I meant miss him if he gets hurt and we replace him with Carkner... Not miss him cuz Im a diehard AMac fan... If there is someone better that is ready by all means replace him... In a few years when the kids are rdy he will be gone and I wont bat an eye at it... But right now there is no one to take his spot. Thats what I meant by he would be missed... this year, not long term.
- Bags502

Gotcha. We are thin on the backend but giving that guy 25 minutes a night and having him against the top line is ludicrous.

Grabner, duh!
- jmo16

beat you to it!

Ok sorry... Guess im dead wrong. He accidentally or incidentally lead the league in shot blocks (or was close to the top). Im not over-valueing him. Tell me right now who is better then AMac? Who is replacing him. If you can find someone that is better, hands down better then replace him.

But I dont view Hickey as being better or having more potential. There arent any prospects that are ready, really ready besides Donovan... Reinhart needs more time, De Haan needs a season where he doesnt get hurt, Pedan, Pullock etc. all need more time before they are ready.

All Im trying to say is if he was out 4 or 5 dman and we had a legit top pair guys, I dont think anyone would be bashing AMac this hard. And Im not going to miss him if he is replaced by someone who is better but he gets injured and we start dressing Carkner for him... I think we'd all be missing him... thats what I meant by if we didnt have him.
- Bags502

I think Hickey's potential is well beyond that of Amac. Trick is that Hickey is several years younger so he's not at the same place in his development. There is a reason Hickey was a top 5 pick and Amac was a 6th rounder. Hickey's puck talents make him an eventually power play candidate whereas Amac is a deep depth guy. Obviously Hickey hasn't developed his strength enough to be considerd a top 4 pairing guy and he may never be, but his usefulness in the offensive end of the game will eventually make him a more useful player.

Xxkeaner17xX

People need to get over themselves. The 'word' simply means 'slow' but because it was applied in a way people don't like, folks suddenly want it removed.

Watch the media blitz on the Redskins team name. It's laughable considering a poll was done a few years ago that showed most native Americans were supportive of the team keeping the name and didn't find it insulting at all. But it only takes one or two who find a way of getting insulted by a blade of grass to make enough noise to suddenly get the attention of other bleeding hearts.

I suppose folks of Scandinavian descent should be asking the name "Vikings" to be removed.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I won't bother you guys, sorry.

I understand your point. Like i said I had this same opinion where I'd say he's a decent 5/6 but I say if someone sucks I don't want them on my team. To me he sucks. Spread that time over the rest of the backend. Give more minutes to other players. I love when they sell us the AMAC and Hamonic duo as being one of the best on the league, it's hysterical. He made a few blatant tape to tape passes to the opposing team coming out of our zone last night. He got outmuscled/hustled just about every time behind our net. Like i said we'll agree to disagree but I really think you may need to pay close attention to his game?
- Cptmjl

I played defense growing up... He isnt the biggest guy in the world and sometimes there is no use trying to out muscle a guy you know you cant so you play a little more positional and try to force the guy into making a pass or skating to a certain place where there is help from a teammate. But now with obstructions penalties I can only imagine how much harder it is.

The AMac/Hamonic Combo works cuz they work well together but with that being said they arent close to the best in the league and truthfully, Hamonic is probably a #3 dman on a good defensive group.

It is also worth noting that Hickey was the team captain on the 2009 World Junior Canadian team...a team that John Tavares and PK Suban was on.

Xxkeaner17xX

This day and age, that can be a bad word to the wrong person, you should remove it from your vocab.. Just a tip, you can tell me to go (frank) myself, it is a word I have seen guys get banned over, just ask a ref.
- bixll

We still refer to youth sports teams as Midgets and double-headed standpipes as Siamese hydrants, so where's the compassion for them? Referring to something inanimate as retarded is not the same as calling someone the R word.

I won't bother you guys, sorry.
- bixll

It's no bother. I enjoy speaking with you and you have a right to express displeasure, I just think folks need to stop being offended by everything and anything. Life gets too uptight that way!

Xxkeaner17xX

beat you to it!
- Cptmjl

Same was joked about yesterday, I think.
He's the new PA, when it comes to deciding who to bench....

