Both, but the way I see it is they were rushed because there were holes in the lineup that needed to be filled and they had no one else to fill them. In the case of Kreider, Steppan and now Miller (granted he's only played 2 games, but looks good), can you say the Rangers developed them? I'm no Ranger expert, but didn't they all jump form Junior or College straight to the NHL. I know Kreider played in the A, but that's only because of the lockout. If my points are valid, I would say the Rangers didn't "develop" any of them....I reserve the right to be wrong, as I do not claim to be an expert on Ranger prospects.
- Charlie21

All true. there is actually a fear our AHL team is all out of wack in terms of players and preparign them. But they also let those guys play in college or Jr. till they were ready. But personally, I don't blame NYI for certain draft picks. I really wanted and liked Nino and Strome. (I think Strome pans out just fine). Sometimes there is just a swing and a miss. If Strome and Reinhart (and no offense but the high draft pick you'll end up with this year) all pan out, then there is a basis for something good there. Rangers got lucky with Hank. If not for that pick I really wonder where this team would be.

Hopefully the move to Brooklyn allows ownership to have more $ to spend on FAs and keep their own guys while also being a more attractive place to play. I feel like they'll make a big splash the summer before the move (or at least try).

well, now we're jumping into projection opinions which is a tough call. Personally, I'd throw Mayfield in there as I think he can be a top pairing dman. Both Nilsson and Kiskonen could be top tier goalies too. Brock Nelson could be a top six forward, perhaps. Bailey is in a 'prove it' year but I don't think we can necessarily remove him from that list. Kabanov is another kid with elite skill who just may be a late bloomer. So if we add those guys to the conversation, we're now up to 12 players with 'high ceilings'. You could potentially add Anders Lee and Matt Donnovan to that list as well, thougyh it's too early to call. So at that pont we're talking maybe 14. That means we're drafting nearly 3 high impact players per year. I'd venture the guess that rivals most NHL teams drafts.

As for the present state of the Isles, I do think we're better than we were in year one of the rebuild, but we also have a few major holes but building a successful club is a funny thing. you can go from a struggling joke to immediately valid with the acquisition of just 2-3 players. We still have yet to see the 2012-2013 Isles in their full capacity. I'll reserve judgement on them after a good dozen or so games from now.
- keaner17

That is waaaaayyy ambitious. Of those guys you named, I don't think any of them are top pair, top line projected. I think the prospect pool is much better than when mil yet ran things, but I think it's short on high end guys. Hopefully I'm wrong.

I had a nice long response to this and my computer crapped out!
For the Preds, they've had a successful franchise for years. Plenty of pieces there and yes one of their owners is one of the richest owners in hockey and they happen to have an ownership GROUP which dwarf's Charles Wang's reported $890 million net worth. The Predators report an operational cost of -$3.4 million annual while the Isles are at -$16.0m annual. BIG DIFFERENCE. It's also worth noting that the Predators were willing to match ANY offer for Webber, which they promptly did.

As for Phoenix, I wouldn't say they've been the model of success, despite having had a decent system in place for years now. While having a cinderella season last year, the previous four seasons consisted of 2 first round ejections and 2 missed playoff seasons.
- keaner17

I'm not going to debate owners personal net worth, because its irrelevant. As for " operating costs", I don't know the difference but if you think Nashville has has a better team, better results and consistency at the GM and coach positions because they have lower operating costs, I don't know how to respond to that.

You trivialize the Phoenix example. Say what you want, but I'd rather have the Phoenix results of the past few years than ours, and they did it with a limited payroll, venue and ownership uncertainty. Far better results with significant obstacles than the isles have produced.

Bottom line is we should be closer to the playoffs by now. Its becoming clear that we will finish bottom five once again. How many years can this happen until Snow realizes something needs to be done?
- mighty13duck

Correct.

I can't imagine he makes it through another year of that scenario without doing SOMETHING significant. It's time for him to make a REAL trade.
- dcb1

Snow is going nowhere as long as Wang owns the team. He has complete job security. CW loves him. CW kept milbury around for six years and he was destroying the team.

really...

a) his cap hit could protect the team from future deals involving players with contracts IE streit, reasoner, ko, nabby, nielson.

b) they could toll the contract and he could play next season; therefore making nabby expendable and tradeable.

will this happen? i dont know...but at least ill let it play out before i have a short-sighted outburst (cough*LV never wearing an islander jersey*cough)
- LetsGoIsles

First bold, no it won't happen and if you haven't figured it out yrt then I have a bridge to sell you secon bold*cough* *cough* TIM THOMAS, nice talking to you have a good one

the isles lose with him, they can lose without also. neilson is expendable.
- LetsGoIsles

One of your dumber posts which says alot. Does that make Tavares expendable because we lose with him too?

According to IPB undisclosed illness.
- ses111

That's good because we are ill from watching him try to play hockey

One of your dumber posts which says alot. Does that make Tavares expendable because we lose with him too?
- Cptmjl

- Vukota

The worst thing about this guy is he thinks every one of his posts are earth shattering judging by his usual arrogant antics. I'm sure you've met people like him before? The kind of guy you meet and you just think to yourself, "that guy needs a good a$$ kicking". Some people just need it to realize maybe there not so smart afterall.

