...and the beat(ing) goes on...

... Injuries to the right of me, injuries to the left of me,... Just another day in the lives of our New York Islanders. As a fan, I am forced to ask myself if the team is just unlucky when it comes to the old injury bug, especially to its defensive corps, or is there something more to this. How can this team’s defence continually get decimated time and time again by injuries? With tonight’s match-up versus the dreaded Rangers looming, the team is faced with the possibility of playing without Witt, Martinek, Sutton and now Meyer.

As much as I am a huge fan of Witt, I must admit that on a top team, he is not a 1/2 guy but a 3/4 guy, when it comes to minutes played. Martinek talent wise on a contending team is at best a 4/5 guy and would not be getting top 2 minutes. Players such as Gervais, Meyer would be a 7 defenseman on a good team at best, if not relegated to the rafters on a nightly basis…etc…

My point through all this is as follows: Are the Islanders overextending these guys and is this resulting in a ridiculous amount of injuries to their top 7 defensemen. If a guy should be playing 10-15 minutes per game and is playing 20 minutes +, he is tired, overextended and often will lead to him being put into situations that he cannot compensate for. A player playing in a role over and above his abilities will be continuously put in situations where there is an increased likelihood of injuries, caused by a lack of ability to adjust due to a diminished skill set.

Am I wrong in my supposition, maybe, but these questions needed to be asked, and explored?

As we are now in 15th place after 7 games, the season will only get more and more stressful as it plays out, I can only hope, the team learns to overcome the injury bug, once and for all...

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

As I read various blogs and articles across the vastness of this great web, I am astounded at what seems to have become the norm...analysing hockey teams and its players after a mere 5 games. The New York Islanders are not exempt from hockey crazy fans pondering on what has gone wrong and what needs to be done to right the wrongs of the failing ship that is the 2008-2009 season.

Are you all (collectively) kidding me???

Five games does not a season make and we all need to take a step back and breath... I feel odd saying this, as I have stated on numerous occasions that the Islanders will finish at best 14th in the conference but trying to analyse individual performances after 5 games seems downright silly to me. With the rookies on this team, the organization will only be able to make a proper evaluation of their potential and development with maybe 15 to 20 games left in the season and so should we. In regards to the vets (31 and up club), did any hockey fan truly believe that they would be anything else but what they are and will in all likelihood show for the remainder of the season?? Come, come now...

Anyhow, I am looking forward to Thursday’s game versus the road weary Stars, to see what Bergenheim can do with two grizzled old vets such as Weight and Guerin. No doubt that the increased ice time will help him in his development and give me reason to watch what might be a fun game...indeed!!

Follies of Fall

The training camps are but a distant memory, the regular season is in full bloom and the Islanders are once again causing quite a stir within its small fan base. The season is but 3 games old and the blogosphere has been ripe with write ups ranging from rage to disgust to what’s all the fuss about.

The team’s misguided refusal to disclose let alone discuss injuries to their players has been reviewed and lamented on repeatedly by fans and media alike. How can the New York Islanders treat us fans in such a manner, is beyond most fanatics comprehension.

Now the on ice product is much as yours truly predicted prior to the season, a roller coaster ride from game to game. The so-called rebuilding process full of has-beens and never will-be’s is not going to be pretty or easy to watch...who on this youth movement team is under the age of 24 again???

Three games into the season and still no Rick Dipietro appearance, the team wants us to believe all is well and they were just ridding the hot handed Joey Macdonald....hmmm...a 7-1 spanking and letting poor Macdonald hang out to dry is doing wonders in convincing us, the fan base, into believing the poop Snow and his minions of dwarfs are peddling...

Through this season of coming turmoil and disappointing losses, all we as fans look for is some kind of professionalism, respect and credible leadership. Three games in, and the New York Islanders are doing wonders in these departments... Oh the follies...