His puck handling never bothered me that much. While he turns the puck over plenty of times, they rarely end up in our net. What has always bothered me the most about DP is I think he's awful at tracking the puck through crowds. Combine that with the fact that I've never liked seeing smallish goaltenders trying to play a pure butterfly style and you get a recipe for a kid who gets beat up high on long shots CONSTANTLY. That's a coaching issue, though I'm willing to buy in that DP's probably a difficult kid to coach. It seems that 75% of the goals he gives up are where a guy cuts accross the middle about 10-15 feet inside the blueline and rips a high shot that DP appears to have never seen. He was never taught how to play goalie in the NHL, or at least wasn't willing to learn.
- keaner17

We have all seen that goal far too many times, guess we have till he gets hurt again. Awesome

Kinda hard not to believe it when the owner, GM, and coach sat at a press conference for all of us to watch, and said "We are done hearing we're rebuilding. We're ready to take the next step." BOLD STATEMENT!! One year, its rebuilding, then its man games lost to injuries, etc etc. What was the excuse last year? I'll tell you what it was.......poor managing. When a team doesnt win there is one person to blame, and thats the person who put that team on the ice.
- kindlyrick

It's incredible that I forgot about that. The funny thing is why do some of the guys on here think we can't trade Anders Lee or Okposo for Ryan straight up because we are still rebuilding when the owner and GM said we are done?

[quote=kindlyrick]Kinda hard not to believe it when the owner, GM, and coach sat at a press conference for all of us to watch, and said "We are done hearing we're rebuilding. We're ready to take the next step." BOLD STATEMENT!! One year, its rebuilding, then its man games lost to injuries, etc etc. What was the excuse last year? I'll tell you what it was.......poor managing. When a team doesnt win there is one person to blame, and thats the person who put that team on the ice.
- Cptmjl[/quote]
correct. Love the excuses. Snows not done, now its hes done but the team is better than last year. My question is how is the team better than last year? On paper I see it being the same if not worse with the loss of PA.

Considering it's only July 9th, I don't think anyone knows what the roster will look like. I like the addition of Boyes and I think Carkners addition is big for us. That said, I expect most of our impact to come from guys like Bailey, Okposo, Tavares and Hamonic all being a year older/stronger/smarter. This is what young teams do, mature, get better, learn the game. So based on that alone, I expect us to be better. Then we have to see who steps up out of the prospects. If Nino gets a better opportunitly and shows something, Strome, Donnovan, Kabanov, de Haan etc....just one to two guys showing up out of that group makes us 'better'.

Still, I think everyone agrees, we need more from Garth.

Considering it's only July 9th, I don't think anyone knows what the roster will look like. I like the addition of Boyes and I think Carkners addition is big for us. That said, I expect most of our impact to come from guys like Bailey, Okposo, Tavares and Hamonic all being a year older/stronger/smarter. This is what young teams do, mature, get better, learn the game. So based on that alone, I expect us to be better. Then we have to see who steps up out of the prospects. If Nino gets a better opportunitly and shows something, Strome, Donnovan, Kabanov, de Haan etc....just one to two guys showing up out of that group makes us 'better'.

Still, I think everyone agrees, we need more from Garth.
- keaner17

Actually most of the cool aide drinkers were saying after Staples tweet that they were happy with the team? This was of course after saying Snow isn't done yet, you just wait and see, yadda, yadda, yadda. UIF put it perfectly calling it "damage control". I like Bailey a lot. I think the kid has a lot of talent. I just hjope he can put it together but I'm not so sure. There are plenty of talented kids that can't take this step. Just the way it is. As far as the kids are concerned they can't do much worse than Mottau or Rolston so we'll see? In that aspect I agree we COULD be better to an extent if these kids step in and do a good job.

Well, it's only IMO but I'm hoping Hamonic shows up a year older and far stronger. If that happens, we'll have 2 big physical defensemen in our top 4 defensive slots. To me, that's a huge difference over last year. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to add another physical dman, but I feel much better about that corps this year than last.
- keaner17

The defense is def better on paper, how much better? Time will tell.

Carkner is not a top 4 dman. He's more like an Eric Cairns type guy..........which i love btw. The isles certainly needed that.

