I don't know man they are having a special season so far and Cooper is just as deserving as Trotz is IMO
- Vukota

Trotz took a team that just lost is best player for nothing and made them better ?

Has my vote and by far

Tanner

the Islanders gave up the most goals in the NHL last year

this year the Islanders have given up the least amount of goals in the NHL

literally gone from the very worst to the very best in goals against

how do you not credit the coach for that?
- jimbro83

Tanner: Puck luck.

Trotz took a team that just lost is best player for nothing and made them better ?

Has my vote and by far
- Xizord

Agreed

Tanner

the Islanders gave up the most goals in the NHL last year

this year the Islanders have given up the least amount of goals in the NHL

literally gone from the very worst to the very best in goals against

how do you not credit the coach for that?
- jimbro83

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.
- James_Tanner

oh your opinion is based on fancy stats I forgot

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.
- James_Tanner

Martin Brodeur says hello.

Cooper doesn't deserve it (yet), because the Lighting have just been really lucky to this point.

It's all luck. Remember, the first 72 games of the season are all luck, let the last 10 games decide who's really the best coach.

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.
- James_Tanner

Could you define "long-term basis" for us? What period of time do you consider "long-term"?

Martin Brodeur says hello.
- Atomic Wedgie

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.
- James_Tanner

Did you watch the Devils' teams of the mid-late 90s? It can be done.

Did you watch the Devils' teams of the mid-late 90s? It can be done.
- jmatchett383

It's funny - I was just thinking that.

3 MINUTES AGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's funny - I was just thinking that.

3 MINUTES AGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Atomic Wedgie

Sorry, my bad.

Hell, even TB's 1-2-2 is pretty effective at limiting chances when they get up and want to clamp down.

Did you watch the Devils' teams of the mid-late 90s? It can be done.
- jmatchett383

I remember being at a Leafs-Devils game back in that era. Leafs were losing by a couple in the 2nd period, and we ended up leaving. It wasn't that the Leafs weren't going to win (they weren't) - it was that the game was unwatchable. There was no entertainment value whatsoever.

The puck never got past the top of the Devils' faceoff circles - just clog it up, puke it back into the neutral zone.

Yeah, props to the Devils for perfecting it and winning some Stanley Cups, but good lord, it was boring.

I remember being at a Leafs-Devils game back in that era. Leafs were losing by a couple in the 2nd period, and we ended up leaving. It wasn't that the Leafs weren't going to win (they weren't) - it was that the game was unwatchable. There was no entertainment value whatsoever.

The puck never got past the top of the Devils' faceoff circles - just clog it up, puke it back into the neutral zone.

Yeah, props to the Devils for perfecting it and winning some Stanley Cups, but good lord, it was boring.
- Atomic Wedgie

And I'm not saying Brodeur isn't a good, or even great, goalie...but his numbers definitely got propped up by being on those teams.

Sorry, my bad.

Hell, even TB's 1-2-2 is pretty effective at limiting chances when they get up and want to clamp down.
- jmatchett383

Did they time travel?

Did they time travel?
- AdamFrench

Sorry, "was." And it was 1-3-1, not 1-2-2.

Sorry, "was." And it was 1-3-1, not 1-2-2.
- jmatchett383

Lavvy earned my eternal respect.

oh your opinion is based on fancy stats I forgot
- jimbro83

It's hardly fancy to look at shot attempts. They allow a lot of them and a good defensive team wouldn't.

Martin Brodeur says hello.
- Atomic Wedgie

The Martin Brodeur who only had three seasons over 920 and who has a career save percentage of .912 despite playing mostly in the Dead Puck era?

It's not a binary situation where because I don't think he deserves ALL the credit that he deserves none. I just think when goalies play at this level it is 100% just a fluke. Let's see how the Islanders do when their goaltender regresses.

There is no defensive system in the NHL that can lead to a goalie stopping 93% of the shots on a long-term basis. If you take that away, they're fighting for a playoff spot, which is exactly where their team, with a mostly bad roster and good coaching, should be.
- James_Tanner

So...where the shot is taken from on the ice has nothing to do with it? Not part of the equation?
What is it you’re exactly saying? Your second paragraph is puzzling.

He also got his team from worst goals against to the best with the same roster less tavares. That is all coaching and he deserves it.

Tanner: Puck luck.
- Mashadar

Puck luck for a whole year??? Esp in the east. Homer take of those glasses.
I get it this is one of those i need massive hits blogs and we fell for it. Well played sir.

It's hardly fancy to look at shot attempts. They allow a lot of them and a good defensive team wouldn't.
- James_Tanner

You still haven't answered my question

Could you define "long-term basis" for us? What period of time do you consider "long-term"?
- eichiefs9

Well I wouldn't count on this level of goaltending to keep going, it's very probable that the Islanders won't win a cup because their goalie played to a .935%.

However, had they hit the Playoffs during Lehner's best 20 game run of this season, they very well could have.

If a save percentage this high was anywhere close to normal, you'd be able to reasonably assume that in the future it would continue.

The question isn't "can the Islanders keep this going" because we know with near certainty that they can't. The question should be "how far can they go if they only get sightly above league average goaltending"? Which is what I'd expect for Lehner in the future.

Now let's say I'm wrong. Let's say Lehner really is an all-time great and by putting his troubles to rest, only now is he living up to his potential.

Let's say the only fluke is that Greiss is matching him game for game.

Then all bets are off. If Lehner really is a top five goalie, then the Islanders are way better than I think. However, even if he is, their current team save percentage is too high to maintain.

That is the thing that would scare me if I was an Islanders fan: even if Lehner is the real deal, they're still playing above their head.

Your hatred of the Islanders is ridiculous.
You already posted Islanders are only winning because of Lehner, now its because of both goalies? Look at Greiss' numbers last year? He magically became great?
Shoot, Halak was Isles the Isles goalie last year, he is proving he is still a good goalie when in front of a better D.
Vokoun, Rinne, Holtby? Are Trots and Korn Goalie Wisperers?
Is it possible that the defensive scheme leads to lower quality shots?
Isles defensemen are almost the same as last year, yet they have went from being the worst D in 10 years to the Best?
Islanders improvement is remarkable. They lost the top scorer in Free agency and one of the top defensemen (Calvin Dehaan) .
Trotz has made a huge difference and the goalies are benefiting from Barry more than he from them.