Laviolette will get it because he's established. Jack Capuano is the isles coach. Nuff said.

Side note: Howie and Butch could be the worst dressed announcers of all time. Get a phucking real tie if you're gonna be on TV. It's embarrassing.
- kindlyrick

They are usually dressed like a couple of street bums. Butch looks like he just rolled out of a bar most nights

You never kniw with Sather he Jedi mind tricks other GM's into some stupid shat. With that said I dont think Zuc is a bad player dont get me wrong I just think he's in a bad rut which is hurting his value.
- Cptmjl

Do you really need another 5 ft 2 skilled winger when you already have St Louis?

You never kniw with Sather he Jedi mind tricks other GM's into some stupid shat. With that said I dont think Zuc is a bad player dont get me wrong I just think he's in a bad rut which is hurting his value.
- Cptmjl

Either way you look at it hes a top 6 forward and they need a middle six forward, if its for another expiring contract it shouldnt be hard to do straight up

Do you really need another 5 ft 2 skilled winger when you already have St Louis?
- kindlyrick

He was a horse for them in the playoffs last year.

Do you really need another 5 ft 2 skilled winger when you already have St Louis?
- kindlyrick

Worked out last spring for the most part, and who knows what st louis' plans are

would you rather take a chance and maybe overpay, let him go for free, or trade him in the next month?
- rferrone

I'd just let him go for free. He has more value for us in a playoff run than whatever 2nd round or 3rd round pick we'd get for him.

He was a horse for them in the playoffs last year.
- Cptmjl

Out of curiosity, when the isles aren't in the playoffs do you root for NY? I know its a hated rivalry and i dont ever want to lose on the island, but if you were in and we were out, id have a hard time rooting against you. Because what are my other options?? Pittsburgh? No franking thanks

Out of curiosity, when the isles aren't in the playoffs do you root for NY? I know its a hated rivalry and i dont ever want to lose on the island, but if you were in and we were out, id have a hard time rooting against you. Because what are my other options?? Pittsburgh? No franking thanks
- rferrone

I know the answer to that one

Worked out last spring for the most part, and who knows what st louis' plans are
- rferrone

With a team that doesn't have Callahan, big body Boyle, prust, bickle.....where is the toughness? Where are the guys who can bang and get momentum. ZuccArello certainly isn't doing it and last year was last year. The Rangers have enough skill in Nash, Stepan, Kreider, St Louis. They need hard hat guys. How Mcilrath isn't playing with them is beyond me.

You'll pardon me in advance for saying but even Avery brought that element that is absolutely missing.

I'd just let him go for free. He has more value for us in a playoff run than whatever 2nd round or 3rd round pick we'd get for him.
- rangerdanger94

I agree with that unless we can get something up the middle. I think he takes a sweetheart deal though, he loves NY

With a team that doesn't have Callahan, big body Boyle, prust, bickle.....where is the toughness? Where are the guys who can bang and get momentum. ZuccArello certainly isn't doing it and last year was last year. The Rangers have enough skill in Nash, Stepan, Kreider, St Louis. They need hard hat guys. How Mcilrath isn't playing with them is beyond me.
- kindlyrick

We didn't have any of those "tough" guys you listed last year besides Boyle in the playoffs. And he isn't exactly a big hitter.

You don't need size to be a tough team. We outflyered the flyers last year for example.

With a team that doesn't have Callahan, big body Boyle, prust, bickle.....where is the toughness? Where are the guys who can bang and get momentum. ZuccArello certainly isn't doing it and last year was last year. The Rangers have enough skill in Nash, Stepan, Kreider, St Louis. They need hard hat guys. How Mcilrath isn't playing with them is beyond me.
- kindlyrick

must not have seen when he was lol

Theyll add a piece, Vigneaults system suits this team well. Really not worried about it. Kreider could be that guy if he could smarten up with the body. The league is evolving. Unless you have feet to match that big body, theres no place for you. Look how far prust has fallen. Where the heck is stu bickel even playing? Callahan was a great combination but if hes not playing with stamkos, he isnt a first line player. Boyles big but pretty soft

We didn't have any of those "tough" guys you listed last year besides Boyle in the playoffs. And he isn't exactly a big hitter.

You don't need size to be a tough team. We outflyered the flyers last year for example.
- rangerdanger94

Ok fair enough, you beat the flyers but what happened against the big body kings? The Rangers looked liked a junior team in the cup finals.

Not having Stralman, and Poulliot hurts and the Rangers are missing that physical element that Boyle and Carcillo brought last year

We didn't have any of those "tough" guys you listed last year besides Boyle in the playoffs. And he isn't exactly a big hitter.

You don't need size to be a tough team. We outflyered the flyers last year for example.
- rangerdanger94

i think the biggest thing is will the Rangers have enough scoring? The Rangers will always be a threat with the goalie and D.

