Lets not forget that Vis can actually play both sides of the puck.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Lets not forget that Vis wanted no part of this team and is not going to sign an extension. I surely hope I'm wrong, but all signs point to Vis bolting home to Europe on the first plane leaving NY after the Isles' season ends.

Nilsson's a different type of goaltender. Better? I don't know about that. Poulin is still the guy who put up a .924 save% in 10 NHL starts on a horribly bad 2010-11 Isles team. Not much of a body of work, but still a bigger accomplishment than anything Nilsson's done to date. He hasn't put up gaudy numbers since that freak knee thing.

Just my observations, but Nilsson is more positional and I guess cerebral than Poulin. Poulin relies more on reaction and reflexes. But both can look pretty darn bad...Poulin when he gets too active in his crease, and Nilsson when he relies too much on outguessing shooters rather than reacting to them.
- UIF

a healthy anders last season was some of the best goaltending i have ever seen a sound tiger play..i know thats the ahl but when he was healthy he was awesome

More prospect info....

http://www.hockeysfuture....pect-rankings/#more-87631

Nilsson's a different type of goaltender. Better? I don't know about that. Poulin is still the guy who put up a .924 save% in 10 NHL starts on a horribly bad 2010-11 Isles team. Not much of a body of work, but still a bigger accomplishment than anything Nilsson's done to date. He hasn't put up gaudy numbers since that freak knee thing.

Just my observations, but Nilsson is more positional and I guess cerebral than Poulin. Poulin relies more on reaction and reflexes. But both can look pretty darn bad...Poulin when he gets too active in his crease, and Nilsson when he relies too much on outguessing shooters rather than reacting to them.
- UIF

Sound like anyone we know?

I'd say considering this is Hickey's first season in the NHL, he's looked pretty damn good. He's got a decent battle level!
with defensemen, you shouldn't expect them to mature in to a full time NHL role until 23-24 years old. Hickey is now 24. I wouldn't say it's taken him abnormally long to break the league.
- keaner17

I'm not displeased with Hickey, I am just not ready to jettison Streit and watch Vis go out the door after this season and turn the PP reins over to Hickey after one abbreviated NHL season.

Sound like anyone we know?
- keaner17

i didn't want to come out in say it but thats exactly who poulin reminds me off

I'm not displeased with Hickey, I am just not ready to jettison Streit and watch Vis go out the door after this season and turn the PP reins over to Hickey after one abbreviated NHL season.
- Jethro09

Well I wouldn't pick Vis over Streit unless he was resigned first. I thought that was a given.

XxNYIxX

Why? Why do the Isles have to sew a "C" on Tavares' sweater? Does that change anything either on the ice or off? Everyone outside that locker room already knows JT is the face, heartbeat and leader of this franchise. I'm sure its the same inside the locker room too, although I can't state that for certain since I'm not inside the locker room. You don't think that JT is leading this team in the room and on the ice just as well with an "A" on his sweater as he would be if he had the "C"?

You don't trade away Mark Streit and go into next season with no solid offensive defensmen to QB the PP so you can sew a "C" on Tavares' sweater.
- Jethro09

I know your feelings on it but I disagree with you on this one. I know you have the feeling it does'nt mean anything to be the captain of the team and Tavares just being there is enough, I just disagree. That's not the only reason I'd trade Streit I believe I stated 4 other reasons on my post? As far as finding another QB on the PP that's what GM's get payed for. If we continue to hold back on trading players simply bcs our GM is'nt capable of making a trade or signing a FA you can tack on another 10 years onto Snows already over extended 5 year plan. Streit is getting older and his play is certainly not getting any better. He is sometimes more of a detriment on the PP than a positive. Witnessed that far too many times this year. It's a good time to trade him while he has some value.

I'm not displeased with Hickey, I am just not ready to jettison Streit and watch Vis go out the door after this season and turn the PP reins over to Hickey after one abbreviated NHL season.
- Jethro09

Agreed...that's why I went along with a 2 year signing. That said, I don't think Streit has been that great as a ppqb. I actually prefer Vis in that role and think that Hickey actually shows promise with his composure with the puck. I'd like him to have another year or two to grow into the role but think he's quite capable.

I have wondered this for a long time... I have been on many teams & the C on a sweater never made that guy any different then before.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Dennis Potvin, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and a lot of other captains and their successful teams disagree with you.

i didn't want to come out in say it but thats exactly who poulin reminds me off
- NYI78

And he's already had a couple of knee surgeries I believe....

Sound like anyone we know?
- keaner17

exactly

I would trade Vis in a heartbeat. We can get a nice return for him. If it includes a decent goalie you make the deal.

And he's already had a couple of knee surgeries I believe....
- keaner17

Hes young. Give him time. He is going to be great

Dennis Potvin, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and a lot of other captains and their successful teams disagree with you.
- Cptmjl

Potvin & Mess became better players because of the C?

Yzerman got the c from pretty much day one.. so we will never know.

The C is just a letter.

