New York Islanders Season Wrap Up

[HelloHockeyFans]

DIFFERENT SEASON, SAME RESULT


Cleaning crews begin working on the hallways at the Nassau
Memorial Coliseum.

UNIONDALE, NY - Members of the New York Islanders cleaned their lockers for the final time this season after failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second year in a row.

With the 2005-2006 CPHL playoffs set to get under way in a day for the Gretzky Conference, the Islanders cleared their lockers at the Nassau Memorial Coliseum today for the last time this season.

For the second straight year, the New York Islanders will be watching the post-season from their homes, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Last season, the Islanders were eliminated on their very last game, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Calgary Flames, losing the tie-breaker to the Washington Capitals for the 8th and final playoff spot by way of goal-differential, as the Capitals and Islanders were tied with 42 victories each, but the Capitals had the upper-hand in the next determining category with a goal-differential of +13 while the Islanders managed a +11.

This year's version of the Islanders would suffer the same fate at the end of the year finishing with a worse record than the year before and actually finishing below 0.500.

Something must be said though in defence of the team as the outlook was rather dim at the conclusion of last year as players like Steve Yzerman, Vincent Damphousse, Al MacInnis, Dave Andreychuk, Shayne Corson, and Brett Hull -- all of whom were major cogs in the Islanders' arsenal -- contemplated retirement. The only two of the six to remain in the league this season were Steve Yzerman and Dave Andreychuk, who both happened to find new homes with the Calgary Flames out west.

Once those players were subtracted from the roster, along with Eric Daze's perma-injured-reserve status, the Isles' roster was looking extremely thin with the exception of two players in Jason Arnott and Miroslav Satan.

But excuses, as they say, are for losers, and the Islanders made none today as they faced the media with answers to their questions.

"We believed we would make a push for that last spot this season, and we did," said General Manager Kevin Wu. "Unfortunatley, we weren't good enough. This team worked hard, and will be better next October."

So, fans on the Island will have to wait once again till next season before their team will get another shot at the glorious mug that's often cited as being the hardest professional trophy to attain on the planet.

For now, they'll have to just deal with the fact that their rivals just over the bridge are preparing for a first round match up against the Ottawa Senators which begins on Wednesday. Maybe throwing on a Rangers jersey in support might alleviate the pain. But then again, maybe not.

SEASON LEADERS:

Points: Paul Kariya (44G, 39A, 83PTS, +10)
Goals: Paul Kariya (44G)
Assists: Milan Hejduk (50A)
+/-: Milan Hejduk (+12)
PIM: Jiri Hudler (203PIM)

[eyipyip]

good luck next year!!!

[Preds GM - CPHL]

send kariya back to the music city and you'll make the playoffs.

[notoepik]

I told ya Hudler was not going to make a difference.

Good luck next season Kev. Maybe we both make the playoffs

[Sylvanfan]

Well the Isles are disappointed, but I think the team looks a lot better heading into next season after this year than it did last year. I think you did well to keep this year from being a real disaster. Besides had you been in the Howe conference you likely could have been a playoff team.

[Cheese]

ah phtthhhhhtttttttttttt....Mike Milbury the 2nd!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Cheese

ah phtthhhhhtttttttttttt....Mike Milbury the 2nd!

[Flickered Flame]

Isles suck!

[Young Guns]

Best of luck to you. I know you put allot of time into your swing with me last season. Just remember, keep your back foot planted and try to follow through. I guarantee if you do this you will shave 2 strokes off your game.

And in the mean time we encourage you to come on over and jump on the Wings bus with all the other millions! Still plenty of room and there giving out free Octopus pie!

[Goffie]

Great Job kev! You made an old team who looked to be heading downhill quick at the end of last season into a competitive and much younger team. The outlook towards the future is much brighter on the Island!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

Best of luck to you. I know you put allot of time into your swing with me last season. Just remember, keep your back foot planted and try to follow through. I guarantee if you do this you will shave 2 strokes off your game.

And in the mean time we encourage you to come on over and jump on the Wings bus with all the other millions! Still plenty of room and there giving out free Octopus pie!

That wasn't funny Trevor...

[JiriHrdina]

Kev's done a real nice job this year in my view. I think sometimes GMs start the rebuilding process prematurely but in this case the Isle was in my view in real danger of becoming a bad, old team. They are in way better shape now long-term.

[Radically Red]

Next year Kev.. Still some nice building blocks.... Still not as good as the Sens.. but not bad..

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Radically Red

Next year Kev.. Still some nice building blocks.... Still not as good as the Sens.. but not bad..

You still owe me Alfredsson!!

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Kev's done a real nice job this year in my view. I think sometimes GMs start the rebuilding process prematurely but in this case the Isle was in my view in real danger of becoming a bad, old team. They are in way better shape now long-term.

When 1/3 of your forwards are threatening to retire, it's hard not to rebuild.

I probably made a mistake acquiring all those vets close to the end of last year in an effort to make some noise in the playoffs considering I didn't even... well, we all know the outcome . Ah, live and learn, right?

One thing's for sure... getting rid of guys like Damphousse, MacInnis, etc. is definitely not easy! Thank goodness Axel likes to acquire guys close to his age!