Based on JT's team friendly contract for a superstar, how do the Isles justify given any free agent or trade prospect more money. What i'm saying is how can you pay anyone more than arguably the 3rd best player in the league. Maybe he wouldn't care if it makes the team better and he'll make up for it on his next contract?
- jwbadlands

I love JT but 3rd best? Forward maybe. Overall player? No.

Maybe 6th best forward! Stamkos, OV, Sidney, Getzlaf, Perry. JT?

TSN has him 10th best forward and 26th overall when you consider Goalies and "D"men.

Then again they have Malkin ranked # 70. So who knows?

Easily. JT knows the game. You have to get to UFA status to get paid. That's how the league works. JT will get a ridiculous max deal once the Isles are allowed to extend him or he hits UFA status. He's looking at 8 years at about $9M per. He just needs to be patient. JT doesn't strike me as a guy who is obsessed with the contract and will be happy to have Vanek make more if it means Vanek is on JT's wing for the next 8 years or so. JT is a grounded kid, appears to have everything in perspective. I wouldn't worry about his response to an offer over $7M per for Vanek.
- Jethro09

That's exactly what I was getting at and agree 100%, I just hope the management feels the same way.

I read the cap could go up to $80 million next year because the new TV contracts kicks in...so according to Cap Geek Islanders have at least $27 million in cap room. Also, the one year contracts like Bouchard, Regin, Martinek, etc. probably won't be resigned.
- kear20

Cap has never been a problem for the isles. The Cap going up is bad news for them since you know Sather and Holmgren will throw ridiculous money to all the decent UFAs as they do every year.

I love JT but 3rd best? Forward maybe. Overall player? No.

Maybe 6th best forward! Stamkos, OV, Sidney, Getzlaf, Perry. JT?

TSN has him 10th best forward and 26th overall when you consider Goalies and "D"men.

Then again they have Malkin ranked # 70. So who knows?
- SCLI

I did say arguably and you make a good point, but I believe all the players you mentioned make a ton more than him.

I did say arguably and you make a good point, but I believe all the players you mentioned make a ton more than him.
- jwbadlands

True. So I argued.

As for money. I wasnt addressing that fact. Just JT being the 3rd best player in the league.

Maybe someday. (i hope) But not just yet. He's no where near Sidney, Stamkos, OV or the others for that matter.

And then there's Matt Dushene! Quickly becoming a force in the NHL. IMO he's right there with JT at this point. Had a better rookie season. Tailed off in yr 2 but is explosive and is an excellent defensive forward. IMO.

I love JT but 3rd best? Forward maybe. Overall player? No.

Maybe 6th best forward! Stamkos, OV, Sidney, Getzlaf, Perry. JT?

TSN has him 10th best forward and 26th overall when you consider Goalies and "D"men.

Then again they have Malkin ranked # 70. So who knows?
- SCLI

crosby should be numero uno on that list and toews could be up there.

let's not forget about hagelin or nash either.

klesla clears waivers. you guys mad your franchise is still too broke and cheap to afford that contract?

nah but for real...thought you guys were gonna pick him up. not sure if he's really terrible in phoenix but he always seemed serviceable and you guys are in dire need for NHL defenders with all those injuries you're facing.

I have no idea what Staple was thinking. This is far from a major.
- ses111

as already pointed out, he said "big" not "major" and as i already said, you have to be foolish to think that tweet was in reference to players/coaching staff who will be on the team for the next 2 months before the outdoor game takes place...

Cap has never been a problem for the isles. The Cap going up is bad news for them since you know Sather and Holmgren will throw ridiculous money to all the decent UFAs as they do every year.
- mighty13duck

For a second I thought you meant the coach...I now have to go around the room and pick up the pieces from my exploding head.

klesla clears waivers. you guys mad your franchise is still too broke and cheap to afford that contract?

nah but for real...thought you guys were gonna pick him up. not sure if he's really terrible in phoenix but he always seemed serviceable and you guys are in dire need for NHL defenders with all those injuries you're facing.
- rangerdanger94

if the isles picked him up they would immediately be +1 on that injury list.