Out of curiosity, when the isles aren't in the playoffs do you root for NY? I know its a hated rivalry and i dont ever want to lose on the island, but if you were in and we were out, id have a hard time rooting against you. Because what are my other options?? Pittsburgh? No franking thanks
- rferrone

Western Conference team. I'll pull the whole "rooting for New York" thing with the Jets & Mets (I'm a Giants/Yanks fan) because they aren't in the same division and/or conference (league, for baseball). Sure there's some competitive rivalry between those two sets of teams because they're in the same town but at the end of the day they're not really rivals.

Not only do the Isles/Rangers have the whole "location" thing going for them, but they're also division/conference rivals to boot. So I will never have it in me to pull the "rooting for NY" card with the Rangers, but in fairness I will never root for any Metro/EC.

Ok fair enough, you beat the flyers but what happened against the big body kings? The Rangers looked liked a junior team in the cup finals.
- kindlyrick

The kings beat us with the same offense we play, stretch passes and high velocity. Do you watch hockey or are you looking at height and weight of guys and just assuming they arent tough?
The kings have ridiculous depth, arguably deeper than the islanders

Ok fair enough, you beat the flyers but what happened against the big body kings? The Rangers looked liked a junior team in the cup finals.
- kindlyrick

Disagree. Zuccarello for Christ sake was banging in rebounds in front of the net. I think that series was closer than 4-1 and the difference was quick slightly outplayed hank.

Western Conference team. I'll pull the whole "rooting for New York" thing with the Jets & Mets (I'm a Giants/Yanks fan) because they aren't in the same division and/or conference (league, for baseball). Sure there's some competitive rivalry between those two sets of teams because they're in the same town but at the end of the day they're not really rivals.

Not only do the Isles/Rangers have the whole "location" thing going for them, but they're also division/conference rivals to boot. So I will never have it in me to pull the "rooting for NY" card with the Rangers, but in fairness I will never root for any Metro/EC.
- eichiefs9

Fair enough, i was thinking strictly eastern conference, and this isnt me taking a shot at you, but maybe im more bitter against some other teams because of the playoff matchups in recent years, whereas its been like yankees/mets with us and you...hasnt really mattered much

not sure but it was tighter than the score in the second half of the game
- rferrone

I agree, the game wasn't a blow out on the ice. Rangers had stretches they controlled play and Halak was excellent. It was a good one to watch. Sorry for riling up your emotional fan last night, I was just poking fun at him but he exploded and that wasn't the intent.

We didn't have any of those "tough" guys you listed last year besides Boyle in the playoffs. And he isn't exactly a big hitter.

You don't need size to be a tough team. We outflyered the flyers last year for example.
- rangerdanger94

The Rangers were also deeper down the middle and had a better defense last season. Richards may have been grossly overpaid, but he still gave you some depth at center. Brian Boyle did a good job of being a 3-4 center and still bringing some value. You've also replaced a pretty damn good defenseman in Anton Stralman with an over-the-hill Dan Boyle.

I agree, the game wasn't a blow out on the ice. Rangers had stretches they controlled play and Halak was excellent. It was a good one to watch. Sorry for riling up your emotional fan last night, I was just poking fun at him but he exploded and that wasn't the intent.
- Isles_since_6

No i riled him up too. That was way too ridiculous. He needs to meet a nice lady and blow off some steam

Disagree. Zuccarello for Christ sake was banging in rebounds in front of the net. I think that series was closer than 4-1 and the difference was quick slightly outplayed hank.
- rangerdanger94

ZuccArello couldn't knock the net off its moorings. The Rangers got dominated last night. It wasn't close.

The Rangers were also deeper down the middle and had a better defense last season. Richards may have been grossly overpaid, but he still gave you some depth at center. Brian Boyle did a good job of being a 3-4 center and still bringing some value. You've also replaced a pretty damn good defenseman in Anton Stralman with an over-the-hill Dan Boyle.
- eichiefs9

The Rangers do seem like they had the better team last year. Stralman was a big loss and I think Boyle was as well. It's good to have those guys with grit. I like the Isles have guys with size and skill like KO, Lee, and Nelson and Kuli.

The Rangers were also deeper down the middle and had a better defense last season. Richards may have been grossly overpaid, but he still gave you some depth at center. Brian Boyle did a good job of being a 3-4 center and still bringing some value. You've also replaced a pretty damn good defenseman in Anton Stralman with an over-the-hill Dan Boyle.
- eichiefs9

i think down the middle is moot...moore has played solid like always, miller had been a great surprise, hayes can play center, brassard is almost at a point per game. Were scoring much more than last year and still have hank. I really miss stralman. A lot. But boyles hasnt been himself all season. I think what he brings to the powerplay is awesome. The points may not be there, but that stretch of about 12 games where we were 45% was because he was quarterbacking

Fair enough, i was thinking strictly eastern conference, and this isnt me taking a shot at you, but maybe im more bitter against some other teams because of the playoff matchups in recent years, whereas its been like yankees/mets with us and you...hasnt really mattered much
- rferrone

It's a fair stance to take. The Isles haven't posed a particularly big threat to anyone, including the Rangers, lately so there's not really a reason for NYR fans to harbor some major hate towards us. I think it's getting back to the point where we can be bitter rivals though