I think hickey is a good example of isles fans grabbing onto a sub par player due to the rest of the team being terrible. Hickey is too small for a bottom pairing role as far as I'm concerned and not good enough for a top four spot. Doesnt matter whether its due to his size or not hes just not good enough. If we have players on this team like hickey three yrs from now we will be in the same boat. Who knows maybe he will turn into something but as far as the here and now is concerned hes not that great on a terrible defense and that in no way makes him good.
- Cptmjl

Hickey is not as bad as you think... or as good as other think.. somewhere in between. I don't mind him as a 7th d-man guy.. he is still young and getting better too. Having him and Carkner split the 7th spot next year depending on the team would be fine.. but having him as a top 4 is nuts.

With the right Goaltender that would be fine.

hearing a ton of Marty to Minn chatter on Twitter.
- niteislander

The ptoblem is you have two players we dont know are ready and some imaginary player snow is going to sign. Forget about Donovan not even being there. None of it is believable to me till snow proves otherwise as far as I'm concerned.

Mentally preparing myself for a Mac being resigned and capuano extended.
- Cptmjl

please don't say that... Amack will not get anywhere near 5 mill a year as a UFA. I don't see him getting 4 a year. trade him and if you really want him back .. Garth can offer him 3.5 for 4 years and it will be by far the best offer.

i think if next years defensive depth chart is something along the lines of:

1 hamonic
2 dehaan
3 top 4 Free agent (or maybe wtvr snow gets back in the vanek deal)
4 lubo
5 reinhardt/pulock (IE prospect)
6 strait
7 hickey

yes id be fine with that.

would it be world class defense, no. but i do think it would come in right around average to above average....with a better goalie and coach/system, i do think it would work. you?
- LetsGoIsles

Better off adding twom one top pair guy with Hamonic, one second pair guy with Vis. Let Strait, battle with Donovan and Hickey to be the sixth and seventh guys and put de Haan on the bottom pair as a regular. Only call up Reinhart if you cant land two more legit top four d-men and pair Reinhart on the bottom pair wih one of Strait, Donovan or Hickey and slide de Haan into the top 4.

Hickey is not as bad as you think... or as good as other think.. somewhere in between. I don't mind him as a 7th d-man guy.. he is still young and getting better too. Having him and Carkner split the 7th spot next year depending on the team would be fine.. but having him as a top 4 is nuts.
- niteislander

I agree with this just bcs its my post written in a different fornat

i think if next years defensive depth chart is something along the lines of:

1 hamonic
2 dehaan
3 top 4 Free agent (or maybe wtvr snow gets back in the vanek deal)
4 lubo
5 reinhardt/pulock (IE prospect)
6 strait
7 hickey

yes id be fine with that.

would it be world class defense, no. but i do think it would come in right around average to above average....with a better goalie and coach/system, i do think it would work. you?
- LetsGoIsles

I don't know how your take is on this team, but with the ELITE talent of JT, this team needs to improve immensely to satisfy his desire to remain here. Now, if you have possibly stated what next years D might be;

Hammer - has regressed and hoping to turn it around
DeHaan - Has proven to show he's our best Dman but still a rookie keep in mind
Top 4 FA - NOT HAPPENING w/Snow & this circus here
Lubo - Another year older w/possible games being missed again
Reinhardt/Pulock (IE Prospect) - again relying on kids "which all make mistakes"
Strait - U know my answer
Hickey - U know my answer

To me, this D does nothing but give hope to the fans that this team is trying to show how much longer it will take.
People think that some of our D-prospects are gonna come here and light the world on fire on the defensive side. Last I checked, D takes longer to learn and adjust to the NHL level.


Now you bring up an interesting question.... Forget the G, if this team brings in a better coach/system, it would help immediately, even the development of the kids.
But track record shows ITS NOT HAPPENING, unless you think Weight is the answer bc he's next in line for the head coaching job.....

So to really answer your question and also be a on/off season tixx holder
NO I'm not ok with this D next year, especially knowing that we are wasting JT's time.... TICK TOCK....

Hard to see Hickey being more than a 6 or 7 with his lack of size.
- ses111

believe it or not...his size is not much of an issue...its when you have too many guys of his size.

please don't say that... Amack will not get anywhere near 5 mill a year as a UFA. I don't see him getting 4 a year. trade him and if you really want him back .. Garth can offer him 3.5 for 4 years and it will be by far the best offer.
- niteislander

And an overpayment. Snow should have one priority when talking about a Mac and thats to get him as far as possible from his team. Anything else would be moronic. I dont care if he signed him for ten bucks a yr. Its still be a bad move on snows part.

