I’m not referring to execution. It’s pretty obvious that 1-18 is a lack of execution. However it appears that they continued with the same PP as they’re the highest paid guys to do it. They fell on the sword so to speak.

As for Maclean, is he the best PP guy or is he just Lou’s buddy from the Devils. 1-18 would suggest the latter….I don’t care how many career goals he had.
- kindlyrick

I’m not sure Maclean’s history as a player really dictates how good of a coach he is or isn’t. I do know that our PP was literally laughable. Again, I hope I’m wrong but I don’t see a path to improving it unless a player like Dobson improves which I’m hopeful for. He is a huge contributor to our inept pp imo.

Agreed, the entire PP1 was abysmal. But, when does it fall on the staff to change it up. They’d have been better taking the 5 hardest workers and letting them grind the puck down low up to the open man. I believe the PP was 1-18 which is obviously unacceptable. The lone goal was by PP2 yet they refused to change up the system. It wasn’t working and they didn’t adjust. That’s on the staff. When did John McLean become a PP expert? Wasn’t he a third line shut down center for the devils?
- kindlyrick

Pretty sure Maclean played on the Devils PP thirty or so years ago. He was a good 2-way center, but I don't think he was on the 3rd line........probably 2nd line.

Having said that, I don't think Lou hired him, because they're butt buddies or anything like that. He may have his faults, but Lou isn't Mike Milbury or Garth Snow.

The PP was bad under multiple coaches. I'm not stating Lane is

a great coach but this is on a lack of talent. Doubt Lane told the players to slow things down on the PP and I doubt he told the team to sit back and let the Canes come at them the entire period and protect a 1-0 lead.

John MacLean scored 413 career goals.
- ses111

Yup. Too many coaches have tried for too long to keep saying it's the coaches' fault.

Yup. Too many coaches have tried for too long to keep saying it's the coaches' fault.
- JohnScammo

It's not that hard to connect the dots even for non hockey GM's. We may not be able to draft players or coach, but you watch hockey and sports long enough, you see what works and what does not work.

I’m not sticking up for the coaching staff but what do you really want them to do? Make the fourth line PP1? Our pp has been terrible for years with multiple coaches with pretty much the same cast of players. Our pp sucks because our players are slow and indecisive with the puck. I highly doubt the coaching staff is telling these guys to slow the play down in the offensive zone to give up the puck. Their transition game is a joke and they are too slow to dump the puck in and retrieve it. That couldn’t have been more evident in this series.
- Cptmjl

I’m solely talking about going back to PP1 and the Barzal drop pass to enter the zone which didn’t work 17 times. The one goal was from PP2. As far as I’m concerned at the very least PP2 should get more of a look. Also, after countless failed attempts at entry, I would change the plan. It wasn’t working yet the staff refused to change the strategy. The isles are built to outwork teams and grind them down. For one PP why not throw out your 5 best grinders and establish the zone. Something, anything other than the same drop pass to Barzal which is so telegraphed it turned into a short handed goal

Pretty sure Maclean played on the Devils PP thirty or so years ago. He was a good 2-way center, but I don't think he was on the 3rd line........probably 2nd line.

Having said that, I don't think Lou hired him, because they're butt buddies or anything like that. He may have his faults, but Lou isn't Mike Milbury or Garth Snow.
- JohnScammo

Take the name out of the equation. The PP was a failure, all season, yet they didn’t change the zone entry or the players on ice.

Yup. Too many coaches have tried for too long to keep saying it's the coaches' fault.
- JohnScammo

The isles made the ECF twice under Barry Trotz. Coaching is absolutely part of this.

The isles made the ECF twice under Barry Trotz. Coaching is absolutely part of this.
- kindlyrick

PP still struggled under Barry. Lou could have let Barry finish out his contract. Lou picked Lane as coach. This is Lou's roster.

The isles made the ECF twice under Barry Trotz. Coaching is absolutely part of this.
- kindlyrick

Again, I’m not sticking up for Lambert. Im pretty much indifferent to the guy I don’t think he really moves the needle. But I think you have to factor in the age and a lot of the players being out of their prime. The roster started becoming less effective last season. I say that factoring in Covid and the injuries we endured. It was pretty evident imo. These guys aren’t going to get better from here. That just isn’t how this works.

I don’t think any coach, Trotz included, could’ve worked a miracle with this roster. They are what they are. An old slow team. They weren’t as old three years ago.

