All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

My understanding was that Mad Mike wanted Rick so badly he traded his former first round pick for him.

But then, it's Milbury. There never appears to be a rational explanation for his draft picks.

But hey, they've got Yashin. What more could a franchise ask for?

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Well, they could ask for a captain with with heart and balls...

If you look at the talent that the Islanders drafted in the 1990s, the team would be the Ottawa Senators.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Osgood makes less than a mill now.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Thank you for the info.

I still think that the Blues owners want to scrape the bottom of the barrel payroll wise.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

luongo was traded the same day dipietro was drafted. i wasnt there, but i heard it was one of the best media conferences ever.

friend told me that joe lapointe of the new york times heard milbury's explanation and said something along the likes of, "you traded roberto luongo for a number one pick because the guy handles the puck well? that's, that's...insane!"

it was hysterical. milbury just handled it calmly.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

That's hysterical. And Lapointe is 100% correct. Mad Mike lived up to his nickname that day.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

The Best of Mike Milbury:

Referring to the Rangers while being interviewed about signing Chris Ferraro:
- "I took the corporate bicycle up and down Long Island to sign this player. Unlike my neighbors, the corporate jet wasn't available."

About Ziggy Palffy's agent Paul Kraus:
- "I think the agent is a moron and way in over his head."
-"It's too bad he lives in the city. He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot."
-"I get the sense they thought my trip was a ploy. I hope they will be reasonable, but I'm not sure that that word comes into Paul's thinking."
-"We hope that Ziggy will come to his senses. We have no hope Paul Kraus will."

Referring to Travis Green's blind hit on concussion-ridden Kenny Jonsson:
-"He's a gutless puke, that's what bleeping Travis is, that's why he doesn't wear a bleeping Islander uniform anymore. He got overpaid and that's my own bleeping fault."
-"Everyone knows that Travis doesn't exactly have the biggest cajones."

Following a loss to Montreal after the Potvin/Berard trade:
-"Whew. I have to ask: 'Where's the beef?'"

When asked what the worst-case scenario would be regarding the team's arena problems:
-"That I don't get paid on the 1st and 15th."

About team's lackluster play:
-"We were dopey, sleepy. . . . We weren't ready to play."

When asked if using defenseman Bryan Berard at left wing in a game was punishment for his frequent roaming into the offensive zone:
-"I hope he didn't take it as a compliment."

About the prospect of the owners making him coach and GM again for the 98-99 season:
-"I think slavery went out in the 1860s."

On Ulf Samuelsson:
-"Jerk that he is, he's always wearing that smirking grin that makes you want to punch him in the face."

When questioned about the triple rivalry between his team, the Rangers, and New Jersey:
-"Screw the Rangers, and screw the Devils; I work for the Islanders now, and I could care less about them!"

On Eric Fichaud after his NHL debut, a win:
-"He seems to have a competitive type of personality, and he's kinda cute."

About waiting to find out his status w/ the Isles:
-"I can't say that it didn't give me some agita over the last couple of weeks as to how this would play out."

About his own conditioning, in 1987:
-"I'm a 1978 Toyota with 86,000 miles on it, rust spots, and a hole in the floorboard. But hey, I start every morning."

When asked what he was going to do to shake things up after a bad home loss:
-"Me, I'm going to have about three vodkas."

About being named Coach of the Year:
-"This isn't microbiology. I've been in the game 16 years and should have figured out something."

On benching underachieving Todd Bertuzzi:
-"He's a big man and big things are expected of him. Every time I saw him (after the benching) he looked like he wanted to punch me in the mouth - which could be a good sign."

On waiting for Palffy and Green to show up to camp:
-"I'm trying not to be really annoyed. But you know me. That won't last long."

On the signing of goon Eric Cairns:
-"The next time someone whacks Kenny Jonsson, I want someone other than Trevor Linden to drive his head into the boards."

To a crowd of cynical reporters:
-"Give us a chance!"

When asked about offers for Green from other teams:
-"If I said none, it would be insulting. I don't want to be insulting. It's not my style."

On his status for the remainder of the 97-98 season:
-"I'm here for the rest of the season unless I get hit by a truck."

On the possibility of on-ice friction between him and newly-signed Palffy:
-"This is Ziggy we're talking about. He just got a whopping contract. If anything, he should love me -- more than he already does."

After the Isles pounced the Kings after the Kings pounced them earlier in the season:
-"Payback is a bitch, and we enjoyed it."

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Just to play Devils advocate here - and I do think the trading of Luongo was retarded - I am not ready to close the book on Dipeitro. Goaltenders take longer to develop than any other position. He's only 24, and part of the reason for his slowed develppment is that he was pushed way to early in his career into the NHL. Plus, someone already did run him this year and gave him a concussion, which he rushed back from and has not played well since. Screwed over my hockey pool to. Regardless, the guy does still hve potential, he just needs to screw his head on straight. But he still probably will never be a Luongo, likely just a solid starting goalie, maybe make an all-star team or two in his best years,but that's it.
Just like to add, I love Mad Mike. He's got to be one of my favourite hockey personalities. Then again I'm a big fan of Keenan.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Mike's funny.

Keenan has a serial killer look to him.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

With that moustache and psychotic reputation, my dad has taken to calling him Adolf Keenan. The ultimate threat by a GM to his players has got to be," if you don't start playing better i will bring in Keenan!" - yes I know he's the GM in FLA right now, but the threat has got to still exist. It's only a matter of time before he has worn out his welcome there. As crazy as the guy is, I think he is highly underrated as a hockey man. He built contenders in St. Louis and Vancouver - and earlier in Chicago - but never got to stick around long enough in either place to really get the credit he deserves.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Sirs, Madames,

I tried to pin the nickname of Draft Elvis on Milbury but it didn't stick. Milbury's hair is greasier I guess.

I remember Earl Ingerfield, a good amateur scout, announced he was retiring one year, put in a full year going all over Western Canada, hoping to make one last pick. Gets there--the Islanders not only don't have a pick in the first round. They don't have a pick the first day. They could have sat at their table and played euchre.

YHS, etc

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

You can channel Turk Broda. I will channel the awesome shootout powers of....

PETR PRUCHA! Tonight, he scored the game-winning goal in the Rangers-Panthers game. 4-3 Rangers win, in the shootout.