I agree. Something isn't right. Yet Tavares, Neilson, Okposo, Grabner etc all signed long term. Moulson too. So it can't be that bad to play here.

But the team hasn't played one game where they looked desperate all season. They looked half dead in about 20% of their games. It's like they are waiting for a spark or for someone else to make a big hit, score a big goal or make a game changing play. Tavares, does that but even he now is trying to skate through entire defenses by himself instead of getting the puck deep. They need a real veteran leader. Someone that the younger guys really respect. I think they respect Streit but I can't see him as the vocal guy they need that EVERYONE respects.

Shane Doan is a UFA. I'd over pay him. He plays his freaking heart out every game and if you caught the Coyotes game when he had the hat trick, I couldn't be happier for him. Look at how his teammates reacted to him. He is a loved player and has as much heart as anyone in the league. He could be a decent 2nd line center or winger that brings grit.

I'd drive to Phoenix to bring him here.
- Isles316

All for Shane Doan. They need a leader in that locker room. when the Islanders were close to a playoff spot they needed that guy to say listen guys we can do this. No excuses lets go out there work our asses off and show the fans and league we belong. It just seems to me that they are afraid to hurt each others feelings and well I am personally getting sick of this being runned like Sesame Street

See I hate Jack and a lot of other people in this organization, but I think one big problem is Mark STreit. Let me explain. Ever since he got that C on his jersey he has been horrible. He really is not a leader at all. He is not vocal at all. WE never here of players only meetings or Streit calling out certain players. A captain takes control of the team and calls certain people out. I does not deserve that C at all. Tavares does. That could be a start. This team has no heart what so ever. I dont get that they can play solid were half a game and be horrid the other half. It makes no sense. They just feel ok whatever happens, happens now. I mean I cant blame Nabby for all of this . These players need some discipline. I would have them running drills for hours, if you cant handle that then play the game. Those who show heart and play well can be excused. Time to point out the problems and work on them. Not just keep running them out there to look worse and worse
- kasperrko

dee has a new blog up. and i need a new job any one have one for me. been looking nothing.

maybe its all the support from the fans!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

They could care less about us. We are just the suckers that help with ther salaries that is all

All for Shane Doan. They need a leader in that locker room. when the Islanders were close to a playoff spot they needed that guy to say listen guys we can do this. No excuses lets go out there work our asses off and show the fans and league we belong. It just seems to me that they are afraid to hurt each others feelings and well I am personally getting sick of this being runned like Sesame Street
- kasperrko

I think Doan would consider coming here if the money is right. He probably wants to stay with the Coyotes or go to a contender (and who wouldn't) but I don't think he would write off any team, if they offered him a good contract and situation.

And lets not forget about the realignment issue
- Killer' Carlson

the realignment issue is tricky. I can't see why the players would be opposed to it, if it limits the teams out west's travel each year. They should keep things as they are, move Winnipeg to the West, one team from the West back east (Nashville, Detroit or CBJ) and call it a day.

See I hate Jack and a lot of other people in this organization, but I think one big problem is Mark STreit. Let me explain. Ever since he got that C on his jersey he has been horrible. He really is not a leader at all. He is not vocal at all. WE never here of players only meetings or Streit calling out certain players. A captain takes control of the team and calls certain people out. I does not deserve that C at all. Tavares does. That could be a start. This team has no heart what so ever. I dont get that they can play solid were half a game and be horrid the other half. It makes no sense. They just feel ok whatever happens, happens now. I mean I cant blame Nabby for all of this . These players need some discipline. I would have them running drills for hours, if you cant handle that then play the game. Those who show heart and play well can be excused. Time to point out the problems and work on them. Not just keep running them out there to look worse and worse
- kasperrko

In fairness to Streit, his way to lead may not be as a yeller or screamer. He's going to have a hard time telling people what to do if he himself isn't playing well. He missed an entire year and suffered a real bad injury. It may take him a year or so to get back on track. Some of the best leaders in sports are guys who do it by example and say nothing.

Streit is not the problem with the team. Streit can yell and scream all he wants to and it wouldn't matter with this bunch. There just isn't any resilency in the room. The guys on the team have no idea how to win games. They have no push back when their opponents step on the gas against them. No captain can do anything about that.

I agree. Something isn't right. Yet Tavares, Neilson, Okposo, Grabner etc all signed long term. Moulson too. So it can't be that bad to play here.

But the team hasn't played one game where they looked desperate all season. They looked half dead in about 20% of their games. It's like they are waiting for a spark or for someone else to make a big hit, score a big goal or make a game changing play. Tavares, does that but even he now is trying to skate through entire defenses by himself instead of getting the puck deep. They need a real veteran leader. Someone that the younger guys really respect. I think they respect Streit but I can't see him as the vocal guy they need that EVERYONE respects.

Shane Doan is a UFA. I'd over pay him. He plays his freaking heart out every game and if you caught the Coyotes game when he had the hat trick, I couldn't be happier for him. Look at how his teammates reacted to him. He is a loved player and has as much heart as anyone in the league. He could be a decent 2nd line center or winger that brings grit.

I'd drive to Phoenix to bring him here.
- Isles316

Shane Doan isn't going to sign iwth the Isles. The answer is not a vocal captain, the answer is a better coach and to get multiple players on the roster that have the character needed to win. Even if you got Doan, he's only one guy. He, along with JT and Hamonic are not enough character guys to will a team to win every night. You need a team of guys like Doan, or Scott Hartnell, or other guys who are character guys, guys with the attitude and confidence to play with a lead and hold it.

Here's my rant for the day. Its a bit of a carry over from yesterday, when I ranted about how sh**ty the team is after this past weekend's horrid performances.

