He did for sure. Donovan will make the team over him though. Reinhart very young and Donovan has paid his dues in Bport. Time to give the kid a shot at the NHL.
- NewYawkIslandez

If Reinhart shows he belongs I would keep him over Hickey & Carkner. I have a feeling they will use their last buyout on Carkner after this season. He'll only have 1 year but he just flat out sucks and Hickey could be the 6/7th D-man on this team

Orrrr we could trade Amac
I hate Amac

If Reinhart shows he belongs I would keep him over Hickey & Carkner. I have a feeling they will use their last buyout on Carkner after this season. He'll only have 1 year but he just flat out sucks and Hickey could be the 6/7th D-man on this team
- Vukota

strait hamonic
visnovsky donovan
amac reinhart

hickey carkner as scratches

ditch finley.

move the top six around for different pairings if needed, but the only thing I don't like about that top six is the lack of toughness.

maybe:

visnovsky hamonic
amac donovan
strait reinhart
?

If Reinhart shows he belongs I would keep him over Hickey & Carkner. I have a feeling they will use their last buyout on Carkner after this season. He'll only have 1 year but he just flat out sucks and Hickey could be the 6/7th D-man on this team
- Vukota

From all reports Reinhart does not look out of place. It would be great if he made it. Guys like Hickey, Carkner, and even AMac will probably not be here for the long term.

strait hamonic
visnovsky donovan
amac reinhart

hickey carkner as scratches

ditch finley.

move the top six around for different pairings if needed, but the only thing I don't like about that top six is the lack of toughness.

maybe:

visnovsky hamonic
amac donovan
strait reinhart
?
- Isles_since_6

I can live with these dmen.

Probably too early to talk about waiving players in favor of Reinhart. If he keeps it up, maybe they start by giving him a few regular season games before deciding whether to send him back to juniors.

Probably too early to talk about waiving players in favor of Reinhart. If he keeps it up, maybe they start by giving him a few regular season games before deciding whether to send him back to juniors.
- UIF

True UIF, but Reinhart is making things very interesting and it would be great to add another tough dman to go with Hammer.

If Reinhart shows he belongs I would keep him over Hickey & Carkner. I have a feeling they will use their last buyout on Carkner after this season. He'll only have 1 year but he just flat out sucks and Hickey could be the 6/7th D-man on this team
- Vukota

Carkner still has his place on this team. Your defense needs a guy like him. Sure, Carkner won't score the winning goal in overtime, but he's tough and brings that element.

Dan Petriw: Isles/Devils Round 2 at Barclays
- Dan Petriw

Any reason why the isles aren't offer sheeting Derek Stepan? A proven top line player in the NHL, and what are you giving up? A first and a third? The first round pick wont be high anyway, and Stepan led the Rangers in scoring. If nothing else, you added a nice asset to trade down the road.
Sidenote : This has nothing to do with sticking it to the Rangers, to me this just makes sense.

Any reason why the isles aren't offer sheeting Derek Stepan? A proven top line player in the NHL, and what are you giving up? A first and a third? The first round pick wont be high anyway, and Stepan led the Rangers in scoring. If nothing else, you added a nice asset to trade down the road.
Sidenote : This has nothing to do with sticking it to the Rangers, to me this just makes sense.
- kindlyrick

He could have been OS but not signed because he doesn't want to leave
But I believe he will sign a OS soon

He could have been OS but not signed because he doesn't want to leave
But I believe he will sign a OS soon
- Danformo

Give the kid 4.5 shmill for 4 years......hes young and extremely talented

Any reason why the isles aren't offer sheeting Derek Stepan? A proven top line player in the NHL, and what are you giving up? A first and a third? The first round pick wont be high anyway, and Stepan led the Rangers in scoring. If nothing else, you added a nice asset to trade down the road.
Sidenote : This has nothing to do with sticking it to the Rangers, to me this just makes sense.
- kindlyrick

Rags would match any offer under $5mil/yr, just not to lose him. Nobody gets that kinda money from Garth. I think his bonus is linked to how much the Islea are under the cap. I personally think Stepan had a year that was an abborition. Dont blame Slats for not caving on a kid who had very good numbers in a shortened season. He's not a proven elite talent, nor is he projected.

Rags would match any offer under $5mil/yr, just not to lose him. Nobody gets that kinda money from Garth. I think his bonus is linked to how much the Islea are under the cap. I personally think Stepan had a year that was an abborition. Dont blame Slats for not caving on a kid who had very good numbers in a shortened season. He's not a proven elite talent, nor is he projected.
- jmo16

Shortened season or not, he's a 20 goal scorer, who would have had 30+ last year. The Rangers would likely match the offer, but they'd have to rid themselves of a roster player to do so. Its worth the chance at landing this kid. As I said before, if nothing else it adds an asset to this team which could be used as trade material down the road for say a top tier goalie, or PP dman

Rags would match any offer under $5mil/yr, just not to lose him. Nobody gets that kinda money from Garth. I think his bonus is linked to how much the Islea are under the cap. I personally think Stepan had a year that was an abborition. Dont blame Slats for not caving on a kid who had very good numbers in a shortened season. He's not a proven elite talent, nor is he projected.
- jmo16

Slats isnt caving in because he doesnt have the cap room. When has Sather ever been frugal with his spending??? Bottom line, shortened season or not, the kid led the Rangers in scoring last season.

