Who said they were going to make the playoffs.

It doesn't mean you have to just give up and roll over.

Go back to Botta's Blog with all the sheep!!!

Is it really hard to try and think positively?
- jimmc7722

Exactly. I'd love for a miracle to happen and have them squeeze into the playoffs. I know that's not a reality. But its important that this team finish the season significantly better than another bottom-five finish. Coming in 14th in the conference and fourth worst in the league again shows signs of absolutely no progress. It shows that this "rebuild" is not working when in year four the team finishes no higher in the standings than it did in year one of the same "rebuild".

I don't want anymore top five picks. I don't want any more fire sales at the deadline. The Isles have been irrelevant for too long. Progress must be shown by now. What the hell is the point of "rebuilding" if you don't get any better as a result?

You win... I just heard on the radio that the Isles are going to forfeit the rest of the year.

Tavares was quoted as saying... "We have nothing to play for... we let our fans down again"

I guess I will put away my cheerleader outfit and pom poms away until next year... if there is a next year...
- jimmc7722

A: you didnt explain anything that was asked for you to explain your original comment

B: question stands

C: not one did i say to forgeit the season or stop trying-- in FACT, i did say "if you dont see it then youre not watching. that doesnt mean people want them to lose or stop trying...all it means is they arent going to make the playoffs."

now, since you clearly have no intentions of what you mean by "think positively" and ill assume you read my comment, otherwise why would you direct your comment at me, ill assume you define "think positively" as "making the playoffs"-- my argument was that hamonic was injured and he is clearly the best defenseman on the team and its by a landslide. he is now being replaced by an AHL player....PLEASE explain why i should "think positively" (IE believe theyll make the playoffs)

Exactly. I'd love for a miracle to happen and have them squeeze into the playoffs. I know that's not a reality. But its important that this team finish the season significantly better than another bottom-five finish. Coming in 14th in the conference and fourth worst in the league again shows signs of absolutely no progress. It shows that this "rebuild" is not working when in year four the team finishes no higher in the standings than it did in year one of the same "rebuild".

I don't want anymore top five picks. I don't want any more fire sales at the deadline. The Isles have been irrelevant for too long. Progress must be shown by now. What the hell is the point of "rebuilding" if you don't get any better as a result?
- Jethro09

frankly if they're going to suck, I'd rather they finish in the bottom five and have a shot at the first overall pick. Finishing 10th in the conference may be a moral victory, but a mid round draft pick isn't going to help the rebuild. If they're not making the playoffs I could care less where they finish, as long as they draft in a good position we have a better chance of improvement than we do gaining the 10th overall pick and not seeing that player for a couple of years.

Finish bottom 5, and at least get a shot at 1st overall. Then next year don't piss the season away in October and November.

frankly if they're going to suck, I'd rather they finish in the bottom five and have a shot at the first overall pick. Finishing 10th in the conference may be a moral victory, but a mid round draft pick isn't going to help the rebuild. If they're not making the playoffs I could care less where they finish, as long as they draft in a good position we have a better chance of improvement than we do gaining the 10th overall pick and not seeing that player for a couple of years.

Finish bottom 5, and at least get a shot at 1st overall. Then next year don't piss the season away in October and November.
- Isles_since_6

They've finished in the bottom five the past four years. Where has it gotten them? Same crappy record year in and out. I'm tired of bottom five finishes. I'm tired of the broken record, sign nobody in the summer, tank the season in October and November, fight like hell in the second half to be respectable, finish the season in the bottom five, draft another prospect. Its been the same broken record for the past four years. If you're "rebuilding" properly, there should be progress on the ice. The team should not be finishing in the bottom five of the league again. That means the "rebuild" isn't working.

Besides, how many top five picks does a team need just to get to respectibility? I guess the count is four and continuing...

They've finished in the bottom five the past four years. Where has it gotten them? Same crappy record year in and out. I'm tired of bottom five finishes. I'm tired of the broken record, sign nobody in the summer, tank the season in October and November, fight like hell in the second half to be respectable, finish the season in the bottom five, draft another prospect. Its been the same broken record for the past four years. If you're "rebuilding" properly, there should be progress on the ice. The team should not be finishing in the bottom five of the league again. That means the "rebuild" isn't working.

