This is the most sane thing written on here today, thank you for the voice of reason
- Cptmjl

Some people love the top five picks year after year so it can be seen as a positive thing.

If Al Jazzera needs a hockey writer, you got the job unless Msg get's to you first to tell us how great Ted Drury's bother was.

The Rangers, the team that had one more playoff appearance than the Isles since 1997 going into this year and got that backing in last year as Tampa beat Carolina that gave Richards 20m dollars for 2011-12, to absolutely positively play with Gaborik, and then after ten games discovered both had no chemistry so they were broken up for sixty games, while Richards went on to one of the worst seasons of his career because he's not great at defensive hockey.

PA Parenteau had one more point than Richards.
- NYI

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......

Edmonton is one (Peca)
Flyers are 2..
We had a 6 play the 8 this year..
Edit: that was off the top of my head.. looking a bit now
in 2003 Jersey beat the Ducks who were the 7th seed.
in 2004 Tampa beat Calgary who was the 6th seed.
1999- Buffalo was the 7th seed made it to the finals.
1996 Devs were the 5 seed when they won
1993 two 5 seeds played for the cup.
- niteislander

So ten teams out of of 152 teams that were either 5-8 seeds in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 1993 have gotten to the finals. That's about 7% of those teams.

I know that once a team is in the playoffs, anything can happen. But for me, to seriously be labeled a "contender", means more than getting into the playoffs as a bottom rung team on occasion. It means consistently finishing at least in the middle of the pack in the conference playoff standings for a few years running. You can't call a team that misses the playoffs for years straight and gets in one year as a 6-8 seed a legit "contender" for a Cup.

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......
- Downeaster

agreed.. but we all said that at the deadline.. ANYONE not signed should be traded for ANYTHING. We were in our "playoff push" though and had to keep him for the big run!!

At least Nabby signed .. I thought we should trade him too.
- niteislander

I forgot about the playoff push sorry. Was that the time when KO scored all those goals? I would have traded Nabby as well. When PA did not want to sign by the deadline that was the sign to trade him for the best you could get back. If he really loved it on the Isles he could be resigned in the offseason.

So ten teams out of of 152 teams that were either 5-8 seeds in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 1993 have gotten to the finals. That's about 7% of those teams.

I know that once a team is in the playoffs, anything can happen. But for me, to seriously be labeled a "contender", means more than getting into the playoffs as a bottom rung team on occasion. It means consistently finishing at least in the middle of the pack in the conference playoff standings for a few years running. You can't call a team that misses the playoffs for years straight and gets in one year as a 6-8 seed a legit "contender" for a Cup.
- Jethro09

How many years back are u going.. there was only 6 team for 30 years.. tough to have a 7 or 8 seed play.

Why was he not traded last year?
- mighty13duck

If he gets away, we can all slam Garth. But it's wait & see.
Does he deserve close to JT's salary? No. But if Brandon Dubinsky is worth $4Mil+, the worst agent on the planet could probably get him $5Mil/yr.
Isles won't pay that much.

So that's why the Lighthouse was only for a renovation? He hates the place so much he's been spending for a decade as a tenant to renovate his landlords house. You cannot rewrite the history to deflect from what's happened.

You must have also missed the fine print from Garth Snow a few years ago, he said it was ONE reason he had problems in free agency at a time he was also selling a renovated Coliseum with the Lighthouse.

The Coliseum is open, the Garden was closed for falling debris and asbestos in 2010.

You want to tell us the dumpy Garden, the Igloo, the Aud, Chicago Stadium, Boston Garden, Montreal Forum, Maple Leaf gardens far older are not dumps and only the Coliseum is I tell you those writers and publications are in the business of selling their teams so the paper can make ad money. We have Dolan owning newsday and a lot of Canadian media that always resented the Isles unmatched success.

The media in Canada may criticize the Leafs, but they love the Leafs. Win or lose a lot of media love to hate the New York Islanders.
- NYI

I'm not re-writing history, chief. Look it up. The stuff I wrote happened. I don't know why you continuously reference MSG. I never did. I also never referenced the other arenas that you are obsessed with comparing NVMC to. I don't need to compare NVMC to other places (especially to the ones that you cite, which are all closed down with the exception of MSG, which is in the heart of Manhattan and undergoing a $600M facelift) to know its a dump. Your boy Wang and Snow and many other Isles' executives before them have all confirmed what I've said about the Coliseum.

And enough with the bulls**t about the "media hating the Islanders". The Islanders are not in the position they are in because of the media. There comes a time when you need to stop making excuses for why things are the way they are and acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, the Isles' management have something to do with the pereception of the team.

