I’ve been reading a lot lately about Ted Nolan’s job security. I figured I’d take this post to give my thoughts about it.

This team isn’t making the playoffs this season and it’s not because of Nolan.

You want to know the reasons why? Here they are:

Miroslav Satan- 15 goals, need I say more?

Don’t even get me started on this guy. If the Islanders bring this guy back, this site will be filled with a few choice rants. I promise. It’s not that the Islanders haven’t given this guy an opportunity to score either; he’s played with good players or even players that were streaking. He’s been on the powerplay and has had plenty of opportunities. He should have 30 goals right now, no excuses. He quit on this team.

Bill Guerin- 22 goals and 40 points

This is a guy that has been a perennial 30 goal scorer and a lock for at least 55 points. Among the list of the Islanders’ under-achievers, he’s one of the biggest.

Mike Comrie- 21 goals and 28 assists

After signing a one-year extension a few weeks ago, Mr. Duff has been absolutely invisible. Some people expected a point a game season from him, but I was expecting at least 60. He’s done it before in smaller roles and hasn’t been able to do it here. Maybe Guerin’s and Ruslan Fedotenko’s ineffectiveness has plagued him, but still hasn’t been able to finish. Also, if I see another toe drag from him, I may go clinically crazy.

Ruslan Fedotenko- 16 goals, 33 points

Another guy that was brought in and overpaid, Tank showed flashed of brilliance, but injuries and a lack of finish hampered his season. Just like Comrie, Fedotenko was expected to flourish with more ice-time. That hasn’t happened.

If having four players like this on your team, the Islanders have had even bigger problems this year.

First off, they don’t have a real number one defense pairing. Nothing against Radek Martinek or Brendan Witt, because they bust their humps every night, but they’re not exactly 2003 versions of Kenny Jonsson and Adrian Aucoin. They can’t play in all game situations and can’t take this team on their backs and run with it. Aucoin and Jonsson could playa half hour a night in all situations. Sure their numbers weren’t fantastic, but they played solid defense and contributed on offense. While Marty and Witter play great D, the Isles need something more out of their first defensive pairing.

Aside from all of this, Rick Dipietro, Mike Sillinger, Andy Sutton, Bruno Gervais and Chris Campoli have all missed serious amounts of time with injuries. These are all things that Nolan cannot control. Considering all of this, they’re lucky they’ve been competitive this long.

This offseason, the Isles will have plenty of decisions to make about this team. Keeping Ted Nolan around after his contract runs out should be an easy one.

Posted under Isles Thoughts 2008