Time to produce or move on?

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/09/2008 07:14:00 AM |
Were a long way from those early season reports of the Islanders reportedly looking to extend Fedotenko, Hunter, and Comrie among others for how great they played.

Simply put what these players do from here will determine their future with this club. Many are making the case a prospect should be given an opportunity based on the numbers and even though hockey is a team game and the Islanders are about playing defense, this group has not produced regardless of the endless patience the coaching staff is showing.

This is supposed to be about character and hard working players, this team has far too many passengers.

Bill Guerin has been terrible until a few weeks ago in terms of scoring, he's officially on pace for thirty goals to lead the club after last night, maybe it takes even longer for some of these players to get back on track?

Fedotenko after looking like he had an impact on every game early has only two goals in his past twenty seven games and looks invisible most night's while Tambellini is tearing up the AHL and makes almost three million dollars begging the question is he playing hurt or was John Tortarella right a year ago?

Blake Comeau is also outproducing Fedotenko on the fourth line.

Vasicek, who is not hurting them on defense but used as a second line center has just two goals in his past twenty four games and living up to his reputation as a very streaky scorer and is reportedly not injured. Someone explain why Ben Walter or Frans Nielsen would do much worse offensively if given a chance?

Mike Sillinger has one goal in his past eleven games and has struggled to score all season. Is age or the role catching up with him because he's not setting up many goals and not scoring many, despite his outstanding defensive play. Andy Hilbert is off that line and looked better without Sillinger.

Sillinger's under contract for next season and a leader on this team, does he go at the trade deadline?

Trent Hunter has two goals in twenty nine games. As hard as he works he's with the same center he had a strong second half with but for an impending UFA does Garth Snow give him the four million he reportedly wanted last summer for this kind of production when Kyle Okposo is a right wing and for that money you can bring in a right wing who can outproduce Hunter on a first or second line?

Satan has no goals in his past seven games and again is showing the one consistent part of his game is that he is streaky as he approaches what will likely be his last big contract. Again with talents like Okposo on right wing or even Jeremy Colliton and Steve Regier is it time to find a replacement?

Garth Snow and Ted Nolan have some very tough decisions ahead because for most of these players it's partly about the numbers but it's also about the inconsistent effort on a team that's supposed to work harder than last year's team. If Berard, Meyer and Johnson can wait their turn on the backline maybe it's time some of these forwards take a seat in the stands?

No way do I see Ted Nolan being blamed like Butch Goring, Peter Laviolette, Steve Stirling were for second year clubs that struggled with consistency.