Ah,Hell, I somewhat agree. But if Richards isplaying like poop, what's Torts supposed to do? Play him because he's Brad Richards?
- Jeropotato

Scratch Brad Richards during the regular season. DO it! Even scratch him in a series... A game one or game 2 scratch, I could see the motivation... It implies to the player, "you are better than this." And the goal is to release him after the scratch and have him play like a man possessed - message received.

What's the message here, though? It's an elimination game in an all-but-hopeless series. Don't play him because he's Brad Richards per se - but play him because he is in theory at least capable of waking up and having a 5-point game... in theory, in theory...

You play him because the chances are so minuscule you survive the series - what a sickening feeling for Richards to sit and watch if they get eliminated tonight.

You play him because he's your highest paid player, and the odds are so stacked against you, you're just making the player humiliated, Sather look like an ass, and creating a huge media distraction.



I

You didn't read Jimbros prev post and you've never seen my other posts.(as a blues fan what can YOU say about ANYTHING?) However, our Gm is a Snap-On chest of tools with wheels but you have him confused with Mike Milbury, the one who destroyed the team with bad trades, drafts and contracts. Next time you want to join someone elses convo, know what you're talking about, first or be relevant.
- jmo16

Not a Blues fan,in fact I like the Islanders better, but that is a pretty fine organization the Blues have. Sure, they missed the playoffs for 6 years or something (what rebuilding team didn't?), but in that time they drated extremely well, made some very good trades and were pretty steady in the players development. Hard to argue that the Islanders organization hasn't been a bit of a circus for the past decade or more.Before drafting Tavares, what direction were they even going in? A playoff berth doesn't exactly erase that.
Having said that, I give Snow credit...it probably would take even a great GM like Holland 3 years just to clean up Milbury's mess before he could actually try to put a plan together.

Scratch Brad Richards during the regular season. DO it! Even scratch him in a series... A game one or game 2 scratch, I could see the motivation... It implies to the player, "you are better than this." And the goal is to release him after the scratch and have him play like a man possessed - message received.

What's the message here, though? It's an elimination game in an all-but-hopeless series. Don't play him because he's Brad Richards per se - but play him because he is in theory at least capable of waking up and having a 5-point game... in theory, in theory...

You play him because the chances are so minuscule you survive the series - what a sickening feeling for Richards to sit and watch if they get eliminated tonight.

I'm hearing you. I suppose if Torts wanted to make an impact he could just as easily taken Richards out for Breakfast, sat him down with a bowl of cut fruit and told him why he's been on the 4th line,ask how he is feeling,look him in the eye and tell him he needs him at his best tonight.Challenge him to be a beast, and put him back on the 1st line. Hey, if he sucks,he sucks, but I can't see how a player wouldn't respond to some 1 on 1 time with a coach like that.

You play him because he's your highest paid player, and the odds are so stacked against you, you're just making the player humiliated, Sather look like an ass, and creating a huge media distraction.



I
- freeman_c2k12

- glove_was_stuck

CBJ fans. What would you want out of EDM for one of Anisimov or Johansen?

I wasn't only referring to Snow. The whole Isles organization is just plain silly. I kind of like them actually & am looking fwd to them playing right down the street from me. BTW, who won GM of the year last year? Who made the playoffs 25 years in a row while forfeiting ten 1st rounders due to the Scott Stevens fiasco?
- All Blues

So, you're just jumping into the fracas for the fun of it? And you're local? Just goes to prove how certain media outlets spin information in a negative way. Your mention of the coliseum was irreverant...Wang tried 3 different ways for 10 years to build them a new arena(including 100% private financing). F'in politicians stood in the way....he cannot be faulted for the arena....Now Nassau county just lost their biggest tennant and possibly a few thousand jobs...morons.
I hope you come support the team in Brooklyn. Maybe you'll get your facts a little more accurate then.

CBJ fans. What would you want out of EDM for one of Anisimov or Johansen?
- TheNugeIsHuge

nothing

Nate MacKinnon just jumped back to the #1 spot. Roy saw him all season long in the Q and knows he's a franchise player that can step in next season and run a 1-2 punch with Duchene. Let over-hyped Seth Jones be someone else's problem.

nothing
- Alexzanki

Free?! Alright

nothing
- Alexzanki

what about tyutin?

Nate MacKinnon just jumped back to the #1 spot. Roy saw him all season long in the Q and knows he's a franchise player that can step in next season and run a 1-2 punch with Duchene. Let over-hyped Seth Jones be someone else's problem.
- trolleytracks

I think this is a case where you pick for need. Last year it was clear Murray and Yak were on different levels, Jones may well be a franchise D man.

I would be shocked if mackinnon went 1

I think this is a case where you pick for need. Last year it was clear Murray and Yak were on different levels, Jones may well be a franchise D man.