I don't know how your take is on this team, but with the ELITE talent of JT, this team needs to improve immensely to satisfy his desire to remain here. Now, if you have possibly stated what next years D might be;

Hammer - has regressed and hoping to turn it around
DeHaan - Has proven to show he's our best Dman but still a rookie keep in mind
Top 4 FA - NOT HAPPENING w/Snow & this circus here
Lubo - Another year older w/possible games being missed again
Reinhardt/Pulock (IE Prospect) - again relying on kids "which all make mistakes"
Strait - U know my answer
Hickey - U know my answer

To me, this D does nothing but give hope to the fans that this team is trying to show how much longer it will take.
People think that some of our D-prospects are gonna come here and light the world on fire on the defensive side. Last I checked, D takes longer to learn and adjust to the NHL level.


Now you bring up an interesting question.... Forget the G, if this team brings in a better coach/system, it would help immediately, even the development of the kids.
But track record shows ITS NOT HAPPENING, unless you think Weight is the answer bc he's next in line for the head coaching job.....

So to really answer your question and also be a on/off season tixx holder
NO I'm not ok with this D next year, especially knowing that we are wasting JT's time.... TICK TOCK....
- Ur Not Me

Well said.

The ptoblem is you have two players we dont know are ready and some imaginary player snow is going to sign. Forget about Donovan not even being there. None of it is believable to me till snow proves otherwise as far as I'm concerned.
- Cptmjl

who is the 2nd player? dehaan?

im not saying it WILL happen...i was asked what i be ok with hickey and strait on the team...i gave a scenario where i would be ok with it...again, not at all a prediction.

Sounds like Rags signed Cally... 6 years .

Let me ask you this: is this really a coach problem or is it a management problem? I am a big advocate of firing the whole coaching staff, especially Cappy. I don't think he is a good coach. But having said that, he has to play the players he's provided with by Snow. If the best d-men Cappy is given are Straitm Hickey and A-Mac, who else is Cappy supposed to play? Cappy has a shelf full of pieces of sh*t to choose from. He can only dress and play the least stinky pieces of sh*t. No coach can turn sh*t into gold.
- Jethro09

This team blew leads with the full squad healthy in the first weeks of the season.
Cappy sucked then and still sucks now.
HOWEVER, Garth hired him and continues to employ him when he has failed equally at his job of providing the players. Its systemic. And its frightening to arrive at this conclusion because you have to ask yourself is Garth THAT CLUELESS to what we all see as obvioius OR is he outrageously arrogant in trying to convince us that this is all part of the plan? Whichever way you lean, we're screwed as long as either of them remain in place. Cappy is Garths puppet. Plain & simple. Been saying it for 3 seasons. Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

Hammer - has regressed and hoping to turn it around
DeHaan - Has proven to show he's our best Dman but still a rookie keep in mind
Top 4 FA - NOT HAPPENING w/Snow & this circus here
Lubo - Another year older w/possible games being missed again
Reinhardt/Pulock (IE Prospect) - again relying on kids "which all make mistakes"
Strait - U know my answer
Hickey - U know my answer

To me, this D does nothing but give hope to the fans that this team is trying to show how much longer it will take.
People think that some of our D-prospects are gonna come here and light the world on fire on the defensive side. Last I checked, D takes longer to learn and adjust to the NHL level.


Now you bring up an interesting question.... Forget the G, if this team brings in a better coach/system, it would help immediately, even the development of the kids.
But track record shows ITS NOT HAPPENING, unless you think Weight is the answer bc he's next in line for the head coaching job.....

So to really answer your question and also be a on/off season tixx holder
NO I'm not ok with this D next year, especially knowing that we are wasting JT's time.... TICK TOCK....

I disagree on Hammer.. He is a top pairing guy. He has played with A-mack most of this season b/c of injuries.. viz, strait, etc. The fact that Dehaan is playing very well has a lot to do with paired with Hamonic.
Dehaan.. I agree but I am still worried about him staying healthy.. .
top 4FA.. if we throw enough money around we will get one.. or if we trade some prospects for a guy already singed long term we will have one.. it has to happen.

once we lose Vanek, Nabby, and others...(PMB, Regin, Bailey?).. we have a TON of $ to spend just to get to cap floor. They will be able to throw a ton of money around on UFA's or sallary dump trade. Reinhardt or Mayfield should be ready.. perhaps Reinhardt starts in b-port and then call up like DeHaan, Strome, etc.

who is the 2nd player? dehaan?

im not saying it WILL happen...i was asked what i be ok with hickey and strait on the team...i gave a scenario where i would be ok with it...again, not at all a prediction.
- LetsGoIsles

Reinhardt/pulock. Why are we inserting players with zero nhl experience into the line up? We haven't seen enough of that yet? Yeah it was a prediction but what's the point of posting it if people can't comment on it? If thats our defense going into next season we should give buffalo this yrs pick bcs we are goong to have a legit shot at Mcdavid. Rolling a three rookies out hoping for the best is a recipe for disaster and beyond stupid. So its completely plausible that snow would do it. Your prediction may be right but I dont see how anyone would be ok with it?

