I'm actually confident that they'll get both of them signed, which feels odd. I mean Leddy is an RFA and they rarely don't stay with the team that holds their rights. Boychuk was the big one that was worrying me. But based on some of the stuff his brother tweeted, seeing that he appears to be pretty damn happy (and loved) here, and the fact that he has newborn twins that I'm sure he would like to lay down some permanent roots for...I'm starting to grow pretty confident that he will stay.
- eichiefs9

yeah I don't think Leddy is going anywhere. I just hope it gets done during the season with Boychuk. If he goes into the spring unsigned then I'll be worried, real worried

Billy Smith was recently complaining about how Al would only let him play 30 games during the season to keep him fresh for playoffs. He was complaining b/c he would have THAT many more wins. having Halak play 4 games in 7 nights is a little excessive.
- niteislander

Yeah but the main reason for that was they have off a week for the all star break. Plenty of time to rest even if he is going to the all star game. No way he plays 4 in seven days if they don't have a full week off

yeah I don't think Leddy is going anywhere. I just hope it gets done during the season with Boychuk. If he goes into the spring unsigned then I'll be worried, real worried
- Vukota

I am hoping Boychuk is signed before deadline.

I am hoping Boychuk is signed before deadline.
- niteislander

yeah I don't think Leddy is going anywhere. I just hope it gets done during the season with Boychuk. If he goes into the spring unsigned then I'll be worried, real worried
- Vukota

Philly will be all over Boychuk if we don't get him done.

I heard through the grapevine that Boychuk loves it here and he just want to make sure his family is ok with staying here.

As for Halak playing all these games who cares. You put out the best players who you think are going to make you win. Johnson right now is not going to help the team and Halak will get plenty of rest now so no harm done

Yeah but the main reason for that was they have off a week for the all star break. Plenty of time to rest even if he is going to the all star game. No way he plays 4 in seven days if they don't have a full week off
- Vukota

exactly

Philly will be all over Boychuk if we don't get him done.
- mighty13duck

Where will they get the $ for that? I don't believe the whole Vinny going to retire for them nonsense.

I am hoping Boychuk is signed before deadline.
- niteislander

I just want him signed. Do not want to see his rights traded for a pick at the draft.

Where will they get the $ for that? I don't believe the whole Vinny going to retire for them nonsense.
- niteislander

I think they'd buy him and Umberger out at the end of this season.

Billy Smith was recently complaining about how Al would only let him play 30 games during the season to keep him fresh for playoffs. He was complaining b/c he would have THAT many more wins. having Halak play 4 games in 7 nights is a little excessive.
- niteislander

It really isnt.


XxNYIxX

By and large a great first 46 and there is room for improvement! JT and KO are only now looking their best and we still haven't seen Grabovski at his best since the first few games of the season before his concussion.

Obviously an awful lot is riding on Halak, but the same can be said for most #1 goalies on contending teams in the NHL. (You know who would make some sense? Martin 'frickin' Brodeur, that's who!)

As for the blue line, Reinhart, in his last callup,, looked as good as any veteran defenseman this team could possibly acquire without giving up the store at the deadline.

Faceoffs and PK. Someone has to emerge out of this roster loaded with centers who can take a draw, right? PK was looking better until it faced the best power plays in the business (Pens and Habs).

By and large a great first 46 and there is room for improvement! JT and KO are only now looking their best and we still haven't seen Grabovski at his best since the first few games of the season before his concussion.

Obviously an awful lot is riding on Halak, but the same can be said for most #1 goalies on contending teams in the NHL. (You know who would make some sense? Martin 'frickin' Brodeur, that's who!)

As for the blue line, Reinhart, in his last callup,, looked as good as any veteran defenseman this team could possibly acquire without giving up the store at the deadline.

Faceoffs and PK. Someone has to emerge out of this roster loaded with centers who can take a draw, right? PK was looking better until it faced the best power plays in the business (Pens and Habs).
- Snowblind

I am hoping Boychuk is signed before deadline.
- niteislander

Best to assume that Boychuk is one and done here. He will easily be the #1 UFA this summer. I hope I'm wrong but the guy is looking at a $50 million payday on July 1.

By and large a great first 46 and there is room for improvement! JT and KO are only now looking their best and we still haven't seen Grabovski at his best since the first few games of the season before his concussion.

Obviously an awful lot is riding on Halak, but the same can be said for most #1 goalies on contending teams in the NHL. (You know who would make some sense? Martin 'frickin' Brodeur, that's who!)

As for the blue line, Reinhart, in his last callup,, looked as good as any veteran defenseman this team could possibly acquire without giving up the store at the deadline.

