| Welcome to NY IslandersCountry. We hope you enjoy your visit. You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Too many new faces !; can't predict how "good" or "bad" yet | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 7 2010, 11:10 AM (463 Views) | |
| CANADA | Oct 7 2010, 11:10 AM Post #1 |
|
The most interesting man in the world
|
Let's face it, the general consensus is that we are headed for yet another high draft pick this season. For me, this is a devisating way to view a new season before it even starts. So....last night I really took a close look at our opening night roster and while it didn't exactly give me goosebumps, it did give me some cautious optimism. Now before the "glass half empty" fans start howling, take a closer look at how different this team is from last year. Try and imagine that guys like Tavares and Bailey could possibly be much better than last year. Maybe consider that a guy like Blake Comeau has figured out how to be more consistent. Perhaps Radek Martinek stays healthy and plays top minutes for 60 plus games rather than his normal 10. How will Nino Niederreiter respond to the opportunity he has been given ? Lastly, let's not automatically assume that some of our newly aquired NHL vets don't step up like an Adrian Aucoin and become real forces in this league. Why not get cautiously excited about the "unknown" rather than go in with our heads in the toilet ? |
|
At the end of the day, it's all about the whiskey, gambling and women ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag6w_Tp50A | |
![]() |
|
| sybo | Oct 7 2010, 11:29 AM Post #2 |
![]()
Resident Wiseass, Neighborhood Candyman, Master Drunkard
|
...because people could lose a lotta pinkies that way I actually had some optimism going into this season...especially with a seemingly more robust defense....but my expectations took a nose dive when Streit and Okposo went down. In a year where we need just about everything to go right in a tough division....losing two KEY players is tough to swallow. |
Garth Snow circa 2006:
| |
![]() |
|
| CANADA | Oct 7 2010, 11:39 AM Post #3 |
|
The most interesting man in the world
|
Absolutely, but let's not overstate what Okposo has been able to accomplish so far. Yes, he is a big loss in terms of what our expectations are for him but we didn't just lose Wayne Gretzky here.....it's Kyle Okposo ! Now "Streit" on the other hand is a different story but let's not assume that our young guns or new vets aren't gonna step up and over achieve to some extent. |
|
At the end of the day, it's all about the whiskey, gambling and women ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag6w_Tp50A | |
![]() |
|
| KO21balterman | Oct 7 2010, 11:40 AM Post #4 |
|
4th line
|
Hey guys, stupid Q--CB reports student tickets will be available for saturday at front desk. Is there any way to buy them beforehand? I can't seem to find student pricing on the website/ticketmaster. Thanks. For 14$ ill give the new faces a go :lol: |
|
Boston University '09 / St. John's Law & Graduate Business '12 | |
![]() |
|
| sybo | Oct 7 2010, 11:50 AM Post #5 |
![]()
Resident Wiseass, Neighborhood Candyman, Master Drunkard
|
True...but Kyle happens to be my favorite player...and with Streit out...that's about 30 goals and 100 assists lost. But Hey...I didn't just buy a 50' plasma to watch the Jersey Shore... |
Garth Snow circa 2006:
| |
![]() |
|
| Jackace | Oct 7 2010, 11:57 AM Post #6 |
![]()
2nd line
|
Seems like Mets management over the last several years has approached the season with great optimism predicting that the best-case scenario will happen. And look what a joke that franchise is. I started viewing this season as a continuation of the slow and steady rebuild with marginal improvement, but with these guys hurt and such a young roster I dont see them overcoming this adversity well. Too easy for them to bag it when they start to do poorly. Not enough leadership to weather this storm IMO. |
![]() |
|
| rifleman22 | Oct 7 2010, 01:05 PM Post #7 |
|
All Star
|
Since the season hasn't started yet I am cautiously optimistic about our team this year, and here's why. Let me premise the comments by saying that a lot has to go our way for us to compete, but... 1. Our forwards are younger and while we have some "potentials" suiting up every night I think we will improve in this area. The loss of KO hurts but is not devastating. I'm excited about El Nino, Biley, Franz, Matty and JT. If we get ANYTHING from Zonopka, Parentau or Grabiner it's more than we got from Tamby, Park etc. last year. We could have some surprises here, or some disappoinments. I believe we will be faster and grittier than we have been the last few seasons. My prediction- we will be better up front than we were last year. 2. Defense? There is no way to hide the loss of Streit, but our overall defense has to be better than last year. I'm not counting on Martinek to make it through the season (why would I?), but we have added Eaton, Jurcina, Mottau and Wizzer. That translates into little or no time for Brutal which is a good thing. A Mac