wrong on all metric on difference with KO and Bailey. its the same thing. ITS CONFIDENCE.

when KO was playing with no confidence , he was ineffective. we all wanted him off the island until it clicked.
As for letting up. Bailey is 2 years younger than KO.

If Bailey can play confident, we will all see the Bailey we want. Also Bailey always going to think Pass first. when he lead his team in juniors. An Ideal Bailey would be 20 goals 35 assists. That is far from being a bust.

If you want to call him a bust b/c he not putting up 80 points. guess what. that would put him top 5 in NHL. Also advance stats do matter. He is a Two way forward. Jonathan Toews is the best franchise center in NHL and his stats last year were 28G 40A 68P. Hey Kasper, does he suck b/c he not scoring 40 and having 50 Assists?

wrong on all metric on difference with KO and Bailey. its the same thing. ITS CONFIDENCE.

when KO was playing with no confidence , he was ineffective. we all wanted him off the island until it clicked.
As for letting up. Bailey is 2 years younger than KO.

If Bailey can play confident, we will all see the Bailey we want. Also Bailey always going to think Pass first. when he lead his team in juniors. An Ideal Bailey would be 20 goals 35 assists. That is far from being a bust.

If you want to call him a bust b/c he not putting up 80 points. guess what. that would put him top 5 in NHL. Also advance stats do matter. He is a Two way forward. Jonathan Toews is the best franchise center in NHL and his stats last year were 28G 40A 68P. Hey Kasper, does he suck b/c he not scoring 40 and having 50 Assists?
- Spartiarti

He sucks...

He sucks...


- keaner17

What are you talking about? Toews would make a good third line center on our team.

To me the difference of KO & Bales is different. KO could never put together a consistent season and would produce when it didn't matter or end of season when team had nothing to play for. Bailey has a world of talent but lacks heart & confidence & drive. The only similarities of the 2 are how long it took KO to finally show up and its taking Bailey this long for what?
- Ur Not Me

2012 was the lockout season. Also KO coming back from shoulder surgery. I think the injury had something to do with him that year but I too was on the side of shopping/trading KO that season. IF Bailey can take a step(preferably a LEAP) toward being the player he was projected then maybe but if he doesnt come out of camp on fire then its time to cut bait.

1. New York Islanders

It's hard not to love what the Islanders did this offseason.

They traded for the rights to Jaroslav Halak then, in a twist on an old Islanders trope, actually signed him. Reasons this is a win: Halak is pretty good and the Isles' previous goaltending situation was among the worst in the league. Then they added Chad Johnson, who seems like he could be a pretty decent backup.

That immediately made the team as much as 12 or 14 standings points better, because Evgeni Nabokov should not be an NHL goaltender in 2013, let alone going forward. If this was the only improvement the team made, that would be a great one, and would probably land them at top-3 on this list.

But Garth Snow wasn't going to rest on his laurels. He also went out and added both Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, both advanced stats darlings who also happen to be able to put up pretty good points totals when used correctly (Randy Carlyle used neither correctly).

In addition, it should be noted that the team will likely improve because of circumstances that lingered from last year. They got rid of Andrew MacDonald (this is huge!) and will likely have healthier seasons from Lubomir Visnovsky and John Tavares to really shore things up, along with improving young players.

It would be shocking if this team didn't make the playoffs. Can you imagine saying that about the Islanders four months ago?
- kasperrko

Yahoo Sports: The leading hockey authority on the web.
This team is still a stretch for the playoffs. Same crap coach. Same defense. Halak an improvement but he's not a brick wall. The glut of forwards only make Cappys job more difficult. Grabov & Klum wont understand 90% of what cappy says with his gawddamn chodwer-head accent. As it stands today, we will have to rely on a few teams underpreforming to realistically have a chance at playoffs.

Yahoo Sports: The leading hockey authority on the web.
This team is still a stretch for the playoffs. Same crap coach. Same defense. Halak an improvement but he's not a brick wall. The glut of forwards only make Cappys job more difficult. Grabov & Klum wont understand 90% of what cappy says with his gawddamn chodwer-head accent. As it stands today, we will have to rely on a few teams underpreforming to realistically have a chance at playoffs.
- jmo16

wow usually I am the one to rip into this team. I mean you have to admit the team looks a lot better than last year

Yeah I do. I believe hes that crazy.
- Cptmjl

By all the gods, old & new, I hope you're wong

wrong on all metric on difference with KO and Bailey. its the same thing. ITS CONFIDENCE.

when KO was playing with no confidence , he was ineffective. we all wanted him off the island until it clicked.
As for letting up. Bailey is 2 years younger than KO.

