John Rolfe of SI Response (Updated 7/28)

John Rolfe of SI responded to my e-mail, I thought I would share his response with my blog readers and give you my follow up e-mail to him.

Agree or disagree I respect Mr Rolfe for responding and thank him for his effort.
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John Rolfe SI:
Thanks for the note.

My perspective, and what I tend to write about in my columns, is
different than the other hockey writers here. As for the Isles' 2008-09
prospects, plenty of that will be forthcoming from Allan Muir, Michael
Farber and others, who are much better with the Xs and Os and inside
scuttlebutt than I am.

I mostly write from a fan's feelings, experiences and perspective -- and
though it seems like I only bash the Islanders, they are still my
favorite hockey team. I grew up within walking distance of the Nassau
Coliseum and practically lived there through the dynasty years and into
the 90s. Getting married, having a family and moving off the island has
limited my attendance for obvious reasons, but I've continued to follow
them, often with great astonishment and dismay. After witnessing the
greatness of a team I've loved more than any other in any sport, I can't
quite believe the turmoil and struggle that has consumed the franchise
for so long. I was extremely hopeful and excited when the Isles hired
Neil Smith and Ted Nolan in 2006, and shocked when Smith left a month
later to be replaced by Garth Snow, who had served no front office
apprenticeship like Steve Yzerman is doing in Detroit. I think Charles
Wang has his heart in the right place, and wants to win, but I wonder
about his knowledge of hockey and if he too easily falls prey to guys
who talk a good game.

While I admired Snow for going for broke with the Ryan Smyth deal, I
think it's fair to say the jury is still out on his effectiveness as a
GM, though his taking the building-with-kids route is the sensible path
since top free agents aren't exactly falling all over themselves to come
to the Island. How good this latest crop of kids will be is anybody's
guess. Who foresaw Henrik Zetterberg becoming a Conn Smythe-winner after
he was drafted by the Red Wings in the seventh round in '99? As I've
said in my columns, anything can happen...but what's been happening with
the Islanders for the last 20 years has been rather amazing. It's not
just run-of-the-mill struggle. It's been crazy at times, and the Nolan
dismissal felt like the latest chapter. He may have had his
disagreements with Snow and DiPietro, but he was the kind of coach who
can get the most out of teams that have to give their utmost each night
in order to have a chance to win. To that end, I'd like to see the Isles
bring in John Tortorella, although he may be a little too high strung
for their young crew.

Hey, I know how annoying it is to see your favorite team criticized. It
pains me to write this stuff, but I find the story compelling given what
I witnessed in the early 80s. The Islander Follies gallery, by the way,
was the idea of a fellow Isles fan in our photo department who has known
only the struggle and the handful of modest successes like the recent
playoff appearances. I've heard from quite a few Isles fans who remain
extremely hopeful about this team, and I certainly hope their faith is
justified in coming seasons. They deserve a winner after all they've
been through. Unfortunately, it seems to be more the rule than the
exception in pro sports that teams put their fans through the ringer for
long stretches, and I think that's mainly due to astute management being
a rare commodity. The Isles' struggles have just been a little more
bizarre than most, at times anyway.

I really appreciate your taking the time to write in.
Best wishes, John Rolfe SI.com
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My followup e-mail goes as follows:


Mr Rolfe, Thank you for responding.

First off you should know New York Islander Fan Central is a blog that covers our team through long experience going back before this team won it's first Stanley Cup in 1980, as far back as games in 1975 when they played on Wor channel nine in New York.

No blog works harder in the search for facts and truth whether positive or negative, but only asks that what is reported is fair.

The only thing that is coming from Mr Muir or Mr Farber is more of what you just did or Scott Burnside/Adam Proteau. These people could not go ten deep on the Isles current roster without it in front of them which is the problem. We never get the x or o from these writers just more of what you just did.

