I'm kinda enjoying the lockout!!!

Watching the kids play in the minors.... the new building news, and the new contract will only help the Islanders.

I'm happy with a January 1st, 2013 start date!!!!

50 game season!!!

Plus it frees up 3 nights a week for me to be a little more productive....lol.

I forgot it is also saving me money... no tickets to buy, and no centre ice to spend my money on!!!

Not a good sign if the poster child of the league is publicly chirping the owners. Crosby didnt seem too happy about the owners lack of bargaining...
- kindlyrick

starting to believe more and more that there wont be a season. i thought cooler heads would prevail but it seems like no one is willing to budge and each side is waiting for the other to blink...

No question. Both sides are idiots and I hate that guys like Larry Brook just takes the players side. It does not help when you have some owners fighting revenue sharing. They should want the league to be as healthy as possible. Players should understand the 50/50 is more than fair.
- ses111

At this point I can't blame the players at all. They have agreed to 50/50 and I think it's completely fair to want current contracts to be honored. It's a freaking disgrace. All of this. I didn't think the owners could be this stupid but apparently so

Did the Islanders win last night???

starting to believe more and more that there wont be a season. i thought cooler heads would prevail but it seems like no one is willing to budge and each side is waiting for the other to blink...
- LetsGoIsles

From what im reading, the owners are not willing to budge. To me, all existing contracts should be honered.....period.

I dont even understand how that can even be argued......its the exact reason why you sign on the bottom line.

At this point I can't blame the players at all. They have agreed to 50/50 and I think it's completely fair to want current contracts to be honored. It's a freaking disgrace. All of this. I didn't think the owners could be tis stupid but apparently so
- Isles316

agreed

At this point I can't blame the players at all. They have agreed to 50/50 and I think it's completely fair to want current contracts to be honored. It's a freaking disgrace. All of this. I didn't think the owners could be this stupid but apparently so
- Isles316

I agree current contracts should be honored.

I agree current contracts should be honored.
- ses111

These owners are scumbags....

These owners are scumbags....
- Isles316

Hard to argue that. I've said this over and over the owners are not even on the same page how can they make a deal with the players? Owners need to get their own house in order instead of trying to fck each other over.

From what im reading, the owners are not willing to budge. To me, all existing contracts should be honered.....period.

I dont even understand how that can even be argued......its the exact reason why you sign on the bottom line.
- kindlyrick

Except for DP's of course.

No scoring 10 goals a year and taking bad penalties will turn him into Bergenheim Plus Bergy avg about 10 goals a season for the Isles big difference then 20 plus. Just saying...
- Vukota

But how in the world is KO going to score 20 from the third line, he has a hard enough time doing it on JT's wing. he gets placed there, he becomes Bergy, an ill drafted first round pick.


XxNYIxX

But how in the world is KO going to score 20 from the third line, he has a hard enough time doing it on JT's wing. he gets placed there, he becomes Bergy, an ill drafted first round pick.


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Most likely but that wasn't the question. The question was would you be happy if KO was a 20 goal scorer playing on the 3rd line. You said that would make him Bergeinheim not me

Most likely but that wasn't the question. The question was would you be happy if KO was a 20 goal scorer playing on the 3rd line. You said that would make him Bergeinheim not me
- Vukota

I think X has a point. I remember quite a few comments that were against re-signing Bergy based mostly on the fact that he was a first-round pick who panned out as a third liner. Would those same people be OK with Okposo as a third liner? Personally, I don't care when a person was drafted. If a player finds a role and fills it well, who cares when they were drafted years ago when they were 18 years old? I thought Bergy had some value, and more importantly, I thought it would have been better to keep him around until there were clearly nine forwards that were better than he was, which I didn't think was the case when the team decided not to re-sign him. I'd say the same about Okposo. When nine other forwards play better than he does, then send him packing. Until then, what's the point? ...unless of course someone vastly overpays for him, which is unlikely.

