wtf?!?! are they insane!!! charging 175 a ticket for preseason hockey?!?! christ!!
- LetsGoIsles

Well John Grahame can afford that now

Technically speaking, we already have a better record and more points than we did last year. This season was only a huge failure if you believed the media's crap (or Snow's) saying we could/should make the playoffs.
- eichiefs9

im going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you are smarter than that based on prior comments.

just tell me your looking to strike up conversation. they currently have 5 more points this year than they had last year at this point. you worry about technicalities, ill worry about the bottomline, isles are fighting for a top 5 DRAFT spot. you dont have to believe any media crap, you just have to open your eyes and take off those rosy colored glasses to see the kind of poop the islanders gave to their fans this season. having said that, if i put myself in their shoes, i cant get upset with them because they clearly have fans who are all too ready and satisfied justifying that poop isnt that bad.

im going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you are smarter than that based on prior comments.

just tell me your looking to strike up conversation. they currently have 5 more points this year than they had last year at this point. you worry about technicalities, ill worry about the bottomline, isles are fighting for a top 5 DRAFT spot. you dont have to believe any media crap, you just have to open your eyes and take off those rosy colored glasses to see the kind of poop the islanders gave to their fans this season. having said that, if i put myself in their shoes, i cant get upset with them because they clearly have fans who are all too ready and satisfied justifying that poop isnt that bad.
- LetsGoIsles

Don't confuse my words. I'm not happy with the turnout of the season or wearing rosy colored glasses. But to say it was a "HUGE" failure was a bit of a stretch. A huge failure would have been battling with Columbus for the first overall. A lateral move maybe, and certainly not a success. But "HUGE" failure is a bit over dramatic.

Don't confuse my words. I'm not happy with the turnout of the season or wearing rosy colored glasses. But to say it was a "HUGE" failure was a bit of a stretch. A huge failure would have been battling with Columbus for the first overall. A lateral move maybe, and certainly not a success. But "HUGE" failure is a bit over dramatic.
- eichiefs9

would you say this season was a step back? would you agree that this "pace" of "improvement" is unacceptable? if no, when do you project to be a solid/competing team year-in and year-out at this pace?

i feel that when the MAIN objective of the islanders this season (and the past few seasons) is a "rebuild" (obviously playoffs werent realistic coming into the season) that moving laterally IS in fact a major step back.

would you say this season was a step back? would you agree that this "pace" of "improvement" is unacceptable? if no, when do you project to be a solid/competing team year-in and year-out at this pace?

i feel that when the MAIN objective of the islanders this season (and the past few seasons) is a "rebuild" (obviously playoffs werent realistic coming into the season) that moving laterally IS in fact a major step back.
- LetsGoIsles

I agree. This team was expected to make a run at a playoff spot and their season was over in november. This should be unacceptable to the GM, especially since they've been healthy

would you say this season was a step back? would you agree that this "pace" of "improvement" is unacceptable? if no, when do you project to be a solid/competing team year-in and year-out at this pace?

i feel that when the MAIN objective of the islanders this season (and the past few seasons) is a "rebuild" (obviously playoffs werent realistic coming into the season) that moving laterally IS in fact a major step back.
- LetsGoIsles

The rebuild is going to take way longer than anyone wants it to. When we drafted Tavares and Botta convinced his sheep that this was a "5 year" rebuild, the reality of it was that it was more likely a 7-10 year rebuild. It's terrible, but if you (not you specifically) sit down and face the facts, it is what it is. Nobody wants to sign here, period. You can argue about what the reasons are til you're blue in the face, but the fact remains..no mid-to-top level free agent wants to be here, at all. So were going to have to build through the draft and through lame value signings/waiver pickups. Far from ideal, but it's the unfortunate reality.

So, to answer your question, do I think the pace of our "improvement" is acceptable? No, I don't. But I also realize that, short of moving the team to Quebec City, there's not much you can do to change it.

The rebuild is going to take way longer than anyone wants it to. When we drafted Tavares and Botta convinced his sheep that this was a "5 year" rebuild, the reality of it was that it was more likely a 7-10 year rebuild. It's terrible, but if you (not you specifically) sit down and face the facts, it is what it is. Nobody wants to sign here, period. You can argue about what the reasons are til you're blue in the face, but the fact remains..no mid-to-top level free agent wants to be here, at all. So were going to have to build through the draft and through lame value signings/waiver pickups. Far from ideal, but it's the unfortunate reality.

