Hey. I consistently write novels even in the offseason.
- Cptmjl

You're like our very own little Sue Grafton

I would have felt a lot better going into this season without Jack behind the bench. He is the question mark on this team. The system is too which has sucked for years.

I think we are better at goalie but still lacking in defense. We all know this, but defense wins games and that is where we need to focus.

Offense we look pretty solid for me and for the first time in a long time I think we have a few lines who are going to score and not just JT line
- kasperrko

Per Staple's article on Monday: Nice of Cappy to shift the blame onto the players before the season even starts. It's all cliche, only missing is the uber-cliche, "Players need to give 110%." Get ready for another Moron-a-thon, from the Owner to the coaches.


Jack Capuano and his coaching staff have made some changes to the Islanders' style of play, but nothing major. The major changes the Isles need to go from also-rans to contenders will, Capuano said, come from the players themselves, who will need to hit the ice fast when training camp opens on Friday.

"Did we make some changes to our penalty kill? Absolutely. Did we tweak our D-zone coverage? We did," Capuano told Newsday on Monday. "But you can draw up any system you want. If you don't work hard and execute it well, it doesn't matter what you want to play -- it won't work.

Per Staple's article on Monday: Nice of Cappy to shift the blame onto the players before the season even starts. It's all cliche, only missing is the uber-cliche, "Players need to give 110%." Get ready for another Moron-a-thon, from the Owner to the coaches.


Jack Capuano and his coaching staff have made some changes to the Islanders' style of play, but nothing major. The major changes the Isles need to go from also-rans to contenders will, Capuano said, come from the players themselves, who will need to hit the ice fast when training camp opens on Friday.

"Did we make some changes to our penalty kill? Absolutely. Did we tweak our D-zone coverage? We did," Capuano told Newsday on Monday. "But you can draw up any system you want. If you don't work hard and execute it well, it doesn't matter what you want to play -- it won't work.
- jmo16

i wouldnt say hes shifting blame...hes clearly saying that the players need to perform and need to be accountable for their play. i dont think anything cappy said was wrong.

Per Staple's article on Monday: Nice of Cappy to shift the blame onto the players before the season even starts. It's all cliche, only missing is the uber-cliche, "Players need to give 110%." Get ready for another Moron-a-thon, from the Owner to the coaches.


Jack Capuano and his coaching staff have made some changes to the Islanders' style of play, but nothing major. The major changes the Isles need to go from also-rans to contenders will, Capuano said, come from the players themselves, who will need to hit the ice fast when training camp opens on Friday.

"Did we make some changes to our penalty kill? Absolutely. Did we tweak our D-zone coverage? We did," Capuano told Newsday on Monday. "But you can draw up any system you want. If you don't work hard and execute it well, it doesn't matter what you want to play -- it won't work.
- jmo16

Instead of all 5 guys behind the other teams net it will be only 4. Cappy loves to talk about hard work and yet never benches anyone.

i wouldnt say hes shifting blame...hes clearly saying that the players need to perform and need to be accountable for their play. i dont think anything cappy said was wrong.
- LetsGoIsles

Agreed. What I found most alarming about this was him only making a "tweak" to his defensive plan.

Agreed. What I found most alarming about this was him only making a "tweak" to his defensive plan.
- Cptmjl

i dont know whats more shocking though...that he realized changes were necessary or that the only changes were "tweaks" i was looking for something closer to "scraping the entire plan and doing something that fits with the players on the current roster"

i guess ill take a tweak... beggars cant be choosers

i dont know whats more shocking though...that he realized changes were necessary or that the only changes were "tweaks" i was looking for something closer to "scraping the entire plan and doing something that fits with the players on the current roster"

i guess ill take a tweak... beggars cant be choosers
- LetsGoIsles

The thing is the year we made it to the playoffs the defenders were pushing fwds to the boards and weren't backing up over the blue line giving opposing players space in their own zone. Last year we saw the most passive defense I think I've ever seen in my life. Was that the players not "executing" or did Capuano try to fix something that wasn't broke? Either way the sentence I highlighted is something Capuano has to learn to do. Adjust and develop a structure that is built to the players strengths.

The thing is the year we made it to the playoffs the defenders were pushing fwds to the boards and weren't backing up over the blue line giving opposing players space in their own zone. Last year we saw the most passive defense I think I've ever seen in my life. Was that the players not "executing" or did Capuano try to fix something that wasn't broke? Either way the sentence I highlighted is something Capuano has to learn to do. Adjust and develop a structure that is built to the players strengths.
- Cptmjl

exactly...the defense werent even in position to give up the blue line...they were too deep in their own zone; couldnt have made it easier for the opposition to stroll on in...gotta stand em up at that blue line!!

i wouldnt say hes shifting blame...hes clearly saying that the players need to perform and need to be accountable for their play. i dont think anything cappy said was wrong.
- LetsGoIsles

I want capuano gone but he's correct and I agree with you, there's nothing wrong with putting pressure on the players. The system still sucks balls and I still want him gone but he's not wrong to say players need to execute. If they're "executing" and they're still losing it'll be apparent it's the system, like it was last year until after the olympic break when they changed the system.

exactly...the defense werent even in position to give up the blue line...they were too deep in their own zone; couldnt have made it easier for the opposition to stroll on in...gotta stand em up at that blue line!!
- LetsGoIsles

AMac was one of the biggest offenders and he got nothing but praise from Cappy. Maybe that is the system.