I have seen this article from you once a year, usually when something goes wrong and always you admit to loving the club and being a fan. I have to ask what's so bad about a club that has made it to the playoffs in four of the last six years? Compare this to Florida, Phoenix, Chicago, Toronto, the Rangers who have done nothing that the Isles did not do when they returned to the playoffs and a ton of clubs like Nashville or Columbus/Atlanta/St Louis, Los Angeles that have won virtually nothing.

Tampa just fired a cup winning coach for a broadcaster, kept it's gm in moth balls for a draft and free agency before sending him packing and thretended Dan Boyle out of town off a new long-term contract where he ripped the franchise. Did they sign so many players no one noticed?

Meanwhile everyone signed here or resigned with virtually no problem at some very good contracts including Hunter for five years and Witt for three years at below market value.

Dean Lombardi went to Los Angeles and just fired his first choice as coach the same year Snow and Nolan were hired. Lou Lamoriello fires coaches in first place in March, Colorado just fired Joel Quenneville to bring back Tony Granato. Brett Hull has as much experience as Garth Snow going in.

I don't know if Mr Wang falls prey to guys who talk a good game, if he did he would be far from alone. You really think Charles Wang wanted all this negative press, to pay Nolan 600k to stay home and pay a new coach on top of it? Even worse Nolan for what Wang did for him according to Chris Botta had problems with his veterans, with his prospects and did everything to act like a selfish man, some of those newsday reports by Greg Logan had a lot of mistakes and by the time other media outlets interpreted the story things just became even worse with more skewed fiction from fact.

Garth Snow according to Mr Botta is operating on the same one year contract Nolan was and had not been given an extension either, who gives any coach longer term than it's gm?

Of course the jury is still out on Snow but he's locked up the youth and has given them a spot on this roster. The plan Mike Milbury did not see through. Like Florida it could fail miserably but unlike Milbury's plan there is more than Mattias Weinhandl behind the current plan with a lot of first and second rounders who have been waiting since 2003.

The last twenty years have little to do with the last six. A period where this club had the fourth best turnaround in NHL history in 2002 and made the playoffs three other times, you cannot gloss over that and even note the Rangers have turned a corner but not the Isles or it's not a consistent standard.

I never have ANY problem with my favorite team being criticized but for me it has to be for the correct reasons or it comes off as unfair or from a viewpoint that lacks knowledge or just wants to pile on. The Rangers for eight years lost with double the Isles payroll with a ton of dissention and problems and did not take this kind of beating in the media, same for a lot of other franchises in this league that have struggled far worse than the Isles.

Just one other thing. The Isles since summer 2006 have never done better in free agency in the clubs history. Not in the eighties, nineties or in the years they had Yashin, Peca. Something folks in the media have not noted at all.

I really appreciate your taking the time to write back. I hope you consider some of what I have written here, it's time for a new angle, one that reflects 2008-09.

New York Islander Fan Central
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Updated 7/28:

Mr Rolfe again responded with the following:

And thanks for your thoughtful response. You make a lot of great points. I can't speak for the other writers although I can say the Islanders saga has attracted a certain consistently negative media attention because of its duration and occasionally bizarre turns which make it a more widely compelling dryspell story -- and it is New York where foul-ups, bleeps and blunders quickly get the spotlight (see: the Yankees, Mets and especially Knicks). From time to time, our writers have looked at other franchises -- Jim Kelley frequently takes the Maple Leafs to task for their incompetence and Al Muir has gotten after the Blackhawks and Bruins, although not to the extent of putting a photo gallery together.

As for me, having experienced a dynasty as well as a team that went deeper than the first round of the playoffs with some regularity, I feel a certain frustration at the Islanders' ability to get untracked and stay untracked. That same feeling is shared by my younger Isles fan colleague in our photo department. Each change of ownership brought hope of better things that never materialized. After the great turnaround under Laviolette, the momentum was quickly lost, as it was with Nolan. Yeah, it's kneejerk thinking and the here-we-go-again story is getting old. I agree it's time to focus on the future and I'll be sure to have Al Muir who whoever does our team previews give an evenhanded assessment of the team's on-ice talent and prospects.

