Petry is pretty good. He makes mistakes but that's what happens in Edmonton when youre put in a position over your head, behind an ass load of forwards that cant spell back check. That -22 is not a very indicitive stat.
- Jeropotato

Isles have plenty of PRETTY GOOD dman. Isles aren't very good either. -22 was one of the worst plus Minus stats on the Oilers. Isles missed playoffs being on of the better scoring teams in the league. However we also gave up the most goals in NHL. No thanks. I rather give Bailey a chance.

Isles have Reinhart, De Haan, Pollack, Mayfield, Pokka all on the come.

If im going to make a trade for Dman you need to trade guys that will be seen as valuable.

I suggest Trading moulson 2 years ago when he scored 30. Imagine the dman we could have pulled in then.

So if we have too many forwards, Best thing Garth can do is trade Grabner or Nielson (and im huge Nielson fan). Reason why? Fran not going to every be better than his last season. however Strome and Nelson have tons of upside.

I really hope that Grabvoski and Kulemin don't mean that Cizikas is gone. I love Casey. I still think he could be Ryan Callahan Type of given the chance.
- Spartiarti

Its Nielsen not Neilson

Its Nielsen not Neilson
- Vukota

Fixed, sorry, My bad. I knew it didn't look right.

What the obsession with Petry? You want give up on bailey at age 24 but love a 27 year old Dman that was a -22 last year?
Hickey and Strait are far better than him. you want Petry to play over reinhart? makes no sense.

Another here wonder why we didn't pay Volenchkov 1MM to come play on isles for one year? don't we need hard hitting stay home dman.
- Spartiarti

Just bc a player has lousy numbers you'd have to consider who/what team he plays for. If a player changes his uniform would he still have the same numbers ??? The overall makeup of a player is whats valued not the team.
Grant it, I not defending Petry bc I haven't seen much of him to say but just pointing out what really matters.... the player itself

Ex.. Turris was buried in Coyotes had talent couldn't produce consistently but still had value, goes to OTT and his career has changed for the better
Ex.. Nino -

Isles have plenty of PRETTY GOOD dman. Isles aren't very good either. -22 was one of the worst plus Minus stats on the Oilers. Isles missed playoffs being on of the better scoring teams in the league. However we also gave up the most goals in NHL. No thanks. I rather give Bailey a chance.

Isles have Reinhart, De Haan, Pollack, Mayfield, Pokka all on the come.
- Spartiarti

Besides Hammer & DeHaan who are PRETTY GOOD???

Besides Hammer & DeHaan who are PRETTY GOOD???
- Ur Not Me

MA Bergeron

I don't think anybody really knows what Bailey's trade value is. He has underachieved, but despite what all Isles fans will say he is still a full-time NHL'er that very adequately fills a 3rd line role. He's not tough but he's defensively competent and can help drive the play. When he is on (which comes in largely-spaced spurts) he has so much skill and can really wow you. His problem is consistency and compete level. I'm still convinced that he may exceed what he's done to-date, if he's given a fresh start in a new city.
- eichiefs9

Bailey, imo, is Exhibit A on why stats by themselves can be deceiving. For all the talk of his good defense based on the numbers, do you ever remember seeing him relentlessly back-checking anyone? Or breaking up a pass? Or even making a noticeable play to take the puck away from anyone?

For the talk about driving possession, do you ever see Bailey controlling the puck along the boards? Or even making nice plays to get the puck through the neutral zone? During his brief good stretches, sure...he carries the puck a lot and makes good plays, but during his longer bad stretches, he looks lost out there most of the time, not at all like a player who's doing all the little things right and just not having puck luck around the net.

MA Bergeron
- eichiefs9

Bailey, imo, is Exhibit A on why stats by themselves can be deceiving. For all the talk of his good defense based on the numbers, do you ever remember seeing him relentlessly back-checking anyone? Or breaking up a pass? Or even making a noticeable play to take the puck away from anyone?

For the talk about driving possession, do you ever see Bailey controlling the puck along the boards? Or even making nice plays to get the puck through the neutral zone? During his brief good stretches, sure...he carries the puck a lot and makes good plays, but during his longer bad stretches, he looks lost out there most of the time, not at all like a player who's doing all the little things right and just not having puck luck around the net.
- UIF

Shhhhh we need to sell him high not low.....

Shhhhh we need to sell him high not low.....
- Ur Not Me

Guy's amazing. I'll go on a hunger strike if we trade him.

