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

im pretty sure no team made the playoffs last year with a losing record at home......thats on the coach. He gets the last line change/matchup. No excuse

I remember reading something about that as well
- Vukota

i couldnt find any literature......can someone please post. i wanna read it

The goal should be winning the Stanley cup or at least seriously competing for it. Wouldn't you agree? As you and many others have said, lets see what Snow starts the season with, but I don't see them even making the playoffs with this defense.
- kindlyrick

you cant even complete your own sentence without taking your own advice.

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.
- kindlyrick

No its exactly the point.

" 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..."

He wasn't invited because the GM told him point blank he was going to be in Bridgeport all season. No need to have a kid come to camp where players are training and competing for a roster spot when you already know you want him in the minors.

That may be a mismanagement of a prospect but that was not the point of your argument, your point was "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." which is incorrect... We have not been in a position to leave a camp worthy player off the roster for a stiff. Not once.

XxNYIxX

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

It was posted, it was printed.. look it up Google boy

XxNYIxX

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.
- JimmyP

id add getting rid of cappy to the to-do list.

based on the 3 things he has completed (one way or another) i give him a B...2 quality goalies and 2 top 6 guys; 1 miserably failed coaching change.

incomplete on defense.

No its exactly the point.

" 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..."

He wasn't invited because the GM told him point blank he was going to be in Bridgeport all season. No need to have a kid come to camp where players are training and competing for a roster spot when you already know you wan him in the minors.

That may be a mismanagement of a prospect but that was not the point of your argument, your point was "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." which is incorrect... We have not been in a position to leave a camp worthy player off the roster for a stiff. Not once.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I don't know about that. Every forward at camp looked better than Pandolfo did whatever year he played for us (when everyone said he was only tryout, only there for depth, etc.). The only thing he did in preseason was take a big hit that had the other team's fans roaring. He made the team strictly because he'd been around...not because he outplayed anyone.

It was posted, it was printed.. look it up Google boy

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I didn't find it either...just Lighthouse Hockey speculating his salary demands for a new contract were probably more than he was actually worth. Not that he asked out.

http://www.lighthousehock...y-life-without-wisniewski

I don't know about that. Every forward at camp looked better than Pandolfo did whatever year he played for us (when everyone said he was only tryout, only there for depth, etc.). The only thing he did in preseason was take a big hit that had the other team's fans roaring. He made the team strictly because he'd been around...not because he outplayed anyone.
- UIF

Who did we leave off so he could make the team?

XxNYIxX

id add getting rid of cappy to the to-do list.

based on the 3 things he has completed (one way or another) i give him a B...2 quality goalies and 2 top 6 guys; 1 miserably failed coaching change.

incomplete on defense.
- LetsGoIsles

From what he started with at the end of the season to where the team is now, I agree. I don't think they're a playoff team...but definitely better than they were. There are a lot of teams to leapfrog to get in, and they're all making moves too. But who knows whose moves will work out and whose will backfire.

From what he started with at the end of the season to where the team is now, I agree. I don't think they're a playoff team...but definitely better than they were. There are a lot of teams to leapfrog to get in, and they're all making moves too. But who knows whose moves will work out and whose will backfire.
- UIF

This goaltending alone should help us not blow leads in the third period, add in the defensive minded players we have added on the forward side of the puck and i see our goals against a whole lot less this season.

XxNYIxX

id add getting rid of cappy to the to-do list.

based on the 3 things he has completed (one way or another) i give him a B...2 quality goalies and 2 top 6 guys; 1 miserably failed coaching change.

incomplete on defense.
- LetsGoIsles

I'm sticking with my C+ until the defense is addressed. Signing the 2 top 6 guys is great but defense is the greater need.

I'd love a better coach, but it's not happening unless the Isles tank again. As much as I dislike Cappy I'd rather not see that. It would be nice to not be counted out by the end of November.

I didn't find it either...just Lighthouse Hockey speculating his salary demands for a new contract were probably more than he was actually worth. Not that he asked out.

http://www.lighthousehock...y-life-without-wisniewski
- UIF

i couldnt find anything either.......the salary demand appears to be the reason to me

This goaltending alone should help us not blow leads in the third period, add in the defensive minded players we have added on the forward side of the puck and i see our goals against a whole lot less this season.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Nice segue into an interesting article that I read (and have spoken to this school of thought in the recent past here):

http://www.lighthousehock...-st-louis-blues-armstrong

For those with a short attention span I'll just hit on the major bullet points:

- Speaks to the declining (notice I didn't say non-existent) role of strictly physical, defensive-defensemen.

- Inteviews Blues GM Doug Armstrong and he speaks about the loss of Polak's physicality

- Key quote: Armstrong: No. I believe the game played now with transition. We think that having a puck-moving defense will add to our offense and allow our skill players the opportunity to produce. Physical defense can be shown in many different ways. What we have are smart-defending players with positional and stick play and can hold their own physically. I think Polak's departure creates an outstanding opportunity for Ian Cole, who has the physical assets to do what Roman has done for us in the past. We understand what Roman brought to our team and thank him for his time, but you have to give up something of value to get something of value.

