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!!!
- LetsGoIsles

Well let the record state I didnt say that number one and number two looking at our current blue line depth and lack there of him taking the place of czuzcman, carkner, or donovan isnt goinf to upset some balance in the universe. As I said in otger posts ive seen him play three preseason games. Means next to nothin but as compared to what I saw from the others I mentioned id take him over them as of now.

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

why he's made one bad deal so far-re Vanek. That was more of a miscalculation than a bad deal. If Vanek signs then it's a good deal. The problem with Snow is he hasn't made any deals to fill the holes. He better do something to stabilize that blue line. I haven't seen anything from any defensemen in training camp that stood out. Reinhart has been solid but, we can't rely and put all that pressure on him.

Dont gwt me wrong the guy can be a big pile of junk after a few games ive seen him play three preseason games. Its certainly not the best gauge.
- Cptmjl

I've seen the resume. I do not put a lot of stock in mediocre vets looking better than kids like Lee and Strome. These vets have been through these camps a lot more than Lee and Strome. I've seen Lee and Strome's talent and they should be on the team.

I'm with you
- Vukota

I'm waiting at least a week into the season, after the 10/18 games vs PIT (yes, 8 days is more than a week) before I start forming any real opinions on this team/individual players.

Well let the record state I didnt say that number one and number two looking at our current blue line depth and lack there of him taking the place of czuzcman, carkner, or donovan isnt goinf to upset some balance in the universe. As I said in otger posts ive seen him play three preseason games. Means next to nothin but as compared to what I saw from the others I mentioned id take him over them as of now.
- Cptmjl

He's worth a look.

I've never minded Snow trying to pick guys off the scrap heap and make them work. Some were great moves and some were bad. My issue with it is when they don't work out, he doesn't cut bait and get out quick enough. These guys can't play 1/2 or a full season before the organization decides to get rid of them. Moves have to be made more timely.

why he's made one bad deal so far-re Vanek. That was more of a miscalculation than a bad deal. If Vanek signs then it's a good deal. The problem with Snow is he hasn't made any deals to fill the holes. He better do something to stabilize that blue line. I haven't seen anything from any defensemen in training camp that stood out. Reinhart has been solid but, we can't rely and put all that pressure on him.
- dack1972

Nino for Clutterbuck will go down as one of worst deals in a long time. You'll see. It's a bad deal now just wait until Nino is scoring 30 goals a year. Vanek for Colberg or whatever the fack his name is another beauty. I have no faith in Snow when it comes to making trades as should nobody else

I can take or leave Doc, really. Olcyzk, Pang and McGuire are horrendous. Jaffe is doing OK up here. A good counter balance to Joe Hagerty who such a honk he makes Jack Edwards look like Switzerland.
- glove_was_stuck

Cant stand doc. Guy is overly irritating.

I'm waiting at least a week into the season, after the 10/18 games vs PIT (yes, 8 days is more than a week) before I start forming any real opinions on this team/individual players.
- eichiefs9

Of course but Its like being ten minutes into a movie and you already know what's going to happen at the end

True but they are loyal to their vets. You still need a core of vets and I think they want to give McDonald another chance. Conacher and Brennan came out of BUF, so they have to know the AHL is a real possibility. Skille is another 1st rd pick who they think can find his game again.

BTW I don't argue against the talent and skill aspects but fielding a team also means having guys with a good level of smarts who can keep in shape and play a role for team. A good example is Philly last year that had a good mix of vets and kids, but it was the coach figuring out his team and getting a system in place that got their season going.
- Fan101

I really hate calling someone like Mcdonald or skille "vets" when in reality all they really are is career AHL'ers.

I've seen the resume. I do not put a lot of stock in mediocre vets looking better than kids like Lee and Strome. These vets have been through these camps a lot more than Lee and Strome. I've seen Lee and Strome's talent and they should be on the team.
- ses111

He's worth a look.

I've never minded Snow trying to pick guys off the scrap heap and make them work. Some were great moves and some were bad. My issue with it is when they don't work out, he doesn't cut bait and get out quick enough. These guys can't play 1/2 or a full season before the organization decides to get rid of them. Moves have to be made more timely.
- eichiefs9

this I agree with. When PMB and Regin clearly didn`t look good they were still given far more time than they should have been before they were removed. Donovan got to play with carkner and martinek, and would get sent down for one mistake. I`m not saying Donovan is going to pan out, but I believe he should have been given more of a shot than he was with a better partner. That said, maybe they were correct because he`s looked bad in camp.

I really hate calling someone like Mcdonald or skille "vets" when in reality all they really are is career AHL'ers.
- Cptmjl

YES. THIS.

I really hate calling someone like Mcdonald or skille "vets" when in reality all they really are is career AHL'ers.
- Cptmjl

That's exactly what I just said. JT is more of a vet then those two

I really liked Jaffe when he was doing the isles games
- Vukota

ya agreed.... billy said it as he saw it.