Guy's amazing. I'll go on a hunger strike if we trade him.
- UIF

I'm gonna hold u to it....

Bailey, imo, is Exhibit A on why stats by themselves can be deceiving. For all the talk of his good defense based on the numbers, do you ever remember seeing him relentlessly back-checking anyone? Or breaking up a pass? Or even making a noticeable play to take the puck away from anyone?

For the talk about driving possession, do you ever see Bailey controlling the puck along the boards? Or even making nice plays to get the puck through the neutral zone? During his brief good stretches, sure...he carries the puck a lot and makes good plays, but during his longer bad stretches, he looks lost out there most of the time, not at all like a player who's doing all the little things right and just not having puck luck around the net.
- UIF

Before I respond to any of that let me make it very clear that I am not a Bailey supporter and would like to see him gone.

That being said:

I've seen him plenty of times make solid defensive plays. Is he crashing-and-banging along the wall? No, but he's positionally sound and can effectively play against other teams top competition.

There is actual, tangible, statistical evidence that shows that the team is generating more shot attempts when he is on the ice then when a good number of other forwards are on the ice. He is helping generate this offense while starting the play less than half (46%) of the time outside of the offensive zone and playing against the 2nd highest quality of offensive competition (just barely behind only Frans).

Am I saying any of this makes him some sort of superstar? Absolutely not. The advanced statistics are a helpful tool but far from the only indicator of a quality player.

I'm only pointing out that just because Bailey doesn't do anything flashy doesn't mean that he is a completely useless NHL'er.

What the obsession with Petry? You want give up on bailey at age 24 but love a 27 year old Dman that was a -22 last year?
Hickey and Strait are far better than him. you want Petry to play over reinhart? makes no sense.

Another here wonder why we didn't pay Volenchkov 1MM to come play on isles for one year? don't we need hard hitting stay home dman.
- Spartiarti

predators might have something to say about that...

edit: id be much happier with petry over bailey, the 3 years makes little difference. dmen take longer to develop so even as good as petry has been (hes "top 4" good), he could still get better. contracts are equivalent as well. as for the +/- i put exactly 0% stock into that stat...and if thats the stat you subscribe to than the caps would make out like bandits in a deal involving bailey for ovechkin. (-8 vs -35)

and, lets assume volchenkov wasnt already signed, to assume that he would be better than petry...i dont see it at all

predators might have something to say about that...

edit: id be much happier with petry over bailey, the 3 years makes little difference. dmen take longer to develop so even as good as petry has been (hes "top 4" good), he could still get better. contracts are equivalent as well. as for the +/- i put exactly 0% stock into that stat...and if thats the stat you subscribe to than the caps would make out like bandits in a deal involving bailey for ovechkin. (-8 vs -35)

and, lets assume volchenkov wasnt already signed, to assume that he would be better than petry...i dont see it at all
- LetsGoIsles

I was hoping the isles would make room for him....

Before I respond to any of that let me make it very clear that I am not a Bailey supporter and would like to see him gone.

That being said:

I've seen him plenty of times make solid defensive plays. Is he crashing-and-banging along the wall? No, but he's positionally sound and can effectively play against other teams top competition.

There is actual, tangible, statistical evidence that shows that the team is generating more shot attempts when he is on the ice then when a good number of other forwards are on the ice. He is helping generate this offense while starting the play less than half (46%) of the time outside of the offensive zone and playing against the 2nd highest quality of offensive competition (just barely behind only Frans).

Am I saying any of this makes him some sort of superstar? Absolutely not. The advanced statistics are a helpful tool but far from the only indicator of a quality player.

I'm only pointing out that just because Bailey doesn't do anything flashy doesn't mean that he is a completely useless NHL'er.
- eichiefs9

Well, flashy doesn't really have anything to do with it. Shoot, I was a huge fan of Kenny Jonsson when he was here...and actually own a Mike Sillinger jersey, and I don't think "flashy" would in any way describe either of those guys...but you saw them doing the little things the way they should be done...playing responsible and setting a good example. I don't see that with Bailey. Sometimes he's just standing still to the point where I think he's injured. "Disinterested" would sum up how he looks out there for several games in a row at times.

I can't explain the numbers, other than to say I'd chalk it up as a statistical anomaly before I'd credit Bailey as being a stalwart defender or a player who is largely responsible for generating offense. We all watch the games here...when he's flat for weeks-long stretches, is anyone on here saying, "Man, he's not putting the puck in the net but that Bailey is really leaving it all out there and generating a ton of chances on the forecheck."

