- Cptmjl

They open with two against CAR and they always give us fits, especially their vets, so I say go with a lot of the new forwards. Everybody is trying to fine tune this team on paper but playing everyone out of position just to get everyone in the lineup can lead to too many errors in their play. Can also lead to errors in the coaching as well. Start with a lineup of guys playing their positions and you can always mix and fine tune later.

Just about every vet that can be waived is attractive as an NHL player or a minor league addition to be claimed, so I say send down the kids and keep the vets unless you really think they can outplay the vet by a lot.

After a couple of weeks into the season we may see other clubs looking to make the trades everyone is speculating now.
- Fan101

Those players can't be sent down after they are claimed. Anybody who gets claimed has to stay up with the big club not sure for how long and eventually would have to pass through waivers again if they wanted to send them down

I cant see how anyone who watched last's night game could want Brennan running their teams PP. He shot every time he touched the puck and his shots were flat. He kept getting burned when the Bruins rushed out their zone, since he is not just slow, but can't skate backwards to save his life. The PP looked good at times, bc Tavares was running it, but everytime the puck got to the point, the blackhole Brennen shot it.

We gave up two Shorthanded goals on one Power Play (yes I know the second wasn't technically, but still your PP unit was out there).

Don't be blinded by him tallying a goal on the PP, he had 7 shots last night (4 on goal, 2 blocked and one miss) and he had zero assists. Not is not a playmaker in my eyes.
- stonciddta

I don't want him running my PP BUT he's a better option than;

Czucman(at this point)
Donovan
Carkner
and any other prospect who shouldn't be rushed IMO. One of Reinhart or Pulock should make the team. I don't think Brennan is the next coming of Coffey but I did see him as being more effective than any of the players I mentioned. Lesser of two evils kind of situation.

- Cptmjl

Success is relative. Compared to the Kings, the Sharks are miserable failures. Compared to the Isles, they are a model franchise.

- eichiefs9

I actually don't think it's as much his fault as it is Snow's. What is Capuano supposed to do with eight centers?

Success is relative. Compared to the Kings, the Sharks are miserable failures. Compared to the Isles, they are a model franchise.
- Snowblind

Absolutely. That wasn't a disagreeing .

A week away from the season and Dehaan & Viz are not going to play the first week or so. Sick!!! Worst part is as much as I want a trade for a D-Man I cringe when Snow is about to make a deal

A week away from the season and Dehaan & Viz are not going to play the first week or so. Sick!!! Worst part is as much as I want a trade for a D-Man I cringe when Snow is about to make a deal
- Vukota

Is that confirmed?

Is that confirmed?
- Cptmjl

Staple predicted that Dehaan would probably miss a couple of games because he needed to get his conditioning back up to speed and with Viz you just have to keep your fingers crossed when he gets out of bed in the morning

A week away from the season and Dehaan & Viz are not going to play the first week or so. Sick!!! Worst part is as much as I want a trade for a D-Man I cringe when Snow is about to make a deal
- Vukota

This would be brutal and we could be looking at another bad start. Hope the goalies are ready to stand on their head.

Is that confirmed?
- Cptmjl

I don't think anything is confirmed. It was Stape's projected roster as of now.

He said Viz is likely to be ready for opening night. deHaan is upper body not shoulder related and he could start on IR for conditioning purposes.

Neither is particularly concerning to me.

I don't want him running my PP BUT he's a better option than;

Czucman(at this point)
Donovan
Carkner
and any other prospect who shouldn't be rushed IMO. One of Reinhart or Pulock should make the team. I don't think Brennan is the next coming of Coffey but I did see him as being more effective than any of the players I mentioned. Lesser of two evils kind of situation.
- Cptmjl

Agreed with the best Option on the current team (not including rookies), but just proves we need another quality dman. If Visnovsky goes down at all, we are in big trouble on the PP. Honestly, I would prefer Reinhart over Brennan even though he is a rookie. I have faith in him as a very young rookie over our scraps...I mean vets on the blue line.

Brennan has the offensive potential to score 40+ pts a season if he plays PP1.

