Thats the draft for ya.........it happens all the time. Very similar to Zack Parise. After the top 5 its usually a crap shoot. I dont necessarily give the Flyers credit, as I think there is a large amount of luck in it. If they were so sure of this kid being what he is, then one would think they would have traded up, no?
- kindlyrick

That's not all luck. That's having a great scouting system. Look where Philly took mike Richards and Jeff carter when the drafted. I believe they were late 1st round.

You see this is the problem with the isles. Not to beat a dead horse here, but its the same merry go round all year. They win 2 maybe 3 games, and start to look like a team, then when the "must win" games come they dont show up. We as fans keeps getting our hopes up........8 pts out, 6 pts out, back to 8 pts out. What does this tell us??? It says that regardless if this team makes the playoffs or not, they are NOT a playoff team. This is why the isles should be selllers at the deadline. I understand they dont want to "give up" on the season, but at what point does logic take over. Stop lying to us fans..........we know the deal. The rebuild is moving SLOWWWWLLYYY, but we all know this team isnt ready to make the next step this season. DO the right thing Garth and get on those phones.......start making moves. Package up Nabby, PA, and throw in Grabner.......a prospect and or a pick and bring in someone who is NHL ready and can help this team next year.
- kindlyrick

Who is going to take on 2 Ufa and give us NHL ready talent that would help us more than p.a. and nabby? They are two of he top 3 players on the team. You would rip snow a new one if he traded a good player that is under contract for 2 free agents right?

That's not all luck. That's having a great scouting system. Look where Philly took mike Richards and Jeff carter when the drafted. I believe they were late 1st round.
- Spartiarti

Ask the kings about mike richards. I think he has 1 point in his last 12 games.

The guy has 28 points. Nothing to be proud of with that contract and expectations.

i wouldnt blame the lose on montoya. few of the goals were nice redirects.
- Spartiarti

Redirects that bounced right through him....the biggest problem, again, is that he didn't move, because he CAN'T. It's not that it was his "fault"; it's that he simply isn't good enough. You know how you know when you have a good goalie? He saves 98% of those redirects, and you don't even realize what great saves they were, that's how. In order to do that, you have to MOVE...not like Dopey-tro, where you flop around like a fish and hope something hits you (in which case, standing "cardboard Gumper" still and hoping it hits you, like Montoya, is a MUCH BETTER alternative) ....but you have to at least flinch a little bit, anyway. Again, we already had this goalie- his name is Biron, and he currently gets paid seven figures to have the best, unobstructed view seat in all of Madison Square Garden.

Redirects that bounced right through him....the biggest problem, again, is that he didn't move, because he CAN'T. It's not that it was his "fault"; it's that he simply isn't good enough. You know how you know when you have a good goalie? He saves 98% of those redirects, and you don't even realize what great saves they were, that's how. In order to do that, you have to MOVE...not like Dopey-tro, where you flop around like a fish and hope something hits you (in which case, standing "cardboard Gumper" still and hoping it hits you, like Montoya, is a MUCH BETTER alternative) ....but you have to at least flinch a little bit, anyway. Again, we already had this goalie- his name is Biron, and he currently gets paid seven figures to have the best, unobstructed view seat in all of Madison Square Garden.
- dcb1

Your first line says it all. I don't remember a goalie that allows more shots to go right through him from long range.

I guess St Louis wasn't due to lose to a team out East. The Isles got a good s**tstomping. At least it came against a team from the West.

I guess St Louis wasn't due to lose to a team out East. The Isles got a good s**tstomping. At least it came against a team from the West.
- Jethro09

Yeah once I heard Nabby was not in net I basically gave up on the game. Montoya did not look so good. Not saying if Nabby was in net we would have won but I think it would have been closer. Just proves this team needs Nabby to make a serious run. I thought on a whole the Islanders did not look that bad but our streaky players are back to not scoring. Tavares Moulson and KO are streaky scorers and when they dont do anythign the rest of the team does not. Only line producing right now is the second line.

I dont know if anyone knows this but does anyone know the record the Islanders have with Rolston in the line up compared to without??

