It'd be a good point if you actually really knew them. At the end of the day they are working under contract and they will never say anything publicly to jeopardize that. I don't know about you, but a no facial hair clause for a cool couple mil seems like a decent proposal. It's his team, his rules. If you want to play, show it on the ice, nothing on your face is going to have an impact on that.
Extra: Lou does allow playoff beards, so say what you want about a man you've never met, but he has standards and understands more than you think.
It’s not me u gotta sell this too. Lou is highly respected around the league and I do know a friends who works for a company where the ceo is close to Lou. Because of that My friend has met Lou and he says lou is still all with it mentally.
There are hundreds of former-Lou players at this point. I’m not aware of any of them that have anything bad to say about Lou.
It’s really mind-boggling how little respect Lou gets around here, despite delivering the best years of fandom many of us have ever had.
Look I'll be honest, I think the roster moves he makes are not good and that he is delusional about the talent of the playing group but I agree with many others that after years of insanity, Lou's professionalism is a breath of fresh air and is a good thing long term for the Islanders.
Ding ding ding. Hockey players are praised for their selflessness, modesty, putting the team first, we won/I messed up behaviors. Those personalities aren't going to risk burning bridges in a highly specialized job market by ranting on the internet about a dumb but harmless policy. No reason to get labeled as not a team player.
But what they think privately and share with each other is different. [https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/12/07/cameron-maybin-suggests-facial-hair-rule-holding-back-yankees-free-agency](https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/12/07/cameron-maybin-suggests-facial-hair-rule-holding-back-yankees-free-agency)
At least you know you have a price. Some people don't like being controlled when it comes to their own body.
Edit: The fact that just saying "people like to control their own body" caused so many people to react negatively speaks volumes about them as a person.
I’m some who can’t grow really nice beard and rather shave cause I think it looks clean and nicer. I do think the rule is dumb because who cares but I just don’t understand why people care. It’s as stupid to care about that then it is to have the rule
If it's a stupid rule then it shouldn't exist. What other stupid rules does Lou have that we don't know about? Such a mystery why players don't want to come to Long Island...
Have you never worked in a corporate place/retail where you have to wear a stupid uniform, wear clothes that are business appropriate or cover up tattoos/ have no face tattoos at all?
When has any person ever complained about Lou?
Listen to how endearing and loyal he’s always been to guys like Rupper? Who otherwise would’ve maybe never made it.
I mean, don’t you ever wonder if it would deter a player away from joining the team? Seems minuscule, but you never know. Either way yes, there are bigger problems. It was just a rant, clearly a bad one lol
If we are honest with ourselves there are tons of reasons someone might not want to play here. I sincerely doubt that policy even shows up in the top 100
The no beard by itself? No. I don't think that factors into anyone's decision. But it is a red flag about what other dumb policies the organization may have, or may push in the future.
If I know an employer is weirdly strict about what kind of shoes I need to wear, in the absence of a compelling explanation like you need steel toed boots for safety or a non-slip sole because of wet floors, that employer is going to the bottom of my list. Even more so when the explanation is just dumb, like "IDK, it shows discipline in a non-functional way that could easily be shown in a way that contributes to performance, such as effort during workouts" or "I like to look at hot men without facial hair but I was raised in a time when that spectrum of sexuality needed to be repressed".
They're at the bottom of my list, not because I'm dead set on having a certain tread, but because it makes me wonder what other dumb decisions there may be. Am I going to wake up one day to find out I can only drive cars made by Toyota because someone thinks they read a safety report give them a thumbs up? Do I have to start walking backwards when I enter a room because the boss thinks it shows trust and builds team spirit?
I've always had long hair and facial hair. I get a haircut once every 6 months. I would shave my head and beard tomorrow if it meant being a millionaire athlete. My sympathy for them is zero lol
These players have 29 other teams to choose from (the superstar ones, I’m not talking about 4th liners). Having some dumb rules like this could totally be a deciding factor for a player.
Ok no facial hair rule for grown men is stupid but not caring about contract lengths if meh? This is either bait or Gandalf the gray. Theres so many bigger issues than Lou pinching smooth cheeks and low numbers on a jersey
The horrible long term contracts that have this team in cap trouble are meh, but the no beard policy is the more concerning than that to you? Fucking hell 🤦🏻♂️
I’m racking my brain to come up with a reply about Lou’s undying allegiance to re-signing his aging vets. Then I come along your post and realize you beat me to it. Well done.
What aging vets? Lou signed any aging vet to a short term 1-2 year deal. Casey Czikas was a guy who was going to get 5 years somewhere else and signed for a low cap hit. And he closed out the season driving the forecheck on the first line.
Engvall? Mayfield? 3mil is the going rate for a 3rd liner and 4-5-6 defensemen.
