Meh, you guys were picked to be cup contenders along with Ottawa. I scoffed at both predictions and still do. You guys are playing some good hockey right now but I still believe you are far from cup contenders. The Bruins or Pens will make short work of your team and I'm not saying that in a derogatory way just stating my opinion. A lot of your fellow fans were beating your chest and saying you were winning the cup bfr the season started. Once the season started and you guys were crapping the bed most of your thread was screaming to. BLow up the team(you included).
As far as islander fans go there wasn't one of us saying we were pushing for the cup this yr. I for one(along with a few others) wasn't expecting much I actually was expecting this. Not shocked at all. So when you say "you islander fans" I don't know who you're referring too? I've been told this same thing on your thread when I was said to have generalized something. The future is bright for us but with the wrong staff in place it means nothing. As far as the Rangers go I just don't see a team that can go deep. Maybe I'm wrong?
If anyone picked the Islanders to be a force this year I'd agree and say they were "overrating" the team. Some holes need to be filled and some people need to be fired and or traded before that happens but I could've told you that last July.
- Cptmjl

Why even respond to that clown? Go on the Rangers board after a loss and he is crying and complaining like a little biotch. He is the biggest whiner on this site when his team loses. Its embarrassing the way he acts. Don't even respond to the idiots.

You guys realize that Pulock and Reinhart ARE NOT the answers, right?

Defensemen take much more time to get acclimated to the NHL - even the defensemen that go very high in the draft have issues their first year or two (Hedman is coming into his game now 4 years later, Jones has been up and down this year, Doughty took 2 years to hone his game, etc.)

We need to sign a capable top-4 defenseman to go along with the group for now:

Hamonic CAN play top line minutes but he is more of a Suter to somebody's Weber...we don't have a Weber right now

Visnovsky is better used on a second pairing with either deHaan or Hickey

Reinhart will probably start with bottom pairing minutes and move into 2nd pairing minutes

Pulock is another junior year and a minimum 1 AHL year away.



As for our forwards - most teams having PAIRING that play together plus a complementary player...someone who fills the void missing on a line (example: a pair of two goal scorers need a setup man)

Look at Chicago:

Sharp - Toews - PLUGIN
Kane - PLUGIN - Hossa

Nielsen needs to find his pairing - it worked SO well with Grabner and yet Grabner is still on the 3rd line. Our lines should be (based on performance):

Vanek - Tavares - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Nelson
Bailey - Regin (Strome) - Clutterbuck
Martin - Cizikas - McDonald



I think Capuano has the ability to be a great coach. Every coach has a starting point and I think Capuano is loved in the dressing room, he just needs to be a better coach in terms of player selection. NO MORE FAVORING "VETERANS".
- kcNYI

No question Pulock and Reinhart will need time. Many of us feel a free agent Dman is needed. I do not agree about Cappy having an abililty to be a great coach. He still does not know how to match lines and play the right system. I also do not want a coach loved in the dressing room. I want a coach respected with some fear.

You guys realize that Pulock and Reinhart ARE NOT the answers, right?

Defensemen take much more time to get acclimated to the NHL - even the defensemen that go very high in the draft have issues their first year or two (Hedman is coming into his game now 4 years later, Jones has been up and down this year, Doughty took 2 years to hone his game, etc.)

We need to sign a capable top-4 defenseman to go along with the group for now:

Hamonic CAN play top line minutes but he is more of a Suter to somebody's Weber...we don't have a Weber right now

Visnovsky is better used on a second pairing with either deHaan or Hickey

Reinhart will probably start with bottom pairing minutes and move into 2nd pairing minutes

Pulock is another junior year and a minimum 1 AHL year away.



As for our forwards - most teams having PAIRING that play together plus a complementary player...someone who fills the void missing on a line (example: a pair of two goal scorers need a setup man)

Look at Chicago:

Sharp - Toews - PLUGIN
Kane - PLUGIN - Hossa

Nielsen needs to find his pairing - it worked SO well with Grabner and yet Grabner is still on the 3rd line. Our lines should be (based on performance):

Vanek - Tavares - Okposo
Grabner - Nielsen - Nelson
Bailey - Regin (Strome) - Clutterbuck
Martin - Cizikas - McDonald



I think Capuano has the ability to be a great coach. Every coach has a starting point and I think Capuano is loved in the dressing room, he just needs to be a better coach in terms of player selection. NO MORE FAVORING "VETERANS".
- kcNYI

Agreed till the Capuano part. Then I wish I didn't read it. Capuano makes Lorne Henning look like Al Arbour. He is a terrible coach.

