I don't think there's any question a goaltender is this teams number one priority. That said, based on what I saw this year, I don't think we would have had a 25 point swing. I think maybe 15 and a very good goalie with shattered confidence.

The priorites have to be:
1. Goalie
2. Dman
3. Top six forward

As I've said, I think people should temper their expectations on just how good #1 and #2 will actually be. We obviously would love a Vezna and Norris guy but will likely have to settle for a satisfactory starter and vet dman.
In my opinion, guys like Hiller & Halak are realistic targets as are Meszaros, Orpik and Niskanen...none of these guys are elite goalies or top pairing dmen, but they're decent additions. That said, Garth has already shown that he values a legit top line partner for JT, so I think he'll search for someone there too.
- keaner17

Nabby was overplayed and Poulin sucked. 25 points may be the high end but it's not out of the question.

Snow thought it would
- Cptmjl

Shhhhh...don't bother Garth...
He's got other things on his mind

Snow thought it would
- Cptmjl

Not that drastically and that young. Not in the NHL. I still think he's a 25-35 goal guy.
- keaner17

I don't want him. I've heard and read enough. It's not like he was set up for failure in Minnesota. He played with some good players. His work ethic was questioned many times in Ottawa, Minny, and San Jose. We don't need to take a chance ona player like that with the coach we have that doesn't expect anything from his players. I have a fear of a Heatley who can't score getting 20 minutes a night continuously playing on the first line no matter how horrid his play is due to Capuano having his head far up his own a$$. No thanks. Not worth the chance IMO with the bone head we have behind the bench.

I don't want him. I've heard and read enough. It's not like he was set up for failure in Minnesota. He played with some good players. His work ethic was questioned many times in Ottawa, Minny, and San Jose. We don't need to take a chance ona player like that with the coach we have that doesn't expect anything from his players. I have a fear of a Heatley who can't score getting 20 minutes a night continuously playing on the first line no matter how horrid his play is due to Capuano having his head far up his own a$$. No thanks. Not worth the chance IMO with the bone head we have behind the bench.
- Cptmjl

Don't recall that.....In San Jose it was his playoff performances that got him booted...3 goals in 18 games.
He had great production and was a leader in Ottawa where they went to a cup and he had three 50 goal seasons.
Minnesota has definitely not been a good stay though.

Moulson?
- mighty13duck

Moulson would be a great addition...

Offer him... 5 years 25 million.

Don't recall that.....In San Jose it was his playoff performances that got him booted...3 goals in 18 games.
He had great production and was a leader in Ottawa where they went to a cup and he had three 50 goal seasons.
Minnesota has definitely not been a good stay though.
- keaner17

Heatley is definitely done... he would not help this team.

Don't recall that.....In San Jose it was his playoff performances that got him booted...3 goals in 18 games.
He had great production and was a leader in Ottawa where they went to a cup and he had three 50 goal seasons.
Minnesota has definitely not been a good stay though.
- keaner17

Until he acted like a biotch and demanded a trade and announced it to everyone in the media so Ottawa got jack shat back. No thanks. Guy was playing with some pretty good players and did next to nothing in Minny. Change of scenery may help him but to me it's not worth the risk.

Our blog has been officially booted off the main page

Still Lee has shown real promise. I love the idea of adding Lee's size and skill along with JT and KO. Why give up a ton of pieces when Lee might be the answer? We've heard about kids like Lee so let's see what they got. The focus needs to be on goalies and D and not forwards.
- ses111

This is the real shame of Tavares' injury. We would have had a pretty decent sample size after the trade deadline to see whether Lee, Tavares and Okposo might have meshed into something. Now it will be an experiment that may take the first 1/4 of next season. And as we all know by then it may be too late.

This is the real shame of Tavares' injury. We would have had a pretty decent sample size after the trade deadline to see whether Lee, Tavares and Okposo might have meshed into something. Now it will be an experiment that may take the first 1/4 of next season. And as we all know by then it may be too late.
- PeteM

Would have been great to get a look. I will be shocked if this line does not do very well. I always wanted to see a Turgeon Lindros and Bertuzzi line. BLT line.

Our blog has been officially booted off the main page
- Cptmjl

Secret blog....

