Durandeau to Devils for Tyce Thompson

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/26/2023 11:48:00 AM |
Yes, another Brent Thompson family member. Durandeau looked very good here last season in a brief look.

Pelech LTIR/Mike Reilly claimed

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/25/2023 12:51:00 PM |

No Changes/No Progress

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/24/2023 05:59:00 AM |
Folks can say they finally won a shootout against a bad Calgary team, they broke the impressive Flyers streak, but reality is a change was/is needed. You don't want to change the voice (even though the coach knew day one he had a slow team of declining veterans) ok, but where do you go besides keep rolling out the same group that on it's best games scores in the first, then hangs on or the other team tilts the ice, and takes the game from them?
The Flyers dominated the second half of the game, a 14-4 shot against third period, nothing easy against any team, and Nelson scored (one from a Pelech long shot) twice, while Lee looked shocked his stuff deflected in a weak Carter Hart moment, as Philadelphia will be back on Saturday for round II.
Is this the formula to beat good teams (they did last season while losing to weaker teams) but this year many teams are improved while this groups (even with Horvat) looks a step older, and it's defense is not giving Sorokin any chance.
We know the script by now, if they fall behind, it's over. If they get the lead the other team scores, and the ice tilts as we see 102/95 shot attempts against. Too many passengers, and that includes Engvall who got big years/money added to the problem of Palmieri, Pageau, Cizikas, Martin, Clutterbuck, Fasching plus the problem of Barzal is no winger, and Wahlstrom/Holmstrom have to show consistent offensive progression. Gauthier has played a game?
Positives? Not the standings, they need a five game win streak fast, and this team has had a soft schedule so far, it's going to get tougher, and we are just not seeing much from the defense besides Dobson's offense, and Romanov, Pelech looking hurt as they get beat often with Aho, who's only been better then Bolduc. About the only positive I can throw out is everyone's due to hit their career norms, and many of the current roster is well behind them.

Expecting a major change

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/19/2023 02:13:00 AM |
Fair or not, and I do not see it as fair, my guess is Lamoriello will fire Lane Lambert. He walked out after the teams first scrimmage in September, and his first two words were "Too Slow". He knew day one, and that's how it's gone as so many forwards are poor defensively, on the boards, backchecking, and frankly most of them are even scoring below their 2022-23 norms which in some cases were terrible. Despite Dobson being last season/first half again carring the offense/powerplay this year for now, old has gotten much older shorthanded as #44,15,17,53,21,27 are beaten all over the ice and I don't see them clearing waivers. For this to work Lee has to get his twenty five goals, he's been invisible. Pageau can't score to save his life, and is awful shorthanded, and so slow in passing lanes with his stick. Pelech looks hurt or playing hurt and faces too much pressure.
Do I think a coaching change fixes anything? No, you can't make slow faster, but it has to at least be what it was last season where they can gut out some ugly wins. Even at the worst of the Trotz era they would allow 80+ shot attempts, last week it was 102/95 which is unheard of, and reflects how this team simply cannot keep up as other teams make a push, and tilt the ice in a league even bad teams get thirty wins most years.
Answers? Not many. Fasching needs more minutes, Holmstrom/Wahlstrom need more minutes to go with their mistakes, another winger from Bridgeport who can skate needs a call. Romanov looks like he's playing hurt, and slow also. Aho is not doing much offensively, and Bolduc did not look ready. Mayfield is lumbering around off his injury too much, Engvall looks like a journeyman with a seven year contract no team will touch, and the team is so slow it's not giving Sorokin much of a chance.
I don't see an invisible owner who just authorized a contract extension to the man who runs the show top to bottom in terms of hockey ops getting fired. If you thought Barclay's was cold wait until this team returns to the road at the failed Belmont experiment on Wednesday in front of an announced 13k which will look like 9k.

What Do You Want Me To Write Again?

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/12/2023 10:53:00 AM |
Too old, too slow, too soft. Other teams raise their games, our team cannot. 102 shot attempts allowed, 95 against Washington. Was not that bad with the worst of Trotz. They go to the failed experiment like they slept in all day, while other team goes there and is ready in a half filled building because they skate there on game day while this group hibernates at Northwell. No gm or coaching changes fix this, no trade fixes this.
Sorokin's agent must be furious.

New York 5-2-2 with flawed team

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/03/2023 08:09:00 AM |
I'll take the record but feels like a reverse 2017-18 when Weight was winning every game 6-5, 5-4, and it was asked what happens when the scoring dries out and they fell from eight over back to five hundred, and allowed 40-50 shots every game with a coaching staff that had no experience as all I read was shut up, it would solve itself.
You want me to wave pom poms about no goals Pageau, Palmieri? Can't. Nice 4th line chipping in but we know their resume before the 20-30 game slumps start, and teams wear them down, as Fasching finally played. Engvall can't produce with a seven year deal, Barzal looks miserable who's not a winger. (either side)
Yes, I know you want happy talk, and have me ignore Lee's struggle because he started with Pageau, who's beat in all three zone's to pucks for five million, and a coach very guarded about his words with no emotion.
3-0 win against Caps on a 4-0 win streak? I'll take it but 21 shots against their awful goalie who like 1-0 game last year let up two terrible goals.
If they can win every game or finish 20 over and qualify for a playoff spot with this strategy, I'll take it but like Weight's 2017-18 team which actually won in overtime you can run from the problems, but not hide.

Lamoriello Talks Stadium Series

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/01/2023 01:35:00 PM |
Bryan Trottier, also represented the NYC Islanders in New Jersey.