Garth Snow mulls changes as Islanders try to right ship
“We’re looking at all our options,” he told Newsday on Sunday.
“Obviously, we have some key players not performing at a high enough level.
True to his word, Snow declined to get into specifics about any changes he has in mind. Sources have said he has been trying to trade for a goaltender for weeks, but no deal has been satisfactory. Evgeni Nabokov, out since Nov. 16 with a groin injury, might return in the next few days, so that could put such a deal aside for now.
The Islanders also have Ryan Strome burning up the AHL with Bridgeport. Strome, 20, leads the league in scoring with nine goals and 24 assists, with 17 of those 33 points in the last eight games.
Snow would not comment on any possible promotion, but other Islanders sources indicated the team is trying to figure out a way to make room on the roster for Strome. The Islanders are at the 23-man limit right now, so Snow would have to trade or waive a forward to bring Strome up.
It’s clear that Snow expects more from the current roster, which has gone 2-12-2 in the last 16 games.
“Times like these show people’s true character,” he said. “We’re doing what we can to fix our problems and get some wins.”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/garth-snow-mulls-changes-as-islanders-try-to-right-ship-1.6566346
27 Responses to Garth Snow mulls changes as Islanders try to right ship
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Lets talk Olympics. Based off of TSN’s article, what are everyone’s thoughts on the spots so far?
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=438611
Logan Couture – Sidney Crosby – Steven Stamkos
Jamie Benn – Jonathan Toews – Claude Giroux
Patrick Marleau – John Tavares – Rick Nash
Eric Staal – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Matt Duchene Jeff Carter
Duncan Keith – Drew Doughty
Jay Bouwmeester – Shea Weber
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – Alex Pietrangelo
Dan Boyle (RD) P.K. Subban
I would personally drop Giroux for St Louis (Giroux’s been trash this year. His speed / hands would probably shine, but I’d rather play it save with St Louis.
I would probably also drop Staal and add Bergeron. Realistically if we have a lead, there is not a player in the league I’d rather have on the ice than Bergeron. He can play on Getz’s wing and take the D-zone faceoffs. I’m fine with that. I’d also debate switching Marleau for Duchene – but I get the argument for Marleau. Duchene’s speed would be absolutely lethal on the big ice.
That said, Kessel – JVR are gonna cause some teams fits for the USA this year. I wonder who Centers them, Pavelski? That will be a sweet line.
Team USA actually has a really solid team. Lots of great two way forwards, a pretty solid D-core (although that’s where we’re better than them), and great goalies, assuming quick is healthy.
Is anyone else surprised that Seabrook has become a right off?
Seems weird, he’s having a really solid season. Couple that with having chemistry with Keith and it’s weird he’s not at least a 7/8 guy.
What a year so far for Bouwmeester eh. Has he ever turned it around.
Canada’s D is awesome. I’d like Subban on there in some capacity just because he’s fast and great on the PP, but who do you cut for him?
I’m also a little surprised it’s sort of come down to Subban vs. Boyle for having a PMD. IMO, Subban >>> Boyle. Subban is much better offensively and it’s not like Boyle has some elite defensive capabilities to tip it his way. I’m not a fan of +/-, but when your +/- is the worst on your team it’s a little telling as a defenceman. Boyle has done nothing to prove he’s Canada worthy this year IMO (although I can’t pretend to have seen a whole lot of SJ games).
Maybe it’s something to do with leadership.
I agree. I have to admit that I think it will be a big mistake not to pick Subban for this team.
Subban is too unreliable and risky to play a bunch of minutes in an elimination tournament but is a huge asset to have on the bench if you are down a goal or are struggling to make something happen. Subban’s upside is way greater than Boyle. He is the kind of player you need to unleash, tell him to go out there create something and he probably will. His upside is huge and if he screws up have Keith, Doughty, Weber, Pietrangelo to be our main go to guys.
I do not think there is a spot for Giroux, he is pretty ovverrated to be honest and doesn’t have the size of a lot of the other guys. I think Lucic should be on it, he is an absolute beast down low which is where we will dominate if we win.
I’d rather have Letang than Subban on Canada. They have enough talent on the team, it’s all about chemistry and a team game at that level and Subban isn’t a team player.
That’s horrible logic.
Problem with Letang is he isn’t all that great on the PP surprisingly. He’s a solid PMD, but for some reason he just doesn’t put up a whole lot considering the talent they have there. Subban is a beast on the PP, and has one of the best slappers in the league.
But I could see it having something to do with chemistry. He’s far from the most liked Canadian player. I’d still take him as a 7th incase we’re struggling for offence somehow.
Canada almost lost to the swiss in 2010, if you think that they had more skill and talent than Canada you’re an idiot. It’s a team game, Subban isn’t a team player. He’s arguably the best defenseman in the league yet he’s fighting to be the 7th defenseman for Canada, obviously management is looking at the same horrible logic that i am.
Oh yeah, then why isn’t Phaneuf on the squad if they follow your logic? You’ve stated millions of times that he’s a good defencemen and great for the Leafs dressing room. So?
He’s not as good of a skater as a Bouwmeester, Vlasic or Keith.
Boyle got hurt at the beginning of the year, but since he’s come back he’s been lights out. I can only speak to 3 SJ games I’ve watched, but I do follow Boyle closely (having him in my keeper pool).
I think Boyle is a little more savvy that Subban, PK is the better athlete right now but he just runs around too much and in a crucial medal game its the one big mistake that will cost us that I would worry about over the one big offensive play from a d-man.
