I make my living off the NHL. It is my job. I'm a freak. I live, eat & breathe NHL hockey.

Don't get me wrong. I wish the Islanders had a Weber, Suter, Doughty. Hell I'd settle for a Liles but they aren't available nor are top 4 quality Dman from anyone unless your willing to over pay in picks or players & spend 4.5 mil plus per season in salary.

My opologise for the spelling glitches. Typing on my phone.

High sticking is now legal

That's on the D. Like Isles_since_6 wrote. Isles do not know how to pick up the right man. Isles idea of D is just let the team march right into your zone with little resistance. Maybe Cappy took them to a Dave and Busters last night?
- ses111

The problem is they're perfectly content with skating all over the place....I cringed when the players, to a man, were saying before the game about how great it was that they kept going forward in the third period of the last game.....it would be great....if a player or two was left to perhaps go backward, at some point. I just don't get what it is they're trying to do, I really don't...it just doesn't seem like any hockey game plan I've ever seen.

I watch 2 to 3 NHL games a night on average & every team in the league at least once, as well as reviewing all goals for & against for every team on you tube. Neither of Donovan or Ness are NHL ready. Their mistakes are costing wins & I don't think Carkner is an NHL defensemen. This may be the worst Day in the NHL.

The #'s say it's the 4th worst but team defense & goaltending factor into that #. Your goaltending hasn't been great but in Nielsen, Grabner, Cizikas & Martin you have 2 solid penalty killing units with Hamonic & MacDonald on D.
- striker777

Ness has been with the team for only two games and he played very well. Donovan excelled in the A and the only logical next step was the NHL. He needs a dependable partner which unfortunately due to attrition we don't have. We are a team full of third pairing dmen with several top 4's in the system.

The problem is they're perfectly content with skating all over the place....I cringed when the players, to a man, were saying before the game about how great it was that they kept going forward in the third period of the last game.....it would be great....if a player or two was left to perhaps go backward, at some point. I just don't get what it is they're trying to do, I really don't...it just doesn't seem like any hockey game plan I've ever seen.
- dcb1

that 2 on 2 where amac almost trampled hamonic to stick with the man with the puck instead of handing him off and taking the man on his side was just awful to watch. Basic fvcking defense and he completely botches it. They need to talk to each other, that was just flat out stupid.

High sticking is now legal
- keaner17

in TO it is if you are a Leaf.....end of the day this is so not a playoff team.....there are teams below us in standings that have a better chance (see Philly). Cappy does have to get them ready but that play is NOT on cappy...can't blame him for ridiclous efforts like that..

I watch 2 to 3 NHL games a night on average & every team in the league at least once, as well as reviewing all goals for & against for every team on you tube. Neither of Donovan or Ness are NHL ready. Their mistakes are costing wins & I don't think Carkner is an NHL defensemen. This may be the worst Day in the NHL.

The #'s say it's the 4th worst but team defense & goaltending factor into that #. Your goaltending hasn't been great but in Nielsen, Grabner, Cizikas & Martin you have 2 solid penalty killing units with Hamonic & MacDonald on D.
- striker777

I disagree on Donovan, but when he's playing with Carkner who has been flat out terrible, that is going to make it harder on him to adjust to the NHL speed when he has a partner hanging him out to dry. Ness is a call up due to injury and has played well enough, although that first goal is on him for the lazy attempt at tying up a stick.

Biggest issues aside from our best pair on defense playing like dog sh!t is that our forwards have been very lazy on the backcheck and have been slow to get to pucks along the boards in the defensive zone. Our d wins a battle, throws it up the wall and our forwards don't move to the puck, they stand and wait for it, so the other team steps in front of them and continues possession.

It's laughable if it happens here and there, but every play? It's been a sore spot and these issues aren't improved by adding Liles. There's just no way he makes us better with so many critical areas needing huge improvement.

I watch 2 to 3 NHL games a night on average & every team in the league at least once, as well as reviewing all goals for & against for every team on you tube. Neither of Donovan or Ness are NHL ready. Their mistakes are costing wins & I don't think Carkner is an NHL defensemen. This may be the worst D (I fixed your auto correct issue...LOL) in the NHL. The #'s say it's the 4th worst but team defense & goaltending factor into that #. Your goaltending hasn't been great but in Nielsen, Grabner, Cizikas & Martin you have 2 solid penalty killing units with Hamonic & MacDonald on D.
- striker777

There's no "may" about that one pal...they're too small, they don't block shots, and the game plan is moronic, which makes it worse. If they're not going to go and get someone, and soon, they might as well just dump Vanek at the deadline for a solid D prospect, and bring the larger-sized young'uns up from Bridgeport towards the end of the year to teach them how things work in the big show for a few weeks. There's no point in having Carkner in the lineup unless you need him to pop someone in the chops with his fist; he can't possibly take a regular shift on a nightly basis on a SERIOUS NHL team.