The thing is the year we made it to the playoffs the defenders were pushing fwds to the boards and weren't backing up over the blue line giving opposing players space in their own zone. Last year we saw the most passive defense I think I've ever seen in my life. Was that the players not "executing" or did Capuano try to fix something that wasn't broke? Either way the sentence I highlighted is something Capuano has to learn to do. Adjust and develop a structure that is built to the players strengths.
- Cptmjl

amac was a huge part of the passive defense, I'm relieved he's gone.

I think Reinhart will be sent down to the "A"... but will be brought up in December for good.

He will get some games in before being sent down. Whatever the max is now. I think they changed it???
- jimmc7722

Since he's 20 and on a full year of his elc we can send him down and bring him back up whenever we please.

Since he's 20 and on a full year of his elc we can send him down and bring him back up whenever we please.
- BattleLevel9k

If he's ready, we desperately need a defenseman like him. I hope he has a good camp and makes the team.

If he's ready, we desperately need a defenseman like him. I hope he has a good camp and makes the team.
- Isles_since_6

I really do as well. I have a feeling Pokka might do very well in camp too.

I really do as well. I have a feeling Pokka might do very well in camp too.
- BattleLevel9k

He's already mentioned that if he doesn't make the big squad out of camp that he plans on going back to Finland, so we probably won't see him in NA this year.

"Get ready for another Moron-a-thon, from the Owner to the coaches."

Other than the fact that Snow signed Halak before any other NHL team made any moves, traded up for Ho-Sang in the draft, signed one of the best UFAs available in Grabovski (plus his sidekick Kulemin), signed a credible backup goalie in Johnson, took a couple of low-risk high-reward fliers on Brennan and Conacher, the team has been sold and is about to move into a brand-new building, it's just stumblebum business as usual in Islander Country!

"Get ready for another Moron-a-thon, from the Owner to the coaches."

Other than the fact that Snow signed Halak before any other NHL team made any moves, traded up for Ho-Sang in the draft, signed one of the best UFAs available in Grabovski (plus his sidekick Kulemin), signed a credible backup goalie in Johnson, took a couple of low-risk high-reward fliers on Brennan and Conacher, the team has been sold and is about to move into a brand-new building, it's just stumblebum business as usual in Islander Country!
- Snowblind

our future is bright, that's for sure. I'm really concerned for this season though. If our defense is the reason Buffalo drafts connor mcdavid we're going to hear about it for another 20 years.

He's already mentioned that if he doesn't make the big squad out of camp that he plans on going back to Finland, so we probably won't see him in NA this year.
- eichiefs9

Rather he stay in NA. This would be disappointing.

Rather he stay in NA. This would be disappointing.
- ses111

given we don't have the room for all the kids we have in bridgeport, it's actually not a bad thing for him to go back. My only concern would be if he was to sign a KHL contract at some point. I think he's going to be an excellent defenseman for us, but likely not until next year.

our future is bright, that's for sure. I'm really concerned for this season though. If our defense is the reason Buffalo drafts connor mcdavid we're going to hear about it for another 20 years.
- Isles_since_6

Forget about hearing it thats going to sting worse than any opposing fan can insult.

our future is bright, that's for sure. I'm really concerned for this season though. If our defense is the reason Buffalo drafts connor mcdavid we're going to hear about it for another 20 years.
- Isles_since_6

The defense has a lot more promise than last year, in my opinion. Instead of foolishly assuming Donovan was just going to step in to replace Streit, this go-round, the Isles have spread their chips around the board. In addition to Donovan, better bets like Brennan, Pulock and Pokka are around, plus Reinhart, Czuczman, Mayfield, etc. could and should phase out the likes of Strait and Carkner.

It is one thing to assume one player is going to seize the mantle. It is quite another to bet that one or two out of a group of 8 or so can emerge.

our future is bright, that's for sure. I'm really concerned for this season though. If our defense is the reason Buffalo drafts connor mcdavid we're going to hear about it for another 20 years.
- Isles_since_6

the islanders are not in a bottom 5 category this year.

the islanders are not in a bottom 5 category this year.
- LetsGoIsles

I've said it previously, but if our defense doesn't have a kid step up or we suffer another injury to hamonic or visnovsky I can easily see us in the bottom 3 in our conference.

I've said it previously, but if our defense doesn't have a kid step up or we suffer another injury to hamonic or visnovsky I can easily see us in the bottom 3 in our conference.
- Isles_since_6

as an islanders fan i understand why you feel that way but i think its based more on what we are used to then what we currently have.

considering they finished in 25th place last season after a really poopty year and had way too many injuries, ill take my chances that with a significantly better goalie, a muich better backup goalie, better and deeper forwards, more defensive forwards and presumably at least the same defense as last year that they wont be finishing bottom 5 and quite frankly it isnt even on my radar.

as an islanders fan i understand why you feel that way but i think its based more on what we are used to then what we currently have.

considering they finished in 25th place last season after a really poopty year and had way too many injuries, ill take my chances that with a significantly better goalie, a muich better backup goalie, better and deeper forwards, more defensive forwards and presumably at least the same defense as last year that they wont be finishing bottom 5 and quite frankly it isnt even on my radar.
- LetsGoIsles

this is a fair statement, however I can't get past feeling like charlie brown trying to kick the goddamn football every year. I'm going to wait to see how it looks on the ice.