She may be wrong in your eyes on Cappy (and mine and lots of other sets of eyes too) but she is bang-on in her assessment of Wang and Snow. She couldn't have said it better or more succinctly. She summed up this organization's main problems in one paragraph for everyone to read. Good job Katie!
- Jethro09

But what revalation did she offer? Is there anything she said that most here didn't assume already? Is this some great discovery that people needed confirmation of? Wang has operated on a limited budget...uh..yeah.. The team has lost $16-20 million per season...we've all known they were bottom lining it since the rebuild started...
Snow is limited by said budget...again
Now the idea that none of this will change until ownership changes is strictly opinionated on her part and no more valid than anything anyone here writes. Many of us feel there's a potential for the loosening of purse strings once we hit Barclays. I think there's decent enough reason to believe that will happen. I also think they've decided to operate as minimalists up until that point.

Wang is a business man, first and foremost. He's self made. I have serious doubts that his plans are anything less than to make this business as lucrative as possible. If the foundation of that business improves and offers a climate to strike while the iron is hot, I think he'll do so. Until then, we get more of the same.

Strang offered nothing that everyone didn't know already. It's nothing more than messageboard fodder.

No statement has been more true than this. Cappy goes, fine. Better coach comes in and squeezes a few more wins out of this roster. But regardless of who's coaching, that coach is still stuck relying on Bailey, Grabs, Regin, Clutterbuck, McDonald and Nielsen for all secondary scoring and relying upon Carkner, Ness, Martinek and A-Mac for reliable defense.
- Jethro09

"A few more wins" has the team right in the race for a playoff spot...not hopelessly adrift. Bailey, Grabs and Nielsen provided their share of secondary scoring last season. There's no reason to believe they all just forgot how to play this game.

Heck, Grabs put 16 goals in the net in a shortened season from the third line getting like 8 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time a game. You all were ready to anoint Bailey as Tavares' first-line winger at the beginning of this season. Now they're garbage and incapable of playing hockey?

There's a common denominator here when we talk about how horribly inconsistent a number of key players have been.

"A few more wins" has the team right in the race for a playoff spot...not hopelessly adrift. Bailey, Grabs and Nielsen provided their share of secondary scoring last season. There's no reason to believe they all just forgot how to play this game.

Heck, Grabs put 16 goals in the net in a shortened season from the third line getting like 8 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time a game. You all were ready to anoint Bailey as Tavares' first-line winger at the beginning of this season. Now they're garbage and incapable of playing hockey?

There's a common denominator here when we talk about how horribly inconsistent a number of key players have been.
- UIF

Well, I'm with you for the most part, though the Bailey train needs to station somewhere else IMO. He reminds me of Tim Connolly during his first two seasons...flashy hands..no idea how to use his skills in an NHL game. What's bad is this is what, Josh's 6th year?

That said, I'm totally on board that Cappy's coaching is issue 1A for the Isles. I'd contend that the injuries to Vis and Strait and issue 1B but both go hand in hand. If Cappy were a capable coach, he would have adjusted our system to compensate for their losses, while if they were here, having a better blueline might elminate some of Cappy's blunders (like last year).

Regardless, when I see guys like Hamonic continually fail to force forwards outside and allow them inside entry to the slot like he did with Ovechkin and Kopitar, it's obvious these guys aren't even being coached on the most fundamental of things. That's a greater concern because it falls under player development, a regression under this coach. Repeated bad line changes costing oddman rushes, defenseman pairings both ending up on the same player in the corner, etc etc. Late game collapses, early game flatness, post intermission nap time it goes on and on.

Enough is enough. I think Cappy cost us several games last year and has killed the teams identity this year.

Wow! Good to hear Strang tell it like it is. Who was it that was saying we just "think" writers, commentators, etc don't dare say anything bad about the islanders when they are covering the team? Funny? I never heard Strang say anything remotely close to this or anything other than the fluff BS we hear from her counterparts. There I go speculating again.
- Cptmjl

another classic case of picking and choosing what you wanna read...

strang doesnt work SOLELY for the islanders...quite a big difference when there are 29 other teams she can cover if the isles bury her.

Could they pick a worse time to bring up Strome... Team confidence is @an alltime low.

Looking forward to watching him tonight... hopefully he actually gets some icetime.

It's been interesting how Snow is taking the heat off Cappy. Telling the media it's on him.

What's the word on Vis, Strait... are they coming back this year or what????
- jimmc7722

Could they of drafted Tavares at a worse time??

There wasn't really much else that we don't already know. That was the big "bombshell", if you can call it that.

There was this...

