Bailey is incredibly frustrating. He has stepped up in the last few playoffs I'll give him that.
- ses111

Which is fine, well & good, but he has to put it together for the season on a consistent basis. I don't expect 30-40 goals out of him a year, but at least give us 15-20 goals and 50-60 points a year. I do think he's capable of 20 goals a year. He just needs to shoot more. Quit passing when he's wide open and has a lane.

He has tons of skill... He's just a dope.
- niteislander

Talent was never the issue and Bailey easily should have been a 60 or 70 point 2C for his career.

Bellows is brutal panik should be in over him any day of the week
- Upstate_isles

Let's not hit the Panik button just yet.. Bellows will score 2 vs. Columbus.

Which is fine, well & good, but he has to put it together for the season on a consistent basis. I don't expect 30-40 goals out of him a year, but at least give us 15-20 goals and 50-60 points a year. I do think he's capable of 20 goals a year. He just needs to shoot more. Quit passing when he's wide open and has a lane.
- Isleshockeyman

No argument from me IHM. Bailey had the skill and good size to be a much better player.

Talent was never the issue and Bailey easily should have been a 60 or 70 point 2C for his career.
- ses111

His issue to me was always laziness (or maybe lack of motivation). And the previous coach enabled lazy play by him and others. I can't tell you how many times I'd watch an opponent skate right past him in the O-zone while cycling and he just stood there doing nothing. Maybe a lame attempt at a poke check. Very frustrating.

No argument from me IHM. Bailey had the skill and good size to be a much better player.
- ses111

Absolutely! Not sure why he's going backwards, but I think Trotz will straighten him out pretty quick. Fingers crossed.

I can't believe Philly got Cam Atkinson. I love that guy.. 110% every shift, can score, can fly..etc. got rid of Jake too who was a turd. Atkinson would have been a homerun on the Isles.

Absolutely! Not sure why he's going backwards, but I think Trotz will straighten him out pretty quick. Fingers crossed.
- Isleshockeyman

Trotz is awesome but every Isles coach seems to be in love with Bailey and see no fault with him.

Absolutely! Not sure why he's going backwards, but I think Trotz will straighten him out pretty quick. Fingers crossed.
- Isleshockeyman

I think that ship has sailed... putting him out there for expansion draft should speak volumes on how Trotz feels. You would think it would wake him up ... nah.

I prefer Komarov over Panik or MDC. At least he provides some PK support. MDC brings nothing. But who gets waived to make room?

I'm not ready to give up on Bellows yet. I still would give him a few more games as a fill in when needed. But the leash is short. He may work out being a third line winger. I didn't think he was as bad as some of you think.

Chara or Greene need to be the 7th defenseman. Take your pick, they are both struggling. Time for Aho to get a game or three.
- David_Volek

I actually liked what I saw of Panik in the preseason. Obviously took it with a grain of salt, but he looked good to me and seemed to really irritate the guys he was playing against. If Lee (or Beau) go down I'd prefer to see them reshuffle the lines a bit and stick Panik in at 3LW.

I don't entire blame Bellows because he's played such little hockey over the last few years, but he doesn't seem to be working out. I haven't given up on him either but at this point he's not going to get a regular spot here and the team seems reluctant to put him on waivers to send him down so my gut feeling is that they'll eventually move him elsewhere to give him a fresh start. I'd feel more optimistic about him if he lit the AHL on fire at some point, but he wasn't particularly outstanding there either...save for that one stretch where he had a whole bunch of consecutive games with a goal.

His issue to me was always laziness (or maybe lack of motivation). And the previous coach enabled lazy play by him and others. I can't tell you how many times I'd watch an opponent skate right past him in the O-zone while cycling and he just stood there doing nothing. Maybe a lame attempt at a poke check. Very frustrating.
- Isleshockeyman

It is laziness with Bailey and Nelson can be similar at times not as bad as Bailey.

guess islanders should have paid for tarasenko
- BlueTaco

No thanks.. enjoy him

I actually liked what I saw of Panik in the preseason. Obviously took it with a grain of salt, but he looked good to me and seemed to really irritate the guys he was playing against. If Lee (or Beau) go down I'd prefer to see them reshuffle the lines a bit and stick Panik in at 3LW.

I don't entire blame Bellows because he's played such little hockey over the last few years, but he doesn't seem to be working out. I haven't given up on him either but at this point he's not going to get a regular spot here and the team seems reluctant to put him on waivers to send him down so my gut feeling is that they'll eventually move him elsewhere to give him a fresh start. I'd feel more optimistic about him if he lit the AHL on fire at some point, but he wasn't particularly outstanding there either...save for that one stretch where he had a whole bunch of consecutive games with a goal.
- eichiefs9

Panik did look good in preseason and it is only preseason. Bellows just does not seem like Barry's type of player. I agree Bellows has not exactly been given a decent look. So many coaches though seem to favor vets and it takes a lot for young players to gain their trust and any mistakes by young players seem to set them back many times.

I thought once Greene was reunited with Dobson last night he looked like himself again. I wonder if they will stick and they rest Greene as needed.

I’m not sure anyone is a good fit with Chara. Hope he proves me wrong but he’s so slow and once he gets tired he’s even worse.

I thought once Greene was reunited with Dobson last night he looked like himself again. I wonder if they will stick and they rest Greene as needed.

I’m not sure anyone is a good fit with Chara. Hope he proves me wrong but he’s so slow and once he gets tired he’s even worse.
- streaks

I'd be more inclined to sit Chara than Greene. Greene has been serviceable for the last season+ in a third pairing role and Chara seems to be a bit of a wildcard at this point in time.

