What's the NY Islanders biggest problem?

Question

they seldom have a winning season....

Answer 1

Garth Snow

Answer 2

Last season, they were hit pretty hard with the injury bug. Most notably, Jon Sim. He played all of one and a half games before suffering that season ending leg injury.

Brendan Witt and Martinek were constantly in and out last season with various injuries. Then, Chris Campoli was done for the season with a shoulder injury and then,  Mike Sillinger was forced to miss several weeks  due to yet another injury. So at least for last season, the Isles did have a valid reason to use the injury excuse to explain how they sucked air.

Answer 3

they need a stud winger or scorer of some kind too many similar players goaltending is great though

Answer 4

No direction, and Mike Milbury screwed them up by trading away a lot of talent during his tenure.  They need to stop pretending that they can go anywhere with the current roster.  Even if they made the playoffs, they couldn't possibly go far.  Isles management needs to sit down and decide on an identity for their team.  Choose whether they're going to go for a quick and skilled team (Pittsburgh/Montreal), or a defensive-oriented system (Detroit/New Jersey).  When they decide on an identity, they can begin the process of choosing the right GM and coach for that specific system.  There are GMs and coaches who are specialists in certain systems.  Get the right people in place, then dismantle what they have right now and start over from scratch.  Draft only players that fit into the chosen system, and fill out your roster over a two or three year span.  They'll be pathetic for a few years, but it will work for them in the long run - just look at Pittsburgh.

Answer 5

The biggest problem with the Isles is the barn they play in. Nassau Coliseum is a dump. I wouldn't want to play 41 games in that fallout shelter. They are the 3rd most relevant team in town right now. Success breeds success and success has not been on long island in 2 decades. Attractive free agents do not want to be a part of the franchise. They are the 5th best team in a 5 team division and it appears it will stay this way for the forseeable future.

Answer 6

the rangers and the devils, 3 teams within the same area.

Answer 7

Skating, passing, puck handling, shooting & goaltending

Answer 8

to start no player wants to play for the islanders, look at their arena. it is horrible. i pass it many times driving places and each time i think why would anyone want to play there it is a dump. players like ryan smyth that were traded to the islanders don't want to play there. the good players that they sign won't wanna play in a dump that never sells out unless its the rangers or devils are playing there (when those teams play its mostly their fans at the collusiem). They will never be the rangers, an original six team that plays at madison square garden and they will never be the devils who have a brand new arena. some other problems are that they hired a back up goalie with no experience to be their gm. their owner probably knows nothing about hockey and can't even out bid local business owners for a rink and pro shop.

Answer 9

If Mr. Wong needs one lesson about owning a hockey team I would suggest he study the Toronto Maple Leafs. Specifically, Harold Ballard hiring Gord Stellick, a former rink hand, as GM and see how that worked out.

Answer 10

I could have rephrased this as "What is the Toronto Maple Leafs' biggest problem"

Answer 11

I hit these questions in the wrong order. There was a Feaster Kiester question above in which I identified owners s******g up. I should have included Charlie as well.

A screwed up owner, a poor arena, and no fans these lead to problems. At least Toronto is sold out and the Hanger isn't a bad rink even if it is 15,000 seats too small.

Answer 12

The defence, Skating, passing, puck handling, shooting and goaltending

and the fact that New york has 2 more NHL teams. Tell me if im wrong but I believe that they have

New York Rangers

New Jersey Devils (1 hour away from New york, still counts as New York)

And plus Philadelphia Flyers is 40mins. away from New Jersey.

Its just like saying-what is the Atlanta Thrasers biggest problem. Or the Leafs

Answer 13

Ownership and their "innovative" ideas; like hiring their back-up goalie to be the full-time GM and having their main TV camera at the visiting blue line.