Who is Brad Isbister and why is he on your television screen?
There’s been some debate about the suddenly prominent role Brad Isbister has been playing on the Rangers of late, particularly since it may be at the expense of a younger, more promising player.
First came news that Isbister was not placed on Hartford’s “clear day roster,” meaning he’ll be with the Rangers for the duration of the season; then came Isbister seeing valuable minutes alongside Jaromir Jagr and Michael Nylander in Saturday’s win against the Blues. Now comes tonight, when Isbister is likely to skate with Petr Prucha and Martin Straka against the Islanders, and it’s apparent that the 29-year-old journeyman has made an impression on Tom Renney.
So what exactly does Renney see in the 6-foot-4, 231-pound Isbister? As I mentioned earlier, it’s not necessarily Isbister’s soft hands.
“He’s a good corner guy. He’s strong. He has no problem with the blue paint, and by the nature of how the Islanders defend us—it’s everybody back, they’re firm in their own end, they’re firm in the corner, they’re firm in front of the net—we have to be able to access those areas and get the puck,” Renney said. “That’s what I see in Brad’s game. That along with the requisite experience at this time of year—that certainly doesn’t hurt.”
While that may sound like Isbister is only days away from donning the captain’s “C,” bear in mind that Renney tempered his assessment of the wing when I asked him about the significance of playing Isbister with a wounded Martin Straka. The coach said that in the “grand scheme of things,” Isbister is probably a fourth-line player on the Rangers, but that the reality of the Rangers current situation has forced them to adjust. In other words, if Brendan Shanahan was healthy, we probably wouldn’t be talking about Isbister at all.
So, in other words, you can blame all of this on Mike Knuble.
Some other updates:
OK, more later…
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when i saw Isbister playing for Hartford, he was playing well. i think he is a solid AHLer, who knows the ropes there.. thats where he belongs.. as long as we have injuries, and the ‘Pack are winning, no reason to rush/make changes..
top-10 draft pick here we come!
the 3rd jersey fucking sucks…in every aspect of exsistence…...
We should burn those “Lady Liberty” jerseys. I would much rather see them sport the retro 1978 jerseys stolen by the Winnipeg Jets.
I would also like to see Isbister playing that 4th line role Renny talked about. Put Avery with Straka and Prucha, Hollweg with Cullen and Orty. Then FORECHECK FORECHECK FORECHECK!!!
SAM: thanks for the Isbister follow up…please remind coach Renney that Isbister has failed miserably with 4 other teams…please then ask coach Renney why he thinks Isbister should be on the 2nd line of a team allegedly fighting for a playoff spot, when better options are available…Immonen, Callahan, Dawes…
Looks like the Penguins are on their way out of Pittsburgh and into Kansas City.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2788701
The 4th jerseys are old news and need to go. It is a disgrace that an original 6 team wears anything other than the traditional jerseys. The Bruins Winnie the Pooh jerseys are also disgraceful. If the Liberty jerseys were the regular blue color, or even red, I could support them.
i came to post that story but p.w. beat me to it.
Thank god. Now we don’t have to play them 8 times a year!
we’re going to have to play some other team 8 times a year though.
Doodie, what does that do to alignment? Does Washington join the Atlantic Division and the Kansas City Penguins join the Southeast? Or maybe they become a Western Conference/Central team, and a team like Columbus joins the East? And then where, Northeast or Atlantic? If Northeast, than does the Atlantic get Boston or Buffalo? This is more than just Pittsburgh loosing a team.
SAM: please remind coach Renney that “requisite experience” means nothing when the player in question stinks…Isbister has “requisite experience” with 4 other teams who saw fit only to release him, even with “requisite experience”...Renney’s decisions are head scratchers…
Maybe they should move to Hartford and bring back the Whalers
oh, right, you wouldn’t want to have attractive matchups and opponents to watch. better to have 8 games vs. Columbus. moronic.
I like the 3rd jerseys, why the hate for them just because we can’t remember the last time they actually did a stick salute wearing them?
I would rather see the 8 vs. Pittsburgh, their kids are amazing. But I can’t say 8 vs. say, Boston, would be very bad.
I don’t mind watching the excitement of the games, I mind the potential defeats.