PP still struggled under Barry. Lou could have let Barry finish out his contract. Lou picked Lane as coach. This is Lou's roster.
- ses111

It’s Lou’s team absolutely and decisions need to be made. Can’t deny the success the isles had under Barry with inferior offense. The problem as I see it, is they changed the coach to become more of an offensive team who still lacks offensive talent. They were better off with Barry Trotz….two ECF says the same.

Again, I’m not sticking up for Lambert. Im pretty much indifferent to the guy I don’t think he really moves the needle. But I think you have to factor in the age and a lot of the players being out of their prime. The roster started becoming less effective last season. I say that factoring in Covid and the injuries we endured. It was pretty evident imo. These guys aren’t going to get better from here. That just isn’t how this works.

I don’t think any coach, Trotz included, could’ve worked a miracle with this roster. They are what they are. An old slow team. They weren’t as old three years ago.
- Cptmjl

Exactly right! Lane is not Barry, but Lane did not have the speed of Leddy, Toews, Eberle, Beau and a healthy Barzal and younger Lee, Palms, Bailey.

PP still struggled under Barry. Lou could have let Barry finish out his contract. Lou picked Lane as coach. This is Lou's roster.
- ses111

I agree. I’ll assume Lameriello will be here next season. I’m also not saying I want the guy fired. But this season and what this team is in store for the coming future is on Lou. Period. Like I said, I don’t see a path to really improving this team in the coming future. I hope to be wrong about that. Maybe I’m missing something but there really isn’t a clear path with our cap space, players under contract, and our lack of prospect depth. It’s pretty bleak.

Again, I’m not sticking up for Lambert. Im pretty much indifferent to the guy I don’t think he really moves the needle. But I think you have to factor in the age and a lot of the players being out of their prime. The roster started becoming less effective last season. I say that factoring in Covid and the injuries we endured. It was pretty evident imo. These guys aren’t going to get better from here. That just isn’t how this works.

I don’t think any coach, Trotz included, could’ve worked a miracle with this roster. They are what they are. An old slow team. They weren’t as old three years ago.
- Cptmjl

The isles regressed offensively losing Eberle, and Leddy who produced offense or were catalysts. Add to that a less defensive style and here we are. Personally, I’m all about starting over and letting a new president and GM have a go at a rebuild. Maybe unpopular opinion, but Barzal is not the answer…..start with unloading him and start over.

It’s Lou’s team absolutely and decisions need to be made. Can’t deny the success the isles had under Barry with inferior offense. The problem as I see it, is they changed the coach to become more of an offensive team who still lacks offensive talent. They were better off with Barry Trotz….two ECF says the same.
- kindlyrick

Nobody is taking anything away from Barry. I would have brought Barry back this year. Barry even with his success could only bring the Islanders so far. He got swept by the Canes and lost twice to Tampa. I do not want to go over what Barry could have done differently in that last playoff series as well. You can always pick apart things coaches do. I had some problems with Barry but still would have taken him as coach.

I agree. I’ll assume Lameriello will be here next season. I’m also not saying I want the guy fired. But this season and what this team is in store for the coming future is on Lou. Period. Like I said, I don’t see a path to really improving this team in the coming future. I hope to be wrong about that. Maybe I’m missing something but there really isn’t a clear path with our cap space, players under contract, and our lack of prospect depth. It’s pretty bleak.
- Cptmjl

If Lou is staying, he better get much better in signing quality UFA's when the Cap space has improved. Islanders are also going to have to be much better in drafting speed and skill and much better in player development. It does not appear Lou has done enough in these areas.

Nobody is taking anything away from Barry. I would have brought Barry back this year. Barry even with his success could only bring the Islanders so far. He got swept by the Canes and lost twice to Tampa. I do not want to go over what Barry could have done differently in that last playoff series as well. You can always pick apart things coaches do. I had some problems with Barry but still would have taken him as coach.
- ses111

2 ECF…..isles didn’t sniff that since 1993. It wasn’t just a one off either. Two years there with anemic offense. Lane Lambert is a nobody and it was a bad move imo to get rid of Barry for a non proven guy.

It’s Lou’s team absolutely and decisions need to be made. Can’t deny the success the isles had under Barry with inferior offense. The problem as I see it, is they changed the coach to become more of an offensive team who still lacks offensive talent. They were better off with Barry Trotz….two ECF says the same.
- kindlyrick

This I agree with to an extent but I still believe they would be a middling bubble team with any coach. Trotz included. Maybe a bit better because trotz played to their strengths which were minimal at best. But still a team that will/would struggle to make the playoffs and ultimately be outclassed once they were there. This series was close but it had more to do with the Canes unhealthy roster more then how good the islanders were imo.