Giroux , was taken 22nd overall - we took Okposo at #7...

Just some food for thought
- Mr.Black

True but we took Hamonic in later rounds (and Chara.. ) of other drafts..

I was just looking at that draft. Do you know who else went ahead of Giroux? Your very own Ty Wishart. And Grabner.





You're right, lots of questionable names ahead of Giroux. Gotta give the Flyers some credit on that one.
- canadianpenfan

We did draft Andrew Macdonald in that draft in the 6th round...

Thats the draft for ya.........it happens all the time. Very similar to Zack Parise. After the top 5 its usually a crap shoot. I dont necessarily give the Flyers credit, as I think there is a large amount of luck in it. If they were so sure of this kid being what he is, then one would think they would have traded up, no?
- kindlyrick

We had a pretty shtty draft in 2006. Okposo there is still hope.. and Andy Mac is a nice surprise.. bust the other pics are terrible. We had 13 picks in that draft and 2 are on the team... is that as bad as I think?
Joensuu, Figren, Rhett, Weslosky, Marcinko, Rogers, Sims, Johanson, Day and Ridderwall are others from that draft.

Thats the draft for ya.........it happens all the time. Very similar to Zack Parise. After the top 5 its usually a crap shoot. I dont necessarily give the Flyers credit, as I think there is a large amount of luck in it. If they were so sure of this kid being what he is, then one would think they would have traded up, no?
- kindlyrick

So I guess it's safe to assume with your line of thinking that you give no credit to the Wings for drafting Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the 6th or 7th round.

I'll give you that it's a crapshoot, but these organizations pay big bucks for scouts to find 'bargains' that other teams might pass, it's not all luck.

So the last 30 game playoff push. We needed to be about 20-10 ish. We are so far 3-3. so now we have to be 17-7 ish. Trade Nabby and PA and be done with it. you can't keep marching Reasoner, Rolston, and Wallace out there and tell me you give a sht where this team finishes.

Anyone who does not think it was montoya's fault last night is also kidding themselves. Goalies steal games for teams. When you have a back up goalie in the game and the other teams goaltender is standing on his head.. you lose. I am sorry but this team is not making the playoffs.. period.

We did draft Andrew Macdonald in that draft in the 6th round...
- niteislander

My bad.

Blues announcers (not Pang, their lead commentator) just made a great point. "If you have the fifth overall pick struggling in the NHL like this, well why is he playing in the NHL right now?
Cappy is the worst
- NewYawkIslandez

Cappy is only part to blame. Snow put Nino on this roster when he clearly wasn't ready for the NHL. The kid should have been back in Portland this year. Another prospect rushed by and placed on the path to mediocrity by Snow. You can't put these kids in the NHL simply for their cap hits. They have to be ready to play real minutes on the top three lines if they're going to come up. I hope they don't do this s**t with Strome next season.

Because he's learning more here than he would as a 19-20 year old dominating children in junior. This is more an issue of the stupid league rules (probably the fault of the NHLPA more than anything else) than anything we are doing wrong.....where he SHOULD be is Bridgeport, and that's where he will be next year, IMO.
- dcb1

He's learning that he is not good enough to play with NHL players and that his coach and GM have no confidence in him. That doesn't help his development in any way. He should have been in Portland this year and pegged for Bridgeport to start next season. Nino is being ruined right before our eyes.

So I guess it's safe to assume with your line of thinking that you give no credit to the Wings for drafting Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the 6th or 7th round.

I'll give you that it's a crapshoot, but these organizations pay big bucks for scouts to find 'bargains' that other teams might pass, it's not all luck.
- canadianpenfan

it is a little bit of both. Every team has scouts and every team takes shots on guys. Chara was the 56th pick in the draft.. his work ethic is why he became the player he is today. Isles drafted Martinek 228th, Campoli 227th and Gervais 182nd... no I am not comparing them to Datsyuk and Zetterberg, but all 6th and 7th round picks that are playing in NHL. Andy Macdonald is arguable our second best defenseman on this shtty team.. he was a 6th round pick.

