I for one cannot believe how far he's fallen. His form and confidence just looks completely changed since his freak injury 2 seasons ago. What happened?
- Danformo

The injury has nothing to do with it. He is exactly the same goalie he was four years ago.... That's the issue

I agree he has the pieces, not sure what held him back. Does he have that much confidence in Poulin? I just don't see it.
- mighty13duck

Well if he made offers to Vancouver and LA then i guess not. If Snow doesn't than why should anyone else?

It was. I agree with everything he said. We cant risk missing the playoffs because of terrible goaltending. We finally have the pieces to be a playoff team year after year, it would suck to miss out because of crappy goaltending.
- mighty13duck

If we miss the playoffs, I don't think it'll be because of the backup goaltender though...

The injury has nothing to do with it. He is exactly the same goalie he was four years ago.... That's the issue
- Dan Petriw

Agreed. Goalies or players, at this level aren't likely of really "changing" much about their game. Bigger, stronger, improved areas like skating are things you might expect as kids grow into men but the foundation of their game isn't likely to change much. He excelled at lower levels because the competition was at a lower level. Pucks coming in at another 10 MPH could be what sets apart NHL'ers from the rest. They should be watching him closely, for good reason.

Overall I think Garth's eyes are set beyond this season. This is another year where the team will try to take a few extra strides and hope to go two to three rounds deep. By next year they'll consider it 'win now' time and we'll likely see an ultimate decision made at the goaltending position. The problem is, Poulin is not going to complete his game in the first 7-10 games. He'd likely only start 2-3 of them at best.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Could someone please tell me WHAT YEAR Garth has his eyes set on? 7th year of a rebuild and counting...

Could someone please tell me WHAT YEAR Garth has his eyes set on? 7th year of a rebuild and counting...
- jmo16

Well, it's obvously just speculative, but I think they've long held 2015 as the date in which the team would start receiving a real financial boost. That said, if they make the playoffs this year, we may well see a decent push for 2014. I'm not expecting a contender this year...just hoping we prove we belong in the conversation.
** Just adding a bit more to this: I suppose the question is when we as fans feel the rebuild is complete. I think the moment this team proves it has staying power in the playoffs, the rebuild is a success. If we're judging it by when they appear in a Cup final, well then we've been rebuilding for 30 years. By next year, a few of our defensive prospects should be here, more money to spend, more talent with guys like Strome, Nelson, Lee. I'd say at that stage, the team is in a WIN NOW mode and should be spending like drunken sailors.

Xxkeaner17xX

Well, it's obvously just speculative, but I think they've long held 2015 as the date in which the team would start receiving a real financial boost. That said, if they make the playoffs this year, we may well see a decent push for 2014. I'm not expecting a contender this year...just hoping we prove we belong in the conversation.
** Just adding a bit more to this: I suppose the question is when we as fans feel the rebuild is complete. I think the moment this team proves it has staying power in the playoffs, the rebuild is a success. If we're judging it by when they appear in a Cup final, well then we've been rebuilding for 30 years. By next year, a few of our defensive prospects should be here, more money to spend, more talent with guys like Strome, Nelson, Lee. I'd say at that stage, the team is in a WIN NOW mode and should be spending like drunken sailors.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I just can't envision a time when this would ever be reality.

Well, it's obvously just speculative, but I think they've long held 2015 as the date in which the team would start receiving a real financial boost. That said, if they make the playoffs this year, we may well see a decent push for 2014. I'm not expecting a contender this year...just hoping we prove we belong in the conversation.
** Just adding a bit more to this: I suppose the question is when we as fans feel the rebuild is complete. I think the moment this team proves it has staying power in the playoffs, the rebuild is a success. If we're judging it by when they appear in a Cup final, well then we've been rebuilding for 30 years. By next year, a few of our defensive prospects should be here, more money to spend, more talent with guys like Strome, Nelson, Lee. I'd say at that stage, the team is in a WIN NOW mode and should be spending like drunken sailors.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I don't know if we'll see the Isles become a team that overpays ufas ever. That said, although Garth has been extremely patient all along with this team, without a solid goaltending pair, any slow start or losing streaks due to goaltending will be a lethal blow to this team. We have a harder path to the playoffs this year with an extra two teams in the east than the west, and our division is going to be difficult. He's going to have to be more active this year if they're serious about making the playoffs and doing some damage. I don't have much confidence in Nabby at yet another year older and neither kid in net looks ready.

**edit** Oh, and I almost forgot, if we can shore up the net with a mid 20's stud, this team is going to be set to be a monster in a couple of years. Our young defense prospects are going to complete the team and make them a contender every year. what we're missing is the stud in net and Schneider would have been perfect. Still bothers me.

I don't know if we'll see the Isles become a team that overpays ufas ever. That said, although Garth has been extremely patient all along with this team, without a solid goaltending pair, any slow start or losing streaks due to goaltending will be a lethal blow to this team. We have a harder path to the playoffs this year with an extra two teams in the east than the west, and our division is going to be difficult. He's going to have to be more active this year if they're serious about making the playoffs and doing some damage. I don't have much confidence in Nabby at yet another year older and neither kid in net looks ready.