So, to answer your question, do I think the pace of our "improvement" is acceptable? No, I don't. But I also realize that, short of moving the team to Quebec City, there's not much you can do to change it.
- eichiefs9

So it's Botta's fault that Garth Snow's 5-year rebuild is behind schedule? I might as well blame Botta when I don't win Mega Millions too...

this rant was brought to you by, Jose Cuervo
- LetsGoIsles

funny

Technically speaking, we already have a better record and more points than we did last year. This season was only a huge failure if you believed the media's crap (or Snow's) saying we could/should make the playoffs.
- eichiefs9

Medias crap? Who in the media was saing we were making the playoffs? This was all Snows doing and you know what? We should have made the playoffs by now according to his "rebuild" BS

wtf?!?! are they insane!!! charging 175 a ticket for preseason hockey?!?! christ!!
- LetsGoIsles

Good way to promote hockey in Brooklyn, like everything associated with this team, ridiculous...

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

He was skating a month ago with Montoya - not practicing but skating.
Helluva scoop.

Don't confuse my words. I'm not happy with the turnout of the season or wearing rosy colored glasses. But to say it was a "HUGE" failure was a bit of a stretch. A huge failure would have been battling with Columbus for the first overall. A lateral move maybe, and certainly not a success. But "HUGE" failure is a bit over dramatic.
- eichiefs9

They made just about no progress, didn't make the playoffs and in Snows own word not making the playoffs would be considered a failure this year. I guess if the "GM" of this team is saying its a failure it probably is. Really no progress in a "rebuild" is failure

Don't confuse my words. I'm not happy with the turnout of the season or wearing rosy colored glasses. But to say it was a "HUGE" failure was a bit of a stretch. A huge failure would have been battling with Columbus for the first overall. A lateral move maybe, and certainly not a success. But "HUGE" failure is a bit over dramatic.
- eichiefs9

They made just about no progress, didn't make the playoffs and in Snows own word not making the playoffs would be considered a failure this year. I guess if the "GM" of this team is saying its a failure it probably is. Really no progress in a "rebuild" is failure

The rebuild is going to take way longer than anyone wants it to. When we drafted Tavares and Botta convinced his sheep that this was a "5 year" rebuild, the reality of it was that it was more likely a 7-10 year rebuild. It's terrible, but if you (not you specifically) sit down and face the facts, it is what it is. Nobody wants to sign here, period. You can argue about what the reasons are til you're blue in the face, but the fact remains..no mid-to-top level free agent wants to be here, at all. So were going to have to build through the draft and through lame value signings/waiver pickups. Far from ideal, but it's the unfortunate reality.

So, to answer your question, do I think the pace of our "improvement" is acceptable? No, I don't. But I also realize that, short of moving the team to Quebec City, there's not much you can do to change it.
- eichiefs9

So you can't change it so its acceptable and not a failure? BTW Botta did'nt convince his flock it was a five yr rebuild, snow said it would be five yrs.

So it's Botta's fault that Garth Snow's 5-year rebuild is behind schedule? I might as well blame Botta when I don't win Mega Millions too...
- UIF

I found this extremely funny as well, Snow can do no wrong in alot of peoples eyes on here, in fact only on here.

He was skating a month ago with Montoya - not practicing but skating.
Helluva scoop.
- jmo16

hopefully he reinjures himself for the last time

They made just about no progress, didn't make the playoffs and in Snows own word not making the playoffs would be considered a failure this year. I guess if the "GM" of this team is saying its a failure it probably is. Really no progress in a "rebuild" is failure
- Cptmjl

I say they went backwards for sure. Last year we were quick to blame the season's performance on the injuries. Streit missed the year, Okposo missed a lot of time, we were using Dmen that nobody ever heard of before, etc. This year was not a terrible year injury-wise, solid goal tending for the most part, and still nowhere near the playoffs. I've been watching this team religiously for since the early 80's and I've pretty much thrown my arms up in the air. I have accepted the fact that no high end FAs want to come here, but a GM has to get creative when their hands are tied. These great young players need to be around players that have been there before. Players that can bring in a winning culture. Come hell or high water, Snow needs to figure out a way.

The rebuild is going to take way longer than anyone wants it to. When we drafted Tavares and Botta convinced his sheep that this was a "5 year" rebuild, the reality of it was that it was more likely a 7-10 year rebuild. It's terrible, but if you (not you specifically) sit down and face the facts, it is what it is. Nobody wants to sign here, period. You can argue about what the reasons are til you're blue in the face, but the fact remains..no mid-to-top level free agent wants to be here, at all. So were going to have to build through the draft and through lame value signings/waiver pickups. Far from ideal, but it's the unfortunate reality.

