Don't expect much this offseason Kasper, you'll be hammering a nail into a wall with your head come July and I'll be hammering one in the wall next to you
- Cptmjl

I don't trust me. Garth even said they are keeping the course so I don't expect anything at all.

Oh and Boyes will be resigned

I wish women were as easy as you
- Cptmjl

best thing about Kasper is he's classy enough to consider opposing points of view...women.....

I wish women were as easy as you
- Cptmjl

Don't expect much this offseason Kasper, you'll be hammering a nail into a wall with your head come July and I'll be hammering one in the wall next to you
- Cptmjl

I suppose the big difference going into this offseason is I actually don't feel like we need a hell of a lot. Give us one top line player, which may be handled in house and a top pairing dman and I think this team will be damn good.

You don't have to go any further than the kudos from the Pens to realize these kids put the fear of God into a STACKED hockey team. Now add an elitely talented kid like Strome and powerforward with Nino and let Poulin have enough starts to actually adjust to the NHL game and we're capable of running with any team in this league.

best thing about Kasper is he's classy enough to consider opposing points of view...women.....
- keaner17

Woman there is only one view

I suppose the big difference going into this offseason is I actually don't feel like we need a hell of a lot. Give us one top line player, which may be handled in house and a top pairing dman and I think this team will be damn good.

You don't have to go any further than the kudos from the Pens to realize these kids put the fear of God into a STACKED hockey team. Now add an elitely talented kid like Strome and powerforward with Nino and let Poulin have enough starts to actually adjust to the NHL game and we're capable of running with any team in this league.
- keaner17

I agree. Top line winger and a d man with or without streit and I think we are ok, as long as these guys play like they did the last month and a half? Maybe a goalie but that's covered ground.

I suppose the big difference going into this offseason is I actually don't feel like we need a hell of a lot. Give us one top line player, which may be handled in house and a top pairing dman and I think this team will be damn good.

You don't have to go any further than the kudos from the Pens to realize these kids put the fear of God into a STACKED hockey team. Now add an elitely talented kid like Strome and powerforward with Nino and let Poulin have enough starts to actually adjust to the NHL game and we're capable of running with any team in this league.
- keaner17

I agree to an extent here, but I still think one move (as in, trade of a prospect or two) really needs to be made...if we can sign Nabokov, or equivalent (Smith, Backstrom), for a couple of years, and use part of the 82 game regular season next year to see if one of our youngsters is ready to step up, we'll be OK in the net. I love the idea of Bernier, but we probably would only want to part with enough horses to make one deal.

Given that we have Niederreiter AND Strome, both of whom are probably going to be solid enough offensive talents to shine on Tavares' wing, we are likely set up front. So that means that the one thing we need to do, above all else, is go and get a top flight defenseman. That is the move I'd like to see- one of those forwards, one of the defensive prospects (which one depends on who we're getting), and draft picks, to bring us Yandle or Weber. That is an instant upgrade that doesn't really mortgage our future, doesn't really affect the current team as is, and adds a BIG TIME presence on the blue line. As I always say, I'm not asking to get ripped off (which is what Islanders fans always fear in this situation, given....well, Milbury, let's face it), but it wouldn't hurt Snow to make that phone call.

That player, as long as we have adequate goaltending, makes us a serious contender immediately, and we'll still have plenty coming down the pike to improve the rest of the situation.

PS- Here's another thing...if we stand pat, and make a draft pick in round one, just because we'll be picking 15th or whatever doesn't mean we have to draft Ryan O'Marra. Someone has to use their brain in that situation also. The Flyers drafted Carter and Richards with middling picks, and the Devils drafted Parise AFTER we vacuumed up what everyone knew was going to be a pile of doo-doo, so it is possible to get a quality player in that spot, as long as you're not an a$$ like Milbury....just saying....

Islanders absolutely stalled his development by rushing him into the NHL, that's what happens when you have a mismanaged franchise. Definitely a skilled young guy, I actually wanted the Canucks to draft him. Here's to a breakout season next year, hopefully in a Nucks sweater?
- LeftCoaster

Mismanaged franchise? Are you talking about the one with no AHL team next year because they won't pay for it? Are you talking about the one stuck with a declining 35 year old goalie signed through age-43? I wouldn't make fun of the Islanders so much, considering the Canucks are practically the Islanders without the championship rings.

Pretty bold talk coming from a Canucks fan. Win a cup first and then come talk about which franchises are managed correctly. This Islander fan is done taking smack talk about how mismanaged our team is, especially from Canucks fans who haven't won a thing and have a team with its own embarrassments.

