hahahaha...welcome to the show. you certainly jumped into the deep end.

yes....trade nielsen.

centers would be JT/Strome/Cizikas/Reasoner (notice bailey being slotted in at wing) ....nielson, a "3rd line center, for a young top 4 defensemen??? who do you think the blackhawks would want in exchange for a young, inexpensive, top 4 d-man??

youd be an idiot not to make the deal, especially with the depth at center the islanders have...
- LetsGoIsles

I don't consider Nielsen untouchable by any stretch. Nice player, but generally invisible when the games get chippy and physical. That said, I'd probably wait until some players are actually ready to outplay him for his spot before pulling the trigger on a deal. While the Isles might be deep at center in the system, they are woefully shallow in proven centers at the NHL level now. Really, it's just JT and Nielsen. Bailey was never able to outplay him for second-line center, which is why Nielsen's still miscast on the second line. And Bailey's probably a better option for the wing now. After that, we're talking about players with little to no NHL experience.

In the future, like two seasons from now, it's possible a player like Sundstrom might be an ideal option for third-line center. He's smart, good in all three zones, plays in all situations, and is maybe a bit more willing than Nielsen to come off the perimeter in the offensive zone. But he's absolutely not ready yet, and who knows if he'll ever actually make it in the NHL...way too soon to tell. It's possible Strome becomes an effective second-line center. It's possible Cizikas becomes the ideal fourth-line center. Then there's always Nelson...I like what I saw from him in Bport before the injury, but it's tough to really project what he might top out as in the future, or if he'll be moved to the wing, or whatever...or again, if he'll ever even cut it as an effective NHLer at all...you just never know until they're there. In a perfect world, all these guys pan out and we have some nice options for all four lines. In reality, maybe two of them cut it at center or at all when all is said and done?

So, all that said, I guess my point is I do think Nielsen is a nice player, but I'd also say we swoon a bit too much over him. I could definitely see him being moved before his contract's up, but maybe not quite this season, unless the return was too much to pass up.

frans nielsen is untouchable??????

and you want garth to trade what exactly??? who else is untouchable?
- LetsGoIsles

OK let me re phrase.......i didnt use the word untouchable, i said i wouldnt ever trade Frans. My point is, that for a third line defensive center who can put a few in, and cover our end, ALLLL while being one of the best shoot out guys in the league.......id have to be wowed to move him. He's what i consider an importance piece to a team the isles want to have.

If you're asking who i'd move, i've said it before, and i'll say it again.......the isles have prospects finally, all of whom are developing. Now is the time to use picks in any trade.

The taxes in America are like 39%, on $1M.....unless you have an accountant/financial planner (which, if you're making a million and you don't, you are a moron), in which case they are more like 14%.....plus, when you invest money in stuff in America, it's less likely to disappear......and "Knuckles" doesn't show up at your house expecting his 20% of your pay, to make sure nothing "happens to your family". We also have stuff in America....like paved roads, food that isn't poisoned, charter airplanes that don't crash every couple of weeks, because someone actually inspects the thirty five year old engines to make sure they're still running (a/k/a "burdensome regulations")....stuff like that....their money doesn't just "go to buy crack for black people", unlike what a lot of people in this country think.....but I digress.....


- dcb1

A financial planner can help you with the money you have.. and are investing to help keep taxes low. They have nothing to do with the income you are getting. Yes his Federal tax rate is now 39.6% for him.. .but you are forgetting about 97 other taxes. Some new and some old. NY state will cost him about 136k at 8.82%.. then you can start on the new FICA tax raise.. the new SS TAX raise (which some of you are probably learning about now with your pay checks). Then you get to see how much your taxes on your house have increased...especially for us Long Island idiots. We even have a new 6% sell your home tax, MTA tax, new medical taxes when u go to doctor, Don't forget your Medicare tax is now 2.35% instead of 1.45% ... yes That is what I think.. oh yeah.. the escrow.. like I said he will not get 1/2 of the 2 million he is signed for this year.... and yeah they buy crack for some people. ... If they had a zillion.. they would spend more. but I digress...

