JCho

@islanders_takes There is a new Sheriff in town and he don't tolerate losing.

#isles You listen to the guys in the booth tonight, to DeBoer's comments, and have to wonder if we've been very conservative with our estimates as to what changes he is looking to make might look like. This did not feel like a "we'll get a guy or two" kind of season end.

@ethan_sears DeBoer knows how to win. We are in solid hands. Going to enjoy a stress free playoff and get ready for a consequential off-season.

Pete DeBoer: “What I told the guys: we won’t have the same group of guys that are finishing the season now. You never do. But the guys who are back need to be prepared come training camp to get to work. Cause we have a lot of work to do in order to get to where I believe we need to get to.” Both a statement of the obvious and very, very different messaging than the end of the last few seasons on Long Island.

@ChrisBottaNHL 1000% Those guys and Burke outstanding in game.

For the last tweet of #Isles season, I really have to praise Cal Clutterbuck. He has emerged as an insightful and joyful presence on the broadcast in every role. Credit also to Ms. Hogan for her great talents and for building chemistry with Clutterbuck. Not sure what Butch has in mind for the future and I wish him all the best. Just good to know NYI TV is in great hands with Hickey and Clutterbuck.

The point is to explore European power projection without US involvement and potentially with the US as an adversary at some future point. The British have loads of historically recent experience to draw on, which they likely won't of course. A very daunting prospect this, but you gotta start someplace.

Exclusive: European countries are planning a post-war mission to free up shipping in the Strait of Hormuz—excluding the U.S. on.wsj.com/4crG4k0

@datadomNY DeBoer's presser tonight just put the ole' confidence thru the roof.

In their four game sample under DeBoer the #Isles outshot their opposition 128-75 but were outscored 7-12. Probably safe to assume they'll get better than .840 goaltending and will shoot better than 5.47% next season. I trust Pete DeBoer, you should too.

@stefen_rosner @TheHockeyNews Big yes to DeAngelo.

Pending UFAs D Tony DeAngelo & G David Rittich tell me they’d like to return. I believe Rittich’s camp has had preliminary contract discussions, while talks with DeAngelo’s camp are expected in the near future. @TheHockeyNews #Isles thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-i…

@PinoAmericano That is indeed your true purpose my friend. The realization is a tad jarring.

I don’t even feel like I make money anymore. I just work so I can pay taxes.

@Isles_Life Smitty!

I don't think I've ever seen an Islander that fans loved more than Schaefer. I can't go back to the dynasty days, but I remember when guys like Palfy had the puck on his stick and fans got excited. Tavares had a little bit of that but not like those 2. Barzal doesn't finish so over time he lost that fan excitement. Outside of Palfy I can't think of anyone really. Am I missing someone?

@ChrisBottaNHL Tough decisions this off season. It's easy to say I'd have gotten rid of that guy until that situation arrives at your doorstep. From a purely hockey standpoint, the decision is clear. Warrior that he his, that role has taken its toll.

Personally, I’d tell him we love you and have a place for you with #Isles but also understand you might get bigger offers from other places you’d like to be and we cannot commit right now. Ideally Anders gets a contract that makes he and his family really happy, or he signs a very short-term deal at a very manageable number here. You know the obvious challenge (team has enough older guys is the short version lol). No matter what, Anders Lee has been a great Islander. I’ll never forget my friend Ryan Jankowski telling me “You wouldn’t believe the guy we got in the sixth round. Teams were convinced some of his focus is on football. He’s gonna be a New York Islander for a long time.”

@islanders_takes A strong off season from the GM and next year could be a fun ride with maybe a better finish.

#isles Eklund is an absolute dog. And Holmstrom showing the increasing bite in his game with a reverse hit. Future is now with those two on a line, I think.

@ChrisBottaNHL Fair comments on Darche. The future is indeed bright.

