This is my last post for some time. Why the fack would they move Grabner to the 1st line???? He is one of the few players on this team that doesn't need JT to produce. Putting all your eggs in one basket is not the way to go. Keeping Grabner off the 1st line gives them scoring depth and doesn't allow the other team to just focus on one line. How do some of you not see that? Instead of sitting there and crying and complaining about every little thing pull your head out of your arse for a second and just think. Christ some of you are facking idiots!!
- Vukota

Stop sugar coating it man! Give us your facking opinion!

xxkeaner17xx

Eh, PA was so damn streaky and a turnover machine. He fit the mold of generally what we wanted for that line in a poor mans version but the general idea was that he needed to be upgraded on to help this team take the next step. The problem was, for whatever reason, they never got his replacement.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Yea I'm with you. He wasn't ideal but he certainly had chemistry with Tavares and moulson and could set them both up. My issue wasn't that the isles moved on, it was that he walked and was replaced by crap.

bad fit all around. Martin isn't going to replace what Moulson can do in front of the net and Grabner isn't going to set up either Martin or JT. That's a bad line.
- Isles_since_6

disagree....and if not martin than one of the other 2 would be fine.

He plays the power play, kills penalties , in the discussion for selke every year and puts up 45-50 points a season. Yea, no one wants him.
- Isles316

and has the muscle mass of a dead slug...where was he during the playoffs?

and has the muscle mass of a dead slug...where was he during the playoffs?
- LetsGoIsles

2 assists, 16 shots on goal. Not exactly invisible. If you can't see how excellent a hockey player Nielsen is then you and I won't agree on much.

Potential what ? Do you mean if the isles had better forwards playing with Tavares ? I think they need one. We don't have that guy on the roster. Moulson is in the top 5 in the NHL the last 4 seasons in goals. That's pretty damn good when you have Stamkos and ovechkin on that list. He plays every game and scores 30+ a season.

Someone said it in a previous post. They need a player who can help dig it out of the corner and pass. But I'm sorry, who else on the roster is capable of putting up the numbers moulson is putting up outside of Tavares ?
- Isles316

And if we can find the right fit for the left wing, fine. Problem is there aren't many guys available who fit the mold of what needs to be on that other wing. As far as stats go, Ron Brown had 115 pts in 69 games in 1988, good enough for 5th in scoring...nevermind the fact that he played with Mario Lemieux.

As for who else is capable, it's a decent point, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't consider the possibilities.
Overall, if we resign MM, fine, so be it. But it means we need a guy who can go end to end, control the puck and be big enough to win battles in the corners. Not a lot of guys out there like that.


Xxkeaner17xX

2 assists, 16 shots on goal. Not exactly invisible. If you can't see how excellent a hockey player Nielsen is then you and I won't agree on much.
- Isles316

Nelson needs to be put in a third line center role...not second scoring line role. They'd be much better served to have Bailey Nielsen and Okposo as their third line, allow Grabner to play the second line and find a legit addition to go with Tavares and Moulson...unfortunately I don't see any of this happening in the near future.


Xxkeaner17xX

disagree....and if not martin than one of the other 2 would be fine.
- LetsGoIsles

we still disagree then. Martin isn't putting up 30 goals on the top line replacing Moulson, neither is Colin McDonald, neither is Clutterbuck (although he might get 20)

Grabner has had about double the goals to assists over his Isles career, he's certainly not going to add enough to that line and if you put him up there with Moulson and JT, the only one going into the corners is going to be JT. Someone has to also help them get out of their own end quicker and needs to be decent defensively - Bailey fits this mold as well as we can hope for right now.

Grabner on the second line with KO and Nielson does give us a second unit that should be able to be counted on for solid secondary scoring. Grabner on the 3rd line gets us 25 goals and even more scoring depth.

It's already frustrating watching JT feeding passes to Moulson and Okposo and watching them fumble around with the puck, do you honestly think Martin is going to improve that situation? Dumping Moulson down a line or two to move Grabner up? That gives JT's line more speed, but Moulson has improved his assist totals every year along with scoring 30 goals, I don't see Grabner suddenly putting out 30-40 assists along with 30 goals. Typically you see Grabner with 20-30 goals, 10-15 assists.

sorry, I don't agree with you and I completely disagree with putting a mucker with stone hands up with Tavares.

