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Post by countryboy on Jan 21, 2024 8:53:22 GMT -4
The Islanders are back in action this afternoon with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens coming into town.
Game time is 3:00.
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Post by bois on Jan 22, 2024 11:17:12 GMT -4
the lack of posts in this game thread says it all i guess
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Post by jordo999 on Jan 22, 2024 11:37:11 GMT -4
Sags were on a 9 game losing streak coming into this game as well...
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Post by islander19 on Jan 22, 2024 11:52:50 GMT -4
If you just look at the first two periods, I guess it was a decent enough game. Gotta stay out of the box, Sags with 4 PP goals…obviously inflated with the 5 min major but the game was still within reach at that point.
The Sags goalie played well, he made a couple big saves that could’ve changed the game earlier on
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Post by Mika on Jan 22, 2024 12:19:11 GMT -4
I can pretty much hear Shoresy ranting about how bad we are. Next year will be much of the same as well, at least I think this is the last draft where we have no first round picks, I could be wrong though.
Glad I missed it. I take my PSP to games now because I just anticipate them being snoozefests.
I hope the next contending window we have better asset management than the last one.
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Post by countryboy on Jan 22, 2024 12:32:09 GMT -4
You don't want to know. I was at the game. In my mind I've put together 3-4 posts about this poor game....but it's just not worth getting into. It's been a tough January. I'm not sure what this teams needs to do between now and end of season to best prepare for 2024-25 the lack of posts in this game thread says it all i guess |
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Post by Mika on Jan 22, 2024 12:58:58 GMT -4
You don't want to know. I was at the game. In my mind I've put together 3-4 posts about this poor game....but it's just not worth getting into. It's been a tough January. I'm not sure what this teams needs to do between now and end of season to best prepare for 2024-25the lack of posts in this game thread says it all i guess Unpopular decisions and a prayer would be a start. A divine miracle would be another. Am I wrong in saying that this year and last year (and even to an extent our finals run) showed some glaring weaknesses in Hulton's game plans or coaching ability? I have wondered if the team would be better off with maybe Hulton just as the GM and bringing in a new coach. It's not always about the ability of the coach, but just if their system has run out with a team. It's really only been speculation in my head and nothing more than that. |
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Post by bois on Jan 22, 2024 13:05:58 GMT -4
There isn't enough quality to build around anybody older than 17 right now and there isn't enough draft capital to add to that core this summer unless some very outside the box moves are made
It is imperative to have top draft picks when you suck and to manage your assets to acquire those type of picks
and why are we dressing Bickle every game? is Ozols not going to be the goalie of the future?
did we draft two complete Euro duds when had to hit on at least one sure thing?
i really don't like being too negative because i lived thru the really bad years when i went to every game.. and now i rarely go at all anymore..... but i still consider them my junior team and follow as best I can and intend to be a ticket holder again in the future..... but yeah next year really doesn't look much better
Cannot keep missing out on moving quality assets when you are not winning a playoff series anyway..... two years in a row now we failed at that
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Post by Mika on Jan 22, 2024 14:03:27 GMT -4
There isn't enough quality to build around anybody older than 17 right now and there isn't enough draft capital to add to that core this summer unless some very outside the box moves are made It is imperative to have top draft picks when you suck and to manage your assets to acquire those type of picks and why are we dressing Bickle every game? is Ozols not going to be the goalie of the future? did we draft two complete Euro duds when had to hit on at least one sure thing?i really don't like being too negative because i lived thru the really bad years when i went to every game.. and now i rarely go at all anymore..... but i still consider them my junior team and follow as best I can and intend to be a ticket holder again in the future..... but yeah next year really doesn't look much better Cannot keep missing out on moving quality assets when you are not winning a playoff series anyway..... two years in a row now we failed at that Seems like a definite swing and a miss by the Islanders. I didn't expect Ozols to run away with goalie stats this year being a rookie, in a new country, on a rebuilding team; but I can't say I really expected him to be relegated to almost a fringe backup goalie. The only reason Ozols is probably still on the roster is the money spent bringing in import players. I haven't seen Boudreau play this year so I don't know how Q ready he is. Flannagan was horrible last year and I also have no idea how much he improved his game. Maruna. What can be said about him? 36 games, 12 points and a -12 so a net worth of 0 in terms of point production. I know we didn't really have much to work with this year but we fell far below the already minimal expectations. |
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Post by islander19 on Jan 22, 2024 14:41:44 GMT -4
Ozols was supposed to start yesterday but was a late scratch so I’m assuming he’s dealing with a minor injury/illness…the fact Hulton let Bickle stay in for 8 is likely confirmation that Ozols wasn’t available.