How many years back are u going.. there was only 6 team for 30 years.. tough to have a 7 or 8 seed play.
- niteislander

You referenced 5th and 6th seeds as well as 7th and 8th seeds in your previous post, so I included them too. Since 1993 (19 playoffs), four 5-8 seeds per conference = 152 teams. And you're right. it is tough for a 7-8 seed to play. That's why they're not generally considered "contenders", just playoff participants.

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......
- Downeaster

Oh boy. This is going to be like the Clash of Titans if it picks up steam...

I don't understand how you can make such a statement unless you play on the team and were told there is no pressure to win here by management.



They gave him a left wing who scored 30 goals three years in a row, they started with Okposo as his right wing his first year and as a top ten pick that's where he belonged.



So no one would want a 35 goal player, who easily could have had fifty who had a non-scoring center in Nielsen and injured Okposo when he broke out?




He could get back to his forum with any contract, who says he's not an elite player because he sure showed those signs before his shoulder injury.



Did you look at the free agent market the last few summers? The Isles tried with Ehrhoff and a few others, the front-loaded players they cannot pay that much up front, the rest are retreads unless you want to give Torres and Nystrom a million to move to their next location.

What direction do they not have? They have some excellent young players on both offense and defense and a very strong prospect base with a lot of depth in the system.

Jon Sim signed here at a different time after back to back 17 goal seasons and got hurt his second game. Reasoner was signed to be a fourth line center after a thirteen goal season and got hurt before camp ended.



How do you know what players would not play for the Isles if the contracts were even and not front-loaded. Are you an NHL player or just read some SI/Espn garbage about what players some teams want to play for once a year?

All those free agents also left another team.

What's an atrocity is someone who was an all-star franchise goaltender went for surgery on his knee and it got worse twice and did not have the surgery to ruin his career. Since then he had a 50 game year which would have been seventy if not for Johnson's elbow pad to his eye and last year where he had a hernia.



What the heck is relevance, the Devils made the finals and got two or three articles per paper in baseball city USA. The Rangers were in first place all winter and got zero NYC backpages and the Yankee rumors of selling kicked them off the back and front pages for their semi-final home playoff game.

What's relevant in Toronto for hockey when the team has not won since 1967 or all the teams that never have won a thing?

No, what's a joke is you making claims about a lockerroom or an organization you are not part of and neither am I. The players working there daily from September to April, influence my views and that is what we should go by because it's their careers, their chance at winning and their financial future.

They know, we don't, they signed on with enthusiasm.

That and how the individuals perform who management brings in is the only thing that influences me.
- NYI

I am starting to fall in love with you. Is this Sparky? I mean come on Obviously you are blind and I feel bad for you. You are drinking the Kool Aid way to much. Put it down a little. Ok you started the DP war and as we all know on here (except you) that is where I draw the line. All star franchise Goaltender???? Are you insane? If I rememberd that year the Islanders had to send soemone and the team was so bad that he was the only one they could send. Plus our awesome All Star Golatender gets hurt in the game and then for the rest of the year played it off like he was fine just to get worse and worse. Talk about a team player. Now you blame the doctors for DPs injury hey buddy why dont you ask a couple of guys in that locker room and ask them what was going on behind the scenes of what happeneded to DP. It is a hush hush thing but I think you remember Sean Hill why not ask him what was going on. Then you talk about The Johnson incident that stupid Dp initiated and he got knocked out and looked like a fool. He was the only I hate to say this NHL goaltender on the roster and he does something stupid like that. It killed that team at the time. Please stop it now you are nuts and crazy which is why I like you. You are as deliusional then Butch Goring saying Niederreiter

Oh boy. This is going to be like the Clash of Titans if it picks up steam...
- UIF

More like the Clash of the Novel-Length Posts.

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......
- Downeaster

I have never been so happy to see you. Get your CBA out and teach this guy a lesson please

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.
- Downeaster

* Did he have one of the worst seasons of his career in 2011-12? Yes.

* Did the Rangers make only one more playoff than the Islanders since 1997 backing in at home last season while Tampa beat Carolina going into 2011-12. Yes.

* Did the Rangers absolutely, positive say Richards was signed to be THE CENTER WITH GABORIK last summer. Yes.

* Were they broken up very early because they displayed no chemistry? Yes.
* When they were re-united late did they help a team that almost never scored more than three goals unless it was a powerplay? Yes.

* Did PA Parenteau have one more point that Richards in 2011-12? Yes.

* Was the contract massively front-loaded? Yes.

What's contrived about any of this beyond the fact you did not like to read it?

* I'm sorry what's his front-loaded deal 24m for the first two years? Did that come with guaranteed lockout protection cash and how much was that bonus money for 2011-12 as he was a non-factor most games?

I read 20m for 2011-12.

