The Islanders have a Rookie in Micheal Grabner who will get serious consideration for the coveted Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The Islanders also have a talented young forward in Frans Nielsen who may get a nomination for the Selke Trophy as the premier defensive forward in the NHL.
Both nominations are very well deserved to be sure.
This should be great news right?
The New York sports writers have voted to abstain 17-3 from voting for this years NHL awards.
They are doing this in protest of Chris Botta being excd from the Islanders for what was perceived as stepping over the line in some capacity.
I am not going to sit here and take sides on that dispute. Whats done is done and there is nothing that can be done about it and quite frankly it doesn't matter what I think.
What matters is now the sports writers in their infinite wisdom have decided to punish Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen.
I have one question. Why?
Why punish innocents? What stand do you think you are making against the Islanders by doing this?
The Islanders are not going to restore Botta's press credentials because of this ridiculous "stand" by the writers.
Why in the name of King Clancy would the writers punish two players that deserve every accolade they have coming to them, in effect taking away 20 votes that should go their way come ballot box time?
It makes absolutely no sense in the slightest and will turn the Islanders ire towards the writers who cover the team.
I have respect for Botta and he is a talented writer. The Islanders chose to revoke his press credential and what exactly went down has absolutely nothing to do with the players.
The New York sports writers should absolutely one hundred percent reverse this pointless, ridiculous stand they have made against the young players of the Islanders.
No matter what they think they are absolutely in the wrong here and should do what is right and cast their votes for the players they believe deserve the awards they are nominated for whoever they are.
This decision is akin to not voting for president because you don't like the fact that the government has thrown a writer out of the White House.
It is stupid, pointless and childish.
Let the New York sports writers know that what they are doing is wrong and misguided any way you can and get Grabner and Nielsen get the votes they are entitled to.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
New York Islanders: State of the Franchise
The Islanders are winding down another NHL season without the playoffs.
Now that we got that fact out of the way lets talk about what is important moving forward.
For the first time in an awfully long time the core of the Islanders on ice product is stable, young and talented.
With the signing of Al Montoya the Islanders team for the 2011-12 season is pretty much set. All would be unrestricted free agents with the exception of Radek Martinek and Zenon Konopka have been resigned to the team.
That does not mean that pending restricted free agents Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey won't pose a problem to resign but all indications point to all players with the exception of Martinek back on the Island next season.
Ty Wishart and Jack Hillen are also restricted free agents but they should not pose a problem to resign.
Doug Weight will also probably not be back as he is leaning towards retirement after suffering through another injury riddled season.
The Islanders rewarded, and rightfully so Al Montoya with his first 1 way contract of his career ensuring he will be on the Island at least through the 2012 season.
The main concern to the Islanders next season will be health. Leading the NHL in man games lost to injury again this season with a mind boggling 550+ will add feul to that concern.
What can the team do to stay healthy?
Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can consciously do to stop from getting hurt. It is simply part of the game. Players will get hurt. That is an undeniable fact but the goal should be to lose as little man games as possible.
The string of injuries that the team endured this season most assuredly torpedoed this entire season and no matter how much the team has improved injuries can always kill your chances of a successful season.
That being said there is something brewing on Long Island that has a chance to be truly special.
Garth Snow should be commended for his amazing acquisitions of Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Al Montoya. What did Snow see in these guys that no one else did?
Whatever the answer may be no one is making fun of Garth Snow's management skills any more.
If the Islanders can take that next step, and the stars seem to be aligning for the team making a major splash in 2011-2012 then Snow should be given just as much credit for it that he received negative press for his hiring by Charles Wang in the first place.
Everyone made fun of the move. News reporters, TSN, ESPN, print media, The Hockey News, you name it no one gave Snow a chance and laughed at it.
No one is laughing any more. The Islanders are coming back and Snow is a major reason why.
Another large piece of open business is the coaching position. Snow has stated that he will not discuss it until the season is over.
Has Jack Capuano earned the full time coaching gig?
All signed would point to yes. If the team is going to commit to him they will need to get him signed right away to show the players that the guy that seemingly helped turn the season from an outright disaster to a return to respectability will be rewarded for his work, just like Montoya, Parenteau and Jurcina were.
Get Cappy and under contract. He has proven his worth and deserves to have the interim tag dropped.
One final note - Get Zenon Konopka a contract. He is the kind of guy that instills confidence and has given the Islanders the kind of attitude they have needed for so long.
Zenon has become the voice of the Islander players and instills pride in wearing the Islander jersey in the younger players around him.
Please post your thoughts below
Now that we got that fact out of the way lets talk about what is important moving forward.
For the first time in an awfully long time the core of the Islanders on ice product is stable, young and talented.
With the signing of Al Montoya the Islanders team for the 2011-12 season is pretty much set. All would be unrestricted free agents with the exception of Radek Martinek and Zenon Konopka have been resigned to the team.
That does not mean that pending restricted free agents Michael Grabner, Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey won't pose a problem to resign but all indications point to all players with the exception of Martinek back on the Island next season.
