With a normal team. That means we have to pay him an extra year and likely half a million more.
- keaner17

We all know Isles have issues whooing FA's, that's why I strongly believe that Snow will not be able to add by FA market (someone of worth)
A trade might be the only possible way.

Kasper, one thing that I keep hearing is that the Isles plan to be uncharacteristically aggressive this offseason. This has me rethinking things in reference to Garth now. Many here have gotten on Garth over the last couple of years for not signing free agents. They've constantly said our not signing free agents is his fault. I've typically said that there were too many things working against him to be successful in that category (Wang, stadium, team rep etc). Based on the word that they suddenly plan to be more aggressive, maybe some were right that Garth was only half-hearted with his UFA interests over the last few years. If that's the case, and IF we really do go all in to fill the few gaps that were unsuccessfully addressed last season, then perhaps we'll actually overpay this year.

In the case of Orpik, after the Pens series he was VERY outgoing in his compliments towards the Isles franchise, their players and fans. On two different interviews he spoke at length saying they were a team that was going to be a major player for years to come. I didn't take it as lip service simply because it wasn't a typical one-liner compliment. So if he really feels that way and knows what JT brings, he may be willing to accept a rich contract to come here. Afterall, he's already won a cup.

One more thing...he's American...went to Boston College....

Let's be honest. This team is NOT in rebuild mode any longer. We have a decent young core but need to surround it with dependable veterns. Give us a top shelf goalie and dependable top four dman and I think this team is as good as any in our division except Pittsburgh
- keaner17

If the team is being sold, it just seems strange that Charles would allow Garth to spend big this offseason. I'll be very happy with a quality vet dman and goalie.

no doubt hes had a lot of success in the nhl, but you have you consider these are all kids 22 years old and under still and a lot of them (strome and rnh specifically) are still playing in kids bodies against grown men, and still holding their own. i think its going to take another 3-5 years to really see the development of this class, as with most classes.
- slapshot018

I agree about them being kids and understand that they haven't matured into their bodies.

depends how much Subban forces their hand.... I'd say Nelson or Strome one of the d prospects... And either a first rounder or maybe a guy like grabner.
- Dan Petriw

dan- ive just about always agreed with you...im gonna puke from how lopsided this proposal is

Well, you won't get blasted as much as I probably will for saying I actually agree with the Rangers fan who said how much we overrate our prospects. There are rookies who stepped in this year and really turned some heads around the league. None of them played for the New York Islanders. I'm not saying ours are crap. Not at all. But it seems like everyone who looked like they could become competent NHLers are elevated to elite status around here. Let's give it time before we start saying they're better than players already putting up points, or counting on a rookie who scored a whopping 17 points to run the power play.
- UIF

i said the same thing...but in everyones defense, fans of all teams put their prospects on a pedestal

dan- ive just about always agreed with you...im gonna puke from how lopsided this proposal is
- LetsGoIsles

that is wayyyyy too much to give up.

that is wayyyyy too much to give up.
- slapshot018

We better be getting Denis Potvin back as a Dman.

i said the same thing...but in everyones defense, fans of all teams put their prospects on a pedestal
- LetsGoIsles

but strome actually does have potential to be an elite nhl player. yeah he put 18 points up but he was called up mid season and did most of his damage after the isles were irrelevant and thats why he was rarely talked about.

believe me, he needs to prove himself in meaningful games next season but hes 20 years and 180lbs (tarasenko is 22 and 215lbs.)

this isnt like saying nelson is going to be an elite forward in the nhl (because he isnt) - but strome is a different breed. he has hands and vision that simply cannot be taught.

but strome actually does have potential to be an elite nhl player. yeah he put 18 points up but he was called up mid season and did most of his damage after the isles were irrelevant and thats why he was rarely talked about.

believe me, he needs to prove himself in meaningful games next season but hes 20 years and 180lbs (tarasenko is 22 and 215lbs.)

this isnt like saying nelson is going to be an elite forward in the nhl (because he isnt) - but strome is a different breed. he has hands and vision that simply cannot be taught.
- slapshot018

Why u comparing Strome to Taranseko? Bc of age & weight?

I'm sorry but a deal that would include Strome, Reinhart and a 1st for Subban sounds like it would fit right in with Milbury's vast catalog of historical trades.

I really think some of you are majorly overrating Subban as a defenseman. The guy puts up offensive stats, but they aren't Paul Coffey stats.
Subban totaled 10goals 43 assists for a -4 this year.
By comparison, Mark Streit totaled 10 goals 34 assists and a +3.

Unless the Isles have determined that they don't believe Reinhart will be a top pairing dman AND Strome won't be a top six forward, I see no need to deal them both with a high pick for what amounts to a specialty dman.
You make those type deals for a Drew Doughty, Shea Webber or Chara. Not a one dimensional dman.
- keaner17

ill go one step even further; even if the isles have determined those 2 are going to be busts, the rest of the league hasnt figured that out yet so strome and griffins value is still top prospect. its massive overpayment in my estimation.

Why u comparing Strome to Taranseko? Bc of age & weight?
- Ur Not Me

rookie success was compared earlier, so age and weight in that regard is pretty important.

just saying, strome is not overhyped. hes just young and small.

