Lee didn't sign with the Islanders to play in Bridgeport. He'll play in 5 games so they don't burn one year of his ELC...if they make the playoffs, he'll play every game...
- kear20

playoff games count towards his ELC I believe

Don't take it personally....I think most of the teams in the NHL are cr*p, including the Islanders when they don't play defense properly.

The only teams in our conference that are better than us when they play up to their highest capability are Boston, Pittsburgh, and the rag$, as far as I'm concerned- in other words, if they're clicking on all cylinders, you're not winning more than one game in a seven game series against them. The rest of the teams are very beatable (including us). That's what I mean by cr*p- and I think the whole West, excepting Chicago and Anaheim, are ALL cr*p. None of those teams play defense, EVER.
- dcb1

regarding teams in the west that dont play D...the defending stanley cup champion los angeles kings who are 7th in the nhl in goals against and have given up 3 less goals than the ducks say hi...especially after how they played last year(2nd). haha. I'm curious to know whether you forgot to include them or if you just disagree with me in that they're a cr*p on defense?

on a different note i was also curious as to how islander fans feel about thomas hickey
so far? hope he's doing well. i always liked him but he never got a chance...he was a victim of our numbers.

assuming i get a reply thanks...and good luck in the last 10(?) from a kings fan.

Lee doesn't get to make that call.
- dcb1

No he doesn't and that second goal was on him losing his man. These games are way too important to have him take defensive lapses. He looks good but he needs some seasoning in the ahl. Also I thought big tits looked pretty damn good. Never thought I'd say that

regarding teams in the west that dont play D...the defending stanley cup champion los angeles kings who are 7th in the nhl in goals against and have given up 3 less goals than the ducks say hi...especially after how they played last year(2nd). haha. I'm curious to know whether you forgot to include them or if you just disagree with me in that they're a cr*p on defense?

on a different note i was also curious as to how islander fans feel about thomas hickey
so far? hope he's doing well. i always liked him but he never got a chance...he was a victim of our numbers.

assuming i get a reply thanks...and good luck in the last 10(?) from a kings fan.
- good2b_the_king

Hickey has been playing well for us. Been a pleasant surprise especially for it being his first real season on the NHL.

No he doesn't and that second goal was on him losing his man. These games are way too important to have him take defensive lapses. He looks good but he needs some seasoning in the ahl. Also I thought big tits looked pretty damn good. Never thought I'd say that
- Cptmjl

I like big tits as well . All kidding aside, assuming you are talking about the big guy whose initials are JJ, he finally looks like a man playing hockey, instead of a 6'6", "first time on skates" 12 year old. If he can play half as well at the NHL level as he has in Finland, he'll be another piece to this puzzle.

regarding teams in the west that dont play D...the defending stanley cup champion los angeles kings who are 7th in the nhl in goals against and have given up 3 less goals than the ducks say hi...especially after how they played last year(2nd). haha. I'm curious to know whether you forgot to include them or if you just disagree with me in that they're a cr*p on defense?

on a different note i was also curious as to how islander fans feel about thomas hickey
so far? hope he's doing well. i always liked him but he never got a chance...he was a victim of our numbers.

assuming i get a reply thanks...and good luck in the last 10(?) from a kings fan.
- good2b_the_king

Yeah, the Kings are good defensively. They also have a guy who is probably the best goalie in the league, which doesn't hurt- they really should try to turn that other kid into something they do need, BTW. At any rate, that makes three out of fifteen. The rest of the teams are like watching pond hockey. I was watching Phoenix play Detroit the other night, and it looked like a track meet, which was better than the train wreck I witnessed the last time I watched the battle of Alberta.

It doesn't have to do with how many pucks go into the net- it has to do with having players who should be hanging back repeatedly getting caught up ice. When an offensive player beats everyone else to the front of your net, you need to go back to the chalkboard and talk about that (Tampa Bay.....just saying). We played those kind of games earlier in the year....which is why we have to fight for a playoff spot now, instead of being better than that.

PS- Speaking of watching an offensive "defense", I'm still trying to figure out how the he11 Toronto keeps winning. The Devils can't buy a goal right now, but in the half hour I spent watching that game in between our periods and such last night, they must have missed three open nets. It just seems like that deal has to end sooner or later.

I like big tits as well . All kidding aside, assuming you are talking about the big guy whose initials are JJ, he finally looks like a man playing hockey, instead of a 6'6", "first time on skates" 12 year old. If he can play half as well at the NHL level as he has in Finland, he'll be another piece to this puzzle.
- dcb1

I was impressed with him yesterday. If he can keep playing like that he's going to put up some points. Thats always been one of his problems, consistency. He also avoided contact which was another problem, didn't see that yesterday either.

