Truth & Rumors > NHL

Gordon bringing speed to Isles

Views
1009
Comments
-2

Scott Gordon was forced to watch his Providence Bruins from the press box after a miscommunication with the AHL two years ago in which he thought he was suspended from a game instead of a player. It was the Bruins' third game in three nights, and Gordon said he was "disgusted" watching his team on the ice. His players were sitting back, calculating where the puck would be, instead of forcing an opportunity. Gordon decided he wanted a team that used speed to its advantage and .attacked instead of waiting for time and space to create plays. The next day, he pushed his players and unveiled a new, faster way of completing drills, implementing the concept of "overspeed" in practice to improve his team's ability to put pressure on other teams. Ever since, he could tell a marked difference in performance. Because of the success the change created, Gordon will utilize the same philosophy with the Islanders. "The key for me is that you play as a unit of five and you incorporate that speed into your game," Gordon said. "A lot of it stems from just moving your feet. You're going to put the opposition on their heels."

New York Newsday

Scott Gordon, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Scott Gordon, Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
August 21, 2008  08:05 AM ET

Geez, the concept of speed playing a major role in the "new" NHL - what a concept!

Next, Wonderboy will be preaching the importance of scoring one more goal than the opposition...

August 21, 2008  08:06 AM ET

Wow, I have never heard that speed would be important in the NHL... how did the Oilers win all those championships?

Next on Flash Gordon's list... teaching his woeful Islander roster that scoring one more goal than the opposition could be helpful.

August 21, 2008  08:07 AM ET

The joke was so bad, it has to be printed twice..

August 21, 2008  09:15 AM ET

The joke was so bad, it has to be printed twice..

joec
be careful. I made a similar play yesterday and spent the better part of the morning being called redundant

August 21, 2008  10:07 AM ET

"A lot of it stems from just moving your feet. You're going to put the opposition on their heels."

Laugh while you can Monkeyboys, but how often is this simple philospophy not carried out? It's what killed us ( the Caps ) in the first couple of playoff games againsty Philly as AO was pretty much just standing still, waiting for the puck to come to him and then slamming his stick in frustration when it didn't. Someone, I assume our new coach, finally clued him in that you've got to move to create opportunity ( see Henrik Z ). Same as b-ball: Bill Bradley, in his magnificent book "Life On The Run" ( are you ther OO81 :) ), talked about how the legendary Knicks coach Red Holzman preached this incessantly - "moving off the ball". I say if it's good enough for Holzman, it's good enough for Gordon. To the Isles I say start crackin' on that "overspeed".
The glass is half full here. This guy and the Isles are going to be good - if their obviously crazed management will give him the time he needs.

p.s. Monkeyboys, name THAT movie...and the actor that said it.....

August 21, 2008  10:08 AM ET

So this guy actually mistakenly sat out a game because he thought he was suspended when he wasn't? Sounds like he should fit right in to Snowang's system on the Island.

August 21, 2008  10:11 AM ET

Speed is not all of it, Scottie! The Sabres tried from 2005 to 2007. There was always something missing at the end, i.e. a big crease-clearer!

August 21, 2008  10:18 AM ET

They are turning into almost as pathetic a franchise as Edmonton

August 21, 2008  11:09 AM ET

Speed is not all of it, Scottie!
cmh_phx

True enough, but it's still key in this era's NHL.

August 21, 2008  11:11 AM ET

I see I was being redundant as per joec's comment.

Is this the Office of Redundancy?

August 21, 2008  11:32 AM ET

Gordon Bringing Speed To Isles.

Well, better than steroids.
How much mileage can I get out of this?
Baun-ded's at work. I'm in a Whap-free zone.

August 21, 2008  11:45 AM ET

is like the flyers strategy stop copying us... Go **** urself Gordon

August 21, 2008  11:46 AM ET

Did everyone go to Hongcouver without me????
Are my comments that inane????
Hello?
Hello?
Anybody home?????

August 21, 2008  11:48 AM ET

Run, Gordon! Run! You will need all the seed you can get to make a quick get away from Long Island!

August 21, 2008  12:12 PM ET

I see I was being redundant as per joec's comment.

Is this the Office of Redundancy?

seabird56
Dept. of Redundancy Dept, Spiny Norman here

August 21, 2008  12:41 PM ET

My guess is that the Providence Bruins are faster and better than the Isles. maybe Gorgon should bring some marijuana to the team's fans to help them get through the game

August 21, 2008  12:49 PM ET

My guess is that the Providence Bruins are faster and better than the Isles. maybe Gorgon should bring some marijuana to the team's fans to help them get through the game

LetsGoPens
Might be a better idea than LSD. Those fans ( Ilive not too far, so I know a lot of Islander fans...I usually cheese them off by saying things like...Oh, you don't like professional hockey?) are hallucinating enough, as are it seems, Snow and Wang

August 21, 2008  01:06 PM ET

So wait! The team with the Gorton's fisherman on their logo got a coach named Gordon? Now that's rich!! One could say you could park your Wang in the fish and put it in the Snow.

August 21, 2008  02:19 PM ET

Uhhh, look, unless we're talking about Jeff Gordon, all the speed in the world ain't gonna help this team.

 
August 21, 2008  02:28 PM ET

Dept. of Redundancy Dept, Spiny Norman here

Spiny Norman |

Dept., yes Dept. Had that written first and then thought my memory was betraying me. Figured it had to be Office or Ministry being that Brit thing you know.
Glad you guys are back, I was getting lonely this morning.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


The Si.com Cover Hub Go to the Cover Hub

Stub Hub

The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Parcells to Browns?
    Views
    61124
    Comments
    374
  2. 2
    Chivas USA to hire Sampson
    Views
    1000
    Comments
    161
  3. 3
    FSU to offer Bowden compromise?
    Views
    8124
    Comments
    131
  4. 4
    Will Weis agree to Irish exit today?
    Views
    11681
    Comments
    117
  5. 5
    Yankees, Red Sox to fight for Lackey?
    Views
    6064
    Comments
    110

Message Boards

  1. NFL > Chicago Bears

    Week 11...The Philadelphia…
    Views
    220
    Replies
    92
  2. MMA > General MMA

    thoughts on 106
    Views
    103
    Replies
    30
  3. NCAAB > General NCAAB

    Ed Davis
    Views
    99
    Replies
    4

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos