Um, what tactical changes do you expect to see from Pete? Uh, what, what type of game do you see the Isles playing?

Yeah, I think, uh, it's gonna be...

I mean, I, I feel like every coach wants to play a faster brand of hockey, but it's gonna be more structural the way they break out.

I think, you know, Barry Trotz with the re- the teams that went to the back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021 were so good structurally.

They didn't...

You know, they, they, they played more of a defensive shell in a sense, but they didn't allow much, a lot of outside shots.

They allowed, you know, had more high danger chances off the rush, and I think after Trotz left, those finer, those little details kinda got lost.

Mm.

Um, what tactical changes do you expect to see from Pete? Uh, what, what type of game do you see the Isles playing?

Yeah, I think, uh, it's gonna be...

I mean, I, I feel like every coach wants to play a faster brand of hockey, but it's gonna be more structural the way they break out.

I think, you know, Barry Trotz with the re- the teams that went to the back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021 were so good structurally.

They didn't...

You know, they, they, they played more of a defensive shell in a sense, but they didn't allow much.

A lot of outside shots.

Mm.

And yeah, if they have like those five or six high-end players that they do have, I find that the ceiling, while it might not be that high, is much higher than the floor of last place potentially.

Yeah, and again, I don't think it's also a bad thing for the Islanders, depending on what they do this summer, to take a step back, take three steps forward.

If they move on from players, not saying Barzal, but if they move on from other players and say, you know what, Anders Lee's walking, and rather than going and getting a player to replace Lee, we're going to play Eklund in a middle six role, and whether he struggles or not, we're going to let him.

Look at Schaefer.

Schaefer struggled.

They, of course, could have sent him back to juniors.

They weren't obviously going to do that, but You know, there might be a time, maybe it's at the deadline after this year, if the Islanders struggle, where they sell off.

I think he is a good player, but not one that I want to be locked into for the next six or seven years.

going to try rosner again i think so i'm not sure is it us or is it his oh we got it he looks good i think it's you guys yeah no we're good right now yeah we got you so what were you saying about peter

Yeah, he's obviously brought infrastructure, right? And he told us, you know, Barzal told us that he didn't talk to DeBoer about going or he just did it.

And I think, you know, I heard you guys mentioned it before I got cut out is I think Barzal over the last couple of weeks, the defensive game has been lacking, whether it's turnovers in the offensive zone, not getting back or just, just mistakes being made.

But DeBoer's biggest statement was when a guy like that can move up the ice like that, you want them down the middle.

Now you look at the Islanders second line right now, it's Richie, Shannon, Richie Barzal, Shen, right? All three are centers.

Obviously it's easier to go from center to wing the wing to center, but I think it's for Barzal just being down the middle and taking the puck and transitioning up and down the ice.

Now Barzal has gotten better defensively since playing with Boca.

And do you think based on the way it ended and some of the chatter around if Patrick Waugh was the right guy or what the players thought of him, do you think Patrick Waugh coaches in the National Hockey League again?

So what were you saying about Pete?

Yeah.

He's obviously brought in for structure.

And he told us, you know, bars all told us that he didn't talk to DeBoer about going or he just did it.

And I think, you know, I heard you guys mentioned it before I got cut out is I think bars all over the last couple of weeks, the defensive game has been lacking, whether it's turnovers in the offensive zone, not getting back or just, just mistakes being made.

But DeBoer's biggest statement was when a guy like that can move up the ice like that, you want them down the middle.

Now you look at the Islanders second line right now, it's Richie Shannon, Richie bars, all Shen, right? All three are centers.

And do you think based on the way it ended and some of the chatter around if Patrick Waugh was the right guy or what the players thought of him, do you think Patrick Waugh coaches in the National Hockey League again?

Yeah, like he'll play a little bit heavy at times, but I just wonder, do they have that makeup to really go on a long run this year? Yeah,

I think when you talk about speed, you have to catch them to hit them, right? And I know what you mean by that.

Like, we haven't seen Shea from the playoffs.

I think Callum Ritchie, he struggled with being physical.

But you look at up and down their lineup and, you know, you look at Horvat's a big dude.

He carries some weight.

Paggio is small, but he plays like he's 6'5".

Let's call it the Cole Iserman signing with the New York Islanders rumor or news that came out yesterday.

are you seeing, like if the Islanders can get this going, is that when they become the real threat? You know, I think we said last time you were here, they're not going to be a real threat until their power play figures it out.

Yeah.

Actually we were talking to Patrick while the other day and I said, you know, is the last thing really for you guys to feel like you're at your best is the PowerPoint.

He said, yeah, the PK has been really good.

They've been much better at five on five.

The defense has been good.

That's what it comes down to.

Yeah, like he'll play a little bit heavy at times, but I just wonder, do they have that makeup to really go on a long run this year?

Like, more people are watching the Islanders this year, and their on-ramp to the Islanders is this kid.

Yeah.

I, I'm not surpri- Nothing phases me in terms of what he's able to do.

The fact that he's transcended this organization.

But you talk about vibe, and that's been a huge thing for Patrick Roy.