Our blog has been officially booted off the main page
- Cptmjl

Yet Dee's is still there

Well this conversation was lively I didn't wanna get in the way. I'll have something up tomorrow

Until he acted like a biotch and demanded a trade and announced it to everyone in the media so Ottawa got jack shat back. No thanks. Guy was playing with some pretty good players and did next to nothing in Minny. Change of scenery may help him but to me it's not worth the risk.
- Cptmjl

You're right..we should sign one of the other top line forwards clammoring to come here !
Eh...I'd take a chance, but I'm obviously in the minority.
It was Murray who announced the trade request to the Media when the Ottawa Sun had gotten hold of the info. What really pissed folks off was when Heatley used his NTC stipulation voiding a trade to Edmonton. So he pissed off folks in Ottawa and Edmonton simultaneaously..given their media, it doesn't take much to figure out how someone can become demonized.
I wouldn't say they got jack shat back since the trade brought back Cheechoo, Michalek and a 2nd rounder. Cheecho was a 50 goal scorer himself at that point.

The crap he took in San Jose for his playoff performances weren't really fair since he played their final series with a torn groin muscle...(OUCH).

This year he's coming off of shoulder surgery so I think it's reasonable to think he'll come back stronger next year.

You're right..we should sign one of the other top line forwards clammoring to come here !
Eh...I'd take a chance, but I'm obviously in the minority.
It was Murray who announced the trade request to the Media when the Ottawa Sun had gotten hold of the info. What really pissed folks off was when Heatley used his NTC stipulation voiding a trade to Edmonton. So he pissed off folks in Ottawa and Edmonton simultaneaously..given their media, it doesn't take much to figure out how someone can become demonized.
I wouldn't say they got jack shat back since the trade brought back Cheechoo, Michalek and a 2nd rounder. Cheecho was a 50 goal scorer himself at that point.

The crap he took in San Jose for his playoff performances weren't really fair since he played their final series with a torn groin muscle...(OUCH).

This year he's coming off of shoulder surgery so I think it's reasonable to think he'll come back stronger next year.
- keaner17

I've had enough with the reclamation projects. Go get a winger that can play with JT for the next ten years

I've had enough with the reclamation projects. Go get a winger that can play with JT for the next ten years
- Vukota

Vanek?

Vanek?
- keaner17

Someone younger. Someone like Evander Kane but it would cost too much

Someone younger. Someone like Evander Kane but it would cost too much
- Vukota

Kane has a so-so rep as well....

Damn good player though.

Our blog has been officially booted off the main page
- Cptmjl

Cool! We're off the grid!

Cool! We're off the grid!
- JimmyP

who exactly are the old men you are referring to? jagr? the same jagr everyone would want to sign with the isles this coming year? zidlicky? as an islander fan, id be thrilled if they got him to be that veteran presence--hes gonna resign as well as jagr.

larsson is gonna be good...we all know that...sprinkle in 2 (defensive) top 50 nhl prospects in merrill and gelinas (not to mention Damon Severson who is also in the top 50- again another defensive prospect) and thats already 4 fantastic defensemen going into next season; greene being the 4th. thats a YOUNG top 4 with good veteran presence.

between zidlicky, fayne, salvador, volchenkov rounding out the top 6 guys, that is going to be one of the best defenses in the league...already was this past season.

isles have a much better offense, but in my opinion building a strong defensive system and having a goalie you can count on is much more difficult then have a good offense.
- LetsGoIsles

I agree on that last point, but I think our young defensemen are as good, and our forwards are a lot better. I'd like to add a quality, veteran, defensive defenseman to teach the young players, but all we really NEED is a solid goalie, and we'll be set personnel wise, and, overall, better than they are by a long shot. That said, with the same sh*te coach, we will continue to be lesser than we should be....worse than a lot of teams we shouldn't be worse than.

I agree on that last point, but I think our young defensemen are as good, and our forwards are a lot better. I'd like to add a quality, veteran, defensive defenseman to teach the young players, but all we really NEED is a solid goalie, and we'll be set personnel wise, and, overall, better than they are by a long shot. That said, with the same sh*te coach, we will continue to be lesser than we should be....worse than a lot of teams we shouldn't be worse than.

- dcb1

It's freakin' depressing. Total unforced error on Snow's part.

Cool! We're off the grid!
- JimmyP

We might find Bailey out here!

We might find Bailey out here!
- keaner17

No good. It's not October.