Also, I still give Okposo a fair chance at having a solid year and solidifying a top-six role. I wish he would have played overseas or somewhere during the lockout...of all the Isles, I think he could have really benefitted from it. Bailey too...glad to see he finally ended up somewhere.

Strome goal has Team OHL up 1-0 vs Russia

Strome goal has Team OHL up 1-0 vs Russia
- eichiefs9

Just turned it on!!!

Most likely but that wasn't the question. The question was would you be happy if KO was a 20 goal scorer playing on the 3rd line. You said that would make him Bergeinheim not me
- Vukota

Understand the mistake... I meant by putting him on the third line would turn him into Bergy.
Of course we would all be happy if someone could turn those numbers on the third line, but I don't think the fan base would be happy if it was him. he was expected to be so much more then a third line grinder, he was sold to us as so much more.

XxNYIxX

I think X has a point. I remember quite a few comments that were against re-signing Bergy based mostly on the fact that he was a first-round pick who panned out as a third liner. Would those same people be OK with Okposo as a third liner? Personally, I don't care when a person was drafted. If a player finds a role and fills it well, who cares when they were drafted years ago when they were 18 years old? I thought Bergy had some value, and more importantly, I thought it would have been better to keep him around until there were clearly nine forwards that were better than he was, which I didn't think was the case when the team decided not to re-sign him. I'd say the same about Okposo. When nine other forwards play better than he does, then send him packing. Until then, what's the point? ...unless of course someone vastly overpays for him, which is unlikely.

Also, I still give Okposo a fair chance at having a solid year and solidifying a top-six role. I wish he would have played overseas or somewhere during the lockout...of all the Isles, I think he could have really benefitted from it. Bailey too...glad to see he finally ended up somewhere.
- UIF

said a bit better then me.. thank you UIF

XxNYIxX

With Nelson and Nino playing so well together they might be the forming of our 2nd line for 2013-14....

Moulson - Tavares - Strome
Niederreiter - Nelson - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Bailey
Martin - Cizikas - Halmo/Gallant/SomeAHLFighter/etc.

Shaping up to be a pretty strong roster...scary to think of the defense in 2013-14...

Hamonic - MacDonald
Reinhart - Donovan
Ness - deHaan
Pokka/Streit resigning/etc.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!!!

With Nelson and Nino playing so well together they might be the forming of our 2nd line for 2013-14....

Moulson - Tavares - Strome
Niederreiter - Nelson - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Bailey
Martin - Cizikas - Halmo/Gallant/SomeAHLFighter/etc.

Shaping up to be a pretty strong roster...scary to think of the defense in 2013-14...

Hamonic - MacDonald
Reinhart - Donovan
Ness - deHaan
Pokka/Streit resigning/etc.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!!!
- kcNYI

I wouldn't mind that lineup at all.. I would however swap Strome & Bailey for atleast Strome's first season.. once he gets his feet wet & shows that he can play with the big boys... give him the promotion.. the next few years we should see the end of prospects making the team out of need, the pipeline is reaching a point where players will make the team because they earned it.

XxNYIxX

With Nelson and Nino playing so well together they might be the forming of our 2nd line for 2013-14....

Moulson - Tavares - Strome
Niederreiter - Nelson - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Bailey
Martin - Cizikas - Halmo/Gallant/SomeAHLFighter/etc.

Shaping up to be a pretty strong roster...scary to think of the defense in 2013-14...

Hamonic - MacDonald
Reinhart - Donovan
Ness - deHaan
Pokka/Streit resigning/etc.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!!!!
- kcNYI

Just going purely on what one scout says, Strome will be much more (in his opinion) effective on at center. My guess, and that's all it is, is that Nelson will play wing in the NHL like he did in college. If he can play RW, he'd look real nice bringing a little grit to Tavares' line. Then everyone that has the idea (that I don't agree with) to put Martin on JT's wing can get the size, grit and protection they want, along with a heaping dose of offensive ability.

