Hard to say.... I keep thinking back to the great game against the Pens when the Isles gooned it up and beat the Pens 9 - 3. Admittedly, that was a few seasons ago.
- JohnScammo

Of course, you never know when having a Boulton or Carkner on the ice prevents a cheap shot. It's not as if the cheap shot artists make a point of saying that they would have laid out some guy, but for the presence of the other team's enforcer.

There are way too many variables to go into in detail. Does Barclays make a profit currently? I don't know, do you? How much additional profit would they make with the Isles playing there? What is the cost of converting the arena from basketball to hockey and back to basketball? I know it can be done--like at MSG--but I have no idea whether the expense is significant.

Furthermore, you presume to know the details of the hypothetical new lease at NVMC. How do you know what the Isles could negotiate in 2022?

The point of my original post was just that the purchase of the Barclays gives the new owners options that they don't currently have. Is everything likely to fall into place so that the Isles would ever move back to NVMC? Nope.
- JohnScammo

This conversation is pointless. You seriously seem to think becoming a tenant again is going to be more profitable than playing in a building they would own? Would you rent a place to live while leaving a house you own empty? Would you spend a crapload of money and effort to build a fan base in Brooklyn only to later move it back to a place you left? Are you dee Karl posting under a different account?

Of course, you never know when having a Boulton or Carkner on the ice prevents a cheap shot. It's not as if the cheap shot artists make a point of saying that they would have laid out some guy, but for the presence of the other team's enforcer.
- JohnScammo

Dressing Carkner on defense is asking your other five defensemen to play more minutes because he cannot play a regular shift. How often are you going to play him to keep him on the ice as a deterent? The age of the goon has passed. If you cant play and help the team you don't have a place in the nhl anymore.

Their D has been fine 5 on 5. Its the PK that is absolutely killing them
- Vukota

Just dumb luck, in my view- as I said, to me, their collective lack of any grasp of defensive fundamentals is just more glaring when they have one less body on the ice. In reality, they don't play defense properly, ever- it's just that when they are 5 on 5, they have enough talent (and especially speed) up front now to keep the puck for long periods of the game against most teams, which helps hide the fact that when they do lose the puck, they get stuck in their own zone for literally minutes at a time (this is how they can play like crap, and still have nearly 40 shots on goal). They also have a FAR better goaltender than anything they managed to trot out between the pipes at any point last year.

I'm not worried as far as improvement is concerned- I still think with this roster that we certainly have a playoff team. I'm just concerned that they're not ever going to be much more than that, unless they learn how to defend properly. Shot Blocking Without Screening the Goaltender 101 should be the first course that should require mandatory attendance. That alone would help immensely.

the easiest way to play with a lead is to hold onto the puck. the less time you have to spend defending the better. the third periods against Carolina saturday and at MSG are prime examples
- Dan Petriw

Right...but that's what they do- that's WHAT they consider to be "defense". The problem is when you play a Pittsburgh type team, you're not going to be able to do that all game, because they can match your talent and speed. At some point, you have to be defensively aggressive without the puck- this is especially true on the penalty kill. The only two players I see who are aggressive without the puck are Boychuk and Kulemin, and that's because they didn't learn their trade here, in my opinion.

This conversation is pointless. You seriously seem to think becoming a tenant again is going to be more profitable than playing in a building they would own? Would you rent a place to live while leaving a house you own empty? Would you spend a crapload of money and effort to build a fan base in Brooklyn only to later move it back to a place you left? Are you dee Karl posting under a different account?
- Isles_since_6

I got into a flame war about this in a different venue- basically got told that the only reason I want them to move to Brooklyn is because I live in New Jersey, and it's closer (speaking of pointless- because of train schedules, it won't take me any less time to get there). The revenue argument goes through one ear and out the other one. If only these people in Nassau County had broken Hempstead's ba11s when it could have done some good, instead of whining about something they can no longer do anything about (not to mention the scoreboard, and all kinds of other worthless sh*t). I went and sat in on Nassau County legislature meetings in regards to trying to save the Islanders before Wang bought the team, and back then, I lived in PENNSYLVANIA. No one wanted to see the Isles leave Long Island (and yes, I know Long Island well enough to know that Brooklyn is ON Long Island, but it's not "Long Island")- the problem is, hardly anyone living in Nassau or Suffolk did a d*mn thing about it. You reap what you sow, as the saying goes.

So in the last two games, teams take liberties with the Isles, leading to at least one serious injury (concussion), and no one wants to dress Carkner or Boulton against the Leafs??? Gee, what could go wrong? It's not like there's a history of the Leafs beating up on the Isles.
- JohnScammo

I actually think boulton better than c Mac.
Maybe Colin had better shot but boulton gets like 4 mins of Ice time under cappy and makes the most of it.

When was the last time a goon was actually a deterent and not a cheap staged fight?
- Isles_since_6

The game before the instigator penalty came into effect.

you can make the case for Brock, but if that second line is clicking i don't want to upset it
- Dan Petriw

Brock as our 2nd line center and Frans as our 3rd is fine by me. It's Capuano putting the right people on their wings that's the issue IMO. Nelson looks great where he is I wouldn't move him either. It's a huge plus to have strength down the middle.

Brett Cyrgalis @BrettCyrgalis
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Visnovsky is on the ice again at #Isles practice; obviously no Grabovski (concussion). Lines: 89-91-21, 12-51-18, 86-29-15, 17-53-36
10:38 AM - 20 Oct 2014


Swapped Nielsen and Neslon. Pretty much swapped the 3rd and 2nd lines. Wonder what we'll see tonight?

