Are you sure about that? Okposo played in all 48 games last season. We were calling for him to get scratched but it never happened.

GP 48 G 4 A 20
- keaner17

Nice catch keaner. Cappy shows his bias again.

If you sit Regin who is the third line center?? Bailey? Nelson? I'm not against sitting Regin I just don't know the alternative
- Dan Petriw

I was saying last week that I wouldn't mind seeing Josh or Nelson take that third line. Bailey has been just as bad as Grabs this year. At least in Grab's case, his penalty killing has been damn good and he creates shorthanded opportunities. Bailey has regressed to the same ol' Josh and a change back to his natural position might help.

That said, when Vanek returns, I'd consider allowing Nelson to center a line of Grabner and Clutterbuck.

I do not remember Okposo being a healthy scratch. Cappy seems to have a real issue with Grabner. Seems plenty of other guys deserve the wraith of Cappy.
- ses111

A third of the team should be scratched, but you can't scratch six guys per night. Yes, others deserve benching also (see Bailey, a-Mac, Carkner, Regin) but who do you replace all those guys with?

Maybe this is a precursor to Grabs getting dealt? Maybe it's a wake up call to the other underachievers? Regardless, I think Grabs is the most likely and sensible trade chip on the active roster now and if you don't want him on the ice, they should be looking to move him to address a glaring need on "D".

I was saying last week that I wouldn't mind seeing Josh or Nelson take that third line. Bailey has been just as bad as Grabs this year. At least in Grab's case, his penalty killing has been damn good and he creates shorthanded opportunities. Bailey has regressed to the same ol' Josh and a change back to his natural position might help.

That said, when Vanek returns, I'd consider allowing Nelson to center a line of Grabner and Clutterbuck.
- keaner17

Tough to take Nelson away from JT. I would try JT,Vanek, and Nelson and drop KO with Frans.

This coach is a disaster.

A third of the team should be scratched, but you can't scratch six guys per night. Yes, others deserve benching also (see Bailey, a-Mac, Carkner, Regin) but who do you replace all those guys with?

Maybe this is a precursor to Grabs getting dealt? Maybe it's a wake up call to the other underachievers? Regardless, I think Grabs is the most likely and sensible trade chip on the active roster now and if you don't want him on the ice, they should be looking to move him to address a glaring need on "D".
- Jethro09

That crossed my mind too. OF course it was believed someone would get scratched for Boulton during practice yesterday.

I realize the staff likes to toughen up for games with the Leaf's, Flyers, Bruin's etc, but we already have Matt Martin, Clutterbuck and likely Carkner in the lineup. How much brut force is necessary for a team that hasn't been playing good HOCKEY? The last thing I want us to do is start watering down our talent level so Boulton can skate his 6 minutes and get in one fight. It's become cliche for us to do this and it rarely seems to pay off.

I was saying last week that I wouldn't mind seeing Josh or Nelson take that third line. Bailey has been just as bad as Grabs this year. At least in Grab's case, his penalty killing has been damn good and he creates shorthanded opportunities. Bailey has regressed to the same ol' Josh and a change back to his natural position might help.

That said, when Vanek returns, I'd consider allowing Nelson to center a line of Grabner and Clutterbuck.
- keaner17

When Vanek comes back, I home the move KO to the second line with Fran's and Bailey and let Nelson stay on the top line with Vanek on RW, his natural position. Maybe playing with KO and Fran's will wake Bailey up out of this year's version of the annual Bailey early season snooze? That could give the isles two pretty good scoring lines. Say what you want about KO, but he's getting it done this year. Frans too.

Tough to take Nelson away from JT. I would try JT,Vanek, and Nelson and drop KO with Frans.
- ses111

KO is an incredibly streaky player so to be honest, the last thing I want to do for him right now is change anything. I'd sooner consider sending Vanek down to play with Bailey and Nielsen than demote KO at this point.

That crossed my mind too. OF course it was believed someone would get scratched for Boulton during practice yesterday.