First bold, no it won't happen and if you haven't figured it out yrt then I have a bridge to sell you secon bold*cough* *cough* TIM THOMAS, nice talking to you have a good one
- Cptmjl

with Thomas' cap hit, we're now 9 mil over the floor. This means if streit or LV are traded, we can trade them for young players without having to take back someone's garbage to stay above the floor. The trade doesn't hurt us in the slightest and gives us flexibility. I'd love to see someone of serious talent come in but this trade doesn't cause any problems

Bottom line is we should be closer to the playoffs by now. Its becoming clear that we will finish bottom five once again. How many years can this happen until Snow realizes something needs to be done?
- mighty13duck

Bottom line is we should've made the playoffs last year to even have a remote chance of being competitive two years from now. The playoffs will most likely be a 2/3 year learning thing for these guys if and when they make it. So realistically this "rebuild"(which I can't say with out smirking anymore)is at best a 9 or 10 year one.

with Thomas' cap hit, we're now 9 mil over the floor. This means if streit or LV are traded, we can trade them for young players without having to take back someone's garbage to stay above the floor. The trade doesn't hurt us in the slightest and gives us flexibility. I'd love to see someone of serious talent come in but this trade doesn't cause any problems
- Isles_since_6

Awesome, just what we need. There are quite a few variables with the Thomas trade and any of the Snow apologist can spin whatever BS positive outlook they want but until I see a player of any substance sign or get traded to here it's all BS and at this point how can anyone think otherwise? Give me a break, how much more shat do all of you guys have to eat before you realize you've been had?

Awesome, just what we need. There are quite a few variables with the Thomas trade and any of the Snow apologist can spin whatever BS positive outlook they want but until I see a player of any substance sign or get traded to here it's all BS and at this point how can anyone think otherwise? Give me a break, how much more shat do all of you guys have to eat before you realize you've been had?
- Cptmjl

Good (frank)ing lord dude. You need to get out of the house more. How am I a "snow apologist" by making a common sense observation on a trade like this? Is it a bad trade? No. Is it a good trade? Not unless he does something with the flexibility. It's a nothing move unless something else happens, it doesn't hurt us and it *may* help us. You're so over the top negative about every goddamn thing that they could trade a 5th round pick for Cory Perry and you'd blast it because he's a UFA at the end of the year.

Explain how this trade hurts us, go ahead. Don't quote "shat" from the last 5 years, explain how this trade, giving up nothing and gaining cap flexibility, hurts us. Overreact much?

Good (frank)ing lord dude. You need to get out of the house more. How am I a "snow apologist" by making a common sense observation on a trade like this? Is it a bad trade? No. Is it a good trade? Not unless he does something with the flexibility. It's a nothing move unless something else happens, it doesn't hurt us and it *may* help us. You're so over the top negative about every goddamn thing that they could trade a 5th round pick for Cory Perry and you'd blast it because he's a UFA at the end of the year.

Explain how this trade hurts us, go ahead. Don't quote "shat" from the last 5 years, explain how this trade, giving up nothing and gaining cap flexibility, hurts us. Overreact much?
- Isles_since_6

Didn't call you that, was referring to some on here. Take a pill. How does it hurt us? If Thomas reports or does anything with us we lose a second round pick. For a rebuilding team thats significant. Making us look like fools to the rest of the NHL taking on a contract to fill cap space to maybe make a trade or reach the floor? Yeah, I know. The rest of the NHL doesn't care, players don't notice shat like this. That's why they're lining up to play here. Or do you believe it's because of the Coliseum? Might have something to do with stupid garbage liken this? If we do utilize the cap space his contract burns that money could have been spent on someone who could actually contribute to this team. It's bordering on lazyness on managements part. Hmmmm.

Didn't call you that, was referring to some on here. Take a pill. How does it hurt us? If Thomas reports or does anything with us we lose a second round pick. For a rebuilding team thats significant. Making us look like fools to the rest of the NHL taking on a contract to fill cap space to maybe make a trade or reach the floor? Yeah, I know. The rest of the NHL doesn't care, players don't notice shat like this. That's why they're lining up to play here. Or do you believe it's because of the Coliseum? Might have something to do with stupid garbage liken this? If we do utilize the cap space his contract burns that money could have been spent on someone who could actually contribute to this team. It's bordering on lazyness on managements part. Hmmmm.
- Cptmjl

Thomas is a guarantee not to report. he had no interest in playing this year for the Bruins and he sure as hell won't have anything to do with us. The draft pick is safe.

Do I like the deal? Again, only if Snow plans on moving out Streit and didn't want to have to take back 4 mil in salary. I've been female doging for a while that this team needs an infusion of top end talent to fill the holes, 1st line wing, solid top four defenseman. I want to see that as much as anyone. I'm just looking at this one transaction as it is, and it's a nothing deal unless we do something with it. It doesn't hurt us, but it could possibly help us.