As for calling out Hulton, you gotta look at the players he’s got. Let’s look at some of our top players.
Morneau - free agent pick up at 19 that couldn’t catch on with a major junior team before that. He definitely shows flashes but consistency just isn’t there.
Huckins - 20 year old, NHL drafted but Calgary didn’t see enough to give him a contract. Playing better as of late but had a tough start.
Horth - maybe a bit of a late bloomer but still not an elite talent that’s going to carry this team on his own
Then you have Campbell, Butler, Kearsey, Michaud who have all shown flashes of brilliance…but again, still 17 in a league mainly dominated by 18/19 year olds. To add, these guys aren’t the elite guys that are going on to have long NHL careers (vs a stud in Masse yesterday).
Kearsey is also dealing with being the leader of a very weak D corps. I’m sure he’s getting a bit burned out through this busy stretch,
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Post by bois on Jan 22, 2024 15:06:58 GMT -4
Ozols was supposed to start yesterday but was a late scratch so I’m assuming he’s dealing with a minor injury/illness…the fact Hulton let Bickle stay in for 8 is likely confirmation that Ozols wasn’t available. As for calling out Hulton, you gotta look at the players he’s got. Let’s look at some of our top players. Morneau - free agent pick up at 19 that couldn’t catch on with a major junior team before that. He definitely shows flashes but consistency just isn’t there. Huckins - 20 year old, NHL drafted but Calgary didn’t see enough to give him a contract. Playing better as of late but had a tough start. Horth - maybe a bit of a late bloomer but still not an elite talent that’s going to carry this team on his own Then you have Campbell, Butler, Kearsey, Michaud who have all shown flashes of brilliance…but again, still 17 in a league mainly dominated by 18/19 year olds. To add, these guys aren’t the elite guys that are going on to have long NHL careers (vs a stud in Masse yesterday). Kearsey is also dealing with being the leader of a very weak D corps. I’m sure he’s getting a bit burned out through this busy stretch, zero issue with Morneau..... excellent free agent addition wish he was 18 when we found him not 19 but gave us two very quality seasons at no cost Huckins was a waste.... we had free agent Bell signed..... no idea what he would have provided us but Huckins didn't provide us enough to warrant wasting 2 picks of capital we dont have in this stage of our rebuild.... has been ok after a slow start but was not needed Horth might be a late bloomer... but what he is is a solid player who can score goals and was that last year... as a 19 and should have been moved..... this year should have been moved tho last year would have been maximizing the asset..... even if you only get a couple mid range picks.... it's better than stumbling along barely making playoffs and getting blown away in 4 or 5 games Biakabatuka should have been moved last year as well.... again for any kind of draft pick acquisition Isles scouts have done fantastic job hitting on picks later in the draft..... it's beyond time to give them more ammunition and early picks to work with instead of trading future top 3 round picks to acquire 18 or 19 year old proven players when it's time to contend even moving a guy like Michel this year would have made sense... grab a mid pick and sign Jardine to replace him.. call up a Strang or a Jaucques who you spent pics on to acquire anyway.... doesn't hurt the team any as is..... and gives the scouts more to work with my thoughts only |
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Post by countryboy on Jan 22, 2024 15:20:52 GMT -4
There was so little movement with 20's at the deadline this year, I'd be inclined to believe that there would be no one looking to trade for Horth, Morneau, or Huckins at this past deadline.
