Rumor has it, Sid was mad Kyle was taking a shower with everyone else & not waiting for the white guys to finish.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

you should change your avatar to a pointy white hat and a pair of eyes.
- jmo16

Why? im no Crosby fan!!

XxNYIxX

Calling Strait a "7th dman at best" is hardly high praise.

Sorry but Hickey sucks. I don't really care much about what stats say. He is a constant out of position, out physicaled player who honestly thinks he is an offensive force and it causes him to make all kinds of mistakes. Aside from the fact that he loses every physical battle in the corners and in front, he's constantly jumping up on plays when the opportunity isn't there and hanging his partner out to dry. If there is one play that sums up Hickey, it was against Chicago where he skated the puck up across center ice and instead of dumping it in the corner, he tried a slap shot from the red line on net. The Chi defensemen was in the high slot...already giving up his own blueline and he intercepted the slapper high in his own zone and made a quick outlet pass up the middle catching Donovan flat footed. Donovan got beat 1 v1 and gave up a breakway goal. However, after the slapper, Hickey glided into the Hawks zone and BEHIND the Hawks defender who intercepted the shot. It was a good 50 feet he just drifted and in doing so hung his partner out to dry. I've seen many items like that from Hickey. There is a reason why a top 5 pick never made it with the team that drafted him and was waived.
- islander4cups

hickey was out of postion and out muscled just as much as hamonic or anyone not named CDH last season

out physicaled
- eichiefs9

Geez. Tough crowd today. Hockey needs to start soon

hickey was out of postion and out muscled just as much as hamonic or anyone not named CDH last season
- Dan Petriw

This is true besides strait. He wasnt out muscled though he was very often out of position.

This is true besides strait. He wasnt out muscled though he was very often out of position.
- Cptmjl

The OP had Strait above Hickey on the depth chart. I disagreed and he posted his reasoning. I still disagree, but that's my opinion. I still think Hickey in better and more valuable to the team.

- eichiefs9

The OP had Strait above Hickey on the depth chart. I disagreed and he posted his reasoning. I still disagree, but that's my opinion. I still think Hickey in better and more valuable to the team.
- David_Volek

i dont mind hickey being on the bottom pairing. could be alot worse.

Calling Strait a "7th dman at best" is hardly high praise.

Sorry but Hickey sucks. I don't really care much about what stats say. He is a constant out of position, out physicaled player who honestly thinks he is an offensive force and it causes him to make all kinds of mistakes. Aside from the fact that he loses every physical battle in the corners and in front, he's constantly jumping up on plays when the opportunity isn't there and hanging his partner out to dry. If there is one play that sums up Hickey, it was against Chicago where he skated the puck up across center ice and instead of dumping it in the corner, he tried a slap shot from the red line on net. The Chi defensemen was in the high slot...already giving up his own blueline and he intercepted the slapper high in his own zone and made a quick outlet pass up the middle catching Donovan flat footed. Donovan got beat 1 v1 and gave up a breakway goal. However, after the slapper, Hickey glided into the Hawks zone and BEHIND the Hawks defender who intercepted the shot. It was a good 50 feet he just drifted and in doing so hung his partner out to dry. I've seen many items like that from Hickey. There is a reason why a top 5 pick never made it with the team that drafted him and was waived.
- islander4cups

He was waived because they (unlike us) had six defensemen who were as good as him, and who weren't 5'6", 130. He actually had a lot of the best defensive stats of any player on our team, but in the end, he should be a 7, because he's too small, and at twenty something years old, chances are that without that magic "nutrition" that DiPietro seemed to be using, he's never going to get any bigger. There's where I'd agree that he's never going to be that great- but it has nothing to do with talent.

He was waived because they (unlike us) had six defensemen who were as good as him, and who weren't 5'6", 130. He actually had a lot of the best defensive stats of any player on our team, but in the end, he should be a 7, because he's too small, and at twenty something years old, chances are that without that magic "nutrition" that DiPietro seemed to be using, he's never going to get any bigger. There's where I'd agree that he's never going to be that great- but it has nothing to do with talent.

- dcb1

XxNYIxX

Without any more changes to team, what does everyone think about how the Islanders would finish this year and why?????

Without any more changes to team, what does everyone think about how the Islanders would finish this year and why?????
- Ur Not Me

1st!! Just to piss off the Doom & Gloomers on this site

1st!! Just to piss off the Doom & Gloomers on this site
- Vukota

Isnt that pretty much everyone?

XxNYIxX

Without any more changes to team, what does everyone think about how the Islanders would finish this year and why?????
- Ur Not Me

I'd say seventh in the conference, if we get rid of Cappy.

If Cappy makes the whole season, 11th in the conference.

Without any more changes to team, what does everyone think about how the Islanders would finish this year and why?????
- Ur Not Me

I think they could finish ahead of Philly, Carolina and New Jersey if things break right. Don't think they'll finish ahead of Washington, Columbus, the Rangers and Pittsburgh.

Despite the massive overpayments, I actually like Washington's D going into the season, and it's helped by having Trotz as coach. I think Holtby will be solid with the extra support he'll have. Columbus I think will be a little better than last year. Hartnell gives them some extra grit and a bit of scoring and Horton won't be coming off of an injury. Despite the Rangers being a bit worse on paper after the offseason, they're not going to fall into oblivion. Ditto for Pitt.