The problem is they're perfectly content with skating all over the place....I cringed when the players, to a man, were saying before the game about how great it was that they kept going forward in the third period of the last game.....it would be great....if a player or two was left to perhaps go backward, at some point. I just don't get what it is they're trying to do, I really don't...it just doesn't seem like any hockey game plan I've ever seen.
- dcb1

There is no system and no fear of the coach. The country club comment was spot on. The owner say nothing so their is no pressure from the top.

I disagree on Donovan, but when he's playing with Carkner who has been flat out terrible, that is going to make it harder on him to adjust to the NHL speed when he has a partner hanging him out to dry. Ness is a call up due to injury and has played well enough, although that first goal is on him for the lazy attempt at tying up a stick.

Biggest issues aside from our best pair on defense playing like dog sh!t is that our forwards have been very lazy on the backcheck and have been slow to get to pucks along the boards in the defensive zone. Our d wins a battle, throws it up the wall and our forwards don't move to the puck, they stand and wait for it, so the other team steps in front of them and continues possession.

It's laughable if it happens here and there, but every play? It's been a sore spot and these issues aren't improved by adding Liles. There's just no way he makes us better with so many critical areas needing huge improvement.
- Isles_since_6

That's because they're expecting to have the d-man try to make an impossible pass like they usually do, so when they do things the correct way, the forwards aren't quite sure what to do. Just a complete f***ing disaster....

There is no system and no fear of the coach. The country club comment was spot on. The owner say nothing so their is no pressure from the top.
- ses111

I agree with the bolded part, I don't know anything about the locker room and can't say either way. Watching this team defensively they are frustrating to watch, we concede the puck in our end far too often and if that's by design...firing can't come soon enough.

I agree with the bolded part, I don't know anything about the locker room and can't say either way. Watching this team defensively they are frustrating to watch, we concede the puck in our end far too often and if that's by design...firing can't come soon enough.
- Isles_since_6

Our D basically gives an escort to the other team. Many of the forwards are too good to play D as well. They want to hang out and wait for the D to give them a homerun pass for a breakaway.

that 2 on 2 where amac almost trampled hamonic to stick with the man with the puck instead of handing him off and taking the man on his side was just awful to watch. Basic fvcking defense and he completely botches it. They need to talk to each other, that was just flat out stupid.
- Isles_since_6

It seems their directive is to just go and get the puck and try to pass it forward, no matter where it is......that's not the first time I've seen those two do that to each other...it's like they're five guys playing golf with hockey sticks....on their own planet, by themselves.

Have to love that block attempt by PM Douchewad....REALLY? Why bother?

Have to love that block attempt by PM Douchewad....REALLY? Why bother?
- dcb1

Amac with a pointless lazy penalty

Nice circle Regin.

Amac with a pointless lazy penalty.
- Isles_since_6

Good thing we scratched Grabs tonight. No need for him on the pk.! Regin is much better

Viva la Boulton

See? Right there....Ness has to sell out and take that shot in the teeth. HAS TO. If they had ONE defenseman who could do that, the penalty killing would move up 5 percentage points.

Bailey looks clueless tonight

Bailey looks clueless tonight
- keaner17

The benching of Grabner really got Bailey's attention. Maybe Cappy should call these guys out by name in the press? I cannot take an owner who says and does nothing anymore.

Bailey looks clueless tonight
- keaner17

just Bailey???

just Bailey???
- Nolanders

One at a time...

What makes Phaneuf a puss?

Because he doesn't fight? That's awesome, cuz I'd rather have him on the ice thn in the box, or even worse, breaking a hand.

Because he dodged a Scott hit? I say he lost an edge trying to stop, but for the sake of debate, lets say he did a total bailout. I'd rather our top defender bailing on a hit before driving 60km into a wall.
- IRON.MAIDEN

Then you need to change your handle to Puss.Maiden. Puneuf is a wusy

That's on the D. Like Isles_since_6 wrote. Isles do not know how to pick up the right man. Isles idea of D is just let the team march right into your zone with little resistance. Maybe Cappy took them to a Dave and Busters last night?
- ses111

Worked for the NY Jets this Sunday!

I really wouldn't mind throwing Cizikas Grabs and Nelson together as our third line when Vanek comes back

Bailey looks clueless tonight
- keaner17

Just tonight? When has Bailey not looked clueless this season?