OK let me re phrase.......i didnt use the word untouchable, i said i wouldnt ever trade Frans. My point is, that for a third line defensive center who can put a few in, and cover our end, ALLLL while being one of the best shoot out guys in the league.......id have to be wowed to move him. He's what i consider an importance piece to a team the isles want to have.

If you're asking who i'd move, i've said it before, and i'll say it again.......the isles have prospects finally, all of whom are developing. Now is the time to use picks in any trade.
- kindlyrick

whats the difference??

whats the difference??
- LetsGoIsles

Technically there is no difference, but what i was trying to get across, was that I wouldnt trade Frans unless I was wowed. To me he is an important piece to this puzzle. Is he untouchable? No. But i dont see someone coming in offering a first liner for Frans Nielson. Nor do I see a team offering a top pair dman for him either.

Technically there is no difference, but what i was trying to get across, was that I wouldnt trade Frans unless I was wowed. To me he is an important piece to this puzzle.
- kindlyrick

I would think the players that signed multi year deals like Tavares, Nielsen, Grabner, Okposo, Martin, Moulson and some of the younger guys like Nino, Strome, Hamonic, Reinhardt, etc. won't be dealt unless Snow is blown away on a deal. Look for the players that deals are up this year to be traded like Bailey (possibly), Boyes, Streit, Nabokov, Visnovski (if he shows up), etc.

I don't consider Nielsen untouchable by any stretch. Nice player, but generally invisible when the games get chippy and physical. That said, I'd probably wait until some players are actually ready to outplay him for his spot before pulling the trigger on a deal. While the Isles might be deep at center in the system, they are woefully shallow in proven centers at the NHL level now. Really, it's just JT and Nielsen. Bailey was never able to outplay him for second-line center, which is why Nielsen's still miscast on the second line. And Bailey's probably a better option for the wing now. After that, we're talking about players with little to no NHL experience.

In the future, like two seasons from now, it's possible a player like Sundstrom might be an ideal option for third-line center. He's smart, good in all three zones, plays in all situations, and is maybe a bit more willing than Nielsen to come off the perimeter in the offensive zone. But he's absolutely not ready yet, and who knows if he'll ever actually make it in the NHL...way too soon to tell. It's possible Strome becomes an effective second-line center. It's possible Cizikas becomes the ideal fourth-line center. Then there's always Nelson...I like what I saw from him in Bport before the injury, but it's tough to really project what he might top out as in the future, or if he'll be moved to the wing, or whatever...or again, if he'll ever even cut it as an effective NHLer at all...you just never know until they're there. In a perfect world, all these guys pan out and we have some nice options for all four lines. In reality, maybe two of them cut it at center or at all when all is said and done?

So, all that said, I guess my point is I do think Nielsen is a nice player, but I'd also say we swoon a bit too much over him. I could definitely see him being moved before his contract's up, but maybe not quite this season, unless the return was too much to pass up.
- UIF

dont forget reasoner will be the 4th line center...

i also specifically said if strome is ready to play...

i wouldnt hold out much more hope for frans being much more than what he is, he's 28 years old and isnt getting any younger...pretty sure what you see is what you get at this point...he is prob peaking right now, id love to sell high on him before his value drops and the potential return is lessened bc of it.

Technically there is no difference, but what i was trying to get across, was that I wouldnt trade Frans unless I was wowed. To me he is an important piece to this puzzle. Is he untouchable? No. But i dont see someone coming in offering a first liner for Frans Nielson. Nor do I see a team offering a top pair dman for him either.
- kindlyrick

thats bc frans is a 3RD line center...do the math.

first liner for third liner is a rape job.

if those are the conditions youd be willing to trade fransy, youre considerably overvaluing him

thats bc frans is a 3RD line center...do the math.

first liner for third liner is a rape job.

if those are the conditions youd be willing to trade fransy, youre considerably overvaluing him
- LetsGoIsles

Boy this lockout made me forget how much you like to argue. Clearly that first liner for Fransy is a rape job. But again, let me say, unless i was blown away i dont trade a guy who brings what Frans brings to the table. He's brings so many facets to the game. Frans can play a shutdown role, contribute offensively, play the PK, and scores probably more than anyone in the NHL on the shootout, yet you're looking to move him?

