Would have gladly taken Asham had we not already signed Cal.
- keaner17

Always liked AA. Especially the wig he wore in warmups. He was on waivers end of last season...Garth could have saved $1.5Mil in salary and used Nino to make a trade...oh wait, I forgot. He doesn't trade..my bad.

Capuano is a clown...he'll be gone by mid-season...
- kear20

I can see them making Weight the head coach if they let Cappy go. Hopefully they pull the plug on Cappy soon.

like the lines, but maybe get KO off the 1st line and try Bales or Nelson instead
- Ur Not Me

Yeah, I'd try Bailey rather than Okposo. KO works better with Neilson as a checking line.

I can see them making Weight the head coach if they let Cappy go. Hopefully they pull the plug on Cappy soon.
- David_Volek

You can bet the farm Weight will be the coach. While I'd rather have a proven coach, I'll take Weight over Cappy anyday.

Strome hasn't done so great in Bridgeport so far. Either has the rest of team, Bridgeport is last in their division. Forget about trading Moulson..it's not going to happen...he'll start scoring soon...jeez...
- kear20

I've seen bport tiwice....whole team is struggling right now

anyone here the reports that Nail Yakupov is threatening to bolt to Russia? WOW! at least Nino just though he was too good for B'port

anyone here the reports that Nail Yakupov is threatening to bolt to Russia? WOW! at least Nino just though he was too good for B'port
- Dan Petriw

yikes.. .

anyone here the reports that Nail Yakupov is threatening to bolt to Russia? WOW! at least Nino just though he was too good for B'port
- Dan Petriw

I've heard that those were false rumors OR that he said they were false for the PR side of things,

I do wonder if he is on the trading block.

Bobby Ryan was gotten for a decent prospect(Silferberg) another lesser prospect and Ottawa's 3rd round pick in 2014. Certainly we could have offered Nino, a Defense prospect and our 3rd round pick.

Tim Thomas was on OUR property until July 1. He hit FA market and took a reasonable salary with bonus/performance incentives with FLA.

Letang resigned with Pitt for 8 yrs & silly money but we certainly had the space, just not the cojones to get him.
- jmo16

That would have been the stupidest Islander signing in team history. No way we should have done that. As for Thomas, I thought we all went through this. No one wanted to trade for Thomas and if the Isles had traded him, we would have been on the hook for that pick.

As for Ryan...no doubt I would have loved to have had him. I'm not sure what Anaheim was looking for in return from us, but perhaps Nino's salary was a problem? Tough to say.

I think people are going to have to face the facts this is how Wang is going to run a hockey team. Snow said he could make a team competitive with a minimum budget. This team will never be big spenders as long as Wang is owner for better or worse(probably better to an extent, somewhat...). I hate seeing this team just be a couple pieces from being truly competitive. They don't need much and if the money that was spent during the offseason was spent IMO a little wiser our backend hypothetically could've been a little more bearable. Snow made a misstep not addressing it along with goaltending IMO.
- Cptmjl

I know the 'yes he will' and 'no he won't' arguments can get thrown around a lot in terms of Wang spending but truth be told, no one can have a shred of certaintly as to whether he'll spend or not until we are in Brooklyn and playing.

Until then, we only have the past to go on, which I actually think speaks to evidence that he WILL spend eventually.
Remember, when Wang first came here, he made huge payroll additions of Yashin, Peca, Hamerlik Witt etc. He also made noted failed attempts to throw decent money at a few free agents. It wasn't until he had endured years of MASSIVE losses that they decided to do business on the cheap until the environment improved.
Based on that, I think it's reasonable to assume that once the team climate is better (ie. Brooklyn), Wang will finance the team with the purposes of turning a larger profit. That said, no one will know until it does or doesn't happen(s).

Asham had been one of the only players on that team showing any kind of heart. Biron is awful but who backsup now?
- mighty13duck

According to Bob McKenzie, the Rangers plan to promote Cam Talbot to be Henrik Lundqvist’s back up.

I know the 'yes he will' and 'no he won't' arguments can get thrown around a lot in terms of Wang spending but truth be told, no one can have a shred of certaintly as to whether he'll spend or not until we are in Brooklyn and playing.

Until then, we only have the past to go on, which I actually think speaks to evidence that he WILL spend eventually.
Remember, when Wang first came here, he made huge payroll additions of Yashin, Peca, Hamerlik Witt etc. He also made noted failed attempts to throw decent money at a few free agents. It wasn't until he had endured years of MASSIVE losses that they decided to do business on the cheap until the environment improved.
Based on that, I think it's reasonable to assume that once the team climate is better (ie. Brooklyn), Wang will finance the team with the purposes of turning a larger profit. That said, no one will know until it does or doesn't happen(s).
- keaner17

The thing is with him spending years ago compared to now is that the isles payroll is almost $10 mill higher than it was in 2002 when he approved those contracts

Whats the deal with Martinek practicing?
- mighty13duck

stupid move...watch them demote Donovan...