Philly, Carolina and NJ...while any or all of them could very well string a bunch of wins together and go on a nice run (they all have plenty of players who have done it), I'm just not wowed by the rosters on paper.

The Isles...the D on paper just looks bad. Maybe they figure it out and play well, but it looks like it might be a struggle there. Up front I think a decent part of their scoring fate depends on how good Nelson, Lee and Strome are. Seems like they have the talent, but over 82 games...can't say yet if they'll be consistent enough. I think we'll have to see the Isles get the most out of their roster to have a shot this year...I'm not sure if many would argue that the current group can still get in the playoffs if it takes a bunch of nights off. And I don't know if this coaching staff is the one that can get everything they have to give night in and night out.

I do think they'll be a lot more competitive, and a much more fun team to watch on any given night.

I'd say seventh in the conference, if we get rid of Cappy.

If Cappy makes the whole season, 11th in the conference.
- David_Volek

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

http://www.thehockeynews....hl-coaching-replacements/

Without any more changes to team, what does everyone think about how the Islanders would finish this year and why?????
- Ur Not Me

Middle of the pack but not enough to make the playoffs. We've played mediocre-to-horrible against our own conference the past few years. Philly has all but OWNED us the past 3 years. Carolina, regardless of the standings seems to get the better of us as does Montreal & Boston. We usually split with Rags & Devs.

Team needs to have a +.500 record at home. No excuses for not getting your home advantage. A lot of which falls squarely on coaching. Ownership change & impact can't come soon enough.

Middle of the pack but not enough to make the playoffs. We've played mediocre-to-horrible against our own conference the past few years. Philly has all but OWNED us the past 3 years. Carolina, regardless of the standings seems to get the better of us as does Montreal & Boston. We usually split with Rags & Devs.

Team needs to have a +.500 record at home. No excuses for not getting your home advantage. A lot of which falls squarely on coaching. Ownership change & impact can't come soon enough.
- jmo16

I think the lack of an additional, truly veteran defenseman is going to kill us...the youngsters have talent, and a lot of them will be good one day, in my opinion, but this sh*te system and the lack of discipline imposed by the dope who is in charge of it is going to slaughter any chance we have. I just hope one of the new veteran guys calls out this nonsense for what it is before we end up in the crapper again.

1st!! Just to piss off the Doom & Gloomers on this site
- Vukota

This team will have the talent to be a playoff team, with a proven defensive system. It's the guy we all know is an idiot who stands behind the bench who causes the gloom and ultimately will cause the doom.

1st!! Just to piss off the Doom & Gloomers on this site
- Vukota

Bubble team at best right now imo. Unless the stars align and these kids produce at an unexpected level on the back end. That all changes if Snow adds a stabilizing presence on our blue line. Still holding out hope for that. With everything I just said I just want to watch some facking hockey new top four or not. Im losing my mind.

I think most said it best, depending on coaching & who steps up this year isles are a bubble team. If 1 or 2 NHL Dmen can be added, do believe the isles can be playoff worthy.....


Is there a team willing to give up a good dman? Meaning a decent/good 4/5 guy that could benefit Isles? Also anyone hear about new rumors of who could possibly be available besides the normal names of Leddy, etc.....

Plus did anyone hear of any possible camp invites?

I think the lack of an additional, truly veteran defenseman is going to kill us...the youngsters have talent, and a lot of them will be good one day, in my opinion, but this sh*te system and the lack of discipline imposed by the dope who is in charge of it is going to slaughter any chance we have. I just hope one of the new veteran guys calls out this nonsense for what it is before we end up in the crapper again.
- dcb1

Nino (thru his agent) tried calling out his problems with the Coach & GM. Look how they responded to him? They get rid of anyone who opposes or questions their decisions. Brendan Witt, Roloson, Wiz all departed after remarks or innuendo. Pat Lafontaine was all but run out of the organization. Neil Smith walked away but he would have been fired had he ever officially was employed by the team. (He never signed the contract or accepted a paycheck). They are total control freaks. Hence the sparse information coming from the GM & Owner. Even now, with a sale imminent they have a communications-blackout regarding anything about it. I understand they don't want to jeopardize a half-billion dollar deal but it's consistent with their Standard Op. Proceedures to keep everyone in the dark and act as if all is well and going according to plan. I wish Josh Bailey would just once reply to a post game question with something like, "Well, it's tough to win when every time we make a mistake the puck ends up in the net."

Bubble team at best right now imo. Unless the stars align and these kids produce at an unexpected level on the back end. That all changes if Snow adds a stabilizing presence on our blue line. Still holding out hope for that. With everything I just said I just want to watch some facking hockey new top four or not. Im losing my mind.
- Cptmjl

You know our next "Top 4" defenseman(Brian Strait equivalent) will be a waiver acquisition.

I think most said it best, depending on coaching & who steps up this year isles are a bubble team. If 1 or 2 NHL Dmen can be added, do believe the isles can be playoff worthy.....


Is there a team willing to give up a good dman? Meaning a decent/good 4/5 guy that could benefit Isles? Also anyone hear about new rumors of who could possibly be available besides the normal names of Leddy, etc.....

Plus did anyone hear of any possible camp invites?
- Ur Not Me

We will start hearing about Satan, Yashin & Martinek all skating at Syosset any day now.

You know our next "Top 4" defenseman(Brian Strait equivalent) will be a waiver acquisition.
- jmo16

Snow knows he is under a microscope. If hes dumb enough to go that route let the chips fall.