Sounds like Rags signed Cally... 6 years .
- niteislander

Nice player but if it's 6 mill that is too much. Man this lockout really hurt the big market teams.

I disagree on Hammer.. He is a top pairing guy. He has played with A-mack most of this season b/c of injuries.. viz, strait, etc. The fact that Dehaan is playing very well has a lot to do with paired with Hamonic.
Dehaan.. I agree but I am still worried about him staying healthy.. .
top 4FA.. if we throw enough money around we will get one.. or if we trade some prospects for a guy already singed long term we will have one.. it has to happen.

once we lose Vanek, Nabby, and others...(PMB, Regin, Bailey?).. we have a TON of $ to spend just to get to cap floor. They will be able to throw a ton of money around on UFA's or sallary dump trade. Reinhardt or Mayfield should be ready.. perhaps Reinhardt starts in b-port and then call up like DeHaan, Strome, etc.
- niteislander

I like hamonic but I have a real hard time calling him a top pairing defenseman. Especially how hes played for a while now.

I disagree on Hammer.. He is a top pairing guy. He has played with A-mack most of this season b/c of injuries.. viz, strait, etc. The fact that Dehaan is playing very well has a lot to do with paired with Hamonic.
Dehaan.. I agree but I am still worried about him staying healthy.. .
top 4FA.. if we throw enough money around we will get one.. or if we trade some prospects for a guy already singed long term we will have one.. it has to happen.

once we lose Vanek, Nabby, and others...(PMB, Regin, Bailey?).. we have a TON of $ to spend just to get to cap floor. They will be able to throw a ton of money around on UFA's or sallary dump trade. Reinhardt or Mayfield should be ready.. perhaps Reinhardt starts in b-port and then call up like DeHaan, Strome, etc.
- niteislander

Hammer has regressed, regardless of who his D-partner is, that's a fact.. I'm not counting him out, I think he will turn it around.
DeHaan's only issue moving forward is his health and continues to progress "remember he's still a rookie"
Isles have thrown $$$ around to many players, NONE have taken it no matter how much cap space Isles have.. Until it changes, I stick with my opinion.

Hammer has regressed, regardless of who his D-partner is, that's a fact.. I'm not counting him out, I think he will turn it around.
DeHaan's only issue moving forward is his health and continues to progress "remember he's still a rookie"
Isles have thrown $$$ around to many players, NONE have taken it no matter how much cap space Isles have.. Until it changes, I stick with my opinion.
- Ur Not Me

I think he's going to turn it around too. Just told one of my buddies the other day that next season I'd going to be a good yr for him. Hope I'm right. I'm with you though. As of now he's not a top pairing.

Hammer has regressed, regardless of who his D-partner is, that's a fact.. I'm not counting him out, I think he will turn it around.
DeHaan's only issue moving forward is his health and continues to progress "remember he's still a rookie"
Isles have thrown $$$ around to many players, NONE have taken it no matter how much cap space Isles have.. Until it changes, I stick with my opinion.
- Ur Not Me

There has been the talk that the Isles have not offered the money upfront. I'm sure it would have still been a longshot for the Isles to sign these guys. Who knows.

I don't know how your take is on this team, but with the ELITE talent of JT, this team needs to improve immensely to satisfy his desire to remain here. Now, if you have possibly stated what next years D might be;

Hammer - has regressed and hoping to turn it around
DeHaan - Has proven to show he's our best Dman but still a rookie keep in mind
Top 4 FA - NOT HAPPENING w/Snow & this circus here
Lubo - Another year older w/possible games being missed again
Reinhardt/Pulock (IE Prospect) - again relying on kids "which all make mistakes"
Strait - U know my answer
Hickey - U know my answer

To me, this D does nothing but give hope to the fans that this team is trying to show how much longer it will take.
People think that some of our D-prospects are gonna come here and light the world on fire on the defensive side. Last I checked, D takes longer to learn and adjust to the NHL level.


Now you bring up an interesting question.... Forget the G, if this team brings in a better coach/system, it would help immediately, even the development of the kids.
But track record shows ITS NOT HAPPENING, unless you think Weight is the answer bc he's next in line for the head coaching job.....