He, he went home this summer after the Islanders missed the playoffs last year and said, "You know, I wa- I wanna figure out a different way to kind of go at this." And knowing that he had Schaefer coming in and knowing how important it was to keep things lively and fun and, and youthful, he came in preaching compassion, preaching fun, preaching swagger, and that's all Schaefer is.

You talk to a lot of players in that room, and Schaefer is a leader.

Uh, the Braden Schenn trade, I wanna ask you about that, but d-do you, do you think that there were other deals that were close to the finish line, but they just couldn't get them there? I'm, I'm curious, like from, from your, um, experience around deadline with the Islanders, was there, were there some other things that Darch was trying to do that just couldn't make happen?

Like, more people are watching the Islanders this year, and their on-ramp to the Islanders is this kid.

Yeah.

I, I'm not surpri- nothing phases me in terms of what he's able to do.

The fact that he's transcended this organization.

But you talk about vibe, and that's been a huge thing for Patrick Roy.

He, he went home this summer after the Islanders missed the playoffs last year and said, "You know, I wa- I wanna figure out a different way to kind of go at this." And knowing that he had Schaefer coming in and knowing how important it was to keep things lively and fun and, and youthful, he came in preaching compassion, preaching fun, preaching swagger, and that's all Schaefer is.

He talked to a lot of players in that room, and Schaefer is a leader.

Uh, the Braden Schenn trade, I wanna ask you about that, but d-do you, do you think that there were other deals that were close to the finish line, but they just couldn't get them there? I'm, I'm curious, like, from, from your, um, experience around deadline with the Islanders, was there-- were there some other things that Dark was trying to do that just couldn't make happen?

Yeah.

Now, Darsh also said that he'll move his first-round pick i- if there's an opportunity to bolster the team.

I think it was more of, you know, he got Horvat back, but the lineup just has been changing so much, and the Islanders wanted to be better defensively.

I do wanna mention that.

He said that our defensive play from our forward group ND hasn't been good enough.

So even if Pallot isn't that goal scorer, he provides that responsible two-hundred-foot game, can help out on the penalty kills.

I think it's more than just, you know, Pallot finding that scoring touch that maybe he's had in years past, but more about overall the body of work Pallot's put in.

Bingo

Yeah.

Now, Darsht also said that he'll move his first-round pick i- if there's an opportunity to bolster the team.

I think it was more of, you know, he got Horvat back, but the lineup just has been changing so much, and the Islanders wanted to be better defensively.

I do wanna mention that.

He said that, "Our defensive play from our forward group and D hasn't been good enough." So even if Pallot isn't that goal scorer, he provides that responsible 200-foot game, can help out on the penalty kills.

I think it's more than just, you know, Pallot finding that scoring touch that maybe he's had in years past, but more about overall the body of work Pallot's put in.

And like I said, it- it's a low risk.

Bingo

One of the players who doesn't get to return is, is Sam Bennett." Just give us a sort of, uh, a thought on, on all of that involving Bo Horvat of the Islanders make it at the Team Canada.

Yeah, you mentioned it.

I mean, this is a guy that's so determined and very consistent, and I think the injury bug maybe scared him a little bit that he would have to miss, but this guy has so much play for his country.

You're talking about an overall 200-foot center who power plays, bumper spot, he's one of the best players in that spot, wins his faceoffs, plays big minutes, two-way forward, he plays top minutes on the penalty kill.

I mean, this guy did it all to prove that he belongs there, and again, you know, it's not an all-star game.

You don't, you're not playing the most talented player.

You need players like Playstone and Roland or Horvat.

Like, this all happened, like, really fast and now Islanders fans have a team that's in, uh, uh, second place in the Metropolitan and are looking at their future and saying, like, "How fast can we get these kids involved?" Islanders depth, your thoughts, Steph Rozner?

Um, like how far do you think the organization is looking at Matthew Schaefer? Are they doing it in sort of increments of five games, of, of 10 games, see where he's at, what the decision is going to be for his development? And I'm trying to figure out a clever way here with you, Steph, to ask if they'll make him available for the World Juniors.

Yeah, it's a great question.

I would be shocked if he was made available for the World Juniors because I think if the Islanders want to do anything this year, Schaefer is going to play a huge part of it.

You've already seen their transition game last night.

I've never seen the Islanders play a faster Brandon Hawkey.

And it's a collective effort for sure, but I think Schaefer kind of sets that, the way he plays, the way... just the way he skates and moves the puck.

And I think it is...

What would the Islanders organization consider a successful season? And maybe what would you consider a successful season for this team?

Mm-hmm.

So we don't know what he's gonna look like against NHLers.

So I think he's gonna get the nine games.

Um, I don't know if he's gonna go the college route.

I personally think the college route, if he's not making the NHL team, is what's best, to go play against 18 to 24-year-olds rather than just cap it.

But, I mean, they're gonna give him every chance to make this team.

Patrick Roy said that.

Like honestly, what are the, what are the expectations for this squad? And if it's, "Look, we're still shoveling out the barn before we show the horse," do you really need to have Matthew Schaefer there for that?