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......
- Downeaster

I have a tear of joy streaking down my cheek as I type this

Of course the Isles won't pay PAP today's market value. They are still using the market value chart from the 80's

I'm not re-writing history, chief. Look it up. The stuff I wrote happened. I don't know why you continuously reference MSG. I never did.
- Jethro09

When you claim Wang only wanted a new building and the Lighthouse called for a 300m dollar renovation you are re-writing history. The ice would be dropped, luxury boxes downstairs, would you like the links to see the renovation plans again. Sound familiar?

And enough with the bulls**t about the "media hating the Islanders". The Islanders are not in the position they are in because of the media.
- Jethro09

I'm sorry but hockey is not a sport where the local media desperately needs a team to win like the laughingstock Knicks to where one player got the cable blackout lifted.

Another NHL team owns Newsday, another NHL team owns their television rights and advertising on television (the one too cheap for a full Devils postgame show until the finals) who gave us a pay wall and an intern writing about Peter Pan and Prince Charming in game references. Funny thing media is what drives ticket sales, interest and revenue.

The same partners who hide half the games on Msg+10 and had Metroguide to hide the 2002 playoffs.

This team has less media now than it did in 1972 when they won 12 games but the city media came in bigtime to tell everyone vote no on the referendum because the taxpayers should not foot the bill (while the same papers told us about the Yankee-Met-Devil-Net) taxpayer funded facilities.

There comes a time when you need to stop making excuses for why things are the way they are and acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, the Isles' management have something to do with the pereception of the team.
- Jethro09

And who's perception would that be? People who go pick up their 1990's Milbury cue cards who don't follow the team, people at Espn like Burnside who ripped the Devils last year or the fool at Espn Neil Greenberg.

When you claim Wang only wanted a new building and the Lighthouse called for a 300m dollar renovation you are re-writing history. The ice would be dropped, luxury boxes downstairs, would you like the links to see the renovation plans again. Sound familiar?



I'm sorry but hockey is not a sport where the local media desperately needs a team to win like the laughingstock Knicks to where one player got the cable blackout lifted.

Another NHL team owns Newsday, another NHL team owns their television rights and advertising on television (the one too cheap for a full Devils postgame show until the finals) who gave us a pay wall and an intern writing about Peter Pan and Prince Charming in game references. Funny thing media is what drives ticket sales, interest and revenue.

The same partners who hide half the games on Msg+10 and had Metroguide to hide the 2002 playoffs.

This team has less media now than it did in 1972 when they won 12 games but the city media came in bigtime to tell everyone vote no on the referendum because the taxpayers should not foot the bill (while the same papers told us about the Yankee-Met-Devil-Net) taxpayer funded facilities.



And who's perception would that be? People who go pick up their 1990's Milbury cue cards who don't follow the team, people at Espn like Burnside who ripped the Devils last year or the fool at Espn Neil Greenberg.
- NYI

I Never said he wanted a new building. Said he thinks the current NVMC is a dump and hates it. Wanting to do a total renovation of a current building is just as much of an acknowledgement that the building is a dump as demolishing the old NVMC and building a new building would be. And besides, when Wang says ""we're exploring all options" that is inclusive of "new buildings" and new cities.

I have been reading your posts and look forward to every one of them. Now, I may be somewhat of a persona non grata here, but I really have to say that you fill this blog with a bunch of half truthed, cocka-mamy gobble-de-gook that much of the time is not even remotely relevant and all of the time makes for head shaking entertainment.

Having said that, I have to take issue with your multiple assertions here that Brad Richards got 20 million dollars for 2011-2012. He recieved 12 million (salary and bonus) for 2011-2012. Richards adapted very well to the Rangers defensive system (only a minus 1) while scoring 9 game winning goals. But, of course, you have an issue with front loaded salaries so they all must be bad.

Richards was never a great defensive player but if you take a really good look at his stats you will find out his career work on special teams, 90 goals and 132 assists for 222 points, more than compensates for -73 career at even strength. Even though he was a minus one this season he produced 24 points on a powerless Rangers power play.

Are you feelin' me now?

I really have trouble with people who make stuff up or throw out a bunch of contrived garbage to try and support some oddball argument they are are foisting upon the loyal, longtime hockey buzzers here.

Slithers away......
- Downeaster

To quote Ralph Kramden. "With a tear in my Eye, and a lump in my throat".
I say,
BRAVO! Downeaster! BRAVO!

agreed.. but we all said that at the deadline.. ANYONE not signed should be traded for ANYTHING. We were in our "playoff push" though and had to keep him for the big run!!