I said hands down so far from the draft, don't twist my words...
Never mentioned from team
- Ur Not Me

I'm not. I don't agree that Tarasenko is 'Hands Down' the best player so far from his draft class, and can't see how or why you would suggest he is.

but strome actually does have potential to be an elite nhl player. yeah he put 18 points up but he was called up mid season and did most of his damage after the isles were irrelevant and thats why he was rarely talked about.

believe me, he needs to prove himself in meaningful games next season but hes 20 years and 180lbs (tarasenko is 22 and 215lbs.)

this isnt like saying nelson is going to be an elite forward in the nhl (because he isnt) - but strome is a different breed. he has hands and vision that simply cannot be taught.
- slapshot018

and thats exactly the point, he does have the POTENTIAL to be an elite nhl player but in the same breathe while it would be very unexpected no one should be surprised if he just turns out to me nothing more than an average 2C

and thats exactly the point, he does have the POTENTIAL to be an elite nhl player but in the same breathe while it would be very unexpected no one should be surprised if he just turns out to me nothing more than an average 2C
- LetsGoIsles

fair enough - that would be an extreme disappointment haha

Well he did win a Norris....aside from good offensive ability he does have a physical game.Imagine a bigger, thicker Justin Schultz with a slapper and a mean streak.
- Jeropotato

which is exactly why these awards dont mean much...its funny how the award for the best DEFENSIVE player is generally given to the guy with great offensive numbers... not only is it a total popularity contest but its just not that accurate from a defensive standpoint.

which is exactly why these awards dont mean much...its funny how the award for the best DEFENSIVE player is generally given to the guy with great offensive numbers... not only is it a total popularity contest but its just not that accurate from a defensive standpoint.
- LetsGoIsles

No it isn't , same as the Selke. Seems the guys who win that are also point getters, and not the best shut down Center or winger in the league.

Isn't Orpik an FA too? I think Pitt will keep one of Orpik or Niskanen with a big offer, but can they keep both? If the Pens don't re-sign him, I'd trade for his rights to get a head start on the market and overpay. If he doesn't take it, oh well. I know he's not as young or as good as some of the other names we're throwing around here, but I think he's exactly the type of player the Isles' D needs: someone with a bit of nastiness. Maybe if Hamonic watched a player like that every night, he'd find a way to consistently play like the tough SOB he morphs into whenever he goes against Malkin.
- UIF

i also like the idea of orpik. while i agree that he is definitely overrated, i think hes nastiness and mean streak make him a nice addition for some of the kids coming up. also being that hes played in the same division certainly helps.

No it isn't , same as the Selke. Seems the guys who win that are also point getters, and not the best shut down Center or winger in the league.
- Jeropotato

exactly.

but its like that in all sports, david wright continues to win gold glove awards but he isnt a particularly great 3rd baseman.

If you want a top four legit dman you are gonna have to part with someone.. If not you then have to sign some of the guys I mentioned and hope they can fill that roll
- Dan Petriw

What about a guy like Yandle, not sure he's available but could be a great PP QB, and I don't think it would cost as much as Subban.

No he's not a defensive nightmare, but he's not elite in his own end, which I think is what we need. We have plenty of offensive dmen coming up through the system. We have de Haan. Hickey is good offensively. Pulock projects to be a top pairing offensive dman and with that shot I'd say he's close to a lock. Hamonic is satisfactory offensively. If anything, we've all been clammoring for a steady shutdown dman over the last couple of years, Subban is NOTHING close to that.
- keaner17

which is why if dans opinion about reinhart is true, i wouldnt be that disappointed. if he is in fact not offensively gifted but a stay at home dman (he would have to be a bit physical) than im more than ok with that. in fact i think thats an aspect on the defensive end that would be needed considering all the offensive defensemen who are going to want to get involved in the offense.

exactly.

but its like that in all sports, david wright continues to win gold glove awards but he isnt a particularly great 3rd baseman.
- LetsGoIsles

well he didnt win it last year in a year that he clearly deserved it - his best defensive year of his career and lost!

KEaner Brooks Orpik is not coming to the Islanders. Why would you even think that after all the success we have had to woo free agents? I mean the team is still a bottom 5 team and I am sure at that age he is not going to want to see this team rebuild
- kasperrko

luckily the rebuild is going thru its final touches

I'm not. I don't agree that Tarasenko is 'Hands Down' the best player so far from his draft class, and can't see how or why you would suggest he is.
- Jeropotato

My bad & my mistake, I didn't want to use VT as an example...

Well, you won't get blasted as much as I probably will for saying I actually agree with the Rangers fan who said how much we overrate our prospects. There are rookies who stepped in this year and really turned some heads around the league. None of them played for the New York Islanders. I'm not saying ours are crap. Not at all. But it seems like everyone who looked like they could become competent NHLers are elevated to elite status around here. Let's give it time before we start saying they're better than players already putting up points, or counting on a rookie who scored a whopping 17 points to run the power play.
- UIF

I totally agree with you. They might be amazing at the lower levels but then they come here have to learn a stupid system and then they are busts.

I like Orpik too, but feel he's on the decline. Big Dmen get slower as they get older.
Unless its a rich 2yr deal, I'll pass on having him longer.
- Ur Not Me

i agree...5 years is a LONG time...i think 4 would still be overpayment but one that orpik would have to consider.