I say this knowing it's an uphill battle...arguing against statistics, but this is what I was saying the other day...this is the case where the person with the artificially high credit score is a poor risk for homeownership that the computer doesn't pick up.

soooooo...the Oilers should look elsewhere for a Center on the cheap then?

soooooo...the Oilers should look elsewhere for a Center on the cheap then?
- Jeropotato

Tavares for Justin Schultz!

Reading Ho Sang's quotes from camp is starting to make me think the public perception of him was so tremendously overblown.

Reading Ho Sang's quotes from camp is starting to make me think the public perception of him was so tremendously overblown.
- eichiefs9

Yep, agreed so far. I didn't like the pick at the time for that reason, but I'll say at this point it seems to be an entirely different situation with Ho Sang compared to Kabanov. We'll see...actions speak louder than words, but so far,

Are they going to stream Thursday's scrimmage? I think they usually do, right?

Yep, agreed so far. I didn't like the pick at the time for that reason, but I'll say at this point it seems to be an entirely different situation with Ho Sang compared to Kabanov. We'll see...actions speak louder than words, but so far,

Are they going to stream Thursday's scrimmage? I think they usually do, right?
- UIF

Yeah the Isles website says it will be streamed, although there's always a bunch of problems it feels like. I'll probably end up going, considering I work 5 min away in Westbury.

Kabanov was weird, very weird. Ho Sang just seems incredibly confident in his abilities, which I think can be perceived by some as cocky. Frankly I enjoy it, let the kid think the world of himself and we'll avoid any Josh Bailey problems If JHS can buy into the team mentality then he could be a deadly player that was had for a more than reasonable price.

Speaking of which, in regards to the last exchange...I don't totally disagree with your points, they're all valid and fair observations. Just trying to play devil's advocate a little and trying be objective in my grading of Bailey's worth as a trade chip.

Yeah the Isles website says it will be streamed, although there's always a bunch of problems it feels like. I'll probably end up going, considering I work 5 min away in Westbury.

Kabanov was weird, very weird. Ho Sang just seems incredibly confident in his abilities, which I think can be perceived by some as cocky. Frankly I enjoy it, let the kid think the world of himself and we'll avoid any Josh Bailey problems If JHS can buy into the team mentality then he could be a deadly player that was had for a more than reasonable price.

Speaking of which, in regards to the last exchange...I don't totally disagree with your points, they're all valid and fair observations. Just trying to play devil's advocate a little and trying be objective in my grading of Bailey's worth as a trade chip.
- eichiefs9

speaking of which...how can i get tickets?

speaking of which...how can i get tickets?
- LetsGoIsles

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00004CA6AA03CA92

speaking of which...how can i get tickets?
- LetsGoIsles

I'll probably be there, I'm dying to see Dal Colle and Ho Sang play, even if it's a meaningless prospect scrimmage. It's always fun watching the kids play. Plus, you know..hockey in July.

Yeah the Isles website says it will be streamed, although there's always a bunch of problems it feels like. I'll probably end up going, considering I work 5 min away in Westbury.

Kabanov was weird, very weird. Ho Sang just seems incredibly confident in his abilities, which I think can be perceived by some as cocky. Frankly I enjoy it, let the kid think the world of himself and we'll avoid any Josh Bailey problems If JHS can buy into the team mentality then he could be a deadly player that was had for a more than reasonable price.

Speaking of which, in regards to the last exchange...I don't totally disagree with your points, they're all valid and fair observations. Just trying to play devil's advocate a little and trying be objective in my grading of Bailey's worth as a trade chip.
- eichiefs9

Kinda hilarious the scrutiny hockey players are put under. How many NFL or NBA athletes have had public "issues" or run-ins with the law during college but still get drafted without much concern. Ever been a hockey player caught with a gun or in a club when someone gets stabbed or whatever? This black cloud (no pun) hanging over HoSang is really kinda silly. Hope Garth proves his mild risk-taking is worth it. Would be nice to "steal" a talent that others passed on. Might make up for us passing on Zach Parise.

I'll probably be there, I'm dying to see Dal Colle and Ho Sang play, even if it's a meaningless prospect scrimmage. It's always fun watching the kids play. Plus, you know..hockey in July.
- eichiefs9

Six local boys will be involved in the scrimmage. My son played with or against five of them. I hope to watch it streaming because I've got obligations taking me elsewhere.