Nino for Clutterbuck will go down as one of worst deals in a long time. You'll see. It's a bad deal now just wait until Nino is scoring 30 goals a year. Vanek for Colberg or whatever the fack his name is another beauty. I have no faith in Snow when it comes to making trades as should nobody else
- Vukota

It's hard to not think about the Nino situation if Lee and Strome are sent down. I'm sure Lee and Strome are a lot more mature than Nino was. Still not hard to think the worst.

I've seen the resume. I do not put a lot of stock in mediocre vets looking better than kids like Lee and Strome. These vets have been through these camps a lot more than Lee and Strome. I've seen Lee and Strome's talent and they should be on the team.
- ses111

the veteran's such as Martin and MacDonald type players are needed for the fourth line. You dont't take Martin and Macdonald off the fourth line to put Strome and Lee. Although i was very disappointed with Martin last night. Boston were running all of our players and Martin didn't address it at all. I haven't seen anything from Strome or Lee to earn a regular spot on the team. Now if you were referring Bailey and Grabner then i would agree with you. They need to start approaching those players with tough love. If they're not playing a complete game, not hustling or putting the puck in the net then sit them, send them down whatever it takes.

I've seen the resume. I do not put a lot of stock in mediocre vets looking better than kids like Lee and Strome. These vets have been through these camps a lot more than Lee and Strome. I've seen Lee and Strome's talent and they should be on the team.
- ses111

Last I checked brennan wont be bumping lee or strome out of a roster spot being hes a defenseman. Itd be one of the awesome trio of either czucman, donovan, or carkner.

the veteran's such as Martin and MacDonald type players are needed for the fourth line. You dont't take Martin and Macdonald off the fourth line to put Strome and Lee. Although i was very disappointed with Martin last night. Boston were running all of our players and Martin didn't address it at all. I haven't seen anything from Strome or Lee to earn a regular spot on the team. Now if you were referring Bailey and Grabner then i would agree with you. They need to start approaching those players with tough love. If they're not playing a complete game, not hustling or putting the puck in the net then sit them, send them down whatever it takes.
- dack1972

The 4th line is Clutter-CC-Martin. There is no need for McDonald on this team. He doesn't hit, he is slow and terrible in his own end. End of story

Skille was signed for bport but has had a really good camp.. Remember Matt Moulson was expected to be in bport. Not comparing the two but sometimes players come in and won jobs and if Anders Lee and Ryan Strome can't beat out those guys then that's on them
- Dan Petriw

agreed....its when money gets involved in the decision IE bailey, that gets me upset.

if strome and lee dont outplay one of the less-expected guys then they arent hungry enough. go to bridgeport and dont come back till the competitive edge is there.

the veteran's such as Martin and MacDonald type players are needed for the fourth line. You dont't take Martin and Macdonald off the fourth line to put Strome and Lee. Although i was very disappointed with Martin last night. Boston were running all of our players and Martin didn't address it at all. I haven't seen anything from Strome or Lee to earn a regular spot on the team. Now if you were referring Bailey and Grabner then i would agree with you. They need to start approaching those players with tough love. If they're not playing a complete game, not hustling or putting the puck in the net then sit them, send them down whatever it takes.
- dack1972

https://sports.vice.com/a...hockeys-tough-guy-culture

Here's a very good article explaining why guys like Martin are going by the way-side.

He's worth a look.

I've never minded Snow trying to pick guys off the scrap heap and make them work. Some were great moves and some were bad. My issue with it is when they don't work out, he doesn't cut bait and get out quick enough. These guys can't play 1/2 or a full season before the organization decides to get rid of them. Moves have to be made more timely.
- eichiefs9

100% agree. Theres always the usual expectation of incompetence.

The 4th line is Clutter-CC-Martin. There is no need for McDonald on this team. He doesn't hit, he is slow and terrible in his own end. End of story
- Vukota

McDonald was 3rd on the team in hits behind Martin and Clutterbuck and nearly 100 hits ahead of Cizikas, who was fourth.

That said. He still blows.

Fun stat: deHaan was 5th, with 114 hits. In 51 games. Only 14 less than Casey, who played 80.

the veteran's such as Martin and MacDonald type players are needed for the fourth line. You dont't take Martin and Macdonald off the fourth line to put Strome and Lee. Although i was very disappointed with Martin last night. Boston were running all of our players and Martin didn't address it at all. I haven't seen anything from Strome or Lee to earn a regular spot on the team. Now if you were referring Bailey and Grabner then i would agree with you. They need to start approaching those players with tough love. If they're not playing a complete game, not hustling or putting the puck in the net then sit them, send them down whatever it takes.
- dack1972

I do not want Lee and Strome on the 4th line. I saw enough from both during the regular season last year and both looked real good when they were not even playing with top line talent. I just do not put stock into these vets looking like world beaters in the preseason.

ya agreed.... billy said it as he saw it.
- LetsGoIsles

Best guy we've had since jiggs(pre dementia). Good=bad with the islanders.

McDonald was 3rd on the team in hits behind Martin and Clutterbuck and nearly 100 hits ahead of Cizikas, who was fourth.

That said. He still blows.
- eichiefs9

Exactly behind Clutterbuck & Martin in just about every category out there. So why is he even a thought on this team is beyond me