Ty Wishart and Jack Hillen are also restricted free agents but they should not pose a problem to resign.
Doug Weight will also probably not be back as he is leaning towards retirement after suffering through another injury riddled season.
The Islanders rewarded, and rightfully so Al Montoya with his first 1 way contract of his career ensuring he will be on the Island at least through the 2012 season.
The main concern to the Islanders next season will be health. Leading the NHL in man games lost to injury again this season with a mind boggling 550+ will add feul to that concern.
What can the team do to stay healthy?
Unfortunately there is nothing anyone can consciously do to stop from getting hurt. It is simply part of the game. Players will get hurt. That is an undeniable fact but the goal should be to lose as little man games as possible.
The string of injuries that the team endured this season most assuredly torpedoed this entire season and no matter how much the team has improved injuries can always kill your chances of a successful season.
That being said there is something brewing on Long Island that has a chance to be truly special.
Garth Snow should be commended for his amazing acquisitions of Michael Grabner, Matt Moulson and Al Montoya. What did Snow see in these guys that no one else did?
Whatever the answer may be no one is making fun of Garth Snow's management skills any more.
If the Islanders can take that next step, and the stars seem to be aligning for the team making a major splash in 2011-2012 then Snow should be given just as much credit for it that he received negative press for his hiring by Charles Wang in the first place.
Everyone made fun of the move. News reporters, TSN, ESPN, print media, The Hockey News, you name it no one gave Snow a chance and laughed at it.
No one is laughing any more. The Islanders are coming back and Snow is a major reason why.
Another large piece of open business is the coaching position. Snow has stated that he will not discuss it until the season is over.
Has Jack Capuano earned the full time coaching gig?
All signed would point to yes. If the team is going to commit to him they will need to get him signed right away to show the players that the guy that seemingly helped turn the season from an outright disaster to a return to respectability will be rewarded for his work, just like Montoya, Parenteau and Jurcina were.
Get Cappy and under contract. He has proven his worth and deserves to have the interim tag dropped.
One final note - Get Zenon Konopka a contract. He is the kind of guy that instills confidence and has given the Islanders the kind of attitude they have needed for so long.
Zenon has become the voice of the Islander players and instills pride in wearing the Islander jersey in the younger players around him.
Please post your thoughts below
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Finally.. The Islanders Have Come Back to the NHL
Browsing the Islanders stat sheet this season will not induce any dumbfounded looks of disbelief on how a season can go by and no player on the entire team has reached a certain seemingly easy to reach milestone.
The past 3 seasons the Islanders player stats were if not embarrassing, they were shameful.
Scanning back over the stat sheets from the past 3 years and you will see 3 players in the last 3 years with 50 points or more, and none with over 54.
The players? Mark Streit (56 in 2008-09), John Tavares (54 in 2009-10) and Kyle Okposo (52 in 2009-10)
In 2008-09 the Islanders, granted injury plagued as always had no forward with 40 points with only defenseman Mark Streit at 56 points leading the team.
Say what you want about making excuses for that, but it was embarrassing.
What about goal totals?
In those last 3 seasons we are speaking about, the Islanders only had 4 players top the 20 goal mark. Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin back in 2007-08, Matt Moulson and John Tavares last season.
In 2008-09 the Islanders had to set some kind of record for offensive futility, with no forward with 40 points and no player with 20 goals.
The last time the Islanders had a stat sheet that was not embarrassing to look at was in 2006-07 when they had six players with 20+ goals two with 30+ (Ryan Smyth) and one with 40 (Jason Blake.)
Also, Alexei Yashin scored 18 in 58 games.
After that season Ryan Smyth left the Islanders and took less money to sign with the Avalanche because he thought they had a better chance to win (that did not work out to well for him) and Jason Blake demanded a 5 year contract which he managed to get from the Maple Leafs.
The Islanders tried to re-tool that off season but it just didn't work and a new direction was needed to build a winner from within, not necessarily by choice but by necessity.
The Islanders 3 year period of horrid offensive numbers appear to be over.
Four 20 goal scorers, with PA Parenteau two away from 20. The Islanders have managed to put a team on the ice that is capable of beating anyone in the NHL and look good doing it.
6 players with 40+ points and John Tavares at 60.
Sure they had that awful win less streak that torpedoed any real chance of the playoffs.
That being said the Islanders have come back to the NHL despite over 500+ man games lost to injury the future is bright.
Garth Snow deserves so much credit for what he has put together.
Matt Moulson has netted back to back 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner has become an offensive force with his lightning speed and his 30 goals and has a real shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
PA Parenteau has always had skills but if you would have told me he would put up the season he has, 18 goals and 30 assists so far I would have laughed at you.
John Tavares evolution continues as his offensive skills continue to show through as he improves every game. JT has a shot at his first 30 goal season with 26 goals so far.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a 2 way center that compliments the offensive first line of Tavares-Moulson-Parenteau playing with Micheal Grabner and Kyle Okposo.
