So I had my first experience last night at UBS arena. A friend had invited me as a guess in his box. The place was everything I had imagined and more.

Getting a chance to see this team live just reaffirmed that changes need to be made. Up 3-0 in your building against a rival team. Only to lose 4-3 in OT.

Lou can change the voice a million times with this group and the results would be the same.

Barzal was giving the puck away like he was working at the local food pantry. Lee, Bailey, AB, were invisible. How Barzal left his guy all alone in OT was criminal.

Fasching brought a lot of energy, but your talking a 3rd or 4th liner...

AHO is not the answer.

Overall experience Building an A and the team a D.

They haven't rewarded eachother. We've always heard how tight knit this team is yet we've seen multiple players injured by questionable hits and no one stepped up to defend them once. They seem to fade as soon as teams challenge them physically. They constantly come out flat as well. Talent is our number one problem, but we also seem to have some other issues
- keaner17

There’s a lot of truth to this imo. They are not supporting each other in the way that you’re saying but I think it’s a bit deeper then just that. They aren’t playing as a unit and aren’t supporting each other in game either. Not just after a questionable hit. They are, and have been playing, as individuals. More often then not the team is a disjointed mess because of it. I also think there’s some truth to what ses has been preaching with the lack of accountability and I say that knowing we have a rash of injuries and depth which make it tough to bench players.

Bottom line is there’s A LOT of problems with this team last nights game made that abundantly clear even for the biggest homer. Talent, team play, individual play, all deficient. If an opposing player semi running one of your better players has that kind of effect on a game there’s some pretty deep issues going on imo.

Barzal won’t last 7 more seasons trying to carry this teams offense. Every player on this team has been rewarded with more then fair contracts, dollars and term. You sure don’t see that translate in the team play. Big problem here is you can’t dismantle this team due to contracts.
Prime example Palmieri 2 more years at $5m each, lmao.

John Tonelli where are you when we need you?

Barzal won’t last 7 more seasons trying to carry this teams offense. Every player on this team has been rewarded with more then fair contracts, dollars and term. You sure don’t see that translate in the team play. Big problem here is you can’t dismantle this team due to contracts.
Prime example Palmieri 2 more years at $5m each, lmao.

John Tonelli where are you when we need you?
- Tee56

Looking for the HOF?

The good news with last night's loss is that we moved up a place in the important standings.
https://www.tankathon.com/nhl

4 more places and we have a shot at Bedard.

https://www.nhltraderumor...hs6gCNheoqaXPcNhZ9hiY&m=1


Good god no

Just what they need. Another soft middle six forward. He would be perfect. No thanks!![/img]

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2023/01/nhl-rumors-anaheim-ducks-ny-islanders.html?fbclid=IwAR1xfh9YOBzOYEjSeuULUm0Vb4ReEUQB3rCtDLhs6gCNheoqaXPcNhZ9hiY&m=1


Good god no
- Cptmjl

Another Ex-Devil. The Islanders did not bring in an impact forward so they needed to find out if Wally was a good fit with Barzal. Playing Bailey or Parise on that line is not the answer.

Just what they need. Another soft middle six forward. He would be perfect. No thanks!!
- chazpet[/img]

I’ve always believed that Zajac and Henrique were the same person.

Maybe Barzal is hurting. His play has been off since that game he sat out.
Also, Fasching is playing his ass off every shift. Could that be because he is the only one who is playing for a roster spot? The only who doesn't feel " comfortable " with his spot on team? I knew it was going to be a long season when Lou used that word.

Just what they need. Another soft middle six forward. He would be perfect. No thanks!!
- chazpet[/img]

Maybe LOU is running a social club?

Maybe LOU is running a social club?
- Tee56

Islanders do seem to like the same type of player. This team has just not been able to develop young forward talent.

Haven't been able to watch the last 3 games and sounds like I havent missed much

Haven't been able to watch the last 3 games and sounds like I havent missed much
- Upstate_isles

I missed most of last nights game. The Islanders seem pretty unwatchable lately.