Besides, how many top five picks does a team need just to get to respectibility? I guess the count is four and continuing...
- Jethro09

You're a good man... I don't care what Dee says...

.....and yet who else could you have brought in that would have produced, not everyone on a team produces, thats the way it is, not everyone can be a skilled player

and a guy wont sign if he feels he can be more than a 4th liner and thats where you want to put him, let alone the isles difficulty getting FA's to sign

you can say bring up this guy or that guy, maybe the isles org doesnt feel that guy is/was ready and they would have better judgement than you

pandolfo was also brought in for tangibles so i wouldnt say he is a useless signing
- dmarsden2988

Again, it's not about production from the fourth line. No one expected that from Pandolfo. We simply don't want or need him. Each year the team stockpiles that exact type of player while leaving other far more important roles unfilled. That's why we get mad. We're more than set on the marginal retread that brings little else besides "intangibles." It's nothing personal against Pandolfo.

Again, it's not about production from the fourth line. No one expected that from Pandolfo. We simply don't want or need him. Each year the team stockpiles that exact type of player while leaving other far more important roles unfilled. That's why we get mad. We're more than set on the marginal retread that brings little else besides "intangibles." It's nothing personal against Pandolfo.
- UIF

Any team needs secondary scoring to make it into the next level. The top lines are expected to score. Teams that get big numbers from the secondary scoring produce wins and become the teams to beat. Couple that with good team defensive responsibility and a decent tender, and you have a cup contender.

You win... I just heard on the radio that the Isles are going to forfeit the rest of the year.

Tavares was quoted as saying... "We have nothing to play for... we let our fans down again"

I guess I will put away my cheerleader outfit and pom poms away until next year... if there is a next year...
- jimmc7722

Oh Jimmc,

Not exactly the the image I'd prefer bringing to mind when I read your future posts!!!

They've finished in the bottom five the past four years. Where has it gotten them? Same crappy record year in and out. I'm tired of bottom five finishes. I'm tired of the broken record, sign nobody in the summer, tank the season in October and November, fight like hell in the second half to be respectable, finish the season in the bottom five, draft another prospect. Its been the same broken record for the past four years. If you're "rebuilding" properly, there should be progress on the ice. The team should not be finishing in the bottom five of the league again. That means the "rebuild" isn't working.

Besides, how many top five picks does a team need just to get to respectibility? I guess the count is four and continuing...
- Jethro09

what benefit is it for them to finish 10th in the conference? two years later ask any fan what they remember and it'll be "they sucked"

how does a worse draft pick and finishing out of the playoffs help them?

I don't think anyone watching the team this year would call it a successful year of a rebuilding team, regardless if they finish 10th or 15th in the conference. They were supposed to challenge for a playoff spot, they won't and it's a lost year due to crappy signings in the offseason and overestimating the second half the team had last year. Short and sweet. Snow f'd up.

whether they finish 10th or 15th means not a g'damn thing other than where they're going to pick in the draft, and since we can't sign a UFA worth a crap, and don't make any trades bringing in talent, the draft is where the talent will come from. So would you rather pick 5th or 10th?

They've finished in the bottom five the past four years. Where has it gotten them? Same crappy record year in and out. I'm tired of bottom five finishes. I'm tired of the broken record, sign nobody in the summer, tank the season in October and November, fight like hell in the second half to be respectable, finish the season in the bottom five, draft another prospect. Its been the same broken record for the past four years. If you're "rebuilding" properly, there should be progress on the ice. The team should not be finishing in the bottom five of the league again. That means the "rebuild" isn't working.

Besides, how many top five picks does a team need just to get to respectibility? I guess the count is four and continuing...
- Jethro09

If the isles and everyone else in east play at same pace over last ten games, the isles would make the playoffs. I'm with jethro, id feel a step forward has been taken if they finish say tenth and have 87 points.

Oh Jimmc,

Not exactly the the image I'd prefer bringing to mind when I read your future posts!!!
- SCLI

They've finished in the bottom five the past four years. Where has it gotten them? Same crappy record year in and out. I'm tired of bottom five finishes. I'm tired of the broken record, sign nobody in the summer, tank the season in October and November, fight like hell in the second half to be respectable, finish the season in the bottom five, draft another prospect. Its been the same broken record for the past four years. If you're "rebuilding" properly, there should be progress on the ice. The team should not be finishing in the bottom five of the league again. That means the "rebuild" isn't working.