And if they go to the west, I see Columbus coming east and joining the Atlantic. Kansas City would go to the central and ensure that St. Louis and Chicago don’t make the playoffs for 10 years, not that it would’ve taken much to ensure that.
Two other potential scenarios:
1) having Boston join the Atlantic and Columbus joins the North East
2) Washington joins the Atlantic and Nashville joins the South East, making it the hardest division in the East, and arguably in the NHL
LETS GO RANGERS!!!
I hate that I don’t get versus.
put on the 1050 man
great shift by the 4th line
id still rather watch. Besides, I can’t get to a radio or listen to the NHL.com feed now anyway. I usually have to rely on the Rangers in 60.
Is Straka playing?
im glad we keep getting PP that we cant convert on.
marty is in
yes- straka is playing
The boys in blue are looking strong so far, except in the goal column. Hossa played some great D early on to set up Jagr, who did nothing.
where was that cullen penalty? did anyone see it?
How is captain canada doing?
haha- since you mentioned it, it looks like “everybody’s new favorite” smyth just took a penalty.
Captain Canada just got a holding penalty. Cullen bumped into DiPietro infront of the net.
They are playing an extremely gritty, physical, speed filled game. Is this the Rangers or the Sabres? I’m a little confused. They look great right now. All they need to do is convert on the PP.
strike that- he didnt take a penalty, but has been pretty unnoticeable
Still the PP looks good. Lots of shots and movement, accept of course on the 5-3
Holy Crap. Malik just founded the Trent Hunter yardsale!
now this is the story of the rangers…
he just pulled an Aaron Ward
Good goal by Paul Mara to put the Isles up 1-0 and let the Rangers momentum slip away.
whose stick did it go off for us?
17-6 shots in our favor and we can’t buy a goal.
now im going to have to sit through a shitload of dipietro saves & that one goal during intermission.
Ricky D’s playing like this rivalry matters to him, unlike Paul Mara.
and to top it all off, they looked completely dead and out of it on the next shift after the goal- but isnt this how it always winds up? this f**king sucks!
totally outplayed the Isles, but Dipietro’s goaltending and dumb mistakes and poor PP finishing put Rangers behind.
Wow the luckiest team is the NHL those pumpkins from that hole called the nassau coliseum
“he’s (DP) screamin and whinin at me in the crease”
sean avery is awesome.
“He’s screaming and whining at me in the corners” a quote from Avery about Fishsticks’ goalie Rick DiPietro. Comment sounds very similar to what Avery said about Brodeur whining last time the Rangers played the Devils. I love his spunk and grit!
Sean Avery is the man!!! Everyone hear what he said lol!
Let’s just hope they keep playing like they did the first 17 minutes of the period.
Nylander sucks tonight as well as Rosival. Third jersey sucks…there should be a rule that no original six team should wear them.
i always hope that they would change jerseys in between the periods once, bbut it never has happened- unfortunately.
Rejoice third jersey haters: no third jerseys next season.
It remains to be seen if they will return afterwards.
Maybe I’m too young to dis-appreciate them, but I really don’t mind the third jerseys.
Nylander is doing his usual Swede-Skate around the rink. Rozsival doesn’t look like himself. Everyone has a really bad game I guess?
Sam, who determines what jersey they wear…the Pope, Bush, Hillary?
Doodie – Where did you hear that the Liberty jerseys would be gone?
A few places, most notably ESPN’s uniwatch. They’re gonna shelve the third jerseys for next season, not just for the Rangers, but for all teams.
And don’t call it Swede-skating. Forsberg is a Swede and I don’t think anyone would ever accuse him of skating in circles.
Doodie, at least you don’t have to listen to “annoying” Emerick and see the stupid info box that they keep putting on the bottom of the screen just when your’e trying to see what’s going on.
I’d take that over nothing any day.
I think Doc calls a decent game aside from the annoying voice, except when he is covering the Devils and has to lie through his teeth about the game being exciting.
Ahh, that’s interesting. No third jersey could be worse than the (Mighty) Ducks first one in the mid 90’s. Fans just weren’t ready for a cartoony duck smashing through a sheet of ice.
Oh, and the Swede-Skating was just a little joke. Although it may not be fair to even slightly compare Forsberg and number 92.