Vanek isn't the reason, Snow's priorities make no sense, why you traded assets like Nino and Moulson and failed to get back a goaltender like Bernier or Bishop is unacceptable, you've got a lot of prospects to afford to use some as bait
- cranford93

This and the quote you responded to is why I have been baffled all season long that Snow didn't go the extra step to get Miller included in the deal for Vanek... sure, it would have cost you guys Strome, but he's still not ready and now you may have parted with Moulson and 2 premier picks for a guy who will walk if the season comes up short of expectations. As a Sabres fan, I'm hoping you guys finish with a Top 10 pick and Snow elects to keep it. Next year's draft is significantly stronger and I'll love having both of your Top 2 picks in 2015 instead.

On another note, the blogger mentioned that you guys want to get out from under Bailey's contract... I'll be more than happy to trade Ville Leino and a late draft pick (in 2015) for Josh Bailey. Leino's contract is $1 million more per season, but is 1 year shorter. He's obviously not having a good year either, but Leino's biggest problem is his ego... if he plays with good players (Briere, for example, in Philly) then he plays up to their standards. If he is put with scrubs (3rd and 4th line duty) he plays below their level because he feels he's better than them. When motivated he has strong puck possession skills, but the Sabres aren't competitive and he doesn't always play with the type of linemates he enjoys. If Vanek was to walk, Leino would have a huge year alongside Tavares. So, what say you? Save a year off the contract and gain a draft pick for Bailey? If nothing else, it would create a 2nd line opening for Strome right?

Why even respond to that clown? Go on the Rangers board after a loss and he is crying and complaining like a little biotch. He is the biggest whiner on this site when his team loses. Its embarrassing the way he acts. Don't even respond to the idiots.
- Vukota

I'm the biggest critic when they lose, I don't whine about shit, kiss my ass Mick!

This and the quote you responded to is why I have been baffled all season long that Snow didn't go the extra step to get Miller included in the deal for Vanek... sure, it would have cost you guys Strome, but he's still not ready and now you may have parted with Moulson and 2 premier picks for a guy who will walk if the season comes up short of expectations. As a Sabres fan, I'm hoping you guys finish with a Top 10 pick and Snow elects to keep it. Next year's draft is significantly stronger and I'll love having both of your Top 2 picks in 2015 instead.

On another note, the blogger mentioned that you guys want to get out from under Bailey's contract... I'll be more than happy to trade Ville Leino and a late draft pick (in 2015) for Josh Bailey. Leino's contract is $1 million more per season, but is 1 year shorter. He's obviously not having a good year either, but Leino's biggest problem is his ego... if he plays with good players (Briere, for example, in Philly) then he plays up to their standards. If he is put with scrubs (3rd and 4th line duty) he plays below their level because he feels he's better than them. When motivated he has strong puck possession skills, but the Sabres aren't competitive and he doesn't always play with the type of linemates he enjoys. If Vanek was to walk, Leino would have a huge year alongside Tavares. So, what say you? Save a year off the contract and gain a draft pick for Bailey? If nothing else, it would create a 2nd line opening for Strome right?
- djc1877

Just an FYI the Isles had a deal in place with Vanek & Miller, but bc Miller has a NMC he turned down the deal....
And thankfully I'm so glad he did, bc the deal I heard was suppose to be Nelson, Pullock & 1st +
Im a huge supporter of Nelson, which this season is showing us why, and very ecstatic that Miller turned it down. Plus in all honesty, this D is horrendous and Miller wouldn't have helped either..
But I do like the Vanek trade and didn't mind the outcome bc its hard for the Isles brass to bring in an ELITE F for JT, bc its not happening thru FA, so don't mind the risk with Vanek.....

This and the quote you responded to is why I have been baffled all season long that Snow didn't go the extra step to get Miller included in the deal for Vanek... sure, it would have cost you guys Strome, but he's still not ready and now you may have parted with Moulson and 2 premier picks for a guy who will walk if the season comes up short of expectations. As a Sabres fan, I'm hoping you guys finish with a Top 10 pick and Snow elects to keep it. Next year's draft is significantly stronger and I'll love having both of your Top 2 picks in 2015 instead.

On another note, the blogger mentioned that you guys want to get out from under Bailey's contract... I'll be more than happy to trade Ville Leino and a late draft pick (in 2015) for Josh Bailey. Leino's contract is $1 million more per season, but is 1 year shorter. He's obviously not having a good year either, but Leino's biggest problem is his ego... if he plays with good players (Briere, for example, in Philly) then he plays up to their standards. If he is put with scrubs (3rd and 4th line duty) he plays below their level because he feels he's better than them. When motivated he has strong puck possession skills, but the Sabres aren't competitive and he doesn't always play with the type of linemates he enjoys. If Vanek was to walk, Leino would have a huge year alongside Tavares. So, what say you? Save a year off the contract and gain a draft pick for Bailey? If nothing else, it would create a 2nd line opening for Strome right?
- djc1877

It was widely reported that miller nixed a deal to the islanders. I do agree 100% that Snow failed to follow up after that trade and make the team stronger which was obviously important to get vanek signed. This season was a complete, total failure on Snows part. There's no excuse for it and I feel he should be fired for it.

