Can I ask a serious question, because honestly I remember LOVING Ricky DP when I was younger, like 12-13. But that was 6-7 years ago. So I'm willing to imagine that I wasn't that in tune with acknowledge good goaltending. Did he deserve that contract? His stats don't scream "throw me a boatload", but like I said, he was my favorite goalie for a few years.
- GirouxForTheShow

He didn't earn that contract. Giving any player, especially a goaltender, that long of a contract is absurd. It wasn't the salary per year ($4.5M) it was the term that made the deal bad. That deal was the brainchild of our owner, a guy who needed to read "hockey for dummies" when he first bought the team, not the product of our GM. RDP had a chance to be something special, but the injuries derailed any hope of that.

The task is daunting, but not impossible. Truth is, every year we see an upset or two in the playoffs. 8's have beaten 1's before. The Kings won the cup last years as an 8, knocking off 1, 2 and 3 in the West along the way. The Isles will have to play near perfect for there to even be a chance for an upset, but it is possible. If the isles depth guys chip in offensively and play super physical and Nabby outplays Fleury, there's a chance.

On another note, if I was Cappy, i'd be making every d-man on the team watch a tape of Kasparaitis and Pilon and how they played against Lemieux and Jagr 20 years ago.
- Jethro09

Did you watch the moves the Kings made last year? We didn't trade prospects for the offensive talent of a whole organization.

It is possible. You are right. It's also possible that I'll win lotto 4 days in a row but I don't even play so it's not likely.

Looking through the comments from last night. It seems you have made a new friend? Maybe Kasper and I can start our own little reality series? I was thinking of calling it "If Keaner can't then maybe Kencan?".
- Cptmjl

Yeah and after I started to prove him wrong over and over again he started posting in another blog. Some "friend" he is.

Looking through the comments from last night. It seems you have made a new friend? Maybe Kasper and I can start our own little reality series? I was thinking of calling it "If Keaner can't then maybe Kencan?".
- Cptmjl

So now we can only talk about the "Snow Era" Islanders and the exact roster of the 93 Isles only when they played the pens in the playoff series?

The 93 Isles and this years team aren't even in the same category and to compare them makes our entire fanbase look stupid. It's things like this (and thinking every one of our prospects is Gretzky, and plenty of other things) that make us the laughing stock of the league.
- kencan98

Yeah, no fanbases overvalue their prospects. Does'nt happen anywhere especially not on hockeybuzz. It's something unique to Islander fans only. With that said there are a couple guys on here that do overvalue(IMO)our prospects to an extent. In no way does this blanket the entire fanbase OR I'll do you one better every Isles fan on hockeybuzz. Far from it in fact. The funniest thing about you and your argument(s) is that the vast majority on here are far from homers quite the contrary actually. You constantly saying that we are makes you look obtuse to such a degree that you come off as ignorant.

Yeah and after I started to prove him wrong over and over again he started posting in another blog. Some "friend" he is.
- kencan98

I'm guessing you guys can pick up where you left off? What's your opinion on Nino?

Listen, I get what you're saying, and I'm not gonna argue with your points cause on the whole you're right.

But you got 1st overall the year SIDNEY FRANKING CROSBY was draft eligible, and heaven forbid when you ended up with Geno Malkin with the 2nd overall.

My point is, as much as you have points, the Pens aren't absolutely brilliant for selecting who they did and developing them. They were studs, and they were gonna be studs regardless who picked them.
- GirouxForTheShow

The Pens were very fortunate with their drafts since 2001 or so. They were fortunate to pick guys like Fleury and Crosby #1 overall, Stall #3 overall (I think) and Malkin #2 overall. They also were able to draft a guy like Whitney in the top five and turned him into Kunitz. But that's how its done in pro sports. You go on a bad stretch, and you get an opportunity to turn it around through high draft picks. The Pens have also done a real solid job surrounding their stars with solid depth and role guys. You can't discredit the job the Pens have done since they played by the same rules as everyone else in building their team.