I appreciate your comments and our dialogue.
Best wishes,
JR

Islander News Articles 7/26

Windsor Star: Jim Parker has an article on Josh Bailey with his comments as he reported for Canada's national junior team development camp in Ottawa, which began Friday and runs through Tuesday.

Discovermoosejaw.com: Has a quick word on Islander prospect Travis Hamonic also in Ottawa for junior camp.

Islander/Sound Tigers/NHL Notables

St Pete Times: Damian Cristodero blogs on what John Tortorella would bring to the Isles with the potential upside and downside.

SI.com: John Rolfe is his mail bag responds to the latest negative article on the Isles who got a few tough comments from some fans.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Two things caught my attention here.

One was when Mr Rolfe wrote he is a life long Islanders fan because it was something I have known because he does include that part every year when he does this kind of article but does not excuse his lack of articles on the current Isles.

Second was when he took what to me is a double-standard noting the Rangers have turned things around because they have made the playoffs three years in a row while ignoring the Isles did this also and made it four of six years.

If Mr Rolfe's standard's for turning it around somewhat is making the playoffs three years in a row than the Isles qualify and it's time for his to seperate the past from the present. I can appreciate the fact he is an Islander fan and frustrated at the club but that still means he has to be consistent with his standards for all teams.

I sent him an e-mail and asked why the double-standard and how come he does not note all the kids in Garth Snow's plan which is far different than Mike Milbury's plan and how come he's not telling us more about them which is what our fans need a lot more of with a lot less nineties history?

National Post/several sources: Report former Islander Mike York has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
According to the New York Times and several sources Mike York a while back signed with Sibir Novosibirsk. (KHL)

Anyone else see a little payback for the hardball with Filatov's being suspended or is Columbus trying to become very old and slow down the middle with York and Peca unless York plays left wing?

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports in the Sound Tigers Ct Post blog Matt Keith has signed a one-year contract with ERC Ingolstadt.

Mr Wang, Mr Dey/whoever please do this for me

Just one time, go conventional with the uniform above if a decision has not been made on a third jersey. For once no re-inventing the wheel. I can accept building with prospects, taking time to improve and most anything.

What I cannot accept is a new generation of fans throwing lighthouse's, bars that have never represented anything but John Pickett, John Spano, the gang of Four and Howard Milstein (who gave us those bars) on the latest incarnation of our incredible uniform and tradition any longer which frankly looks terrible and as poor an idea as the orange jersey.

Just one time go conservative, after introducing one of the above designs as the third jersey scrap the current uniform and bring it back full time next year.

And leave it that way for good.

You will sell a ton of jerseys and the large majority of the fans will love it. On the core of the Four Weekend you brought back the Lake Placid patch so someone does know the history in detail.

This team has all the tradition of a club that was around when hockey began in this country as a professional sport before 1926 when the NY Americans established the pro hockey tradition for all others to follow.

No US based hockey team had a longer or greater dynasty, no team in pro sports history won that many playoff series in a row, that uniform stands for something special that other clubs never did and a symbol of excellence. To me the Islanders and all these uniform chances since Bill Torrey left town is like changing the Montreal Canadians or Yankees uniform.

Just one time play it conservative. I guarantee it will go over huge and make a lot of money.

Most importantly it's the right thing for this franchise, the only thing for me.

Islander News Articles 7/25 quick hits

Newsday: Greg Logan reports John Tortorella will meet with Garth Snow this Sunday as the beatwriter makes comparisons between Tampa Bay and the Islanders and also reports Mike Sullivan and Scott Gordon are expected to interview next week.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Tortorella is an interesting choice but he has had a lot more talent to work with on offense in Tampa. By contrast he will have a lot of talent on defense and in goal if he is hired here. Garth Snow has no time for vacation and has a lot of interviews to go through, he may need some second or third interviews before a decision is arrived at.