One of our best prospects and one of best players in colleg hockey right now is Anders Lee.. 6th round pick.

Now I am obsessed with Islander late round picks..

Morrow in the 4th round
Bobby Nystom 3rd round
Rich Pilon 7th round

So the last 30 game playoff push. We needed to be about 20-10 ish. We are so far 3-3. so now we have to be 17-7 ish. Trade Nabby and PA and be done with it. you can't keep marching Reasoner, Rolston, and Wallace out there and tell me you give a sht where this team finishes.

Anyone who does not think it was montoya's fault last night is also kidding themselves. Goalies steal games for teams. When you have a back up goalie in the game and the other teams goaltender is standing on his head.. you lose. I am sorry but this team is not making the playoffs.. period.
- niteislander

Niteislander listen you are right htis team probably will not make the playoffs but if they win the next 3 which are winnable games and Toronto loses just two guess what we are 4 points out. This team is not dead yet so you hold on to Nabby until the last possible second. Montoya is not the future on this team and I cant see him even being back next year. I feel the Islanders get rid of him dump DP Poulin will be the starter and they will sign a veteran back up for next year. Dont give up hope yet. After the next 3 games if we lose them all and are buried then Snow will start selling

it is a little bit of both. Every team has scouts and every team takes shots on guys. Chara was the 56th pick in the draft.. his work ethic is why he became the player he is today. Isles drafted Martinek 228th, Campoli 227th and Gervais 182nd... no I am not comparing them to Datsyuk and Zetterberg, but all 6th and 7th round picks that are playing in NHL. Andy Macdonald is arguable our second best defenseman on this shtty team.. he was a 6th round pick.

One of our best prospects and one of best players in colleg hockey right now is Anders Lee.. 6th round pick.
- niteislander

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. My only point is saying a teams first round pick, even at 22nd overall, is lucky because other teams passed on him is inaccurate.

Niteislander listen you are right htis team probably will not make the playoffs but if they win the next 3 which are winnable games and Toronto loses just two guess what we are 4 points out. This team is not dead yet so you hold on to Nabby until the last possible second. Montoya is not the future on this team and I cant see him even being back next year. I feel the Islanders get rid of him dump DP Poulin will be the starter and they will sign a veteran back up for next year. Dont give up hope yet. After the next 3 games if we lose them all and are buried then Snow will start selling
- kasperrko

Everyone concentrates on who is in 8th place and how far behind that team .. etc. They are not seeing the fact that there are other teams that are above the Islanders or tied. The better guage is to think of how many points it will take to make the playoffs. I don't see anyone getting that 8th spot with less than 90 points. With all these teams "in the mix" and 3 point games etc. it is very very hard to make up ground unless you go on a big run.. like 7 or 8 wins in a row run. Ask yourself honestly in 24 games can the Islanders get about 36 points? I just don't see it as remotely possible.

Put it this way....this team i likely going to need a Goring type acquisition in order to make the playoffs this year....someone who puts them on his back and leads them through...which probably isn't going to happen. It needs a PREMIER defensman, at both ends of the ice. It also could use a fully developed Niederreiter or Okposo...i.e., someone who can pot them at the rate Tavares can dish them. I can see the latter coming from within (probably Nino), but the former....that will probably require a deal. What that deal will be, or when, I don't know for sure- I just know that Snow is going to have to stop being so adamant about not trading ANY of the prospects, and go out and get us what we need, sooner rather than later.

Nabokov can get it done, but it won't happen this year, and he probably should be gone by the deadline...his play has at least earned us a decent return for him, IMHO....better than Wishart, anyway. As for Parenteau, signing him depends on the number, IMHO- I can't see paying him stupid money, but at a decent number....maybe a little more than Nielsen....I'll keep him. He may be a chip we can use down the road, as part of that deal for the d-man, especially if he can play at this rate next year. I'd also (I know, flame away) keep Pandolfo...like him or not, he's an excellent penalty killer, and yes you NEED those on the team (with 4th line ice time, he's not hurting anything). Reasoner can go, but we need SOMEONE to replace him in the face off circle. The other guy...well, obviously, he's done, so buh-bye....maybe we can convince someone to give us a 6th round pick for him at the deadline, if there's someone stupid out there (one can only hope).