Besides, how many top five picks does a team need just to get to respectibility? I guess the count is four and continuing...
- Jethro09

I hear what youre saying, but to me it really makes the most sense to let the kids have playing time. Let cizikas play, Donovan, deHaan, any bport player who has worth. The season, is all but over.........get a high pick, and add a prospect and make a trade. This is the year to trade the pick......

If the isles and everyone else in east play at same pace over last ten games, the isles would make the playoffs. I'm with jethro, id feel a step forward has been taken if they finish say tenth and have 87 points.
- Isles316

The step forward would have happened had they not brought in motheau, rolston, pandolfo, or reasoner. Haley, ulstrom, Rhakshani, and Katic (although he got hurt) should have had the ice over those bums. The season lost any chance of improving the minute Garth panicked and added those bums. I'm curious.......how many teams invite 4 players to tryout during training camp, and sign all 4 to play regular shifts. That alone put this team behind the curve......

The step forward would have happened had they not brought in motheau, rolston, pandolfo, or reasoner. Haley, ulstrom, Rhakshani, and Katic (although he got hurt) should have had the ice over those bums. The season lost any chance of improving the minute Garth panicked and added those bums. I'm curious.......how many teams invite 4 players to tryout during training camp, and sign all 4 to play regular shifts. That alone put this team behind the curve......
- kindlyrick

exactly, any improvement made this season has been because JT has carried the team on his back for stretches. This team is NOT better than last year, if anything, it's worse.

The step forward would have happened had they not brought in motheau, rolston, pandolfo, or reasoner. Haley, ulstrom, Rhakshani, and Katic (although he got hurt) should have had the ice over those bums. The season lost any chance of improving the minute Garth panicked and added those bums. I'm curious.......how many teams invite 4 players to tryout during training camp, and sign all 4 to play regular shifts. That alone put this team behind the curve......
- kindlyrick

These are the reasons I thought playoffs were a longshot and will continue to be a longshot unless the Isles bring in serious vet talent.

- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! UUUUUUGGGGGG!!!

THATS IT!!!!! IMBEDDED IN MY MINDS EYE FOR LIFE!!!!

These are the reasons I thought playoffs were a longshot and will continue to be a longshot unless the Isles bring in serious vet talent.
- ses111

They don't need serious vet leadership.......they need to get rid of all off season acquisitions and motheau, and eaton. Add a top 4 dman, and one vet forward who can lead.........potentially score 20 goals. That would make a world of difference.


Side note: I don't mind Jurcina......he is the only body who can check and be physical (minus Hamonic). Jurcina as a 6th/7th dman is ok with me

Per TSN, Frans Nielsen signed a four year, $11m extension.

The step forward would have happened had they not brought in motheau, rolston, pandolfo, or reasoner. Haley, ulstrom, Rhakshani, and Katic (although he got hurt) should have had the ice over those bums. The season lost any chance of improving the minute Garth panicked and added those bums. I'm curious.......how many teams invite 4 players to tryout during training camp, and sign all 4 to play regular shifts. That alone put this team behind the curve......
- kindlyrick

They had to in order to get to cap floor when erhoff and others didn't sign here

They had to in order to get to cap floor when erhoff and others didn't sign here
- Isles316

They didn't have to.....there had to be other options. Not to mention those guys were "try out" players. It shouldn't take training camp to fill out your roster to make the salary floor. That's just poor managing

Per TSN, Frans Nielsen signed a four year, $11m extension.
- shinkdew

Nice.......now let him play on the third line

Per TSN, Frans Nielsen signed a four year, $11m extension.
- shinkdew

Link?

Link?
- Isles316

reporter by mackenzie on twitter, its legit.

2, 2.5 , 3, 3.5 million per year as it increases

- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

Hey... Where did you get that picture!!!

SCLI said he would never show anybody that picture!!!

It was a long time ago and we were both really drunk... I'm going to have find that picture of SCLI in his Daisy Dukes...

Neilsen resigned... too bad, I thought they might trade him for a second rounder...

Is that negative enough for my fellow Islanders fans...