Otherwise, he really needs to work on his skating (accelerating and speed specifically) and his defense.
- Danformo

Agreed with the best Option on the current team (not including rookies), but just proves we need another quality dman. If Visnovsky goes down at all, we are in big trouble on the PP. Honestly, I would prefer Reinhart over Brennan even though he is a rookie. I have faith in him as a very young rookie over our scraps...I mean vets on the blue line.
- stonciddta

I agree though I think we will see one of either pulock or reinhart in addition to brennan. As far as nedding a legit too four/vet d man for the blue line ive been rattling that sword for years now. If no additions are going to be made one of these kids are going to have to surprise in addition to viz staying healthy + good yrs from both dehaan and hamonic. Thats a lot to hope for imo.

- LetsGoIsles

Not a fan either?

This would be brutal and we could be looking at another bad start. Hope the goalies are ready to stand on their head.
- ses111

Either way they better be mentally preparing themselves for that.

I kind of think its a dumb argument, it's a local broadcast. I'll take the NESN Broadcast over Doc, Edzo and Panger. (frank)ing clowns.

EDIT: I love the Panther's guy who uses the random movie references when someone scores
- glove_was_stuck

i happen to disagree... i dont think howie (or butch goring) sugarcoats anything. and either did billy jaffe, which got him axed.

id say pens are by far #1 homer and then the distant second group includes the bruins guys.

as for doc... .... much MUCH better than most at calling a game.

Ouch..Staple is predicting Brennan / Hamonic as our Top Dman line opening night.

Another real long year, poor goalies. I just hope Staple is wrong.

Not a fan either?
- Cptmjl

if tj brennan, a guy who has 40 career nhl games and accumulated 11 -thats right, ELEVEN- points, comes to the island and nets 40+ points this year, saying garth snows name in vain will become the 11th commandment.

talk about unrealistic expectations and setting yourself up for disappointment. come one guys!! its preseason hockey!!!

Not a fan either?
- Cptmjl

Include me in the no fan of Brennan club.

I don't think anything is confirmed. It was Stape's projected roster as of now.

He said Viz is likely to be ready for opening night. deHaan is upper body not shoulder related and he could start on IR for conditioning purposes.

Neither is particularly concerning to me.
- eichiefs9

Really since the season hasn't even started yet and two guys with the most medical questions coming in are already banged up.

That is not true. Some might get claimed, others might not, but, honestly, why does it matter? Why deliberately start off the season with an inferior lineup just to hold onto a Brian Strait or a Colin McDonald? If there isn't room for them now, then when will there be?

Why is it that a team like the San Jose Sharks can fit a whole lineup of natural centers together successfully but the Isles can't?
- Snowblind

Good points but why do you want to dump healthy veteran players who may or may not contribute at the start of the season? A lot of fans are partial to the young players but only Nelson has shown he is physically matured to the NHL level. Strome will tear up the AHL as a number one center and honestly there are only a handful of NHL teams that he could be traded to as a number one or two center.

Same goes for Lee who may also bide more time in BRI before he comes up to stay.

The team is deep at forward now but they can deplete quickly through injuries etc.

As far as defense goes, I still think they are loyal to Carkner, Strait and Hickey, with Donavan on the bubble. Out of Reinhart, Pullock, Pokka and company only one may stay up to start the season.

i happen to disagree... i dont think howie (or butch goring) sugarcoats anything. and either did billy jaffe, which got him axed.

id say pens are by far #1 homer and then the distant second group includes the bruins guys.

as for doc... .... much MUCH better than most at calling a game.
- LetsGoIsles

You don't think Butchie sugarcoats anything?

Include me in the no fan of Brennan club.
- ses111

I'd rather give the spot to pulock but not first line minutes.

Good points but why do you want to dump healthy veteran players who may or may not contribute at the start of the season? A lot of fans are partial to the young players but only Nelson has shown he is physically matured to the NHL level. Strome will tear up the AHL as a number one center and honestly there are only a handful of NHL teams that he could be traded to as a number one or two center. Same goes for Lee who may also bide more time in BRI before he comes up to stay.
The team is deep at forward now but they can deplete quickly through injuries etc.
- Fan101

Guys like McDonald & Skille are a dime a dozen. if you lose one or both of them to waivers they'll be 200 more just like them looking for a shot