I enjoy Doc’s commentary over whoever the guy is on HDNet. He’s the most annoying man in hockey commentary, other than Gary Thorne.
Don’t worry AM. I’m just a little sensitive to the North American/Euro comparisons, because I think they are ludicrous. I think some players just play finesse and others play bump and grind. I can think of plenty of players from both continents on either side of the game.
so far tonight,
Girardi/Pock>Rozsi/Malik>Mara/Rachunek
They are going to ask Renney about the game so far…why? He doesn’t have a clue.
Don’t worry, Brad Isbister will save us all!
DiPietro is a whiney bitch
talk about no clue. that Emrick is the worst. a nerdy, whiny, high-pitched Debbie fan.
now smyth takes a penalty. HAHA- fool.
I hope he cries about it.
Pansy.
just a thought- why dont they put avery on the same PP unit as jagr?
They did for a while, it was like having Shanahan there, didn’t work.
That was a DIVE??????
i was meaning it so avery would be somewhat of a concern in front of the net, so jagr could have more space.
McCreary sucks too!!!!
I understand that- but Avery just stood in front of the net and got beat up while they passed the puck around and didn’t shoot.
that was not a dive on Avery
I am gonna put my foot through my TV
How many bogus goals can the rangers possibly give up.
DP needs to stop whining.
Anyone see purse boy Poti slap Avery
what a bi_ _ _!!
How many shots are we going to get with no goal? Current count is 29. Now someone just missed a partially open net.
Nice save by Zednik in the crease. The boys in blue NEED a goal on the upcoming PP.
Nylander…aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!
how many times can they possibly miss an open net? whats that count so far?
Someone really clocked Isbister behind the Islander net…hope it wakes the pansy up.
they could have 50 shots if they hit the net
Shut up DOC!!!
Isbister and Rachunek are looking marshmallowy soft tonight.
Why dont they ever run that play where Marty Straka sneaks in the left side and Jags crosses it and they score?
Leetchy- don’t forget the 2 that Nylander blew the other day when he started celebrating both times without scoring.
Why don’t they run that play where Nylander does a triple lutz?
Oh yeah, that’s every game!!!
When did DiPietro convert himself into a steel wall?
so the rangers more or less played like the same as in the first, but still a one goal deficit. but eh, they’re playing really well, that counts, right? this has to be the most frustrating team to watch. i cant stand it.
this makes me sick
Isbister made a nice play there towards the end of the period. They came out very flat at the beginning, but then picked it up. They need to keep crashing the net and getting DiPusseitro adgitated.
Blue, I think it’s a triple toe loop…OMG they have done everything but score…nice pass by Malikenstein. Nice rush by Isbister…but no cigar. Where’s Slats when you need him?
Same story for every team against the Rangers- mediocre goaltenders become gods. See also, Antero Nittymaki.
AM- dont praise dipietro, he’s just as much of a whiner & piece of crap as marty. and if it hadnt been for some open net misses, that would not be the score of the game.
also, the PP has looked AWFUL.
isles have to be one of the slowest teams in the league. the puck has been in their end over 80% of the time, yet their rope-a-dope style and good goaltending have them in the lead.
I can’t even sit down to watch…blood pressure too high…must call 911…no strength…help!
Avery did not dive…..
keep on shooting. Hopefully Hossa is OK…
“Why dont they ever run that play where Marty Straka sneaks in the left side and Jags crosses it and they score?”
Sounds like my strategy on NHL ‘07.
“this has to be the most frustrating team to watch. i cant stand it.”
There have only been a couple of blown opportunities, and that kind of thing happens to every single team every single game. They’ve played an overall great game – 36 shots through two is not bad at all. It’s not totally their fault that this is frustrating for their fans. Look across ice from Lundy to see the root of our frustration.
im really sick of hearing what a great coach teddy nolan is. why doesnt he just go buy the team some egg rolls & kill himself for being part of a disgusting organ-eye-zation.
“AM- dont praise dipietro, he’s just as much of a whiner & piece of crap as marty.”
Maybe so, but I’m rational and know when a player, even in a Fishstick uniform, is having an awesome game. It would be ignorant to say that DiPietro isn’t playing well.
