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.
- jmo16

Nah it's cool thought cause we got Robert Nilsson.

PS: In googling Nilsson out of curiosity as to where he is now, I found out Ryan O'Marra is playing professional hockey in the EIHL. That's in England.

PPS: Further investigating O'Marra's draft year, CHI had our fourth round pick and used it to select Hjalmarsson

Have they fixed the goaltending?.....I think most will agree, yes.
Have they added more experienced forward depth?...I think most will agree, yes.

With the team as it is, plus the added maturity and expected responsibility with the present group, can they compete with this division and conference?...I would say yes and remember it is a learning process so I am not expecting instant cup contenders.

Many are fantasizing we can trade third and fourth line forwards or low pair d- men for rare commodity d-men and that is possible if we take a big contract or ufa possibly.

Trading a high prospect may land us a solid vet d man but sometimes the higher expectations can also work against the team with added pressure.

I say a ufa d man with decent experience may sign here if he feels the situation is right, but don't overblow expectations at this point.

We don't want to rush our prospects but if they no longer benefit playing at the AHL level and are ready to start with more NHL experience, mistakes and all, then that is the price we have to play to get a real team who bond and mesh right.

Nah it's cool thought cause we got Robert Nilsson.

PS: In googling Nilsson out of curiosity as to where he is now, I found out Ryan O'Marra is playing professional hockey in the EIHL. That's in England.

PPS: Further investigating O'Marra's draft year, CHI had our fourth round pick and used it to select Hjalmarsson
- eichiefs9

Parise & Nilsson: Same draft.

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

when is the hockeybuzz gangbang...i mean...get together going to happen?

when is the hockeybuzz gangbang...i mean...get together going to happen?
- LetsGoIsles

Sorry dude, but I don't go that way....

That's all on uuuuu

Sorry dude, but I don't go that way....

That's all on uuuuu
- Ur Not Me

ok cool, ill keep you posted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3VrzVxSBC0

I really think this will be a draft we will remember

we sure we don't want him with Isles this year

Staple - #Isles have added former NHLer Marty Reasoner to player development staff. Will be working mostly with prospects in BPT.
- brodydog29

Actually a good move. During his prime he was a hard working center who could win faceoffs. We have faceoff issues atm.

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

Viz

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

I mean the value is fair, because Bailey sucks, but he has more value to us now than a 2nd. He could turn it around, or someone may overpay for him. Respectfully decline

Interesting note from Staples.

He believes lines will be.

BN-JT-KO
NK-Grabo-Strome
Bailey-Nielsen-Grabner

Which means Lee is the odd man out. Maybe Garth is dangling Lee? Signed relatively low. High value after last year's unrepeatable shooting numbers.

Parise & Nilsson: Same draft.
- jmo16

That was the point of the joke........

Viz
- Danformo

try again.....

Took this from somewhere else.

Crunching numbers and this one is interesting. Even-strength points-per-game pre-draft season, Ho-Sang compared to top-10 NHL forward picks from OHL/WHL 2003 to 2013:

1.12 PKane
1.08 Reinhart
1.04 Bennett
1.02 Fabbri
1.00 Seguin
0.98 Hall
0.98 Strome
0.95 Yakupov
0.92 EStaal
0.90 Ho-Sang (not on stacked team)
0.89 Landeskog
0.89 EKane
0.89 Gagner (on stacked team)
0.87 Ritchie
0.85 BRyan
0.84 Glennie (somewhat stacked team)
0.84 Stamkos
0.82 Tavares

try again.....
- Ur Not Me

Viz is still a good defensemen, great possession numbers, when healthy.

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

any links to these or to the interview itself? I'd really like to see what was said

Arthur Staple ✔ @StapeNewsday #Isles have added former NHLer Marty Reasoner to player development staff. Will be working mostly with prospects in BPT.

oh garth.

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

Let's see ... No, no, no, no and finally no.

He doesn't have the grit to be a a third or fourth line player. Trade him for anything you can get.

oh garth.
- Isles_since_6

Whats the problem?

any links to these or to the interview itself? I'd really like to see what was said
- Isles_since_6

One of the Isles bloggers was tweeting them all. @MattSaidman if you want to go read through his timeline.

Did we trade for Oduya, Boychuk, Phaneuf or Yandle yet???

Did we trade for Oduya, Boychuk, Phaneuf or Yandle yet???


- jimmc7722

All four. Garth got 4 top 4 defensemen.

Interesting note from Staples.

He believes lines will be.

BN-JT-KO
NK-Grabo-Strome
Bailey-Nielsen-Grabner

Which means Lee is the odd man out. Maybe Garth is dangling Lee? Signed relatively low. High value after last year's unrepeatable shooting numbers.
- Danformo

Makes sense that your highest paid forwards and two top draft picks are your nine starting forwards...

Makes sense that your highest paid forwards and two top draft picks are your nine starting forwards...

- Fan101

Huh?

Whats the problem?
- Vukota

not a fan of reasoner in the slightest. I'd rather see a proven guy brought in to work with the prospects, than a recently retired stiff who held on too long