When things aren't going well for a team, their fans get frustrated. Scoring
droughts, short-side goals, and losing streaks drive fans crazy, leaving them
looking for targets onto which they can vent their frustration. They need
villains to blame so they create scapegoats, or if you prefer, they find
players to put into the doghouse.

Three current Islanders who have spent a good share of their time in that
doghouse are Andrew Ladd, Brock Nelson, and Josh Bailey. Each of them has
committed sins that brought out the ire of the fans and earned them a place in
the doghouse at one time or another. Here is a look at this notorious trio and
a review of the transgressions they made that brought the fans' collective
blood to a boiling point.Andrew Ladd

The Islanders signed the former Chicago Blackhawks winger, and former Winnipeg
Jet captain, as a free agent in the summer of 2016. Ladd, who was already 31 at
 the time, was given a seven-year deal at an average of $5.5 million per
season. His career numbers put him at a little bit more than half of a point
per game with 245 goals and 281 assists for 526 points in 920 games. But in two
 seasons with the Islanders, he has only put up 60 points (31 in 2016-17 and 29
 in 2017-18).Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd has absorbed a lot of anger and
frustration from Islander fans. (Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports)Why is Ladd
a Villain?

Ladd was brought to the Islanders to replace top line winger Kyle Okposo, who
left as a free agent that same summer. But things did not work out for him on
the top line. He never gelled with center John Tavares and ended up being
dropped back to the second line. After the emergence of Matthew Barzal and
Anthony Beauvillier this past season, he bounced down again, eventually ending
up on the third line where he only scored twelve goals. Isles fans were not
pleased with the contract dollars and the seven-year term committed to what was
 now a third line player, and they let Ladd hear it often.Reason to Hope

Although he hasn't put up the kind of numbers that were expected of him, Ladd's
 fundamental game is solid. He makes good decisions on the ice and is rarely
caught out of position. He was a plus-eleven last year on a team that gave up a
 league-worst 293 goals.

As a former captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner with Carolina and Chicago,
Ladd also brings great leadership experience to the team. With Tavares having
moved on, Ladd will likely find more room to exercise those leadership skills
on and off the ice.Brock Nelson

The Islanders used the last pick in the first round of the 2010 draft to select
 Nelson at 30th overall. Since then he has played five full seasons, racking up
 some decent career numbers with 99 goals and 89 assists for 188 points. He has
 been a 20-goal scorer three out of his five seasons with the team. He just
missed the 20-goal mark for a fourth time last season when he finished with 19.
 This summer he filed for arbitration but ended up signing a one-year deal at
$4.25 million prior to his hearing.Brock Nelson';s one-year deal gives
Islanders management some options this season. (Robert Duyos-USA TODAY
Sports)Why is Nelson a Villain?

Nelson is a streaky scorer. He tends to disappear for long stretches of the
season. Fans like consistency. Although it is nice to have a reliable 20-goal
scorer, Nelson has the potential to be a 30-goal scorer. That is what the team
and the fans would like to see from him.

His play away from the puck has been questionable at times as well - the fans
are not very forgiving over that. Nelson has a strong hockey pedigree. He is
the grandson of 1960 US Olympic Gold Medalist Bill Christian and the nephew of
1980 US Olympic Gold Medalist Dave Christian. Rightly or wrongly, expectations
are high for someone with such strong hockey bloodlines.Reason to Hope

The fans aren't the only ones who will be looking for more consistency from
Nelson in this upcoming season - new head coach Barry Trotz will be looking for
 that as well. Perhaps he is just the man to coax that next level of
performance out of Nelson. He possesses a wicked wrist shot, so if Trotz can
help him get himself into scoring position more often, there is a reason to
believe he could become that 30-goal scorer.Josh Bailey

Bailey joined the Islanders organization as the ninth overall pick in the 2008
draft. He has spent 10 years with the team, scoring 124 goals and 253 assists
for 377 points in 715 games. Last season was the best of his career. He put up
71 points playing alongside Tavares and was named to the All-Star team. Before
the season ended, Bailey signed a six-year contract extension that will pay him
 $5 million per season.Islanders left wing Josh Bailey has stayed out of the
fans doghouse with his All-Star level performance this season. (Brad Penner-USA
 TODAY Sports)Why is Bailey a Villain?

It may be surprising to find Bailey's name among the villains - after all, he
is an NHL All-Star who just signed a $30 million long-term contract. Based on
his play in 2017-18, he has earned his way off this list. But, prior to this
season's 71 points, Bailey had never shown the productivity expected of him as
a top-10 draft pick. He has never reached the 20-goal mark in his career, and
may never do so.

Despite the high pick, Bailey is not among the fastest skaters or best shooters
 on the team. Most of his success has been as a passer. This past season,
Bailey had two very capable scorers in Tavares and Anders Lee on the receiving
end of his passes, which worked out well for all three of them.

But, Bailey himself only scored 18 goals this season, and that was his career
best. He has never been known to take a lot of shots, which has been the
biggest source of frustration for the fans regarding his game...he doesn';t
shoot the puck enough. He often passes up shots from great shooting positions
on the ice in favor of passing the puck to a teammate, and it drives the fans
nuts. And, although Bailey's season was successful enough for the fans overlook
 this flaw this year, now that Tavares has moved on, Bailey could easily find
himself back in the doghouse if he is unable to keep his numbers up next
season.Reason to Hope

At 28 years old, with 10 years of experience under his belt, Bailey is in the
prime of his career. His focus, preparation, and maturity are trending up. He
sees the ice well and his 53 assists last season were not an anomaly - he truly
 is great at passing the puck. Tavares is gone but the Islanders are not
lacking in offensive weapons. Bailey will find plenty of chances to dish the
puck off to someone who can pop it in the goal.With John Tavares gone, Josh
Bailey will need to find other teammates to benefit from his passing skills.
(Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)The Bottom Line

Ladd, Nelson, and Bailey are three talented players. They are all experienced
veterans with solid skills and hockey smarts. They are a big part of the core
of the team that Trotz has inherited. Despite the frustrations they have caused
 fans in the past, they will be counted on to overcome them and deliver quality
 hockey in the future.

Ladd and Bailey are on long-term deals. They are likely to be here for the long
 haul. Nelson is playing under a one-year deal. He could be extended or traded,
 or he could become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Contracts aside,
they will all be Islanders at the start of the 2018-19 season.

The post 3 Islanders We Love to Hate On appeared first on The Hockey Writers.

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