So now we can only talk about the "Snow Era" Islanders and the exact roster of the 93 Isles only when they played the pens in the playoff series?

The 93 Isles and this years team aren't even in the same category and to compare them makes our entire fanbase look stupid. It's things like this (and thinking every one of our prospects is Gretzky, and plenty of other things) that make us the laughing stock of the league.
- kencan98

You do realize this team was on pace to have a better record than that team right? Your constant over the top mentions of comparing prospects to Gretzky makes you sound like you're five years old....get over yourself.
In terms of talent, this team IS comparable. Neither were vastly talented teams. One team had a great coach that managed to get them to come together and play the best hockey of their lives against a seemingly unbeatable opponent. They set the bar for believing anything was possible. Do we expect it this year? No...but it's not less unlikely.

Did you watch the moves the Kings made last year? We didn't trade prospects for the offensive talent of a whole organization.

It is possible. You are right. It's also possible that I'll win lotto 4 days in a row but I don't even play so it's not likely.
- kencan98

It doesn't matter how you get in.... once you're in... you're in!!!

Everything starts fresh!!!

Nobody expects the Isles to win.... but everybody wants them to win!!!

The Pens are the most hated team in the NHL right now.

I really don't care what negative spin people want to put on this team... this year was a successsful season for the Isles!!!

Something to build on.

Playoff hockey is great, and I'm just happy the Isles are part of it!!!

Did you watch the moves the Kings made last year? We didn't trade prospects for the offensive talent of a whole organization.

It is possible. You are right. It's also possible that I'll win lotto 4 days in a row but I don't even play so it's not likely.
- kencan98

That actually falls into the not possible category if you don't play.

Yeah and after I started to prove him wrong over and over again he started posting in another blog. Some "friend" he is.
- kencan98

You proved no one wrong. It was 1 friggin' AM, I posted "Crap there's a new blog" and came over here...then you continued to argue with yourself. You're a waste of time and I suppose I should take a cue from Vukotta and simply realize you're to ignorant to discuss anything with.

It doesn't matter how you get in.... once you're in... you're in!!!

Everything starts fresh!!!

Nobody expects the Isles to win.... but everybody wants them to win!!!

The Pens are the most hated team in the NHL right now.

I really don't care what negative spin people want to put on this team... this year was a successsful season for the Isles!!!

Something to build on.
Playoff hockey is great, and I'm just happy the Isles are part of it!!!
- jimmc7722

Well said Jim

Did you watch the moves the Kings made last year? We didn't trade prospects for the offensive talent of a whole organization.

It is possible. You are right. It's also possible that I'll win lotto 4 days in a row but I don't even play so it's not likely.
- kencan98

The Kings were not a typical 8 seed, I'll give you that. Even before the Carter move, the Kings were picked at the beginning of last year to finish high in the West. They underachieved all year and turned on the gas in April.

But there are other examples of 8's beating 1's too. There are other examples of big upsets in the NHL playoffs. I remember years ago when the Sharks were an 8 with no real stars beating the Wings who were the 1 seed and beat them on the back of Arturs Irbe playing out of his mind and the Sharks feeding off that. Point is, upsets happen. Goal scoring isn't the Isles issue, keeping the puck out of their own net was much more of an issue this season.

I'm guessing you guys can pick up where you left off? What's your opinion on Nino?
- Cptmjl

Nah...I'm done with him. The core conversation was that top five picks typically don't need seasoning in the AHL. That most complete their junior careers and move on to the NHL. Once he figured out he was wrong, he started distorting the conversation to try and save face. He's one of these guys that have to have the last word so he can get through the rest of his day.

At some point, the guy has to look around and realize that everyone considers him a novelty act and either move on or tone it down. There's never anything wrong when you think everyone else is.....

Keaner....check your PMs
- potvin05

Got it....

You said "Sidney Crosby was draft eligible and heaven forbid you end up with Geno with the second overall".
I was just reading and responding to what you said. Reread your post.
- kencan98

Second overall means the second pick OVERALL in the draft. As in OVER + ALL others.