It is also worth noting that Hickey was the team captain on the 2009 World Junior Canadian team...a team that John Tavares and PK Suban was on.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

And besides being waived from the team that drafted him #5 overall, hes done squat. (4pts in 40+games) He was an upgrade over some others we had but with everyone we have in our pipeline, I dont think he stands a chance. Just another place holder.

And besides being waived from the team that drafted him #5 overall, hes done squat. (4pts in 40+games) He was an upgrade over some others we had but with everyone we have in our pipeline, I dont think he stands a chance. Just another place holder.
- Bags502

He was waived prior to any NHL experience. It was an odd move by them truth be told. As for being a placeholder here, very possible. That said, he at least has a recognized level of talent that at 24 years of age, he can still be considered as having 'potential'. Therefore, I'd say the potential for Hickey, is greater than Amac. The debate was never whether or not Hickey would be a top pairing guy, he won't. It was who had better potential, Amac or Hickey.

Xxkeaner17xX

He was waived prior to any NHL experience. It was an odd move by them truth be told. As for being a placeholder here, very possible. That said, he at least has a recognized level of talent that at 24 years of age, he can still be considered as having 'potential'. Therefore, I'd say the potential for Hickey, is greater than Amac. The debate was never whether or not Hickey would be a top pairing guy, he won't. It was who had better potential, Amac or Hickey.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

And thats fine... Id take AMac cuz he is gonna help the Isles now more then Hickey would. By the time Hickey may be ready, the Isles have a lot of other kids that are better and have size.

But on getting waived prior to NHL experience... I guess the Kings saw what the Isles havent seen yet. Cuz all I see is a small dman that can skate and pass. Doesnt really do anyhing else for me... But with that being said I hope he proves me wrong.

And thats fine... Id take AMac cuz he is gonna help the Isles now more then Hickey would. By the time Hickey may be ready, the Isles have a lot of other kids that are better and have size.

But on getting waived prior to NHL experience... I guess the Kings saw what the Isles havent seen yet. Cuz all I see is a small dman that can skate and pass. Doesnt really do anyhing else for me... But with that being said I hope he proves me wrong.
- Bags502

Yes, the Kings saw that they had a Stanley Cup winning team and no room for him at the end of his ELC. Do you honestly think Amac would have survived that same fate? Ultimately I don't see either player as a long term solution for this team, but I do think there's a better chance that Hickey would be an impact player over time than Amac. As for helping now, I think Amac is a #6-7 dman laughingly put in a top 4 role. At least with Hickey I can see a guy who can make a breakout pass, shoot, stickhandle, contribute offensively. Amac is little more than a body out there.

Xxkeaner17xX

AMac is very positionally sound, imo, which leads to a whole lotta blocked shots. That said, he absolutely has his share of flaws. Contrary to keaner's point that we overvalue him because we're used to mediocrity, I'd say he gets dumped on a lot because he's more visible than he should be having to play on the team's top shutdown pair when he would be better suited to a lesser role. Sort of the Frans Effect.

Also, I think AMac went through a bad stretch last season which didn't help his standing with critical fans. He was much better the year before, imo. But really, I've seen Hamonic make his share of blunders out there too...over-committing, missed assignments...but we never say a word about it. Not in any way criticizing him as a player, just pointing out that we tend to hyper-focus on one or two players, which makes every mistake they make magnified x40. Usually, there was a full set of circumstances that included breakdowns by quite a few players that led up to the blunder we focus on.

I for one do not like Amac never did. I doubt if the Islanders released him or got rid of him that nay team will pick him up. He is a Campoli type of guy.

KO is a bit aggravating himself. I think we demote him to the 4th line and then when playoffs start put him back on the first. My dad made mention of Wayne Merrick back in the day when he played on the fourth line but then in the playoffs he was a beast. KO has the same make up unfortuantely

Amac would be good on the 2nd or 3rd pairing... but not going to happen this year.

Maybe next year. It just depends on how long it takes for the other upcoming defencemen to mature!!!

Donovan looks like a keeper.

Hickey looks kinda weak out there!!!

Amac would be good on the 2nd or 3rd pairing... but not going to happen this year.

Maybe next year. It just depends on how long it takes for the other upcoming defencemen to mature!!!

Donovan looks like a keeper.

Hickey looks kinda weak out there!!!
- jimmc7722

I don't think a-mac will be an islander next year. Reinhart and de Haan will be knocking on the door and a-mac is going to get serious offers in UFA. He's going to get more money in the open market than the isles will want to pay him with all the depth in the system.