and Hillen are the youngsters and while they were inconsistent last year, they did show that they could play in this league. And with the group they have as mentors they should take the next step. We will be better defensively than last year. 3. Goaltending can be either the shining light or the train wreck for us. IF DP can play it changes the whole picture. Rolo is a capable tender, but we are 2x better if he shares the load with solid DP. The train wreck would be DP can't go and Rolo gets hurt. This area is either going to be a huge positive or the reason we play for a high pick. I'm betting on the DP Rolo rotation for the whole season which translates into a huge improvement in net for us. 4. Will Gordon continue to grow? I think so. I think he learned a great deal from last year and finally has some options to choose from. He will have his work cut out for him making sure he pairs people up smartly and adjusts as he goes along. I think he is a capable coach who works well with young players. He got his wish, now lets see what he does with it. Overall, I see us battling for the 8th spot and, barring the devaststing injuries we had last year, we may be the surprise team in the East. At the very least, I think we will see this team take the next step in their development and improve over last year. And the LOOOVVVEEE TRRRAAAIIINNNN rides again! |
|
THE RIFLE Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. | |
![]() |
|
| CANADA | Oct 7 2010, 02:00 PM Post #8 |
|
The most interesting man in the world
|
Those are some "cautiously optimistic" points right there. Now in saying that, my buddy and I have bet $50 straight up on all Islanders /Rags games for years. This year, I insisted and he accepted a $35/$50 adjustment. |
|
At the end of the day, it's all about the whiskey, gambling and women ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag6w_Tp50A | |
![]() |
|
| 25yearfan | Oct 7 2010, 02:17 PM Post #9 |
|
You can call me Joe.
|
Look at the bright side - you can only lose two pinkies.... |
Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.
| |
![]() |
|
| king glorious | Oct 7 2010, 05:57 PM Post #10 |
|
All Star
|
where is your islanders pride. I would never not do a 50/50 bet. |
![]() |
|
| IslandersWin86 | Oct 8 2010, 06:46 AM Post #11 |
|
All Star
|
Nope, show up early and get in line. |
| |
![]() |
|
| stevedepot | Oct 8 2010, 08:43 AM Post #12 |
![]()
WISENHEIMER
|
yep, it's been that way each year, they wouldn't change it now. |
![]() |
|
| rifleman22 | Oct 8 2010, 08:56 AM Post #13 |
|
All Star
|
Butch Goring predicted we'd finish 8th. Ken Daneyko predicted 13th. Ron Oooh La La So-soon duGAY predicted 18th or something ridiculous. And I say, who gives a rats a$$ what anybody says. You want optimism? Go back and look at where all the great hockey prognosticators picked Philly last year. No one had them even making the playoffs. So I say, anything can happen. Losing two key players hurt, but I can also cite a dozen different teams that overcame injuries to be more than competitive. I like this team. I like the hope of the young forwards. Seeing JT take the next step, Comeau continuing where he left off last season. Bailey becoming what he can be- a top pllaymaking forward. The depth of the defense with guys that other teams either gave up on or who have something to prove proving it. And the promise of actually seeing a $15 million dollar contract start its payback. Our coach is in the final year of a three year contract. Make or break and I hope he coaches that way. I don't care what anybody says, we are a BETTER team RIGHT NOW than we were last year in every area. Now all we have to do is show some heart, some grit and some determination and let the cards fall where they will. The 5th through 15th spots will be separated by about 4 points (just my guess). Think about that. There is no team in the group of Tampa, Florida, Ottawa, Carolina, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Boston or the Rags that we can not be better than over a full season. And that's giving New Jersey, Philly, Pitt and Washington free passes. Brodeur is getting older. I'm giving Philly a nod even though they caught lightening in a bottle last year. Pitt and Washington depend on superstars, which is fine but they are one key injury away from a serious downgrade. C'mon people, the is boarding at the station. Get on board with the rest of us lunatics and FEEL THE LOVE. Or at least let the train run off a bridge (no pun intended) before we give up complete hope. I'm psyched, ready and will be screamimg my a$$ off at the TV or in person. First time in a lot of years I'll miss the home opener (my 12 year old has a travel baseball tourney) but my two older sons will be there. And I will be there as many times as I possibly can. I know, I'm a nut but I love this team and I am ready to stand with them until we right the ship. I complain as much as anybody but that is because I, like everybody else here am PASSIONATE about this team (and Deb). There's your pre-season dose of optimism, complimets of The Rifle.