Anyway, that's how I see it. We have moved forward this year....but not quite enough yet. To me, THIS off season is a big one for all involved. It WILL be time to part with some of the management of this team if we don't get into the dance next year, IMO. Enough pieces are in place now that some adjustments should get us where we need to be next year, and it's time to sh*t or get off the dumper, as the saying goes...

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. My only point is saying a teams first round pick, even at 22nd overall, is lucky because other teams passed on him is inaccurate.
- canadianpenfan

A lot of times teams pass on a guy b/c of something they believe to be true. Bossy couldn't skate (niether could skinner). It is not an exact science .. and while I agree with you for the most part. Luck does have a factor in it too.

Niteislander listen you are right htis team probably will not make the playoffs but if they win the next 3 which are winnable games and Toronto loses just two guess what we are 4 points out. This team is not dead yet so you hold on to Nabby until the last possible second. Montoya is not the future on this team and I cant see him even being back next year. I feel the Islanders get rid of him dump DP Poulin will be the starter and they will sign a veteran back up for next year. Dont give up hope yet. After the next 3 games if we lose them all and are buried then Snow will start selling
- kasperrko

I'm very wary of this "Positive Kasper" that's been posting here recently. I'm convinced that aliens have kidnapped the real Kasper and replaced him with a clone. Either that or Wang's charisma has had a lasting effect after the Dunkin' Donuts morning rendezvous.

Put it this way....this team i likely going to need a Goring type acquisition in order to make the playoffs this year....someone who puts them on his back and leads them through...which probably isn't going to happen. It needs a PREMIER defensman, at both ends of the ice. It also could use a fully developed Niederreiter or Okposo...i.e., someone who can pot them at the rate Tavares can dish them. I can see the latter coming from within (probably Nino), but the former....that will probably require a deal. What that deal will be, or when, I don't know for sure- I just know that Snow is going to have to stop being so adamant about not trading ANY of the prospects, and go out and get us what we need, sooner rather than later.

Nabokov can get it done, but it won't happen this year, and he probably should be gone by the deadline...his play has at least earned us a decent return for him, IMHO....better than Wishart, anyway. As for Parenteau, signing him depends on the number, IMHO- I can't see paying him stupid money, but at a decent number....maybe a little more than Nielsen....I'll keep him. He may be a chip we can use down the road, as part of that deal for the d-man, especially if he can play at this rate next year. I'd also (I know, flame away) keep Pandolfo...like him or not, he's an excellent penalty killer, and yes you NEED those on the team (with 4th line ice time, he's not hurting anything). Reasoner can go, but we need SOMEONE to replace him in the face off circle. The other guy...well, obviously, he's done, so buh-bye....maybe we can convince someone to give us a 6th round pick for him at the deadline, if there's someone stupid out there (one can only hope).

Anyway, that's how I see it. We have moved forward this year....but not quite enough yet. To me, THIS off season is a big one for all involved. It WILL be time to part with some of the management of this team if we don't get into the dance next year, IMO. Enough pieces are in place now that some adjustments should get us where we need to be next year, and it's time to sh*t or get off the dumper, as the saying goes...
- dcb1

which may be why it would be ok to not make the playoffs.

I agree with most of your post.. until u said Keep Pandolfo. We have very good penalty killers on this team right now.. young guys who can actually add something to the team. If you are sacrificing a roster spot for a guy on the PP who can SCORE and not skate.. I am all ears, but for the PK.. no thanks. That spot belongs to someone else... Casey C, Haley, Lee, Ulstrom, ... someone other than Pandolfo. (did you see him miss that shot last night on Nino feed?).

I'm very wary of this "Positive Kasper" that's been posting here recently. I'm convinced that aliens have kidnapped the real Kasper and replaced him with a clone. Either that or Wang's charisma has had a lasting effect after the Dunkin' Donuts morning rendezvous.
- UIF

I think he is just giddy that DP is no longer even discussed.