Isles' mess
I think the Islanders mess needs to be addressed in an unprecedented show of force by the league. The latest circus moments are the attempted cir*****vention of the SALARY FLOOR, increase of prices, dismissal of Billy Jaffe, 12-game losing streak, press credential pulling of Chris Botta, the complete and seemingly intentional destruction of this team by the ownership since they didn’t get their Lighthouse Project approved, and the firing of Scott Gordon (coach #?) as a scapegoat for the incompetence and contempt this management crew seems to have for the fan base. Couple that with the endless amount of things over the LAST 20 YEARS (Milbury antics, other ownership issues including a con man buying the team, fishermen, NYLES, Yashin, yadda, yadda, yadda), and many people not even realizing this team still exists, the league has to say enough is enough. They are hurting the rich heritage of this once great team, the fans and the brand that is the NHL. League needs to expel Wang from ownership until a proper ownership group who will responsibly operate this franchise like a professional sports team is found. If that means picking them up and moving them to Quebec or Winnipeg so be it. I’d rather this team not exist than continue down this path of insanity.
My take: It is utterly sad, is it not? A rink that’s half empty for every game, a team that’s last overall in the league and the bizarre off-ice distractions like the Jaffe and Botta situations. First, let’s be fair: not that many teams would survive the long-term injury losses of Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo, not to mention the other injuries. Those two guys were arguably the best two players on the team last season. Still, it’s ugly. My biggest concern if I were an Islanders fan is what John Tavares and his powerful agent Pat Brisson (Crosby, Toews, Kane) will think once the star forward’s entry-level contract is up in July 2012. Your top priority right now must be to make sure you don’t lose his enthusiasm for wanting to stay in Long Island.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/2069/rant-answers-isles-mess-sharks-defense
16 Responses to Isles' mess
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SOOO typical, another Islanders article, there are like 7 on the front page! Where are all the Leafs articles? This site is so biased to towards the Islanders.
Islanders sucks!
** but in all seriousness, you're right, they are in a world of hurt. I declare this to be the curse of DiPietro. With all the awful signings in recent years, many seem to forget that Rick's 40 year 100 billion dollar signing seemed to start it all off. Oh, yeah, that and an owner who's name means dick and who possesses no hockey knowledge whatsoever. oiy. **
Recently I've hear talk of the Leafs being labeled the worst run franchise in the league but I still think the Islanders take the cake on this. They just don't have any competition in the league for that.
Botta getting his press release revoked for suggesting that Tavares might be unhappy because of the team and might want to leave? Really? Isn't it a journalists job (and I am using this loosely) to point out things like this so that they get fixed. His point is valid.
How about the firing of Scott Gordon. The firing isn't suspect but rumors of Rick DiPietro having a lot of say in the firing is suspect. Why should he have any say in it? The guy has barely played in the past three years and he comes back now, gets a little perturbed that Gordon might actually be pushing him and not playing him and DiPietro (if its true) goes to Wang because of their close friendship and gets him fired? Come on?
Now I think Snow has done a great job so far on this team. Very few of his moves have been really truly bad. Even the Ryan Smyth trade wasn't bad (Nilsson, O'Mara and Plante have done absolutely nothing). Buying out Yashin could be his worst move but it was needed and it had to be done sooner or later. Its well known that he didn't sign Dipietro but rather Wang did. Really his worst move could be dropping back in the 2008 draft and not drafting in the top 5 and even then he got a decent young guy in Bailey. His moves to get Streit and Wisniewski were golden. As long as he keeps going the way he has, the team itself will be fine with the talent but the rest of the management blows.
Hands down, the Islanders take the cake.
John Tavares is a future Leaf.
The Isles are the team to beat this year.
Peddie retires from MLSE. Wang instantaneously offers him a position as consigliere. Yashin returns as the Islanders European pro scout.
Johnny T KNOWS hes going to be a leaf;
Im a very open Leaf hater and I HAVE to agree.
TO has had periods of bad management, off and on. The Isles have been solidly mishandled for oh … 15 years?
Ugh.
I will take big JT on the leafs. Shame we can't get him right now. Could be a spark of hope for the leafs this year then to make the playoffs. But I guess we can hope they still do this year.
I sure hope is a future Leaf, but I doubt it for some reason.
I don't get the feeling many 1st overalls just go to their hometowns because they're locals.
Then again, anywhere is better than on the NYI.
Just curious .. what would you give up for Johnny Tavares right now if you were the Leafs? No way they guy leaves Long Island (at least not until his entry level deal expires), but this is just a hypothetical question.
Personally, I don't even think a Tavares/Toronto trade makes sense unless you include Phil Kessel, really who else would New York want? John Tavares brings so much more to the table then Phil Kessel does (not a Phil Kessel hater, but Tavares looks like a guy that will be an NHL all star years down the road), and gives you a legitimate franchsie forward. I know he's not having a great season, but he's a 19 year old relied on to be the team's best player, and the guy has the worst supporting cast in the league.
Phil Kessel, Francios Beauchemin, Carl Gunnerson, Luca Caputi for John Tavares, Doug Weight (toss in; value leadership if Leafs could make playoffs)
What do you think?
well, in my opinion beauchemin have no trade value at all,
So kessel and gunnerson, caputi for tavares and weight?
Not bad, but the islander could get a better offer elsewhere (From boston perhaps), as long as a player like Tavares is on a rookies contract, his trade value are very high because any team can afford him on their cap space.
It's a nice Disney fantasy, but Tavares isn't going anywhere.
I honestly don't think their is much difference between the two of them. Both have amazing goal scoring talent but niether have much of a game outside that. Both seem to be developing a decent, albeit smaller, playmaking part of their games but I don't see either as having too much potential outside of 50 goal scorers. I might do that deal but it will never happen. Tavares means more to the Islanders than just a scoring force. He is a franchise forward merely because of his name. His marketing ability makes him golden to them.
" He is a franchise forward merely because of his name. His marketing ability makes him golden to them."
Which is precisely why I think he will be traded. With the Isles' history of dumb*****ery, nothing they do would surprise me. They could trade Matt Moulson for a sandwhich and a puck bunny and I would say "well, thats to be expected by good ol' Wang."
to be fair mike milbury is to be blamed for any and all dumb trades made in the islanders history… milbury single handedly set this franchise back 17 years… or whatever yashins contract was/is