Trading Frans for a defensemen to me is a lateral move. Moving laterally when you're in the basement does not fix this teams problem. Take one of the draft picks or two of them and use them to bring in a player. Thats adding without taking away from the team right now. Thats what building a winner is all about.

hahahaha...welcome to the show. you certainly jumped into the deep end.

yes....trade nielsen.

centers would be JT/Strome/Cizikas/Reasoner (notice bailey being slotted in at wing) ....nielson, a "3rd line center, for a young top 4 defensemen??? who do you think the blackhawks would want in exchange for a young, inexpensive, top 4 d-man??

youd be an idiot not to make the deal, especially with the depth at center the islanders have...
- LetsGoIsles

Youre acting as if the islanders dont have depth at defense. The Islanders are better off cutting ties with Okposo, Grabner or Bailey before sending Frans to Chicago.

dont forget reasoner will be the 4th line center...

i also specifically said if strome is ready to play...

i wouldnt hold out much more hope for frans being much more than what he is, he's 28 years old and isnt getting any younger...pretty sure what you see is what you get at this point...he is prob peaking right now, id love to sell high on him before his value drops and the potential return is lessened bc of it.
- LetsGoIsles

Being that Strome has been tearing up juniors and played well at the world junior, im curious what people think he needs to accomplish to now "be ready". I dont think going back to juniors will help him going forward. Even if he gets pushed around a bit, its time for him to get to the next level.

I would think the players that signed multi year deals like Tavares, Nielsen, Grabner, Okposo, Martin, Moulson and some of the younger guys like Nino, Strome, Hamonic, Reinhardt, etc. won't be dealt unless Snow is blown away on a deal. Look for the players that deals are up this year to be traded like Bailey (possibly), Boyes, Streit, Nabokov, Visnovski (if he shows up), etc.
- kear20

I dont disagree.........my opinion is to start using the draft picks and bring in help. The isles have enough prospects developing that trading two picks will not hurt this team going forward.

OK let me re phrase.......i didnt use the word untouchable, i said i wouldnt ever trade Frans. My point is, that for a third line defensive center who can put a few in, and cover our end, ALLLL while being one of the best shoot out guys in the league.......id have to be wowed to move him. He's what i consider an importance piece to a team the isles want to have.

If you're asking who i'd move, i've said it before, and i'll say it again.......the isles have prospects finally, all of whom are developing. Now is the time to use picks in any trade.
- kindlyrick

I whole heatedly agree with the above party.

Rick DiPietro is optimistic about his chances to make an impact in net for the Islanders after years of injury problems."I feel great. I’ve had such extensive surgeries, they say it takes a couple of years after that serious of surgery to actually feel back to yourself. I think a lot of the stuff was me rushing back too soon, or just having other stuff go wrong because you compensate for surgery that really hadn’t quite yet come back all the way," he said. "I’ve had some time off to get ready and get prepared, and I’m looking forward to it." DiPietro played just one game in 2012 with SC Riessersee in Germany. Evgeni Nabokov enters camp as the Islanders' incumbent starter, but its worth tracking DiPietro's progress in the coming weeks.

Rick DiPietro is optimistic about his chances to make an impact in net for the Islanders after years of injury problems."I feel great. I’ve had such extensive surgeries, they say it takes a couple of years after that serious of surgery to actually feel back to yourself. I think a lot of the stuff was me rushing back too soon, or just having other stuff go wrong because you compensate for surgery that really hadn’t quite yet come back all the way," he said. "I’ve had some time off to get ready and get prepared, and I’m looking forward to it." DiPietro played just one game in 2012 with SC Riessersee in Germany. Evgeni Nabokov enters camp as the Islanders' incumbent starter, but its worth tracking DiPietro's progress in the coming weeks.
- canadianpenfan

Is it really worth tracking I mean really???

