He's a sharp guy, he's just too bitter and angry for me. I think his doom-and-gloom pieces are generally overblown and that's why I stopped caring what he had to say. And the arrogance is obnoxious.
- eichiefs9

Never got that impression.

Exactly, who do people assume you have to spend to the cap to have a winning team???
- Vukota

It doesn't but the majority of legit stanley cup competitors are at the cap. You can only live on ELC's and bridge deals for so long bfr you have to spend to retain what you have.

Never got that impression.
- Cptmjl

I mean in general. He's an intelligent human. But that doesn't mean I have to take into account very much that he says about the Islanders.

Plenty of examples in all sports that just spending the most does not guarantee anything. I have to think though after spending big money to buy the Isles that the new owners are not going to be penny pinching. It makes no sense to me to buy a sports team if you have to struggle along to pay the bills.
- ses111

Free spending like an idiot will get you no where but that's pointing out the obvious.

Problem with NYI defence is that only Hamonic would play top-6 role (4) role on contender team, and Lubo as 7-8th defenceman. Still if de Haan can stay healthy he could develop in solid d-man (top 4) and Hamonic could get better as you mentioned. Donovan, Pokka, Reinhart and Pullock could make this team good in future (but I feel like we hear that every year and they never get better...). And yes goaltending matters and Halak if he can stay healthy is the best choice for this team, they won't suck because Halak is one of those goalies who win when they are faced more shots (remember 2010) so it could help build confidence in this young group of d-man.

At least in these next two years Wang can teach these guys how to run the team!

XxNYIxX

Problem with NYI defence is that only Hamonic would play top-6 role (4) role on contender team, and Lubo as 7-8th defenceman. Still if de Haan can stay healthy he could develop in solid d-man (top 4) and Hamonic could get better as you mentioned. Donovan, Pokka, Reinhart and Pullock could make this team good in future (but I feel like we hear that every year and they never get better...). And yes goaltending matters and Halak if he can stay healthy is the best choice for this team, they won't suck because Halak is one of those goalies who win when they are faced more shots (remember 2010) so it could help build confidence in this young group of d-man.
- CanesFans94

deHaan would be top 4 on MANY other teams.

XxNYIxX

At least in these next two years Wang can teach these guys how to run the team!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Problem with NYI defence is that only Hamonic would play top-6 role (4) role on contender team, and Lubo as 7-8th defenceman. Still if de Haan can stay healthy he could develop in solid d-man (top 4) and Hamonic could get better as you mentioned. Donovan, Pokka, Reinhart and Pullock could make this team good in future (but I feel like we hear that every year and they never get better...). And yes goaltending matters and Halak if he can stay healthy is the best choice for this team, they won't suck because Halak is one of those goalies who win when they are faced more shots (remember 2010) so it could help build confidence in this young group of d-man.
- CanesFans94

Lubo is a 7/8?

At least in these next two years Wang can teach these guys how to run the team!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I no joke read this and thought it said "ruin" not "run"

It's not that far off-base.

Lubo is a 7/8?
- Cptmjl

Yea that's about when I started reading for the humor, not the substance.

I don't but it'd be nice to hear something positive coming out of this sale from BD or not. I can't stomach Wang anymore and him holding the majority for another two yrs makes me sick for obvious reasons. Can't stand him and what he'll keep here for another 2 yrs no matter what happens.
- Cptmjl

How can you not take the sale as a positive? You really think these two guys are going to fork over hundreds of millions dollars to watch Wang hire another backup goalie as GM? Also he might have majority ownership for the next two years but you can bet these two guys will be in his ear the whole time. Even if he stays on as 1/3 owner in 2 years which I doubt he won't be making any big moves without the ok from the other two. It's a win win as far as I look at it. We've waited this long what's another two seasons? Plus he has opened up the wallet this past season so that's good right?

Problem with NYI defence is that only Hamonic would play top-6 role (4) role on contender team, and Lubo as 7-8th defenceman. Still if de Haan can stay healthy he could develop in solid d-man (top 4) and Hamonic could get better as you mentioned. Donovan, Pokka, Reinhart and Pullock could make this team good in future (but I feel like we hear that every year and they never get better...). And yes goaltending matters and Halak if he can stay healthy is the best choice for this team, they won't suck because Halak is one of those goalies who win when they are faced more shots (remember 2010) so it could help build confidence in this young group of d-man.
- CanesFans94

Major issues I see from last season:

Defense was middle of the pack in shots against, but allowed what seemed like a lot of shots from good scoring positions

Goaltending was iffy at best, and frequently after one goal we’d allow 2-3 more quickly, resulting in a lot of blown third period leads

Carkner, Martinek, Ness all played regular shifts far too many times last season. That’s half your defense made up of players who have no business on an NHL team.

Coaching staff looked at a patchwork defense and didn’t start playing a defensive style until after JT got hurt. Strangely enough, that seemed to help our defense and goaltending, although it was far too late.

In order for our defense to hold up this year we need 1 of reinhart, Donovan, czuczman, Mayfield, polock to step up and show they can handly 16-18 minutes a night, and we’ll also need hamonic, dehaan and LV to remain healthy. Asking for all of that is a very big risk, which is why I still think we’ll see a move for a top four defenseman prior to the start of the season, most likely after camp. They’ll take a look at what they see in camp and then make the decision. If they don’t add a top four defenseman we’re an injury away from missing the playoffs and that could easily turn into giving buffalo a good shot at the top pick.

