Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Short on “D,” Long on “F”

July 3, 2014, 7:47 AM ET [147 Comments]
Dee Karl
New York Islanders Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With yesterday’s two surprise signings, the Islanders now have many roster decisions to be made before September.

Drive4FiveNYI ‏@drive4fiveNYI 8h
In my opinion #isles cannot afford to part ways with Nielsen or Lee however, need to trim the forward roster by 4 players, need top Dman!!!!

Yes, we know top 4 “D” don’t grow on trees and there really isn’t too much out there up for grabs. But Garth is working on it. (He is. I suggested cloning.) So we know that the Isles will likely have to part with a few of their hot prospects in order to get a player that will benefit the team NOW. It will all come down to the deal that Snow feels is the most beneficial and least painful.

Will it be Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Matt Donovan, Griffin Rheinhart or will it be (God Forbid!) Frans Nielsen, Josh Bailey or Michael Grabner. It could be any combination of two or (again, God Forbid) three of the afore mentioned.

I doubt that Snow would part with Brock Nelson or Anders Lee. I also highly doubt he would part with Frans Nielsen who has been nothing but quietly improving year after year. Certainly teams will be banging on the door asking for Nielsen before moving down the line, but I just don’t see it happening. (Hell, they’ll be asking for JT and Okposo first because that’s what they do.)

I also don’t see him parting with Josh Bailey for two reasons. First, he took too much flack for Bailey’s entire career so far, and secondly, I don’t believe the return for him would be good enough. (Sorry Josh.) Grabner is another story. Greasy fast and streaky performance may do very well in new surroundings. Put him on a team with a good eye doctor and maybe he’ll find the back of the net more often than not and make those awe inspiring break away runs beneficial..


Chris Retzlaff ‏@islesfreak 45m
My #isles D-man shopping list in this order (not for offense) Bogosian, Phaneuf, Yandle, Boychuck, Green, Buffylien, Leddy is 5-11? Egh...

So that’s the list to go after? Interesting. Well, someone’s making it to the Islander before training campe. Can you imagine Buffylien in an Isles jersey? Okay, so ….Then what?

NYI Fan Central ‏@nyifancentral 8h
#isles If Colin McDonald, Casey Cizikas and Eric Boluton have to go on waivers to play in Bridgeport and help vets so be it.

Yep, waivers to head to Bridgeport. Never an easy task. But it will also not be Cizikas. Of those three, Zeeker is the only one that would walk through walls for this team. Cizikas stays.


Tom Liodice ‏@TomLiodice 8h
It's refreshing to see that only one of #isles 16 forwards currently on roster is over the age of 30. (I'm looking at you Eric Boulton)

Boulton would be great in Bridgeport.

Anthony Camodeo ‏@ACamodeo 5h
I don't care what any of you naysayers have to say, this upcoming season is going to be awesome #isles


After fielding a few negative rants about the “toxic atmosphere” of the NY Islanders, it was refreshing (and surprising) to see these two FA signings pop up late in the day. It proves that there are deals out there to be made and not every player thinks the Islanders are poison. They’re not.
Join the Discussion: » 147 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Dee Karl
» Boychuk for Seven
» Good Ain't Good Enough NYR 2 - NYI 1
» The Return of Isles' Capt. America
» The JT Show in TO in OT
» Kennedy's Debut