I would be shocked if mackinnon went 1
- TheNugeIsHuge

Picking an American puck moving Dman 1st based on need has never back fired on anybody

So, you're just jumping into the fracas for the fun of it? And you're local? Just goes to prove how certain media outlets spin information in a negative way. Your mention of the coliseum was irreverant...Wang tried 3 different ways for 10 years to build them a new arena(including 100% private financing). F'in politicians stood in the way....he cannot be faulted for the arena....Now Nassau county just lost their biggest tennant and possibly a few thousand jobs...morons.
I hope you come support the team in Brooklyn. Maybe you'll get your facts a little more accurate then.
- jmo16

Look, you have this all wrong. The Islanders are a hilarious organization. I LIKE the Islanders in all of their craziness. I follow all NHL teams, especially the ones right here in the NYC area. The way they run things is nothing short of bizaare sometimes. That's not deniable. I simply find it amusing to hear an Islander fan criticize any team for weird/bad GM moves. Nuff said.

Picking an American puck moving Dman 1st based on need has never back fired on anybody
- FinAddict

well if Seth Jones is the next Erik Johnson then I guess Drouin is the next Daigle because he's a winger from the QMJHL

I think this is a case where you pick for need. Last year it was clear Murray and Yak were on different levels, Jones may well be a franchise D man.

I would be shocked if mackinnon went 1
- TheNugeIsHuge

You never pass on a player like MacKinnon. He's a franchise center who's not afraid to play a bit of a physical game. Those don't come around all the time.

Jones' comparisons to Weber and Pronger are comical. Actually, they're hilarious. He doesn't play tough hockey, he avoids hitting people, runs away from scrums and isn't nearly as positionally sound as people want you to believe. Maybe he'll be a great defenceman like everyone thinks, but I think it's more likely he doesn't ever become the best d-man in this draft class.

MacKinnon burned him in the Memorial Cup game. What's he going to do against Crosby, Malkin, Getzlaf, Datsyuk, Stamkos, Toews, Kane...etc?

MacKinnon lost his #1 ranking because the media started a hoopla about Jones and then the worst coach in Junior history for Canada played Mack as a fourth line fill in so he ended up "having a bad tournament" when he didn't even get a chance, and he missed significant time with an injury.

Pick MacKinnon and trade Stastny and O'Reilly for blueline help.

well if Seth Jones is the next Erik Johnson then I guess Drouin is the next Daigle because he's a winger from the QMJHL
- TheNugeIsHuge

Either way, picking based on need with the 1st pick is flat out stupid.

You never pass on a player like MacKinnon. He's a franchise center who's not afraid to play a bit of a physical game. Those don't come around all the time.

Jones' comparisons to Weber and Pronger are comical. Actually, they're hilarious. He doesn't play tough hockey, he avoids hitting people, runs away from scrums and isn't nearly as positionally sound as people want you to believe. Maybe he'll be a great defenceman like everyone thinks, but I think it's more likely he doesn't ever become the best d-man in this draft class.

MacKinnon burned him in the Memorial Cup game. What's he going to do against Crosby, Malkin, Getzlaf, Datsyuk, Stamkos, Toews, Kane...etc?

MacKinnon lost his #1 ranking because the media started a hoopla about Jones and then the worst coach in Junior history for Canada played Mack as a fourth line fill in so he ended up "having a bad tournament" when he didn't even get a chance, and he missed significant time with an injury.

Pick MacKinnon and trade Stastny and O'Reilly for blueline help.
- trolleytracks

Well put.

I predict he goes 1 because of the hype and COL's need for D. May not be the best scenario, but it's what'll likely happen.

Either way, picking based on need with the 1st pick is flat out stupid.
- FinAddict

again. I haven't followed seth jones at all. I follow the oil kings. But some rankings do have Jones as the #1 pick whether COL was picking or FLA.

Well put.

I predict he goes 1 because of the hype and COL's need for D. May not be the best scenario, but it's what'll likely happen.
- TheNugeIsHuge

That's probably the sad truth, but Florida will enjoy it.

That's probably the sad truth, but Florida will enjoy it.
- trolleytracks

FLA and COL are actually in pretty good situations.

COL's got ROR, Landeskog, Parenteau, Duchene, Stastny, Mcginn, barrie, elliott, soon Jones

FLA's got Huberdeau, Markstrom, Bjugstad, grimaldi, gudbranson, kulikov, soon Mackinnon

again. I haven't followed seth jones at all. I follow the oil kings. But some rankings do have Jones as the #1 pick whether COL was picking or FLA.
- TheNugeIsHuge

I don't follow him either, because he sucks

again. I haven't followed seth jones at all. I follow the oil kings. But some rankings do have Jones as the #1 pick whether COL was picking or FLA.
- TheNugeIsHuge

When Bob McKenzie did his rankings, of the ten NHL teams he polled:

7 had Jones 1st
2 had McKinnon first
1 had Drouin first

Jones will likely go to Colorado because of the hype/story. Florida is getting a gift with Mackinnon.

- Flyfreaky

Probably had Mexican.

Nate MacKinnon just jumped back to the #1 spot. Roy saw him all season long in the Q and knows he's a franchise player that can step in next season and run a 1-2 punch with Duchene. Let over-hyped Seth Jones be someone else's problem.
- trolleytracks

Wrong! Roy knows that he needs to build from Defense up.

When Bob McKenzie did his rankings, of the ten NHL teams he polled:

7 had Jones 1st
2 had McKinnon first
1 had Drouin first

Jones will likely go to Colorado because of the hype/story. Florida is getting a gift with Mackinnon.
- Iggysbff

Tampa will have the jewel of the draft with Drouin. He is better than McKinnon. Jones will be a stud but won't make the splash you expect from a 1st.