They’ve got to add that one defenseman so we have some depth…right now we have absolutely none.

Problem with NYI defence is that only Hamonic would play top-6 role (4) role on contender team, and Lubo as 7-8th defenceman. Still if de Haan can stay healthy he could develop in solid d-man (top 4) and Hamonic could get better as you mentioned. Donovan, Pokka, Reinhart and Pullock could make this team good in future (but I feel like we hear that every year and they never get better...). And yes goaltending matters and Halak if he can stay healthy is the best choice for this team, they won't suck because Halak is one of those goalies who win when they are faced more shots (remember 2010) so it could help build confidence in this young group of d-man.
- CanesFans94

if we were at Showtime at the Apollo, I would have Womp Womp'ed your ass off the stage.

I don't but it'd be nice to hear something positive coming out of this sale from BD or not. I can't stomach Wang anymore and him holding the majority for another two yrs makes me sick for obvious reasons. Can't stand him and what he'll keep here for another 2 yrs no matter what happens.
- Cptmjl

Its still a positive that the team is being sold. Even if we have to wait two years for Wang to not have final say its worth it. Two years is better than uncertainty.

Major issues I see from last season:

Defense was middle of the pack in shots against, but allowed what seemed like a lot of shots from good scoring positions

Goaltending was iffy at best, and frequently after one goal we’d allow 2-3 more quickly, resulting in a lot of blown third period leads

Carkner, Martinek, Ness all played regular shifts far too many times last season. That’s half your defense made up of players who have no business on an NHL team.

Coaching staff looked at a patchwork defense and didn’t start playing a defensive style until after JT got hurt. Strangely enough, that seemed to help our defense and goaltending, although it was far too late.

In order for our defense to hold up this year we need 1 of reinhart, Donovan, czuczman, Mayfield, polock to step up and show they can handly 16-18 minutes a night, and we’ll also need hamonic, dehaan and LV to remain healthy. Asking for all of that is a very big risk, which is why I still think we’ll see a move for a top four defenseman prior to the start of the season, most likely after camp. They’ll take a look at what they see in camp and then make the decision. If they don’t add a top four defenseman we’re an injury away from missing the playoffs and that could easily turn into giving buffalo a good shot at the top pick.

They’ve got to add that one defenseman so we have some depth…right now we have absolutely none.
- Isles_since_6

My perspective of last year to this year is size & speed. Beside Carkner there was no real good size on D until Czuczman and Mayfield got there small showing. Strait and Martinek lack the speed of most NHL Dmen. Besides staying healthy, the best positive for this team D are the kids size & speed. If Reinhart does/doesn't make the team out of camp, I have more faith in Czuczman/Mayfield as part of the D in comparison to Strait/Carkner.
Last year it seemed any opposing F could park themselves in front of net and no defensemen was able to move them. That lead into more blown leads beside the terrible play of course.

How can you not take the sale as a positive? You really think these two guys are going to fork over hundreds of millions dollars to watch Wang hire another backup goalie as GM? Also he might have majority ownership for the next two years but you can bet these two guys will be in his ear the whole time. Even if he stays on as 1/3 owner in 2 years which I doubt he won't be making any big moves without the ok from the other two. It's a win win as far as I look at it. We've waited this long what's another two seasons? Plus he has opened up the wallet this past season so that's good right?
- Vukota

Two years and Wang's no longer the only voice making decisions. He will be a minority voice, easily silenced by the majority owners. Wang's crazy ideas and comical manner in running things will be vetoed. Just in time for JT to need to be signed to an extension.

you said it. Better goaltending already will lead to better defense.

I agree Viz wont make 60 games. We need someone to surprise on Defense.
Or trade for Johnny Oduya.

Lubo is a 7/8?
- Cptmjl

Veteran guy to play as injury replacement to contender

if we were at Showtime at the Apollo, I would have Womp Womp'ed your ass off the stage.
- LetsGoIsles

Two years and Wang's no longer the only voice making decisions. He will be a minority voice, easily silenced by the majority owners. Wang's crazy ideas and comical manner in running things will be vetoed. Just in time for JT to need to be signed to an extension.
- Jethro09

deHaan would be top 4 on MANY other teams.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

CONTENDERS, I wouldn't have de Haan over Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester, Shattenkirk, Jackman, Gunnarsson and Leopold or Chara, Seidenberg, Hamilton, Boychuk, Krug and McQuaid/Bartkowski...

if we were at Showtime at the Apollo, I would have Womp Womp'ed your ass off the stage.
- LetsGoIsles

Just admit that your team suck and won't win cup in next few decades, Mike Millbury and Garth Snow ftw!!

Nice job on the podcast Dan It was tough listening to the other two but you did a fine job

CONTENDERS, I wouldn't have de Haan over Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester, Shattenkirk, Jackman, Gunnarsson and Leopold or Chara, Seidenberg, Hamilton, Boychuk, Krug and McQuaid/Bartkowski...
- CanesFans94

Barrett Jackman is a heaping pile of donkey stool.