Mismanaged franchise? Are you talking about the one with no AHL team next year because they won't pay for it? Are you talking about the one stuck with a declining 35 year old goalie signed through age-43? I wouldn't make fun of the Islanders so much, considering the Canucks are practically the Islanders without the championship rings.

Pretty bold talk coming from a Canucks fan. Win a cup first and then come talk about which franchises are managed correctly. This Islander fan is done taking smack talk about how mismanaged our team is, especially from Canucks fans who haven't won a thing and have a team with its own embarrassments.
- isles10289

Yeah, our team WAS mismanaged....and you can see him nightly, spouting off at the mouth on the NBC Sports Network in the US. He was THE General Mismanager, up until about seven years ago....you know, when we started building this now young and improving playoff team.

Apparently, there are a lot of folks around the NHL who didn't get that memo, since every lazy a$$ed journalist on earth still parrots all the others in regard to "what a joke" our franchise is. Here's hoping we continue to fly under the radar, right up until the point that Bettman hands Tavares the Cup....

I agree to an extent here, but I still think one move (as in, trade of a prospect or two) really needs to be made...if we can sign Nabokov, or equivalent (Smith, Backstrom), for a couple of years, and use part of the 82 game regular season next year to see if one of our youngsters is ready to step up, we'll be OK in the net. I love the idea of Bernier, but we probably would only want to part with enough horses to make one deal.

Given that we have Niederreiter AND Strome, both of whom are probably going to be solid enough offensive talents to shine on Tavares' wing, we are likely set up front. So that means that the one thing we need to do, above all else, is go and get a top flight defenseman. That is the move I'd like to see- one of those forwards, one of the defensive prospects (which one depends on who we're getting), and draft picks, to bring us Yandle or Weber. That is an instant upgrade that doesn't really mortgage our future, doesn't really affect the current team as is, and adds a BIG TIME presence on the blue line. As I always say, I'm not asking to get ripped off (which is what Islanders fans always fear in this situation, given....well, Milbury, let's face it), but it wouldn't hurt Snow to make that phone call.

That player, as long as we have adequate goaltending, makes us a serious contender immediately, and we'll still have plenty coming down the pike to improve the rest of the situation.

PS- Here's another thing...if we stand pat, and make a draft pick in round one, just because we'll be picking 15th or whatever doesn't mean we have to draft Ryan O'Marra. Someone has to use their brain in that situation also. The Flyers drafted Carter and Richards with middling picks, and the Devils drafted Parise AFTER we vacuumed up what everyone knew was going to be a pile of doo-doo, so it is possible to get a quality player in that spot, as long as you're not an a$$ like Milbury....just saying....
- dcb1

Under no circumstances do I want Webber's contract. $12 million is insane and I certainly don't want to be parting with equally dynamic players a few years down the line to contend with his cap hit. I think the timeline has to be considered in this case. 2014-2015 is our first all-in season (IMO). So I'm content to add a top dman and top winger and then allow our other prospects grow into their role over the next 2-3 years. That keeps the pipeline rolling and the team having top notch players in their prime for up to a decade. I'm a huge believer that Reinhart will be a top pairing guy and Pedan could be another. If we give those guys just two more seasons, they should be ready to challenge. Pair them with Hamonic, Hickey, Donovan and a top pairing dman via UFA and we're set for a LONG time.
Then let's see where we are with our three goalie prospects.

Yeah, our team WAS mismanaged....and you can see him nightly, spouting off at the mouth on the NBC Sports Network in the US. He was THE General Mismanager, up until about seven years ago....you know, when we started building this now young and improving playoff team.

Apparently, there are a lot of folks around the NHL who didn't get that memo, since every lazy a$$ed journalist on earth still parrots all the others in regard to "what a joke" our franchise is. Here's hoping we continue to fly under the radar, right up until the point that Bettman hands Tavares the Cup....
- dcb1

wonder how Ron Hainsey or Ryan Whitney would look here.

Under no circumstances do I want Webber's contract. $12 million is insane and I certainly don't want to be parting with equally dynamic players a few years down the line to contend with his cap hit. I think the timeline has to be considered in this case. 2014-2015 is our first all-in season (IMO). So I'm content to add a top dman and top winger and then allow our other prospects grow into their role over the next 2-3 years. That keeps the pipeline rolling and the team having top notch players in their prime for up to a decade. I'm a huge believer that Reinhart will be a top pairing guy and Pedan could be another. If we give those guys just two more seasons, they should be ready to challenge. Pair them with Hamonic, Hickey, Donovan and a top pairing dman via UFA and we're set for a LONG time.
Then let's see where we are with our three goalie prospects.
- keaner17

If you're too worried about Weber's cap hit (which I am not, because I believe he makes us an IMMEDIATE contender for a Stanley Cup), then take a shot at Yandle instead. He's a solid consolation prize, and he SHOULD only cost us Niederreiter OR Reinhart, as opposed to both, as well as not sporting nearly as much of a cap hit.

