Exactly. I believe most fans are sick of "maybes" and what ifs. If these kids play to their potential than great but if they don't or aren't ready it's going to be a long season and a lottery pick.
- Cptmjl

our real question mark is in goal. I think we all agree with that Nabby wasn't anyone's first choice, but with all the other options locked up prior to the ufa period except for emery and either untried starters or career backups, we got the best of what was left.

I'm going to assume that Snow is looking for Poulin and/or Nilsson to step up and play a significant amount of games this year and unless they both absolutely fall apart or Nabby is injured for a long period of time, I don't see another move coming. I think he wants to see how they handle the increased minutes and if one can step up. At some point they've got to be given that chance, and if one of them does, maybe we have our own starter for next year and don't surrender an asset for one.

Risky, maybe, but of what was left this was likely the best option. A trade could bring in a more talented goaltender (if one was available) but may cost us an asset that makes another position weaker.

Not too concerned with it honestly, I don't expect us to push for the cup this year and probably fight for one of the last couple of playoff positions. Hopefully we can do this while also getting a few prospect's feet wet at the same time.

last two years with a VERY good defensive LA team:

2011-12 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 1 8 9 16 -7 20 0 1 1 4
2012-13 Los Angeles Kings NHL 48 1 11 12 4 -6 18 0 3 3 0

-7 and -6 doesn't look so good. 1 goal per year doesn't help offensively. I stand by my comment he's declining and not the same guy he was 3-4 years ago. Not worth the coin and not an upgrade.
- Isles_since_6

Going only on +/- is an unfair view of things. You can look at Voynov's +5 and say he's good defensively, but you'd be completely ignoring the fact that Scuderi logs minutes playing against other teams top lines.

I would have liked him here, but he's hardly going to make or break our season.

Glad Hammer is signed for 7 years. Great contract for both team and player. So, I guess Hamonic really wanted to play closer to home. Nothing like signing a 7 year contract extension to quash that stuff.

Not a great day, but not a terrible one either. If you think Bouchard is better than Boyes (I do) and Clutterbuck is better than Aucoin (I do), the team got better up front, even if it wasnt by as much as we would have liked.

"D" remains the issue. You lose Streit and replace him with Donovan. Lose a lot of offense, probably get better definsively. In net, Nabby should be better IF the coaches let Poulin get at least 30 games and keep Nabby fresh.

Still a lot of summer left and a whole waiver wire to look at, but minimal improvements so far are better than none.
- Jethro09

Honestly I think a LOT of Nabby's downfall was he played 41/48 games at 38 years old ( same as 70 games in a regular season).

I expect a split of 70/30 with Nabby/Backup first half of the season and then going towards 55/45 or 60/40 down the stretch

I don't think he's terrible, don't get me wrong. I just look at where he is now in his career and think in 3-4 years he's going to look awful...like Mark Eaton
- Isles_since_6

Yeah, I could see that but that's the way it is. You sign these players at his age not expecting them to be so great or even playing towards the end of it. That's the NHL today and that's players demands and that's what they get.

Going only on +/- is an unfair view of things. You can look at Voynov's +5 and say he's good defensively, but you'd be completely ignoring the fact that Scuderi logs minutes playing against other teams top lines.

I would have liked him here, but he's hardly going to make or break our season.
- eichiefs9

I'm not, I'm using those as an example, I did see a reasonable chunk of LA's games, especially against the Canucks since they're on local tv here all the time. I just don't find myself impressed with him. I don't think he's terrible, I just don't see him as an upgrade. When LA signed him from Pittsburgh a few years ago at that time I was disappointed, not at all this time.

our real question mark is in goal. I think we all agree with that Nabby wasn't anyone's first choice, but with all the other options locked up prior to the ufa period except for emery and either untried starters or career backups, we got the best of what was left.

I'm going to assume that Snow is looking for Poulin and/or Nilsson to step up and play a significant amount of games this year and unless they both absolutely fall apart or Nabby is injured for a long period of time, I don't see another move coming. I think he wants to see how they handle the increased minutes and if one can step up. At some point they've got to be given that chance, and if one of them does, maybe we have our own starter for next year and don't surrender an asset for one.

Risky, maybe, but of what was left this was likely the best option. A trade could bring in a more talented goaltender (if one was available) but may cost us an asset that makes another position weaker.

Not too concerned with it honestly, I don't expect us to push for the cup this year and probably fight for one of the last couple of playoff positions. Hopefully we can do this while also getting a few prospect's feet wet at the same time.
- Isles_since_6

If we sneak in I'll be surprised with the way the rest of the conference looks? Going in with maybes in net is not the best way to do things as we all know. We are going to need one of these kids to step up bcs Nabby certainly isn't going to get us through this season on his own. Who knows? Maybe Poulin will exceed expectations or Nilsson will be ready?