**edit** Oh, and I almost forgot, if we can shore up the net with a mid 20's stud, this team is going to be set to be a monster in a couple of years. Our young defense prospects are going to complete the team and make them a contender every year. what we're missing is the stud in net and Schneider would have been perfect. Still bothers me.
- Isles_since_6

Can this guy play one full year as a #1 goalie before we say he is the next great goalie. Not saying he won't be but the guy has done nothing yet

Can this guy play one full year as a #1 goalie before we say he is the next great goalie. Not saying he won't be but the guy has done nothing yet
- Vukota

And by the looks of that devils team he is going to have to be the next Roy or Brodeur for the Devils to even sniff the playoffs

Can this guy play one full year as a #1 goalie before we say he is the next great goalie. Not saying he won't be but the guy has done nothing yet
- Vukota

completely disagree. Gotta remember, I saw a TON of him living in Vancouver.

positionally sound, technically sound, very good body control for rebounds and getting better as he goes along. His playoff performance last year was coming off a groin injury that it was unlikely he was fully healed from. He's very very good. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up with better stats and equal games played with Marty this year.

If we miss the playoffs, I don't think it'll be because of the backup goaltender though...
- UIF

When you have a aging goaltender who can't handle a lot of games the back up goaltender not being up to par could be a huge contributor.

Long Beach's Joey Diamond drops the gloves!!! And Wins!!! (yes I know he found the only guy on the ice the same size... but it's his first NHL fight!! kind of)

Poulin looks fine and will get better. Give em a chance!
- niteislander

Diamond is a dirtbag and continues to prove that. Hope he never makes this, or any, NHL team.

completely disagree. Gotta remember, I saw a TON of him living in Vancouver.

positionally sound, technically sound, very good body control for rebounds and getting better as he goes along. His playoff performance last year was coming off a groin injury that it was unlikely he was fully healed from. He's very very good. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up with better stats and equal games played with Marty this year.
- Isles_since_6

Like I said until he proves it after a full season then I'll jump on board. I respect your scouting of him and I know how much you have watched him. Also I would hope he would put up better numbers then a 40 something goalie on the decline. Not taking anything away from MB one of the greatest of all times but clearly his better days are behind him.

Diamond is a dirtbag and continues to prove that. Hope he never makes this, or any, NHL team.
- eichiefs9

Sounds personal. So what's the beef? He bang your girl or something?

**edit** Oh, and I almost forgot, if we can shore up the net with a mid 20's stud, this team is going to be set to be a monster in a couple of years. Our young defense prospects are going to complete the team and make them a contender every year. what we're missing is the stud in net and Schneider would have been perfect. Still bothers me.

I think Anton Khudobin would have been the perfect fit for us (and it would have been cheap!). Not necessarily a stud but a very, very good and fairly young goalie from the same country as Nabokov (Kazakhstan; same hometown even, I think!). I support Garth's rebuild and moves for the most part but I would have loved to see that off-season signing happen. Could have been a perfect 1A behind Nabokov. They must still see Poulin as a potential future starter.

Could someone please tell me WHAT YEAR Garth has his eyes set on? 7th year of a rebuild and counting...
- jmo16

What's the difference... its working!

XxNYIxX

completely disagree. Gotta remember, I saw a TON of him living in Vancouver.

positionally sound, technically sound, very good body control for rebounds and getting better as he goes along. His playoff performance last year was coming off a groin injury that it was unlikely he was fully healed from. He's very very good. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up with better stats and equal games played with Marty this year.
- Isles_since_6

But look at the team he had in front of him.....

XxNYIxX

Sounds personal. So what's the beef? He bang your girl or something?
- Vukota

Getting that impression

Diamond is a dirtbag and continues to prove that. Hope he never makes this, or any, NHL team.
- eichiefs9

Dont sugar coat it.. tell us how you really feel!

XxNYIxX

Sounds personal. So what's the beef? He bang your girl or something?
- Vukota

My dad.

Getting that impression
- Cptmjl

He just plays like a rat. Spearing penalty on Gionta last night and he played like an idiot in college. We all hop on the opportunity to bash a guy like that if he's on one of the other 29 teams in the league, and I'm gonna stick to my guns with our team as well. He's not that good and he'd just bring a ton of unnecessary nonsense to this squad.

Like I said until he proves it after a full season then I'll jump on board. I respect your scouting of him and I know how much you have watched him. Also I would hope he would put up better numbers then a 40 something goalie on the decline. Not taking anything away from MB one of the greatest of all times but clearly his better days are behind him.
- Vukota

I can agree with that

I think Anton Khudobin would have been the perfect fit for us (and it would have been cheap!). Not necessarily a stud but a very, very good and fairly young goalie from the same country as Nabokov (Kazakhstan; same hometown even, I think!). I support Garth's rebuild and moves for the most part but I would have loved to see that off-season signing happen. Could have been a perfect 1A behind Nabokov. They must still see Poulin as a potential future starter.
- rob_one_six

no they see six quality ufa goalies that will be available next summer all better than the guys from this season....thats what they see