Looking through the comments from last night. It seems you have made a new friend? Maybe Kasper and I can start our own little reality series? I was thinking of calling it "If Keaner can't then maybe Kencan?".
- Cptmjl

I absolutely love it

Looks like my Penguin buddies are getting under everyones skin. I mean we all know that the Pens on paper are a power house and we are not, but who cares it is only names. Lets see how the first couple of games go.

As for Kencan just stop please. Youa re teh most neagative person I have ever met and that is saying alot since I was top dog at one time in that department. The Islanders are finally in the playoffs playing meaningful games. We all know what the outcome probably is going to be but in sports you just never know what might happen

The Kings were not a typical 8 seed, I'll give you that. Even before the Carter move, the Kings were picked at the beginning of last year to finish high in the West. They underachieved all year and turned on the gas in April.

But there are other examples of 8's beating 1's too. There are other examples of big upsets in the NHL playoffs. I remember years ago when the Sharks were an 8 with no real stars beating the Wings who were the 1 seed and beat them on the back of Arturs Irbe playing out of his mind and the Sharks feeding off that. Point is, upsets happen. Goal scoring isn't the Isles issue, keeping the puck out of their own net was much more of an issue this season.
- Jethro09

Lately the Isles haven't been scoring... I hope they turn it up a notch.

Pittsburgh is going to come out flying for the first tem minutes... need to hold them off!!!

Second overall means the second pick OVERALL in the draft. As in OVER + ALL others.
- keaner17

It's hard to resist at this point, isn't it?

I absolutely love it
- kasperrko

Have to do something...Cpt and LGI both discovered that neither were bad guys so the jig is up

The only way the isles win this series to have have several of the following happen:

1) Do what the Flyers did. If the Islanders can get the Penguins more worried about running around that playing, they have a shot. However, with guys like Morrow and Iginla on board, not likely to happen.

2) Hope for injuries. Don't run around and throw cheap shots, but hope that you can wear them down. Finish every check hard and clean. Make sure that the Penguins top players (all, what, 7 of them? geez!) know that they will have to fight for every inch.

3) Special teams. The Pens PP is ridiculous. The more ridiculous part is that their 2nd unit looks like some teams' first unit. You need to pressure them without over-commiting, and have everyone on board willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. On the PP, they'll have to forget about finesse and just get pucks to the net and crash and bang.

4) Have better goaltending. Ralistically, Nabakov is going to have to steal 2 games. He just is. And he's going to need to outplay both MAF and Tomas Vokoun in the other two, and maybe that isn't enough.

My point is, the Islanders can win this series. But the odds are heavily stacked against them. They have a shot, though.

Lately the Isles haven't been scoring... I hope they turn it up a notch.

Pittsburgh is going to come out flying for the first tem minutes... need to hold them off!!!
- jimmc7722

They have to get back to the way they were playing by tomorrow

It's hard to resist at this point, isn't it?
- Cptmjl

It's funny how desperate he is to win ONE argument.

The only way the isles win this series to have have several of the following happen:

1) Do what the Flyers did. If the Islanders can get the Penguins more worried about running around that playing, they have a shot. However, with guys like Morrow and Iginla on board, not likely to happen.

2) Hope for injuries. Don't run around and throw cheap shots, but hope that you can wear them down. Finish every check hard and clean. Make sure that the Penguins top players (all, what, 7 of them? geez!) know that they will have to fight for every inch.

3) Special teams. The Pens PP is ridiculous. The more ridiculous part is that their 2nd unit looks like some teams' first unit. You need to pressure them without over-commiting, and have everyone on board willing to do whatever it takes to stop them. On the PP, they'll have to forget about finesse and just get pucks to the net and crash and bang.

4) Have better goaltending. Ralistically, Nabakov is going to have to steal 2 games. He just is. And he's going to need to outplay both MAF and Tomas Vokoun in the other two, and maybe that isn't enough.

My point is, the Islanders can win this series. But the odds are heavily stacked against them. They have a shot, though.
- jmatchett383

Thank you, I'll foward this to Snow