funny how Ted Nolan gets so much love and is remembered fondly. I remember a guy who didn't have a system, who refused to play the kids and played our terrible vets because he wanted wins and no part of developing younger players. Bad fit for him in Buffalo unless he's completely changed his ways.

Ron Rolston was a joke though, pencil neck behind the bench who looked like he should have been doing someone's taxes rather than trying to coach a hockey team.
- Isles_since_6

Yes he was so horrible that before last year he was the last coach to bring us to the playoffs

funny how Ted Nolan gets so much love and is remembered fondly. I remember a guy who didn't have a system, who refused to play the kids and played our terrible vets because he wanted wins and no part of developing younger players. Bad fit for him in Buffalo unless he's completely changed his ways.
Ron Rolston was a joke though, pencil neck behind the bench who looked like he should have been doing someone's taxes rather than trying to coach a hockey team.
- Isles_since_6

I said the same thing on the main thread. Ridiculous having him as a coach with a team under a full rebuild. Most Sabre fans are aware. After all they are better acquainted with him then we are.

Most teams can win without their star forward for a little while. Almost no team can win when they are missing 2 of their top 4 defensemen.

Isles have plenty of offense to win some games if Tavares isn't playing. They don't have the defensive depth, hence how the season went to the poopter in a hurry
- Isles316

Tavares I s the heart and soul of this team and he is the one that keeps this team going. It is going to be real tough. I mean Jack might have to play Grabner more or something and that would make Jack go right into a tail spin

Yes he was so horrible that before last year he was the last coach to bring us to the playoffs
- kasperrko

Oh the memories of him giving Andy Hilbert 26 minutes a night and first PP time

Tavares I s the heart and soul of this team and he is the one that keeps this team going. It is going to be real tough. I mean Jack might have to play Grabner more or something and that would make Jack go right into a tail spin
- kasperrko

Nah, that's what Boulton is for.

NYIslanders ‏@NYIslanders 57m
#Isles lines at today's practice: Martin-Nelson-Okposo; Bouchard-Nielsen-Bailey; Grabner-Regin-McDonald; Boulton-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Hopefully that's not the lineup/lines that take the ice Thursday or it'll be a long game.
- UIF

I consider that more evidence that JT will be in the lineup. No way they're going to trot Martin AND Nelson on that top line.

Oh the memories of him giving Andy Hilbert 26 minutes a night and first PP time
- Cptmjl

True but still. He had that team playing hard every night. I really liked him as coach, but obviously Wang had bigger plans down the road. I mean look where we are now with a coach of the year candidate

Nah, that's what Boulton is for.
- Cptmjl

Something Crappy would do for sure and demote Grabner back to the fourth line

funny how Ted Nolan gets so much love and is remembered fondly. I remember a guy who didn't have a system, who refused to play the kids and played our terrible vets because he wanted wins and no part of developing younger players. Bad fit for him in Buffalo unless he's completely changed his ways.

Ron Rolston was a joke though, pencil neck behind the bench who looked like he should have been doing someone's taxes rather than trying to coach a hockey team.
- Isles_since_6

Agreed. I've made the 'no system' comment here many times. Ted is a motivator. That's what he does. I think he could work well with the kids there, but it will be interesting to see if he burns this bridge, as I don't think he'll have another to cross.

True but still. He had that team playing hard every night. I really liked him as coach, but obviously Wang had bigger plans down the road. I mean look where we are now with a coach of the year candidate
- kasperrko

He's a good coach but i didn't like him. Most boring hockey I've ever watched in my entire life. I'd rather watch the Devils in the 90's on qualudes then see that again.

Something Crappy would do for sure and demote Grabner back to the fourth line
- kasperrko

If he's lucky

Tavares I s the heart and soul of this team and he is the one that keeps this team going. It is going to be real tough. I mean Jack might have to play Grabner more or something and that would make Jack go right into a tail spin
- kasperrko

Grabner has been so invisible you could argue he could be scratched for a game

Agreed. I've made the 'no system' comment here many times. Ted is a motivator. That's what he does. I think he could work well with the kids there, but it will be interesting to see if he burns this bridge, as I don't think he'll have another to cross.
- keaner17

He is a motivator but the problem he has/had was never letting kids play. He would stick a vet out there over a kid even if the kid was better. Not a good coach for a rebuilding team.