So to really answer your question and also be a on/off season tixx holder
NO I'm not ok with this D next year, especially knowing that we are wasting JT's time.... TICK TOCK....
- Ur Not Me

the problems are mulit-layered. Ownership, management, coaching, roster talent, revenue. This team, with the notable exception of last shortened season, has been a bottom five franchise for 7 seasons. Changing one or a couple of things wont fix it. You also have to ask yourself if you want this team to just be mediocre, in which case keeping the majority of the"D" in place will allow with just goaltending amd coaching upgrades. Or, do you want it to be a contender, which requires an overhaul of the D.

Lets be honest with ourselves, ownership isnt changing. But the rest can be changed. Snow can go and a new GM can re-shape the team and coaching staff. If Snow stays, he can still do the right thing and learn from this abomination of a season and fire the coaches and go get real talent.

but make no mistake, if this team is ever going to contend, oots of things need to change, dtsrting with the mentality of the owner and GM changing from "lose as little monry as possible" to win a championship". Once the mentality changes, the rest of the dominoes should (can) fall into place.

There has been the talk that the Isles have not offered the money upfront. I'm sure it would have still been a longshot for the Isles to sign these guys. Who knows.
- ses111

What ever the issue seems to be, its not getting done..

I don't know how your take is on this team, but with the ELITE talent of JT, this team needs to improve immensely to satisfy his desire to remain here. Now, if you have possibly stated what next years D might be;

Hammer - has regressed and hoping to turn it around
DeHaan - Has proven to show he's our best Dman but still a rookie keep in mind
Top 4 FA - NOT HAPPENING w/Snow & this circus here
Lubo - Another year older w/possible games being missed again
Reinhardt/Pulock (IE Prospect) - again relying on kids "which all make mistakes"
Strait - U know my answer
Hickey - U know my answer

To me, this D does nothing but give hope to the fans that this team is trying to show how much longer it will take.
People think that some of our D-prospects are gonna come here and light the world on fire on the defensive side. Last I checked, D takes longer to learn and adjust to the NHL level.


Now you bring up an interesting question.... Forget the G, if this team brings in a better coach/system, it would help immediately, even the development of the kids.
But track record shows ITS NOT HAPPENING, unless you think Weight is the answer bc he's next in line for the head coaching job.....

So to really answer your question and also be a on/off season tixx holder
NO I'm not ok with this D next year, especially knowing that we are wasting JT's time.... TICK TOCK....
- Ur Not Me

1st bold...i dont THINK its going to be next year, i specifically said "IF" this is next seasons lineup, id be ok with strait and hickey playing 3rd/7th

2nd bold...thats why i slotted the rookie to play 3rd pair

also i think if you take a step back and look at this, a lot of it seems like doom-and-gloom (dehaan, prospect both destined to fail, lubo will miss games, no chance of Free agent-- it just seems very one sided) and to me, "track records" dont mean much bc that all changes with 1 or 2 moves.

it seems like anything short of the defense of the canadian olypmic team and there is no chance the defense will be able to succeed.

Reinhardt/pulock. Why are we inserting players with zero nhl experience into the line up? We haven't seen enough of that yet? Yeah it was a prediction but what's the point of posting it if people can't comment on it? If thats our defense going into next season we should give buffalo this yrs pick bcs we are goong to have a legit shot at Mcdavid. Rolling a three rookies out hoping for the best is a recipe for disaster and beyond stupid. So its completely plausible that snow would do it. Your prediction may be right but I dont see how anyone would be ok with it?
- Cptmjl

no no no...im not inserting BOTH....the "/" indicates "or"....id be fine having reinhart OR a prospect ready (assuming there is one) being part of the 3rd pairing.

in no particular order
1 hamonic
2 dehaan
3 top 4 FA (or whats returned for vanek?)
4 vis
5 prospect
6 strait/hickey
7 hickey/strait

I like hamonic but I have a real hard time calling him a top pairing defenseman. Especially how hes played for a while now.
- Cptmjl

agreed....hamonic is NOT a top pairing guy...and if he ends up playing top minutes itll be because his partner is carrying him.

no no no...im not inserting BOTH....the "/" indicates "or"....id be fine having reinhart OR a prospect ready (assuming there is one) being part of the 3rd pairing.

in no particular order
1 hamonic
2 dehaan
3 top 4 FA (or whats returned for vanek?)
4 vis
5 prospect
6 strait/hickey
7 hickey/strait
- LetsGoIsles

So you're fine with same line up we have have now plus a prospect and one new top 4?