The problem other than clearing the crease from our defenseman is scoring. The islanders havent had a solid backend since, Aucoin was here.

It's incredible that I forgot about that. The funny thing is why do some of the guys on here think we can't trade Anders Lee or Okposo for Ryan straight up because we are still rebuilding when the owner and GM said we are done?
- Cptmjl

I knew the minute that press conference was over that it was going to be "insert foot in mouth" time. They've hidden behind the rebuild term for years, and now its going to be year 5. The prospect pool is now ranked second in the NHL, and truth be told its probably the number 1, just based on the amount of good prospects vs great. The isles have more good prospects overall than any team. This is why now is the time Garth uses them in a trade. Im not saying give up the farm, but i could part with ANY 2 prospects if it means a top winger or a top dman.

The anaheim ducks are going to want a better return for Bobby Ryan. They arent going to want a straight up trade. We're going to have to part with prospects and a pick.

The defense is def better on paper, how much better? Time will tell.

Carkner is not a top 4 dman. He's more like an Eric Cairns type guy..........which i love btw. The isles certainly needed that.
The problem other than clearing the crease from our defenseman is scoring. The islanders havent had a solid backend since, Aucoin was here.
- kindlyrick[/quote]
I like the Carkner signing too. It'd be nice to get a real top four guy that can hit. One more guy and it would def give our blue line some credibility.

I knew the minute that press conference was over that it was going to be "insert foot in mouth" time. They've hidden behind the rebuild term for years, and now its going to be year 5. The prospect pool is now ranked second in the NHL, and truth be told its probably the number 1, just based on the amount of good prospects vs great. The isles have more good prospects overall than any team. This is why now is the time Garth uses them in a trade. Im not saying give up the farm, but i could part with ANY 2 prospects if it means a top winger or a top dman.
The anaheim ducks are going to want a better return for Bobby Ryan. They arent going to want a straight up trade. We're going to have to part with prospects and a pick.
- kindlyrick

I couldn't agree more. Time to show the fans, the NHL, FA's, etc... that they are serious about winning. It would do wonders.

I could be wrong but were'nt you the guy saying he was built like an NFL line backer? I agree with this post because the guy gets knocked off the puck pretty quick.
- Cptmjl

I've made that remark. I might not be the only one who has but I think we argued back n forth about it 2 weeks ago.

Maybe its the skate sharpening?

??? Smyth trade?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I meant during offseason

I know that I might talk crazy but if bailey and okposo showed what they are capable of like they did at the end of the season then we got ourselves a team. We know what we get from Tavares and Moulson but Okposo and Bailey are unpredictable so let's hope they can continue what they did at the end of last season.

I know that I might talk crazy but if bailey and okposo showed what they are capable of like they did at the end of the season then we got ourselves a team. We know what we get from Tavares and Moulson but Okposo and Bailey are unpredictable so let's hope they can continue what they did at the end of last season.
- ISLES1119

To put it in perspective, though, at the end of the season when those two were showing what they are capable of, the Islanders still weren't winning all that much. A bit more than their 3-6 October and 4-9 November, but nowhere near the pace to put them in the playoffs. There were some scattered nice stretches of hockey, particularly one stretch in March with five wins in six games, but overall, in April, they went 1-4; in March, 7-8; in February, 6-8. January, if we count that as the "end of the season," was the only month of the season over .500, at 7-6. It's going to take more firepower and especially diversity in types of players up front, imo.

I couldn't agree more. Time to show the fans, the NHL, FA's, etc... that they are serious about winning. It would do wonders.
- Cptmjl

Unfortunately until Wang has the future plans for this team set, nothing will be different. Garth will continue shopping in the bargain basement, looking for diamonds in the rough. Obviously it didnt pan out last year.

Honestly Dee- sticking up for Wang is just wrong. Sorry. He created the circus atmosphere by firing people, suggesting a sumo wrestler in net, cancelling the teams trip to China and then only getting the team a few games just 3 years ago, the whole Neil Smith fiasco, making a comment "Hey it's not like we are getting killed out there every night" as the Isles were in the midst of another 1o + game losing streak. The list goes on and on.

Can't defend him in anyway. Sorry.