People appear to be on both sides of the fence on this team. Some think its headed in the right direction, some don't. I think its a hybrid. I think prospect-wise, the team is headed in the right direction, but not in other areas. If this team is going to finish above the bottom five in the league next year, lots of stuff has to happen:

1) DP needs to be bought out or waived for the purposes of sending him to B-port. Its sad that his career has spiraled downward the way it has, but Nilsson and Poulin are knocking on the doorstep and DP is in their way. He's got to go.

2) re-sign Nabokov and PAP ONLY IF they are fair deals. I don't want to see the Isles have to drastically overpay either guy to get them to stay. If they can be re-signed to fair deals, get it done. If not, let them walk.

3) Fire Capuano and bring in a legit NHL-tested coach. Cappy is in over his head. His horrid handling of the roster this year (albeit, a bad roster) and the team's performance warrant dismissal. Cappy wasted an entire year of Nino's development by burying him on the fourth line and skating Rolston over him for no other reason other than Rolston was a vet (though force-fed Nino by Snow). Time to move on and bring in a coach who has both credibility and respect in the NHL community at whatever the salary cost.

4) Make offers to Parise, Weber and/or Suter, but don't expect any to sign. It can't hurt to make offers to show the fans and players on the team you're trying to improve and maybe a miracle happens and one of them sign. Just don't bet on it.

5) Refrain from making offers to scabs (i.e. Reasoners, Sims, Pandolfo's, Wallaces, Mottaus, Eatons, Jurcinas, etc.). If Snow can't get legit top six forwards or top four d-men to sign here or through a trade, then don't waste roster spots on guys that are just placeholders. Might as well promote guys from Bridgeport (Ullstrom, Cizikas, Donavan, de Haan, etc.) that can use those spots to develop rather than waste them on bums that don't have any future.

6) ticket Nino for Bridgeport, Strome for the OHL. No need to rush Strome to the NHL and waste a year of his development like they did with Nino. Give Strome a 9-game look if he warrants it. If he's ripping it up, then think of keeping him up. If he's not, send him back to JR. Nino needs to start in B-port. If he starts lighting it up, he can be recalled. But based on this season, Nino is nowhere near ready for the NHL.

The likelihood of any of this happening is remote, and maybe I'm wrong. But I don't see a better finish in the standings by bringing back this roster and coaching staff for another year.
- Jethro09

Your "Top 6 things Isles need to do to make playoffs" is way out of order.

#1 (#3) Fire Cappy. Get a real Head coach.

#2 (#2) Sign Nabby & PAP even if we have to overpay market value. This team can't afford to be thrifty in keeping or acquiring talent. Newsflash: The Islanders arent the RedWings or even the Rangers in regards to attracting FA's.

#3 (#5) No scab contracts - get the salary to the floor without Rolston-esque buddy contracts/wash-ups sucking up ice time from developing/more talented players.

#4 (#4) Make Parise an offer he cant refuse. Maybe not all in yearly salary but more like $1Mil bonuses for point incentives AND Isles making playoffs & each subsequent round they advance. Same for a Top 2 Dman.

#5 (#6) If Nino can goto BP and come up & down w/o waivers, then do that. If not, keep him on the team and get him 3rd line minutes or players on 4th line that he can actually get opportunities. Strome is worth a 9 game look but prob still another year away from joining the Bridge.

#6 (#1) Let RDP come to camp. It's only a matter of time before he takes himself out of the equation with another injury. If CBA allows the buyout, then do it. He is far from the teams biggest problem because HE ISN'T PLAYING. He has only slightly more influence on the team (good or bad) as Alexei Yashin.

#'s 1, 2 & 3 are the top priorities and the things that will really make a difference for this team.

You can forward the GM of the year trophy to me now, as I have removed my dodgeball, beer pong and co-ed softball trophies from the trophy case. *burp*

they just had breaking news on espn saying that dp is going to start tonight sorry kasper
- ovi8isles

If that was true, i'd be hoping for hartnell or simmonds to run that douchebag over all night or until they severely injure him.

Your "Top 6 things Isles need to do to make playoffs" is way out of order.

#1 (#3) Fire Cappy. Get a real Head coach.

#2 (#2) Sign Nabby & PAP even if we have to overpay market value. This team can't afford to be thrifty in keeping or acquiring talent. Newsflash: The Islanders arent the RedWings or even the Rangers in regards to attracting FA's.

#3 (#5) No scab contracts - get the salary to the floor without Rolston-esque buddy contracts/wash-ups sucking up ice time from developing/more talented players.

#4 (#4) Make Parise an offer he cant refuse. Maybe not all in yearly salary but more like $1Mil bonuses for point incentives AND Isles making playoffs & each subsequent round they advance. Same for a Top 2 Dman.

#5 (#6) If Nino can goto BP and come up & down w/o waivers, then do that. If not, keep him on the team and get him 3rd line minutes or players on 4th line that he can actually get opportunities. Strome is worth a 9 game look but prob still another year away from joining the Bridge.

#6 (#1) Let RDP come to camp. It's only a matter of time before he takes himself out of the equation with another injury. If CBA allows the buyout, then do it. He is far from the teams biggest problem because HE ISN'T PLAYING. He has only slightly more influence on the team (good or bad) as Alexei Yashin.

#'s 1, 2 & 3 are the top priorities and the things that will really make a difference for this team.

You can forward the GM of the year trophy to me now, as I have removed my dodgeball, beer pong and co-ed softball trophies from the trophy case. *burp*
- jmo16

My list wasnt in any particular order, but I have no issue with your priority list. The problem is, all of those things need to happen before this team can seriously consider itself a threat to make the playoffs