Just an FYI the Isles had a deal in place with Vanek & Miller, but bc Miller has a NMC he turned down the deal....
And thankfully I'm so glad he did, bc the deal I heard was suppose to be Nelson, Pullock & 1st +
Im a huge supporter of Nelson, which this season is showing us why, and very ecstatic that Miller turned it down. Plus in all honesty, this D is horrendous and Miller wouldn't have helped either..
But I do like the Vanek trade and didn't mind the outcome bc its hard for the Isles brass to bring in an ELITE F for JT, bc its not happening thru FA, so don't mind the risk with Vanek.....
- Ur Not Me

I didn't mind the risk either. In fact I liked the trade. What was wrong with it was the inaction that followed. The trade makes zero sense without a successful season. Snow didn't give this team a chance to win with our coach and numerous other reasons which we are all aware.

I didn't mind the risk either. In fact I liked the trade. What was wrong with it was the inaction that followed. The trade makes zero sense without a successful season. Snow didn't give this team a chance to win with our coach and numerous other reasons which we are all aware.
- Cptmjl

This trade and Garth's own comments had Isles fans thinking we were in a new world.

Sad thing is snow and cappy will be here next year. And the will use injury to nabby and viz as their alluby

We will sign two more bandaid forwards. For 1 year.

Best we can hope is cappy takes some coach. Lessons on how to take a time out. Your are suppose to use it when your is about to get scored on. Now after you have gone down by 2 goals.

And why is it this team can score 4-5 goals for that bum Poulin and only give nabby 2 goals in 2 nights.

19-6 shot domination and only one goal to show for it = asking for a loss

So 191 goals against, wow that's worst in the league! Let's talk trade

So 191 goals against, wow that's worst in the league! Let's talk trade
- LeftCoaster

You are in the wrong thread for talking trade.

I didn't mind the risk either. In fact I liked the trade. What was wrong with it was the inaction that followed. The trade makes zero sense without a successful season. Snow didn't give this team a chance to win with our coach and numerous other reasons which we are all aware.
- Cptmjl

I have mentioned for this year and prior years, this team lacks talent in a lot of positions, and some of the players we have are just average or above average and that Snow should always look to improve the talent on roster.....

I've had many arguments w/people here about how we lack a lot of talent and that this team will not win or succeed until proper coaching & better talent is in place.
But some of the homerism here is comical and pathetic bc no matter what, reality always wins....

Funny thing, I remember I said that besides JT, teams only other player that other teams had to prepare against was Moulson bc of his ability to score, funny, many here thought its Grabner hows that looking????
Also it was Moulson who had value to bring in Vanek.......

I've always mentioned that there are a few players I would keep, and the rest I would only look to improve but I wont trade just for trade sake.....

This trade and Garth's own comments had Isles fans thinking we were in a new world.
- ses111

Its the BS that Snow sells to the fans, either you buy it or realize he's lying....
But he had to try an get an ELITE F here early for JT, bc that's the only possible way Isles have a chance to sign a player... No one is coming here FA wise that is worthy NO ONE!!!!

I have mentioned for this year and prior years, this team lacks talent in a lot of positions, and some of the players we have are just average or above average and that Snow should always look to improve the talent on roster.....

I've had many arguments w/people here about how we lack a lot of talent and that this team will not win or succeed until proper coaching & better talent is in place.
But some of the homerism here is comical and pathetic bc no matter what, reality always wins....

Funny thing, I remember I said that besides JT, teams only other player that other teams had to prepare against was Moulson bc of his ability to score, funny, many here thought its Grabner hows that looking????
Also it was Moulson who had value to bring in Vanek.......

I've always mentioned that there are a few players I would keep, and the rest I would only look to improve but I wont trade just for trade sake.....
- Ur Not Me

The biggest lack of talent comes from the people running this team.

Its the BS that Snow sells to the fans, either you buy it or realize he's lying....
But he had to try an get an ELITE F here early for JT, bc that's the only possible way Isles have a chance to sign a player... No one is coming here FA wise that is worthy NO ONE!!!!
- Ur Not Me

I was hoping coming off the 1st playoffs in years, the Isles would want to get back to the playoffs this year. If Vanek leaves, the Isles may have to throw out a Clarkson type of contract to someone.