I love JT but 3rd best? Forward maybe. Overall player? No.

Maybe 6th best forward! Stamkos, OV, Sidney, Getzlaf, Perry. JT?

TSN has him 10th best forward and 26th overall when you consider Goalies and "D"men.

Then again they have Malkin ranked # 70. So who knows?
- SCLI

I wouldn't put Stamkos Getzlaf and Perry ahead of him because whereas each of those have different skillsets that make them special, JT has a little of all of their skillsets. He's a better OVERALL player. I'd probably rank him #3 or 4

*Edit, though I noticed Malkin isn't on this list

For a second I thought you meant the coach...I now have to go around the room and pick up the pieces from my exploding head.
- UIF

I wouldn't put Stamkos Getzlaf and Perry ahead of him because whereas each of those have different skillsets that make them special, JT has a little of all of their skillsets. He's a better OVERALL player. I'd probably rank him #3 or 4

*Edit, though I noticed Malkin isn't on this list
- keaner17

Stamkos yes Getzlaf and Perry no freaking way and I am a ducks fan too.

as already pointed out, he said "big" not "major" and as i already said, you have to be foolish to think that tweet was in reference to players/coaching staff who will be on the team for the next 2 months before the outdoor game takes place...
- LetsGoIsles

Fine it's not big either than. I never thought it would be a coaching or GM change.

I wouldn't put Stamkos Getzlaf and Perry ahead of them because whereas each of those have different skillsets that make them special, JT has a little of all of their skillsets. He's a better OVERALL player. I'd probably rank him #3 or 4
- keaner17

ehhhh. crosby, ovechkin, stammer, toews, datsyuk, and malkin are ahead of JT in my mind right now. getzlaf might be too. guy is proving this year how incredible he really is. easily one of the most underrated players in the game.

i'm curious why you say JT is a better overall player than someone like getzlaf? getzlaf is good defensively, is huge, kills people with hits, is a world-class skater, can pass, shoot, stickhandle, use his body to protect the puck, etc.

ehhhh. crosby, ovechkin, stammer, toews, datsyuk, and malkin are ahead of JT in my mind right now. getzlaf might be too. guy is proving this year how incredible he really is. easily one of the most underrated players in the game.

i'm curious why you say JT is a better overall player than someone like getzlaf? getzlaf is good defensively, is huge, kills people with hits, is a world-class skater, can pass, shoot, stickhandle, use his body to protect the puck, etc.
- rangerdanger94

True but Nash and Stepan were ahead of JT in your mind a year ago. Doesn't say much.

True but Nash and Stepan were ahead of JT in your mind a year ago. Doesn't say much.
- mighty13duck

nash still is, but now we're talking strictly centers

and i never said stepan was even remotely close to JT. a bunch of the other rangers posters on here did tho.

nash still is, but now we're talking strictly centers

and i never said stepan was even remotely close to JT. a bunch of the other rangers posters on here did tho.
- rangerdanger94

- mighty13duck

that should show my sarcasm

that should show my sarcasm
- rangerdanger94

you never know with you

you never know with you
- mighty13duck

i tend to have blunt sarcasm in a lot of my posts.

except when it's about hagelin. i don't fck around when it comes to carl hagelin.

The Islanders just sent me the following:

http://wl1.peer360.com/b/...asp?hl=66971262&r=HGJCHIC

The Islanders just sent me the following:

http://wl1.peer360.com/b/...asp?hl=66971262&r=HGJCHIC
- kear20

Instead of worrying about getting out of last place, this team is worried about jerseys and a game two months away.

Fine it's not big either than. I never thought it would be a coaching or GM change.
- ses111

what did you expect exactly?

Instead of worrying about getting out of last place, this team is worried about jerseys and a game two months away.
- ses111