What will the Islanders Idenity be when the Rebuild is over?
There are some big players coming up in the system, but little to none are bangers and will drop the gloves, so I ask you guys what will the Islanders idenity be when the rebuild is over? I see the future as a big, honest night in and night, hard working team with alot of depth and character guys. (Sounds like the Red Wings). Next, even though they are different sports, the Giants have a very high character locker room and nobody wants to take the credit, while you look at the Jets, who got rid of all there high character guys and are sitting home watching the playoffs. Does Garth actually know what he is doing?
There are some big players coming up in the system, but little to none are bangers and will drop the gloves, so I ask you guys what will the Islanders idenity be when the rebuild is over? I see the future as a big, honest night in and night, hard working team with alot of depth and character guys. (Sounds like the Red Wings). Next, even though they are different sports, the Giants have a very high character locker room and nobody wants to take the credit, while you look at the Jets, who got rid of all there high character guys and are sitting home watching the playoffs.[\B] Does Garth actually know what he is doing? [\B]
Discuss
Yea I think he does. I have a lot a faith in garth, a lot more than a lot of us do. I can deal with losing and not making the playoffs for a few years as long as the team shows progress.
I have a funny feeling this team is going to really turn up the heat and make it close to a playoff spot but just miss it. Look I'd rather have a few years of not making the playoffs and ending up like a true contender than barely make the playoffs quick and get booted in the first round.
There are several factors that will perpetuate this rebuild, and one of them is that management and ownership greatly overestimates the maturity and ability of their draft picks. I'm not saying that they're drafting players with behavioral problems, but just like on your XBOX, they expect 18 and 19 year olds to be ready for the man's game. There is no one brought in to breed these guys. Yes, experience is brought in, but to put in perspective, my Grandfather was able to tell me the great stories about how he used to watch Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig play, but it was my Dad who was able to throw the ball and hit some out to me. Obviously, the point being that experience alone is not enough to meld all the skills of a young player. Guys need to be brought in who can play with the young guys AND share their experience.
It's not fair to guys like Josh Bailey and Nino Niedereitter, and even John Tavares, who were thrown into he fire and left to figure the man's game out for themselves. It's crucial that Charles Wang stops verbally trashing his building and allowing Garth Snow to find a way to bring in some quality and experienced veterans who are between 27 and 31, or so. And since that will never happen, this rebuild will never end. Garth Snow had the right idea when he brought Ryan Smyth in, but he must have noticed something he didn't like when he decided not to re-sign here.
I still have absolutely no problem with the Ryan Smyth trade.
What will the Islanders Idenity be when the Rebuild is over?
"The Lowly Brooklyn Islanders" (where he'll finally declare bankruptcy)
(Layoffs are already underway in Uniondale. [mod edit] The team is gone and miserably forgotten all because of this cheap flap of peddled over peanutty dog turd of an owner.)
Last edited by Isles Junkie: 01-24-2012 at 11:23 AM.
Reason: unneccessary
I think they will be a team built to score. They really don't have many big guys, especially defensively, but I think they are trying to build the team to succeed in puck transition, hard forchecking and sound positional defense. Since the team will most likely be small, I think they need to plant a few big guys in throughout their lines. I expect Nino and Martin to be those guys for the 2nd and 3rd lines, respectively, and I would love to see Haley be that guy on the 4th line. Okposo really needs to develop an edge to his game so he could be that guy on the top line.
Defensively, I have no problem with them being smaller as long as they can close the gaps defensively and move the puck smoothly. Hamonic is a big kid, and I expect them to bring in someone from free agency who plays a similar game. That will leave at least one but probably 2 spots open for our prospects to fight for.
Goaltending is the biggest questionmark as far as I'm concerned. As of now it's tough to predict who our starter will be a couple of years from now. If I had to pick someone I'd say Poulin, but that could easily change.
