The Islanders are coming to a crossroads. In the last few blogs, I have speculated about what the Isles might do over the next few months. I continue to write on a touchy subject — whether or not teams will tank.
Let me start with a great quote "No team will publically tell their players to tank, but you sure know ***** well they're thinking it." I will let you fill in the blank. It is not in a hockey players' mentality to say it is all right to lose. If it is okay with him, you have to kick him in the butt. General Managers call this cheque to cheque syndrome — playing just for the money. Once this disease gets into a locker room, it spreads like wildfire.
I have a source who explained it to me this way: "The team got so used to losing that the team did not care anymore; it got toxic in the dressing room." The Islanders cannot and will not tank for even one season. You don't want that poisonous atmosphere for even one game, let alone an entire season. Leaders like Lee and Neilson are valuable to the Islanders and will block this attitude in the dressing room. They will instill this into young players like Dobson, Wahlstrom, and Bellows. And Coach Trotz will beat them with the never-quit.
So far, those who want the Isles to lose understand that the team will try to win, which is good. I bet the Isles will play far better down the stretch, because Trotz will ensure they will.
Randy
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