can I just say I follow the Islanders closely despite being a Rangers fan and I wanna bring up something since you guys are discussing lack of toughness and Tavares getting hit too much.

in the 2009 draft when the Islanders took Tavares, they traded up in the first round and I thought that Snow was going to do something brilliant when he traded up to the 12th pick, and that was to grab Zack Kassian. In the Junior prospects game that previous January, Kassian injured Tavares on a nasty hit and gave him a pretty serious shoulder injury.

Kassian has hands and toughness, not like these hacks like Haley and Gillies and I think he would have been the perfect bodyguard for Tavares and I thought it then.

But, instead, they traded up to grab a defenseman in De Haan who probably would have still been there where they were scheduled to pick anyway.

I just don't understand why they didn't grab Kassian, and as I watch Tavares develop into one of the best forwards in the league already at only 21 years old, I still don't get it.
- jimbro83

I would have rather picked Kassian than de Haan then and now. de Haan may turn out to be great, but he's frail. He's suffered three major shoulder injuries already, and he's not even 21 yet. I'm more worried about de Haan staying healty than about him developing into a good player.

Who are you replacing him with? Does that person even want the Isles job? You need to have someone in mind if you're going to can Cappy. They should never have hired him in the first place, they should have gone with an established, veteran NHL coach like Therrien, Murray or even MacTavish.
- Jethro09

I suggested Keenan months ago. I know I'm a relic of the past, but I've been saying this for a long time now. I don't post much here any more because I don't want to sound like even more of a broken record than I already do.

Until Wang is no longer the owner, nothing's changing, so what does it matter anyway. The team we have, and the dynamics of how it works (coaches like Capuano, players like Rolston, Pandolfo and Reasoner, etc., etc., blah, blah) aren't going to change.

The Isles should move to SNY. Get off the Dolan network and be on a channel where they would be the primary winter programming. I just don't know if SNY is interested in signing them for the same or more $$ than MSG pays the Isles now.
- Jethro09

Another scenario I've brought up. I don't understand other than Wang possibly being cautious of pissing the "mighty" Dolans off. SNY could use the programing and the Isles could use the attention. MSG's coverage is a joke as I pointed out yesterday.

I would have rather picked Kassian than de Haan then and now. de Haan may turn out to be great, but he's frail. He's suffered three major shoulder injuries already, and he's not even 21 yet. I'm more worried about de Haan staying healty than about him developing into a good player.
- Jethro09

I don't think Drafting Tavares and then drafting the guy who hurt him in the same round is exactly a great idea. Kassian got thrown out of the U20 tourney for 3 games for a bad hit. My point is we have much bigger guys.. and much more talented in our system.

I don't think Drafting Tavares and then drafting the guy who hurt him in the same round is exactly a great idea. Kassian got thrown out of the U20 tourney for 3 games for a bad hit. My point is we have much bigger guys.. and much more talented in our system.
- niteislander

But at least Kassian plays. de Haan has been an injury-prone and there's no guarantee he won't be DP 2.0 when he plays in the NHL, against bigger, faster, stronger guys.

But at least Kassian plays. de Haan has been an injury-prone and there's no guarantee he won't be DP 2.0 when he plays in the NHL, against bigger, faster, stronger guys.
- Jethro09

of his injuries only one wasn't related to a dirty major penalty hit

Christ Jethro, I'd rather the guy standing next to him behind the bench be the head coach. I'd rather the (frank)ing Glitter head guy who sits behind one of the nets coach. I'd rather have Butch (frank)ing Goring coach. This team comes out physically and mentally flat at least one game a WEEK. With a young, give or take a couple of dinosaurs, roster, this is on the head coach.
Like I said, though, with Wang in charge nothing is changing.

what about bailey to the flames for giordono??? just trying to see what we could do to get a (frank)ing dman in here

Christ Jethro, I'd rather the guy standing next to him behind the bench be the head coach. I'd rather the (frank)ing Glitter head guy who sits behind one of the nets coach. I'd rather have Butch (frank)ing Goring coach. This team comes out physically and mentally flat at least one game a WEEK. With a young, give or take a couple of dinosaurs, roster, this is on the head coach.
Like I said, though, with Wang in charge nothing is changing.
- potvin05

which one?

of his injuries only one wasn't related to a dirty major penalty hit
- NYI78

Regardless, his track record is that of an injury-prone player. Look at the NHL today. You really think de Haan won't be cheap-shotted at some point in his NHL career? That's all you see in NHL games nowadays are guys taking runs and cheap-shots at each other. de Haan needs to bulk up and get some muscle before he hits the NHL or else he's going to be sitting next to RDP a lot.