The game before the instigator penalty was created.
- Cptmjl

On this team in seasons past, the skill players have always seemed to play with more confidence when there's some muscle in the lineup. I don't know why...the goons get limited ice time and aren't exactly skating alongside the scorers...but just having them on the bench still seems to have some influence. Martin's probably enough most nights (especially against Toronto, which seems to be all-in on 4th line possession numbers at the expense of 4th line toughness this season). But Boulton's nice to have to even the odds when there's a heavyweight in the lineup for the other team.

I don't know about a deterrent. I don't think Boulton in the lineup would have prevented John Scott from throwing a clean check on Grabovski, for example. But maybe players think a little more in general because there's at least the threat of retaliation. Not a staged fight, but a goon could target a skill player on the other team in retaliation for something done to a teammate earlier. I think in any setting, the tough guy acts different when he's the only big dog in the room versus when there's someone else there who can give him a run for his money.

On this team in seasons past, the skill players have always seemed to play with more confidence when there's some muscle in the lineup. I don't know why...the goons get limited ice time and aren't exactly skating alongside the scorers...but just having them on the bench still seems to have some influence. Martin's probably enough most nights (especially against Toronto, which seems to be all-in on 4th line possession numbers at the expense of 4th line toughness this season). But Boulton's nice to have to even the odds when there's a heavyweight in the lineup for the other team.

I don't know about a deterrent. I don't think Boulton in the lineup would have prevented John Scott from throwing a clean check on Grabovski, for example. But maybe players think a little more in general because there's at least the threat of retaliation. Not a staged fight, but a goon could target a skill player on the other team in retaliation for something done to a teammate earlier. I think in any setting, the tough guy acts different when he's the only big dog in the room versus when there's someone else there who can give him a run for his money.
- UIF

I dont have a problem with "enforcers" as long as they arent of the scott variety.

Brett Cyrgalis @BrettCyrgalis
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Visnovsky is on the ice again at #Isles practice; obviously no Grabovski (concussion). Lines: 89-91-21, 12-51-18, 86-29-15, 17-53-36
10:38 AM - 20 Oct 2014


Swapped Nielsen and Neslon. Pretty much swapped the 3rd and 2nd lines. Wonder what we'll see tonight?
- Cptmjl

Strome and Nelson seem to have a good chemistry, put them back together and I could live with Bailey on their line.

"In ownership news, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Barclays Center majority owner, Bruce Ratner, is selling his share of the arena. What does this mean for the Islanders? New owners, Jonathan Ledecky and Scott Malkin, have been linked as possible suitors to become majority owners of the building. If this becomes a reality, it would really cement the Islanders future in Brooklyn."


I have a different take on this. The Isles' lease is with the Ratner entity that owns the Barclays Center, right?. If Ratner continues to control the Barclays Center, there would be little chance of the Isles getting out of their lease at a reasonable price. On the other hand, if the Isles' new owners control the Barclays Center, then they control both ends of the same lease. In other words, if it becomes economically feasible for whatever reason (NVMC gets renovated, e.g.), then the Isles can break their lease with Barclays with no consequences. (Presumably, the Barclays can still turn a profit without the Isles.)
- JohnScammo

More money in Brooklyn, friend. The sooner you realize the Isles are dead on Long Island the better it will get.

Strome and Nelson seem to have a good chemistry, put them back together and I could live with Bailey on their line.
- jwbadlands

I have not had a problem with Bailey's play at all so far. Hopefully he keeps it up.

I have not had a problem with Bailey's play at all so far. Hopefully he keeps it up.
- Cptmjl

Now we have to burn you at the stake.

Now we have to burn you at the stake.
- eichiefs9

You also think Strome isn't playing that great so your opinion no longer matters.

You also think Strome isn't playing that great so your opinion no longer matters anymore.
- Cptmjl

I agree that Strome has been a bit shaky in his own end, especially on break outs. He tends to throw the puck away whenever he feels pressure. Offensively, he has great vision but not on the D side yet.

You also think Strome isn't playing that great so your opinion no longer matters.
- Cptmjl

He hasn't overly impressed me. I don't think he has sucked and I'm not worried. I was just hoping to see a little more from him out of the gate.

With teams having D injuries/issues does Carkner have trade value???

Maybe waiver value instead.....

I agree that Strome has been a bit shaky in his own end, especially on break outs. He tends to throw the puck away whenever he feels pressure. Offensively, he has great vision but not on the D side yet.
- brodydog29

I think the opposite actually. I think he's much better defensively than I thought he would be. I wasn't saying Strome was shaky at all quite the opposite actually. I think he can improve his offensive game but 5 assists in five games is nothing to shake a stick at.

With teams having D injuries/issues does Carkner have trade value???

Maybe waiver value instead.....
- Ur Not Me

He hasn't overly impressed me. I don't think he has sucked and I'm not worried. I was just hoping to see a little more from him out of the gate.
- eichiefs9

I think he can get better offensively but I believe he will. He's a little too tentative at times with the puck in the O zone and his release has to get quicker IMO. I think that'll come with time I'm guessing by mid season if he's kept in the line up and is given adequate playing time.

- eichiefs9

1st, 2nd, or 3rd rd pick???

1st, 2nd, or 3rd rd pick???
- Ur Not Me

overall?