I think the return for him would be a lot less then many on here think? I believe most teams are aware he's a one trick pony and will probably amount to maybe an ok fwd at best without JT.
- Cptmjl

I'm not disagreeing in any way but many said the same about PA and he has done just fine without JT

I'm not disagreeing in any way but many said the same about PA and he has done just fine without JT
- brodydog29

I was not among the people that said that about PA. In fact I said quite the contrary. Not to get this ball rolling again but PA is a better all around player than Moulson. Not that PA is some defensive stalwart(which we all know he's not) but he at least puts in a effort to play a complete game, I can't say the same for Moulson. Mark my words, Moulson will be at best half the player he is now unless he plays with someone close to JT's talent level and when a team does that they are locked into having him play ONLY with that particular player like we are handcuffed to have him play with JT now. Look what happened with his demotion to the 2nd line. Not so good.
Trade him before he hits free agency, we don't need to overpay or have this guy on our first line for at least the next four years. I don't think many would disagree with the idea of him being on our first line for the next four yrs isn't exactly appealing?

I was not among the people that said that about PA. In fact I said quite the contrary. Not to get this ball rolling again but PA is a better all around player than Moulson. Not that PA is some defensive stalwart(which we all know he's not) but he at least puts in a effort to play a complete game, I can't say the same for Moulson. Mark my words, Moulson will be at best half the player he is now unless he plays with someone close to JT's talent level and when a team does that they are locked into having him play ONLY with that particular player like we are handcuffed to have him play with JT now. Look what happened with his demotion to the 2nd line. Not so good.
Trade him before he hits free agency, we don't need to overpay or have this guy on our first line for at least the next four years. I don't think many would disagree with the idea of him being on our first line for the next four yrs isn't exactly appealing?
- Cptmjl

careful! LGI loves to use your mark my words.

careful! LGI loves to use your mark my words.
- brodydog29

True that

I'm not disagreeing in any way but many said the same about PA and he has done just fine without JT
- brodydog29

Well he didn't exactly fall on hard times ending up with Matt Duschene. That said, he's only been gone for half a season. We'll see.

There's no disputing PA is a good player. I think it's widely agreed it would have been nice to keep him around in a second line role, but it wasn't like he gave the Isles a chance to match his offer. He basically took Colorado's offer on day one and ran.

Xxkeaner17xX

baited
- Cptmjl

http://grammar.about.com/...writing/a/baitedgloss.htm

How about those cup contending Rangers?
- Cptmjl

Looked good last night...

Well he didn't exactly fall on hard times ending up with Matt Duschene. That said, he's only been gone for half a season. We'll see.

There's no disputing PA is a good player. I think it's widely agreed it would have been nice to keep him around in a second line role, but it wasn't like he gave the Isles a chance to match his offer. He basically took Colorado's offer on day one and ran.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

You wonder if he heard he wouldn't survive in the NHL without JT and ran as quick as he could to prove it.
There have been many wingers over the course of the NHL that needed that play maker to set them up to make their career worth something. Not every pro has unbelievable stick handling skills and create open space by themselves. Some are the type of players that are good at finding open space or the front of the net and have enough hand eye to make a nice career for themselves.
I do agree however that Moulson is a one way player and does nothing in the D zone or even the neutral zone.

careful! LGI loves to use your mark my words.
- brodydog29

you guys cant get enough of me...im touched!!!

as for marking his words, i 2nd everything he said, id field offers for moulson at the deadline - preferably sooner so more teams want him - i dont think hes worth the money itll cost to retain him after this season.

He works for NESN now covering the Bruins.
- eichiefs9

I believe u gave me a hard time when I said the Rangers Defense would be exposed in this new system... only 4 games but I am guessing you would not give me the Eyes again... just saying..

You really look at AMAC and think very good defenseman? If you really do why? Serious question. What exactly does he do that screams "VERY GOOD" dman?
- Cptmjl

Amac is a very good defenseman.. just b/c he doesn't score points or fight doesn't mean he stinks. He makes more plays game in and game out than ANY other player not named JT on this team. Always in position to block shot, prevent the pass.. etc. IF like you said he was traded you would miss him terribly within a game. Focus on him tonight... don't get pissed when he doesn't hit the guy.. watch what he does against one of the best teams in hockey.

http://grammar.about.com/od/alightersideofwriting/a/baitedgloss.htm
- LetsGoIsles

damn you

I think when we choose a guy to pick on, we just look for every mistake to validate our assumptions. Every d-man in the game tries to clear the puck out of the zone and has it stopped at the blue line sometimes. Every d-man gets forechecked off the puck sometimes. There'd be no point in forechecking at all if every defenseman always made the perfect play. And every d-man goes through rough stretches where nothing seems to go right, like AMac and Hamonic early on last season. I think there are definitely some sizable flaws in AMac's game, but I think he has some quality strengths too. I'd say he's about a $2.5M defenseman being paid like $500k or whatever. I'll take that. Hey, Gervais is always available if you folks would rather have him back instead!