I disagree with the Moulson hate. Hes one of the few on this team that puts the puck in the net. Period. I hope hes resigned. The problem with their line is that we need someone for the left side. Ko and Grabner don't belong on that line. Bailey is ok and probably our best play to fit the mold for the time being. The hate MM is getting is the same PA got and look at PA now.

And if we can find the right fit for the left wing, fine. Problem is there aren't many guys available who fit the mold of what needs to be on that other wing. As far as stats go, Ron Brown had 115 pts in 69 games in 1988, good enough for 5th in scoring...nevermind the fact that he played with Mario Lemieux.

As for who else is capable, it's a decent point, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't consider the possibilities.
Overall, if we resign MM, fine, so be it. But it means we need a guy who can go end to end, control the puck and be big enough to win battles in the corners. Not a lot of guys out there like that.


Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Maybe Strome or Nelson can be one of those players because right now, you're right there really aren't any options out there like that to get.

2 assists, 16 shots on goal. Not exactly invisible. If you can't see how excellent a hockey player Nielsen is then you and I won't agree on much.
- Isles316

thats fair...we have different approaches towards building a strong hockey team. i respect that. i just think frans is the kind of player that get get by in the regular season but come playoff time, hed get squashed by the physicality that presents itself.

thats fair...we have different approaches towards building a strong hockey team. i respect that. i just think frans is the kind of player that get get by in the regular season but come playoff time, hed get squashed by the physicality that presents itself.
- LetsGoIsles

Frans had a very good playoff...

Overall, I do have to agree that Grabners presence on the 2nd or 3rd line forces opponents to have to account for something other than our top line, so I can go along with that.
I'm not huge on Bailey being on the top line, though couldn't oppose a trial, simply because I don't think Josh has ever earned that opportunity. The bigger problem is, we still have some players playing roles they simply aren't cut out for. Moulson is fine at LW IF we have a RW who can be a decent factor. Strome MAY be that guy, but won't be ready for a while. Frans is not a second line center by any stretch of the imagination, which means that either Strome or Nelson have to become THAT guy. In other words, we're not likely to come away with any permanent solution this season. For the time being, we can give Okposo a few more games, if he fails, why not Bailey. If that fails, we've got trouble.


Xxkeaner17xX

I disagree with the Moulson hate. Hes one of the few on this team that puts the puck in the net. Period. I hope hes resigned. The problem with their line is that we need someone for the left side. Ko and Grabner don't belong on that line. Bailey is ok and probably our best play to fit the mold for the time being. The hate MM is getting is the same PA got and look at PA now.
- mighty13duck

Moulson plays the left side? We've been looking for a right winger for years

PA was ripped for constant turnovers and lazy backchecking, Moulson can't skate and because of that he can't play effective defense even if he wanted to. Two different stories.

thats fair...we have different approaches towards building a strong hockey team. i respect that. i just think frans is the kind of player that get get by in the regular season but come playoff time, hed get squashed by the physicality that presents itself.
- LetsGoIsles

6 career playoff games on a young team isn't exactly a huge barometer

Frans had a very good playoff...
- mighty13duck

6 games 0 goals 2 assists -2
Not the stats you want from your second line center.

xxkeaner17xx

I disagree with the Moulson hate. Hes one of the few on this team that puts the puck in the net. Period. I hope hes resigned. The problem with their line is that we need someone for the left side. Ko and Grabner don't belong on that line. Bailey is ok and probably our best play to fit the mold for the time being. The hate MM is getting is the same PA got and look at PA now.
- mighty13duck

You're the only one talking sense...you don't trade a goal scorer like Moulson. The only way he is traded is if Garth can't come up with an extension at the trade deadline. I think 3 or 4 year deal at $4.5-$5 million will get it done...