Going only on +/- is an unfair view of things. You can look at Voynov's +5 and say he's good defensively, but you'd be completely ignoring the fact that Scuderi logs minutes playing against other teams top lines.

I would have liked him here, but he's hardly going to make or break our season.
- eichiefs9

No, not make or break it but he could've helped our defense in a very big way. It doesn't matter now anyway. Irrelevant discussion at this point.

No, not make or break it but he could've helped our defense in a very big way. It doesn't matter now anyway. Irrelevant discussion at this point.
- Cptmjl

Great for the locker room with guys like Hammer and great for the Isles Rep. Always good to be able to add a two time Cup winner. That ship has sailed and time to move on. As Isles fans we have to spend the first day during FA complaining about what might have been.

Ryder gone to the Devils. 2 years, $7M

Ryder gone to the Devils. 2 years, $7M
- eichiefs9

Did the Devils find loose change in their coach cushions?

If you were going to sign Weiss or Fillipula you needed to give them five years which meant he was now your number two center making Neilsen or Bailey or Cizikas trade bait and telling Strome or Nelson or Lee their future with NYI as a top center was nil. Sorry but I think Snow made the right move.

Sign Clarkson or Clowe by meeting the five year period and you tell Martin that he is gone. Sorry but I will take a younger Martin anyway.

Once again match Scuderi at four years and your committed to a vet who really feels he can help a more vet team like PITT immediately.

Ryan may have something to offer but are you going to reshuffle by trading a KO or some of the prospects that fans really want to see. Took enough of a chance maybe seeing Niño blossom in Minny but ill take that.

Once again I say sign a healthy vet like Lydman and your giving this team some insurance for an eighty two game season.

Did the Devils find loose change in their coach cushions?
- ses111

Corey Pronman @coreypronman
And will soon be the most underpaid RT @KINGS1973: @coreypronman Hamonic may be most under appreciated player in the NHL



Somebody will eventually complain here that he is underpaid.

Would you have signed Scuderi to a 3 year 13.5 million contract if you were Snow?
- kear20

You'd have to first assume Scuderi wanted to go anywhere other than Pittsburgh.

Xxkeaner17xX

Thoughts on joensuu guys? Any upside?

You'd have to first assume Scuderi wanted to go anywhere other than Pittsburgh.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

God I really want the Pens to flop this year.

Thoughts on joensuu guys? Any upside?
- ystoil

Someone will make a man-boobs joke any second now....

Not really, adequate depth forward. He's big and slow, plays with less physicality than you'd want out of a big man. I wouldn't count on him doing much of anything for you guys but you never know. He actually wasn't too bad with this most recent stint with Isles.

Thoughts on joensuu guys? Any upside?
- ystoil

Good size. He showed some flashes. He did not always seem to be in the best shape. Will be interesting to see what he could do with a full season.

If you were going to sign Weiss or Fillipula you needed to give them five years which meant he was now your number two center making Neilsen or Bailey or Cizikas trade bait and telling Strome or Nelson or Lee their future with NYI as a top center was nil. Sorry but I think Snow made the right move.

Sign Clarkson or Clowe by meeting the five year period and you tell Martin that he is gone. Sorry but I will take a younger Martin anyway.

Once again match Scuderi at four years and your committed to a vet who really feels he can help a more vet team like PITT immediately.

Ryan may have something to offer but are you going to reshuffle by trading a KO or some of the prospects that fans really want to see. Took enough of a chance maybe seeing Niño blossom in Minny but ill take that.

Once again I say sign a healthy vet like Lydman and your giving this team some insurance for an eighty two game season.
- Fan101

stopped reading right about here

Corey Pronman @coreypronman
And will soon be the most underpaid RT @KINGS1973: @coreypronman Hamonic may be most under appreciated player in the NHL



Somebody will eventually complain here that he is underpaid.
- eichiefs9

He's underpaid

Good size. He showed some flashes. He did not always seem to be in the best shape. Will be interesting to see what he could do with a full season.
- ses111

Eakins will fix that

Eakins will fix that
- ystoil

Speaking of coaches, I wonder if Messier regrets not taking the Olier job last year? The guy won all those Cups with the Oilers and now they are not good enough? Karma he did not get the Rangers job.

Thoughts on joensuu guys? Any upside?
- ystoil

Joensuu is one of the worst skaters I've ever watched. Not exaggerating either. He honestly seems to lazy to fix it too

Speaking of coaches, I wonder if Messier regrets not taking the Olier job last year? The guy won all those Cups with the Oilers and now they are not good enough? Karma he did not get the Rangers job.
- ses111

Messier is an asshat and overrated. Great player, but he considers himself a top 5 of all time. Eat poop Messier.

Messier is an asshat and overrated. Great player, but he considers himself a top 5 of all time. Eat poop Messier.
- Danformo

I do not like how he forget the Oilers. He had all this loyalty to the Rangers and they never gave him the coaching job. Having said this, I would love to hire him on the Isles just to stick it to the Rangers.