This is the first time the Islanders have had two consistent lines playing together full time in at least 3 years.
No more shuffling lines to find what works because the chemistry is there.
Next season the Islanders top six and top two lines will return in tact for a full season of playing together.
In addition a healthy Mark Streit will be back to quarterback the power play.
Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic have become defense partners that play against the top players of the opposition and are playing extremely well as a unit.
Chemistry. This team has it. Finally.
The past 3 seasons the Islanders player stats were if not embarrassing, they were shameful.
Scanning back over the stat sheets from the past 3 years and you will see 3 players in the last 3 years with 50 points or more, and none with over 54.
The players? Mark Streit (56 in 2008-09), John Tavares (54 in 2009-10) and Kyle Okposo (52 in 2009-10)
In 2008-09 the Islanders, granted injury plagued as always had no forward with 40 points with only defenseman Mark Streit at 56 points leading the team.
Say what you want about making excuses for that, but it was embarrassing.
What about goal totals?
In those last 3 seasons we are speaking about, the Islanders only had 4 players top the 20 goal mark. Mike Comrie and Bill Guerin back in 2007-08, Matt Moulson and John Tavares last season.
In 2008-09 the Islanders had to set some kind of record for offensive futility, with no forward with 40 points and no player with 20 goals.
The last time the Islanders had a stat sheet that was not embarrassing to look at was in 2006-07 when they had six players with 20+ goals two with 30+ (Ryan Smyth) and one with 40 (Jason Blake.)
Also, Alexei Yashin scored 18 in 58 games.
After that season Ryan Smyth left the Islanders and took less money to sign with the Avalanche because he thought they had a better chance to win (that did not work out to well for him) and Jason Blake demanded a 5 year contract which he managed to get from the Maple Leafs.
The Islanders tried to re-tool that off season but it just didn't work and a new direction was needed to build a winner from within, not necessarily by choice but by necessity.
The Islanders 3 year period of horrid offensive numbers appear to be over.
Four 20 goal scorers, with PA Parenteau two away from 20. The Islanders have managed to put a team on the ice that is capable of beating anyone in the NHL and look good doing it.
6 players with 40+ points and John Tavares at 60.
Sure they had that awful win less streak that torpedoed any real chance of the playoffs.
That being said the Islanders have come back to the NHL despite over 500+ man games lost to injury the future is bright.
Garth Snow deserves so much credit for what he has put together.
Matt Moulson has netted back to back 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner has become an offensive force with his lightning speed and his 30 goals and has a real shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
PA Parenteau has always had skills but if you would have told me he would put up the season he has, 18 goals and 30 assists so far I would have laughed at you.
John Tavares evolution continues as his offensive skills continue to show through as he improves every game. JT has a shot at his first 30 goal season with 26 goals so far.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a 2 way center that compliments the offensive first line of Tavares-Moulson-Parenteau playing with Micheal Grabner and Kyle Okposo.
This is the first time the Islanders have had two consistent lines playing together full time in at least 3 years.
No more shuffling lines to find what works because the chemistry is there.
Next season the Islanders top six and top two lines will return in tact for a full season of playing together.
In addition a healthy Mark Streit will be back to quarterback the power play.
Andrew MacDonald and Travis Hamonic have become defense partners that play against the top players of the opposition and are playing extremely well as a unit.
Chemistry. This team has it. Finally.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
New York Islanders Resurgence Continues to Shape for the Future
Despite what Islander fans would call a speed bump in the 6-3 loss to the Rangers on March 15, the optimism surrounding the team is reaching a point where the fans are beginning to take notice.
The Islanders have been offering, as they absolutely should excellent ticket deals and 20 dollar games for fans to come and see the young Islanders play, knowing for once that people will walk away with a positive picture of what the team is doing.
Call it luck or whatever you want but Garth Snow and his staff deserve all the credit in the world for what is taking shape.
Snow pulled Matt Moulson out of obscurity and he has become a goal scorer netting two straight 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner was less of a stretch because he was a high draft pick and a good prospect but he has become the kind of player in such a short time that people eventually will pay to see.
Every time he is on the ice, he seems to do something incredible.
Franz Nielsen has turned into a two way center that by all rights should be contending for the Selke Trophy if not this season then in the near future.
Kyle Okposo is doing exactly what he should, using the rest of this season to get comfortable with his shoulder and with his line mates in what has become a very cohesive unit with Neilsen and Grabner.
Then there is PA Parenteau. A career minor leaguer albeit with skill has meshed very well with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. 17 goals, 30 assists and a nice 1 year contract extension are in his pocket.
Speaking of Tavares, he has become the offensive leader this team needs to build around and his development is moving along very nicely. He is almost scoring points at a point a game and has 26 goals and 34 assists. He is demonstrating that nose for the net that you cannot teach.
The Islanders young defense also looks promising. Travis Hamonic has made incredible strides this season as has Andre MacDonald who are playing against the NHL's best lines and making excellent statements about themselves moving forward.