I missed most of last nights game. The Islanders seem pretty unwatchable lately.
- ses111

Bad players with too much term that aren't movable

Bad players with too much term that aren't movable
- Upstate_isles

Exactly! These contracts are just killing hockey. It's very difficult giving long term contracts to players like Palms and even Lee who play a physical type game. They wear down and it becomes a bad contract.

Exactly! These contracts are just killing hockey. It's very difficult giving long term contracts to players like Palms and even Lee who play a physical type game. They wear down and it becomes a bad contract.
- ses111

They certainly are impacting the Isles right now, but they ain’t anywhere close to killing hockey. The game has never been as fast as it is today, and we are seeing goals scored at rates that haven’t been seen in decades.

The game is fine. Teams just need to start handing out these mega deals early in a players development, as was done with Draisaitl, Chabot, Hughes, Stützle, Kyrou and Brady Tkachuk. The reward far outweighs the risk.

Bridging players until you have no choice but to pay them into their mid 30’s is where you get bit in the ass.

They certainly are impacting the Isles right now, but they ain’t anywhere close to killing hockey. The game has never been as fast as it is today, and we are seeing goals scored at rates that haven’t been seen in decades.

The game is fine. Teams just need to start handing out these mega deals early in a players development, as was done with Draisaitl, Chabot, Hughes, Stützle, Kyrou and Brady Tkachuk. The reward far outweighs the risk.

Bridging players until you have no choice but to pay them into their mid 30’s is where you get bit in the ass.
- Wildschwein

It’s killing the Islanders which is enough for me. You simply cannot give out long term contracts to grinding type players who do not generate offense. Giving long term contracts to young star offensive players is not an issue.

They certainly are impacting the Isles right now, but they ain’t anywhere close to killing hockey. The game has never been as fast as it is today, and we are seeing goals scored at rates that haven’t been seen in decades.

The game is fine. Teams just need to start handing out these mega deals early in a players development, as was done with Draisaitl, Chabot, Hughes, Stützle, Kyrou and Brady Tkachuk. The reward far outweighs the risk.

Bridging players until you have no choice but to pay them into their mid 30’s is where you get bit in the ass.
- Wildschwein

That'd all well and good but the isles didn't do that and have handicapped themselves for the foreseeable future

That'd all well and good but the isles didn't do that and have handicapped themselves for the foreseeable future
- Upstate_isles

The game has changed and the Islanders have not changed with it. You better be able to draft and develop talent in a Cap world and especially when you cannot sign top FA’s.

Maybe Barzal is hurting. His play has been off since that game he sat out.
Also, Fasching is playing his ass off every shift. Could that be because he is the only one who is playing for a roster spot? The only who doesn't feel " comfortable " with his spot on team? I knew it was going to be a long season when Lou used that word.
- chazpet

🛎️ 🛎️ 🛎️

That'd all well and good but the isles didn't do that and have handicapped themselves for the foreseeable future
- Upstate_isles

They did it with Barzal. They took free agency out of play on that contract.

Maybe Barzal is hurting. His play has been off since that game he sat out.
Also, Fasching is playing his ass off every shift. Could that be because he is the only one who is playing for a roster spot? The only who doesn't feel " comfortable " with his spot on team? I knew it was going to be a long season when Lou used that word.
- chazpet

Barzal just signed an 8 year contract. Also I don't think there's a player in the NHL that said oh now I have my contract signed I'm gonna dog it and not give a shat. These guys are pros and want to win. For me the whole I have term on my contract so fock it doesn't hold water for me.

Also I was at the game as well last night and Barzal just didn't look like he had the same speed as usual. My be he aggravated the knee in practice or something but he just didn't look right to me.

It’s killing the Islanders which is enough for me. You simply cannot give out long term contracts to grinding type players who do not generate offense. Giving long term contracts to young star offensive players is not an issue.
- ses111

Well that’s not todays NHL fault. There aren’t many GM’s out there that would give a four year 1.1 per year contract to Ross Johnston for example

Well that’s not todays NHL fault. There aren’t many GM’s out there that would give a four year 1.1 per year contract to Ross Johnston for example
- Cptmjl

This is true but I was thinking the Lee and Palms contracts. Even if the player still wants to win and is not lazy, these players break down because their style of play.