Faceoffs and PK. Someone has to emerge out of this roster loaded with centers who can take a draw, right? PK was looking better until it faced the best power plays in the business (Pens and Habs).
- Snowblind

Brodeur may be a decent backup, but I heard hes been really bad lately

Dramatics? I just said I don't like him playing back to backs. Especially with the added work load. How is that dramatic?
- niteislander

Listen, of course Jaro can play back to backs but why should he? He has had a history of injuries in the past and quit honestly thats why teams have back ups. To keep their #1's in good shape for the playoffs. The problem is the Isles seem to have no confidence in CJ's game right now, and rightfully so with his play thus far.
If he can't get his game back to last years level then a capable NHL back up imho is needed. As far as Back to back games in the playoffs , for the most part they are not scheduled by the NHL as a rule unless a schedule conflict with the home teams arena.

Yeah but the main reason for that was they have off a week for the all star break. Plenty of time to rest even if he is going to the all star game. No way he plays 4 in seven days if they don't have a full week off
- Vukota

Id say the main reason was due to them having zero faith in Johnson followed by that reason.

Id say the main reason was due to them having zero faith in Johnson followed by that reason.
- Cptmjl

and could you really argue that?

Best to assume that Boychuk is one and done here. He will easily be the #1 UFA this summer. I hope I'm wrong but the guy is looking at a $50 million payday on July 1.
- Snowblind

$50M may be a bit on the high side of an estimate. He's a fantastic defenseman but he's not a top 10 defenseman in the league. I'm not sure exactly what they are projecting the cap to rise to next season, I think that will have a lot to do with it.

I broke it down a little in the previous thread, but assuming we don't re-sign Lubo, Boulton, Carkner, and a couple other guys we are looking at about $15M in current cap space for next season. That may rise depending on where the cap ceiling is next season.

I don't think it's fair to assume that Boychuk will be a one-and-done player here. The possibility certainly exists and you'd be foolish to dismiss it as impossible, but I also think he see's the potential of the team and he sure seems to be enjoying himself. Nothing is guaranteed but I think there's a damn good chance that we lock him up long term.

and could you really argue that?
- Vukota

Cant argue that but I don't know if they even have faith in Poulin so then what?

Id say the main reason was due to them having zero faith in Johnson followed by that reason.
- Cptmjl

i disagree...i also thought he played decently against the blue jackets.

i think they wanted to go into the break with a win and halak gave them the best chance. also halak being off for a week probably had soemthing to do with it.

id predict that johnson will see the ice during the middle of february when the west conference comes to town...

Interesting look at the isles come trade deadline

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...ds-in-new-york?src=mobile

i disagree...i also thought he played decently against the blue jackets.

i think they wanted to go into the break with a win and halak gave them the best chance. also halak being off for a week probably had soemthing to do with it.

id predict that johnson will see the ice during the middle of february when the west conference comes to town...
- LetsGoIsles

I'll throw in my two cents and say that I bet we see him play against the Bruins on Thursday after the break.

Rangers are the Rangers and Detroit is only 3pts back of us for the conference lead, they'll undoubtedly want Halak for those games. Boston is sitting at 8th in the conference, they're in a different division and it's his former team. Seems like he'll probably get the start for that one. All games are important, but Boston is the least important of the 3 games next week.

After the Detroit game we're going to see a stretch of very winnable games with us facing off against: FLA, PHI, BOS, BUF, EDM, TOR, CBJ

Interesting look at the isles come trade deadline

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...ds-in-new-york?src=mobile
- Vukota

I'd be inquiring with EDM about the price for Jeff Petry if I were Garth. He's not a necessity but if Snow could get him out of there for the right price I think that would upgrade this defense even further. It's unlikely to happen, but inquiries certainly don't hurt.

Other than that, I wouldn't make a single change. Maybe look to try and add a depth bottom pairing defenseman that would serve as a better fill-in than Strait or Donovan if someone goes down in or right before the playoffs.

i disagree...i also thought he played decently against the blue jackets.

i think they wanted to go into the break with a win and halak gave them the best chance. also halak being off for a week probably had soemthing to do with it.

id predict that johnson will see the ice during the middle of february when the west conference comes to town...
- LetsGoIsles

I had NP with Jaro playing against the Flyers. It was the game in Montreal that had me scratching my head. That being said they better give CJ some games after the break and see if he can get it together or else it it needs to be addressed asap and a new back up should be dealt for to give him some time to mesh with his new team notably the D corps before the playoffs.

Other than that this team is in first in the division and I don't think has played its best hockey yet. Special teams and DZC can all be improved on and it looks like the first line is starting to get it going with bail's on the wing. Second half is gonna be fun !