Grabner has been so invisible you could argue he could be scratched for a game
- Dan Petriw

He has been but what does anyone expect playing with those facking plugs? Seriously, put anyone with those two and see how they do. The third line on this team has become Purgatory.

Kabanov back on the Sound tigers... did very well in ECHL by the way..

JT not at practice...

He has been but what does anyone expect playing with those facking plugs? Seriously, put anyone with those two and see how they do. The third line on this team has become Purgatory.
- Cptmjl

Grabner has had MANY chances to score the last 13 games
He just can't hit he net

He has been but what does anyone expect playing with those facking plugs? Seriously, put anyone with those two and see how they do. The third line on this team has become Purgatory.
- Cptmjl

I thought last game the third line as a whole played a fairly strong forechecking game. They didn't get too many scoring chances but they did at least control the puck in the offensive zone for the most part. I remember a few shifts where they were able to complete a full line change while keeping the puck pinned in nashville's zone.

He is a motivator but the problem he has/had was never letting kids play. He would stick a vet out there over a kid even if the kid was better. Not a good coach for a rebuilding team.
- Cptmjl

Well, I don't think he'll have as much choice this time around. When it came to 'not playing kids', Ted's biggest reason for doing that was that he became more interested in coaching for his next contract than developing a program. Whether that was wrong or not, it added to the allure that Ted doesn't play well with others. That said, he coached a Junior team to a championship and seems to know how to get the most out of what he has. That said, I don't see Ted as an X's and O's kinda guy so I'm not sure whether he'll be good at DEVLOPING players.
He seems to lean on his goaltenders an awful lot.

Kabanov back on the Sound tigers... did very well in ECHL by the way..

JT not at practice...
- niteislander

He looks psyched

Kabanov back on the Sound tigers... did very well in ECHL by the way..

JT not at practice...
- niteislander

He'll be in the lineup tomorrow. Pretty sure he just has a major dead leg that he's resting for the day.

Yes he was so horrible that before last year he was the last coach to bring us to the playoffs
- kasperrko

that last year we only made the playoffs because we won the last game in a shootout. We still had Yashin, Blake, Ryan Smyth, and a number of plugs who played far more than they ever should have in a game while we were all demanding to see him play the kids (granted we didn't have many at the time) and he refused to be part of a rebuilding situation the next year and was gone.

I'm no fan of Capuano either, but Nolan's no answer for a young team.

I'd be interested to give Lavi another shot with a much improved roster over what he had here previously, but I'm still not sure that's a perfect fit. Would likely be an improvement though

that last year we only made the playoffs because we won the last game in a shootout. We still had Yashin, Blake, Ryan Smyth, and a number of plugs who played far more than they ever should have in a game while we were all demanding to see him play the kids (granted we didn't have many at the time) and he refused to be part of a rebuilding situation the next year and was gone.

I'm no fan of Capuano either, but Nolan's no answer for a young team.

I'd be interested to give Lavi another shot with a much improved roster over what he had here previously, but I'm still not sure that's a perfect fit. Would likely be an improvement though
- Isles_since_6

Lavi seems to fall in that same category as Torts, Hitchcock and a few others. Guys that know how to get a team to perform but for whatever reason wear their welcomes out fast. They have 2-3 year lifespans. That said, I'd be thrilled to see Cappy's bags packed with Lavi moving in.

Grabner has had MANY chances to score the last 13 games
He just can't hit he net
- Danformo

One guy can only do so much playing with those guys.

Well, I don't think he'll have as much choice this time around. When it came to 'not playing kids', Ted's biggest reason for doing that was that he became more interested in coaching for his next contract than developing a program. Whether that was wrong or not, it added to the allure that Ted doesn't play well with others. That said, he coached a Junior team to a championship and seems to know how to get the most out of what he has. That said, I don't see Ted as an X's and O's kinda guy so I'm not sure whether he'll be good at DEVLOPING players.
He seems to lean on his goaltenders an awful lot.
- keaner17

He certainly leaned on Hasek's wife a whole lot

minus his wearing the ranger sweater
- kindlyrick

Nobody's perfect (except PAP)