I'm not going to lie or BS, I took a pretty good swig of the kool-aid going into this past season. I liked our roster, give or take the supposed veterans we brought in. I wasn't a fan of getting Rolston or doing the Devils any favors by making that trade. Certainly not a fan of Pandolfo, but I thought our younger guys were ready to turn the corner. I knew the defense might be a little suspect, but......we all know we were a one-line team.

I'm not rehashing any of my old feelings of the past year, and I'm certainly not going to get into the way certain players performed once it was clear the playoffs weren't even the pipedream they were by Janaury (yet again) in March.

I agree with the both of you pretty much 100 percent. The ways our prospects are brought up are a joke. I don't know if they expect everyone to be as advanced as Tavares was from day one, but this throwing the sheep to the wolves mentality has to go. They (frank)ed Nino, but they did the right thing with Strome, for once.

It's tough to get excited about anything at this point, I'm that (frank)ing cynical. That's why, who knows about Kabanov? Who knows about any of them at this point? I get sick of writing this, and it has been awhile...as long as you-know-who is running this ship, we're all screwed. His mentality permeates the entire franchise. The sad thing is, we have to hope this all pans out, because it's not changing.
- potvin05

I want this team to succeed like everyone else. If Snow made some sound decisions and went out and had an even "decent" off season I'd give the guy credit. I was excited for this past season i think more to see Tavares play more than anything. By the time we played our first preseason game and had our roster set I wasn't confident this team wouldn't go anywhere. I'm just like every other fan in the sense that I hope this year is different, I just won't be shocked if it's not.

Lol. Nice one.
You can't expect every prospect to be a NHL #1 line player. Kabanov will benefit from year at ahl. It will be there he we could see if he has more to offer.

As for those thankful we didn't ruin strome yet? Oh we will. Strome wil be on this years roster instead of back in juniors another year.
- Spartiarti

I hope you're wrong about Strome.

No. If he's not on Gretzky's level soon, he can blow me. By next year, too.
I expect our 3th round pick from 2 years ago to be as good as Nugent-Hopkins and Tavares by next year.
- potvin05

ahahahahahaha gold jerry

No. If he's not on Gretzky's level soon, he can blow me. By next year, too.
I expect our 3th round pick from 2 years ago to be as good as Nugent-Hopkins and Tavares by next year.
- potvin05

ahahahahahaha gold jerry

The thing is you're not right and you're not wrong. Alot of Islander fans(more so the younger ones) have the fear of "Milburyism" where they think that every draft pick may pan out to some incredible player some day after we give up on them. This is exactly what present ownership/management wants us to believe and its what alot of fans presently do, even me to an extent... The Moulsons and Grabners are few and far between and Snow deserves (I'm going to hell)kudos for picking up on these players but there are fans that think Kabanov, Petrov and all these other picks as untouchable commodities. They believe the nonsense that they read on line(Like this site) and actually take it with a grain of salt. I like a particular blogger on here that does his draft thing and his prospect watch(its entertaining) and whatever but some on here(the Isles blog) actually take it as the truth! lol. Let me tell you and everyone else on here something. 9 times out of 10 you know when you have a "game changer" "real" player. You want to make believe Kirill Petrov(oh its his mom, thats why....lol) is going to come over here and lead us to the playoffs keep doing it, I was laughing at that shat all a long. You have to read stuff and decipher whats real and whats not, we all go on the same info. Yeah, I'm the sky falling guy. Fine. XXxXX is the kool aide guy, great. All I have to say is where are we now? Where do you really expect us to be at this time next year? Bixill, I will bet money you are right. These guys bury their heads in the sand and want to keep some kind of make believe thing alive? I don't understand why?




Sorry for the long post. BBQ went laqte and the old lady hates me more than you all do!
- Cptmjl

my point and i stand by this is we don't know what kabonov is yet. He is nowhere close to being a finished product and i don't expect a third round pick to be Ovechkin. Futhermore and i've said this before; i'd trade anyone on the team not named JT, Hamonic or A. Nilsson...

my point and i stand by this is we don't know what kabonov is yet. He is nowhere close to being a finished product and i don't expect a third round pick to be Ovechkin. Futhermore and i've said this before; i'd trade anyone on the team not named JT, Hamonic or A. Nilsson...
- NYI78

Yeah, we don't know. Agreed, for all I know he may be the next Ovechkin. That is really my point, lets not over value these kids.