Guy is a legend, but he really hasn't been good at all so far.

I'd be more inclined to sit Chara than Greene. Greene has been serviceable for the last season+ in a third pairing role and Chara seems to be a bit of a wildcard at this point in time.

Guy is a legend, but he really hasn't been good at all so far.
- eichiefs9

100% agree.. Greene still makes some good decisions and is very solid. Chara just seems slow and old.

I think it was early in the 3rd period, Bellows had the puck in the slot with all the time in the world to pick a corner to shoot at. Instead he shot it into the goalie's crest for an easy save. I know it was only one play, but the rest of his game doesn't translate into a lot more opportunities. I think his days are numbered as an Islander.
- JohnScammo

Don't forget his semi breakaway where it looked like he was in a wheelchair

With Greene & Chara, I think we'll see both of them this season. I think Bolduc might also get a sniff.
- Isleshockeyman

Doubt it, trotz hardly used Dobson last year in the playoffs and he is one to use rookies a ton

Let's not hit the Panik button just yet.. Bellows will score 2 vs. Columbus.
- niteislander

Bellows is the new MDC. He may see reliable ice time but his reliance as an offensive threat is unexpected. Of all the recent forward picks it's Barzal, Beau and looks like Wahly are the o stars. Meanwhile Dobson is the d star from the draft in the last five years. I think we need to see Aho and, Salo to build the young d depth for any long runs. BTW Bailey always plays the game like that but always frustrated fans by only showing occasional agressiveness. Avoids penalties and keeps him on the top lines.

Bellows is the new MDC. He may see reliable ice time but his reliance as an offensive threat is unexpected. Of all the recent forward picks it's Barzal, Beau and looks like Wahly are the o stars. Meanwhile Dobson is the d star from the draft in the last five years. I think we need to see Aho and, Salo to build the young d depth for any long runs. BTW Bailey always plays the game like that but always frustrated fans by only showing occasional agressiveness. Avoids penalties and keeps him on the top lines.
- Fan101

OK.. so apparently I am the president of the Bellows fan club so I will defend him..

1. He has 5 goals in 25 NHL games. MDC has 8 goals in 111 games. That's a pretty significant difference. I have never seen MDC do this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xcr-8fDoQ

2. His partial breakaway had a defensman hanging all over him the whole way.. probablly should have gotten a call on that play, but he never had a step on the guy.

3. The shot when he was directly in front of the net he tried to take it over the Right pad of the goalie close to the body to hand cuff him... the goalie got a piece of it with his right leg pad.. it was not in the chest.

Most of you know I watch USA hockey kids a lot and usually favor them over other players.. especially come draft time. Bellows in the U20 2018 tournament scored 9 goals. He was just a sniper.. that is who I am hoping to see every time he is on the ice. ...

This kid... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QIKXv_S5Sc

I might be wrong.. but I was always excited to see him and Wahlstrom on the ice b/c I thought it would create more dangerous shooters up and down the line-up. If Keiffer can play the way Trotz wants him too... He will certainly score more goals than Leo/MDC..etc.

OK.. so apparently I am the president of the Bellows fan club so I will defend him..

1. He has 5 goals in 25 NHL games. MDC has 8 goals in 111 games. That's a pretty significant difference. I have never seen MDC do this.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0xcr-8fDoQ

2. His partial breakaway had a defensman hanging all over him the whole way.. probablly should have gotten a call on that play, but he never had a step on the guy.

3. The shot when he was directly in front of the net he tried to take it over the Right pad of the goalie close to the body to hand cuff him... the goalie got a piece of it with his right leg pad.. it was not in the chest.

Most of you know I watch USA hockey kids a lot and usually favor them over other players.. especially come draft time. Bellows in the U20 2018 tournament scored 9 goals. He was just a sniper.. that is who I am hoping to see every time he is on the ice. ...

This kid... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QIKXv_S5Sc

I might be wrong.. but I was always excited to see him and Wahlstrom on the ice b/c I thought it would create more dangerous shooters up and down the line-up. If Keiffer can play the way Trotz wants him too... He will certainly score more goals than Leo/MDC..etc.
- niteislander

It's so tough with young players and coaches. Maybe Bellows is not the answer but has he been given a long enough look? Hard to say he has been given enough of a look with the Islanders? MDC I think has been given a good amount of time to prove he can make it or not. You cannot argue the success of Lou and Barry. If the Isles did not have such good playoff runs these last few years, a better case can be made about giving a longer look to some of the young players. Islanders are in win now mode so it is very tough.

Joe Pantorno
@JoePantorno
·
4m
Casey Cizikas suits up for his 594th career game with the #Isles. That ties him with John Tonelli on the franchise's all-time games played list (19th).


Casey Cizikas for HHOF.

Joe Pantorno
@JoePantorno
·
4m
Casey Cizikas suits up for his 594th career game with the #Isles. That ties him with John Tonelli on the franchise's all-time games played list (19th).


Casey Cizikas for HHOF.
- UIF

It's so tough with young players and coaches. Maybe Bellows is not the answer but has he been given a long enough look? Hard to say he has been given enough of a look with the Islanders? MDC I think has been given a good amount of time to prove he can make it or not. You cannot argue the success of Lou and Barry. If the Isles did not have such good playoff runs these last few years, a better case can be made about giving a longer look to some of the young players. Islanders are in win now mode so it is very tough.
- ses111

The fact that Bellows is still around and getting some games tells me they are ok with him.. Especially after that failed drug test issue. They must like something about his attitude and game. I thought for sure that was the end of his Isles career.