Amac is a very good defenseman.. just b/c he doesn't score points or fight doesn't mean he stinks. He makes more plays game in and game out than ANY other player not named JT on this team. Always in position to block shot, prevent the pass.. etc. IF like you said he was traded you would miss him terribly within a game. Focus on him tonight... don't get pissed when he doesn't hit the guy.. watch what he does against one of the best teams in hockey.
- niteislander

I focus on him every night. It's hard not too when he makes perfect tape to tape passes on opposing players sticks(this is his GREAT outlet passes). When he gets outmuscled EVERY single time behind the net. He is NOT always in position, in fact he is more often out of position. Believe me i don't think a defenseman needs to fight or put up points to be good i just think they need to play defense. AMAC does not do any of the above. I think maybe you need to focus on him tonight?
Not to blow smoke up my own a$$ but I'm pretty knowledgable of this game, I've been watching it long enough. I don't miss the little things that players do that make them special. AMAC doesn't do these little things, in fact the little things he's doing or not doing are not good. Just because Goring and Capuano thinks he's a first pairing Dman doesn't mean he is.

I think when we choose a guy to pick on, we just look for every mistake to validate our assumptions. Every d-man in the game tries to clear the puck out of the zone and has it stopped at the blue line sometimes. Every d-man gets forechecked off the puck sometimes. There'd be no point in forechecking at all if every defenseman always made the perfect play. And every d-man goes through rough stretches where nothing seems to go right, like AMac and Hamonic early on last season. I think there are definitely some sizable flaws in AMac's game, but I think he has some quality strengths too. I'd say he's about a $2.5M defenseman being paid like $500k or whatever. I'll take that. Hey, Gervais is always available if you folks would rather have him back instead!
- UIF

When it happens more often than not that's what seperates them from other players in a negative way. I'm not finding a player to pick on. I'm just not going to sit here and say AMAC is good when he's clearly not.

I believe u gave me a hard time when I said the Rangers Defense would be exposed in this new system... only 4 games but I am guessing you would not give me the Eyes again... just saying..


- niteislander

Based on what I saw last night, I don't think the players are the problem for the Rangers' D, there's just no support. You have one guy trying to cover an elite forward like Perry, and once he pulls a move, there's no one there to help out. Like I said last night, I think a lot of confusion with the new system is more the culprit than anything else, and I think they'll be fine once they get used to it. I don't care how down people are on the Rangers' players, they're obviously not this bad, unless you really believe Torts is the greatest coach to ever grace this game.

When it happens more often than not that's what seperates them from other players in a negative way. I'm not finding a player to pick on. I'm just not going to sit here and say AMAC is good when he's clearly not.
- Cptmjl

Given that it supposedly happens more often than not, and given that AMac leads the entire team in TOI/game at 24:45, you'd think they'd have given up an awful lot more goals than they have, no?

Based on what I saw last night, I don't think the players are the problem for the Rangers' D, there's just no support. You have one guy trying to cover an elite forward like Perry, and once he pulls a move, there's no one there to help out. Like I said last night, I think a lot of confusion with the new system is more the culprit than anything else, and I think they'll be fine once they get used to it. I don't care how down people are on the Rangers' players, they're obviously not this bad, unless you really believe Torts is the greatest coach to ever grace this game.
- UIF

I'll say it again like I have before and most of the Ranger fans are echoing it on their thread today. Torts coached that team the way he had too. Those players just aren't that great. They don't have the horses. With that said they can be better but I think they were completely overrated.

I'll say it again like I have before and most of the Ranger fans are echoing it on their thread today. Torts coached that team the way he had too. Those players just aren't that great. They don't have the horses. With that said they can be better but I think they were completely overrated.
- Cptmjl

It's possible. I guess we'll find out as the season goes on. Like my dad says though...things are never as bad as they seem when it's all going poorly...and never as good as they seem when it's all going well.

Given that it supposedly happens more often than not, and given that AMac leads the entire team in TOI/game at 24:45, you'd think they'd have given up an awful lot more goals than they have, no?
- UIF

They at times play a better team defense. The last game his "outlet passes" were covered up by a couple fwds(who I can't recall exactly). Our fwds corps have become much more defensively responsible(besides the usual suspect of course)since the end of last reg season.
Two blatant give aways and one time in particular when he got completely turned around behind the net and got out of position were saved by Nabakov. Plus multiple other gaffes these just came to mind. Hey if you guys(not directed at you in particular) don't see it that's fine but I have zero clue how you're missing it? Every islander fan I'm friends with in "real life" finds it as blatant as myself. I find it funny on this thread in particular lately the overvaluing of some players has reached ridiculous levels of homerism. AMAC is at best a 5/6 on a decent team. You(not you) can try and sell him any way you want. Just watch the guy play, if you(not you) can't see what I'm talking about then there's no point in having this conversation.