Okposo is a shining example of one of the biggest problems for this franchise, player development. While he's a decent skater, he lacks the leg strength and sound balance to be an effective 'power forward'. He's constantly thrown off balance, down to one knee, stumbling in traffic. I knew he never would come here but I thought the best option to help Okposo would have been Jagr, as no one ever in the NHL (IMO) had the leg strength/balance that Jaromir did. Unfortunately I see no reason to believe the coaching staffs will ever get Kyle on the right track. He'll probably become another late bloomer with another team that knows how to teach their kids.
- keaner17

Add Nino to that list of needs leg strength......

I knew the minute that press conference was over that it was going to be "insert foot in mouth" time. They've hidden behind the rebuild term for years, and now its going to be year 5. The prospect pool is now ranked second in the NHL, and truth be told its probably the number 1, just based on the amount of good prospects vs great. The isles have more good prospects overall than any team. This is why now is the time Garth uses them in a trade. Im not saying give up the farm, but i could part with ANY 2 prospects if it means a top winger or a top dman.

The anaheim ducks are going to want a better return for Bobby Ryan. They arent going to want a straight up trade. We're going to have to part with prospects and a pick.
- kindlyrick

Bobby Ryan isn't going anywhere, Selanne is going to retire. The only thing the Ducks are doing is obviously listening to offers. If anyone thinks the Ducks are going to trade Ryan, put down the bath salts.

Some "dark" Islanders/Arena humor...

http://www.lighthousehock...5263/nassau-hub-2036-plan

Bobby Ryan isn't going anywhere, Selanne is going to retire. The only thing the Ducks are doing is obviously listening to offers. If anyone thinks the Ducks are going to trade Ryan, put down the bath salts.
- Mr.Black

You might be right, but read Bobby Ryans comments in this article. The rumors of him being moved are actually true. Seems like he wants to be moved....

http://www.usatoday.com/s...by-ryan-rumors/55795006/1

Bobby Ryan isn't going anywhere, Selanne is going to retire. The only thing the Ducks are doing is obviously listening to offers. If anyone thinks the Ducks are going to trade Ryan, put down the bath salts.
- Mr.Black

Why? They smell soooooo good.

You might be right, but read Bobby Ryans comments in this article. The rumors of him being moved are actually true. Seems like he wants to be moved....

http://www.usatoday.com/s...by-ryan-rumors/55795006/1
- kindlyrick

From what I'm reading he does want to be moved. Who knows if they'll move him. The price might be too high? If he female doges enough that price will come down eventually.

Honestly Dee- sticking up for Wang is just wrong. Sorry. He created the circus atmosphere by firing people, suggesting a sumo wrestler in net, cancelling the teams trip to China and then only getting the team a few games just 3 years ago, the whole Neil Smith fiasco, making a comment "Hey it's not like we are getting killed out there every night" as the Isles were in the midst of another 1o + game losing streak. The list goes on and on.

Can't defend him in anyway. Sorry.
- physt

My favorite Wanger moment!! That and the end of the year interview a couple of months ago

My favorite Wanger moment!! That and the end of the year interview a couple of months ago
- Vukota

Never saw the end of the year interview? What'd he say?

The defense is def better on paper, how much better? Time will tell.
Carkner is not a top 4 dman. He's more like an Eric Cairns type guy..........which i love btw. The isles certainly needed that.

The problem other than clearing the crease from our defenseman is scoring. The islanders havent had a solid backend since, Aucoin was here.
- kindlyrick

Did u forget that we got viznosky. Him and Streit could one of top points in the league this year. Not to mention with another deadly shot u won't have pk units keying in on Streit like they did last year. Having a top pp could be strong recipe for success. We do need to better 5 on 5 though.

I think top Rw spot will be toss up between ko, bailey boyes or jonsseu. All will get chance to take that spot.

I think if bailey could find chemistry there he would destroy the 70 point mark set by pa.

Bailey and ullstrom had great chemistry otherwise last season

Did u forget that we got viznosky. Him and Streit could one of top points in the league this year. Not to mention with another deadly shot u won't have pk units keying in on Streit like they did last year. Having a top pp could be strong recipe for success. We do need to better 5 on 5 though.
- Spartiarti

Very true!

XxNYIxX