So would anyone be against trying to get a guy i consider (needs a change of scenery) type of dman for next season. I think all are worth it and could catch lightening if play to potential. My list:

Adam Larson (rfa)
Eric Gundbranson (rfa)
Zac Bogosion
Mike Green (1 year left)

Anyone else have some names?

I dont doubt that this is the impression Islanders fans have of him. He was playing way too many minutes against the toughest competition with weak assed team mates.

I guess being put in a position to succeed really does help, because he has not looked like that guy in the least playing the minutes he should be playing against the opposition he should be playing against.
- MBFlyerfan

Maybe he's actually trying now too? Can't imagine he was giving it all as an Islander once they hit halfway through that 10 or 11 game losing streak.

I dont doubt that this is the impression Islanders fans have of him. He was playing way too many minutes against the toughest competition with weak assed team mates.

I guess being put in a position to succeed really does help, because he has not looked like that guy in the least playing the minutes he should be playing against the opposition he should be playing against.
- MBFlyerfan

That's good. Some Isles fans were for cutting his ice time. The problem I had with that the guy was unwatchable from the first shift on against the other teams fourth line. I was all for him being gone. Happy it worked out for all parties involved

Maybe he's actually trying now too? Can't imagine he was giving it all as an Islander once they hit halfway through that 10 or 11 game losing streak.
- rangerdanger94

You'd have to disregard him and his awful play last year then when the team was playing well.

That's good. Some Isles fans were for cutting his ice time. The problem I had with that the guy was unwatchable from the first shift on against the other teams fourth line. I was all for him being gone. Happy it worked out for all parties involved
- Cptmjl

I feel like I've read this exact post from you like 50 times since the trade lol

So what it basically is coming down to is only Islanders fans and Rangers fans really hate Andrew MacDonald and think he's not good AT ALL.

Got it.

I feel like I've read this exact post from you like 50 times since the trade lol
- rangerdanger94

Yeah. Don't know how he can say it worked out for all parties involved. From what I see the Islanders got draft picks that may or may not work out and the Flyers got an NHL defenseman. Also didn't get much for Vanek or Moulson. Kind of think Snow srewed the pooch on the trades this year.

The only good part about this signing is it makes it almost impossible for the Pens to re-sign Niskanen unless they move significant salary.

I'm waiting for MJL to come in and tell us its a great deal and the money doesn't matter
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm going to get some popcorn.
Carry on guys.

Yeah. Don't know how he can say it worked out for all parties involved. From what I see the Islanders got draft picks that may or may not work out and the Flyers got an NHL defenseman. Also didn't get much for Vanek or Moulson. Kind of think Snow srewed the pooch on the trades this year.
- J35Bacher

Vanek, he sure did. AMAC was one of the best trades he's made since becoming GM. As far as you getting an NHL defenseman we didn't see that save for his first season.

http://www.foxsports980.c...ch-union-hockey-24627441/

Coach for union doesn't say Ghost is leaving, but drops some big hints.
So Ghost can't play in the playoffS?

I really don't get the backlash to MacD's signing. I think Holmgren did a great job.

What the advanced stats don't show, and can't show, is why a players numbers are why they are. And it showed in the very article that was posted. With the pictures that were given. When looking at them, it's clear why a defenseman stepped up in some cases, and why he didn't in others. But as usual, advnaced statistics are blindly used without context. Each play has to be looked at individually, to see if the player made the right read or not. Not just every play lumped into a barrel, and blindly look at the resulting stats. The more advnaced stats articles I read, the more I come to the conclusion that the authors know little about the game.
- MJL

Read again.

So would anyone be against trying to get a guy i consider (needs a change of scenery) type of dman for next season. I think all are worth it and could catch lightening if play to potential. My list:

Adam Larson (rfa)
Eric Gundbranson (rfa)
Zac Bogosion
Mike Green (1 year left)

Anyone else have some names?
- J35Bacher

Interesting names.
I don't think Gudbranson will be available but the other ones maybe.

I think if they do pull off a trade it will be a shocker and a surprise.

Vanek, he sure did. AMAC was one of the best trades he's made since becoming GM. As far as you getting an NHL defenseman we didn't see that save for his first season.
- Cptmjl

You're right.