Ty Wishart has played well and needs polish to his game but he has not embarrassed himself in his time in the NHL.
Zenon Konopka is not an offensive force. He is a force in other ways. Excellent on face offs, a good defensive forward, a good fighter and an excellent presence in the locker room. Snow needs to lock him up to a contract.
The only player you can say that has taken a step back this year is Josh Bailey even though he has shown flashes of brilliance he needs to get more consistent.
In goal the position looked like a black hole at time this season because of injuries.
Moving forward it looks as if the Islanders will be solid in net as 20 year old Kevin Poulin asserted himself very well.
Al Montoya played brilliantly since his acquisition and has played well enough to earn a spot on the team next season and will split time with Rick DiPietro, who is going to have to show this year that he is over his injury issues.
All in all, it should be an exciting end to the season as Garth Snow's vision has begun to show results on the ice.
6 months from now when camp opens for the Islanders it will be an exciting time to be an Islander fan for the first time in a long time the Islanders will have some real expectations to live up to.
The Islanders have been offering, as they absolutely should excellent ticket deals and 20 dollar games for fans to come and see the young Islanders play, knowing for once that people will walk away with a positive picture of what the team is doing.
Call it luck or whatever you want but Garth Snow and his staff deserve all the credit in the world for what is taking shape.
Snow pulled Matt Moulson out of obscurity and he has become a goal scorer netting two straight 30 goal seasons.
Michael Grabner was less of a stretch because he was a high draft pick and a good prospect but he has become the kind of player in such a short time that people eventually will pay to see.
Every time he is on the ice, he seems to do something incredible.
Franz Nielsen has turned into a two way center that by all rights should be contending for the Selke Trophy if not this season then in the near future.
Kyle Okposo is doing exactly what he should, using the rest of this season to get comfortable with his shoulder and with his line mates in what has become a very cohesive unit with Neilsen and Grabner.
Then there is PA Parenteau. A career minor leaguer albeit with skill has meshed very well with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. 17 goals, 30 assists and a nice 1 year contract extension are in his pocket.
Speaking of Tavares, he has become the offensive leader this team needs to build around and his development is moving along very nicely. He is almost scoring points at a point a game and has 26 goals and 34 assists. He is demonstrating that nose for the net that you cannot teach.
The Islanders young defense also looks promising. Travis Hamonic has made incredible strides this season as has Andre MacDonald who are playing against the NHL's best lines and making excellent statements about themselves moving forward.
Ty Wishart has played well and needs polish to his game but he has not embarrassed himself in his time in the NHL.
Zenon Konopka is not an offensive force. He is a force in other ways. Excellent on face offs, a good defensive forward, a good fighter and an excellent presence in the locker room. Snow needs to lock him up to a contract.
The only player you can say that has taken a step back this year is Josh Bailey even though he has shown flashes of brilliance he needs to get more consistent.
In goal the position looked like a black hole at time this season because of injuries.
Moving forward it looks as if the Islanders will be solid in net as 20 year old Kevin Poulin asserted himself very well.
Al Montoya played brilliantly since his acquisition and has played well enough to earn a spot on the team next season and will split time with Rick DiPietro, who is going to have to show this year that he is over his injury issues.
All in all, it should be an exciting end to the season as Garth Snow's vision has begun to show results on the ice.
6 months from now when camp opens for the Islanders it will be an exciting time to be an Islander fan for the first time in a long time the Islanders will have some real expectations to live up to.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Bad Guys - Listing the top 10 Most Hated Players in the NHL
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/626461-the-bad-guys-listing-the-10-most-hated-players-in-the-nhl
Monday, February 28, 2011
New York Islanders: The Optimism is Real
There are 17 games left in the regular season for the Islanders.
Are the playoffs impossible? No.
Probable? No.
Couple that with the fact that there are 5 teams to leap frog over it is safe to say that the Islanders will look to play spoiler and win as many games as possible over this last stretch of the season.
The Islanders are a changed team this season. Anyone who has watched them extensively this year can see that.
Its not just a cosmetic change or a personnel change.
The Islanders have players that WANT to be here and succeed here.
For years now the Islanders have seemed to just take whatever the league or fate dealt them and just shrug and say "always me".
Not any more.
The guys in the that dressing room are a young, talented team on the rise and you can finally see the difference in the way the play.
Its not just a talent thing.
Its an attitude. Yogi Berra once said baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.
Ah Yogiisms. They all make us scratch our head and smile.
In this case I agree with the Yankee legend. Sort of.
Professional sports is very mental. Yes you have to have talent but if your team does not believe in itself then it is not going to go any where.
Look at the San Francisco Giants for an example.
Somewhere along the line this season the attitude changed and we saw it happen in the month after the Islanders got out of that awful win less streak in December.
The infamous Penguin game was an indicator that this team took pride in itself but the truth is that somewhere before that the players themselves are starting to believe that they have a chance to take the next step in this league.