Newsday: Greg Logan reports in the Islanders Newsday blog defenseman Bruno Gervais has been resigned to a three year/one way contract at a bit more than 2.1 million. At the conclusion of this contract he will still be a restricted free agent. His first-year salary equals his qualifying offer of $522,500 but will receive $800,000 and $900,000 in the next two seasons.

Islanders website: Has general manager Garth Snow's comments on the signing.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Great signing but it does mean seven defenders are signed for at least the next two seasons. That finishes up contract negotiations with all restricted free agents and no distractions in terms of player contracts before camp.

Someone with a contract will not be happy opening night if everyone is healthy.

For those voting in the poll we can eliminate Gervais will not be signed.

Times & Transcript: Cole Hobson has Moncton Mayor Ian Fowler's comments on the 9/23 exhibition game against Boston. More details surrounding the camp, public activities and open practices will be released at a later date.

Long Island Business News: Henry E. Powderly II has an interview with new Dragons majority owner Steve Silva with a few words about Charles Wang and negotiations.

Daily Graphic: Has an interview with former Islander Aarom Asham who talks about his time with the Devils and why he signed with Philadelphia.

Quick Hits:
Why is it Ken Campbell's Hockey News article on Maurice a front runner for Isles job
appearing on Espn, I think this is a repeat from THN. How come Espn does not have enough hockey writers?

The days of a staff of writers like Al Morganti seems long gone for Espn leaving us with the Scott Burnside, E.J Hradek or Teri Frei perspective.

Not to kick around the Isles TV staff because they did a great job on mini-camp putting up prospect interviews in bulk and obviously need to get this months version done early in the month but the Isles Illustrated needed to do more than throw in a very quick blurb on Ted Nolan not returning even if it was only Bill Jaffe's video comments last week. By the looks of this some brief prospect camp footage was included but it looked like it was held for the August version.

So what is that now, forty shows a week on Msg Ranger centric and nineteen minutes of quality Islander content? Who padlocked the vault of games for the Islanders on Msg + this summer? I know I would not mind seeing Al Arbour night a few times or all those Ranger or Devils wins.

InsideCal.com: Los Angeles Kings writer Rich Hammond had defenseman Jack Johnson's comments the Coliseum area and the rink was the worst in the league a few days ago in a long interview.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Which should be forwared immediately to town of Hempstead's Kate Murray and Smg.




'

Pick the sixth defender

The Islanders may not have a coach yet but at some point whoever is hired has a very tough decision coming.

Going under the presumption Witt, Streit, Martinek, Sutton and Campoli all with the kind of contracts that can only be traded I though it would be a good poll if you decide who should be the sixth defender vs who should sit and wait for a chance?

If we all remember last season began with nine defenders after Berard signed, but that group included Meyer, Johnson with Bergeron/Berard juggled depending on who was playing better or injured.

No Bridgeport option for any of these players without waivers.

Needless to write this is a different group than a year ago with a signed Freddy Meyer who had a very strong second half, Bruno Gervais who when healthy has rarely sat a game.

It also has to be noted Garth Snow was in the mix for Dan Boyle so obviously he may be looking for a front line defender or someone who complements Mark Streit on the powerplay.

Jack Hillen/Dustin Kohn have an AHL option so they will not be included in this poll.

New York Islander Fan Central Notables

Islanders website: Reports the second installment of Islanders Illustrated will debut Thursday at 7:30pm on Msg plus.

Boston Herald: Steve Conroy reports the Boston Bruins have placed forward Glen Murray on waivers. If Murray clears waivers today, starting tomorrow the Bruins will have 48 hours to complete the buyout.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Can the Isles claim Murray given how NHL waivers work? Sure.

Having written that where do you want to play a career right wing on a team with Guerin, Okposo and Hunter in your top three unless you want to keep Okposo in Bridgeport next season or give Murray your fourth line right wing slot and say goodbye to Richard Park?

