This team is terrible in their own zone. Just no awareness and communication
- keaner17

This is the teams biggest fault.
If you can be tough to score against you have a much better shot in winning the game.
On defense they look like a totally different team. It’s not good because this was their strength for years. Tough to play against, hard to score on. Basically their identity for years is now invisible. I said it last week. Lou is not going to let this continue much longer. I also will add in the NFL and NHL coaching is of utmost importance as the hard caps in these leagues keep the teams pretty even on most fronts.

This is the teams biggest fault.
If you can be tough to score against you have a much better shot in winning the game.
On defense they look like a totally different team. It’s not good because this was their strength for years. Tough to play against, hard to score on. Basically their identity for years is now invisible. I said it last week. Lou is not going to let this continue much longer. I also will add in the NFL and NHL coaching is of utmost importance as the hard caps in these leagues keep the teams pretty even on most fronts.
- nyisles7

Problem is Lou is a bigger disaster than Lambert and I don’t want that guy doing anything else

This is the teams biggest fault.
If you can be tough to score against you have a much better shot in winning the game.
On defense they look like a totally different team. It’s not good because this was their strength for years. Tough to play against, hard to score on. Basically their identity for years is now invisible. I said it last week. Lou is not going to let this continue much longer. I also will add in the NFL and NHL coaching is of utmost importance as the hard caps in these leagues keep the teams pretty even on most fronts.
- nyisles7

Most sports are gearing towards more offense. How are the Jets doing with a great defense and no offense? The Islanders played great defense under Barry and it was not enough to win a Cup trying to win games 2-1. Yes, you can be tough to play against and give yourself a chance with a solid defense, but you need a good enough offense to put you over the top and that has not happened with the Islanders. Your goaltending and defense will break down eventually without the offensive support. The Canes series last year was the perfect example. The offense lost that series and not the defense.

Problem is Lou is a bigger disaster than Lambert and I don’t want that guy doing anything else
- Vukota

This is the issue some fans fail to face. They want to think about Lou from the Devils days. That Lou and NHL are long gone. You can teach better defense. You cannot teach speed and skill.

Problem is Lou is a bigger disaster than Lambert and I don’t want that guy doing anything else
- Vukota

Well you have to have someone to replace him with.
I think L and M still believe in him and I don’t blame them if you look at the teams performance from his start. It’s easy to forget where this team was and how it was looked at before he arrived. Not saying it’s right or wrong. It’s my opinion he still has their respect. I think if Lou changes the coach (and I believe he will). If it doesn’t right the ship it will certainly be his last move as GM.
Serious questions:
Who’s available right now that you would like to see as GM? Also if your Lou who do you replace Lane with?

Most sports are gearing towards more offense. How are the Jets doing with a great defense and no offense? The Islanders played great defense under Barry and it was not enough to win a Cup trying to win games 2-1. Yes, you can be tough to play against and give yourself a chance with a solid defense, but you need a good enough offense to put you over the top and that has not happened with the Islanders. Your goaltending and defense will break down eventually without the offensive support. The Canes series last year was the perfect example. The offense lost that series and not the defense.
- ses111

I will agree to disagree. Defense wins it’s why the Devils are playing better now. It’s the reason Tampa won the cup and it’s certainly the reason the teams like Toronto and the oils, etc lose when the games truly count.
You won’t change my mind Especially if your using football and it’s strategy’s against hockey. Players in hockey have to play both sides of the puck. Football you have 2 totally different teams.

Is Gerard Gallant available? Not sure he’s the short term answer but if give him a shot. Gotta try something.

What did czikas say?

I will agree to disagree. Defense wins it’s why the Devils are playing better now. It’s the reason Tampa won the cup and it’s certainly the reason the teams like Toronto and the oils, etc lose when the games truly count.
You won’t change my mind Especially if your using football and it’s strategy’s against hockey. Players in hockey have to play both sides of the puck. Football you have 2 totally different teams.
- nyisles7

Tampa won a Cup because they learned how to play strong defense, but they still had elite level forwards that could score goals when needed. You need a balance. You cannot just have one like the Islanders had under Barry and win a Cup. Nobody is saying throw out the defense and just have an offense. The odds of winning a Cup are very low with just a strong defense and very little offense.

What did czikas say?
- streaks

I think he told the fans to stay home if they are going to boo.

Tampa won a Cup because they learned how to play strong defense, but they still had elite level forwards that could score goals when needed. You need a balance. You cannot just have one like the Islanders had under Barry and win a Cup. Nobody is saying throw out the defense and just have an offense.
- ses111

The coach has to make the best of what he's given. Barry recognized that the Islanders were not offensively gifted. They lacked great scoring talent. So he knew their only chance of competing was to focus on defense. The team came pretty close for a couple of years. But it's not as if Barry held them back from winning the Cup because he didn't focus more on offense.