The last 17 games of this season are going to go a long way into showing exactly what the Islanders have in store for us next season.
We as Islander fans always say next year will be our year. This season we really mean it.
The team is maturing before our eyes even with the injuries on the back line, the young group of forwards and defenseman are playing with the confidence necessary to build a winning nucleus.
The Islanders are never going to be that team that goes out and signs a player to a 90 million dollar contract. We were told when Garth Snow took over that the team had to build from within.
That's all fine and dandy, but luck also has to play a part.
Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner. Is Garth Snow a genius? Or was he lucky?
Moulson is on his way to back to back 30 goal seasons and Grabner is turning into the kind of player that people will pay to see. Every time Grabner is on the ice he makes something happen.
A breakaway, an exciting rush up the ice the kid has turned from talented rookie to a star on the rise and should at the very least be in the top 2 or 3 for rookie of the year.
If he can put together a few more goals and somehow get to 30, he may have a shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year giving the Islanders their first Calder winner since Bryan Berard.
Moulson came into this season with the intent to prove that last years success was no fluke and earn a contract in the process. Mission accomplished on both.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a major player in the future of this franchise. Sure he only has 8 goals, but 5 of them are shorthanded and he has major chemistry with Kyle Okposo and Grabner. Take a look at the Islanders team stats and you'll see something even more striking. Nielsen is a plus 9 and Grabner is a plus 11.
Zenon Konopka is not just an enforcer. Hes a defensive forward. He is excellent on the face offs. He also has an X factor that the Islanders sorely need and he says what is on his mind and on the fans mind.
Sign him Garth. Hes a great character guy and someone who wants to succeed on the Island.
Where did Al Montoya come from? Buried in the minors since being a high Rangers draft choice he has only gotten a cup of coffee in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes. Now with the Islanders, brought in as a fill in because of all of the injuries and Evgeni Nabokov's childishness, Montoya has been a revelation in net.
8 games, 4 wine, 1 shut out, a .933 save percentage and a 1.93 goals against average?
Talk about making the most of your opportunity. I cannot wait to see what this guy will do over the last 17 games of the season.
At the very least Montoya is accomplishing two things - He has stabilized the Islanders crease and given the Islanders another option for next season.
Assuming Rick DiPietro comes back and is healthy I would love to see a DiPietro-Montoya tandem in net next season.
It allows Kevin Poulin and Mikko Koskinen to continue to hone their game in the AHL.
Travis Hamonic is going to be a very good player in this league for many years. His growth this season as a player has been nothing short of remarkable.
This team is turning the corner right before our eyes and with the ticket prices and packages the Islanders are offering for the rest of the year there is no reason the attendance should not be higher.
Get to the games fans I am saying for what it is worth that its time to give this team a look again and win or lose you will not be disappointed.
Outside of the teams abysmal run back in December it has been a pretty good season for the Islanders especially with the amount of injuries they have sustained.
Think if this - If the Islanders had won 5 of the games they lost back during that horrid 20 game stretch they would be 4 points out of a playoff spot.
If they had won 8 of the games during that run they would be 2 points into a playoff spot.
If they had gone .500 during that stretch they would be at least 4 points into a playoff spot.
Ah the what ifs. I don't like talking about what ifs, but in this case it bears examination.
The Islanders have not been nearly as bad this season as their record would seem.
Going into next season the team would seem to be almost set in the roster for next year.
The Islanders have almost finished their own off season signings by wisely not letting Matt Moulson get to free agency and resigning defenseman Milan Jurcina and forward PA Parenteau.
One piece of business remains and that is signing Zenon Konopka to a contract extension.
Islander fans are used to feigning optimism for next season.
This time? The optimism is real.
Place your comments below.
Are the playoffs impossible? No.
Probable? No.
Couple that with the fact that there are 5 teams to leap frog over it is safe to say that the Islanders will look to play spoiler and win as many games as possible over this last stretch of the season.
The Islanders are a changed team this season. Anyone who has watched them extensively this year can see that.
Its not just a cosmetic change or a personnel change.
The Islanders have players that WANT to be here and succeed here.
For years now the Islanders have seemed to just take whatever the league or fate dealt them and just shrug and say "always me".
Not any more.
The guys in the that dressing room are a young, talented team on the rise and you can finally see the difference in the way the play.
Its not just a talent thing.
Its an attitude. Yogi Berra once said baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.
Ah Yogiisms. They all make us scratch our head and smile.
In this case I agree with the Yankee legend. Sort of.
Professional sports is very mental. Yes you have to have talent but if your team does not believe in itself then it is not going to go any where.
Look at the San Francisco Giants for an example.
Somewhere along the line this season the attitude changed and we saw it happen in the month after the Islanders got out of that awful win less streak in December.
The infamous Penguin game was an indicator that this team took pride in itself but the truth is that somewhere before that the players themselves are starting to believe that they have a chance to take the next step in this league.
