Not meaning to rock the boat - because we can all see the questionable management decisions since the promising pre-Covid team.
Even so - there are two ways to look at things - half full - or half empty - its in the eyes of the beholder.
One Islanders' booster has been singing the praises of his team's rebuild recently (and rightfully so) - but if you compare two teams that have both never won a league championship - the Eagles have a better record - and arguably a better young roster to build with.
Using the list of young Islanders players posted by Score recently (in his order) for comparison and filling in a similar list from the Eagles:
ISLANDERS | EAGLES |
07 Owen Conrad | 07 Emile Ricard |
07 Anthony Flanagan | 07 Will Murphy |
06 Marcus Kearsey | 06 Tomas Lavoie |
06 Matt Butler | 06 Will Shields |
06 Alexis Michaud | 06 Jakub Milota |
06 Ondrej Maruna | 06 Lincoln Waugh |
06 Ross Campbell | 06 Etienne Desjardins |
05 Lucas Romeo | 05 Cam Squires |
05 Kyle Powers | 05 Cole Burbidge |
05 Brett Arsenault | 05 Luke Patterson |
05 Alexis Jacques | 05 Xavier Daigle |
05 Aksels Ozols | 05 Lubos Stahon |
05 Anton Topilnyckyj | 05 Angelo Fullarton |
I mean - if you put a check mark by the player you think is better on each line - which team would have the most check marks?
My list would favour the Eagles - and not at all meaning to knock the Islanders list which is also good - and just as deep. Just saying. . .
From what I see - and probably more fitting for the butts in the seats thread - but the Eagles don't seem to do a very good job with marketing. They allow the negativity to run rampant rather than going on offense.
Without scoring a lot of goals and with a woeful PP - the Eagles still show the better record against arguably the same level of competition. The Eagles currently sit in 4th place - only 5 points behind the CHL's top ranked team.
Joey Haddad seems to at least be trying to put some of those ideas into action - which is probably a lot harder than it looks. You need to sell the ideas to the right people to put those ideas into action. For instance - it's likely hard to argue somebody into agreeing to partner with motels on game nights - while arguments are being made from the other side that people in the region are low income and can't even afford tickets.
Just how many are realistically going to come to a game and stay overnight - even at a reduced rate for any game.
If I say that they need to focus on getting youth out to the games to build a sustainable fan base towards the future - a certain element seems to think that if they blow my candle out - there's will somehow shine brighter.
As far as on ice - it's a terrible record at home - but a plus 500 record is definitely marketable. Maybe I'm just not seeing it and its really there (marketing) - but I honestly don't see much marketing or positivity on the Eagles' social media - or elsewhere.
Anyway - somebody will quickly shoot holes in my opinion and school me on the history - but today is the first day of where they (Eagles) go from here. They need to sell tickets - not change the culture on a chat board. One step at a time.
They definitely have some pieces to build with - even if they aren't producing. JMO. I know I can only post here on this forum every so often - but I'm good with that.
The Eagles are a playoff caliber team - not a championship contender. IMO - it's wishful thinking to believe or to argue that they are either a contender or a bottom feeder. Being a middle of the pack team this season should be good enough - if they start marketing properly and trying to put those ideas into action.