|
|
THE RIFLE Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. | |
![]() |
|
| BSutter21 | Oct 8 2010, 09:30 AM Post #14 |
|
All Star
|
love the passion Rifle. Butch toed the company with that prediction. Tomorrow is a new season and anything can happen. Look at Col and PHX in the percieved tough west. IF we finish where says we will, I can be happy with that. But sneaking into the 8th spot would be awesome for the kids, the rebuild and us fans. Im always on the love train so no way to knock me off now. |
![]() |
|
| IslandersWin86 | Oct 8 2010, 02:36 PM Post #15 |
|
All Star
|
The way I see it, we didn't get any worse at any position. (ignoring the injuries, which aren't the fault of poor management) D is improved by fact of adding pieces (Wiz and Mottau mostly) and based on our young guys having more time. Goal - we have (as of now) Ricky back, if he's back the way he's capable of playing, he'd be an asset to any team. Forwards, add a couple shots in the dark, some 4th line grit, subtract Park (unless I'm forgetting someone else), add depth at BPT - it's still a wash. I don't see how we're going to be any worse than the last two years. |
| |
![]() |
|
| CANADA | Oct 8 2010, 02:58 PM Post #16 |
|
The most interesting man in the world
|
Not to mention that we will eventually get Streit and Okposo back before the season is over. Ya, we "may" be better than last year even with the injuries...who knows ? |
|
At the end of the day, it's all about the whiskey, gambling and women ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qag6w_Tp50A | |
![]() |
|
| king glorious | Oct 8 2010, 07:30 PM Post #17 |
|
All Star
|
Amen to that! well said... this team is better then anybody wants to believe, if we gain some maturity from the young guns. if i am not mistaken we were pretty competitive last year until our entire defense went down and mr gervais became a top 3 guy (actually we went on quite a streak until hillen broke the camels back when he got hit in the mouth or am i imagaining that)... clearly we dont spend the money to have great depth so it is tough to deal with lots of injuries in one area, but a little luck and WE WILL SURPRISE I am on the love train. |
![]() |
|
| OlTimeHockey | Oct 9 2010, 02:38 AM Post #18 |
![]()
All Star
|
OK, optimistic as I can be, THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN'T FINISH 5TH!!! unless you mean the entire conference. |
|
"clearly it's Rick DiPietro's stupidity that's put the islanders in this situation getting into an altercation when a game was over..." Keith Jones on VS "But the Coliseum became a repository for all the team's troubles, a convenient scapegoat. There were suggestions that no major free agent ever would set foot in such a decrepit place. We have two words for anyone making that argument: Fenway Park. History says free agents would play in an old boxcar if they got enough money and had a chance to win." - Mark Herrmann 查理斯 · 請死你混蛋 | |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · General Islanders News · Next Topic » |










is boarding at the station. Get on board with the rest of us lunatics and FEEL THE LOVE.


9:41 AM Jul 11