All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Seems we hang out at all the same joints. ;D

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

The original owners hired Bill Torrey as general manager and he hired Al Arbour as head coach. The three levels then had the good sense not to get mixed up in each other's jobs.

Torrey's skills as an administrator, judge of hockey talent and overall team builder were matched only by Arbour's ability to blend all the talent assembled by Torrey and turn it into a contender. The team was also allowed to learn from its mistakes, similar to the way the Edmonton Oilers were developed in the early 1980s. While Torrey didn't come from a winning hockey background, having worked for the California Seals prior to joining the Islanders, Arbour had won Stanley Cups as a player in Chicago and Toronto and had ended his career playing for Scotty Bowman in St. Louis.

The team's top players during the 1970s and '80s were also highly respected leaders. Denis Potvin, for example, is one of only a handful of captains in hockey history to lead his teams to four Stanley Cups. The others -- Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, George Armstrong and Wayne Gretzky. No one has ever won more than four while wearing the "C" -- a tidbit I picked up during our Hockey Hall of Fame visit on Saturday.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

As an aside, I've realized that there are still two NHL Original Six venues still in use today as hockey arenas.

The Matthews Arena, aka Boston Arena, was built in 1910 and was the first home of the Boston Bruins, from 1924-28. The Northeastern Huskies are now based there and I believe the rink is owned by the university.

The Windsor Arena in Windsor, Ontario, was known as the Border Cities Arena when it was built in 1924. During the 1926-27 season it was the original home of the Detroit Cougars, who eventually became the Red Wings.

Kinda funny how arenas and stadiums built in the last 40 years have to be replaced every so often whether they need it or not. Or maybe it's just that venues built back in the day were made to last -- they didn't come with "best before" dates.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

I would say I browse more than hang out. :

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Something bad's going down on the Island.

LaFontaine just quit.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171665&hubname=

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

And methinks it has a lot to do with a meddling owner.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Wow, obviously someone was jealous of all the headlines the Knicks were getting this offseason.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

the best part about this is that snows contract will count against the cap for two more seasons because he signed a multi-year deal after age 35.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Wang held a presser today to introduce Snow as GM and to rip Smith.

Wang wanted his hockey people to meet on every decision, and each of them could, independently of the others, go to him with suggestions and complaints. The brain trust included Smith, Ted Nolan, Lafontaine, Ken Morrow and (I believe) Milbury.

In tomorrow's NY Times story, Wang said that Smith told him that if he was the GM, he should have final say. Wang disagreed and Smith was fired.

JR: I believe that Snow is qualified to be an NHL GM. After all, he did win the players' fantasy hockey league last season. That Jagr trade put him over the top...

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

To be fair, he's likely as qualified to work in hockey operations as is Chris Snow.

A guy's playing ability or lack thereof has nothing to do with their ability behind the bench or in the executive suites, as has been proved time and time again. In fact, it may be true that the most successful players-turned-coaches, etc., actually had playing careers of little or no consequence. See Sather, Glen; Bowman, Scotty; Kilrea, Brian; Lamoriello, Lou.

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Chris Russo interviewed Wang today on WFAN. Wang subtly and not-so subtly ripped Smith. http://wfan.com/

I can just see it now: Between periods last night at the Coliseum, Snow completed a three player trade with the Anaheim Ducks. The Islanders acquired...


"In goal for your New York Islanders, numb-bah thir-tee, general manager, Garth Snow!"

 

Re: All-purpose hockey (NHL and Olympics) thread...

Just listened to this. Yikes.

Wang is a full blown idiot.

Chris Russo is bang-on with his questions.

No wonder the Islanders are the Gong Show of the NHL