I agree. Nabby was pretty good to great sometimes during the regular season. I just hate the idea of working to get into the playoffs with him as our goaltender though. He was atrocious against the Pens.
- Cptmjl

he had a stretch of a month and a half where he was good, but the early part of the season he let in a ton of softies. I think our goaltending is our weak point and could be a major issue. Schneider would have been a fantastic fit. We should have offered more to get it done.

No so much where on the leg, but how deep is the laceration? How many stitches? Is any of the tendons or muscle damaged? This is not good news. Hopefully its not that deep and he can get back by the end of october or earlier. This sucks
- Vukota

This is facking horrible news. I was ridiculously excited to see him play

he had a stretch of a month and a half where he was good, but the early part of the season he let in a ton of softies. I think our goaltending is our weak point and could be a major issue. Schneider would have been a fantastic fit. We should have offered more to get it done.
- Isles_since_6

I don't know about a ton of softies? He had some bad games but to me he was pretty consistent. A softy here and there but he held us in and won a few games for us. Best goaltender in a while for the Isles which I know isn't saying much. I still would've rather had an upgrade this offseason. I completely agree on Schneider. He would've been a good fit IMO.

The season hasn't started....I wouldn't even think about trading for a goalie until mid season at the earliest. Poulin has started a grand total of 17 career NHL games, why are you so quick to trade him after a scrimmage? Let's at least see how he does in real game action over the course of say 15-20 games before declaring him a wreck. In addition, if he isn't the one, how about he goes back to the A and we try Nilsson? Why deal a defensive prospect before even knowing how these guys look?

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I'm not saying dump him but unless Poulin completely revamps his style of play it's not going to take long for me to change my opinion. I hate rebound giving, floppy RDP style goaltenders. I don't have much faith but hopefully I'm wrong. I hope the jury is out before midseason honestly.

I don't know about a ton of softies? He had some bad games but to me he was pretty consistent. A softy here and there but he held us in and won a few games for us. Best goaltender in a while for the Isles which I know isn't saying much. I still would've rather had an upgrade this offseason. I completely agree on Schneider. He would've been a good fit IMO.
- Cptmjl

Vancouver's GM made one of the stupidest decisions in hockey last summer. How do you take a 9 th overall pick over a 1st round pick (only a few spots past the 9th) and a former top five prospect. IMO that trade was terrible for both teams. Devils need to start using their draft picks to get some young good players. Half their team will retire next year. Goaltending was the least of their problems

Vancouver's GM made one of the stupidest decisions in hockey last summer. How do you take a 9 th overall pick over a 1st round pick (only a few spots past the 9th) and a former top five prospect. IMO that trade was terrible for both teams. Devils need to start using their draft picks to get some young good players. Half their team will retire next year. Goaltending was the least of their problems
- mighty13duck

not to mention he took Horvat about 6 spots up from where he was projected to go, so unless he knew someone was going to take him earlier, he could have got him at 15 and had neiderreiter as well. Nino's stock must have really fallen hard not to get that deal done.

I wonder if they'd thrown in Ness if that would have been enough, who knows. Schneider is going to be looked at as a top 5 goaltender in the league after the next season or so, I believe he's that solid. Having watched him play a lot in Vancouver I'm bitterly disappointed we couldn't get our hands on him.

Well Strome may be in there to start the season now....This does suck bad for Cal...but lots of options within the team...

The isles have been rushing prospects for as long as I can remember. It's great that they've stop doing it. Development only helps the player and organization in the long run. No need for Strome and Reinhart to be rushed. They'll be Islanders soon enough.
- Jethro09

I'd love for the prospects to be ready, but I'd rather not hear any more talk of how guys were rushed. It would not shock me if Strome and Nelson were ready. I think Reinhart could use another year.

Vancouver's GM made one of the stupidest decisions in hockey last summer. How do you take a 9 th overall pick over a 1st round pick (only a few spots past the 9th) and a former top five prospect. IMO that trade was terrible for both teams. Devils need to start using their draft picks to get some young good players. Half their team will retire next year. Goaltending was the least of their problems
- mighty13duck

Made no sense to me. I would think they would have wanted to take the Isles deal?

The season hasn't started....I wouldn't even think about trading for a goalie until mid season at the earliest. Poulin has started a grand total of 17 career NHL games, why are you so quick to trade him after a scrimmage? Let's at least see how he does in real game action over the course of say 15-20 games before declaring him a wreck. In addition, if he isn't the one, how about he goes back to the A and we try Nilsson? Why deal a defensive prospect before even knowing how these guys look?

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I agree. Poulin needs to be given a better look. Too soon to write him off. Worse comes to worse, he goes back and we try Nilsson.

Was in Chicago for four days on business. I saw the Islanders dropped a twin bill... Not a big deal only pre-season. A friend of mine who was at the meeting anda big Minnesota Wild fan said we'll all love Clutterbuck but Bouchard always gets hurt...

going to the canucks/oilers preseason game tonight (starts in a couple hours)

wish the Isles came to town a lot more than once a year.

Only got to see a little more than half of the game, but a few thoughts from what I saw in that time:

The first line looked disinterested. No big deal in preseason, I'd say less of a deal for Frans. We know what he's about and what he consistently brings year-in and year-out (even if some folks have a few issues with his game, we know what he brings). I figured KO and Bailey though might go out there with chips on their shoulders right from the get-go since they should be looking to turn any leftover question marks into exclamation points. Again, no big deal...just the first preseason game...it's only an observation.