I also think burying Cizikas on the fourth line is a waste of his talent. He's another one I would guess will shift to wing. Him and Frans would make up 2/3 of a great shutdown line that can chip in a respectable number of points.

Totally in agreement that the future is bright though. Lots of prospects starting to pan out on the trajectory that we've been hoping for.

edit: Just for reference, Pronman (the scout I mentioned) happened to be answering some late-night questions on twitter:

Corey Pronman @coreypronman
Ideally C, but IMO hell go to wing. MT @dlawless9: @coreypronman Nelson W or C on the big club with Strome coming down the pipeline?

I wouldn't mind that lineup at all.. I would however swap Strome & Bailey for atleast Strome's first season.. once he gets his feet wet & shows that he can play with the big boys... give him the promotion.. the next few years we should see the end of prospects making the team out of need, the pipeline is reaching a point where players will make the team because they earned it.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

If Strome isn't ready to get top six minutes, playing him on the 3rd line is a waste. Especially at wing. It would be only a step above what they did with Nino last year. Hopefully they learned their lesson (this is where someone rants that Cappy/Snow are idiots and will never learn) with Nino and will send Strome to the AHL to get top line minutes if he can't crack the top two lines with the big club.

If Strome isn't ready to get top six minutes, playing him on the 3rd line is a waste. Especially at wing. It would be only a step above what they did with Nino last year. Hopefully they learned their lesson (this is where someone rants that Cappy/Snow are idiots and will never learn) with Nino and will send Strome to the AHL to get top line minutes if he can't crack the top two lines with the big club.
- eichiefs9

I get what you are saying, but playing with Franz & Gremlin is a whole lot different then playing with Pandawful & an uninspired Rolston. what im saying is... its a bit more then a step above.

XxNYIxX

Just going purely on what one scout says, Strome will be much more (in his opinion) effective on at center. My guess, and that's all it is, is that Nelson will play wing in the NHL like he did in college. If he can play RW, he'd look real nice bringing a little grit to Tavares' line. Then everyone that has the idea (that I don't agree with) to put Martin on JT's wing can get the size, grit and protection they want, along with a heaping dose of offensive ability.

I also think burying Cizikas on the fourth line is a waste of his talent. He's another one I would guess will shift to wing. Him and Frans would make up 2/3 of a great shutdown line that can chip in a respectable number of points.

Totally in agreement that the future is bright though. Lots of prospects starting to pan out on the trajectory that we've been hoping for.

edit: Just for reference, Pronman (the scout I mentioned) happened to be answering some late-night questions on twitter:

Corey Pronman @coreypronman
Ideally C, but IMO hell go to wing. MT @dlawless9: @coreypronman Nelson W or C on the big club with Strome coming down the pipeline?
- eichiefs9

They're going to have to take a long look at the Nelson situation. If he continues to impress at C throughout the season, its going to be tough to take him out of that role when he makes the big club. From what I read, the BST coaches are very impressed with his hockey smarts/sense. Always knows where to be in his own zone. With a hockey sense like his, I would love to keep him at C because the defensive assignment there is a lot more important than at W.

Don't get me wrong, this is a great problem to have. I say let him and Strome duke it out in camp. Its not like they can't be moved around once a decision is made if one is struggling.

I get what you are saying, but playing with Franz & Gremlin is a whole lot different then playing with Pandawful & an uninspired Rolston. what im saying is... its a bit more then a step above.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

The effort Brian Rolston put in here is disgusting. He was mad because he thought he was better than some of those that were on higher lines than his, and mentally checked out. Once he got to Boston where he felt he belonged in the line up, he became effective.

He played his way out of here

The effort Brian Rolston put in here is disgusting. He was mad because he thought he was better than some of those that were on higher lines than his, and mentally checked out. Once he got to Boston where he felt he belonged in the line up, he became effective.

He (lack of) played his way out of here
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

Fixed