The #Isles collapse and failure to make the playoffs is a tough look for rookie GM Mathieu Darche. It is the GM’s job to get this right — not his assistants, not the pro scouting director, the fans, observers or anyone else. This is also not about another failed Yzerplan or any other team because we talk #Isles here. This is on Darche. Welcome to life as a GM. You can debate the prices paid, explain away anything, and come up with all the underlying under the underlying data you want, but it’s pretty simple. Darche’s moves did not work out. The Islanders did not get better. Down the stretch when facing teams needing a win as badly as them, the NYI fell short. Schenn accumulated points on top lines against the Floridas and Torontos and the spirit may be willing, but his defense was weak. Palat — a scratch tonight and almost certain buyout after his bizarre acquisition while playing badly for NJ — and Soucy were bad and should not be back. “Cups” and “leadership” meant nothing in those big games. Remember when the Islanders produced that beautiful footage of the team skating outside in Minnesota, hosted by Anders Lee? Was anyone on that day thinking, What this team really needs is more leadership? Schenn is under contract at 35 for two more years, JGP was re-signed for three. Horvat should move up to captain. What becomes of the admirable, loyal, future NYI team HoFer Lee? Anders deserves whatever is best for him and his family. Almost everything is recoverable in the NHL with supportive ownership. The Islanders have it and players and coaches want to be here. In the end, this can be a blip. But for 40 years I’ve watched very smart and confident people get slightly or extremely dim when they were in the GM chair. It’s a humbling job, and even though the Peter DeBoer hire was the right move, Darche looked humbled while erratically explaining his decision to fire Patrick Roy. Darche needs to learn from this. I have a fair amount of faith that he will. I also believe DeBoer will make him a better GM. DeBoer will essentially serve also as a PoHO without the title, without ownership having to pay someone even worse for that job like the previously considered Ken Holland. Lou Lamoriello remains under contract as a consultant to Scott Malkin and is a DeBoer advocate. The Islanders have enough good people around, and Darche is likely to make a few more staff changes. Despite the team’s dismal ending with losing 3-0 and 4-1 on home ice, Schaefer and Sorokin provided highlights, hope and joy for most of the season. The prospect pool is solid. The Islanders should be very good next season. With a new coach and addition of some youth, it should not be difficult to clean the stain from the end of this one. As I said a few days ago, they’ll be 16 games over NHL .500 or better around next year’s trade deadline. For the Islanders to legitimately contend in 2-3 years, however, Darche needs to be much, much better.

Reason for mountains of optimism. We have a legit top of the line coach. We have some good parts, some nice prospects, a legit generational talent, a goalie not without warts but solid, and hopefully a GM and coach who see eye-to-eye and share a vision and have the will to attain it. The future is very, very bright.

#isles I was quiet tonight. I just wanted to watch. I feel generally optimistic about the future. There's been some swings and misses. But when I look at the future, the prospects and the contracts, I see a lot of flexibility and room for change and growth. At the end of the day, though, the most important thing is that Matthew Schaefer is generational. He's not just elite. He's not just All-Star. He's hit the ground running, at the hardest position for a young player to play, change every single shift he's on the ice for the better generational. He's record setting, mind blowing, cannot believe what you are seeing generational. Now, we wait to see where we draft, who we draft, and what changes are coming.

@stefen_rosner GM and coach get busy. There is much work to be done and little time to lose.

#Isles fans, what's on your mind now that the team has been officially eliminated?

@PizzaSportsGuy 1000% confident in Darche and DeBoer this summer.

Right. Hoping he operates in the summer with the bigger picture in mind. Too many holes to fix them all at once.

@Spazemunky Martin-Zeek-Clutter is a tough act to follow.

The #Isles need an actual 4th line. Guys that hit and stand up for the smalls. And actually fight (with potential to win a fight). Gatcomb and Maclean are not NHLers. Palat is not an NHLer anymore. Losing is bad, but being the softest team in the league is soo embarrassing

@MattKnudson1 @JonahDispatch Appreciate the warm tidings douchebag.

@chotskij @JonahDispatch I see we have another jack*ss here. Welcomd JCho.

Man do I wish I had more confidence that the Trump administration would oppose and condemn Orban if he tries to steal a legitimate election. Not predicting anything, just don’t trust Orban not to try and don’t trust Trump and Vance to do the right thing.

@stefen_rosner @TheElmonters Torts in Vegas is what happens when you have a roster that needs a jolt. The Islanders are what happens when the roster needs changes.

Two games. New coach. Same pressure. Some things look better under Pete DeBoer. Some things… don’t. 20 takeaways from the #Isles first two games of the DeBoer Era @TheElmonters ⤵️ theelmonters.com/p/islanders-pe…

@RTaub_ Losing to Pittsburgh 8-3 at home after being up 3-1 was the end. A 7-goal collapse with nothing available to stop it.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say this was the night and the moment the season ended:

@RTaub_ Tough league. Over 82 games you will be exposed.

People can call what’s happened to the Islanders a collapse. However, it’s not even close to what has unfolded with the Detroit Red Wings. That’s the bonafide definition of a collapse. They were cruising in the Atlantic and now look at them. My word.