Or a defensmen
- Isles

To play where? We're already going to have Strait doing his best Matt Donovan impression and Pulock knocking down the door in the AHL.

He went on to say that if the Islanders make a trade before the season, it would be to move out a forward because we have too many. Which means picks/prospects coming back the other way.
- eichiefs9

We could also us whatever we get for him in a package for a good player with term, thats another option.

So what your saying is you feel safer surrounded by bugs that carry Malaria, Dengue fever, 60 poisons animals that can kill you with one bite than Brooklyn.
- mdw7413

I'm not sure I can argue with this LOL

I'm sure it will be gone by the start of the season. It's preseason for them as well
- Isles

I hope so, I hope the "New Tradition" is not screw over the blue collar fans!

We could also us whatever we get for him in a package for a good player with term, thats another option.
- Danformo

It's certainly possible. If a true contender out West offered us a 1st rounder for him I'd be all over it. There's plenty of talent coming up behind him and on the current roster...nothing wrong with keeping the pipeline stocked for the future either.

To play where? We're already going to have Strait doing his best Matt Donovan impression and Pulock knocking down the door in the AHL.
- eichiefs9

If (and I don’t think it’ll happen, but IF) dehaan is part of the package then I could see a defenseman coming back but my preference would be to keep dehaan and let him work his way back to his rookie season. I think he’ll be a lot better this season.

To play where? We're already going to have Strait doing his best Matt Donovan impression and Pulock knocking down the door in the AHL.
- eichiefs9

If you can get a top 4 dman in some kind of package that includes KO they'll make room for him

I have 4 seats in row 1 of section 203 and the player ops fantasy banner they just installed blocked my view of all of the play behind the goal line. They sold me those first row seats as unobstructed. I paid $9705 and the blocked big swath of ice for an advertisement. I called my rep today and she told me they woul have some kind of fix for me after the next game. Feeling very let down by the new Barclay center folks right now.
- BobTrost

Not many seats at BC you can see the whole ice surface. Some views just obstructed along the boards or a corner, thats why they have the I can't see the ice cam on the scoreboard. That said it is what it is and the team is here and not in Quebec or Kansas City.
I would female dog about the banners and I think they will do something for you. I would be surprised if they didn't.

Not many seats at BC you can see the whole ice surface. Some just along the boards or a corner, thats why they have the I can't see the ice cam on the scoreboard. That said it is what it is and the team is here and not in Quebec or Kansas City.
I would female dog about the banners and I think they will do something for you. I would be surprised if they didn't.
- nyisles7

I doubt that otherwise you're saying 13,000 out of the 15,000 seats are obstructed in some way?

If (and I don’t think it’ll happen, but IF) dehaan is part of the package then I could see a defenseman coming back but my preference would be to keep dehaan and let him work his way back to his rookie season. I think he’ll be a lot better this season.
- Isles_since_6

I don't really see why they would move de Haan. I get what you're saying though. I wouldn't be adverse to moving him, as part of a package, for the right guy but (and I'm not saying you disagree) I see that as highly unlikely...I guess you never know with Snow though..

If (and I don’t think it’ll happen, but IF) dehaan is part of the package then I could see a defenseman coming back but my preference would be to keep dehaan and let him work his way back to his rookie season. I think he’ll be a lot better this season.
- Isles_since_6

I don't really see why they would move de Haan. I get what you're saying though. I wouldn't be adverse to moving him, as part of a package, for the right guy but (and I'm not saying you disagree) I see that as highly unlikely...I guess you never know with Snow though..

I doubt that otherwise you're saying 13,000 out of the 15,000 seats are obstructed in some way?
- Isles

Have you been to a game there?

Have you been to a game there?
- nyisles7

Not yet. I'll be there against the Jets in oct. Plus I don't need to be at the game to know you're comment is inaccurate.

I don't really see why they would move de Haan. I get what you're saying though. I wouldn't be adverse to moving him, as part of a package, for the right guy but (and I'm not saying you disagree) I see that as highly unlikely...I guess you never know with Snow though..
- eichiefs9

If you can move Dehaan and Oakie and or Baily for a true top 4 Dman ( in a package) in his prime, be hard not to look at it. Especially with Dehaan"s struggles last year.

I don't really see why they would move de Haan. I get what you're saying though. I wouldn't be adverse to moving him, as part of a package, for the right guy but (and I'm not saying you disagree) I see that as highly unlikely...I guess you never know with Snow though..
- eichiefs9

I agree that it is unlikely they move DeHaan. I remember Snow doing cartwheels on draft day to trade all the way up to get a 12th overall pick just so he could draft the guy. I doubt he trades him just because of one somewhat shaky season.