That would have been the stupidest Islander signing in team history. No way we should have done that. As for Thomas, I thought we all went through this. No one wanted to trade for Thomas and if the Isles had traded him, we would have been on the hook for that pick.

As for Ryan...no doubt I would have loved to have had him. I'm not sure what Anaheim was looking for in return from us, but perhaps Nino's salary was a problem? Tough to say.
- keaner17

I would have gone all in for Bobby Ryan...he would have been a terrific fit for JT...

The thing is with him spending years ago compared to now is that the isles payroll is almost $10 mill higher than it was in 2002 when he approved those contracts
- Isles316

Sure, because it has to be. That's a big difference in that those days he was spending with free will as opposed to now. Wang was very aware of the annual losses the Isles were experiencing when he bought the team yet he spent anyway. It wasn't until the new stadium issue drug on through the political mud for several years that he decided to close the checking account. I think it's fair to assume that a better, more profitable arena where he's not losing $16 million annually will translate into a better effort to pack the seats. I could be wrong, but we won't know until we've reached that point.

I would have gone all in for Bobby Ryan...he would have been a terrific fit for JT...
- kear20

Me too...although we don't know that he would have even come here. Ryan is a HUGE Flyers fan and really wanted to go there. It may be that he was just as relunctant to come to the Isles as most of the UFA's over the last decade.

stupid move...watch them demote Donovan...
- kear20

Isles have to decide are they in with the kids or not? They should not be pulled if they play one bad game.

For those interested in Nail here are some quotes from him

“I’m going to play my game” he said. “I’m not going to change but maybe play better without the puck or forecheck more but I love playing with the puck. I really don’t like skating all the time and forechecking and hitting somebody every shift. I don’t think it’s my game.”

Sounds like a real team player

For those interested in Nail here are some quotes from him

“I’m going to play my game” he said. “I’m not going to change but maybe play better without the puck or forecheck more but I love playing with the puck. I really don’t like skating all the time and forechecking and hitting somebody every shift. I don’t think it’s my game.”

Sounds like a real team player
- Dan Petriw

Maybe the Oilers should have traded the #1 that year? I thought there were some red flags with Nail and some talk he suffered a couple of concussions?

I know the 'yes he will' and 'no he won't' arguments can get thrown around a lot in terms of Wang spending but truth be told, no one can have a shred of certaintly as to whether he'll spend or not until we are in Brooklyn and playing.

Until then, we only have the past to go on, which I actually think speaks to evidence that he WILL spend eventually.
Remember, when Wang first came here, he made huge payroll additions of Yashin, Peca, Hamerlik Witt etc. He also made noted failed attempts to throw decent money at a few free agents. It wasn't until he had endured years of MASSIVE losses that they decided to do business on the cheap until the environment improved.
Based on that, I think it's reasonable to assume that once the team climate is better (ie. Brooklyn), Wang will finance the team with the purposes of turning a larger profit. That said, no one will know until it does or doesn't happen(s).
- keaner17

The floor and the cap are only going to increase. Yeah, the kids coming up will increase payroll when they start getting big $$$ but again, Charles Wang is a Billionaire. Makes no sense to nickle & dime everything. If $$$ is SO crucial, why not break the lease and get to Bklyn for start of next season and start making more from Corporate Suites/Lux Boxes?

The floor and the cap are only going to increase. Yeah, the kids coming up will increase payroll when they start getting big $$$ but again, Charles Wang is a Billionaire. Makes no sense to nickle & dime everything. If $$$ is SO crucial, why not break the lease and get to Bklyn for start of next season and start making more from Corporate Suites/Lux Boxes?
- jmo16

Charles is not a billionaire...
As for nickel and diming, I suppose it only makes no sense from the standpoint of us wistful fans who just want them to SPEND. Wang's estimated worth is $790 million. He's lost an estimated $200million plus since purchasing the Isles...in other words a quarter of his net worth has financed this sinking ship. So from my perspective, it gets tough to say "why won't you spend more" when it is like pitching quarters into the sea. Especially since the rotten lease they're under guarantees they still would lose money even if they ran straight to the cup.
As for moving NOW, I don't think it's feasible but this article touched on it:
http://nypost.com/2013/08...ly-exit-from-long-island/

Me too...although we don't know that he would have even come here. Ryan is a HUGE Flyers fan and really wanted to go there. It may be that he was just as relunctant to come to the Isles as most of the UFA's over the last decade.
- keaner17

What's so attractive about Ottawa to a kid from NJ? He was traded. Didn't hear he had a NTC, so whether HE wanted to come or not was irrelevant. It was our GM's inability to strike the deal. And NO, it wouldn't have had to include Strome or Reinhart. Silferburg is not as good as either of them or projected as such.