Shawn (Garfield, NJ)

What is taking the Islanders so long to do the obvious in firing coach Jack Capuano?
Katie Strang (3:48 PM)

I don't think Garth Snow believes Jack Capuano to be the problem, and to a large degree he's right. Do I think that a coach with more cache and experience could have a positive impact on the Islanders? Absolutely, but again the problems are far-reaching and won't be corrected with any sort of quick-fix move. Now, that said, just because Snow doesn't feel him to be the problem, doesn't mean he won't ultimately become a casualty anyway. Lots of times the coach plays the role of scapegoat, and if things continue this way, Capuano might too.There is also the money issue, which I've raised in this space before. A lot of the Islanders problems come down to them being cheap. Fire Capauno and you have to pay someone else. Wanna go after a big fish like Laviolette? Be prepared to pay up. Not convinced the Isles are prepared and/or willing to do that.

And one about tempering expectations of Strome. Which is what everyone should be doing. Anyone who thinks he's gonna step in and start producing regularly is nuts.
- eichiefs9

the reaction of 90% of the guys here after they read that....

The NHL is coming out of the woodwork to attack Wang and Co. This is beyond a couple of upset fans on Hockeybuzz or IPB.
- ses111

Katie "grim reaper" Strang = The beginning of the end

Sources indicated Wang has started packing his bags.

Well, I'm with you for the most part, though the Bailey train needs to station somewhere else IMO. He reminds me of Tim Connolly during his first two seasons...flashy hands..no idea how to use his skills in an NHL game. What's bad is this is what, Josh's 6th year?

That said, I'm totally on board that Cappy's coaching is issue 1A for the Isles. I'd contend that the injuries to Vis and Strait and issue 1B but both go hand in hand. If Cappy were a capable coach, he would have adjusted our system to compensate for their losses, while if they were here, having a better blueline might elminate some of Cappy's blunders (like last year).

Regardless, when I see guys like Hamonic continually fail to force forwards outside and allow them inside entry to the slot like he did with Ovechkin and Kopitar, it's obvious these guys aren't even being coached on the most fundamental of things. That's a greater concern because it falls under player development, a regression under this coach. Repeated bad line changes costing oddman rushes, defenseman pairings both ending up on the same player in the corner, etc etc. Late game collapses, early game flatness, post intermission nap time it goes on and on.

Enough is enough. I think Cappy cost us several games last year and has killed the teams identity this year.
- keaner17

I mean, there's plenty of blame to go around. I'm not sure what Snow's been thinking any more than Cappy, even though I think Cappy should be the next one gone. I thought last year I understood the plan...that Bailey-Nielsen-KO were being groomed to be a solid third line of the future, but would hold the second line spots down until guys like Strome and Nino were ready to step in. Now, with some trades and highly questionable personnel decisions, I don't know what the plan is anymore.

After last season, I anticipated going into this season with:

Moulson-Tavares-[Acquisition]
Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo
Grabner-Nelson-Niederreiter
Martin-Cizikas-McD

With Strome and Lee pushing Nelson and Nino for their spots. I figured if Nelson/Strome and Nino/Lee found their touch over the first 20 or so games, that entire line could take second-line minutes, and the Nielsen line could slide down and be the effective shutdown line that they were very comfortable being last season...and the team would also have scoring threats from three lines.

Then they bring in Regin and trade Nino for Cal...it just seemed like a step backward talent-wise when you try to make up lines with those new guys in there...you end up with five fourth liners and you put more pressure on Nielsen and co. to be the second scoring line, a role the guy has already said he's not entirely comfortable filling in the long term. PMB didn't work out, but I at least saw the reasoning there...try to catch lightning in a bottle again for a first-line placeholder until maybe Strome could step in or a trade could be swung.

It seemed like Snow and Cappy built this momentum and had the makings of a good plan for this season and beyond, and then just completely committed an unforced error with it all.

Katie "grim reaper" Strang = The beginning of the end

Sources indicated Wang has started packing his bags.
- LetsGoIsles

Now LGI, that is no way to talk about Katie.

So has Dee....Any questions? Ms. Strang is a novice who knew nothing about hockey before her Islanders beat and likely knows little now. I'm not going to totally discount what she says about the inner workings of the Isles, but when it comes to on-ice causes and effects, you'll get better info here.
- keaner17

I must know nothing about hockey? I agree with her minus capuano.