- niteislander

Exactly, my point being. I'm not going to sit here and say, "hey, these guys have done a good job" when they haven't. I'm not going to give them the benefit of the doubt, I already did that along with every other Islander fan. The simple fact is, they haven't. "rebuild" or otherwise they just have shown zero results. The "always next year crowd" at this point is laughable, they'll be saying the sam, "this is the last year I'll give Snow" song and dance, these same clowns were saying this last year! I give them credit. All I got to say is what I said last year, prove me wrong. And before anyone says this is a "rebuild" and theres no time frame, just stick it up your ass, glad you believe this BS notion.
- Cptmjl

i love the devlopment debate...the got bailey and nino wrong..they totally rushed them..but did they rush Hamonic, Macdonald, Nielsen, Cizikas, Ulmstrom, Martin,Okposo? it works both ways. all i know is it took the kings hawks and penguins 7 years and i expect NOTHING from this team until the arena situation is resolved. NOTHING will happen until then..this team will miss the playoffs. i'm not going to stop rooting for them...i'm not going to stop rooting for my team. i feel that since i've been on here i'm one of the more rational fans but honestly if you want to give me and others crap for hoping then go like another team. their are 29 others out there

Yeah, we don't know. Agreed, for all I know he may be the next Ovechkin. That is really my point, lets not over value these kids.
- Cptmjl

and i'm fine with that but lets also not under value a kid who had a major hand in winning the memorial cup

my point and i stand by this is we don't know what kabonov is yet. He is nowhere close to being a finished product and i don't expect a third round pick to be Ovechkin. Futhermore and i've said this before; i'd trade anyone on the team not named JT, Hamonic or A. Nilsson...
- NYI78

Kabanov was projected to be a top 5 picks 2 years before his draft. He was top 10 the year before and his off Ice "issues" or imaturity was why no one drafted him. Isles took a shot in the 3rd round... our second or 3rd pick in that round ....
A. you are 100% right no one knows what he will or will not become yet.
B. The biggest concern with him was character and he has shown those to be a Non issue.
C. At the very least it looks like he is an NHL caliber talent that we drafted in the late 3rd round which in itself is a steal.

Don't listen or sweat the noise and static..... He is a prospect and looks good right now.. and hopefully will keep getting better with a year in B-port.

http://www.lighthousehock...ial-cup-kabanov#storyjump
"Kabanov was all over the place in the win, setting up the tying goal on a shot from the half boards and generally creating chances on nearly every shift. In overtime Kabanov — notoriously a pass-first forward — even altered his game to the situation by firing shots more often. It was a very impressive final junior game for Kabanov, whose countryman Anton Zlobin was the star with both goals.
"

i love the devlopment debate...the got bailey and nino wrong..they totally rushed them..but did they rush Hamonic, Macdonald, Nielsen, Cizikas, Ulmstrom, Martin,Okposo? it works both ways. all i know is it took the kings hawks and penguins 7 years and i expect NOTHING from this team until the arena situation is resolved. NOTHING will happen until then..this team will miss the playoffs. i'm not going to stop rooting for them...i'm not going to stop rooting for my team. i feel that since i've been on here i'm one of the more rational fans but honestly if you want to give me and others crap for hoping then go like another team. their are 29 others out there
- NYI78

Nah, I'll continue rooting for this team. Thanks

and i'm fine with that but lets also not under value a kid who had a major hand in winning the memorial cup
- NYI78

I'm not under valuing anyone. People have to stop talking about Kirill Kabanov like he's the second coming of Kirill Petrov. Oh wait...

I'm not under valuing anyone. People have to stop talking about Kirill Kabanov like he's the second coming of Kirill Petrov. Oh wait...
- Cptmjl

Both Kirill's are very high end prospects no matter how much you hate garth snow and Wang... sorry. oh and we drafted them both in the 3rd round so if they pan out great.. if not.. most 3rd round picks do not work out. ...

Both Kirill's are very high end prospects no matter how much you hate garth snow and Wang... sorry. oh and we drafted them both in the 3rd round so if they pan out great.. if not.. most 3rd round picks do not work out. ...
- niteislander

I know, I know, I'm busting chops. I actually think they were both decent picks, it was worth taking a chance on both of them. I hope Kabanov works out more than anyone.

i love the devlopment debate...the got bailey and nino wrong..they totally rushed them..but did they rush Hamonic, Macdonald, Nielsen, Cizikas, Ulmstrom, Martin,Okposo? it works both ways. all i know is it took the kings hawks and penguins 7 years and i expect NOTHING from this team until the arena situation is resolved. NOTHING will happen until then..this team will miss the playoffs. i'm not going to stop rooting for them...i'm not going to stop rooting for my team. i feel that since i've been on here i'm one of the more rational fans but honestly if you want to give me and others crap for hoping then go like another team. their are 29 others out there
- NYI78

I don't know if rushing automatically means ruin...Tavares was rushed into the first-line center spot playing with two other very inexperienced players. He was able to manage because of who he is. Some players handle it better than others, but it is a bit of a gamble every time you do it, and an unnecessary one if you're not 100% sure. What does a bad team gain by rushing a prospect who may kind of be ready but has not really shown that he definitely is? The Isles are still a bottom-5 team whether Nino puts in 1 goal or 15 this past season. Sort of pointless when you think about it.