I realize the staff likes to toughen up for games with the Leaf's, Flyers, Bruin's etc, but we already have Matt Martin, Clutterbuck and likely Carkner in the lineup. How much brut force is necessary for a team that hasn't been playing good HOCKEY? The last thing I want us to do is start watering down our talent level so Boulton can skate his 6 minutes and get in one fight. It's become cliche for us to do this and it rarely seems to pay off.
- keaner17

His 15 second staged fight and 3 minutes of ice time are mission critical.

A third of the team should be scratched, but you can't scratch six guys per night. Yes, others deserve benching also (see Bailey, a-Mac, Carkner, Regin) but who do you replace all those guys with?

Maybe this is a precursor to Grabs getting dealt? Maybe it's a wake up call to the other underachievers? Regardless, I think Grabs is the most likely and sensible trade chip on the active roster now and if you don't want him on the ice, they should be looking to move him to address a glaring need on "D".
- Jethro09

You are right on all points. I can live with trading Grabner for D. We have Strome and Lee in the system to name a few. We also have to factor being able to sign guys when we hit Brooklyn so we have to look at who is beyond the system going forward. Cappy still needs to be on notice as well as the players.

KO is an incredibly streaky player so to be honest, the last thing I want to do for him right now is change anything. I'd sooner consider sending Vanek down to play with Bailey and Nielsen than demote KO at this point.
- keaner17

True. I just worry about anything that Vanek might take as a knock.

You are right on all points. I can live with trading Grabner for D. We have Strome and Lee in the system to name a few. We also have to factor being able to sign guys when we hit Brooklyn so we have to look at who is beyond the system going forward. Cappy still needs to be on notice as well as the players.
- ses111

Ah, yes, the next rookie saviors! Give it five games and folks here will be calling them busts.

Ah, yes, the next rookie saviors! Give it five games and folks here will be calling them busts.
- UIF

Not me. I'm fine with the rookies as long as they are given a real shot. I do not expect them to come up be dominate right away. I have more concern with this coach then the prospects.

His 15 second staged fight and 3 minutes of ice time are mission critical.
- UIF

Fitz is jealous!

Ah, yes, the next rookie saviors! Give it five games and folks here will be calling them busts.
- UIF

Six and they'll wonder why Garth hasn't made a trade yet...

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday 13m

Capuano on Visnovsky: "He's still not close.

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday 13m

Capuano on Visnovsky: "He's still not close.
- Vukota

saw that...makes you wonder why he's traveling with the team and working out off ice then..... Is he delivering speeches in the lockeroom?

saw that...makes you wonder why he's traveling with the team and working out off ice then..... Is he delivering speeches in the lockeroom?
- keaner17

I'm not certain, and surely no medical expert, but isn't air travel bad for concussions?

Arthur Staple ‏@StapeNewsday 13m

Capuano on Visnovsky: "He's still not close.
- Vukota

Guess no Vanek yet and Grabs is sitting I believe for Boulton??? Is this true

I'm not certain, and surely no medical expert, but isn't air travel bad for concussions?
- UIF

I don't think it's necessarily bad for the overall concussion itself, however it tends to aggrivate the symptoms more.

Guess no Vanek yet and Grabs is sitting I believe for Boulton??? Is this true
- BattleLevel

Yep! We're gettin' our Battle Level on

Yep! We're gettin' our Battle Level on
- keaner17

I'm not certain, and surely no medical expert, but isn't air travel bad for concussions?
- UIF

it certainly didnt help ryan churchs career

I don't think it's necessarily bad for the overall concussion itself, however it tends to aggrivate the symptoms more.
- keaner17

Seems like it is not worth the risk if he is not close.

Funny about people and Nolan. People act like he didnt have a team. didnt he have Yashin, Peca, Aucoin, Kenny Jonson. I might be wrong.

Also what is happening with Grabner is all on Capuano. Same way the toolbox didnt know where to put Nino in line up. So where he thought 4th line. Minnesota coach put him on top line. Nino could have easily been recalled last year after his first half year at the Bridge. Can you blame him for wanted to get traded after?

Last year, Isles should of traded Moulson for a top defenseman and inserted Nino on top line. that what should have been done.