What's so attractive about Ottawa to a kid from NJ? He was traded. Didn't hear he had a NTC, so whether HE wanted to come or not was irrelevant. It was our GM's inability to strike the deal. And NO, it wouldn't have had to include Strome or Reinhart. Silferburg is not as good as either of them or projected as such.
- jmo16

Not sure. It could be that it was the negative perception of the Isles which still aparently exists. Anaheim has been trying to deal Ryan for the last two years. He had 2 seasons left on his contract so I'm not sure if the Isles didn't feel they should deal a prospect for two seasons if they felt he wouldn't resign? Tough call.
As you mentioned, the trade wouldn't have included Strome or Reinhart so it could be that Anaheim simply didn't like our second teir or prospects compared to Silfverberg (He has 4 goals in 4 games now).
We all wanted Ryan, no doubt, I'm just not sure it was ever a realistic option. Word at the time was that Anaheim entertained 4 serious offers for Ryan and one came from the Isles, though it's tough to confirm.

**as for the NTC..he didn't have one, though these days it seems players don't need one to cause problems. If the other team hears he won't report if traded there, they're pretty unlikely to want the negative PR of trading for a guy who won't report (remember Vis)

Charles is not a billionaire...
As for nickel and diming, I suppose it only makes no sense from the standpoint of us wistful fans who just want them to SPEND. Wang's estimated worth is $790 million. He's lost an estimated $200million plus since purchasing the Isles...in other words a quarter of his net worth has financed this sinking ship. So from my perspective, it gets tough to say "why won't you spend more" when it is like pitching quarters into the sea. Especially since the rotten lease they're under guarantees they still would lose money even if they ran straight to the cup.
As for moving NOW, I don't think it's feasible but this article touched on it:
http://nypost.com/2013/08...ly-exit-from-long-island/
- keaner17

Your constant defense of Charles & Garth is sad. I bet you'd stand up for the motorcycle gang that messed with the Range Rover and argue that THEY were the victims...

Don't you see that we're being lied to and bullsh!tted by the two of them? They say one thing & do another. None of us gave RDP & Yashin their contracts. If owning a hockey team isn't working out or you can't afford it, get out of the business. Charles will NEVER recover the $$$ he's spent/lost on this team. He's basically spending his kids inheritence but he gets no passes for doing a 180 degree turn from the Milbury days. Milbury was sooooo wrong with his trades BUT at least he tried and got the team to the playoffs faster than Garth. Garth is like a corporate executive, always looking to cover his ass in case things don't work out. I f'in HATE that type of person. No balls. No guts. No risk, no reward.

Your constant defense of Charles & Garth is sad. I bet you'd stand up for the motorcycle gang that messed with the Range Rover and argue that THEY were the victims...Don't you see that we're being lied to and bullsh!tted by the two of them? They say one thing & do another. None of us gave RDP & Yashin their contracts. If owning a hockey team isn't working out or you can't afford it, get out of the business. Charles will NEVER recover the $$$ he's spent/lost on this team. He's basically spending his kids inheritence but he gets no passes for doing a 180 degree turn from the Milbury days. Milbury was sooooo wrong with his trades BUT at least he tried and got the team to the playoffs faster than Garth. Garth is like a corporate executive, always looking to cover his ass in case things don't work out. I f'in HATE that type of person. No balls. No guts. No risk, no reward.
- jmo16

I bet your intuition sucks You sound like a political Union guy (and I know you aren't), wanting that evil guy to spend more money just because he has money no matter how bad the state of the business is.
If Charles 'got out of the business' you might very possibly not have a team at all. There are some things I clearly don't like about Wang, his "make sports more family friendly' crap drives me nuts, but I can't deny the profound effort (and finance) he put in to save this franchise and I'm willing to allow him to operate it under a better climate which he will have very soon..but doesn't just yet.
Like I say, when a guy has lost over a quarter of his net worth keeping this ship afloat, I have a tough time taking the "O' attitude that he needs to share his pie to make us happy. He needs to run his business and if that means weathering the storm for better days, there ya go.