I don't know if rushing automatically means ruin...Tavares was rushed into the first-line center spot playing with two other very inexperienced players. He was able to manage because of who he is. Some players handle it better than others, but it is a bit of a gamble every time you do it, and an unnecessary one if you're not 100% sure. What does a bad team gain by rushing a prospect who may kind of be ready but has not really shown that he definitely is? The Isles are still a bottom-5 team whether Nino puts in 1 goal or 15 this past season. Sort of pointless when you think about it.
- UIF

all good points here

I don't know if rushing automatically means ruin...Tavares was rushed into the first-line center spot playing with two other very inexperienced players. He was able to manage because of who he is. Some players handle it better than others, but it is a bit of a gamble every time you do it, and an unnecessary one if you're not 100% sure. What does a bad team gain by rushing a prospect who may kind of be ready but has not really shown that he definitely is? The Isles are still a bottom-5 team whether Nino puts in 1 goal or 15 this past season. Sort of pointless when you think about it.
- UIF

You are right, it doesn't automatically mean ruin. There are very few players like Tavares though, I'll go as far as to say there are very few top five picks like Tavares. Most of these kids need time to develop and they need to be developed properly. Rushing these kids to fill a gap in your line up or to reach the salary cap floor is unacceptable and goes against the whole idea of "rebuilding".

You are right, it doesn't automatically mean ruin. There are very few players like Tavares though, I'll go as far as to say there are very few top five picks like Tavares. Most of these kids need time to develop and they need to be developed properly. Rushing these kids to fill a gap in your line up or to reach the salary cap floor is unacceptable and goes against the whole idea of "rebuilding".
- Cptmjl

your totally right i'm convinced tharts the only reason nino was on the roster..his contract..and that is wrong

your totally right i'm convinced tharts the only reason nino was on the roster..his contract..and that is wrong
- NYI78

It's decision making like that that leads me to question our management. There are better ways to reach the floor then rushing a top five draft pick who wasn't ready.

I (and i'm sure most of you) want to see something from our owner and gm this offseason. They can't just do the usual, "pick from the scrap heap". If they do, this will get to the point where the Coliseum will rain down chants (all 3000 of us) of "Garth Must go". Insert Wang if you want to. Whatever suits your fancy. I was there when we all chanted for Milburys head. If they do nothing this offseason, and the team once again struggles out of the gate, IF fans GO to the games at all, I see them once again becoming vocal.

Hmm...oh, right. I'm assuming our owner CARES what the fans think!! Forgive me.

"Sit down, and shut up!!"

I (and i'm sure most of you) want to see something from our owner and gm this offseason. They can't just do the usual, "pick from the scrap heap". If they do, this will get to the point where the Coliseum will rain down chants (all 3000 of us) of "Garth Must go". Insert Wang if you want to. Whatever suits your fancy. I was there when we all chanted for Milburys head. If they do nothing this offseason, and the team once again struggles out of the gate, IF fans GO to the games at all, I see them once again becoming vocal.

Hmm...oh, right. I'm assuming our owner CARES what the fans think!! Forgive me.

"Sit down, and shut up!!"
- Mancalledsting

Despite what some fans think being in a rebuild does not mean Snow and Wang can do nothing but add washed up players. They have to do much better than this. They should be able to bring in decent players without trading ever prospect and pick. If they cannot do it they need to step aside and let someone else try running the team.

No. If he's not on Gretzky's level soon, he can blow me. By next year, too.
I expect our 3th round pick from 2 years ago to be as good as Nugent-Hopkins and Tavares by next year.
- potvin05

Really not necessary..

All i said was, he will not be a game changer, nothing else..he scored 55 points in the Q on a good team that was geared for the Memporial Cup. Their team was eliminated from the playoofs, but what do I know.. I got to watch him all year..

I have to for once disagree with you in a big way.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Thats ok, you do not have to agree with me at all.

Kids that are going to be good players typically shine in the Jr. leagues. He put up gringer numbers as a talented 19 yr old in a league he shoudl have owned. Look at Coutirier, scored 95 points with Mono for 1/2 a season. 95 points the year before..
Game changer in the NHL..

Despite what some fans think being in a rebuild does not mean Snow and Wang can do nothing but add washed up players. They have to do much better than this. They should be able to bring in decent players without trading ever prospect and pick. If they cannot do it they need to step aside and let someone else try running the team.
- ses111

I agree. Snow has proved he isn't capable of bringing in UFA's or making an impact trade, doesn't matter what the excuse is. The bottom line is if he can't do it get someone who can. Him thinking its a good idea to have Capuano on for another year shows me he isn't thinking to soundly. Or is that Wangs fault too?