Poulin was scrambly. Made some good saves I thought, but I wish he'd just calm down a bit in there. So much wasted energy and it only takes him out of position.

The forward I noticed most through the half-game was actually Chris Bruton...and I don't have a clue who that even is.

My boy Grabner...what a wrist shot. He should just abandon the futile dekes and look to shoot first on breakaways. And he looked pretty engaged all over the ice for the most part, like he had something to prove.

Donovan looked pretty composed I thought. Seems like he's all business so far.

Reinhart...For some reason, I didn't expect anything out of him, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't even see his goal, but just overall I thought he looked not too bad at all. I think one of the two goals Poulin let in deflected off of Reinhart and in, which was unfortunate. But he seemed to be in relatively good position for the most part, and it was a bit more impressive seeing how his D partner was another guy who had never seen an NHL game.

I agree with Dan on Carkner. Ouch. Sometimes when I saw him trying to make a play I was expecting it to be just some extra I didn't know and then I'd catch the number and realize it was him.

Persson's lack of skating ability was extremely noticeable. It's a shame because he does have a good nose for the net.

Everyone else I didn't really notice one way or the other.

Also, I guess of the four goalies that played for the Isles last night, the only one who didn't let up a goal was Kenny Reiter.

Only got to see a little more than half of the game, but a few thoughts from what I saw in that time:

The first line looked disinterested. No big deal in preseason, I'd say less of a deal for Frans. We know what he's about and what he consistently brings year-in and year-out (even if some folks have a few issues with his game, we know what he brings). I figured KO and Bailey though might go out there with chips on their shoulders right from the get-go since they should be looking to turn any leftover question marks into exclamation points. Again, no big deal...just the first preseason game...it's only an observation.

Poulin was scrambly. Made some good saves I thought, but I wish he'd just calm down a bit in there. So much wasted energy and it only takes him out of position.

The forward I noticed most through the half-game was actually Chris Bruton...and I don't have a clue who that even is.

My boy Grabner...what a wrist shot. He should just abandon the futile dekes and look to shoot first on breakaways. And he looked pretty engaged all over the ice for the most part, like he had something to prove.

Donovan looked pretty composed I thought. Seems like he's all business so far.

Reinhart...For some reason, I didn't expect anything out of him, but I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't even see his goal, but just overall I thought he looked not too bad at all. I think one of the two goals Poulin let in deflected off of Reinhart and in, which was unfortunate. But he seemed to be in relatively good position for the most part, and it was a bit more impressive seeing how his D partner was another guy who had never seen an NHL game.

I agree with Dan on Carkner. Ouch. Sometimes when I saw him trying to make a play I was expecting it to be just some extra I didn't know and then I'd catch the number and realize it was him.

Persson's lack of skating ability was extremely noticeable. It's a shame because he does have a good nose for the net.

Everyone else I didn't really notice one way or the other.
- UIF

I'm not suprised the defense will struggle (Carkner, Hickey, etc.) until some of the prospects are ready for the NHL.

going to the canucks/oilers preseason game tonight (starts in a couple hours)

wish the Isles came to town a lot more than once a year.
- Isles_since_6

It's on the NHL Network....

It's on the NHL Network....
- kear20

Freetickets, plus iit's4-1 eEdmontonalre ady

Ps, turn your camera flash off

Side note, I missed grabbing a puck in the third period, landed right in the chest of the woman in front of me.

This is facking horrible news. I was ridiculously excited to see him play
- Cptmjl

Nothing broke. its just a cut. Stitched up he should be back soon.

Just sucks he he wont be in game shape.

Btw, I dont think Poulin is the answer.

I'm not saying dump him but unless Poulin completely revamps his style of play it's not going to take long for me to change my opinion. I hate rebound giving, floppy RDP style goaltenders. I don't have much faith but hopefully I'm wrong. I hope the jury is out before midseason honestly.
- Cptmjl

I'm not saying Poulin is technically sound by any means, but I always get a bit skeptical when I hear folks describe a goalie's negative attributes due to 'flopping' since it can be more the result of poor defense than actual goaltending tendencies. A few years ago Brodeur was off to a terrible start and folks were saying how he was suddenly flopping all over the place. Well, Marty didn't forget how to play positionally sound over night, but his defense went straight down the tubes during that offseason. When teams are dominated down low, goalies are left in a state of chaos for constant loose pucks. A lot of DP's flopping was due to his poor discipline, but much of it was also due to a team that's been physically dominated down low for over a decade now.

repositioning is yet another thing that will adjust and improve based on increased playing time at this level, not to mention better personell at the d position should help as well (fingers crossed).

As a side note, I do find it odd that a guy who was schooled by arguably the most positionally economical goalie in history (Roy) seems so unpolished.

Side note, I missed grabbing a puck in the third period, landed right in the chest of the woman in front of me.
- Isles_since_6

Let the parade of comments begin!
Sort of disappointed there wasn't already a laundry list of responses..you people aren't in form yet...eh...preseason I guess

Xxkeaner17xX

Side note, I missed grabbing a puck in the third period, landed right in the chest of the woman in front of me.
- Isles_since_6

is she ok?

XxNYIxX