Only hours after that deal was completed, Isles defenseman Andy MacDonald broke his foot blocking a shot against the Chicago Blackhawks, he is out 4-6 weeks (basically the rest of the season).Once Sutton was traded, the next biggest Islander became Trent Hunter, but he got hurt in the game against the Blackhawks too and is out about two weeks.
Not only did Garth Snow not add anything to the already overmatched, undersized, non-physical defense group, but he gave away all of those aforementioned traits when he traded Sutton.
Islanders fans are already unhappy with Snow's lack of moves if the team is, in fact, competing for a playoff spot. But one person in particular sounds very unhappy, and this person may surprise you: head coach Scott Gordon.
Gordon is now left with very little to work with and he really is none too happy about it.
Here’s what the coach said after the 3-2 loss to the much bigger Bruins on Saturday when asked about playoff aspirations (as seen on Islanders TV):
“Let’s stop beating us up as to what the guys are thinking. At the end of the day, we’re pretty depleted on defense. We’re at a huge disadvantage.
“It’s not going to be easy. We’re going to get the effort. I know we’re going to get the effort, and we’re going to be better. But to immediately take out two guys that were playing 23, 24-plus minutes (Sutton and MacDonald), and insert a guy who’s never played an NHL game (Dylan Reese) - who has come in and done a good job - to insert a guy who’s been off for a month and a half (Jack Hillen) and is playing with the thought of what it’s like to have a puck hit you in the face, we’re at a huge disadvantage."
As Islanders Point Blank's Chris Botta writes, "After the game on Saturday, Gordon looked genuinely upset - as if he truly believed the team had no options but to field the roster they did. With the knowledge that MacDonald was injured, they could have grabbed a depth defenseman (or two) for late-round picks. They could have done something. They are 0-2 since."
Snow was sure to hear some criticism from the media, but it's possible Gordon is unhappy with him, too. If this losing continues, the Isles may soon pack it up and scrap their playoff plans.
Playoff plans?! Let's be realistic here.
The Islanders will not make the playoffs this season and probably not next season either. I love my Islanders, but they just are not competitive at all. They have no size anywhere on the ice, they are not a physical team, they have no scoring (the guys that are supposed to be scoring go cold for several games at a time) and their defense is shoddy night in and night out.
How can you be a playoff team when you can't protect your goaltender in front of the net because the guy screening him is five inches taller than the defenseman and when the team is constantly blowing multiple goal leads in the third period?!
I will say this. They are a better team than last season. But if I'm Garth Snow, I give Scott Gordon one more year to show real improvement, as in maybe ninth place, and if that is not seen, I don't give him a new contract.
This is getting ridiculous. I understand the youth movement, but all the youth is years away from coming up.
The Isles are at the salary floor, they have only $30 million in payroll committed to next year's team, and theoretically could spend another $25 million under the cap if they so choose. They could go out and spend that wealth of money on young restricted free agents or unrestricted ones. Why didn't they make a move for a young guy at the deadline for later round picks? Good question. No one knows but good ole Garth; not even Gordon knows.
They gave up an extremely physical defenseman in Sutton and lost MacDonald for probably the year with a broken foot, you would think they would bring back some grit and physicality.
It is tough to compete night in and night out when your tallest player is defenseman Dustin Kohn, at 6'2'' and 200 lbs (and Trevor Gillies doesn't count and neither does Tim Jackman, because let's be real, what is Jackman good for anyway? Nothing really).
They are constantly out-muscled in the corners and they have no one to stand in front of the net to take a beating and screen the goaltender like Mark Parrish used to and like Tomas Holmstrom does for the Detroit Red Wings.
Their biggest guy, Matt Martin, is 22 years old and must work on his skating to be a successful NHL player, but the kid is a banger and is willing to stand in front of the net and take the beating.
Take the Nashville Predators game from February 9, for instance. Martin stood in front of the net and it resulted in two goals. The Isles went on to win the game in a shootout.
Martin brings a piece of the game that the Islanders don't have and I still don't understand why he isn't with the big club. His size is definitely needed.
This team is the laughingstock of the NHL, and have been since our dear friend, Mike Milbury, began trading away our future stars because he couldn't get along with them and what not.
The youth movement is a fine idea if you surround the great youthful talent (Okposo, Bailey, Moulson, Tavares) with veterans that can still play the game, not guys like Doug Weight and Richard Park who are on fumes at this point in their careers.
Back to the point of the Islanders depleted defense.
The problem with these guys is that too many of them are offensive minded, but can't even score. Jack Hillen, Freddy Meyer, MacDonald, and Bruno Gervais all pinch up in the play too much and get caught in the offensive zone.
Notice how I left out Mark Streit. It's because he is the only one that can score and still be remotely responsible in his own end.
If I was the GM of this club I would go out into free agency in July and sign some physical, rather young defenseman that play well in their own end, but can help on the rush.
Dump Doug Weight and Richard Park and go out and get some veterans that can make more of a difference than the one goal that Doug Weight has this season.
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