Christ Jethro, I'd rather the guy standing next to him behind the bench be the head coach. I'd rather the (frank)ing Glitter head guy who sits behind one of the nets coach. I'd rather have Butch (frank)ing Goring coach. This team comes out physically and mentally flat at least one game a WEEK. With a young, give or take a couple of dinosaurs, roster, this is on the head coach.
Like I said, though, with Wang in charge nothing is changing.
- potvin05

I agree that a better coach is needed, but I'm not ready to fire Cappy just for the sake of doing so or just to replace him with another AHL guy getting his first or second shot at the NHL.

Snow should have done his due dilligence during the end of last season and this summer before naming Cappy head coach for the next two years. I know the Isles job isn't the most attractive job out there, but for a coach looking to get back into the league, presumably like Therrien or Murray, they might have been interested. Instead, Snow and Wang went the cheap route, and like the old saying says "you get what you pay for".

Regardless, his track record is that of an injury-prone player. Look at the NHL today. You really think de Haan won't be cheap-shotted at some point in his NHL career? That's all you see in NHL games nowadays are guys taking runs and cheap-shots at each other. de Haan needs to bulk up and get some muscle before he hits the NHL or else he's going to be sitting next to RDP a lot.
- Jethro09

I agree on the DeHaan front (I remember when he got hurt the first time after being drafted I mentioned this kid gets hurt too much and got a lot of crap for it.. then 2 years later he has been hurt 3 more times). That said I would never compare anyone to DP... just not fair. martinek would be a better comparison. I still think that he will be packaged in a trade in the very near future... and by think I mean pray.

I-bob saying Snow is shopping Streit... I know u all hate him .. don't care.

One of teams supposedly interested is Boston. Boston globe is reporting that Tim Thomas is on his way out after white house stuff. His NTC ends this year and he is under contract for just one more year. (Streit for TT.. then trade Nabby, Dehaan, and a pick for a top 4 D-man... pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaasssseeee!)

which one?
- niteislander

Weight.....that suggestion I was serious about.

If it isn't abundantly clear to everyone at this point they need a coach with some fire then I don't know what to say. That's why Keenan was my suggestion the first month of the season. But, Weight seems more than capable of firing up these guys, he certainly has their respect and there would be at least a modicum of the continuity some of you are looking for.

I was upset in loss in toronto b/c we simply didnt show up. Tor deserved to win.

But last night we outplayed leafs bigtime. that 3rd goal was no more than fluke lucky goal which happens.

While, i never got on officials for missing a call here and there. this was just disgusting. Leafs got away with some pretty bad calls .

the worst on being in while isles were in offensive zone in OT and it led to odd man rush going the other way.

I agree on the DeHaan front (I remember when he got hurt the first time after being drafted I mentioned this kid gets hurt too much and got a lot of crap for it.. then 2 years later he has been hurt 3 more times). That said I would never compare anyone to DP... just not fair. martinek would be a better comparison. I still think that he will be packaged in a trade in the very near future... and by think I mean pray.

I-bob saying Snow is shopping Streit... I know u all hate him .. don't care.

One of teams supposedly interested is Boston. Boston globe is reporting that Tim Thomas is on his way out after white house stuff. His NTC ends this year and he is under contract for just one more year. (Streit for TT.. then trade Nabby, Dehaan, and a pick for a top 4 D-man... pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaasssseeee!)
- niteislander

ok ecklund

I agree on the DeHaan front (I remember when he got hurt the first time after being drafted I mentioned this kid gets hurt too much and got a lot of crap for it.. then 2 years later he has been hurt 3 more times). That said I would never compare anyone to DP... just not fair. martinek would be a better comparison. I still think that he will be packaged in a trade in the very near future... and by think I mean pray.

I-bob saying Snow is shopping Streit... I know u all hate him .. don't care.