If Bailey can play confident, we will all see the Bailey we want. Also Bailey always going to think Pass first. when he lead his team in juniors. An Ideal Bailey would be 20 goals 35 assists. That is far from being a bust.

If you want to call him a bust b/c he not putting up 80 points. guess what. that would put him top 5 in NHL. Also advance stats do matter. He is a Two way forward. Jonathan Toews is the best franchise center in NHL and his stats last year were 28G 40A 68P. Hey Kasper, does he suck b/c he not scoring 40 and having 50 Assists?
- Spartiarti

No basically he just sucks!! I mean I don't expect him to score 40 goals at all 20 would be nice putting up 40 points or close to 50. Not making stupid passes would help as well. I just think it is time to move on from the trash. He only puts up numbers when the Islanders are way out of the playoffs. Maybe he cant play with pressure. He would look awesome in a Winnipeg jersey though

wow usually I am the one to rip into this team. I mean you have to admit the team looks a lot better than last year
- kasperrko

I DO agree, they made more
Improvement to the roster than previous season but we still have farther to go. A legit coach would be a big help. 12 game home losing streaks do not get u into playoffs. 13 blown leads in the 3rd period cant all be blamed on the goalie. 2012 was a fluke because of the shortened season. I am not so much "down" on the team as I am realistic. Look ehat the Rangers did with a better coach?

Yahoo Sports: The leading hockey authority on the web.
This team is still a stretch for the playoffs. Same crap coach. Same defense. Halak an improvement but he's not a brick wall. The glut of forwards only make Cappys job more difficult. Grabov & Klum wont understand 90% of what cappy says with his gawddamn chodwer-head accent. As it stands today, we will have to rely on a few teams underpreforming to realistically have a chance at playoffs.
- jmo16

I unfortunately agree. Bubble team at best right now unless a lot of maybes turn out for us. I don't depend on "maybes" turning out. Broken record here but an addition of a top 4 changes everything(as we all know). I like the improvements but I'm not buying us as a playoff team yet.

Yahoo Sports: The leading hockey authority on the web.
This team is still a stretch for the playoffs. Same crap coach. Same defense. Halak an improvement but he's not a brick wall. The glut of forwards only make Cappys job more difficult. Grabov & Klum wont understand 90% of what cappy says with his gawddamn chodwer-head accent. As it stands today, we will have to rely on a few teams underpreforming to realistically have a chance at playoffs.
- jmo16

I think they have a puncher's chance at making the playoffs, a much better chance then they did last year. Up front, the additions of Kulmenin and Grabovsky and another year of development for Strome, Nelson and Lee should make the group of forwards overall better than last year. The goaltending is tremendously better now than a year ago. Yes, the "D" is the same as last year and its not good enough. Yes, they need another top four minute-eater. But so do a lot of teams. Trying to be an optimist, I think if this team can avoid the same bulls**t they have been running into each year (slow starts, winless Novembers, consistently blowing leads) this team can make the playoffs, even with Cappy behind the bench.

I DO agree, they made more
Improvement to the roster than previous season but we still have farther to go. A legit coach would be a big help. 12 game home losing streaks do not get u into playoffs. 13 blown leads in the 3rd period cant all be blamed on the goalie. 2012 was a fluke because of the shortened season. I am not so much "down" on the team as I am realistic. Look ehat the Rangers did with a better coach?
- jmo16

That's how I took that article as well. Snow did improve the roster quite a bit but like last year one of the glaring holes is not filled yet. Though I still feel it will be before the start of the season unlike last year.

I think they have a puncher's chance at making the playoffs, a much better chance then they did last year. Up front, the additions of Kulmenin and Grabovsky and another year of development for Strome, Nelson and Lee should make the group of forwards overall better than last year. The goaltending is tremendously better now than a year ago. Yes, the "D" is the same as last year and its not good enough. Yes, they need another top four minute-eater. But so do a lot of teams. Trying to be an optimist, I think if this team can avoid the same bulls**t they have been running into each year (slow starts, winless Novembers, consistently blowing leads) this team can make the playoffs, even with Cappy behind the bench.
- Jethro09

Unfortunately this has a lot to do with coaching IMO.

I unfortunately agree. Bubble team at best right now unless a lot of maybes turn out for us. I don't depend on "maybes" turning out. Broken record here but an addition of a top 4 changes everything(as we all know). I like the improvements but I'm not buying us as a playoff team yet.
- Cptmjl

Tough call.
I agree with everyone that the God-awful coach makes it challenging to make the playoffs no matter what upgrades were made. I'll also say though that they could very well finish second in the division and even go a round or two.
We have a goaltender who has caught fire in the playoffs before to go along with a damn good bunch of forwards who should be far more effective at adding backpressure to aid the dmen this year. The big questionmark remains on defense, where it could either be a pleasant surprise or a disaster. No matter what, I think enough holes were plugged that we can consider ourselves a playoff team, yet still a long ways from contendership.