If you can get a top 4 dman in some kind of package that includes KO they'll make room for him
- Isles

I don't think they're ready to pull the plug on de Haan. If I had to take a guess, I think they are going to give him this season to rectify his issues from last year. We all know how steady he is when he is playing well, he just needs to put it all together this year and do it consistently.

Not yet. I'll be there against the Jets in oct. Plus I don't need to be at the game to know you're comment is inaccurate.
- Isles

Ok been there 2 times and moved all around and just saying what I saw.Sight lines are dreadful for hockey.
But since you haven't been there Im gonna say you are right and I'm wrong. Then after you go you can agree with me.

I don't think they're ready to pull the plug on de Haan. If I had to take a guess, I think they are going to give him this season to rectify his issues from last year. We all know how steady he is when he is playing well, he just needs to put it all together this year and do it consistently.
- eichiefs9

I never said trade Dehaan. If they package KO in a deal for a Dman they could make room for him by bumping down dehaan to the 3rd pairing and move Hickey or Zidlicky if they had to. Not saying its gonna happen but if you are trading arguably one of your best forwards RIGHT NOW you gotta get back more then just picks and prospects especially if they are in a playoff position if they trade him mid season.

Ok been there 2 times and moved all around and just saying what I saw.Sight lines are dreadful for hockey.
But since you haven't been there Im gonna say you are right and I'm wrong. Then after you go you can agree with me.
- nyisles7

Deal

Late notes from the game last night - I started writing this and lost it on the cellphone when some BS redirect ad popped up- thanks EK!


So, to qualify, our nearly "A" team played mostly Flyer scrubs. Only guys I recognized from Philly were Coutourier, Simmonds, B. Schenn and AMac.

Leddy was best player on the ice. Period. Hands down. Two or three times he walked through the Flyers players and got to the net. One very good opportunity to score. Boychuk, as well, looked/played like it was regular season.

Tavares line(w/ Lee & Bailey) most effective line despite Josh Bailey looking completely lost most of the time. Hesitant. Waving his stick at players as they skate by—I think we have a diagnosis for his condition—he must have Pilonitis. Kid looks like he's lost his desire to play. Can't describe it any other way. JT & Anders going hard along the boards/behind the net while Josh skates the perimeter or slot area looking for easy play. Like he was playing pickup or beer league. Lee needs to get with Tavares' skating coach. For a guy his size, he gets knocked off balance quite easily. My only knock on him, tho.

Matthew Barzal will be competing for a spot on this team next year. If we didn't already have too many Fwds, he might make the team THIS year. Really. That solid. Smart and for his size did not look outta place amongst older NHLers. They had him on first PP unit with Zidlicky as the lone Dman. Barzal made the play that set up first PP goal from blueline. Can't wait to see him on the team full time. More effective & active than......petrov

Petrov. Okay, so it's been 6 years that he's had, playing with men in the KHL. He's big. He kinda looks like Nino, from a distance and scored on a nice shot close in on the goalie. What I wasn't impressed with was his neutral zone play. Didn't want to take the puck and skate with it. Always made a soft tap-pass to another forward, most of them, missed the target or got picked off. Is he good enough to play on this team? Yes. Will he displace any current players? Well, if we aren't going to get rid of Bailey or Grabovski, then I would say no. there isn't a spot for him over any of the other 2nd / 3rd liners.

Speaking of Grabovski, he didn't have a shift that I would call solid. For his salary, he'd better find his game & soon because he's ineffective for the most part and plays a different style than our other three lines, so I don't know how to justify him being a 2nd or 3rd line pivot. If he is paired with Brock, many here will not be happy. WIth Kuli & Petrov, it looked like a Euro line—always looking to pass—no one wanting to hump the puck in or dump & chase.... In one sequence, Petrov had the puck, left-side near Flyers blueline, drop-passed back to Grabo who then drop-passed back to Leddy on the right-side, in our zone. So, all the players were flat-footed at the blueline, waiting for Leddy to make the play. Stupid decision when dumping it in would have been the safe/smart move. We were up 2-0 at the time.

Bernier was hustling in the first period and looked like what you'd expect. Didn't notice him much in 2nd & 3rd. As a depth forward, I would say he's a slight improvement over McDonald. He'll be watching from the box, until injury rears its' ugly head.

Carkner was mostly, just awful. Aside of one really nice check, he got burned a few times and allowed guys to get behind him. Luckily, Pelech, saved his arse and he is not far away. Looked very good out there. Maybe pencil him in above Mayfield.

4th line was out there doing their job as always. Whitney, I think, subbed for Zeeker but Matty & Cal set the tone and picked up where they left off in April.

