I agree.. but Lundqvst not having a system where his whole team blocks shots and keep the front of his net clear has certainly dented his stats so far.. not blaming him or saying this is going to happen all year.. but ... Let's see.
- niteislander

H blaming an injury for his stats. I think its a combination of the shot blocking and smaller pads. Hank used to look huge in the net.

even if we cant get someone to replace moulsons 30 goals (and mind you, thats ALL hes replacing) id be thrilled with someone who can get into the corners and dish the puck to JT and play some defensive hockey and backcheck... id glad take 20 goals + all those other qualities over moulson any day... and again, losing moulson wouldnt be the worst thing...not improving this defense would be; if money is going to be spent, its gotta be on Dfense and goalie...
- LetsGoIsles

Not easy to replace

As per Arthur Staple,

Strait out with upper body injury and is day to day. Visnovsky hasn't returned to any off ice or on ice workouts.

Martinek in tomorrow obviously.

So that leaves us with hamonic,Amac,hickey,Donovan,Martinek,Carkner. Pretty freqking awful.

John micheal Liles is available and the leafs are willing to eat big part of his salary. You can't go with this defense any longer and think you are going to out score the other team especially when your goaltending isn't exactly going to steal many games .

As per Arthur Staple,

Strait out with upper body injury and is day to day. Visnovsky hasn't returned to any off ice or on ice workouts.

Martinek in tomorrow obviously.

So that leaves us with hamonic,Amac,hickey,Donovan,Martinek,Carkner. Pretty freqking awful.

John micheal Liles is available and the leafs are willing to eat big part of his salary. You can't go with this defense any longer and think you are going to out score the other team especially when your goaltending isn't exactly going to steal many games .
- Isles316

Someone tell me how Mayfield looks please??!!

my guess is Finley gets a call up.. smh.

Someone tell me how Mayfield looks please??!!

my guess is Finley gets a call up.. smh.
- niteislander

Two top fours and a mediocre goaltender all of which was available this past offseason. That is all this team needed to be actual contenders. That's what everyone should be shaking their heads about right now

Someone tell me how Mayfield looks please??!!

my guess is Finley gets a call up.. smh.
- niteislander

Finley is hurt. Also upper body. Sound tigers beat writer told me on twitter last weekend that none of them are standing out.

Finley is hurt. Also upper body. Sound tigers beat writer told me on twitter last weekend that none of them are standing out.
- Isles316

I guess that depends on how you mean standing out

Finley is hurt. Also upper body. Sound tigers beat writer told me on twitter last weekend that none of them are standing out.
- Isles316

I've heard Pedan has looked good thus far....

I guess that depends on how you mean standing out
- Cptmjl

Correct...there's Sean Jones standing out...and there's Bruno Gervais standing out...

I've heard Pedan has looked good thus far....
- keaner17

That's a good sign. His numbers albeit early are good

I guess that depends on how you mean standing out
- Cptmjl

I just mean "probably won't suck"

Not easy to replace
- Isles316

Most 20 goal scoring left wingers likely become 30 goal scorers on JT's wing. There were nearly 40 left wingers. who scored around 20 goals in 2010-2011 (last 82 game season). I don't think it would be nearly has hard as you think.

Most 20 goal scoring left wingers likely become 30 goal scorers on JT's wing. There were nearly 40 left wingers. who scored around 20 goals in 2010-2011 (last 82 game season). I don't think it would be nearly has hard as you think.
- keaner17

Only moulson has scored even more than 20 with Tavares. I guess okpso had 22 goals a few years ago with him mainly but that's it.

Only moulson has scored even more than 20 with Tavares. I guess okpso had 22 goals a few years ago with him mainly but that's it.
- Isles316

Okposo is playing on the opposite wing. You have to recognize the roles that the right winger fills because of Moulson. Moulson is your crease rat..because he offers nothing else, you need your right wing to be a fetch and feed guy, therefore he won't score nearly as often as Moulson. It's like comparing rbi production between a leadoff guy and a cleanup hitter.

The place to hit Snow is his plan. If you aren't satisfied with what you're seeing or what he's done, it's his overall plan you're objecting to. Love him or hate him, he's remained consistent with his approach since this rebuild began.
Snow will not overspend.
He will not go shopping just to shop.
He has specific roles he wants filled and continually looks for temporary plugs to fill those roles until his draft picks are ready to take that spot permanently. He is a fiscally responsible GM who refuses to consider any shortcuts now.
From a fans perspective, it's frustrating because we see guys like Bernier, Ryan, Hiller, Halak, etc etc and want to see the team to make a pitch but that won't happen.
There will be no trade for a goalie. No trade for a top four dman. Your next goalie is either Nilsson, Mikko or Poulin (or another prospect) and dmen are Reinhart, Pullock, Pedan etc...
That's the plan, I wouldn't expect anything more.
From there, Cappy will implement the lineups as he sees fit.
- keaner17

Agree 110%. Snow's strategy is clear. I think though that Isles are willing to pay 4-5 mill for a goalie which could get them Halak or Varlamov as FAs although they might demand close to 6. There is no way Poulin or the nordic goalies will be starters next year.