This is just wrong.
- Cptmjl

What are you talking about? Toews would make a good third line center on our team.
- Cptmjl

Not if he's going to get in the way of Bailey's coming out party! BOOK IT DANO!

Tough call.
I agree with everyone that the God-awful coach makes it challenging to make the playoffs no matter what upgrades were made. I'll also say though that they could very well finish second in the division and even go a round or two.
We have a goaltender who has caught fire in the playoffs before to go along with a damn good bunch of forwards who should be far more effective at adding backpressure to aid the dmen this year. The big questionmark remains on defense, where it could either be a pleasant surprise or a disaster. No matter what, I think enough holes were plugged that we can consider ourselves a playoff team, yet still a long ways from contendership.
- keaner17

Like I said if those "maybes" work out it's a different story. DeHaan continues to improve, Strome, etc. and we get a solid year from Hamonic/Lubo and no serious injuries to our blue line then we are a playoff team probably even without an addition of a top 4. I just think that's hoping for the stars to align. Never works out that way and it's unrealistic for someone to think it will IMO.

Not if he's going to get in the way of Bailey's coming out party! BOOK IT DANO!
- keaner17

Not unless Toews is looking to play on Tavares's wing?

Like I said if those "maybes" work out it's a different story. DeHaan continues to improve, Strome, etc. and we get a solid year from Hamonic/Lubo and no serious injuries to our blue line then we are a playoff team probably even without an addition of a top 4. I just think that's hoping for the stars to align. Never works out that way and it's unrealistic for someone to think it will IMO.
- Cptmjl

I don't think Lubo will play more than 60 games.

Yahoo Sports: The leading hockey authority on the web.
This team is still a stretch for the playoffs. Same crap coach. Same defense. Halak an improvement but he's not a brick wall. The glut of forwards only make Cappys job more difficult. Grabov & Klum wont understand 90% of what cappy says with his gawddamn chodwer-head accent. As it stands today, we will have to rely on a few teams underpreforming to realistically have a chance at playoffs.
- jmo16

amac gone. lubo healthy. CDH will start the season with the isles. hamonic should be better. strait will be healthy. hickey = take into consideration that it isnt a stretch to think that either reinhart or whoever they bring in will be better than last years #6 IE carkner.

amac gone. lubo healthy. CDH will start the season with the isles. hamonic should be better. strait will be healthy. hickey = take into consideration that it isnt a stretch to think that either reinhart or whoever they bring in will be better than last years #6 IE carkner.
- LetsGoIsles

Watch the Hickey comment!

wrong on all metric on difference with KO and Bailey. its the same thing. ITS CONFIDENCE.

when KO was playing with no confidence , he was ineffective. we all wanted him off the island until it clicked.
As for letting up. Bailey is 2 years younger than KO.

If Bailey can play confident, we will all see the Bailey we want. Also Bailey always going to think Pass first. when he lead his team in juniors. An Ideal Bailey would be 20 goals 35 assists. That is far from being a bust.

If you want to call him a bust b/c he not putting up 80 points. guess what. that would put him top 5 in NHL. Also advance stats do matter. He is a Two way forward. Jonathan Toews is the best franchise center in NHL and his stats last year were 28G 40A 68P. Hey Kasper, does he suck b/c he not scoring 40 and having 50 Assists?
- Spartiarti

Bailey scored 8 goals playing mostly top six. This is why he's being referred to as a bust. Perspective, you need it.

Bailey scored 8 goals playing mostly top six. This is why he's being referred to as a bust. Perspective, you need it.
- Isles_since_6

Thank you and most of them were scored at the end of the year when the team was out of the playoffs

Bailey scored 8 goals playing mostly top six. This is why he's being referred to as a bust. Perspective, you need it.
- Isles_since_6

Exactly! Why do people think this guy will ever be good? Bailey had 4g and 4a in the first ten games last year and then completely disappeared! He didn't have another goal until Jan 23! His stats don't measure up to Okposo and it's insulting to Kyle to compare the two. Kyle outscored him every year except when he was hurt and even then it was close. You guys need to get over the Bailey denial already.

Exactly! Why do people think this guy will ever be good? Bailey had 4g and 4a in the first ten games last year and then completely disappeared! He didn't have another goal until Jan 23! His stats don't measure up to Okposo and it's insulting to Kyle to compare the two. Kyle outscored him every year except when he was hurt and even then it was close. You guys need to get over the Bailey denial already.
- JimmyP

Kyle also showed a lot more effort even when he wasn't scoring. Bailey is invisible.