So, lastly, Marek Zidlicky. What can you say? He's a veteran. He looks good out there & is a notch better than Viz. Was great on the blueline for the PP. QUestion would be, can he play at that level all season? History suggests he can. So, unless Garth moves Strait or Hickey(2 days after hell freezes over), I can see Cappy deferring to the veteran vs. Pulock(unless he has a MONSTER camp).

PK was out there 3 times, I think. Not impressive 2 of the 3. By sheer luck alone, we escaped one or two EASY chances Flyers had on rebounds in front—wide open net. Game easily could have changed on the late PP's for the Flyers, which would have been classic Cappy—Team gets up a few and takes foot off the gas. OK, it's preseason but still not a good sign to see, once again.

3 on 3 OT was mandatory and had no impact so I would say both sides weren't taking chances like they needed the points.

Oh, and I met John Ledecky. He sat down behind me with a luxury box owner. Guy is hands on. I introduced myself and said FIRE CAPPY NOW! No, just kidding. Talked about the seating for a minute and thanked him for buying team. Very nice guy. Told him I bought a $6 ticket but was moving around the whole game to find the best seating. With that he called his VP of Sales and the guy showed up in about one minute to talk to me about tix packages. Think we're in for a bit of change, in a good way. Cheers!
- jmo16

Thanks for the post...very informative.

I don't think they're ready to pull the plug on de Haan. If I had to take a guess, I think they are going to give him this season to rectify his issues from last year. We all know how steady he is when he is playing well, he just needs to put it all together this year and do it consistently.
- eichiefs9

No agree not looking to move him, but I think if there is an opt. to move him in a package and make the team better on the blue line you never know.

Edit: That said I love CDH and hope he has a bounce back year because he is one of our question marks this year.

I don't really see why they would move de Haan. I get what you're saying though. I wouldn't be adverse to moving him, as part of a package, for the right guy but (and I'm not saying you disagree) I see that as highly unlikely...I guess you never know with Snow though..
- eichiefs9

I don’t see it happening either, but the way Capuano was using him at the end of the year made me wonder if they don’t see him as a long term fit and more of a placeholder. I’m a fan of dehaan though, and think he’s going to be better this year and still has a high ceiling. Just enjoy watching him with the puck (provided he doesn’t pass it into someone’s shinpads)

I never said trade Dehaan. If they package KO in a deal for a Dman they could make room for him by bumping down dehaan to the 3rd pairing and move Hickey or Zidlicky if they had to. Not saying its gonna happen but if you are trading arguably one of your best forwards RIGHT NOW you gotta get back more then just picks and prospects especially if they are in a playoff position if they trade him mid season.
- Isles

Okposo’s real value may be this year at the deadline if we move him. Teams pushing for a cup with limited cap space would be more likely to pay a higher price to get a top six winger at that cap hit. That said, I don’t see him being moved. I think we keep him all year and if they can’t sign him after the playoffs he walks.

Would I do that? No, I’d move him to get something of value for him, but I think they want to keep him and try and win a round this year, regardless if he walks for nothing at the end of it (making room for dal colle next season)

Okposo’s real value may be this year at the deadline if we move him. Teams pushing for a cup with limited cap space would be more likely to pay a higher price to get a top six winger at that cap hit. That said, I don’t see him being moved. I think we keep him all year and if they can’t sign him after the playoffs he walks.

Would I do that? No, I’d move him to get something of value for him, but I think they want to keep him and try and win a round this year, regardless if he walks for nothing at the end of it (making room for dal colle next season)
- Isles_since_6

Staple pretty much said in that Q&A session that Okposo is either gone before the season starts, after the season, or just plain walks on July 1.

He doesn't think, and I agree, that in the midst of a successful season the Islanders are going to move him. I think if he is on the opening night roster then he's an Islander until July 1st. Unless the season is an unmitigated disaster, in which case he'll probably get moved around the deadline.

Maybe we see him traded the first few days of the season like Moulson in the Vanek trade, but they have to get some chemistry going and make trades 1/4 - 1/2 of the way through the year doesn't help that.

Okposo’s real value may be this year at the deadline if we move him. Teams pushing for a cup with limited cap space would be more likely to pay a higher price to get a top six winger at that cap hit. That said, I don’t see him being moved. I think we keep him all year and if they can’t sign him after the playoffs he walks.

Would I do that? No, I’d move him to get something of value for him, but I think they want to keep him and try and win a round this year, regardless if he walks for nothing at the end of it (making room for dal colle next season)
- Isles_since_6

I would hate to lose him for nothing even though I understand where you're coming from