Thenewpl.com: Reports former Islander Mariusz Czerkawski has announced his retirement.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio in his Sound Tigers blog notes Matthew Spiller is now listed as being with the Devils.

Finally Happy One Year Anniversary to New York Islander Fan Central and my thanks to all the readers of this blog on a fantastic first year.

Islander News Articles 7/23

Newsday: Greg Logan in the Islanders Newsday blog reports according to a league source Bob Hartley will be interviewing with general manager Garh Snow on Wednesday with some speculation about his upside and downside if he were hired.

NY Post: Mark Everson reports Larry Robinson will not be returning as an assistant coach to Brent Sutter with the Devils with Lou Lamoriello telling the writer Robinson will revert to his previous post as a special assignment coach.

Sault Star: Randy Russo in more of a weekly sports recap article has one question about the Isles changing coaches and asks going back to Buffalo who is the common denominator when it comes to these circumstances?

Same article also reports 19-year old centre Anthony Perdicaro, has been invited to the Prospects Camp of the NHL's New York Islanders but not clear if that is a future camp or the one that just concluded?

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is the paper that had Ted Nolan's comments back on 5/2 who's editorial blasted the Isles and Charles Wang/Garth Snow a few days ago. I sent the writer an e-mail with my own questions last week but have not received a response.

Media disconnect shows in Isles coverage

It's interesting reading so many pile on the Islanders in the general hockey media but a common thread for me stood out on the coverage that really makes me dismiss almost all of.

Whether it's positive or negative means little but all they could do is provide background wallpaper that goes back a decade or longer and has no value regarding today's club whatsoever.

This is a disconnect that can be attributed to not only dwindling coverage but dwindling quality in terms of reporting.

In terms of 2008-09 and Snow-Nolan deciding they did not want to work together any longer all of that is completely worthless.

Some of the articles were so poorly written they could not even remember that Neil Smith was fired and incorrectly reported Smith resigned. If they cannot even get the background wallpaper correct obviously they can give us nothing of value in terms of the current club.

A good example of this media disconnect was clearly evident during the season when a lot of West Coast writers finally got to see the club for the first time this year in their markets since 2002. Some have never even seen Rick DiPietro play a game in those time zones. Had Rick DiPietro even seen Calgary since 1999 when he was drafted?

It was one of the first times a few of these writers could update their files for a decade.

But of course this disconnect goes well beyond the West Coast.

What is Wallace Matthews of Newsday going to tell our fans about the New York Islanders writing one article every few years at best? John Rolfe of SI, Adam Proteau of THN, Scott Burnside of Espn could tell us nothing new that they have not been writing for years.

It seems a few of them are trapped in the club's past. You could see it in Scott Burnside's reporting all year. All he could tell us was he did not expect the club to stay in contention just as he did the previous year and played it safe keeping his updates about the past.

This year even confirmed local writers like Larry Brooks who covered Al Arbour night from an Islander perspective or Dave Caldwell at the Times/Peter Botte at the News were simply not around nearly enough to provide us anything new of value.

Peter Botte was nowhere to be found, he did not touch any of this.

Most of these writers told us nothing, some blamed Nolan on reputation, others blamed
Snow because he came in a backup goalie as they threw half-baked theories against the walls hoping it would stick, many blamed Charles Wang but had nothing current as to his role or anything beyond blind speculation. Few blamed the timing and for waiting so long which is where the only legitimate criticism should be here.

Most of these writers could not name ten players on the current roster, they can only tell us the roster back in the late nineties or when the Isles signed Yashin or that Charles Wang fired Neil Smith two summers ago.

You can see it in the work how they avoided the current roster at all cost or wrote the club does not have great prospects or only told us Doug Weight is old while ignoring Bobby Holik of the Devils is older and has been less productive over several years.