There's two ways of looking at our cap situation:

One (and if I allow myself to think this I'll never be able to watch the team again) that it's never going to be a team willing to pay above the floor,

or Two (and maybe I'm delusional but I'm going to hang onto hope until they move into Brooklyn and don't do anything) that the available cap space will be used to pick up a contract from a team who needs to shed payroll to get under the cap, or to sign a UFA to a contract the cap strapped teams can't afford.

I am not excusing Snow, there are trades that could be made and IMO he's overly cautious about trading away any draft picks or prospects, but I'm going to hold onto hope that this team will actually make some moves at some point or I'd have to cancel my center ice package and stop following them. If I don't believe that things will change and don't hold out hope for that I couldn't follow them anymore. I hate watching players play without any intensity or drive and if that's the best this team will ever show me then I'd be out right now.

I have to believe things will change at some point. Four Stanley cups growing up made it impossible for me to cheer for any other team. If I don't have the Isles I won't watch hockey. Battered spouse syndrome? Maybe. I just have to believe man, I have to believe.

I honeslty have to blame Wang here and Snow needs to be more creative. Half the guys on here seriously could do a better job then both of them. Why not sign a free agent or make a trade for a contract that plays and helps the team now. Its like Snow is holding back just hoping that the KO's and Bailey's can prove him right..well the clock has been ticking and time is up....there needs to be changes , burst the bubble and blow it up and keep the main guys like Travis H, JT, MM Grabs, Amac,Martin, Ulstrom,Neilson...maybe even boyes has a place. Start packaging the others and picks (we will have good ones) and bring up the Nelson's and stromes to fill in the blanks..they won't be any worse, likely a little better.

Thomas is a guarantee not to report. he had no interest in playing this year for the Bruins and he sure as hell won't have anything to do with us. The draft pick is safe.

Do I like the deal? Again, only if Snow plans on moving out Streit and didn't want to have to take back 4 mil in salary. I've been female doging for a while that this team needs an infusion of top end talent to fill the holes, 1st line wing, solid top four defenseman. I want to see that as much as anyone. I'm just looking at this one transaction as it is, and it's a nothing deal unless we do something with it. It doesn't hurt us, but it could possibly help us.

There's two ways of looking at our cap situation:

One (and if I allow myself to think this I'll never be able to watch the team again) that it's never going to be a team willing to pay above the floor,

or Two (and maybe I'm delusional but I'm going to hang onto hope until they move into Brooklyn and don't do anything) that the available cap space will be used to pick up a contract from a team who needs to shed payroll to get under the cap, or to sign a UFA to a contract the cap strapped teams can't afford.

I am not excusing Snow, there are trades that could be made and IMO he's overly cautious about trading away any draft picks or prospects, but I'm going to hold onto hope that this team will actually make some moves at some point or I'd have to cancel my center ice package and stop following them. If I don't believe that things will change and don't hold out hope for that I couldn't follow them anymore. I hate watching players play without any intensity or drive and if that's the best this team will ever show me then I'd be out right now.

I have to believe things will change at some point. Four Stanley cups growing up made it impossible for me to cheer for any other team. If I don't have the Isles I won't watch hockey. Battered spouse syndrome? Maybe. I just have to believe man, I have to believe.
- Isles_since_6

We all want to believe that of course and I believe they will. Things will change when Wang no longer owns this team and Snow is no longer the GM. Fortunately for us I don't think that will will be much longer from now. There are other ways to make up cap spav=ce then doing something like this which is perceived by the public, players, and the rest of the NHL as being wacky to say the least. If you trade Streit take back someone with his salary or better who can actually contribute. No more young players or picks, enough already. When does it end? It's time(been time for a while) to bring in veteran NHL talent no more kids three years away from contibuting.

Awesome, just what we need. There are quite a few variables with the Thomas trade and any of the Snow apologist can spin whatever BS positive outlook they want but until I see a player of any substance sign or get traded to here it's all BS and at this point how can anyone think otherwise? Give me a break, how much more shat do all of you guys have to eat before you realize you've been had?
- Cptmjl

Well said until they actually pull off something big it's just more of the gong show

600+ comments JEEZUS

600+ comments JEEZUS
- nyi365

imagine what it would be like if we had a solid team and made the playoffs.

Bottom line is we should've made the playoffs last year to even have a remote chance of being competitive two years from now. The playoffs will most likely be a 2/3 year learning thing for these guys if and when they make it. So realistically this "rebuild"(which I can't say with out smirking anymore)is at best a 9 or 10 year one.
- Cptmjl

Don't worry snow has no financial restrictions. We hear that once a year from him

imagine what it would be like if we had a solid team and made the playoffs.
- Isles_since_6

hopefully some day

Don't worry snow has no financial restrictions. We hear that once a year from him
- Vukota

He has to say that... or get fired...

He can't say his boss is a cheap bastard!!!

Awesome, just what we need. There are quite a few variables with the Thomas trade and any of the Snow apologist can spin whatever BS positive outlook they want but until I see a player of any substance sign or get traded to here it's all BS and at this point how can anyone think otherwise? Give me a break, how much more shat do all of you guys have to eat before you realize you've been had?
- Cptmjl