As of this posting, the Isles find themselves sitting in 7th place in the East after a recent stretch of 5-1-2 hockey. An unlikely scenario just 2 weeks ago. Now there's no telling whether this good play will continue and whether or not we'll be sitting in a playoff position come Thanksgiving or Christmas. Islander fans are no doubt enjoying the team's play. However, I think it's appropriate to ask an important question... is this winning good for the Islanders?
At it's surface, it a strange question. Of course you want to win. Of course you want to make the playoffs. Charles Wang has reiterated the goal every year is the Stanley Cup. But what's better for the long term success of this team? A 6th, 7th or 8th place finish or another top 5 draft pick?
I'd argue it all hinges on the results of any potential playoff series. The organization is in flux on two fronts, the Lighthouse and the team. You've got a young team that still lacks size and scoring. You've also got an arena deal waiting with the future of the franchise on LI in doubt.
The Isles right now are very close to the salary cap floor, so they certainly have room to make a run at big time (and big money) free agents. Of course, we all know our recent success at landing that prized free agent. So, given this is still a young team, another top 5 draft pick is as perfect a fit as can be. You'd be looking at someone who would probably crack the lineup immediately and for entry level money.
You have an owner trying to drum up support for an organization that has had an awfully bad run. Would a successful season and a playoff round win permanently put fans back in the seats for a long time to come? Tough to say. Is a renovated arena enough to get people interested again on it's own even if the team struggles continue another season or two?
I'd argue that a winning team now trumps another top 5 prospect, but barely. Why? Two reasons. The first is selfish. I'd like to see at least a playoff series victory in my adult life, and most certainly while I know the team will be on LI. Second, I think players just want to win. Yes, some just play for money but if you have an organization that is winning, you're more likely to attract a free agent piece of the puzzle, new building or not.
Perhaps some crazy thoughts only 15 games into a season.. and perhaps the future will prove this all to be a moot point.
What do you think, what's better for the team? Vote in the poll.
BC
Bridgeport Live Blog
19 hours ago
6 comments:
You want a big time run that's fair enough but who do you want to kick off the team to make it happen to circumvent what they are trying to do.
Isn't that the Milbury plan revisited?
They have Moulson, Tavares, Okposo, Bergenheim-Bailey-Hunter and Tambellini-Nielsen as eight of their top nine forwards and cannot even find a spot for Blake Comeau or Rob Schremp.
They also have prospects in Bridgeport who will take Weight or Sim's spot very soon.
Why change when they have invested years in so many of these players just to add payroll for the sake of adding payroll?
For the first time since January 2008 the team is relatively healthy when they were in sixth place, they are seventh now and have been competitive in virtually every game despite some players not producing.
If they did not lose a league leading 582 games last season (with 31 losses by one goal) they never would have been near 30th, if they did not suffer a league leading 402 man games to injury mostly at the end of 2007-08 they likely would have made their fifth playoff in six years.
Awesome, well said. It is a mini-conundrum, isn't it?
I'm on the edge. I wouldn't kick a (likely one-and-done) playoff spot out of bed, but I wouldn't cry at a top-5 pick, either. The worst, ugly middle may be our fate: Too good for a top 5 pick, too bad for a top-16 finish.
Regardless, I'm all for sticking with the plan, in terms of not making any short-term moves if they're within playoff striking distance in March. Hopefully we get that playoff series win next year.
To win. Its always to win. ALWAYS.
The notion that say a 5th overall pick is necessarily going to be so much better than like a 14th overall pick just dont pan out in reality.
No way to do you instruct young players to lose for the good of the team.
I agree the goal should be to win. But I also think most of us feel that way because we are rising the high of this winning streak. A bad couple of weeks and a lot of fans will change their tune, just like last year.
It's a very long season ahead of the team, but I finally FINALLY feel like something real is being built. I would 100% go for winning now. There comes a point where piling up all these young prospects stalls the development of the team. They do not need more young players with potential - they need a veteran or 2, or 3 - a solid D man and a healthy DiPietro. I think we all know a 40 year old Rollison is not going to keep this up. With Tavares, Okposo, Nielsen, Bailey, Bergenheim - they've got the young talent (Tambellini, Comaeu!) - I think Weight is a big part of the team, he's still great and smart with the puck; they need a few solid veterans on D and F - okposo should be a legitimate all star but Tavares...Tavares will be a superstar in 2-3 years. I don't think he'll ever produce as much as Crosby, but he really reminds me of Crosby when he was a rookie. Definitely shies away from physical contact but talent oozes out on the screen. He makes it look easy and is deceptively fast - it never looks like he's truly exerting himself. Give it two years and it's a wrap. We may never get the top flight guys but they can still make a few big splashes we all know that. that's all this team will need in a few years, and as for moving i'm all for it if it's to queens. out of the area? i'd be devastated
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