XxNYIxX

I know your feelings on it but I disagree with you on this one. I know you have the feeling it does'nt mean anything to be the captain of the team and if Tavares being there is enough, I just disagree. That's not the only reason I'd trade Streit I believe I stated 4 other reasons on my post? As far as finding another QB on the PP that's what GM's get payed for. If we continue to hold back on trading players simply bcs our GM is'nt capable of making a trade or signing a FA you can tack on another 10 years onto Snows already over extended 5 year plan. Streit is getting older and his play is certainly not getting any better. He is sometimes more of a detriment on the PP than a positive. Witnessed that far too many times this year. It's a good time to trade him while he has some value.
- Cptmjl

You believe that this GM is going to find a capable replacement for Streit and Vis on the PP? this team had Nielsen manning a point for a while because Snow couldn't get anyone else to do it.

I never said it doesn't mean anything to be the team's captain. I just said the letter on the sweater doesn't make someone a leader or not. I'm sure that this is JT's team on the ice and off regardless of who's wearing the "C". That's the kind of character and presence JT has.

I would trade Vis in a heartbeat. We can get a nice return for him. If it includes a decent goalie you make the deal.
- mighty13duck

Absolutely. Guy is a good player but (frank) him. He gets offered a first you dump him, see ya! I wonder how many family emergencies he'll have wherever he goes?

Absolutely. Guy is a good player but (frank) him. He gets offered a first you dump him, see ya! I wonder how many family emergencies he'll have wherever he goes?
- Cptmjl

He is not even that great

Dennis Potvin, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and a lot of other captains and their successful teams disagree with you.
- Cptmjl

I'll bring up a point as to why I think naming Tavares as Captain means something. The Captain of the team not only represents that team to the officials, but to team management as well. If there are issues the team needs to convey to the coach or GM, it's that team captain who typically goes in to speak. This isn't the 1970's or 1980's where teams used to vote for their Captains. That doesn't happen nowadays. Management typically names their Captain and they do so based on who they feel most comfortable with as liaison for the players and managment.
With Streit, I don't think you have a vocal enough player. I also doubt he garners the respect from the officials like a star such as JT will. It's JT's driven attitude that should be the symbolic representation of this franchise, not a quiet passive player such as Streit.

You believe that this GM is going to find a capable replacement for Streit and Vis on the PP? this team had Nielsen manning a point for a while because Snow couldn't get anyone else to do it.

I never said it doesn't mean anything to be the team's captain. I just said the letter on the sweater doesn't make someone a leader or not. I'm sure that this is JT's team on the ice and off regardless of who's wearing the "C". That's the kind of character and presence JT has.
- Jethro09

Didn't he find those 2?

XxNYIxX

Agreed...that's why I went along with a 2 year signing. That said, I don't think Streit has been that great as a ppqb. I actually prefer Vis in that role and think that Hickey actually shows promise with his composure with the puck. I'd like him to have another year or two to grow into the role but think he's quite capable.
- keaner17

I don't think anyone would disagree with you and we'd all like to have Vis stay as opposed to Streit, but that's not going to happen. Vis wanted no part of this team during the summer or the fall and he is not going to want to sign an extension now. You have to work under the assumption that Vis is not coming back to the Isles after this season. So, its either extend Streit for a couple of years, or lose both of your top PP QB's going into next season. I'd prefer to keep Streit as opposed to keeping neither.

You believe that this GM is going to find a capable replacement for Streit and Vis on the PP? this team had Nielsen manning a point for a while because Snow couldn't get anyone else to do it.

I never said it doesn't mean anything to be the team's captain. I just said the letter on the sweater doesn't make someone a leader or not. I'm sure that this is JT's team on the ice and off regardless of who's wearing the "C". That's the kind of character and presence JT has.
- Jethro09

Kind of sounds that way. Putting a C on that kids sweater is going to mean a lot to him and I'm guessing to the players that are on his team. I agree with you on Snow, 100% correct. Streit is declining in the twilight of his career, we are rebuilding still believe it or not. You trade players like Streit if there is a good offer. As far as Snow it's time for him to start being a GM. Keeping playerrs for the sole reason of him being inept is ridiculous. Everyone says this is his big year

once again the reason i'm down on poulin is i have watched about 100 of his starts..and he still has the same issues...at some point you are what you are...if he didn't fix his problems in the ahl why would they get fixed against better talent in the nhl? his reaction time is "better" than nilsson because he is out of position...you don't need to dive all over the place when you are square to the shooter...i do admit that playing once a month is not fair to him and thats challenging
- NYI78

I don't know that Poulin is at that point yet though...some goaltenders don't round out their games until their mid to late 20s. I think he needs some better coaching to be honest...he appears to be a shakier goaltender now than when he came into the organization. He's moving around way too much...both in Bport and with the Isles this season. I don't remember him doing that nearly as much when he last played for the Isles, but it seems like that should be a correctable issue.

I know I picked a bad season to start watching Nilsson closely in the AHL...with his illness and all. So although I've seen all his starts this year, I try not to pick his game apart too much.

Didn't he find those 2?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Touche. But what teams are going to be willing to move PP QB's this summer, if any? Plus, why let Streit go or trade him and have to use picks/prospects to land another guy to fill his role?

I don't think anyone would disagree with you and we'd all like to have Vis stay as opposed to Streit, but that's not going to happen. Vis wanted no part of this team during the summer or the fall and he is not going to want to sign an extension now. You have to work under the assumption that Vis is not coming back to the Isles after this season. So, its either extend Streit for a couple of years, or lose both of your top PP QB's going into next season. I'd prefer to keep Streit as opposed to keeping neither.
- Jethro09

I'm one of the guys that wants to see Vis gone. Guy is a great player but he should be gone by the deadline.