gains? That would put him further in the hole at around $20 million . Meanwhile, because SMG and Nassau get substantial gate percentages and concession shares etc, they would profit off of his increased losses. From a team and fan persepctive, yeah losing sucks. But from his perspective, he's gaining nothing, in fact he's losing money while providing additional profit to the two entities that have screwed his team over for the last decade. I doubt he's too eager to do that. So instead he takes a dollar budget attitude until he gets to a profitable area where Nassau and SMG will profit off his losses no more.
- keaner17

I do understand what everyone is saying. My only point is that I'm not sure we can consider it a lock that all of a sudden the isles start spending in 2015. There has been no evidence suggesting its a lock.

I do understand what everyone is saying. My only point is that I'm not sure we can consider it a lock that all of a sudden the isles start spending in 2015. There has been no evidence suggesting its a lock.
- Isles316

This is very true.. cant argue when you say it that way.

XxNYIxX

Captn will not be happy with this!!!
- jimmc7722

even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I don't argue Garths drafting ability. It's his one and only strength.

This is very true.. cant argue when you say it that way.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

And that's my point. I'm hopeful the isles start spending a little bit sooner or when they get there. Heck, even the kings didn't really spend until two years before they won the cup. And just because the isles want to spend doesn't mean anyone is coming via FA.

I just can't get on board with the 2015 everything will be glorious tangent. I need proof first

I do understand what everyone is saying. My only point is that I'm not sure we can consider it a lock that all of a sudden the isles start spending in 2015. There has been no evidence suggesting its a lock.
- Isles316

.......

....or that UFA's will flock to our new arena....

Can't wait to hear the new excuses they'll have to invent when Garth STILL can't sign big name UFAs..... Bad schools...pollution, crime, traffic, flood zone.....