In any case, my problem is that I do not see one TOP prospect on defense whose projection chart reads "mean, nasty and tough to play against". I see that for a couple of the guys who are more of a gamble (fourth and fifth rounders), but nothing at the very top. That is what this team needs, more than anything- someone who makes Sidney Crosby think he might leave on a stretcher if he goes too hard to the net. Someone like Carkner, but who can actually play. That's what we need.

really?? back to bashing snow?? one might look at it the other way where he has put together a good roster with waiver wire pick ups and the draft
- NYI78

It's not bashing when it's true and if you think the team that lost 4 of 6 games to Pittsburgh is a "good" roster there's no sense in trying to argue. Let's not also forget the "slick" accounting move of signing Tim Thomas, just so we're allowed to play in the league.

This team has a ONE exceptional player. We have 2 or 3 VERY GOOD players. From there, we have a schmorgisboard of talented players who have not reached their expected/projected potential. Then there's the waiver pick-ups and marginal UFA's and a couple of pylons on fwd & Defense. Our goalie is a proven playoff loser and our goalie prospects are not looking as promising as they once did.

The pipeline has a 2 studs who are 2-3 years away from being NHL threats and a handful of guys with the projections of Bailey/KO, so again, a handful of question marks. Yes, our farm team is in the top 10 of the league in talent, no one would argue but by the time they're ready to participate & contribute worth a damn, some of our other players will be past prime or playing elsewhere via UFA.

SO, I think it's a little early to pat Garth on the back for anything other than NOT giving out stupid contracts like the Rangers do. IF everyone in the system pans out (or even 75% do), this team COULD be a contender for a number of years but as evidenced by our first round departure, we are not there yet. Don't forget that the Devils & Flyers all but fell apart, granting our team the sliver of a chance to make the playoffs this year. If they were in the hunt, we would not have seen the post season. I won't even mention our bargain-based coaching staff.

In short: YOU CANT MANAGE A PROFESSIONAL FRANCHISE ON THE CHEAP AND EXPECT FANTASTIC RESULTS.

Even in-house though...I don't think it's too crazy to wonder whether three of Grabner-Nelson-Strome-Niederreiter-...maybe even Lee...could grow into a solid second line in a couple of seasons. In that case, we'd have our two special lines, with Nielsen's line as the third line. Until then, Nielsen's line has that spot until players are ready to take it from them.
- UIF

best-case scenario....

Ranger's Fan...
- jimmc7722

I watched Tonelli-to-Nystrom 35 years ago live on TV. My father is a rangers fan.
Call me that again and be ready to be slapped like a biatch.

wonder how Ron Hainsey or Ryan Whitney would look here.
- keaner17

I'd be ok with Hainsey. Pass on Whitney.

wonder how Ron Hainsey or Ryan Whitney would look here.
- keaner17

Well that hainsey isn't the best looking guy but that Whitney is quite the looker

Wow...nice goal by Nyquist for the first goal in the Det-Chi game. Anyone else just see that?

Wow...nice goal by Nyquist for the first goal in the Det-Chi game. Anyone else just see that?
- UIF

Terrible call on that waived off goal. He never even touched him.

Terrible call on that waived off goal. He never even touched him.
- keaner17

Yeah, agreed...only thing I can think of is they tried to make up for the non-boarding call on the other Chicago goal...but that's even worse. You don't gain any credibility by compounding the bad calls.

Also, they seem to enjoy sending Shaw to the box. I don't know much about him...is he just one of those players who never gets the benefit of the doubt based on his history?

Also, they seem to enjoy sending Shaw to the box. I don't know much about him...is he just one of those players who never gets the benefit of the doubt based on his history?
- UIF

Not sure but from the bits I've seen, the calling has been a bit one-sided. Tough to get calls in Detroit.

Do you take the time to sign your posts? Or is it some automatic thing you have set up?
- GirouxForTheShow

Hey Mick... another one!


XxNYIxX

That signature ensures quality...Without it, the product is worthless....You've heard the phrase 'look for specially marked packages" ?....Tadaaaaaa
- keaner17

Nicely said...

XxNYIxX