Of course the Stanley Cup is the goal, but let's be realistic. This team needs to gain some respectability before they can sign the players to make that happen. I would consider it a success if next season they put a competitive team on the ice and got past the first round of the playoffs.
- JimmyP

This year is important to improve regardless bc of not having the 1st rd pick (in a loaded draft) that was given to Buffalo. The 2 FA signings helped and put the isles on notice for future FA's. So if isles do much better this year, it will show signs of the franchise changing for the better and MAYBE other players might want to sign here next year going into a new arena.....

Plus winning gains respectability.......

I agree with you. I'd like to see Snow add someone who can score from the point. It's funny with all the talk on how hard it is to acquire a top 4 dman, it makes me think ; Why did the isles get rid of James Wisniewski? Seems like he was the perfect fit for this team...
- kindlyrick

James Wisniewski wanted out... would have LOVED to keep him, but he asked out.


XxNYIxX

I loved reading Capuano in today's newsday article say the best players in training camp are the ones who will dress opening night. He says that every year, yet every year there are the Bouchard, Regin, types who end up dressing and getting real burn. If the best players in camp get to dress, why was Niño not even invited to camp? Seems to me your 5th overall pick should be given a shot...

That roster is pretty much made up before the season starts. I wish they let the best players play cause some of the dead weight wouldn't be taking up ice time.
- kindlyrick

Snow told Nino that he would not be invited to camp, he wanted him to spend the season in Bridgeport.

XxNYIxX

Of course the Stanley Cup is the goal, but let's be realistic. This team needs to gain some respectability before they can sign the players to make that happen. I would consider it a success if next season they put a competitive team on the ice and got past the first round of the playoffs.
- JimmyP

Bingo!

XxNYIxX

i didnt delete anything...you added that part only after i clicked on the quote button.
- LetsGoIsles

The post before yours didnt beat my edit guess you beat it

Of course the Stanley Cup is the goal, but let's be realistic. This team needs to gain some respectability before they can sign the players to make that happen. I would consider it a success if next season they put a competitive team on the ice and got past the first round of the playoffs.
- JimmyP

It'd be a huge success. The team as it sits now would have a hard time making it to the playoffs imo.

It'd be a huge success. The team as it sits now would have a hard time making it to the playoffs imo.
- Cptmjl

A whole lot of that defense is going to have to go through a year of learning to play in the NHL, and then a year of adjusting to the adjustments other teams have made to what they do well. This is why they need another adult to play on the back line to help teach them- especially with this coach.

Snow told Nino that he would not be invited to camp, he wanted him to spend the season in Bridgeport.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

That's not the point.....you had a 5th overall pick whom you had playing in the NHL the season before, yet he didnt even get a chance to "tryout". The summertime is where these prospects work on what they need to improve, yet he wasn't even given a chance. To me that was gross mismanagement. As a result the isles lost a 5th overall pick for a bottom six guy.

James Wisniewski wanted out... would have LOVED to keep him, but he asked out.


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

How do you know he asked out? The guy was here what, 3 months?

It'd be a huge success. The team as it sits now would have a hard time making it to the playoffs imo.
- Cptmjl

Not sure what the actual stats are but I'd bet it's pretty hard to make the playoffs with a losing record at home, and basically no threat from the point on the PP

Did you see Newsday article to how strome was asked to come to camp early to train Like his stop is not guarenteed. Why cappy was asked what he thinks of strome he said he played too conservative? Ummm wasn't it cappy that had him playing on 4 line?

Weren't the isles something crazy like 12-3 when strome was in line up and them they sent him down to ahl and out 15game November meltdown ensued shorty after

I'll bet you Colin MacDonald makes this team again just b/c cappy thinks he is one of top players on team.

How do you know he asked out? The guy was here what, 3 months?
- kindlyrick

I'm not going to jump into your convo's but Wiz did not want to sign here long term, so Snow flipped him....

I'm not going to jump into your convo's but Wiz did not want to sign here long term, so Snow flipped him....
- Ur Not Me

im legit asking......how do we know? I wanna read something on it

Did you see Newsday article to how strome was asked to come to camp early to train Like his stop is not guarenteed. Why cappy was asked what he thinks of strome he said he played too conservative? Ummm wasn't it cappy that had him playing on 4 line?