The last 17 games of this season are going to go a long way into showing exactly what the Islanders have in store for us next season.
We as Islander fans always say next year will be our year. This season we really mean it.
The team is maturing before our eyes even with the injuries on the back line, the young group of forwards and defenseman are playing with the confidence necessary to build a winning nucleus.
The Islanders are never going to be that team that goes out and signs a player to a 90 million dollar contract. We were told when Garth Snow took over that the team had to build from within.
That's all fine and dandy, but luck also has to play a part.
Matt Moulson and Michael Grabner. Is Garth Snow a genius? Or was he lucky?
Moulson is on his way to back to back 30 goal seasons and Grabner is turning into the kind of player that people will pay to see. Every time Grabner is on the ice he makes something happen.
A breakaway, an exciting rush up the ice the kid has turned from talented rookie to a star on the rise and should at the very least be in the top 2 or 3 for rookie of the year.
If he can put together a few more goals and somehow get to 30, he may have a shot at the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year giving the Islanders their first Calder winner since Bryan Berard.
Moulson came into this season with the intent to prove that last years success was no fluke and earn a contract in the process. Mission accomplished on both.
Frans Nielsen has turned into a major player in the future of this franchise. Sure he only has 8 goals, but 5 of them are shorthanded and he has major chemistry with Kyle Okposo and Grabner. Take a look at the Islanders team stats and you'll see something even more striking. Nielsen is a plus 9 and Grabner is a plus 11.
Zenon Konopka is not just an enforcer. Hes a defensive forward. He is excellent on the face offs. He also has an X factor that the Islanders sorely need and he says what is on his mind and on the fans mind.
Sign him Garth. Hes a great character guy and someone who wants to succeed on the Island.
Where did Al Montoya come from? Buried in the minors since being a high Rangers draft choice he has only gotten a cup of coffee in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes. Now with the Islanders, brought in as a fill in because of all of the injuries and Evgeni Nabokov's childishness, Montoya has been a revelation in net.
8 games, 4 wine, 1 shut out, a .933 save percentage and a 1.93 goals against average?
Talk about making the most of your opportunity. I cannot wait to see what this guy will do over the last 17 games of the season.
At the very least Montoya is accomplishing two things - He has stabilized the Islanders crease and given the Islanders another option for next season.
Assuming Rick DiPietro comes back and is healthy I would love to see a DiPietro-Montoya tandem in net next season.
It allows Kevin Poulin and Mikko Koskinen to continue to hone their game in the AHL.
Travis Hamonic is going to be a very good player in this league for many years. His growth this season as a player has been nothing short of remarkable.
This team is turning the corner right before our eyes and with the ticket prices and packages the Islanders are offering for the rest of the year there is no reason the attendance should not be higher.
Get to the games fans I am saying for what it is worth that its time to give this team a look again and win or lose you will not be disappointed.
Outside of the teams abysmal run back in December it has been a pretty good season for the Islanders especially with the amount of injuries they have sustained.
Think if this - If the Islanders had won 5 of the games they lost back during that horrid 20 game stretch they would be 4 points out of a playoff spot.
If they had won 8 of the games during that run they would be 2 points into a playoff spot.
If they had gone .500 during that stretch they would be at least 4 points into a playoff spot.
Ah the what ifs. I don't like talking about what ifs, but in this case it bears examination.
The Islanders have not been nearly as bad this season as their record would seem.
Going into next season the team would seem to be almost set in the roster for next year.
The Islanders have almost finished their own off season signings by wisely not letting Matt Moulson get to free agency and resigning defenseman Milan Jurcina and forward PA Parenteau.
One piece of business remains and that is signing Zenon Konopka to a contract extension.
Islander fans are used to feigning optimism for next season.
This time? The optimism is real.
Place your comments below.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Zenon Konopka: The True Voice of the Islander Fans
When Garth Snow signed Zenon Konopka to a contract on July 2nd 2010 it seemed to be just to make the Islanders tougher as he led the NHL in penalty minutes the previous season.
What the Islanders actually got was something entirely more than just a guy to drop the gloves.
The guy speaks his mind.
Ask Zenon what he thinks of something an event, a questionable hit, someones comment and you wont get the rubber stamp answer you come to expect from professional athletes.
What you will get is his opinion. His honest and uncensored opinion.
This fact is so refreshing especially to Islanders fans who have waited for a game like last Friday's home romp of the Penguins for literally years.
Personally I have felt the Islanders needed to make such a statement going all the way back to the 2002 playoffs when a vicious hit by then Leafs forward Gary Roberts concussed Islanders defenseman Kenny Jonsson, and Leafs former enforcer Darcy Tucker submarined Islanders captain and backbone Micheal Peca basically destroying his knee.
Both hits went un punished by the NHL.
Roberts got a minor penalty after taking count them SEVEN strides and blasting Jonsson square between the numbers and driving him into the boards.
Tucker, who is known for such dirty plays, went un penalized for basically ending Michael Peca's career as a top 6 forward.