Get used to that. Mediocrity. That’s what this team will be for the foreseeable future.

This I agree with to an extent but I still believe they would be a middling bubble team with any coach. Trotz included. Maybe a bit better because trotz played to their strengths which were minimal at best. But still a team that will/would struggle to make the playoffs and ultimately be outclassed once they were there. This series was close but it had more to do with the Canes unhealthy roster more then how good the islanders were imo.

Get used to that. Mediocrity. That’s what this team will be for the foreseeable future.
- Cptmjl

The series was close because the isles have a great bottom 6, and a goalie who carried them at times. The problem with the isles as I mentioned before is their first line is not a first line on any other contending team and their PP relied on a 23 year old too much to be the QB.

If Lou is staying, he better get much better in signing quality UFA's when the Cap space has improved. Islanders are also going to have to be much better in drafting speed and skill and much better in player development. It does not appear Lou has done enough in these areas.
- ses111

What UFA is going to want to come here now? They are looking at the same thing we are. Also, who are we moving to get the space needed to even sign a UFA if he could talk them into it? None of our high priced players are movable. Good luck trying to move Lee or anyone else not named Nelson who Lameriello would be insane to even think of trading.

The series was close because the isles have a great bottom 6, and a goalie who carried them at times. The problem with the isles as I mentioned before is their first line is not a first line on any other contending team and their PP relied on a 23 year old too much to be the QB.
- kindlyrick

There’s some truth to all of this but I don’t think it’s THE reason the series was close. If the canes had half of their top 6 healthy this series wouldn’t have been as close as it was. That’s without even factoring in the players they lost during the series. Their PP killed us without Svechnikov. I don’t think this series is nearly as close if they were reasonably healthy. It had less to do with our bottom 6 and more to do with that imo.

Dobson was awful that I agree with. Have to really hope we see improvement from him next season.

There’s some truth to all of this but don’t fool yourself. If the canes had half of their top 6 healthy this series wouldn’t have been as close as it was. That’s without even factoring in the players they lost during the series. Their PP killed us without Svechnikov. I don’t think this series is nearly as close if they were reasonably healthy. It had less to do with our bottom 6 and more to do with that imo.
- Cptmjl

Maybe you’re right, but either way what we do know is the PP went 1-18 and while some blame the roster, the Rangers PP is just as bad and they have the roster. For me, the coaching needs to go…..it’s a results business.

Maybe you’re right, but either way what we do know is the PP went 1-18 and while some blame the roster, the Rangers PP is just as bad and they have the roster. For me, the coaching needs to go…..it’s a results business.
- kindlyrick

I can care less if they fire Lane and his assistants or not. I don’t think I’ve ever been more indifferent to a coach since I started watching this team. With that said I don’t think any coach is going to do anything spectacular with this roster. That’s probably why I’m indifferent to Lambert.

There’s some truth to all of this but I don’t think it’s THE reason the series was close. If the canes had half of their top 6 healthy this series wouldn’t have been as close as it was. That’s without even factoring in the players they lost during the series. Their PP killed us without Svechnikov. I don’t think this series is nearly as close if they were reasonably healthy. It had less to do with our bottom 6 and more to do with that imo.

Dobson was awful that I agree with. Have to really hope we see improvement from him next season.
- Cptmjl

Sophomore slump. He’s gonna be legit, they just gave him too much responsibility. I still don’t get why Pulock wasn’t out there on the PP to keep it simple and get pucks on net.

What UFA is going to want to come here now? They are looking at the same thing we are. Also, who are we moving to get the space needed to even sign a UFA if he could talk them into it? None of our high priced players are movable. Good luck trying to move Lee or anyone else not named Nelson who Lameriello would be insane to even think of trading.
- Cptmjl

This offseason for sure it will be tough to sign anyone. Does not change the fact Lou and pretty much anyone not Neil Smith has been bad at signing UFA's as Islander GM.

I can care less if they fire Lane and his assistants or not. I don’t think I’ve ever been more indifferent to a coach since I started watching this team. With that said I don’t think any coach is going to do anything spectacular with this roster. That’s probably why I’m indifferent to Lambert.
- Cptmjl

They need to address the PP. Period. Be it by trade, signing, however. Get some proven PP guys and I would find whatever coach specializes in this aspect of the game. Can’t get any worse