Weren't the isles something crazy like 12-3 when strome was in line up and them they sent him down to ahl and out 15game November meltdown ensued shorty after

I'll bet you Colin MacDonald makes this team again just b/c cappy thinks he is one of top players on team.
- Spartiarti

You and kindlyrick bring up the point that has me worried the most about the team this season. I'm glad there's a lot of competition for spots, especially at forward. But I don't trust this coach to play the best players or find the best combos. He hasn't really succeeded at that yet. I really wouldn't be too surprised at all if we see Conacher and McD in there instead of, say, Lee and Strome. Or if we see Lee and Strome constantly cycled in and out of the lineup for those other two. Cappy always seems to do all he can to mess with the confidence of skilled, young players. You have to make it through his mind (frank) gauntlet before actually becoming part of the team.

You and kindlyrick bring up the point that has me worried the most about the team this season. I'm glad there's a lot of competition for spots, especially at forward. But I don't trust this coach to play the best players or find the best combos. He hasn't really succeeded at that yet. I really wouldn't be too surprised at all if we see Conacher and McD in there instead of, say, Lee and Strome. Or if we see Lee and Strome constantly cycled in and out of the lineup for those other two. Cappy always seems to do all he can to mess with the confidence of skilled, young players. You have to make it through his mind (frank) gauntlet before actually becoming part of the team.
- UIF

Come on, you know you cant blame the coach it is the players not the coach

On a serious note you are right. We have one of the worst coaches in the league but for some reason he finds his way behind the bench each year. I think Wang is afraid of change. I feel ok he put a better product on the ice I think but now lets get better people to run this team already with a better system as this system has sucked for years

It'd be a huge success. The team as it sits now would have a hard time making it to the playoffs imo.
- Cptmjl

I'm not sure. Last year Detroit was 39-28-15 versus the Isles 34-37-11. The goal tending upgrades may be enough to squeak out those points. I think it would be close.

Right now I would grade Snow a C+ for this off-season. The first priority (IMO) was a more reliable starting goalie and a better back up. He got that. The second priority (IMO) is defense which is TBD. The last priority (IMO) was secondary scoring and depth which he also addressed. Hopefully he can get those upgrades on defense we all so desperately want.

Did you see Newsday article to how strome was asked to come to camp early to train Like his stop is not guarenteed. Why cappy was asked what he thinks of strome he said he played too conservative? Ummm wasn't it cappy that had him playing on 4 line?

Weren't the isles something crazy like 12-3 when strome was in line up and them they sent him down to ahl and out 15game November meltdown ensued shorty after

I'll bet you Colin MacDonald makes this team again just b/c cappy thinks he is one of top players on team.
- Spartiarti

Keep in mind Cappy also wouldn't dress Strome when he was called up because he didn't attend enough meetings. The guy is a clown.

- eichiefs9

I don't think it is all doom and gloom. I just hope that Wang and Snow have a half of brain and realize that Cappy is not a good fit for this team and never was

- eichiefs9

Vs.

I don't think it is all doom and gloom. I just hope that Wang and Snow have a half of brain and realize that Cappy is not a good fit for this team and never was
- kasperrko

I despise Capuano with a passion, I'm just not about to sit here and whine going into a season with, already, the strongest team we've started with in awhile. I don't think Snow is done for the summer.

I despise Capuano with a passion, I'm just not about to sit here and whine going into a season with, already, the strongest team we've started with in awhile. I don't think Snow is done for the summer.
- eichiefs9

- UIF

Typo.

Did you see Newsday article to how strome was asked to come to camp early to train Like his stop is not guarenteed. Why cappy was asked what he thinks of strome he said he played too conservative? Ummm wasn't it cappy that had him playing on 4 line?

Weren't the isles something crazy like 12-3 when strome was in line up and them they sent him down to ahl and out 15game November meltdown ensued shorty after

I'll bet you Colin MacDonald makes this team again just b/c cappy thinks he is one of top players on team.
- Spartiarti

Did you read the whole article? He said he played too conservative his first time up. After the break he was a different player. After the break he had 16 points in 22 games

I'll bet you he doesn't

James Wisniewski wanted out... would have LOVED to keep him, but he asked out.


XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I remember reading something about that as well