The guy who leads the league in blocked shots is not an NHL player.

How dare us.

Nope. Getting rid of AMAC for some decent picks and keeping him in our division was the first step in fixing our defense and helping our chances for the playoffs .
- Cptmjl

You'll be back in the lottery again next year but with no first round pick.

I guess someone got hammered and took my first post with him.

Anyhow, 5 for 6 isn't as bad as it looks I guess. I still think the bottom is going to fall out of the Defensemen market this year or next like the goalie market bottomed out.

Would have loved to get Bodie. Damn Rangers.

Wow that macdonald deal...he's been good for you guys since the trade but thats a real small sample size. I think you're gonna be regretting that midway through next season when he shows his true colors. There's a reason every islander fan is laughing at this.
- rangerdanger94

And there's a reason why no one wants to sign or re-sign there (Islanders).

Vanek, he sure did. AMAC was one of the best trades he's made since becoming GM. As far as you getting an NHL defenseman we didn't see that save for his first season.
- Cptmjl

How is the AMAC trade one of the best? It can't even be analyzed until the picks are made or even make some sort of impact. Maybe if those picks turn into a bonafide nhl defenseman or forward but until then it cannot be stated as good trade. What if the picks are the next Pavel Brendl and Steve Eminger.

The more advnaced stats articles I read, the more I come to the conclusion that the authors know little about the game.
- MJL

Yup, so clueless that NHL teams waste their time consulting with them and so clueless that they haven't had any appreciable impact on the way GM's/coaches approach the game:

http://nhl.si.com/2014/01...-dump-and-chase-strategy/


Meanwhile, you're pounding on the keyboard in here, changing the world.

What the advanced stats don't show, and can't show, is why a players numbers are why they are. And it showed in the very article that was posted. With the pictures that were given. When looking at them, it's clear why a defenseman stepped up in some cases, and why he didn't in others. But as usual, advnaced statistics are blindly used without context. Each play has to be looked at individually, to see if the player made the right read or not. Not just every play lumped into a barrel, and blindly look at the resulting stats. The more advnaced stats articles I read, the more I come to the conclusion that the authors know little about the game.
- MJL

I agree. Advanced stats should be used to help support arguments at times, but shouldn't be the main argument. Stats can't tell you what your eyes see when you watch a game. They can't tell you how sweet Patrick Kane's hands are or how unreal Derek Stepan's hockey IQ is. People who strictly use the advanced stats in arguments simply do so because it's the only thing that can help their point and because there's no video or they haven't watched the player they're arguing against enough to prove their point.

It's like Leaf fans who argued that Phaneuf is a top 10 defenseman in the league because of advanced stats or that Clarkson is gonna be successful because of his advanced stats from NJ. Just watching them actually play, you can see how mediocre Phaneuf is and where Clarkson truly belongs in a lineup.

Notice how Blackhawks fans or Ducks fans never use advanced stats to try and demonstrate how good Toews or Hossa or Kane or Perry or Getzlaf are? It's always fans of average teams that are trying to make a case for average players like a Ribeiro or a Bozak or a Turris.

Do you think professional NHL scouts go to the games just to look at a statsheet and a folder full of advanced statistics? No, they go there to watch the players play live because that's the only way you can truly judge a player.

In addition, a lot of these advanced stats junkies exploit their knowledge of advanced stats and only pick out the stats that support their argument while leaving out the stats the contradict them because they figure nobody else will pick up on it.

Akeson = john druce

How is the AMAC trade one of the best? It can't even be analyzed until the picks are made or even make some sort of impact. Maybe if those picks turn into a bonafide nhl defenseman or forward but until then it cannot be stated as good trade. What if the picks are the next Pavel Brendl and Steve Eminger.
- J35Bacher

To be fair we traded for both of those schlubs.

Interesting names.
I don't think Gudbranson will be available but the other ones maybe.

I think if they do pull off a trade it will be a shocker and a surprise.
- Marc D

I was just trying to play armchair GM and find maybe an under the radar move that could be logical and not cost you the franchise. I think with the RFA like Larson maybe an offer sheet like Clarkie tried with Kessel. Something a little higher but your hoping he plays to potential that made him 4th pick overal