I was impressed with him yesterday. If he can keep playing like that hes going to put up some points. Thats always been one of his problems, consistency. He also avoided contact, didn't see that yesterday either.
- Cptmjl

Then give up.
If you're not observant enough to notice the foundation this team has in place and feel things are finally on the right course you probably should just move on. You refuse to accept anything other than your own basic talking points no matter how distorted they may be. I've been on more than a few islander messageboards and have seen your kind plenty of times, though on most occasions it turns out to be a Ranger fan posing as an Islanders fan. Either way, your drive to stay negative compromises your ability to speak rationally. Your audience will continue to shrink.... Starting with me.
- keaner17

So stop reading what I write and stop responding. Just keep blindly following the team and loving every move they make even though they all fail. That's the way change happens.

And I've never given any negative opinions at all. I was just stating the facts about what has happened over the past 10 years. Those facts just happened to be negative and that's why if you go back to my original post I said the Islanders should do what every other team in the NHL do and keep their first line together and extend their goalie.

I was impressed with him yesterday. If he can keep playing like that he's going to put up some points. Thats always been one of his problems, consistency. He also avoided contact which was another problem, didn't see that yesterday either.
- Cptmjl

I know he played well last night but was it me or did he look slow last night? Not killing him I just felt like he was lumbering a little

As an aside, Joensuu played pretty good for his first game in ages. Again, I love the all-around effort.

For a New York Islander blogger and with the Islanders sitting in 8th place in April, you seem very negative sometimes. It's not like we are 14th in the conference and playing for a lottery pick right now, we are on the verge of the playoffs here. Go Isles!

I like big tits as well . All kidding aside, assuming you are talking about the big guy whose initials are JJ, he finally looks like a man playing hockey, instead of a 6'6", "first time on skates" 12 year old. If he can play half as well at the NHL level as he has in Finland, he'll be another piece to this puzzle.
- dcb1

Watching the game yesterday, I was impressed how Joensuu played. He seamed to understand that using his frame and going to the net, is an asset in the NHL, and that's how he will become an NHL player consistently.

If JJ gets the ice time down the stretch, maybe he gains confidence and gives us another option that we sorely need...

I know he played well last night but was it me or did he look slow last night? Not killing him I just felt like he was lumbering a little
- Vukota

I didn't think he looked slow at all. I think he stayed out a bit too long on a few shifts which had him laboring at times. I really thought we would see a different JJ based on his overseas performance and i think we did. He stood out in a good way during his time on ice. He skated hard, threw a few big hits and was strong on the puck. ! He could be a real X factor for us down the stretch

For a New York Islander blogger and with the Islanders sitting in 8th place in April, you seem very negative sometimes. It's not like we are 14th in the conference and playing for a lottery pick right now, we are on the verge of the playoffs here. Go Isles!
- q2kcompliant

Just out of curiosity, who is the 'you' you're referring too?

I know he played well last night but was it me or did he look slow last night? Not killing him I just felt like he was lumbering a little
- Vukota

Yeah he was a little slow but it's his first game in ages. I like the fact he played physical and was banging bodies around the net. For all I bust on the guy I was impressed.

Just out of curiosity, who is the 'you' you're referring too?
- keaner17

I believe Dee? It is funny though. She seems to be happier with them losing?

I didn't think he looked slow at all. I think he stayed out a bit too long on a few shifts which had him laboring at times. I really thought we would see a different JJ based on his overseas performance and i think we did. He stood out in a good way during his time on ice. He skated hard, threw a few big hits and was strong on the puck. ! He could be a real X factor for us down the stretch
- keaner17

Having him as a real option would be huge and I'm not talking about his boobs

I believe Dee? It is funny though. She seems to be happier with them losing?
- Cptmjl

Maybe she's afraid we'll need a new blogger since our standards could go up with more success

Having him as a real option would be huge and I'm not talking about his boobs
- Cptmjl

Even if he just keeps Reasoner off the ice he's contributing in a major way

So stop reading what I write and stop responding. Just keep blindly following the team and loving every move they make even though they all fail. That's the way change happens.

And I've never given any negative opinions at all. I was just stating the facts about what has happened over the past 10 years. Those facts just happened to be negative and that's why if you go back to my original post I said the Islanders should do what every other team in the NHL do and keep their first line together and extend their goalie.
- kencan98

keaner's been quite critical of islanders management but can actually see the players beginning to gel and the list of prospects we have that are getting closer. Apparently you're happier using blanket statements and anyone that disagrees with you is a shill for wang/snow. Maybe you should pay attention to the posts people make and get a feel for it. There's no one here saying the team has been managed well, developed players well, made good trades or hired the right coach. The difference is we can see this team is better than they were the last four years and continuing to get better. This would be the reason for guarded optimism, rather than full on sweeping negativity and painting everyone who has hope with the same brush.