The Jonsson hit is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Z6T3x770U
The Peca Hit is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv3W09KDnAM&feature=related
I always laugh when I hear Toronto announcers commentary.
Islander fans felt then and feel now that the reason Roberts and Tucker went unpunished by the NHL was because the NHL was firmly behind the Maple Leafs and wanted the Leafs to advance in the playoffs.
The Islanders got some retribution in Game 6, when former Islanders defenseman Eric Cairns pummeled former Leafs forward Shayne Corson which resulted in Corson actually trying to kick Cairns with his skate blade.
Let us not forget who Darcy Tucker chose to drop the gloves with. You guessed it!
Islander super heavyweight Shawn Bates. Yes that is sarcasm.
That altercation is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRPU7Z9fdDM
- A side note, tell me after watching this clip that you don't think hockey can be relevant on Long Island.
The NHL took notice of the Corson infraction and suspended him for one whole game.
Remember how many games Chris Simon got for skate blading Jarko Ruutu?
Now I am not defending Chris Simon. Not at all. He deserved everything he got in his discipline.
The problem is Tucker, Roberts and Corson did not.
The Leafs ultimately won the series in 7 games against a depleted Islanders team playing without their team captain and one of the top 3 defenseman on the team at the time.
These events were the beginning of what Islanders fans view as the league looking at the Islanders as inferior to their larger market brethren and looking the other way when players took liberties with Islanders players.
2002 was also the apex of where the Islanders would reach in their Renaissance of that period as they have not won a playoff game since, losing both series they have been in as the 8th seed in very short order.
Granted the Islanders have not done much since then and they haven't had that much star power to protect.
Enter John Tavares.
Tavares is the piece that the Islanders needed to build around, and now with the emergence of Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson have some young quality forwards to start another run at success.
For the first time in a long time, Islander fans can see a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to on ice success.
Teams have taken liberties with John Tavares and other Islanders this season and it all came to a head when Blake Comeau got concussed on a borderline hit by Maxim Talbot and Brent Johnson broke Rick DiPietro's face.
Lets not forget about perennial Lady Byng trophy Candidate Matt Cooke, who some call the dirtiest player in hockey going out of his way not to avoid Rick DiPietro which is what set off the brawl that resulted in Rick getting his face broken by Brent Johnson.
Do not forget that Matt Cooke and Rick have a past. In one game back in Pittsburgh this season, Cooke was given three separate minor penalties for either running over Rick and pushing PA Parenteau into him.
Someone, and the Islanders will never admit this, came forward and said enough is enough.
Someone spoke up in the Islanders locker room and said we have to take a stand and show the NHL that we are not going to sit back and allow our young future stars to be taken advantage of.
The Penguins were the perfect opponent to do it against.
The Penguins with the NHL's marquee superstar and marquee superstar owner have become the darlings of the NHL.
Who better to make a point against?
It was just icing on the cake that Brent Johnson got the start in net, and was lit up like a christmas tree by the young Islanders.
If I was a betting man I would bet that Zenon Konopka was the one that said look guys we can continue to take whatever the NHL's darling franchises do to us, or we can make a statement that cheap shots and questionable hits against our players will result in consequences.
The Islanders settled almost every piece of open business against the Penguins and you can bet that if Matt Cooke was not suspended for a dirty hit on Fedor Tyutin on February 9th.
It was a wild statement of frustration that had Islanders fans rallying behind their team again that said "we are as mad as hell, and were not going to take it anymore!"
Zenon Konopka has proven to not only be a guy that can drop gloves. He is excellent on face-offs, he is a sound defensive forward.
More than that he brings an X-Factor that you simply cannot teach. He has taken pride in wearing that NY Islander jersey. He, along with others has instilled an attitude in that locker room of we have to stand up for each other.
He will speak out for the team and tell you exactly what the fans think.
Zenon has spoken out against the comments made by Mario Lemieux, someone whom I greatly respect as a player and an owner as does Konopka himself.
If this is what Zenon is saying to reporters, you can bet he has done his best to say it to Islanders players.
Have pride. Play hard. Stick up for one another.
Konopka is a guy the Islander fans can rally around. An everyman who does the dirty work and lets you know when he has a problem with something.
Garth Snow, get this guy signed to a long term contract and don't let the Islanders lose what they so dearly need - A player that instills in others the need to have pride with that Islander crest on the front of their jersey.
Not only that, but also for other teams to respect it and this was a great place to start.
Please post your comments below.
What the Islanders actually got was something entirely more than just a guy to drop the gloves.
The guy speaks his mind.
Ask Zenon what he thinks of something an event, a questionable hit, someones comment and you wont get the rubber stamp answer you come to expect from professional athletes.
What you will get is his opinion. His honest and uncensored opinion.
This fact is so refreshing especially to Islanders fans who have waited for a game like last Friday's home romp of the Penguins for literally years.