It's like me trying to do a blog about the Phoenix Coyotes and go back to when they were in Winnipeg to point out their mistake and go off when Blake Wheeler would not sign with them. I can do a little filler and provide the downside why they have struggled for a long time but in terms of current information I would do a very poor job.

That's what has happened here.

Of course when the games begin and the Islanders are competitive they have nothing to write because there is no comfort for them in current events. We saw that a lot the last few years just as we saw teams copy some of the Isles ideas and the media downplayed the long-term contracts or shared management strategy in Dallas to almost silence from the media.

Bottom line most of the media providing these reports do not know anything new and just rehash alot of old things because it was the only place these people found comfort in their work. Most fans following knew the committee philosophy was a bit overblown and downplayed for most of the last two years, Mr Botta wrote about this a few times during the season.

It's kind of like how we see some writers portray the Black Hawks as a team on the rise or the Blues despite two teams that to date have not won anything and in the Blues case finished behind New York. No knock on these clubs because that could be true but it could also be true for the Isles.

For folks who remember that press conference a few years ago Charles Wang even said if a committee approach did not work out it would be scrapped and they would and back to the way it was. Along the way that is exactly what happened and for all we know it began shortly after the next season began to a degree.

The general manager/assistant gm, pro scouting got the players, a year ago the coach had input, but once the games began the coach had his job and the general manager had his which both Garth Snow and Ted Nolan confirmed in their now infamous WFAN interviews back in March which everyone seemed to ignore in the media.

But hey, Roberto Luongo was traded in 1999, Alexei Yashin was signed to a long-term contract, that must be the reason things are dysfunctional now even though a lot of clubs changed coaches. Los Angeles hired Dean Lombardi as general manager and just fired his first coaching choice in Marc Crawford who was hired the same summer Ted Nolan and Garth Snow were hired. Tampa fired it's cup winning coach for an Espn commentator and left it's acting gm home for the draft and free agency and the same media people did not have much if anything about it.

Are the Isles going to be a good or bad team next year? We'll see.

Is it going to have anything to do with 1999, Roberto Luongo or Charles Wang firing Neil Smith two years ago? No.

Until those writers get beyond that nothing to read of value from them.

Having written that the 2007-08 New York Islanders scored two goals or less fourteen games in a row when healthy and managed to not only stay in contention with a strategy that did not get enough games to overtime or shootouts that produced a team deep in the red in terms of plus/minus (unlike the previous season) but one where they were close to five games over five hundred until the flu and injuries pushed them out of the mix in January only to recover and win six straight without some key players later on.

Even with four hundred man games lost to injury they still managed to beat the Devils, Rangers and play competitive hockey with Pittsburgh. The Isles special teams seemed to beat themselves against Philadelphia a lot more than the Flyers all season.

A lot of what if going into next season for the club but if Comeau, Bergenheim keep improving in terms of numbers, Okposo can replace/improve Satan's nightly impact with Tambellini finally bringing his AHL production to the NHL level and the club getting a good bounce back year from Hunter (in terms of goals) Mike Sillinger and newly acquired Doug Weight with a little better from Comrie and Guerin there is no reason this club will not be in position to compete for a playoff spot regardless of who is behind the bench.

Nielsen, Colliton and Ben Walter will be pushing for spots along with Jesse Joensuu and perhaps Josh Bailey if some moves happen to open a spot.

On defense they are going to be counting on Campoli to provide Mark Streit with some powerplay production but overall this defense comes in only better than they were a year ago with Sutton, Meyer settled into roles after very strong finishes for both of them. Witt and Martinek should pick up where they left off when healthy with Bruno Gervais a possible seventh defender given the depth chart and Jack Hillen behind that with Dustin Kohn coming into his second pro season.

Why would anything think losing Ted Nolan, Josef Vasick, Miroslav Satan or Ruslan Fedotenko cause a free fall? Charles Wang and Garth Snow could leave tomorrow and still this could be a competitive club depending on how things break.