I don't know about that. Every forward at camp looked better than Pandolfo did whatever year he played for us (when everyone said he was only tryout, only there for depth, etc.). The only thing he did in preseason was take a big hit that had the other team's fans roaring. He made the team strictly because he'd been around...not because he outplayed anyone.
- UIF

100% right.......which is why im tired of cappy saying "the best players will play" Its simply not true

This goaltending alone should help us not blow leads in the third period, add in the defensive minded players we have added on the forward side of the puck and i see our goals against a whole lot less this season.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Yep...definitely better than last season. As for the playoffs though, I just look at us relative to the teams we're fighting with. It's a tough road. I think Pitt and NYR should have the first two spots in the division still. For third, there's Columbus, NJ, Philly, Washington and Carolina. Who in that group are the Isles absolutely better than? I'd say Carolina (although they always seem to hang around in the middle of the pack when I think they're going to drop off a cliff). The rest will be a really close fight. You have the two wildcard spots, but now you're introducing even more teams from the Atlantic that will be fighting for those as well.

Unlike last season, I think we'll actually be in that discussion this year, and maybe they get in if they can ride a hot streak at the end of the season. But definitely not a lock for the playoffs.

I'm sticking with my C+ until the defense is addressed. Signing the 2 top 6 guys is great but defense is the greater need.

I'd love a better coach, but it's not happening unless the Isles tank again. As much as I dislike Cappy I'd rather not see that. It would be nice to not be counted out by the end of November.
- JimmyP

i really just dont understand the rationale of keeping a coach who's had little to no success..

does cappy keep his job on any other team having a losing record at home multiple years in a row?

i really just dont understand the rationale of keeping a coach who's had little to no success..

does cappy keep his job on any other team having a losing record at home multiple years in a row?
- kindlyrick

None of us do. Cappy has not been a successful coach at any level:
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...tats/pdisplay.php?pid=807

From what Snow has said (and Dan has reported), Snow is taking the blame for last season and giving Cappy a pass. I happen to think there is more than enough blame for both of them but nobody consulted me.

None of us do. Cappy has not been a successful coach at any level:
http://www.hockeydb.com/i...tats/pdisplay.php?pid=807

From what Snow has said (and Dan has reported), Snow is taking the blame for last season and giving Cappy a pass. I happen to think there is more than enough blame for both of them but nobody consulted me.
- JimmyP

one could make an argument for either......yet they're both still employed?

Nice segue into an interesting article that I read (and have spoken to this school of thought in the recent past here):

http://www.lighthousehock...-st-louis-blues-armstrong

For those with a short attention span I'll just hit on the major bullet points:

- Speaks to the declining (notice I didn't say non-existent) role of strictly physical, defensive-defensemen.

- Inteviews Blues GM Doug Armstrong and he speaks about the loss of Polak's physicality

- Key quote: Armstrong: No. I believe the game played now with transition. We think that having a puck-moving defense will add to our offense and allow our skill players the opportunity to produce.
- eichiefs9Physical defense can be shown in many different ways. What we have are smart-defending players with positional and stick play and can hold their own physically. I think Polak's departure creates an outstanding opportunity for Ian Cole, who has the physical assets to do what Roman has done for us in the past. We understand what Roman brought to our team and thank him for his time, but you have to give up something of value to get something of value.

We covered that ground, and I thought agreed that no one's talking about the need for 6 Hal Gills any more than you're calling for 6 Jared Spurgeons. Sometimes I wonder if we're all actually arguing with each other, or with caricatures of each other that we invent in our heads.

one could make an argument for either......yet they're both still employed?
- kindlyrick

I have come to the realization that there is nothing we can do about our GM and our coach. These guys are going to be here cause Wang has no clue about hockey in general. so until Wang is gone you are going to have to put up with the nonsense of Snow and the lame coach we have. no sense of complaining about it cause it wont change

i really just dont understand the rationale of keeping a coach who's had little to no success..

does cappy keep his job on any other team having a losing record at home multiple years in a row?
- kindlyrick

that horse has morphed into glue...

We covered that ground, and I thought agreed that no one's talking about the need for 6 Hal Gills any more than you're calling for 6 Jared Spurgeons. Sometimes I wonder if we're all actually arguing with each other, or with caricatures of each other that we invent in our heads.
- UIF

Not necessarily directed at you, but there are several here that have asked for, and I'm almost quoting verbatim, "a hulking, bruising crease-clearer" on more than one occasion.

However, that post was less intended to be argumentative and more intended to be shared with everyone because it was interesting. It was a thought-provoking article with an interesting point-of-view from a general manager that has built a successful NHL team.

I have come to the realization that there is nothing we can do about our GM and our coach. These guys are going to be here cause Wang has no clue about hockey in general. so until Wang is gone you are going to have to put up with the nonsense of Snow and the lame coach we have. no sense of complaining about it cause it wont change
- kasperrko

Who are you and how did you hack into Kaspers account!?

one could make an argument for either......yet they're both still employed?
- kindlyrick

Yes