Location: Snow's World (I just live in it), NY Joined: 06.21.2008
Feb 15 @ 2:23 PM ET
Barzal's biggest contribution to the PP is his entries into the zone. The Isles don't have other options who can do it as well as Barzal, and they are more likely to get stood up at the blue line. - JohnScammo
God I hate to say this but Aho might be your only other option bringing it in.
Sometimes watching them sleepwalk thru the power play, it looks like they are all tired and the power play provides an opportunity to rest up a bit. There's just no sense of urgency. - JohnScammo
They might really need to take Barzal off the top PP unit. I think teams have caught on and will happily just let him twirl around with the puck looking for the perfect pass, knowing he can't/won't shoot. Or at least move him down lower instead of having him off to the side and up top
Not like there's a ton of good options to replace him with, but at least Palmieri would shoot the puck. - eichiefs9
Bingo, although at what point is the PP coach at fault?
Bingo, although at what point is the PP coach at fault? - kindlyrick
At some point you kinda can't blame the coaches anymore. They're professional players and they absolutely stink when they have more players on the ice than the other team. You can lead a horse to water...
At some point you kinda can't blame the coaches anymore. They're professional players and they absolutely stink when they have more players on the ice than the other team. You can lead a horse to water... - eichiefs9
Multiple coaches including a Hall of Fame coach and PP still an issue tells us it's a roster issue. Roster has just not changed much over the years.
At some point you kinda can't blame the coaches anymore. They're professional players and they absolutely stink when they have more players on the ice than the other team. You can lead a horse to water... - eichiefs9
Multiple coaches including a Hall of Fame coach and PP still an issue tells us it's a roster issue. Roster has just not changed much over the years. - ses111
In fairness Horvat is an absolute PP guy, but before him, the isles did what they always did for decades. They have teams filled with overachievers. Year after year we watched the Rangers sign the big name UFAs. Isles were never able to grab them, and it’s still an issue. That’s maybe on ownership for not selling their product. It certainly isn’t the arena anymore. When’s the last time the isles had a Norris Trophy dman? We all saw how well Pelech developed but he’s not a Norris candidate but he’s the isles top dmen. Same story.
In fairness Horvat is an absolute PP guy, but before him, the isles did what they always did for decades. They have teams filled with overachievers. Year after year we watched the Rangers sign the big name UFAs. Isles were never able to grab them, and it’s still an issue. That’s maybe on ownership for not selling their product. It certainly isn’t the arena anymore. When’s the last time the isles had a Norris Trophy dman? We all saw how well Pelech developed but he’s not a Norris candidate but he’s the isles top dmen. Same story. - kindlyrick
It's a roster issue and an issue with the GM's not being able to sell their vision. All I know is Neil Smith in 40 days signed better UFA's with the lousy Coli than other Islander GM's since. Neil obviously watched this movie and Garth and Lou not so much.
At some point you kinda can't blame the coaches anymore. They're professional players and they absolutely stink when they have more players on the ice than the other team. You can lead a horse to water... - eichiefs9
I think there's plenty there fore me to absolutely blame coaching with the pp. Our issues with the PP have seemingly gone on forever, with or without Barzal. When I see our PP in action there's just so many things that should be happening that don't. The Isles base their PP on trying to change sides of the rink quickly and then kick a pass up to the point for a shot and possible deflection. That sounds simple except:
1. They are terrible along the wall. We don't dig pucks well, we lose physical battles and we're predictable when we try this.
2. We're not accurate -Only Dobson seems to have a shot hard enough and accurate enough to make this work. Since we only use one dman most times, it makes this part pretty easy to cover. Pulock was supposed to be that guy but couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. It doesn't help that we spend five to seven passes and precious time setting up a terrible angle
3. We don't fight for the crease- We don't even try to get in front of the goalie half of the time. I watched Lee on three PP's the other night and each time, he tries camping beside the goalie as opposed to in front of him. WTF? Sadly, he seems to be the only one to even go anywhere near the goalie during a PP.
