I hate to say it, but Frans could be one of the most valuable trade chips in the league right now. I'd rather trade Grabner, frankly, because Crappy doesn't know what do with him but Frans does a lot and has an awesome contract and with acquisition of Grabovsky he's expendable now. I still say Nielsen is far more valuable to this team than a lot of you think and I'll be sad to see him go.

Still Grabner was better than all of them. LEts see what scoring chances they produce. Without Grabner there will not be much shorthanded goals
- kasperrko

The Islanders had 8 SHG. 11th best in the league. Didn't really get us anywhere. You don't keep, trade for, or sign guys because of their shorthanded scoring ability. It's a nice bonus but hardly something you look for in a player.

I hate to say it, but Frans could be one of the most valuable trade chips in the league right now. I'd rather trade Grabner, frankly, because Crappy doesn't know what do with him but Frans does a lot and has an awesome contract and with acquisition of Grabovsky he's expendable now. I still say Nielsen is far more valuable to this team than a lot of you think and I'll be sad to see him go.
- potvin05

I do agree there...I think the secret's out with Frans where people know what he brings now. And at that price...who wouldn't want him?

and this is why I would trade him. You have to give up something to get something. He will fetch a better defenseman than Grabner and if he goes well we still have the kids everyone wants to play to replace him
- kasperrko

Right and I'm more than open to trading him. This all started because I said I wouldn't move him for Boychuk. I never said I'd keep him. You do have to give up something to get something, but before I move him I want to make sure that the return is equal-to-or-better than what we're giving up.

At this point, I think it may be a while before we see us obtain any defensive help.
As much as it may bother some, I don't think it's a high priority to make a fast move for a dman. Yes we need one, but this team is much better than last season already and won't be pressured into paying an expensive premium via trade for defensive help. In some ways, we're now in the drivers seat on any trade negotiations, which gives us the option of taking it slow.

We unquestionably need a top four dman, but I think many will be surprised to see how much a more lethal forward corps (which we now have) and strong goaltending tandem will help. Add in the fact that Hamonic, de Haan, Czurczman, Hickey and Donovan all have more playing experience, a healthy Vis (hopefully for an extended period) and up and coming Mayfield/Reinhart additions and I think this team has the potential to be miles ahead of last season.

Obviously if we throw a top four guy in there this team looks better than it has in over a decade, but my point is, we don't have to be forced into a heavy payment now. Time is on our side.
- keaner17

While I don't see the need to rush into a deal and I like both Grabovski and Kulemin(I said a couple days prior that either or would be a good target for snow)we need a defenseman. Preferably a veteran one. Both of those guys are for the most part defensively responsible and will help quite a bit imo but we need help on our blue line. Halak and Johnson help our D but they will be hung out to dry without a stabilizing d man on our blue line.

Not sure I'd say Grabs has more skill, but his speed is something you cannot teach. For all the griping folks make about his missed breakaway attempts, the fact is the guy creates more scoring chances than anyone on this team not named Tavares. He forces dmen to be aware and stretches the ice very well. That's tough to replace. In all honesty, I'd rather keep Grabs than either Frans or Bailey. I think both Frans and Bailey have very replaceable skillsets.
- keaner17

This to me is one of his best assets, especially when on the PK.

Edit; the only reason I'm on board with trading Grabs for a good defenseman is Capuano's continual misuse of the guy. He makes him less effective which to me is a waste of what he brings. If you're not going to use him lose him

At this point, I think it may be a while before we see us obtain any defensive help.
As much as it may bother some, I don't think it's a high priority to make a fast move for a dman. Yes we need one, but this team is much better than last season already and won't be pressured into paying an expensive premium via trade for defensive help. In some ways, we're now in the drivers seat on any trade negotiations, which gives us the option of taking it slow.

We unquestionably need a top four dman, but I think many will be surprised to see how much a more lethal forward corps (which we now have) and strong goaltending tandem will help. Add in the fact that Hamonic, de Haan, Czurczman, Hickey and Donovan all have more playing experience, a healthy Vis (hopefully for an extended period) and up and coming Mayfield/Reinhart additions and I think this team has the potential to be miles ahead of last season.

Obviously if we throw a top four guy in there this team looks better than it has in over a decade, but my point is, we don't have to be forced into a heavy payment now. Time is on our side.
- keaner17

I'm not as interested in a "top four" defenseman as everyone else is- I just want someone decent. This is why I was saying I'd like Stralman and Fayne, but not for that money. Those guys are steady 5-6 defensemen. A top four is going to cost us a king's ransom in a trade, and unless that player is Weber or Doughty, it most certainly will not be worth it. I just want Garth to take one of our overabundance of forwards and turn him into someone who's been in the league for a while and can play the position properly, so we don't have all kids back there trying to learn from Visnovsky to be the type of defensemen some of them likely can't be.

PS- Every upgrade will help, provided they don't just skate all over the place and do whatever, like last year. I need to see a team playing like a machine this time around, or I'm going to have less than the no patience I already have with this coach.

Right and I'm more than open to trading him. This all started because I said I wouldn't move him for Boychuk. I never said I'd keep him. You do have to give up something to get something, but before I move him I want to make sure that the return is equal-to-or-better than what we're giving up.
- eichiefs9

Ok got ya I understand. I just feel Frans will give us back a better return

This to me is one of his best assets, especially when on the PK.