My vote is Dan Boyle.
Let’s talk about the Islanders…
First, fire Jack Capuano and hire Peter Laviolette. He’s a great coach and will like the skill, physical sets the NYI Islanders forwards bring.
Second, trade Vanek. It was okay to trade for Moulson/1st…But not for the right player. Everyone in the NHL knows Vanek is going to Minnesota…So trade him as a rental and bring in a top-4 D-Men for the squad.
On the backend, I like Hamonic and McDonald…But the rest is depressing. How about to PHX for a David Rundblad+++?
Also, need to find a goalie. One might appear in UFA, but if not, Reimer is available.
It’s not impossible to make this squad a contender, as the pieces are a bit easier to find…But, the Snow needs to make sure they’re the right players to get in.
A bit strange how hard they fell off, they actually looked really competitive at points last year. I guess their D overachieved last year and their goaltending sucks.
Vanek to Phoenix actually makes quite a lot of sense. With the emergence of Okposo at long last, the need for a winger for Tavares isn’t as pressing. Considering this year is a write off, they can trade for a D man who will make less of an immediate impact – which Phoenix has plenty of. If they targetted Gormley or Runblad with Vanek, they could always sign an FA winger to play with Tavares next year in the off season. There are a few decent wingers listed as UFA as of right now; Vanek (going to Minny), Gaborik, Marleau, Iggy, Michalek etc. Most won’t want to sign with NYI, but they can probably convince someone to. Hell, with the way Jagr’s been playing this year, bring him in for a season.
Man that Moulson trade is looking bad though. Vaneks been fine for NYI, but that first round pick is looking more and more like a lottery pick.
The pick is in 2015! They bought themselves a year which is pretty smart considering if they bring in some lower-line players through FA, a top-4 defencmen and a goalie…They’re back in it.
Oh really? That’s much better then. Depending what they get for Vanek, the trade could end up being a bit of a wash. Moulson fit well there, but it was a good gamble to take going for Vanek IMO. Who’d have guessed they would be this bad.
Actually it’s not. It’s a 2014 first round pick that is top 10 protected. If it is top 10 (which might be interesting if they finish 11, but New Jersey is ahead of them?) it transfers (or they have the option to transfer it, I’m not sure)to 2015.
He was referring to the fact it could be a lottery pick…If it’s lottery, it would be 2015. It’s what I meant.
Ah my mistake.
No problem. Haha.
PHX would love a rental like Vanek, as they’re a pretty good team already.
They do have Gormley and Rundbland…And NYI would love to have either one to put into their mix. Reinhart is there, but he will take awhile, same with guys like Ryan Pulock and Ville Pokka if they make it.
Too bad De Haan hasn’t really progressed much. He was a pretty nice piece when he was drafted.
What I think the Olympic team should look like:
Defence
Doughty-Weber
Keith-Seabrook
Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
ex: Vlasic, Subban
Forwards
Couture-Crosby-Tavares
Sharp-Toews-Stamkos
E. Staal-Getzlaf- Perry
Lucic-Duchene-Bergeron
Ex: Thornton, Nash
Goalies
Price, Luongo, Bernier
1st line is unreal Crosby and Couture are good at both ends with Tavares. Toews and Sharp are familiar with eachother and solid defensively paired with Stamkos on line 2. 3rd line is huge and lots of experience. Lucic makes it because he is not a finesse player picked to play a similar role to Brendan Morrow in 2010. Joe Thornton is the 13th forward one of the most underrated players in the league would be good to have for faceoffs, experience and special teams.
Feels good to cheer for such a stacked team for once.
If Subban is left off this team, its a travesty. He’s a game breaking talent on the back end. He can skate, he can hit, he score. You don’t leave him off the team. I don’t really think you take a defensive dman as teh 7th guy, but rather a guy like Subban. A guy who can dominate on the powerplay. And he should totally be taken over glass boy Letang.
I don’t think Stamkos will be back in time. I’d like it but I don’t think it’s going to happen.
And I think Benn needs to be on this team somehow. There’s too many natural centers playing wing. Couture, Tavares, Stamkos, Staal, Bergeron? I’d rather have Been, a natural LW, play on the LW and have the option of him filling in at center. We know he can play both positions at a high level, like Sharp. We don’t know any of the other 5 can. I’d easily take Benn over Couture. Probably over Staal too.
Agreed with Subban. I don’t want him on the ice with a lead, but the guy is incredible offensively. He skates circles around guys on North American ice, unleashing him on Olympic size will be great.
I really think Stamkos will be back in time. He was walking on the leg 2 weeks after it happened. The guys a fitness animal, rehab will be nothing for him.
Benn easily over Couture? I disagree. Couture is a monster defensively, and a PPG player this season. Better in both ends of the rink than Benn IMO, just Benn’s a winger. I’d have him as a definite lock on this team. If Bergeron’s not there, Couture has to be.
Pretty awesome how well Canadian players are doing this year. Players like Benn having career years, Getzlaf, Perry and Tavares all in the top 10 in scoring. I doubt Benn was even a real consideration before this season.
I think you are right about Jamie Benn. The more I think about it the more I realize think he will be there. Couldn’t find a spot for him though. Would not surprise me if Bergeron does not make it and Benn does, you would have to shuffle the lines though.
Agreed on Subban over Letang for sure. Letang is as overrated as Giroux.
I’d probably tend to agree with Subban over Letang.
At the end of the day, that decision won’t make or break us.