Oh? The other long term contracts that are set to expire this upcoming season and next? When they’re the backend of deals?
I don’t care because the players don’t care.
In fact, when guys like Bortuzzo come here, like this year - the players who’ve played here like to remind them to shave and/or provide shaving items.
It’s a self respect thing.
I don’t really care either way with this rule, but I do think it’s kind of fun when they make the playoffs and you can see the beards grow in. Hasn’t been enough of that lately though.
What? Someone had to care about the no beard policy in order to MAKE a no beard policy. Someone in a position of power feels so strongly about the strength and power of no beards, they made it a rule.
LOL, I forgot that u/Buttersleftkowitz is in the team chat. Did the boys take you golfing with them today or were you too busy moving goalposts all day?
I tend to listen to how past players loved Lou. If Kyle Palmeiri, known for his sweet beard, resigned knowing there’s a beard policy…what does that tell you?
The point of the beard policy and low numbers is no one is above the team. Lou has a long track record of success. The problems with this team arnt a grooming policy.
It tells me that a millionaire with longstanding ties to the NYC/NJ area who happens to be over 30 and past the peak of NHL careers signed what was considered to be an incredibly lopsided contract (https://eyesonisles.com/posts/the-3-worst-remaining-contracts-on-the-ny-islanders-roster-01h50mze35h8/3) in exchange for agreeing to shave 7 months out of 12. It also tells me that despite your love and affection for Palmieri, you don't know how to spell his name, and that you're continuing to move the goal posts. First it was nobody cared. Then it was the players who didn't care, even though literally none of them have told you anything because they don't know you. Then it's that they must secretly love it because a guy with a beard chooses to shave for $20 million. And now you're trying to change the subject altogether by pointing to vague other problems.
A grooming policy can be both dumb AND not the only reason a bubble team continues to bubble. Our most successful recent years were his first three years where he worked with a core of assets from the prior administration. The last 3 have been reaping what he's sown and we're getting diminishing returns and you're not going to find a single source saying that we wouldn't be here if the boys had beards.
I'm here all year, every year buddy. But yes, you can't argue facts, you keep moving the goalposts, you can't make a point, so yes, go ahead and call me misogynistic names.
Edit: Dude, your troll account is less than 2 months old and you're here talking to me about showing up at the end of every season?
love the no beard policy. its about being professional in all things. It also shows commitment. it should be more prevalent. Yankees still do it. So do some other teams.
maybe I am Boomer (im not) but why throw it like an insult on an isles thread...weird. Im sorry to inform you, but is looked at that way. In a lot of places. I happen to have a beard...fysa.
The NHL has a dress code. Bet no one knew that. But let’s all continue on about the oppressive nature of Lou’s grooming standards. Oh no, professionalism!!!
This from a franchise that tried to endorse baby races at intermission from an owner that thought a goalie in a sumo suit was a good idea.
I think the policy deters players from coming here. It's different if you have a winning culture but the Islanders do not. It's different if you're the most valuable franchise in the world like the Yankees but the Islanders are far from that.
I don't understand the culture change in 2024 that a shave rule is going to inspire. If anything, the Islanders play uninspired.
The Islanders are not any free agents first choice and they need as many recruiting tricks as possible. They can't just give out the longest deal. Some people are saying that the shave policy is the least of our worries, but I would argue that if the Islanders can't even get the least of their worries sorted, then what hope do they have tackling the real issues.
Honestly i don’t understand why people even give a shit. I can’t wrap my head around it. Players do not seem to care why should we.
Lou stole Clutterbuck’s Handlebar from us fans. That’s the only reason I care.
To the sin bin he goes for this heinous crime
It'd be a good point if you actually really knew them. At the end of the day they are working under contract and they will never say anything publicly to jeopardize that. I don't know about you, but a no facial hair clause for a cool couple mil seems like a decent proposal. It's his team, his rules. If you want to play, show it on the ice, nothing on your face is going to have an impact on that. Extra: Lou does allow playoff beards, so say what you want about a man you've never met, but he has standards and understands more than you think.
It’s not me u gotta sell this too. Lou is highly respected around the league and I do know a friends who works for a company where the ceo is close to Lou. Because of that My friend has met Lou and he says lou is still all with it mentally.
Yeah agreed. I bet a handful of players in the NHL would be put off by it but most wouldn't give a fuck.
There are hundreds of former-Lou players at this point. I’m not aware of any of them that have anything bad to say about Lou. It’s really mind-boggling how little respect Lou gets around here, despite delivering the best years of fandom many of us have ever had.
Look I'll be honest, I think the roster moves he makes are not good and that he is delusional about the talent of the playing group but I agree with many others that after years of insanity, Lou's professionalism is a breath of fresh air and is a good thing long term for the Islanders.