4. We're static. Power plays are awfully easy to cover when you always know where the puck may go. Our players are so damn stationary, dmen can easily anticipate passes and shots. It's awful
Those issues make our PP approach utterly useless. It's time to maybe trying working down low and mucking goals much like the team we played last night does. Or working cross-slot passes like all of our opponents do so well against us
I think there's plenty there fore me to absolutely blame coaching with the pp. Our issues with the PP have seemingly gone on forever, with or without Barzal. When I see our PP in action there's just so many things that should be happening that don't. The Isles base their PP on trying to change sides of the rink quickly and then kick a pass up to the point for a shot and possible deflection. That sounds simple except:
1. They are terrible along the wall. We don't dig pucks well, we lose physical battles and we're predictable when we try this.
2. We're not accurate -Only Dobson seems to have a shot hard enough and accurate enough to make this work. Since we only use one dman most times, it makes this part pretty easy to cover. Pulock was supposed to be that guy but couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. It doesn't help that we spend five to seven passes and precious time setting up a terrible angle
3. We don't fight for the crease- We don't even try to get in front of the goalie half of the time. I watched Lee on three PP's the other night and each time, he tries camping beside the goalie as opposed to in front of him. WTF? Sadly, he seems to be the only one to even go anywhere near the goalie during a PP.
Those issues make our PP approach utterly useless. It's time to maybe trying working down low and mucking goals much like the team we played last night does. Or working cross-slot passes like all of our opponents do so well against us. - keaner17
The fact Pulock only has 3 goals is brutal. The 3 things you mention fall on the players and their willingness and ability to do. The coaches can only do so much.
Location: Coming to a jail near you Joined: 10.14.2014
Feb 15 @ 4:44 PM ET
I think there's plenty there fore me to absolutely blame coaching with the pp. Our issues with the PP have seemingly gone on forever, with or without Barzal. When I see our PP in action there's just so many things that should be happening that don't. The Isles base their PP on trying to change sides of the rink quickly and then kick a pass up to the point for a shot and possible deflection. That sounds simple except:
1. They are terrible along the wall. We don't dig pucks well, we lose physical battles and we're predictable when we try this.
2. We're not accurate -Only Dobson seems to have a shot hard enough and accurate enough to make this work. Since we only use one dman most times, it makes this part pretty easy to cover. Pulock was supposed to be that guy but couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. It doesn't help that we spend five to seven passes and precious time setting up a terrible angle
3. We don't fight for the crease- We don't even try to get in front of the goalie half of the time. I watched Lee on three PP's the other night and each time, he tries camping beside the goalie as opposed to in front of him. WTF? Sadly, he seems to be the only one to even go anywhere near the goalie during a PP.
4. We're static. Power plays are awfully easy to cover when you always know where the puck may go. Our players are so damn stationary, dmen can easily anticipate passes and shots. It's awful
Those issues make our PP approach utterly useless. It's time to maybe trying working down low and mucking goals much like the team we played last night does. Or working cross-slot passes like all of our opponents do so well against us - keaner17
Keaner for PP Coach! How do you feel about quitting your day job?
The Islanders have not had a good powerplay since 1984...Countless Owners, Countless GMs, Countless Coaches have not been able to solve the Bermuda Triangle that is the Isles Power Play.
Location: Coming to a jail near you Joined: 10.14.2014
Feb 16 @ 9:51 AM ET
The Islanders have not had a good powerplay since 1984...Countless Owners, Countless GMs, Countless Coaches have not been able to solve the Bermuda Triangle that is the Isles Power Play. - Nfdbulldawg
What was the matter with the Islanders' power play during the 1992-93 season? Turgeon and King combined for something like 45 power play goals that season under the coaching of Al Arbour.
What was the matter with the Islanders' power play during the 1992-93 season? Turgeon and King combined for something like 45 power play goals that season under the coaching of Al Arbour. - JohnScammo
Sort of a veer here, but if we aren't going to use Pulock as our trigger on the PP, maybe we should consider trading him. It was his shot that pushed him into the first round and made him so appealing.
What was the matter with the Islanders' power play during the 1992-93 season? Turgeon and King combined for something like 45 power play goals that season under the coaching of Al Arbour. - JohnScammo
Maybe I’m wrong but I think the point that was being made is that the PP hasn’t been good for decades. 1984 or 1992. What’s the difference. It’s 30+ years of not being a threat with the man advantage.
Personally I attribute it to not having the firepower. The isles are notorious for going with guys who may not have the ability to perform consistently but are expected to perform consistently. Bailey is a perfect example. A couple elite passes does not make him an elite player, yet he’s on that first line (underperforming)
There's just no sense of urgency.
