I'm the biggest critic when they lose, I don't whine about shit, kiss my ass Mick!
- cranford93

Wow, you sure like giving everyone else a psych evaluation, but get a bit defensive when the table's turned, eh?

The two questions in the blog -- what to do with Bailey and making a second line -- are connected:

Bailey -- put him on a third line instructed to worry only about shutting top lines down. He's excelled in that role before, and found his offensive game as a result. If he never finds his offense again, I think he could still be an effective shutdown forward. If you forget about the draft position and forget about the contract, a quality shutdown forward could be valuable seeing how the Isles' biggest problem is preventing other teams from scoring. Tough to trade given what he makes, and it's not worth having him languish in a second-line scoring role that he's not succeeding in. And it'd be nice if we actually had a line that could stop other teams' stars from feasting on the Isles. Who's currently in that role?

Question is, who are the other two you put there with Bailey? Last season it was Nielsen and KO, but they were both struggling then and were able to re-focus their games by playing D first. This season, KO might be a touch below Tavares for best forward on the team, and Nielsen's certainly not struggling as a second-line center. Nelson maybe...but is he ready to go out there and shut down top centers in the game? I think Cizikas could move up to center a shutdown third line, but then who centers the fourth line? Clutterbuck could be a winger on that line and make life hell on other top lines, but he'd have to play a bit smarter...not go for that last hit in the offensive zone that leaves him a couple of steps behind the play.

I guess I don't have the answer...but I wouldn't mind seeing them try a second line of:

Grabner-Nelson-Strome

And a shutdown line of Bailey-Nielsen-Clutterbuck.

Maybe other folks have better ideas...
- UIF

I agree on Nelson being 2nd line C next year....
don't know yet on who should his wingers be.

but your rite that this team really doesn't have a defensive line to go against other top lines. Maybe that can be addressed in off-season. But we also need players besides Martin & Clutterbuck that know had to check people off the puck and find Dmen who can remove someone from the crease too.

EDIT: majority of NHL teams today have a loaded top 6 were it relies on scoring and the bottom 6 are made up of defensive roles w/some players who having scoring ability to help chip in... That is slowly becoming the NHL model

Wow, you sure like giving everyone else a psych evaluation, but get a bit defensive when the table's turned, eh?
- UIF

You ever read his crap? After the rangers lose a couple its this team sucks I'm done watching them its the same crap year after year followed by more tears and rants.

I agree on Nelson being 2nd line C next year....
don't know yet on who should his wingers be.

but your rite that this team really doesn't have a defensive line to go against other top lines. Maybe that can be addressed in off-season. But we also need players besides Martin & Clutterbuck that know had to check people off the puck and find Dmen who can remove someone from the crease too.

EDIT: majority of NHL teams today have a loaded top 6 were it relies on scoring and the bottom 6 are made up of defensive roles w/some players who having scoring ability to help chip in... That is slowly becoming the NHL model
- Ur Not Me

Just from what I've seen, it looks like recently the Isles became confident enough in the top line to go against other teams' top lines, relying on them to keep the puck in the other zone to limit other stars' scoring chances. But I'm not sure that works. Tavares has to develop a much better defensive game if they're going to do that, because you can't keep players like Crosby pinned in their own zone forever.

Then defensive responsibilities have gone I guess to Martin-Cizikas-McD...but they're perfect as an energy line, not really as a shutdown line. I think they had it right late last season...Nielsen's line as a very good shutdown line and Cizikas' as a very good fourth line.

http://letsgonyislanders....n-strome-injury-saga.html

http://letsgonyislanders.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-ryan-strome-injury-saga.html
- eichiefs9

I think there's too much cloak and dagger nonsense with injuries these days.

Aside from the obvious failures of Snow this past summer and the crap with the coaching staff and bad play of guys like Bailey, This debacle of a year comes down to a continued failure for this team to beat divisional opponents. They'll go out and run off 7 of 8 against non-divisional opponents, yet they can't beat anybody in the Metro. This team hasn't been able to beat divisional opponents for years. It's killing any chance of making the playoffs. No matter who is coaching this team or who is on "D" or in net, this f**king organization needs to learn how to win divisional games.

Just from what I've seen, it looks like recently the Isles became confident enough in the top line to go against other teams' top lines, relying on them to keep the puck in the other zone to limit other stars' scoring chances. But I'm not sure that works. Tavares has to develop a much better defensive game if they're going to do that, because you can't keep players like Crosby pinned in their own zone forever.

Then defensive responsibilities have gone I guess to Martin-Cizikas-McD...but they're perfect as an energy line, not really as a shutdown line. I think they had it right late last season...Nielsen's line as a very good shutdown line and Cizikas' as a very good fourth line.
- UIF

Something else I've been saying since last year. Capuanos strategy of matching first line against first line is flawed for so many reasons. It's clear as day.

http://letsgonyislanders.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-ryan-strome-injury-saga.html
- eichiefs9

Seems like Pellerin has the same priorities check list as Capuano? Good to know. More great news, what's next?

Aside from the obvious failures of Snow this past summer and the crap with the coaching staff and bad play of guys like Bailey, This debacle of a year comes down to a continued failure for this team to beat divisional opponents. They'll go out and run off 7 of 8 against non-divisional opponents, yet they can't beat anybody in the Metro. This team hasn't been able to beat divisional opponents for years. It's killing any chance of making the playoffs. No matter who is coaching this team or who is on "D" robin net, this f**king organization needs to learn how to win divisional games.
- Jethro09

They don't have the heart or the balls. A lot of that can be attributed to coaching.

