ESPN: LeBrun Gives the Isles Some Love

[kasper11]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...-the-islanders

Basically says the Isles play recently is for real, and that they will be a playoff team next year.

[blitzkriegs]

Great! Maybe the Isles will show up for the first 40 games, then actually sustain whatever success they have for the remainder to actually make them.

Otherwise, dream on, dream away...

[petrocelli]

Originally Posted by kasper11

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...-the-islanders

Basically says the Isles play recently is for real, and that they will be a playoff team next year.

Didn't they say the same thing last year about us being a playoff team this year after we had that strong second half??

Its always next year.....

[PWJunior]

I never minded LeBrun. I think Burnside is a jerk though.

I'm glad we're starting to get a little positive recognition. No one can ignore Tavares anymore because his play speaks for itself.

[Twine Seeking Missle]

Originally Posted by petrocelli

Didn't they say the same thing last year about us being a playoff team this year after we had that strong second half??

Its always next year.....

BINGO!

This team tore it up in "garbage time" last year after they lost 20 in a row. They will finish strong once again this season and as soon as October rolls around, a return to the basement will surely ensue... Or will it? Maybe they will turn it around next year FINALLY. But don't use the recent strong play as a basis for that argument because it sure as hell didn't work last year into this year.

[WangMustGo]

Originally Posted by Twine Seeking Missle

BINGO!

This team tore it up in "garbage time" last year after they lost 20 in a row. They will finish strong once again this season and as soon as October rolls around, a return to the basement will surely ensue... Or will it? Maybe they will turn it around next year FINALLY. But don't use the recent strong play as a basis for that argument because it sure as hell didn't work last year into this year.

This.

If we are going to turn into a playoff team Snow has to acquire a solid veteran second line center, and at least 1 very good PMD, preferably 2. Along with signing a goalie whether that is Nabby, Monty, or someone else.

[Fantom]

Originally Posted by WangMustGo

This.

If we are going to turn into a playoff team Snow has to acquire a solid veteran second line center, and at least 1 very good PMD, preferably 2. Along with signing a goalie whether that is Nabby, Monty, or someone else.

yea more or less.

We need to Sign a real good center and 2 mid level D man. no bottom paring d men

[Isles Junkie]

but everything will be peachy once they sign Zach Parise, Ryan Suter & trade for Keith Yandle

don't worry guys.

[redbull]

Originally Posted by PWJunior

I'm glad we're starting to get a little positive recognition. No one can ignore Tavares anymore because his play speaks for itself.

indeed.

I even heard Craig Button on the NHL Network the other night, before the Philly game, acknowledge how wrong he was to suggest the NYI should have taken Duchene at #1. Button acted all cocky when JT struggled his first year and Duchene started so strongly. It's nice to see Button admit when he was wrong - took him too long but whatever.

(I also wanted Duchene at the draft, doubting JTs commitment to the game, and even a hack like myself admitted I was wrong halfway through the first season)

Get ready for much more Tavares write-ups over the next two Leaf games. There's 99 writers and several tv shows, radio shows that talk hockey & leafs all day long. These guys rarely watch the NYI play but they'll see a different player.

The press will continue to cover this player and the NYI are loooong overdue for some positive press.

Note: watching Prime Time Sports now, Neil Smith is on as cohost, being harassed about his NYI stint but he's staying quiet about it. Only JT's emergence and a playoff series win will start to erase those memories....can't happen soon enough.

[PWJunior]

Originally Posted by redbull

indeed.

I even heard Craig Button on the NHL Network the other night, before the Philly game, acknowledge how wrong he was to suggest the NYI should have taken Duchene at #1. Button acted all cocky when JT struggled his first year and Duchene started so strongly. It's nice to see Button admit when he was wrong - took him too long but whatever.

(I also wanted Duchene at the draft, doubting JTs commitment to the game, and even a hack like myself admitted I was wrong halfway through the first season)

Get ready for much more Tavares write-ups over the next two Leaf games. There's 99 writers and several tv shows, radio shows that talk hockey & leafs all day long. These guys rarely watch the NYI play but they'll see a different player.

The press will continue to cover this player and the NYI are loooong overdue for some positive press.

Note: watching Prime Time Sports now, Neil Smith is on as cohost, being harassed about his NYI stint but he's staying quiet about it. Only JT's emergence and a playoff series win will start to erase those memories....can't happen soon enough.

I'll admit that I flip-flopped between JT and Hedman. The thought of a tower of power on the blue line was just so enticing and Tavares was getting torn apart from overexposure. I did buy into it a bit, I didn't see anything about his physical tools that screamed special to me. He wasn't the biggest, fastest, strongest, etc. It just goes to show how abstract hockey sense and pure will are. 'You can't judge a book by it's cover' is very relevant here.

I didn't see Button's 'retraction', but it is nice to hear that. Other than homers, a real hockey fan can see now that JT is in a league by himself from that draft class. He is the best player RIGHT NOW and he still has more upside than anyone else too. The day has ended where only Isles fans are the ones who defend him in the infinite JT vs. (The new flavor of the month) threads on HF. Just watch him play and he ends the argument himself.

He deserves every bit of praise that he has and will receive. He really is the Derek Jeter of the Islanders - props to whoever initially posted that.