It's very tough to predict which prospects will make it and which ones won't, but I would think the Islanders are hoping to soon see a top-9 of:
Okposo - Tavares - Moulson
PAP - Strome - Nino
Martin - Nielsen/Bailey - Grabner
Flip-flop the 2nd and 3rd lines depending which is producing more. The biggest thing to watch will be what they do with Nielsen and Bailey if and when Strome arrives. I think the Isles re-signing or not re-signing Nielsen will give us our answer, to be honest. The reason he has not yet been signed might be because the Isles(right or wrong) want Strome to step in next season and they are choosing to stick with Bailey instead of Nielsen. Just a theory, but could be possible.
I think this team's success will ultimately ride on how they complete this defense. IMO, a veteran needs to be added. Whether through trade or UFA, a veteran top-4 needs to be brought in. Then try to upgrade from within with guys like deHaan, Donovan, etc.
So yeah, I think the Isles are thinking offense with this rebuild. Positional D, puck transition and relentless forchecking. Let's see how it works out.
Yea I think he does. I have a lot a faith in garth, a lot more than a lot of us do. I can deal with losing and not making the playoffs for a few years as long as the team shows progress.
I have a funny feeling this team is going to really turn up the heat and make it close to a playoff spot but just miss it. Look I'd rather have a few years of not making the playoffs and ending up like a true contender than barely make the playoffs quick and get booted in the first round.
I'm probably one of the few on this board that agrees with you. I think the rebuild is progressing. I also think that Snow has not had an even field in signing free agents. There's no question the team has been in a rebuild the last couple of years and most of the quality free agent veterans, don't want to spend time helping develop a young team when they can go to a team that's in a better position to make the playoffs. For all of the citicism directed toward Snow, I wonder what fans in Edmonton, Colorado, Atlanta/Winnipeg, and even Tampa Bay must think. Those teams manage to finish below the Islanders more often then not and constantly get better picks. I still don't know how Tampa Bay had a shot at Hedman, when they had St. Louis and Lacavlier at the time. Some how they're headed back for a top 5 pick this year!
Having said that, this offseason will tell everything. The Islanders will probably have more cap space then almost every team. It will be a much better UFA class then last year (last years was terrible, just ask Buffalo, now that they spent all of that money). The Islanders future will look much brighter then it has in years past, so I don't think any excuses will pass muster in regards to free agent signings.
Do you guys think it is fair to say the rebuild is over once we make the playoffs then it is just put the pieces together? I know it still sounds like a rebuild but every team in the NHL needs to fill a piece or two.. I hope you guys understand what I am trying to say.
In better words what in your minds do the Islanders have to do to go on to the next stage after the rebuild?
Do you guys think it is fair to say the rebuild is over once we make the playoffs then it is just put the pieces together? I know it still sounds like a rebuild but every team in the NHL needs to fill a piece or two.. I hope you guys understand what I am trying to say.
In better words what in your minds do the Islanders have to do to go on to the next stage after the rebuild?
I think the rebuild is over, when the Islanders make the playoffs. It's not over, when the Islanders have a shot at the #1 pick, meaning they're busy jockying at the bottom 5.
Do you guys think it is fair to say the rebuild is over once we make the playoffs then it is just put the pieces together? I know it still sounds like a rebuild but every team in the NHL needs to fill a piece or two.. I hope you guys understand what I am trying to say.
In better words what in your minds do the Islanders have to do to go on to the next stage after the rebuild?
The rebuild will never be over as long as they're in a crappy arena on LI. NYI will be in perpetual rebuild mode forever. It's not even a rebuild it's just spend as little as possible.
The rebuild will never be over as long as they're in a crappy arena on LI. NYI will be in perpetual rebuild mode forever. It's not even a rebuild it's just spend as little as possible.
I think the rebuild is over, when the Islanders make the playoffs. It's not over, when the Islanders have a shot at the #1 pick, meaning they're busy jockying at the bottom 5.