If you're that negative that you can't see the team does seem to have turned a small corner and moving in the right direction despite the lack of good ufa signings, a real nhl coach, an owner who spends money and an experienced gm, then maybe you shouldn't be posting here at all? The vast majority of us have been plenty negative over the years, however we use this little thing called objectivity to be able to tell when the situation is getting better.

You should try it.

keaner's been quite critical of islanders management but can actually see the players beginning to gel and the list of prospects we have that are getting closer. Apparently you're happier using blanket statements and anyone that disagrees with you is a shill for wang/snow. Maybe you should pay eattention to the posts people make and get a feel for it. There's no one here saying the team has been managed well, developed players well, made good trades or hired the right coach. The difference is we can see this team is better than they were the last four years and continuing to get better. This would be the reason for guarded optimism, rather than full on sweeping negativity and painting everyone who has hope with the same brush.

If you're that negative that you can't see the team does seem to have turned a small corner and moving in the right direction despite the lack of good ufa signings, a real nhl coach, an owner who spends money and an experienced gm, then maybe you shouldn't be posting here at all? The vast majority of us have been plenty negative over the years, however we use this little thing called objectivity to be able to tell when the situation is getting better.

You should try it.
- Isles_since_6

We've had some show more venom for management but at least everyone here knows how talent is developed (such as the dif between Strome and Bailey) while also knowing that there are lots of better options than Boyes on the first line. Meanwhile he asks us to name those options, we do, then he goes right back to his primary talking points without addressing those suggestions all the while insisting that everyone here is uninformed.
If he's going to critique an entire group of fans he should at least act as though he has the capacity for abstract thought. Anyone who thinks Brad Boyes is the only option for this club on the first line next year clearly lacks objectivity. Then to compare the handling of Strome to Robert Nielson

We've had some show more venom for management but at least everyone here knows how talent is developed (such as the dif between Strome and Bailey) while also knowing that there are lots of better options than Boyes on the first line. Meanwhile he asks us to name those options, we do, then he goes right back to his primary talking points without addressing those suggestions all the while insisting that everyone here is uninformed.
If he's going to critique an entire group of fans he should at least act as though he has the capacity for abstract thought. Anyone who thinks Brad Boyes is the only option for this club on the first line next year clearly lacks objectivity. Then to compare the handling of Strome to Robert Nielson

- keaner17

Boyes last night was a complete nonfactor, aside from giving Lecavalier a brilliant pass in the slot and then was nailed to the bench for about 10 minutes. Personally I would have liked to have seen him stay there for the rest of the game.

Lee was also again bad defensively and may likely need to go to bridgeport for next season and learn to play a defensive game, but I liked what I saw of him in the offensive zone in limited ice time.

Grabner should stay on that top line and moulson should replace boyes there next game. Boyes should be moved down to the fourth line and Lee should sit. Joensuu was impressive on the forecheck and while I dislike aucoin, I thought he played well enough last night. Next game lines should be:

Moulson Tavares Grabner
Bailey Nielson Okposo
Joensuu Aucoin McDonald
Martin Cizikas Boyes - although if they sat Boyes and played Cizikas at right wing and Reasoner at Center I'd be fine with it as well.

This is why Boyes is not needed for next season. If even one of the prospects plays his way onto the roster in camp there is no room for Boyes in the lineup and for a guy on a one year contract in a glorious situation (first line with JT and racking up those second assists) he should be giving it a hell of a lot more effort than he is.

Boyes last night was a complete nonfactor, aside from giving Lecavalier a brilliant pass in the slot and then was nailed to the bench for about 10 minutes. Personally I would have liked to have seen him stay there for the rest of the game.

Lee was also again bad defensively and may likely need to go to bridgeport for next season and learn to play a defensive game, but I liked what I saw of him in the offensive zone in limited ice time.

Grabner should stay on that top line and moulson should replace boyes there next game. Boyes should be moved down to the fourth line and Lee should sit. Joensuu was impressive on the forecheck and while I dislike aucoin, I thought he played well enough last night. Next game lines should be:

Moulson Tavares Grabner
Bailey Nielson Okposo
Joensuu Aucoin McDonald
Martin Cizikas Boyes - although if they sat Boyes and played Cizikas at right wing and Reasoner at Center I'd be fine with it as well.

This is why Boyes is not needed for next season. If even one of the prospects plays his way onto the roster in camp there is no room for Boyes in the lineup and for a guy on a one year contract in a glorious situation (first line with JT and racking up those second assists) he should be giving it a hell of a lot more effort than he is.
- Isles_since_6

No he doesn't and that second goal was on him losing his man. These games are way too important to have him take defensive lapses. He looks good but he needs some seasoning in the ahl. Also I thought big tits looked pretty damn good. Never thought I'd say that
- Cptmjl

Clearly it's because he changed the pronunciation of his first name.