Exactly...the bottom line is if you feed the malcontents what they want during the darkest hour, it becomes gospel. Red meat.
- keaner17

hahaha so true...youre good!!!!

another classic case of picking and choosing what you wanna read...

strang doesnt work SOLELY for the islanders...quite a big difference when there are 29 other teams she can cover if the isles bury her.
- LetsGoIsles

So has Dee....Any questions? Ms. Strang is a novice who knew nothing about hockey before her Islanders beat and likely knows little now. I'm not going to totally discount what she says about the inner workings of the Isles, but when it comes to on-ice causes and effects, you'll get better info here.
- keaner17

What she said was spot in accurate. I didn't need her to tell me that but its nice to see the press picking up on this and not being scared to repirt it. If you choose to not believe it that's your perogative but don't bust my chops for it.

No statement has been more true than this. Cappy goes, fine. Better coach comes in and squeezes a few more wins out of this roster. But regardless of who's coaching, that coach is still stuck relying on Bailey, Grabs, Regin, Clutterbuck, McDonald and Nielsen for all secondary scoring and relying upon Carkner, Ness, Martinek and A-Mac for reliable defense.
- Jethro09

whats so great is that going into the season id say 9 out of 10 guys here were ALSO more than happy with it (as im sure hell point out, cptn counts for that 10th obviously). its pretty easy to knock something once the results are finalized...so many tuesday morning quarterbacks over here

Exactly...the bottom line is if you feed the malcontents what they want during the darkest hour, it becomes gospel. Red meat.
- keaner17

Like I just said it didn't enlighten anyone. All she did was report what everyone already knew. Why do you have a problem with it? Would you rather her report something that isn't true?

Now LGI, that is no way to talk about Katie.
- ses111

She said something negative about the islanders so now she is enemy number one. Just like when a player gets traded and they suddenly suck. Same concept.

I must know nothing about hockey? I agree with her minus capuano.
- Cptmjl

interesting connection...I don't think that was ever insinuated.
I'm sure you'd be front and center if Katie held a seminar on Hockey's X's and O's (searching for eye-rolling emoticon)

Could they of drafted Tavares at a worse time??
- Dedshark

what?

whats so great is that going into the season id say 9 out of 10 guys here were ALSO more than happy with it (as im sure hell point out, cptn counts for that 10th obviously). its pretty easy to knock something once the results are finalized...so many tuesday morning quarterbacks over here
- LetsGoIsles

there were probably more people calling out this bs over the offseason than not. If you choosenot to believe it tthat's fine but it doesn't make your opinion fact.

interesting connection...I don't think that was ever insinuated.
I'm sure you'd be front and center if Katie held a seminar on Hockey's X's and O's (searching for eye-rolling emoticon)
- keaner17

Strang saying Sniw didn't do anything in the offseason and Capuano is a sub par coach and Wang is a controlling owner is spot on. You don't want to belueve it that's fine. Dont get pissed bcs other people do. Like I said most people didn't need Strang to point it out.

What she said was spot in accurate. I didn't need her to tell me that but its nice to see the press picking up on this and not being scared to repirt it. If you choose to not believe it that's your perogative but don't bust my chops for it.
- Cptmjl

EVERYONE agrees with it...what katie said has been the same bullpoop thats been going on in here for months.

the issues that people have different opinions on is if they understand WHY the isles are cheap...

What she said was spot in accurate. I didn't need her to tell me that but its nice to see the press picking up on this and not being scared to repirt it. If you choose to not believe it that's your perogative but don't bust my chops for it.
- Cptmjl

I'm 'busting chops' because no one here would have confirmed Katie as the foremost source of hockey knowledge but the moment she threw out her first bit of negativity towards the club, her words are printed in gold. Meanwhile, the only thing she did was restate what everyone knew...she's no longer connected to the team..she has none of her Newsday spoonfed sources. She's only tossing out some hindsight opininon coupled with her ESPN hockey knoweldge (note the sarcasm).

This changes and confirms nothing....nada..zilch.
We knew these facts..Wang isn't spending to the cap ceiling-SHOCKER
Snow is working with a limited wallet-SHOCKER!

After that, it's all what she THINKS might happen down the line which she paints her own dark picture..her opinion at that stage means zilch...I'd lend more credibility to most of the folks posting here!

there were probably more people calling out this bs over the offseason than not. If you choosenot to believe it tthat's fine but it doesn't make your opinion fact.
- Cptmjl

*PMing keener to send me the eye-rolling emoticon once he finds it*

(and no there werent)

EVERYONE agrees with it...what katie said has been the same bullpoop thats been going on in here for months.

the issues that people have different opinions on is if they understand WHY the isles are cheap...
- LetsGoIsles

Who gives a shat why they're cheap? That's what you seem to have a hard tine with. The priblem is what little money they spend on the team is being spent incorrectly. You need proof for that too?

She said something negative about the islanders so now she is enemy number one. Just like when a player gets traded and they suddenly suck. Same concept.
- Cptmjl

Sort of like Roloson?