This was a group that cut down it's shots against down last season by a hundred and ninety eight which did not make it into those reports about Todd Bertuzzi, Roberto Luongo or Neil Smith nor did Greg Logan even note in his constant reports DiPietro had to start less games.

Rick DiPietro aside from his grandmother's passing gave the club solid goaltending from beginning to end last season, despite a statistical argument put forward by Newsday he was struggling, ignoring a six game winning streak highlighted by a 1-0 win against Tampa Bay.

We'll see what happens when the season begins, the idea it will have anything to do with Mike Milbury, Todd Bertuzzi, Neil Smith or Alexei Yashin will have more to do with a lot of writers out of touch when it comes to the New York Islanders as opposed to what's happening on the ice in 2008-09 trapped in the past or poor coverage habits that are their problems, not ours.

And of course you will see more of the same in pre-season predictions, what the heck is John Rolfe of SI going to tell us about the 2008-09 Islanders? We get one of those articles every year from Mr Rolfe regardless of record and will until the Isles win another cup. He was quick to quote Richard Pilon's take on ownership but ignored how grossly out of shape Pilon was which is why he could not play until he went to the Rangers and dropped some pounds when it was clear he was playing for his future, he cannot put that on Howard Milstein nor can John Rolfe.

When that happens you can bet the day the Isles do win another cup for folks like Mr Rolfe the theme will be all about the dark days, only place he can go with his reporting now because it's all he wants to know.

They can try and blame Charles Wang for that too but in the end many of them have to take a long look in the mirror and ask why are they not watching games to give us a 2008 view on the current club?

If they do a review of the club and tell us Bergenheim cannot finish, Comeau is not a scorer and Okposo is too young that's fair enough, could well be correct. They want to tell us Campoli cannot stay healthy, the defense has too many players prone to injury that's a fair discussion also.

But don't tell us it's because of moves close to a decade old, that's just lazy journalism.

Our fans deserve better from you.

Updating Isles NHL depth chart

One thing for sure, some very tough decisions are coming for whoever the coach is when training camp ends.

The depth chart looks locked in already barring some kind of trade/injury:
Bergenheim-Comrie-Guerin
Comeau-Weight-Okposo
Sim-Sillinger-Hunter
Tambellini-Nielsen-Park
Hilbert

After that Ben Walter with a two way contract and potential waivers.
Same for Jeremy Colliton.

After that Joensuu who is a left wing seemingly blocked from any spot.
Then there is Josh Bailey.

Tim Jackman is on a two year/two way contract.
Joel Rechlicz was signed for three years.

Defense:
Witt-Martinek
Streit-Sutton
Campoli-Meyer
Gervais-restricted free agent

Hillen
Kohn

Anyone who wants to add players have to subtract a few first.

Seems Weight signed to play with Guerin, Comrie just resigned so unlikely they are going anywhere which leaves Mike Sillinger, Richard Park and Andy Hilbert.

Park was signed last season for another two years.

Final Poll Results: Next coach

The poll on the left wings became a new record for this blog and immediatley after that the coaches poll hit triple digits, once again amazing turnout for a little blog in the middle of July and my thanks to everyone.

Final poll results on who you would like to see hired as the next Islanders coach are in with the following:

Bob Hartley 17 (15%)
Joel Quenneville 29 (25%)
John Tortorella 22 (19%)

Too disgusted/numb to vote 22 (19%)

Of course the poll was stated the day Nolan/Snow parted company but the Isles are not going to find someone named disgusted/numb but it was listed as an option to gauge sentiment but did lose a little steam after the first few days.

I voted for Joel Quenneville eventually. I like the fact he has had a lot of success and is well regarded, a lot of the veterans here have long experience in the Western Conference.

Islander Notables

Boston Globe: Fluto Shinzawa notes the Newsday report about Scott Gordon being listed for an interview and adds Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has repeatedly said he wouldn't stand in Gordon's way if he were offered an NHL head coach's job, so it's likely that the Bruins will allow the former goalie to interview with the Islanders if they come calling.