Okposo is playing on the opposite wing. You have to recognize the roles that the right winger fills because of Moulson. Moulson is your crease rat..because he offers nothing else, you need your right wing to be a fetch and feed guy, therefore he won't score nearly as often as Moulson. It's like comparing rbi production between a leadoff guy and a cleanup hitter.
- keaner17

Yea I get that and parenteau fit that mold very well. He has been able to produce without Tavares. And as I've said before, this is not one of the islanders issues. I agree when moulson isn't producing he does very little else to help the team, but most of the time throughout his career, he has produced here.

Big thing to me is this atrocious defense. Two injuries now and bringing Martinek in off his couch.

Defense is #1 priority, goaltending #2, and a distant 3 is forwards of any kind. Over 3 goals a game so far should be the norm with this group

Yea I get that and parenteau fit that mold very well. He has been able to produce without Tavares. And as I've said before, this is not one of the islanders issues. I agree when moulson isn't producing he does very little else to help the team, but most of the time throughout his career, he has produced here.

Big thing to me is this atrocious defense. Two injuries now and bringing Martinek in off his couch.

Defense is #1 priority, goaltending #2, and a distant 3 is forwards of any kind. Over 3 goals a game so far should be the norm with this group
- Isles316

Agreed..but the Moulson contract issue is one of the elephants in the room which will become more and more apparent the closer we get to the deadline. I'd love to bring him back on a short term, but he's nuts if he signs short term.
In the case of PA, he went from one elite player to another with Duchene. He's a fortunate little bugger considering if Snow didn't pick him up from obscurity, he might not even be in the NHL today.

I consider Moulson's role the Tim Kerr effect. If you put a LW out there with JT and give him a typical role, I expect production, big points, decent goal totals. If you tell me he's going to be a crease rat/garbage collector, I expect BIG GOAL TOTALS. Anything less than 30 isn't producing in that role. Find a bigger body with decent hands to do that same role and you may see 40-50.

With that said, there's no debating that this team is in dire need of a few defensemen, unfortunately they're in Bridgeport, and I wouldn't expect one to come from anywhere else.

I guess that depends on how you mean standing out
- Cptmjl

I asked him if there are any call up potentials in brideport I got this in response just now.

@fornabaioctp: @DSpogolf Not much has changed since Sunday.

Which basically means no. Lol

I asked him if there are any call up potentials in brideport I got this in response just now.

@fornabaioctp: @DSpogolf Not much has changed since Sunday.

Which basically means no. Lol
- Isles316

I think the Martinek signing probably spoke volumes in that regard.
The Strait issue could be addition by subtraction. Donovan is going to get some great experience the next few games.

I think the Martinek signing probably spoke volumes in that regard.
The Strait issue could be addition by subtraction. Donovan is going to get some great experience the next few games.
- keaner17

Agreed I think Donovan is going to be pretty solid as well. But when you have only 6 d men, one of them being Martinek who hasn't played a game, and Carkner who is really struggling you have to think another move has to be made especially if vis and strait are going to be out a while.

No team can make the playoffs with that lineup back there. Might be blessing in disguise if islanders give up 8 tomorrow

Strait hurt and martinek in. Addtion by substraction.
I hope Strait recovers well, but i hope martinek steals his spot on the roster.


One of you ask about Mayfield. My guess is he is doing nothing when you read that Finley is their best defender. We all know how he does in isles uniform.

Ive always been a Martinek fan. If anything, if i had his slap shot i would have 15 shots a game.

great writeup on islanderspointblank for you guys that dont understand the full game of hockey. I said PMB is starting to be quite noticeable.

it wont be long before you see him start putting up points.

Strait can definitely use a night or two from press box to show that his spot in lineup is not automatic.

One of you ask about Mayfield. My guess is he is doing nothing when you read that Finley is their best defender. We all know how he does in isles uniform.

Ive always been a Martinek fan. If anything, if i had his slap shot i would have 15 shots a game.
- Spartiarti

And Finley has upper body injury now too. Not good . They need bodies down there too

As per Arthur Staple,

Strait out with upper body injury and is day to day. Visnovsky hasn't returned to any off ice or on ice workouts.

Martinek in tomorrow obviously.

So that leaves us with hamonic,Amac,hickey,Donovan,Martinek,Carkner. Pretty freqking awful.

John micheal Liles is available and the leafs are willing to eat big part of his salary. You can't go with this defense any longer and think you are going to out score the other team especially when your goaltending isn't exactly going to steal many games .
- Isles316

thankfully, Strait is out. As far as JML, no thank you. He's another guy who's softer than kleenex defensively and that doesn't fit our needs. We need a mobile crease clearing nasty dman.

great writeup on islanderspointblank for you guys that dont understand the full game of hockey. I said PMB is starting to be quite noticeable.

it wont be long before you see him start putting up points.
- Spartiarti