Edit; the only reason I'm on board with trading Grabs for a good defenseman is Capuano's continual misuse of the guy. He makes him less effective which to me is a waste of what he brings. If you're not going to use him lose him
- Cptmjl

you know what actually you are right. I kind of feel bad for Grabner (and the rest of the team) to put up with a moron like Capunao

I understand but he is still a damn good penalty killer. His speed is something you can not replace. I rather see Bailey go and or Frans. Grabner has more skills then Bailey hands down. I understand you have to give up something to get something but I also feel teams would rather have prospects at this point and we have tons of them
- kasperrko

Have you seen grabovski skate? If grabner is an A plus the he is an A. Grabner is not my first choice but whatever gets you the best return. This team will be plenty quick, but Nelson and Lee add something that is much needed, size

As Keaner said he makes more scoring chance then almost anyone on the team. His speed you can not replace. If you think Bailey is better than him well hmmm I don't know what to say to that. Frans yes is a great player but with the signings it kind of pushes either him or Bailey out
- kasperrko

Nobody thinks bailey is better.. We think you can get a better return for grabner. Like I said early the order of okayers I'm shopping is bailey then grabner then nielsen

I paid 8 bucks for WiFi on my flight to colorado on day 1 to watch players go elsewhere. When I get my signal back on my phone sometime in the late afternoon after a great day of sightseeing in the rocky mountains I see those two pickups. I'm pretty pumped. Def trade coming. Hopefully while I'm camping in wyoming these next few days

centers: JT, Grabovski (no way he's bumped to 3rd line with that contract) Nielson, Cizikas

wingers (some by default) Okposo, Nelson, Lee, Strome, Grabner, Kulemin, Bailey, Clutterbuck, Martin, Mcdonald, Conacher, Boulton

is Nielson going to score 25 goals again playing on the third line? Doubtful, keep in mind it was a career year.

If Nielson's moved you can still dress:

Lee JT Okposo
Nelson Grabovski Kulemin
Bailey Strome Grabner
Martin Cizikas Clutterbuck

conacher, boulton, mcdonald

if Nielson brings us back a better available defenseman, you make the move and sell high.

happy july 3rd everybody!!

what a lovely morning!!!

happy july 3rd everybody!!

what a lovely morning!!!
- LetsGoIsles

We made it!

happy july 3rd everybody!!

what a lovely morning!!!
- LetsGoIsles

Just started raining!!!

Bailey should get you a dman, grabner can get you a better dman and be isle can get you a top pairing dman.. That's the order of who I'm shopping.
- Dan Petriw

Ideally, I'd shop Bailey first, then Grabner. If those two couldn't get me the "D" man we need, then I'd start looking to move Frans. The top end prospects should be the last resort to include in a deal for a "D" man.

Ideally, I'd shop Bailey first, then Grabner. If those two couldn't get me the "D" man we need, then I'd start looking to move Frans. The top end prospects should be the last resort to include in a deal for a "D" man.
- Jethro09

Bailey, Grabner, Bailey/Grabner, Nielsen. In that order.

Have you seen grabovski skate? If grabner is an A plus the he is an A. Grabner is not my first choice but whatever gets you the best return. This team will be plenty quick, but Nelson and Lee add something that is much needed, size
- Dan Petriw

I'm not sure if most ppl here have seen Grabo's speed & ability? The fans are going to be pleasantly surprised w/him. And how big Kumelin is too.. geez

I wouldn't have much of an issue with shipping Grabner out. Him and Bailey together should fetch a player that makes us better. Not anyone that's going to reap groundbreaking benefits but a solid player.
- eichiefs9

Bailey has no trade value. He has over $12M and four years left on his contract and hasn't done squat on the ice. At this point, he's nothing more than a throw in. His stock is down too low to be the main piece of any trade for a good "D" man. I think you're going to have a hard time finding anyone willing to take Bailey and his contract on based on his production, let alone move a valuable piece for him.

We made it!
- eichiefs9

havent really caught up on the comments...outside of a few of the "snow-apologists" i figured it would be mostly other fans commenting on the great signings, considering most peoples foot is in their mouth today??

centers: JT, Grabovski (no way he's bumped to 3rd line with that contract) Nielson, Cizikas

wingers (some by default) Okposo, Nelson, Lee, Strome, Grabner, Kulemin, Bailey, Clutterbuck, Martin, Mcdonald, Conacher, Boulton

is Nielson going to score 25 goals again playing on the third line? Doubtful, keep in mind it was a career year.

If Nielson's moved you can still dress:

Lee JT Okposo
Nelson Grabovski Kulemin
Bailey Strome Grabner
Martin Cizikas Clutterbuck

conacher, boulton, mcdonald

if Nielson brings us back a better available defenseman, you make the move and sell high.
- Isles_since_6

God help me if Bailey is on this team in October. Titties on a bull.

happy july 3rd everybody!!

what a lovely morning!!!
- LetsGoIsles

What took you so long....

havent really caught up on the comments...outside of a few of the "snow-apologists" i figured it would be mostly other fans commenting on the great signings, considering most peoples foot is in their mouth today??
- LetsGoIsles

Lets see how the season goes before we use the foot in the mouth scenario

Bailey has no trade value. He has over $12M and four years left on his contract and hasn't done squat on the ice. At this point, he's nothing more than a throw in. His stock is down too low to be the main piece of any trade for a good "D" man. I think you're going to have a hard time finding anyone willing to take Bailey and his contract on based on his production, let alone move a valuable piece for him.
- Jethro09

I'm not gonna sit here and try to say that Bailey is a good player because he's not. But he has more trade value than I think you're giving him credit for. $3.3M is more than a manageable cap hit these days. His advanced numbers are good, he can very easily be inserted onto a 3rd line to provide solid defensive play and chip in a little bit of offense.

Do I think he's going to fetch us some amazing defenseman? Of course not. But I think he's a little more than a "throw-in" in a trade.