Moulson plays the left side?
- Isles_since_6

I meant right side

6 games 0 goals 2 assists -2
Not the stats you want from your second line center.

xxkeaner17xx
- keaner17

Hes not a second line center. Not his fault. Maybe Garth should start going after true second line centers instead of signings like Regin,Aucoin etc

we still disagree then. Martin isn't putting up 30 goals on the top line replacing Moulson, neither is Colin McDonald, neither is Clutterbuck (although he might get 20)

Grabner has had about double the goals to assists over his Isles career, he's certainly not going to add enough to that line and if you put him up there with Moulson and JT, the only one going into the corners is going to be JT. Someone has to also help them get out of their own end quicker and needs to be decent defensively - Bailey fits this mold as well as we can hope for right now.

Grabner on the second line with KO and Nielson does give us a second unit that should be able to be counted on for solid secondary scoring. Grabner on the 3rd line gets us 25 goals and even more scoring depth.

It's already frustrating watching JT feeding passes to Moulson and Okposo and watching them fumble around with the puck, do you honestly think Martin is going to improve that situation? Dumping Moulson down a line or two to move Grabner up? That gives JT's line more speed, but Moulson has improved his assist totals every year along with scoring 30 goals, I don't see Grabner suddenly putting out 30-40 assists along with 30 goals. Typically you see Grabner with 20-30 goals, 10-15 assists.

sorry, I don't agree with you and I completely disagree with putting a mucker with stone hands up with Tavares.
- Isles_since_6

I'd like to see Grabner playing with Nelson as the center...I think that would be a the start of a good line...

Hes not a second line center. Not his fault. Maybe Garth should start going after true second line centers instead of signings like Regin,Aucoin etc
- mighty13duck

I think he's a better 2nd line center than isles fans give him credit for, but yea for a great team he's a third line center

Hes not a second line center. Not his fault. Maybe Garth should start going after true second line centers instead of signings like Regin,Aucoin etc
- mighty13duck

Strome will be the 2nd line center soon...

we still disagree then. Martin isn't putting up 30 goals on the top line replacing Moulson, neither is Colin McDonald, neither is Clutterbuck (although he might get 20)

Grabner has had about double the goals to assists over his Isles career, he's certainly not going to add enough to that line and if you put him up there with Moulson and JT, the only one going into the corners is going to be JT. Someone has to also help them get out of their own end quicker and needs to be decent defensively - Bailey fits this mold as well as we can hope for right now.

Grabner on the second line with KO and Nielson does give us a second unit that should be able to be counted on for solid secondary scoring. Grabner on the 3rd line gets us 25 goals and even more scoring depth.

It's already frustrating watching JT feeding passes to Moulson and Okposo and watching them fumble around with the puck, do you honestly think Martin is going to improve that situation? Dumping Moulson down a line or two to move Grabner up? That gives JT's line more speed, but Moulson has improved his assist totals every year along with scoring 30 goals, I don't see Grabner suddenly putting out 30-40 assists along with 30 goals. Typically you see Grabner with 20-30 goals, 10-15 assists.

sorry, I don't agree with you and I completely disagree with putting a mucker with stone hands up with Tavares.
- Isles_since_6

lets not forget matt moulson wasnt scoring 30 goals before he signed on with the isles...in fact he was a borderline nhl'er... if there is one player on the isles who represents just-give-them-a-shot, its matt moulson...so for someone who is a fan of matt moulson to say that matt martin or mcdonald or clutterbuck cant possibly put the puck in the net on JTs line, i say look in the mirror.


having said that, if one of those 3 put in 20 goals (which shouldnt be an issue) and is more defensively sound and provides some muscle which in turn allows JT to play his game, are those goals that the first line is "missing out on" not going to be made up somewhere else, most likely in JTs stat sheet?? i say its worth the tradeoff

Frans had a very good playoff...
- mighty13duck

he was invisible

6 career playoff games on a young team isn't exactly a huge barometer
- Isles316

thats 3 times as many games as some are giving PMB to prove himself.

joking aside, for me its a physical issue, frans isnt built to take the abuse that comes in contending for a stanley cup during a playoff series...you cant teach size.