Orrrr we could trade Amac
I hate Amac
- Danformo

How can you hate AMAC? Is he a first pair dman......no. But, the kid can log minutes, he's a great skater, moves the puck well, and isnt afraid to block shots. He's a steal for what he's getting paid.

Probably too early to talk about waiving players in favor of Reinhart. If he keeps it up, maybe they start by giving him a few regular season games before deciding whether to send him back to juniors.
- UIF

Very excited to see Reinhart tonight......kinda bummed that we arent seeing Strome. Not really sure what all this talk about is Strome ready or not. Nor am I really comprehending the Bouchard project as JTs new right wing. Who are we really kidding here? Everyone knows that the isles plan is for strome to be JTs winger. Is this the same isles who rushed every other prospect for the last 5 years?

I know some of you might point out the obvious which is that the isles are now deep enough to not rush prospects, but my point is really trying to figure out why the isles who have one of the best centers in the game, continue to throw "hopefulls" on his wing. I cant remember when the islanders had a top line that could be a top line on any other team..........three legitimate threats.

People need to watch western conference games once in a while. I feel like people get caught in a shell just watching the isles or the other local teams. A healthy Bouchard Is a top six forward hands down no questions asked.

People need to watch western conference games once in a while. I feel like people get caught in a shell just watching the isles or the other local teams. A healthy Bouchard Is a top six forward hands down no questions asked.
- Dan Petriw

Agreed. This kid has spark and is extremely talented. Unfortunately the injury history has led to a Brian Savage like existance (good stats when playing, but rarely playing).
One thing you can see with Garth Snow is that he has a very detailed inventory of the types of players he wants. He replaces players with other players who possess a similar skillset. I think he choose a guy with fantastic hands like Bouchard because it's ultimately allowing Tavares and Moulson to play with THAT TYPE of guy. By the time Stome hits the top line wing spot, there will be a natural chemistry due to their experience with Bouchard.
I think for most of the folks who haven't seen him play, you're going to be very pleased with the dynamic of this top line. Personally, believe he'll be a bigger hit than *gasp* PA Parentau....(ducks to avoid flying tomatos)

keaner17

Interesting, thanks for that. Seeing Bouchard skating beside Tavares and Moulson just seems like a waste.......that would be a great spot for Strome to excel and test his game.
- barclayman

Don't say that on here. Bouchard sounds like the brightest idea to most on this thread.

They both may make it. Waive Hickey and Carkner
- mighty13duck

Facing hate Carkner. Another worthless player that Capuano gives too much ice time and miscued assignments.

Probably too early to talk about waiving players in favor of Reinhart. If he keeps it up, maybe they start by giving him a few regular season games before deciding whether to send him back to juniors.
- UIF

The problem with giving kids a shot is can they handle the rigors on a long term basis? Especially the Dmen. A lot of minutes is something none of these kids are used too.

Carkner still has his place on this team. Your defense needs a guy like him. Sure, Carkner won't score the winning goal in overtime, but he's tough and brings that element.
- kindlyrick

When? the guy flat out sucks. Rarely hits, does nothing. Facking sucks and has since day one. I love when isles fans dress up shat and try to make it look good. The guy was a healthy scratch in Ottawa who at the time had an arguably worse defense then us. At times last year he was first pairing. Absolute joke.

How can you hate AMAC? Is he a first pair dman......no. But, the kid can log minutes, he's a great skater, moves the puck well, and isnt afraid to block shots. He's a steal for what he's getting paid.
- kindlyrick

Dude, like you man but so what? I can log minutes too. I'm a pretty good skater. Throw me a mil or so and i'll log thirty minutes a game. When I played I far exceeded that every night. Amac is a subpar Dman that offers little to nothing. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves or needs to watch other teams. The only people that actually think AMAC is good are Capuano and Goring. Guy sucks

Agreed. This kid has spark and is extremely talented. Unfortunately the injury history has led to a Brian Savage like existance (good stats when playing, but rarely playing).
One thing you can see with Garth Snow is that he has a very detailed inventory of the types of players he wants. He replaces players with other players who possess a similar skillset. I think he choose a guy with fantastic hands like Bouchard because it's ultimately allowing Tavares and Moulson to play with THAT TYPE of guy. By the time Stome hits the top line wing spot, there will be a natural chemistry due to their experience with Bouchard.
I think for most of the folks who haven't seen him play, you're going to be very pleased with the dynamic of this top line. Personally, believe he'll be a bigger hit than *gasp* PA Parentau....(ducks to avoid flying tomatos)

keaner17
- keaner17

duck

If Reinhart shows he belongs I would keep him over Hickey & Carkner. I have a feeling they will use their last buyout on Carkner after this season. He'll only have 1 year but he just flat out sucks and Hickey could be the 6/7th D-man on this team
- Vukota

I know you're not saying that he does belong, so not calling you out my friend. But he definitely does not belong here yet. He is still probably 2 years away from having a legitimate shot at making this team. And there's not a single thing wrong with that.