One of teams supposedly interested is Boston. Boston globe is reporting that Tim Thomas is on his way out after white house stuff. His NTC ends this year and he is under contract for just one more year. (Streit for TT.. then trade Nabby, Dehaan, and a pick for a top 4 D-man... pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaasssseeee!)
- niteislander

that is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever read.

that is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever read.
- jsr1034

Thomas’s decision, however, may be the first step in goalie and team parting ways. His no-movement clause expires at the conclusion of this season. Thomas has one more season remaining on his four-year, $20 million contract. Rask, a restricted free agent at year’s end, should be ready to assume the starting job in 2012-13.

http://www.boston.com/spo...ub_no_surprise_to_bruins/

I am sure u have read dumber... if something comes of it I will shove it up your keester ever chance I get.

Never has a B2B set between two teams in #NHL left 1team w/o PP for 6periods. Until Islanders 2012

Inc bob from twitter

can I just say I follow the Islanders closely despite being a Rangers fan and I wanna bring up something since you guys are discussing lack of toughness and Tavares getting hit too much.

in the 2009 draft when the Islanders took Tavares, they traded up in the first round and I thought that Snow was going to do something brilliant when he traded up to the 12th pick, and that was to grab Zack Kassian. In the Junior prospects game that previous January, Kassian injured Tavares on a nasty hit and gave him a pretty serious shoulder injury.

Kassian has hands and toughness, not like these hacks like Haley and Gillies and I think he would have been the perfect bodyguard for Tavares and I thought it then.

But, instead, they traded up to grab a defenseman in De Haan who probably would have still been there where they were scheduled to pick anyway.

I just don't understand why they didn't grab Kassian, and as I watch Tavares develop into one of the best forwards in the league already at only 21 years old, I still don't get it.
- jimbro83

Facking exactly!!!! You would think a backup goalie with no experience is our GM

I-bob saying Snow is shopping Streit... I know u all hate him .. don't care.

One of teams supposedly interested is Boston. Boston globe is reporting that Tim Thomas is on his way out after white house stuff. His NTC ends this year and he is under contract for just one more year. (Streit for TT.. then trade Nabby, Dehaan, and a pick for a top 4 D-man... pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaasssseeee!)
- niteislander

give us Dougie Hamilton and i would do it. Streit is as good of a player as he ever going to get. He wont be here in years 2015,2016 when we going for the cup.

that is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever read.
- jsr1034

I second that.

give us Dougie Hamilton and i would do it. Streit is as good of a player as he ever going to get. He wont be here in years 2015,2016 when we going for the cup.
- Spartiarti

Boston LOVES dougie H.. they think he is their next Chara. I don't think they would part with him. Streit us a good PP point man.. I will not be upset if he is traded for something of value.

word has it Streit is on the block. He's been awful this year. That said, we lack the defensive depth to give someone like that up without getting a dman in return.

I agree on the DeHaan front (I remember when he got hurt the first time after being drafted I mentioned this kid gets hurt too much and got a lot of crap for it.. then 2 years later he has been hurt 3 more times). That said I would never compare anyone to DP... just not fair. martinek would be a better comparison. I still think that he will be packaged in a trade in the very near future... and by think I mean pray.

I-bob saying Snow is shopping Streit... I know u all hate him .. don't care.

One of teams supposedly interested is Boston. Boston globe is reporting that Tim Thomas is on his way out after white house stuff. His NTC ends this year and he is under contract for just one more year. (Streit for TT.. then trade Nabby, Dehaan, and a pick for a top 4 D-man... pllllllleeeeeeeaaaaasssseeee!)
- niteislander

I'm sorry dude, but how the hell is anyone supposed to take you seriously with those kind of proposals?

Thomas’s decision, however, may be the first step in goalie and team parting ways. His no-movement clause expires at the conclusion of this season. Thomas has one more season remaining on his four-year, $20 million contract. Rask, a restricted free agent at year’s end, should be ready to assume the starting job in 2012-13.

http://www.boston.com/spo...ub_no_surprise_to_bruins/

I am sure u have read dumber... if something comes of it I will shove it up your keester ever chance I get.
- niteislander

If Thomas leaves Boston, it won't have anything to do with this ridiculous incident but more that he's getting rather old and the team may want to sell high. Personally I thought it was refreshing to hear someone say BOTH political parties SUCK!