At least Nabby signed .. I thought we should trade him too.
- niteislander

eh PLENTY of people were saying not to trade pap bc he said he likes the island and he likes playing for the islanders and he promised he would listen...blah blah blah

This is the most *debbie downer* thing written on here today, thank you for the voice of reason
- Cptmjl

fixed

So ten teams out of of 152 teams that were either 5-8 seeds in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 1993 have gotten to the finals. That's about 7% of those teams.

I know that once a team is in the playoffs, anything can happen. But for me, to seriously be labeled a "contender", means more than getting into the playoffs as a bottom rung team on occasion. It means consistently finishing at least in the middle of the pack in the conference playoff standings for a few years running. You can't call a team that misses the playoffs for years straight and gets in one year as a 6-8 seed a legit "contender" for a Cup.
- Jethro09

having said that, if the islanders get into the playoffs next season, would you consider that a successful season/step in the right direction?

Ok you started the DP war and as we all know on here (except you) that is where I draw the line. All star franchise Goaltender???? Are you insane? If I rememberd that year the Islanders had to send soemone and the team was so bad that he was the only one they could send.
- kasperrko

No, that was the 2007-08 season (after he led them to the 2006-07 playoffs, after he led them in the second half to the 2003-04 playoffs) where a team that scored two goals or less fourteen games in a row in a playoff spot come January 2008.

He wasn't just named as the third string goalie, he started.

Plus our awesome All Star Golatender gets hurt in the game and then for the rest of the year played it off like he was fine just to get worse and worse. Talk about a team player.
- kasperrko

You mean after January the team struggled, but then DiPietro keyed a six game winning streak capped by a 1-0 win against Tampa before he lost a game he held them in against the Devils with over 40 saves where he was the only player who showed up?

Now you blame the doctors for DPs injury hey buddy why dont you ask a couple of guys in that locker room and ask them what was going on behind the scenes of what happeneded to DP. It is a hush hush thing but I think you remember Sean Hill why not ask him what was going on.
- kasperrko

Sean Hill was not on the 2007-08 team, are you that blinded by hate you have to guess?

I'm not blaming the doctors, sometimes surgery does not take, he had to have a second knee operation.

Then you talk about The Johnson incident that stupid Dp initiated and he got knocked out and looked like a fool.
- kasperrko

Goalies fight, sometimes they lose. No one called him a fool when he was beating on Montoya, no one called Billy Smith anything when he beat up the Habs backup in 1984 when they lost game two in Montreal.

My point is he started over twenty games backed up another thirty (was around five hundred on a losing team) and even ended Crosby's streak, he likely would have hit sixty-seventy games last year without the fight.

Is your hatred for him that insane and delusional you cannot write anything that's factual based on how he played before he got hurt?

No, that was the 2007-08 season (after he led them to the 2006-07 playoffs, after he led them in the second half to the 2003-04 playoffs) where a team that scored two goals or less fourteen games in a row in a playoff spot come January 2008.

He wasn't just named as the third string goalie, he started.



You mean after January the team struggled, but then DiPietro keyed a six game winning streak capped by a 1-0 win against Tampa before he lost a game he held them in against the Devils with over 40 saves where he was the only player who showed up?



Sean Hill was not on the 2007-08 team, are you that blinded by hate you have to guess?

I'm not blaming the doctors, sometimes surgery does not take, he had to have a second knee operation.



Goalies fight, sometimes they lose. No one called him a fool when he was beating on Montoya, no one called Billy Smith anything when he beat up the Habs backup in 1984 when they lost game two in Montreal.

My point is he started over twenty games backed up another thirty (was around five hundred on a losing team) and even ended Crosby's streak, he likely would have hit sixty-seventy games last year without the fight.

Is your hatred for him that insane and delusional you cannot write anything that's factual based on how he played before he got hurt?
- NYI

i think his hatred is taking a turn honestly; he just recently bought an rdp jersey

I Never said he wanted a new building. Said he thinks the current NVMC is a dump and hates it.
- Jethro09

Keep in mind, your boy Charles Wang himself hates the arena. He hates it so much he wants a new place and won't sign a lease for the team to play at NVMC past 2015.
- Jethro09

That's what you wrote, the LH renovation was for a ten year extension of the lease to 2025.

Never read Charles Wang use the words he hates the arena. He used the term lipstick on a pig a few times long ago.

Wanting to do a total renovation of a current building is just as much of an acknowledgement that the building is a dump as demolishing the old NVMC and building a new building would be.
- Jethro09

Really? How do you know what it acknowledges. Did Dolan come out and say that about his building which is being renovated so he could keep his tax exemption from 1981.

And besides, when Wang says ""we're exploring all options" that is inclusive of "new buildings" and new cities.
- Jethro09

Yes it is, but it does not dismiss the fact he was willing to accept a renovation in 2009, and if someone comes in with a renovation plan where he can have a self-sustaining team he may agree to it again.