I wouldn’t call it “praising” either…I’d call it…observation.
egg rolls? wtf are you talking about?
And nolan IS a good coach. He’s turned the Islanders, who were the joke of the offseason around the league, into a playoff team.
What happened to Hossa?
“im really sick of hearing what a great coach teddy nolan is. why doesnt he just go buy the team some egg rolls & kill himself for being part of a disgusting organ-eye-zation.”
That’s it. The answer to our frustrations against the Isles is Nolan and the team not having egg rolls. Insightful post, “dis-ir-regardless” of the player from which you took your name.
Anyone watching the game on Versus see how red Blake’s face was? It looked like he’d been hanging upside down for 6 hours.
Hossa looked like he took a bit of a hook or tripped up and hurt his hand, though I’m probably wrong. The camera turned away from him after he passed the puck, so I couldn’t see well. Hopefully he gets back in this one and keeps his late-season surge going.
Eddy Olcyk just said Janssens wasn’t a dirty player. What a load of steamy horseshit.
I do believe it should be required all players wear some kind of mouthguard, though. That would prevent a lot of concussions.
Hossa has more goals since Feb. 8 than his big brother does, 8-7
when the rangers need a goal who you gonna call?SHITSBISTER AND HIS EXPIERIENCE THAT WHO.
Nylander was awarded a 9.9 by all the judges here at TS Ma for the triple toe loop/synchronized skating/ice dancing…
“requisit experience”-ha hA ha ha ha what a dick head renney is.the real requisit on this team is goals.
Let’s start a pool, who will score first:
Hollweg, Orr, Isbister, Ortmeyer, Betts, Callahan.
I say maybe Ortmeyer and Betts get one this season.
Keys, was that in the short program or the extended 1:47 “Jagr-style” program?
He wuz robbed!!! Shoulda been a 10!
i was implying that all of a sudden nolan became god for doing the same thing renney did last year- granted renney had better players, but he still showed the league what he was capable of. now b/c the fishsticks were able to buy a spot in the playoffs( by that i mean smyth & bergeron) nolan is amazing. its total bullsh*t.
I’m going with Ortmeyer.
I have $10 on Hollweg putting in #2, and Orty does get a bunch of chances
im going w/ callahan with a goal in the NHL, b/c all the others couldnt buy a goal, its pathetic.
The funny thing is I think Callahan might get one before Orr or Isbister.
Sam, who do you think scores first from that list?
STRAKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
goal
Orr is paying 25-1.
FINALLY! now GOOD SHIFT!! please please please!!!!
P—-
R—-UUUUUUUUUU——-C——H——AThere’s the Prucha we saw last year.
My bad, it was Prucha. And Malik got hurt
Now let’s keep playing the rest of the game, instead of giving up like usual…
They have come out ON FIRE
this is complete domination
Oh boy. Time for Lampman to show why he’s been passed over by 2 of his teammates in getting to the NHL.
Back to work, boys.
a freaken penalty? where is the the god damn discipline?!
Oh, oh.
WOW nonsense
Well, Orty got the first penalty. Odds were even money on Orr (at least from that list)
Whoever Ortmeyer “cross-checked” deserves an Academy Award for that performance.
I would have given Hollweg even on that one
Doodie, your right. Hollweg gets more ice time
Rangers are playing with emotion. This is what we should have been seeing all year.
Is this a Power Play. Obviously not because the Rangers are both shooting the puck and keeping it in the zone.
Holy shit!!!!!
2 posts…OUCH.
they’re playing with emotion & sticks that cant shoot straight.
they deserve this game.. stop the whining…
they deserve it.. Hossa is out, what is the story???
They gotta score on this one.
wow this is getting crazy, only the rangers can dominate this much and still not put the puck in the net
discipline? where is the refs discipline?
SAM! Your devoted readers need a report on Hossa.
Betts hit a post, that’s almost a goal.
they already have 46 shots
Posts aren’t even counted as a shot, so Betts is still on the list.
Although I did like him and Ortmeyer most from the list.
BULL!!! That was NOT offsides!!!
Malik you big soft pussy piece of shit
doesnt this remind you of the game against the devils in which they had a PP in OT and couldnt score?