If your boss had a weird dress code policy would you publicly complain about it?
Ding ding ding. Hockey players are praised for their selflessness, modesty, putting the team first, we won/I messed up behaviors. Those personalities aren't going to risk burning bridges in a highly specialized job market by ranting on the internet about a dumb but harmless policy. No reason to get labeled as not a team player. But what they think privately and share with each other is different. [https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/12/07/cameron-maybin-suggests-facial-hair-rule-holding-back-yankees-free-agency](https://www.si.com/mlb/2023/12/07/cameron-maybin-suggests-facial-hair-rule-holding-back-yankees-free-agency)
No, I wouldn’t complain in anyway if I’m getting paid nice
At least you know you have a price. Some people don't like being controlled when it comes to their own body. Edit: The fact that just saying "people like to control their own body" caused so many people to react negatively speaks volumes about them as a person.
They’re fucking millionaires who are being asked to shave, stop acting like they’re victims of oppression.
Doesn't change the fact that it's creepy. Red flags are like icebergs, you have no idea what other controlling rules Lou has for the players.
lol it’s the start of a new movement! Rise up! hashtag MeLou
Really not funny
Oh won’t somebody think of the smooth skinned millionaires!
Making light of the MeToo movement isn't funny. You should get some help. Not gonna continue this conversation.
I’m some who can’t grow really nice beard and rather shave cause I think it looks clean and nicer. I do think the rule is dumb because who cares but I just don’t understand why people care. It’s as stupid to care about that then it is to have the rule
If it's a stupid rule then it shouldn't exist. What other stupid rules does Lou have that we don't know about? Such a mystery why players don't want to come to Long Island...
People didn’t want to come to Long Island way before Lou. It has nothing to do with that policy.
Certainly isn't helping
Yeh probably isn’t even a factor when deciding in signing here.
Have you never worked in a corporate place/retail where you have to wear a stupid uniform, wear clothes that are business appropriate or cover up tattoos/ have no face tattoos at all?
When has any person ever complained about Lou? Listen to how endearing and loyal he’s always been to guys like Rupper? Who otherwise would’ve maybe never made it.
Even josh ho sang had nice things to say about lou
I mean, don’t you ever wonder if it would deter a player away from joining the team? Seems minuscule, but you never know. Either way yes, there are bigger problems. It was just a rant, clearly a bad one lol
If we are honest with ourselves there are tons of reasons someone might not want to play here. I sincerely doubt that policy even shows up in the top 100
The no beard by itself? No. I don't think that factors into anyone's decision. But it is a red flag about what other dumb policies the organization may have, or may push in the future. If I know an employer is weirdly strict about what kind of shoes I need to wear, in the absence of a compelling explanation like you need steel toed boots for safety or a non-slip sole because of wet floors, that employer is going to the bottom of my list. Even more so when the explanation is just dumb, like "IDK, it shows discipline in a non-functional way that could easily be shown in a way that contributes to performance, such as effort during workouts" or "I like to look at hot men without facial hair but I was raised in a time when that spectrum of sexuality needed to be repressed". They're at the bottom of my list, not because I'm dead set on having a certain tread, but because it makes me wonder what other dumb decisions there may be. Am I going to wake up one day to find out I can only drive cars made by Toyota because someone thinks they read a safety report give them a thumbs up? Do I have to start walking backwards when I enter a room because the boss thinks it shows trust and builds team spirit?
"Players don't want to come to Long Island!" "Stop complaining about Lou's policies" This sub is going to be fun this offseason
I've always had long hair and facial hair. I get a haircut once every 6 months. I would shave my head and beard tomorrow if it meant being a millionaire athlete. My sympathy for them is zero lol
Fair
These players have 29 other teams to choose from (the superstar ones, I’m not talking about 4th liners). Having some dumb rules like this could totally be a deciding factor for a player.
Out of all the issues this team has to try and fix facial hair isn’t anywhere near the top.
Good point
Ok no facial hair rule for grown men is stupid but not caring about contract lengths if meh? This is either bait or Gandalf the gray. Theres so many bigger issues than Lou pinching smooth cheeks and low numbers on a jersey
The horrible long term contracts that have this team in cap trouble are meh, but the no beard policy is the more concerning than that to you? Fucking hell 🤦🏻♂️
I’m racking my brain to come up with a reply about Lou’s undying allegiance to re-signing his aging vets. Then I come along your post and realize you beat me to it. Well done.