THN.com: Adam Proteau's article asks why is Ted Nolan being demonized in some circles and insists this is nothing like his circumstances in Buffalo while getting the impression back in April Nolan would not be returning from his final interview with him but feels he should get another chance.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
I'm surprised Mr Proteau waited this long for his Islanders-bash fest (this was one of his milder ones) but he did put some blame on both sides without really giving us anything but personal speculation from what obviously is a distance to where what he writes has little value.

Of course he does get right the gm having his way vs the coach needing to win now is not unheard of in sports but aside from that an article that tells us little because frankly he does not know anything.

Quick Hits:
Sporting News/uncredited did a rip job on the Islanders for the last twenty years with a lot of old photos to make it's point in kind of a picture/caption rip job.

SI.com: John Rolfe apparently followed up the twenty seven page caption with an article bashing the Isles for the last twenty plus years where he knew so little about the club he put Bergenheim in Fedotenko's spot as his replacement and put in his article Neil Smith resigned when he was in fact fired.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
So now the Islanders, a team that has been to the NHL playoffs four of the last six year are on par with sports clubs that have not seen a playoff or close to a five hundred record for a decade or longer? Not going to tell anyone here outside of 2002 the product has been anything but mediocre but this comes off as piling on and nothing else. Maybe Mr Rolfe is doing what he can to get the club out of here because the Rangers did not take that kind of beating over eight years nor did he write articles telling people to essentially stay home.

Funny how St Louis, Florida, Phoenix, Los Angeles (who fired a coach hired the same summer Ted Nolan was hired) among others did not get this kind of article?

John Rolfe usually does one of these a year on the Isles no matter what their record is.

THN.com: Ken Campbell declares Paul Maurice is a front runner for the Islanders job because he is a good company man who will essentially do what the general manager says and not get involced in office politics.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
Paul Maurice according to Mr Campbell is now the front-runner for the Islanders coaches job? Seems like some of these writers throw anything against the wall hoping it sticks because no one else has written that anywhere and if that were the case the club would not be trying to interview so many potential coaches.

It's summer not, much going on so it's time for the armchair experts who cannot name five Islanders to come out in droves.

Until a coach is hired Isles in neutral

Of course teams do not play games in July but for now the club is in neutral until they can add a coach who is on board with what the general manager's vision for his franchise in the long term.

Until we know what kind of coach is hired and what his philosophy will be is were stuck in terms of what kind of discussion we can have moving forward.

No doubt Ted Nolan had his favorites among prospects/veterans and many of those players had to win him over with their play and this will be the same with a new coach who will form his own impressions. A player who did well under Ted Nolan may struggle under a new coach and a player who struggled under Nolan may do better with another coach.

We have read alot about the defensive system being a problem, will a change help prevent goals but also prevent scoring, is there a balance?

A player like Bergenheim or even a Robert Nilsson may have been popular with Steve Stirling/Brad Shaw but both had to almost start from scratch with Ted Nolan.

Bergenheim won over his coach while Nilsson was demoted on day one of camp not being allowed to go with the A group when the squads were split.

This will be the same with the current group of players and prospects, some will thrive while others will struggle in competition.

Until a coach is hired all we can do is watch and wait.

Islander Sunday Notables

Islanders website: Jason Lockhart has an article on first round pick Josh Bailey which wraps up prospect camp with his comments as he looks ahead to training camp.

Point Blank: Mr Botta decided to keep his blog going for a while longer and has a few words about what the club should be looking for in it's next head coach and takes a look at the current names scheduled for interviews.

Ottawa Sun/several sources: Has more on IIHF suspending several players (including Nikita Filatov) from international competition which does not have the NHLPA happy given the recent agreement for all leagues to respect contracts already signed with other leagues.

Montreal Gazette: David Yates reports on Mike Bossy taking part in the Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey program with women's national team star Caroline Ouellette and coaches from Hockey Canada with his comments.