It's possible. I guess we'll find out as the season goes on. Like my dad says though...things are never as bad as they seem when it's all going poorly...and never as good as they seem when it's all going well.
- UIF

Exactly. they'll get better but how much is the question? I think they're a perpetual team that's not built to truly contend as of now. IMO.

You wonder if he heard he wouldn't survive in the NHL without JT and ran as quick as he could to prove it.
There have been many wingers over the course of the NHL that needed that play maker to set them up to make their career worth something. Not every pro has unbelievable stick handling skills and create open space by themselves. Some are the type of players that are good at finding open space or the front of the net and have enough hand eye to make a nice career for themselves.
I do agree however that Moulson is a one way player and does nothing in the D zone or even the neutral zone.
- brodydog29

To my understanding, Joe Sakik (a hero of PA's) called him and spoke for an hour with him about playing in Colorado and PA got stars in his eyes. He took the contract and never looked back. Can't blame him, but I think it definitey suprised Snow and Co.

Xxkeaner17xX

They at times play a better team defense. The last game his "outlet passes" were covered up by a couple fwds(who I can't recall exactly). Our fwds corps have become much more defensively responsible(besides the usual suspect of course)since the end of last reg season.
Two blatant give aways and one time in particular when he got completely turned around behind the net and got out of position were saved by Nabakov. Plus multiple other gaffes these just came to mind. Hey if you guys(not directed at you in particular) don't see it that's fine but I have zero clue how you're missing it? Every islander fan I'm friends with in "real life" finds it as blatant as myself. I find it funny on this thread in particular lately the overvaluing of some players has reached ridiculous levels of homerism. AMAC is at best a 5/6 on a decent team. You(not you) can try and sell him any way you want. Just watch the guy play, if you(not you) can't see what I'm talking about then there's no point in having this conversation.
- Cptmjl

No, I get that he makes mistakes out there. Absolutely. But I also see when he remains calm during scrambles in front of the net and gets the puck out of there, or makes a subtle stick check that breaks up what could have been a dangerous scoring opportunity, or when he's in good position to block a shot, or when he plays conservatively enough to allow Hamonic to rush the puck up ice whenever he chooses. I'm not trying to say he's a top-pair d-man. I don't think the Isles have a single top-pair d-man on the roster, to be honest. But I've watched a decent amount of hockey so far this season and I just think some teams would rather have AMac on their rosters than some other guys I've seen bumbling around out there so far.

Amac is a very good defenseman.. just b/c he doesn't score points or fight doesn't mean he stinks. He makes more plays game in and game out than ANY other player not named JT on this team. Always in position to block shot, prevent the pass.. etc. IF like you said he was traded you would miss him terribly within a game. Focus on him tonight... don't get pissed when he doesn't hit the guy.. watch what he does against one of the best teams in hockey.
- niteislander

WOW! Just ...WOW.
Always in position? Not really. Amac's biggest issues to me are that he's a subpar one on one hockey player. Wingers walk off the boards with the puck leaving him behind far more often than I care to count.
It's not that Amac is glaringly terrible in any one area, but he's average to below average in most areas, thus making him the type of guy who should play a limited 5-7 spot as opposed to 2-4.


Xxkeaner17xX

No, I get that he makes mistakes out there. Absolutely. But I also see when he remains calm during scrambles in front of the net and gets the puck out of there, or makes a subtle stick check that breaks up what could have been a dangerous scoring opportunity, or when he's in good position to block a shot, or when he plays conservatively enough to allow Hamonic to rush the puck up ice whenever he chooses. I'm not trying to say he's a top-pair d-man. I don't think the Isles have a single top-pair d-man on the roster, to be honest. But I've watched a decent amount of hockey so far this season and I just think some teams would rather have AMac on their rosters than some other guys I've seen bumbling around out there so far.
- UIF

Oh I agree we don't have a true top pairing Dman. The only remedy for this IMO is spreading that 25 minutes a night more evenly through the backend and maybe not giving AMAC the best player assignments he gets every single night. He is clearly outmatched when playing the opposing teams best fwds. I also agree that defense is an easy position to pick apart. For a good Dman for every 4 good plays theres one or two questionable ones. For me when the negatives outweigh the positives you got yourself a dud. To me AMAC fits that description. He's just to weak on the puck and is not positionally sound enough to be a Jonnson type of Dman. He certainly is not a crease clearer/stay at home type. To me he's the Brad boyes of the blueline. There's really not a good way to use him.
With all of this said we are winning so why fix something that's not broke? To me our backend looks shakey at best. Goring even said the other night going into the third that he was shocked we were uop 4-1(as was i). We did keep them to the boards for the most part(AMAC had a hard time with this not shockingly)but the Yotes seemed to have better puck posession. The third period to me was the first glimpse of the team we saw the end of last year. Forecheck was there and they atrted doing smart things with the puck but hey in the end winning is what matters.