AMac is very positionally sound, imo, which leads to a whole lotta blocked shots. That said, he absolutely has his share of flaws. Contrary to keaner's point that we overvalue him because we're used to mediocrity, I'd say he gets dumped on a lot because he's more visible than he should be having to play on the team's top shutdown pair when he would be better suited to a lesser role. Sort of the Frans Effect.
- UIF

I'm not so sure I agree with him being positionally sound. I mean, he's not radically out of position, but I think he gets caught behind the net an awful lot. Of course there's two types of positioning, actual positional placement and then body placement on the forward. I think Amac struggles greatly with the latter of the two hence the reason he seems to get left behind the net so often. He's serviceable, but shouldn't be a long term solution.

xxkeaner17xx

Yes, the Kings saw that they had a Stanley Cup winning team and no room for him at the end of his ELC. Do you honestly think Amac would have survived that same fate? Ultimately I don't see either player as a long term solution for this team, but I do think there's a better chance that Hickey would be an impact player over time than Amac. As for helping now, I think Amac is a #6-7 dman laughingly put in a top 4 role. At least with Hickey I can see a guy who can make a breakout pass, shoot, stickhandle, contribute offensively. Amac is little more than a body out there.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

4pts in 40+ games. Thats zero offense.

AMac in 235 games has 65pts. Not great either but they dont ask him to be offensive.

Project Hickey over that amount of games and ur looking at about 22pts.

Both are place holders... Ill take the guy that actually helps the team right now instead of maybe helping in the future.

EDIT
Sry for the delayed reply, went to a late lunch.

Um no i wouldn't and neityher would you probably. You're overvaluing in at best number 6 dman on ANY team. He gets outmuscled by any line on any team. Really watch the guy play. I love when people say he is a shot blocker. When? Incidentally maybe? You're entitled to your opinion but yopu are WAY off base when you say I'd miss him. I can guarantee I wouldn't. I'm a little more knowledgable of the game than you think. He isn't offering something that's flying over my head or that I'm missing.
- Cptmjl

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

I think Hickey's potential is well beyond that of Amac. Trick is that Hickey is several years younger so he's not at the same place in his development. There is a reason Hickey was a top 5 pick and Amac was a 6th rounder. Hickey's puck talents make him an eventually power play candidate whereas Amac is a deep depth guy. Obviously Hickey hasn't developed his strength enough to be considerd a top 4 pairing guy and he may never be, but his usefulness in the offensive end of the game will eventually make him a more useful player.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

I'm pretty impressed with Hickey in that when he goes into the corner with a much larger player (which is pretty much all of them except maybe Gerbe) he tends to still come out with the puck, and that's with playing the body, not just using the stick like AMac does. I don't think Hickey is going to be higher than a fringe second pair/decent third pairing defenseman but I am impressed that despite his size he plays much bigger.

the interesting thing about our defense is that as early as next season, we could have 3-4 defenseman on the roster in their rookie or second nhl season. It's absolutely nuts how many young defense prospects we have that are getting close and our defense could go from bottom third in the league to top third in two seasons.

We're close. Still need a goaltender and I don't know we have one in the system. Look at the depth though. Two years from now more than half our roster will be players the Isles have drafted and they'll all be young. This team is going to be set up to win for a very long time. Bigger picture, our defense is the "best" we've had in the last 5-6 years, however it's still bottom third in the league - for now.

I don't think a-mac will be an islander next year. Reinhart and de Haan will be knocking on the door and a-mac is going to get serious offers in UFA. He's going to get more money in the open market than the isles will want to pay him with all the depth in the system.
- Jethro09

I think he will be cuz they wont have to pay him a lot and he knows the players/coaches and system... Hopefully, next year he drops down and plays where he belongs on a lower d-pair. Or even better, the kids beat him out and he is a depth guy incase of injury.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20142ALLSASALL&sort=blockedShots&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats

http://www.nhl.com/ice/pl...&viewName=rtssPlayerStats
- eichiefs9

Pesky stats!

Pesky stats!
- UIF

AMac is far from perfect but he's currently tied for second in the league, while finishing the previous two seasons tied for third and fifth in the league. He's a shot blocker.