I was hoping coming off the 1st playoffs in years, the Isles would want to get back to the playoffs this year. If Vanek leaves, the Isles may have to throw out a Clarkson type of contract to someone.
- ses111

U would think that, but Snow wont do that, and Isles will just have to stay the course....

U would think that, but Snow wont do that, and Isles will just have to stay the course....
- Ur Not Me

The Cap floor going up changes things this year and especially if they lose Vanek. Will be interesting to see how the Isles reach the floor this year. Have to think Isles will throw big money at one of the goalies.

I'm the biggest critic when they lose, I don't whine about shit, kiss my ass Mick!
- cranford93

You're a facking crybaby. Beat it

The Cap floor going up changes things this year and especially if they lose Vanek. Will be interesting to see how the Isles reach the floor this year.
- ses111

Rookie bonuses ....
Plus raises to DeHaan, Cizikas, Poulin, etc and maybe a couple of more band aids in the FA market

Don't worry, we all have seen Snow magically get to cap floor w/crappy roster and next year will be no different

Rookie bonuses ....
Plus raises to DeHaan, Cizikas, Poulin, etc and maybe a couple of more band aids in the FA market

Don't worry, we all have seen Snow magically get to cap floor w/crappy roster and next year will be no different
- Ur Not Me

I'm hoping the bonuses do not do it this time. While I like De haan and Casey, they better not be getting big raises.

Rookie bonuses ....
Plus raises to DeHaan, Cizikas, Poulin, etc and maybe a couple of more band aids in the FA market

Don't worry, we all have seen Snow magically get to cap floor w/crappy roster and next year will be no different
- Ur Not Me

Yep, you'd think by now the usual guys on here that say Every year "snow has to do something" would be right. Well they're not every year and this offseason will be no exception due to exactly what you just stated. Isles fans need to mentally prepare themselves for more of the same. As long as Snow is GM of this team this it'll be hard for them to take that next step forward. I hope I'm wrong but I am pretty confident I'm not.

Yep, you'd think by now the usual guys on here that say Every year "snow has to do something" would be right. Well they're not every year and this offseason will be no exception due to exactly what you just stated. Isles fans need to mentally prepare themselves for more of the same. As long as Snow is GM of this team this it'll be hard for them to take that next step forward. I hope I'm wrong but I am pretty confident I'm not.
- Cptmjl

I've heard that Snow is really not respected around the league and some GM's were appalled about his trade last year of Tim Thomas so Isles can make cap floor without no penalty and also helped out the Bruins on their cap.
The perception of this franchise really has to change for any success to happen, sad thing is I just don't know when that will happen and feel real bad for JT.

Yep, you'd think by now the usual guys on here that say Every year "snow has to do something" would be right. Well they're not every year and this offseason will be no exception due to exactly what you just stated. Isles fans need to mentally prepare themselves for more of the same. As long as Snow is GM of this team this it'll be hard for them to take that next step forward. I hope I'm wrong but I am pretty confident I'm not.
- Cptmjl

Snow does have to do something (if he wants the team to be successful). The problem is he hasn't. I don't think Snow is going anywhere. I'll be encouraged if they can sign Vanek. I'm not sure how that will translate to the off season, but at least it will be a step in the right direction.

The two questions in the blog -- what to do with Bailey and making a second line -- are connected:

Bailey -- put him on a third line instructed to worry only about shutting top lines down. He's excelled in that role before, and found his offensive game as a result. If he never finds his offense again, I think he could still be an effective shutdown forward. If you forget about the draft position and forget about the contract, a quality shutdown forward could be valuable seeing how the Isles' biggest problem is preventing other teams from scoring. Tough to trade given what he makes, and it's not worth having him languish in a second-line scoring role that he's not succeeding in. And it'd be nice if we actually had a line that could stop other teams' stars from feasting on the Isles. Who's currently in that role?

Question is, who are the other two you put there with Bailey? Last season it was Nielsen and KO, but they were both struggling then and were able to re-focus their games by playing D first. This season, KO might be a touch below Tavares for best forward on the team, and Nielsen's certainly not struggling as a second-line center. Nelson maybe...but is he ready to go out there and shut down top centers in the game? I think Cizikas could move up to center a shutdown third line, but then who centers the fourth line? Clutterbuck could be a winger on that line and make life hell on other top lines, but he'd have to play a bit smarter...not go for that last hit in the offensive zone that leaves him a couple of steps behind the play.

I guess I don't have the answer...but I wouldn't mind seeing them try a second line of:

Grabner-Nelson-Strome

And a shutdown line of Bailey-Nielsen-Clutterbuck.

Maybe other folks have better ideas...