Youre acting as if the islanders dont have depth at defense. The Islanders are better off cutting ties with Okposo, Grabner or Bailey before sending Frans to Chicago.
- JTMM9126

1) the islanders defensive depth is a few years away from being legitimate...
2) whose to say the blackhawks would want one of KO, Grabner or bailey? you have to give to get.

Still no one talking about the Taxes.. Vis is making 2 mill this year. After taxes and whatever he has to escrow he is probably looking at less than 1 mill. Compared to staying home.. getting probably what? 2.5 or 3 mill? 12% tax rate... no escrow... of course he wants to stay.
- niteislander

I think people are being a little ignorant to the other factors as to why Visnovsky doesn't want to come to Long Island. It is not about the money. Its about the destination. The proof of that is in the fact that Visnovsky, long before the work stoppage leading to the cutting of over 30% of his salary this year and long before signing a contract in the KHL, did everything he could to avoid Long Island. This has nothing to do with money, especially from a player who has made tons of it over the course of his career. He was still slated to make $3M this year.

My gut tells me that if he had been traded to Detroit or the Rangers or Pittsburgh or another contender, he never files the grievance and he's already on a plane back to North America, if not already here. I don't buy Visnovsky's or his agent's B.S. about it "not being about the Islanders" for one second. What else are they going to say? They have to say that in case the plan to stay in Europe goes to s**t and he's "forced" to (honor the contract he signed) play for the Isles.

Boy this lockout made me forget how much you like to argue. Clearly that first liner for Fransy is a rape job. But again, let me say, unless i was blown away i dont trade a guy who brings what Frans brings to the table. He's brings so many facets to the game. Frans can play a shutdown role, contribute offensively, play the PK, and scores probably more than anyone in the NHL on the shootout, yet you're looking to move him?

Trading Frans for a defensemen to me is a lateral move. Moving laterally when you're in the basement does not fix this teams problem. Take one of the draft picks or two of them and use them to bring in a player. Thats adding without taking away from the team right now. Thats what building a winner is all about.
- kindlyrick

i dont argue...

....i try to explain why im right.

Is it really worth tracking I mean really???
- kasperrko

Just wanted to help out the fantasy players in here.

1) the islanders defensive depth is a few years away from being legitimate...
2) whose to say the blackhawks would want one of KO, Grabner or bailey? you have to give to get.
- LetsGoIsles

Whose to say they would want Nielsen? According to you hes an expendable 3rd liner whose peaking and doesn't bring much.

And BTW the corps of centers they have are a few years away from being legitimate as well.

Youre acting as if the islanders dont have depth at defense. The Islanders are better off cutting ties with Okposo, Grabner or Bailey before sending Frans to Chicago.
- JTMM9126

I hope you're referring to "organizational depth" on defense, because the NHL club has the complete opposite of "depth" on defense. There are a minimum of 2 spots that need to be filled for 7 defensemen at the NHL level, with that number possibly climbing to 3 if LV doesn't show up. They have a lot of defensive "prospects" in the system, but they have no depth at the position at the NHL level, or even the AHL level if you are looking for players capable of stepping into the NHL and being valuable contributors.

Problem with trading Bailey, KO or Grabs is that their stock is way down. Bailey's stock has consistently dropped since his rookie year. KO has underachieved every year since his first full season. Grabs regressed last year. Nobody is going to give you a player worthwhile for those guys. The Isles are actually better off holding onto them and hoping they reach expectations as opposed to shipping them off for table scraps.

Just wanted to help out the fantasy players in here.
- canadianpenfan

Are they going to do NHL fantasy this year now???? and if they do he is my number one pick. I mean he says he is healthya nd ready be stupid not to pick him

1) the islanders defensive depth is a few years away from being legitimate...
2) whose to say the blackhawks would want one of KO, Grabner or bailey? you have to give to get.
- LetsGoIsles

Just an opinion, but Josh Bailey would be good on any other team but the isles.

Is it really worth tracking I mean really???
- kasperrko

lol go ahead track it...it should be a very shourt sequence of events

Is it really worth tracking I mean really???
- kasperrko

lol go ahead track it...it should be a very shourt sequence of events