The coach has to make the best of what he's given. Barry recognized that the Islanders were not offensively gifted. They lacked great scoring talent. So he knew their only chance of competing was to focus on defense. The team came pretty close for a couple of years. But it's not as if Barry held them back from winning the Cup because he didn't focus more on offense.
- JohnScammo

My point was even Barry could only take them so far and the team was helped a lot because of Covid and the pauses during the two ECF trips. The team struggled outside of those runs even under Barry. Nobody is blaming Barry for not winning as Cup. The team did not win a Cup because the offense was not good enough to be able to score a big goal against Tampa or even the Canes when they really needed it. The defense did not fail the Islanders. The offense failed the Islanders. It's not that hard to see.

Tampa won a Cup because they learned how to play strong defense, but they still had elite level forwards that could score goals when needed. You need a balance. You cannot just have one like the Islanders had under Barry and win a Cup. Nobody is saying throw out the defense and just have an offense.
- ses111

Well to me it looks like the Isles threw out the defense. If Im a coach (and I’m not saying I am) I would play to my team's strengths just as Barry did. If you keep the puck out of your net, stay patient, play structured and you will get your scoring chances. Just a philosophy that I have always believed in especially in hockey. Most importantly, it worked with The Isles.
Just my opinion. Not say I’m right.

Well to me it looks like the Isles threw out the defense. If Im a coach (and I’m not saying I am) I would play to my team's strengths just as Barry did. If you keep the puck out of your net, stay patient, play structured and you will get your scoring chances. Just a philosophy that I have always believed in especially in hockey. Most importantly, it worked with The Isles.
Just my opinion. Not say I’m right.
- nyisles7

It worked well for the Islanders during that run. The goal is the Cup and not just getting to the ECF though. Bary's system is very difficult to maintain long term, and players grow tired of playing it after a while right or wrong.

The coach has to make the best of what he's given. Barry recognized that the Islanders were not offensively gifted. They lacked great scoring talent. So he knew their only chance of competing was to focus on defense. The team came pretty close for a couple of years. But it's not as if Barry held them back from winning the Cup because he didn't focus more on offense.
- JohnScammo

Also I think a more defensive structure helps in the POs imo.
31 teams are losers every year. It’s the toughest championship to win. They had a really good run. Unfortunately you need a little luck to win it all and it wasn’t meant to be.

Is Gerard Gallant available? Not sure he’s the short term answer but if give him a shot. Gotta try something.
- streaks

I think he is. I like his d first philosophy and would fit here for sure. My only concern is his
Last two positions didn’t end well and very abruptly. I don’t think he plays nice in the sandbox.
What about Bruce Boudreau?

I think he told the fans to stay home if they are going to boo.
- ses111

Oh wow. I was there and didn’t think it was that bad.

My point was even Barry could only take them so far and the team was helped a lot because of Covid and the pauses during the two ECF trips. The team struggled outside of those runs even under Barry. Nobody is blaming Barry for not winning as Cup. The team did not win a Cup because the offense was not good enough to be able to score a big goal against Tampa or even the Canes when they really needed it. The defense did not fail the Islanders. The offense failed the Islanders. It's not that hard to see.
- ses111

Okay, then I guess we don't disagree.

Oh wow. I was there and didn’t think it was that bad.
- streaks

Bad enough for snowflake players.

It worked well for the Islanders during that run. The goal is the Cup and not just getting to the ECF though. Bary's system is very difficult to maintain long term, and players grow tired of playing it after a while right or wrong.
- ses111

You never get tired of winning! No matter how you do it.
100% The Cup is the ultimate goal of course.
However you can’t win it without making the POs first. Reg season means nothing really. Ask the Bruins and all the Presidents Tropheh winners since the Blackhawk’s won both. Just make the POs and you have a chance.

Waiting for the gif

I think he is. I like his d first philosophy and would fit here for sure. My only concern is his
Last two positions didn’t end well and very abruptly. I don’t think he plays nice in the sandbox.
What about Bruce Boudreau?
- nyisles7

Him too. I’m not sure Lambert is the problem but maybe a change would spark the players. I can’t see Lou letting this go too long if he really believes in this team.

Watching the encore and they actually outplayed the caps through two periods from what I’ve seen so far.

Oh wow. I was there and didn’t think it was that bad.
- streaks

I didn't hear much on TV. But if there are 15,000 fans who quietly leave after a loss, but 10 people boo, I guess the booing is what you hear.

What did czikas say?
- streaks

https://twitter.com/RTaub...tatus/1723563804083011875

Okay, then I guess we don't disagree.
- JohnScammo

Those two ECF runs were great, but we have to admit everything aligned perfectly or those runs most likely do not even happen. Still think Barry is a great coach and I would not have fired him and would have let him finish his contract.

The coach has to make the best of what he's given. Barry recognized that the Islanders were not offensively gifted. They lacked great scoring talent. So he knew their only chance of competing was to focus on defense. The team came pretty close for a couple of years. But it's not as if Barry held them back from winning the Cup because he didn't focus more on offense.
- JohnScammo

To be fair when has trotz coached a team that didn’t focus on defense?