Ben Shelley: Islanders fall to Sabres in final game of road trip

The title of this blog speaks volumes as to the direction of the team this season. We are just riding the wave of the next 39 to see where we land on the beach.

The title of this blog speaks volumes as to the direction of the team this season. We are just riding the wave of the next 39 to see where we land on the beach.
- Nfdbulldawg

As was brought up in the last thread, They'll probably use this loss as motivation and go on a tear. Thereby eliminating their chances at a high lottery pick. "Just Enough" should be this teams motto. Either just enough to get in the playoffs or just enough to blow an opportunity at a high draft pick.

Is the Troz plan not working for this team?



John Tonelli for HOF

Is the Troz plan not working for this team?



John Tonelli for HOF
- Tee56

No plan is working for this team. Can't really put a finger on one thing. Team is slow, taking themselves out of position, turning the puck over in every zone, some lazy skating, no finish, power play sucks, penalty kill isn't great, not able to finish chances, battle level isn't where it needs to be, puck luck is out the window. Because the defense is so slow, they're giving up (what seems to be) a lot of odd-man rush opportunities. I mean, take your pick. Nothing is working. The season is over, they're not making the playoffs. Make whatever trades that need to be made and hopefully get a high draft pick. Reload/retool and let's get after it again next season.
By no means am I saying Trotz and Lou need to go, but if we have the same result next year then I think something may need to be done. But that's a discussion for next year.

- HolyDiver83

Bro, she sang a few weeks ago. She's already drunk back stage looking to pound Schwein.

Seems like there's plenty blame to go around. This has been a significant failure by Lou, Trotz and the players themselves.
In retrospect you try to find a point where things went south but the reality is they haven't been good since the start of the season. At no point in the season have they looked like a complete team for more than a couple of games. They've been an uninspired disorganized mess all the way through. The only bright spot we had was Sorokin and even he has been ordinary lately.
Next season is potentially a pivotal one for Lou and Trotz. I'm not saying that they would be in any danger by any means but will have a far more clear picture of the direction of this franchise.

Even putting the result aside, that was just a flat out boring game. I'm a loyal Isles fan. My wife's a loyal Sabres fan. Halfway through last night's game, with our teams playing against each other and the score tied, she was reading a book and I was on my computer watching morons argue politics online.

Bro, she sang a few weeks ago. She's already drunk back stage looking to pound Schwein.
- Isleshockeyman

Seems like there's plenty blame to go around. This has been a significant failure by Lou, Trotz and the players themselves.
In retrospect you try to find a point where things went south but the reality is they haven't been good since the start of the season. At no point in the season have they looked like a complete team for more than a couple of games. They've been an uninspired disorganized mess all the way through. The only bright spot we had was Sorokin and even he has been ordinary lately.
Next season is potentially a pivotal one for Lou and Trotz. I'm not saying that they would be in any danger by any means but will have a far more clear picture of the direction of this franchise.
- keaner17

Yep, it's over.

Bro, she sang a few weeks ago. She's already drunk back stage looking to pound Schwein.
- Isleshockeyman

And thank Odin for that. Makes the current state of this season somewhat bearable.

As was brought up in the last thread, They'll probably use this loss as motivation and go on a tear. Thereby eliminating their chances at a high lottery pick. "Just Enough" should be this teams motto. Either just enough to get in the playoffs or just enough to blow an opportunity at a high draft pick.
- Isleshockeyman

That has always been their MO. It will make for an interesting trade deadline to see what they hold onto.

The islanders need a huge trade to shake this team up this offseason. This team has played together forever. With a new arena and sturdy coaching we should be able to attract more players. No one in my mi d should be untouchable. If the price is right for anyone you pull the trigger. It reminds me when they traded lafontaine the return was amazing and made the islanders a lot better of a team

Josh Ho-Sang – viewed as another offensive threat ahead of the tournament – started alongside Staal and McTavish, but was demoted to the 13th forward spot after two games.

They must be racist against poor Josh

"This team is too slow" .. that is pretty much the issue. We got rid of a ton of speed in Leddy, Toews, and Eberle, and added some Old, slow bums. We were always a matchup nightmare for people b/c we had 4 lines and 6 d-men that were tough, fast, and disciplined. By getting rid of all those guys we took away the tough match-ups and now teams don't have to pay attention to a lot of guys. Lee looks like his skates weigh 40 LBS, Palmieri is slow, so is Martin, and Chara, and Greene, and Bailey just doesn't skate. ... I don't really blame trotz at this point b/c WTF can he do about it. they took all his horses away and asked him to win a race.

you add guys like Chara, Parise, and Palmieri to a team that needs veteran leadership. We didn't need that.. they had it in the locker room. If anything He killed the chemistry adding those guys. If Veteran leadership won series then why did we sweep the Pens? why did we beat Washington twice? ... you need speed in this league .. we don't have it. .. anymore.

Josh Ho-Sang – viewed as another offensive threat ahead of the tournament – started alongside Staal and McTavish, but was demoted to the 13th forward spot after two games.

They must be racist against poor Josh
- Upstate_isles

JHS for HOF

JHS for HOF
- niteislander

1st ballot for sure

JHS for HOF
- niteislander

Leo for HOF ... going for gold

"This team is too slow" .. that is pretty much the issue. We got rid of a ton of speed in Leddy, Toews, and Eberle, and added some Old, slow bums. We were always a matchup nightmare for people b/c we had 4 lines and 6 d-men that were tough, fast, and disciplined. By getting rid of all those guys we took away the tough match-ups and now teams don't have to pay attention to a lot of guys. Lee looks like his skates weigh 40 LBS, Palmieri is slow, so is Martin, and Chara, and Greene, and Bailey just doesn't skate. ... I don't really blame trotz at this point b/c WTF can he do about it. they took all his horses away and asked him to win a race.

you add guys like Chara, Parise, and Palmieri to a team that needs veteran leadership. We didn't need that.. they had it in the locker room. If anything He killed the chemistry adding those guys. If Veteran leadership won series then why did we sweep the Pens? why did we beat Washington twice? ... you need speed in this league .. we don't have it. .. anymore.
- niteislander

Blame seems to fall on LOU he brought those guys in here ( old friends from his NJ days) Never bought in any real talent except JGP
The 4th line lost its mojo seems like 2 of them got there new contracts and stopped playing hard.
Losing Leddy, Eberle those guys had more points then a lot of current guys did last year.

JHS for HOF
- niteislander

How isn't he already in!?

JHS for the HOF!

God damn the Vegas Colorado game is insane and it shows how far off the isles are right now

God damn the Vegas Colorado game is insane and it shows how far off the isles are right now
- Upstate_isles

That's because both teams have speed, skill and puck moving defensemen. The Isles don't.

That's because both teams have speed, skill and puck moving defensemen. The Isles don't.
- Isleshockeyman

Yea Watchung it I was thinking only Dobson and barzal would fit in lol