Halifax was looking for a 20 and brought in Reynolds.... but I can't think of any other team right off the top of my head that would have wanted any of our 20's... even for free. And that's not to say that Horth, Huckins, and Morneau have zero value...but there would likely have been no one looking to pay to add any of them.
But I think Biakabatuka would have had value last season and should have been dealt even if it ended up being pennies on the dollar.
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Post by bois on Jan 22, 2024 15:43:16 GMT -4
There was so little movement with 20's at the deadline this year, I'd be inclined to believe that there would be no one looking to trade for Horth, Morneau, or Huckins at this past deadline. Halifax was looking for a 20 and brought in Reynolds.... but I can't think of any other team right off the top of my head that would have wanted any of our 20's... even for free. And that's not to say that Horth, Huckins, and Morneau have zero value...but there would likely have been no one looking to pay to add any of them. But I think Biakabatuka would have had value last season and should have been dealt even if it ended up being pennies on the dollar. I don't think for a second Horth couldnt be moved at all.... but yes the market was weird..... and i did say he should have been moved last year anyways I still have faith in Hulton as our GM.... i just think we probably should look realistically at the roster and the draft capital... and maybe reconsider building around 06 as anything much more than whatever it grows into... and get away from overspending on assets.... get some early picks in house |
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Post by lirette on Jan 23, 2024 10:43:27 GMT -4
There was so little movement with 20's at the deadline this year, I'd be inclined to believe that there would be no one looking to trade for Horth, Morneau, or Huckins at this past deadline. Halifax was looking for a 20 and brought in Reynolds.... but I can't think of any other team right off the top of my head that would have wanted any of our 20's... even for free. And that's not to say that Horth, Huckins, and Morneau have zero value...but there would likely have been no one looking to pay to add any of them. But I think Biakabatuka would have had value last season and should have been dealt even if it ended up being pennies on the dollar. I don't think for a second Horth couldnt be moved at all.... but yes the market was weird..... and i did say he should have been moved last year anyways I still have faith in Hulton as our GM.... i just think we probably should look realistically at the roster and the draft capital... and maybe reconsider building around 06 as anything much more than whatever it grows into... and get away from overspending on assets.... get some early picks in house If I had to guess, Hulton wanted at minimum a 1st for Horth and there just wasn't a buyer willing to pay that. Halifax was able to get Denis & Sprynar without moving a first and Denis brings goal scoring plus other intangibles that I don't believe Horth had. If I'm a Charlottetown fan I'd be annoyed if I found out he could have been moved for a 2nd+3rd. All we can really do is speculate based on the trades we did see so who knows what the actual offers were. |
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Post by slickbackgreaser on Jan 23, 2024 11:25:19 GMT -4
There was interest in Horth and Morneau at the deadline. Calls were made. Hulton had a selling price and those teams couldn't match it. Whether it was too high, that we will never know. My hypothesis and probably unpopulare opinion. This is a small market team and need fans in seats. Horth and Morneau have a big impact on this team for the rest of the year. Trading them for lets say a 3rd round pick in value isn't worth the loss $ for the second half of the season for them to entirely tank. Tbh, the same can be said for Biak last season too. As for Hulton coaching, I think he's doing a great job given the players he has. Next year will probably have the same results maybe a little better, but wouldn't be surprised to see Kearsey moved by Christmas. There was so little movement with 20's at the deadline this year, I'd be inclined to believe that there would be no one looking to trade for Horth, Morneau, or Huckins at this past deadline. Halifax was looking for a 20 and brought in Reynolds.... but I can't think of any other team right off the top of my head that would have wanted any of our 20's... even for free. And that's not to say that Horth, Huckins, and Morneau have zero value...but there would likely have been no one looking to pay to add any of them. But I think Biakabatuka would have had value last season and should have been dealt even if it ended up being pennies on the dollar. |
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