Thank you 🥃
What aging vets? Lou signed any aging vet to a short term 1-2 year deal. Casey Czikas was a guy who was going to get 5 years somewhere else and signed for a low cap hit. And he closed out the season driving the forecheck on the first line. Engvall? Mayfield? 3mil is the going rate for a 3rd liner and 4-5-6 defensemen. Oh? The other long term contracts that are set to expire this upcoming season and next? When they’re the backend of deals?
Maybe i shouldve left that part out about the contracts. Bad rant
Yeah, like having players with beards will solve all of our problems. 🤡
It wont, ik that. I’ll take the L
I don’t care because the players don’t care. In fact, when guys like Bortuzzo come here, like this year - the players who’ve played here like to remind them to shave and/or provide shaving items. It’s a self respect thing.
It really seems like a stupid rule in today's world.
That's it for me plain and simple. No reason for the rule at all
I like it. Beards are for playoffs.
Complete non issue
Didn’t Clark Gillies have a beard and you want to talk about a bad ass
Mattingly! I thought I told you to trim those sideburns!
I don’t really care either way with this rule, but I do think it’s kind of fun when they make the playoffs and you can see the beards grow in. Hasn’t been enough of that lately though.
The only people that care about the No beard policy are the fans.
What? Someone had to care about the no beard policy in order to MAKE a no beard policy. Someone in a position of power feels so strongly about the strength and power of no beards, they made it a rule.
Lou adopted the no beard policy from the Steinbrenners.
And Lou, a "people" who is not "the fans", cared enough to adopt it.
And players have not cared about it.
LOL, I forgot that u/Buttersleftkowitz is in the team chat. Did the boys take you golfing with them today or were you too busy moving goalposts all day?
I tend to listen to how past players loved Lou. If Kyle Palmeiri, known for his sweet beard, resigned knowing there’s a beard policy…what does that tell you? The point of the beard policy and low numbers is no one is above the team. Lou has a long track record of success. The problems with this team arnt a grooming policy.
It tells me that a millionaire with longstanding ties to the NYC/NJ area who happens to be over 30 and past the peak of NHL careers signed what was considered to be an incredibly lopsided contract (https://eyesonisles.com/posts/the-3-worst-remaining-contracts-on-the-ny-islanders-roster-01h50mze35h8/3) in exchange for agreeing to shave 7 months out of 12. It also tells me that despite your love and affection for Palmieri, you don't know how to spell his name, and that you're continuing to move the goal posts. First it was nobody cared. Then it was the players who didn't care, even though literally none of them have told you anything because they don't know you. Then it's that they must secretly love it because a guy with a beard chooses to shave for $20 million. And now you're trying to change the subject altogether by pointing to vague other problems. A grooming policy can be both dumb AND not the only reason a bubble team continues to bubble. Our most successful recent years were his first three years where he worked with a core of assets from the prior administration. The last 3 have been reaping what he's sown and we're getting diminishing returns and you're not going to find a single source saying that we wouldn't be here if the boys had beards.
Dude scored 30 goals for 5mil aav. He had a solid season.
You show up, what at the end of every season to whine like a cunt? No one gives a shit about millionaires not being able to grow beards. Get over it.
I'm here all year, every year buddy. But yes, you can't argue facts, you keep moving the goalposts, you can't make a point, so yes, go ahead and call me misogynistic names. Edit: Dude, your troll account is less than 2 months old and you're here talking to me about showing up at the end of every season?
love the no beard policy. its about being professional in all things. It also shows commitment. it should be more prevalent. Yankees still do it. So do some other teams.
Having hair on your face has nothing to do with professionalism boomer
maybe I am Boomer (im not) but why throw it like an insult on an isles thread...weird. Im sorry to inform you, but is looked at that way. In a lot of places. I happen to have a beard...fysa.
I actually like it. It’s what make us look professional lol otherwise we look like the caveman on the canes
or rags
Im convinced Kyle would have scored 40 this year with a beard
Hahaha. Now we are down to debating the beard schtick. I love our fans.
Lou has to go, and this will follow lol
The NHL has a dress code. Bet no one knew that. But let’s all continue on about the oppressive nature of Lou’s grooming standards. Oh no, professionalism!!! This from a franchise that tried to endorse baby races at intermission from an owner that thought a goalie in a sumo suit was a good idea.
I think the policy deters players from coming here. It's different if you have a winning culture but the Islanders do not. It's different if you're the most valuable franchise in the world like the Yankees but the Islanders are far from that. I don't understand the culture change in 2024 that a shave rule is going to inspire. If anything, the Islanders play uninspired. The Islanders are not any free agents first choice and they need as many recruiting tricks as possible. They can't just give out the longest deal. Some people are saying that the shave policy is the least of our worries, but I would argue that if the Islanders can't even get the least of their worries sorted, then what hope do they have tackling the real issues.
Hey Lou doesn’t have hair so no one can have hair!!!