So, to answer your question, do I think the pace of our "improvement" is acceptable? No, I don't. But I also realize that, short of moving the team to Quebec City, there's not much you can do to change it.
- eichiefs9

botta??? please!

so youre saying that since the rebuild is actually going to take 7-10 years, thats ok?? why are you ok with that? shouldnt you be pissed and try to do something about it or youre just gonna sit back and say "it is what it is"?

just because you "know" itll take 7-10 years makes it ok to actually take 7-10 years? good thing people are holding the organization to a higher standard!

botta??? please!

so youre saying that since the rebuild is actually going to take 7-10 years, thats ok?? why are you ok with that? shouldnt you be pissed and try to do something about it or youre just gonna sit back and say "it is what it is"?

just because you "know" itll take 7-10 years makes it ok to actually take 7-10 years? good thing people are holding the organization to a higher standard!
- LetsGoIsles

I never said I was OK with any of it. I am, however, OK with the logic that it's the unfortunate reality. Key word there is reality. You don't have to like it, you don't have to sit on your ass and do nothing about it, and you don't have to agree with me either, but the sad fact is it's going to take that long unless Ryan Suter and Zach Parise decide they want to help bring the Isles back to glory, which we all know is never going to happen.

Maybe you've taken some action I don't know about it and I'm off-base here (it's a possibility and if it is I apologize), but "holding the organization to a higher standard" doesn't qualify as only complaining about them on a message board. I'm not trying to single you out either. Nobody is holding the organization to a higher standard simply by posting the occasional angry rant on hockeybuzz.com.

How about we play mega millions. Whoever wins buys the team from Wang and fires snow?
- mighty13duck

Deal.

I never said I was OK with any of it. I am, however, OK with the logic that it's the unfortunate reality. Key word there is reality. You don't have to like it, you don't have to sit on your ass and do nothing about it, and you don't have to agree with me either, but the sad fact is it's going to take that long unless Ryan Suter and Zach Parise decide they want to help bring the Isles back to glory, which we all know is never going to happen.

Maybe you've taken some action I don't know about it and I'm off-base here (it's a possibility and if it is I apologize), but "holding the organization to a higher standard" doesn't qualify as only complaining about them on a message board. I'm not trying to single you out either. Nobody is holding the organization to a higher standard simply by posting the occasional angry rant on hockeybuzz.com.
- eichiefs9

Sure they are. Saying its not acceptable where the team is, really is "holding the orginization to a higher standard". Sitting back and saying OK, sucks but it is what it is, nobodys fault, oh well is not "holding the orginization to a higher standard", as a fan its accepting failure and in essence being OK with it.

Technically speaking, we already have a better record and more points than we did last year. This season was only a huge failure if you believed the media's crap (or Snow's) saying we could/should make the playoffs.
- eichiefs9

30 wins, 73 points last season, 14th in the conference. This season, 32 wins, 75 points, 13th in the conference (so far). Considering that last year's team was injury-riddled and the first line didn't perform anything like it did this year, that's not real improvement.

I think Snow was nuts to think that this team was a playoff team with that "D", but I don't think it was too far-fetched to expect around a 15 point improvement in the standings, maybe sit just outside of a playoff spot in 10th or so. It all matters where they finish in the standings. They keep finishing 13th-15th in the conference, irrespective of the point and win totals. That means there's no team improvement.

botta??? please!

so youre saying that since the rebuild is actually going to take 7-10 years, thats ok?? why are you ok with that? shouldnt you be pissed and try to do something about it or youre just gonna sit back and say "it is what it is"?

just because you "know" itll take 7-10 years makes it ok to actually take 7-10 years? good thing people are holding the organization to a higher standard!
- LetsGoIsles

"Rebuilding" a team this way isn't going to take 7-10 years its just not going to work period, end of story. Once these kids get good(if they do) they're gone. Hmm, lemme think about this. Stay with a team with a circus like atmosphere or play somewhere where they will try to ice a competitive team and surrond me with good players to help me succeed, its a no brainer. Play with Pandawful, Reasoner, or the likes of Brian Rolston or ?

He was skating a month ago with Montoya - not practicing but skating.
Helluva scoop.
- jmo16

You think PA is worth more than Moulson???
- Ur Not Me

yes - because PA can skate and distribute the puck as well as score. Moulson's game is a good one, but he's not a guy to carry the puck up ice and start a rush. I think Moulson signed for far less than he's worth, but PA I believe compliments JT nicely on that line with MM.

I'd expect a fair price to be around 3.5-4, the problem is once he is a UFA the price is going to be closer to 5.5

at that price he's not worth it, however being that we have so much cap space we have to spend, and we don't have enough NHL ready talent to fill a competitive roster, I think we will find a way to get him signed.