Personally I have felt the Islanders needed to make such a statement going all the way back to the 2002 playoffs when a vicious hit by then Leafs forward Gary Roberts concussed Islanders defenseman Kenny Jonsson, and Leafs former enforcer Darcy Tucker submarined Islanders captain and backbone Micheal Peca basically destroying his knee.
Both hits went un punished by the NHL.
Roberts got a minor penalty after taking count them SEVEN strides and blasting Jonsson square between the numbers and driving him into the boards.
Tucker, who is known for such dirty plays, went un penalized for basically ending Michael Peca's career as a top 6 forward.
The Jonsson hit is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Z6T3x770U
The Peca Hit is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv3W09KDnAM&feature=related
I always laugh when I hear Toronto announcers commentary.
Islander fans felt then and feel now that the reason Roberts and Tucker went unpunished by the NHL was because the NHL was firmly behind the Maple Leafs and wanted the Leafs to advance in the playoffs.
The Islanders got some retribution in Game 6, when former Islanders defenseman Eric Cairns pummeled former Leafs forward Shayne Corson which resulted in Corson actually trying to kick Cairns with his skate blade.
Let us not forget who Darcy Tucker chose to drop the gloves with. You guessed it!
Islander super heavyweight Shawn Bates. Yes that is sarcasm.
That altercation is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRPU7Z9fdDM
- A side note, tell me after watching this clip that you don't think hockey can be relevant on Long Island.
The NHL took notice of the Corson infraction and suspended him for one whole game.
Remember how many games Chris Simon got for skate blading Jarko Ruutu?
Now I am not defending Chris Simon. Not at all. He deserved everything he got in his discipline.
The problem is Tucker, Roberts and Corson did not.
The Leafs ultimately won the series in 7 games against a depleted Islanders team playing without their team captain and one of the top 3 defenseman on the team at the time.
These events were the beginning of what Islanders fans view as the league looking at the Islanders as inferior to their larger market brethren and looking the other way when players took liberties with Islanders players.
2002 was also the apex of where the Islanders would reach in their Renaissance of that period as they have not won a playoff game since, losing both series they have been in as the 8th seed in very short order.
Granted the Islanders have not done much since then and they haven't had that much star power to protect.
Enter John Tavares.
Tavares is the piece that the Islanders needed to build around, and now with the emergence of Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson have some young quality forwards to start another run at success.
For the first time in a long time, Islander fans can see a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to on ice success.
Teams have taken liberties with John Tavares and other Islanders this season and it all came to a head when Blake Comeau got concussed on a borderline hit by Maxim Talbot and Brent Johnson broke Rick DiPietro's face.
Lets not forget about perennial Lady Byng trophy Candidate Matt Cooke, who some call the dirtiest player in hockey going out of his way not to avoid Rick DiPietro which is what set off the brawl that resulted in Rick getting his face broken by Brent Johnson.
Do not forget that Matt Cooke and Rick have a past. In one game back in Pittsburgh this season, Cooke was given three separate minor penalties for either running over Rick and pushing PA Parenteau into him.
Someone, and the Islanders will never admit this, came forward and said enough is enough.
Someone spoke up in the Islanders locker room and said we have to take a stand and show the NHL that we are not going to sit back and allow our young future stars to be taken advantage of.
The Penguins were the perfect opponent to do it against.
The Penguins with the NHL's marquee superstar and marquee superstar owner have become the darlings of the NHL.
Who better to make a point against?
It was just icing on the cake that Brent Johnson got the start in net, and was lit up like a christmas tree by the young Islanders.
If I was a betting man I would bet that Zenon Konopka was the one that said look guys we can continue to take whatever the NHL's darling franchises do to us, or we can make a statement that cheap shots and questionable hits against our players will result in consequences.
The Islanders settled almost every piece of open business against the Penguins and you can bet that if Matt Cooke was not suspended for a dirty hit on Fedor Tyutin on February 9th.
It was a wild statement of frustration that had Islanders fans rallying behind their team again that said "we are as mad as hell, and were not going to take it anymore!"
Zenon Konopka has proven to not only be a guy that can drop gloves. He is excellent on face-offs, he is a sound defensive forward.
More than that he brings an X-Factor that you simply cannot teach. He has taken pride in wearing that NY Islander jersey. He, along with others has instilled an attitude in that locker room of we have to stand up for each other.
He will speak out for the team and tell you exactly what the fans think.
Zenon has spoken out against the comments made by Mario Lemieux, someone whom I greatly respect as a player and an owner as does Konopka himself.
If this is what Zenon is saying to reporters, you can bet he has done his best to say it to Islanders players.
Have pride. Play hard. Stick up for one another.
Konopka is a guy the Islander fans can rally around. An everyman who does the dirty work and lets you know when he has a problem with something.
Garth Snow, get this guy signed to a long term contract and don't let the Islanders lose what they so dearly need - A player that instills in others the need to have pride with that Islander crest on the front of their jersey.
Not only that, but also for other teams to respect it and this was a great place to start.
Please post your comments below.
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