The two questions in the blog -- what to do with Bailey and making a second line -- are connected:

Bailey -- put him on a third line instructed to worry only about shutting top lines down. He's excelled in that role before, and found his offensive game as a result. If he never finds his offense again, I think he could still be an effective shutdown forward. If you forget about the draft position and forget about the contract, a quality shutdown forward could be valuable seeing how the Isles' biggest problem is preventing other teams from scoring. Tough to trade given what he makes, and it's not worth having him languish in a second-line scoring role that he's not succeeding in. And it'd be nice if we actually had a line that could stop other teams' stars from feasting on the Isles. Who's currently in that role?

Question is, who are the other two you put there with Bailey? Last season it was Nielsen and KO, but they were both struggling then and were able to re-focus their games by playing D first. This season, KO might be a touch below Tavares for best forward on the team, and Nielsen's certainly not struggling as a second-line center. Nelson maybe...but is he ready to go out there and shut down top centers in the game? I think Cizikas could move up to center a shutdown third line, but then who centers the fourth line? Clutterbuck could be a winger on that line and make life hell on other top lines, but he'd have to play a bit smarter...not go for that last hit in the offensive zone that leaves him a couple of steps behind the play.

I guess I don't have the answer...but I wouldn't mind seeing them try a second line of:

Grabner-Nelson-Strome

And a shutdown line of Bailey-Nielsen-Clutterbuck.

Maybe other folks have better ideas...
- UIF

Bailey should be waived and send to Bridgeport. Same for Regin. Send them down, call Strome and Lee up and be done with the Bailey experiment forever. The guy sucks. He's horses**t. Bailey is a waste of a roster spot. He was a mistake from day one when Snow forced him onto the roster too early and the coaches have mishandled and rushed him ever since. Bailey is ruined. Just like Niño would have been had he remained.

Stanley cup predictions? Ducks vs pens?

When the defense and goaltending is this unstable, all of the top line and secondary scoring is for naught. Case in point surrender of tying goal 22 seconds after Nelsons goal at the stadium. Tampa is a good example of how they acquired defense and goaltending but Snow is financially hamstrung to spend on anything but forwards. Vets like Nabby and Vis come at a fixed price and Streit was unaffordable.

On a big goalie like Henrik, these poor angles are worthless
- keaner17

I did not think this was close to being accurate so I checked.

Henrik is 6"1" and 188 pounds.

If you check the top 40 goalies for goals against average on ESPN today,
33 of them are 6'2 or better. Two of them are 6'1".

Henrik IS NOT a big goalie.

I was surprised to find out just how big many goalies are.

When the defense and goaltending is this unstable, all of the top line and secondary scoring is for naught. Case in point surrender of tying goal 22 seconds after Nelsons goal at the stadium. Tampa is a good example of how they acquired defense and goaltending but Snow is financially hamstrung to spend on anything but forwards. Vets like Nabby and Vis come at a fixed price and Streit was unaffordable.
- Fan101

"Snow is financially hamstrung to spend on anything but forwards? Why? Why wouldn't he be allowed to spend let's say the money he spent on regin and PMB and put that into a dman or goaltender instead? Makes zero sense.

Dan Petriw: Free falling
- Dan Petriw

The last sentence in your blog said something to the affect that if the isles care about this team then they will spend to fix this mess they are in. Problem is they haven't proven to anyone they are willing to spend beyond the floor. I don't think wang has the money. Seeing that the Marriott is foreclosing is pretty telling that this is a bare bones team until wang sells.

The only thing we can hope for is them getting up the standings enough to make giving this yrs first to buffalo less painful.
- Cptmjl

They can keep the pick this year if they are bottom 10 in NHL

It was widely reported that miller nixed a deal to the islanders. I do agree 100% that Snow failed to follow up after that trade and make the team stronger which was obviously important to get vanek signed. This season was a complete, total failure on Snows part. There's no excuse for it and I feel he should be fired for it.
- Cptmjl

I 100% agree with this, the "we will not let games pass us by" was the biggest bullpoop anyone has ever said in the history of life. W

Rookie bonuses ....
Plus raises to DeHaan, Cizikas, Poulin, etc and maybe a couple of more band aids in the FA market

Don't worry, we all have seen Snow magically get to cap floor w/crappy roster and next year will be no different
- Ur Not Me

Poulin deserves to be let go. If he gets a raise or is in the system next year then this team is dumber than I thought

Why is it that every time I talk to a Rangers fan on the internet, I'm picturing this guy?




Nice jerseys, Carl.....but who are the Gnats?

Poulin deserves to be let go. If he gets a raise or is in the system next year then this team is dumber than I thought
- Isles316

In all fairness no one has really looked stellar behind this D. Plus unless a trade is made for a G, there is probably no FA G that will come here...

I did not think this was close to being accurate so I checked.

Henrik is 6"1" and 188 pounds.

If you check the top 40 goalies for goals against average on ESPN today,
33 of them are 6'2 or better. Two of them are 6'1".

Henrik IS NOT a big goalie.

I was surprised to find out just how big many goalies are.
- Downeaster

Coming up next on the "No One Cares and You Wasted Your Time Researching Stuff for Nothing" show...

Coming up next on the "No One Cares and You Wasted Your Time Researching Stuff for Nothing" show...
- UIF

better than wasting your time watching a bad team all season long for nothing

better than wasting your time watching a bad team all season long for nothing
- rangerdanger94

Or watching a bad team all season that you don't even root for and spending every day hanging out in their blog?

better than wasting your time watching a bad team all season long for nothing
- rangerdanger94

Pot meet kettle.