Lundy should take up Roy’s old habit of talking to the posts…the right one just made a great save.
“Betts hit a post, that’s almost a goal.”
I didn’t see the replay but it looked like it was in, hit the middle bar and went out
has anyone ever seen a team with more bad luck than the Rangers?
Makes you wonder where they would be now if they had played like this the other four games.
Who needs 24 when you got a game like this?
has anyone ever seen a team with more bad luck than the Rangers?
the cubs?
Yeah, and I’m a Cubs fan too.
stop jinxing us!
I just checked the old tivo, Betss hit the post
Roszival’s shot was number 50.
to many men
DP had a .980 sv% with that shot. ridiculous for 50 shots.
now you know how malik avoids minuses. the post or his teammates save his ass as he lets guys go by him.
i don’t know if i want a powerplay
Isbister on the #1 PP?????????
DP has to be getting tired
matt- just what i was thinking
I was just thinking, why not run the PP like they had been running the shifts for the last 16 minutes??
tired maybe. Alternatively, he could be in the zone. The puck could be the size of a beach ball to him and he could stop it all night.
OT yet?
Isbister has looked good. Very strong on the puck
no not yet- teddy nolan took a time out.
Renney should have left the Jagr line out for the whole PP…maybe they could have gotten a shot on goal then.
5 more minutes in this one. If this ends in a shootout, it will be an insult to both goalies’ performances.
can i say im a little relieved that they got at least a point?
but also will be distraut if they lose this game even with 70 something shots.
Agreed, Angelus.
im a little worried about hossa- havent seen him out there in awhile
Hossa may have redone his knee
On the radio they said Hossa is not returning to the game, injury to his knee.
My my, how times have changed.
People are actually WORRIED about Hossa!
I am sure glad I stood by my guy.
This is nerve-wracking.
Is Straka retarded? why not take a shot?
new thread guys
hank is going to have to stand on his head during this shootout.
Nylander got away with one.
shit- that means hossa wont be in the shootout either!! nooo!
what exactly happened to Hossa? did he get of the ice with help or by himself?
by himself
Nylander dekes and is stoned
Satan is stoned, now he can go find Sadam (hopefully someone out there watches south park)
Cullen scores!
Kozlov is stopped
Jagr is stopped
Robitille is stopped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
very excellent win!
big win
Listen to the cheering of the people in the stands
Twenty Thousand hockey bugs and each a Ranger fan!
It’s plain as day to see
They want a victory!
All together now strike up the band!
Just keep your stick on that puck
And don’t lay down on your luck;
That’s the Rangers’ Victory Song!
Get through the enemy’s goal
With all your heart and your soul;
That’s the Rangers’ Victory Song!
You’ve got to fight, Rangers fight
With a grin on your chin!
Tonight is the night
So get in there and win!
This game is worth any price;
Go out and put it on ice
That’s the Rangers’ Victory Song!
King Henrik takes another in a shootout.
what do they do with marcel out, they wont put jarkko in becuase marcel is not a center
they don’t have a choice, no one else is on the active roster. either bring up Callahan, or skate Straka at wing and Jarkko at center
What a game…I’m exhausted.
200 comments…that’s gotta be a record, Sam.
this really makes the playoff race interesting.
well hell, it was a great game
this is the first game i have been able to watch since january, man what a game
they better bring up Callahan. I am sick of this isbister krog sh-t.
YES BABY!!!!! WE dominated.
DP had a lot of luck this game…he had his back to the puck a couple of times that were soooooo close to going in.
Couldn’t have asked for a better way to bid the Isles farewell from MSG.
see if not for Renney and Jagr we would have games like this way more often.
Wow, what a great way to win the game. Kudos to the Rangers, who are still keeping hope alive.
On the other hand, 57 SOG and only one score? DiPietro has had a good season, but he’s not THAT great. C’mon, Rangers, you have to get some more goals.
Really missed Shanny in a game like tonight….Ricky D played off his head. What a great game
I totally agree with you on the third jersey record thing. I have been saying that for years. Our win record wearing those can’t be more than 25 wins in 10 years of wearing them. We always lose in them, yesterday was just an aberration. Maybe we’ll win the cup next year because there won’t be any third jerseys to wear.