They say that every year and nothing happens just like they say the same thing a month before the trade deadline. What they hope will happen and what actually happens are two different things.
- Vukota

We do seem to hear this same talk every year and it ends up being a disappointment. Hopefully it's different this year.

Unrelated, but for awhile it seemed like a sure-thing that the Habs were going to sign Panarin's former KHL teammate Vadim Shipachyov. But now McKenzie is saying that pretty much every NHL team is going to be in on him.

I'm hard pressed to believe the Islanders could compete with the big-market teams for him, but I would hope that Snow & Co. are at least going to push for him. That's a free asset that could be dumped right on the top line with Tavares, or into the 2C role, that we don't have to trade a single thing for. I'd even overpay a bit, in money or term, to avoid having to lose any of our current assets. If he can have even relatively similar success to Panarin, that would be a huge coup for the Isles.

Unrelated, but for awhile it seemed like a sure-thing that the Habs were going to sign Panarin's former KHL teammate Vadim Shipachyov. But now McKenzie is saying that pretty much every NHL team is going to be in on him.

I'm hard pressed to believe the Islanders could compete with the big-market teams for him, but I would hope that Snow & Co. are at least going to push for him. That's a free asset that could be dumped right on the top line with Tavares, or into the 2C role, that we don't have to trade a single thing for. I'd even overpay a bit, in money or term, to avoid having to lose any of our current assets. If he can have even relatively similar success to Panarin, that would be a huge coup for the Isles.
- eichiefs9

Enough with the question marks playing with JT. Go get him a proven winger

I mean...the article did point to them saying basically the same thing just prior to June 2015 and then:

Between that point in time and the opening of free agency, players traded included Robin Lehner, Dougie Hamilton, Milan Lucic, Ryan O’Reilly, Eddie Lack, Carl Hagelin, Cam Talbot, Martin Jones, and Brandon Saad.

That's a list of relatively big names to be moved.

I'm inclined to agree that it's, likely, going to be a wild June because of the cap and the looming expansion draft.
- eichiefs9

meh

Enough with the question marks playing with JT. Go get him a proven winger
- Vukota

I mean...over a PPG in a low-scoring league like the KHL is pretty impressive. Giving him a one or two year deal would be fine. He's already 29, so it's not like he is young and unproven. He's been a big talent in the KHL for years.

He has comparable numbers to Panarin in his last year in the KHL.

I'm not saying it's a guaranteed home-run, but he comes free of charge.

meh
- Vukota

suck it nerd

I mean...over a PPG in a low-scoring league like the KHL is pretty impressive. Giving him a one or two year deal would be fine. He's already 29, so it's not like he is young and unproven. He's been a big talent in the KHL for years.

He has comparable numbers to Panarin in his last year in the KHL.

I'm not saying it's a guaranteed home-run, but he comes free of charge.
- eichiefs9

Didn't Marcel Hossa lead the KHL in scoring one year?

suck it nerd
- eichiefs9

now go play with your GM app

Didn't Marcel Hossa lead the KHL in scoring one year?
- Vukota

No idea, maybe. Just saying that it's a roll of the dice that really doesn't have any ramifications. If he was signed for 2 or 3 years at a cap hit relatively low, he could be a huge steal. Or he could suck and we could dump him in the AHL, in which case he'd probably run back to Russia.

Best case scenario, he ends up being a similar player to Panarin and we win.

now go play with your GM app
- Vukota

Way ahead of you

No idea, maybe. Just saying that it's a roll of the dice that really doesn't have any ramifications. If he was signed for 2 or 3 years at a cap hit relatively low, he could be a huge steal. Or he could suck and we could dump him in the AHL, in which case he'd probably run back to Russia.

Best case scenario, he ends up being a similar player to Panarin and we win.
- eichiefs9

Just messing with you. I Would be down with it but like you said with just about every team interested in him the odds are probably pretty low so I'm not even going to think about it.

Way ahead of you
- eichiefs9

[url]

Just messing with you. I Would be down with it but like you said with just about every team interested in him the odds are probably pretty low so I'm not even going to think about it.
- Vukota

Yeah, I know. It's just something to talk about...like Stamkos. I have no expectation that it would happen.

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey 46m46 minutes ago
McKenzie/Shipachyov: "Every team is going to be beating down his door," there'll be all sorts of offers. "I haven't heard any specifics."

If McKenzie thinks this then it's true, and I have a hard time believing that many GM's are going to be pushing to sign a guy who isn't very good.

But, in general, signing Euro free agents is an avenue that I wish Snow would explore more often. It's extremely low-risk, high reward. If you're not one of 30 teams going after a guy like Shipachyov, I think you could potentially find some good depth on the cheap. Not saying you'll ever find a superstar, but you could find some useful talent for sure.

[url]
- Vukota

Was that Butchie coaching?

Was that Butchie coaching?
- ses111

Yup he was coaching the Bruins

Yeah, I know. It's just something to talk about...like Stamkos. I have no expectation that it would happen.

Chris Nichols ‏@NicholsOnHockey 46m46 minutes ago
McKenzie/Shipachyov: "Every team is going to be beating down his door," there'll be all sorts of offers. "I haven't heard any specifics."

If McKenzie thinks this then it's true, and I have a hard time believing that many GM's are going to be pushing to sign a guy who isn't very good.

But, in general, signing Euro free agents is an avenue that I wish Snow would explore more often. It's extremely low-risk, high reward. If you're not one of 30 teams going after a guy like Shipachyov, I think you could potentially find some good depth on the cheap. Not saying you'll ever find a superstar, but you could find some useful talent for sure.
- eichiefs9

I don't know the details on the upcoming expansion draft, but stockpiling depth could turn out to be a waste if you can only protect a limited number of players.

I don't know the details on the upcoming expansion draft, but stockpiling depth could turn out to be a waste if you can only protect a limited number of players.
- JohnScammo

They are going to protect Strait, Bailey, Zidlicky, Okposo. Also the best conditioned guy in hockey, Boulton. You guys are ok.

I don't know the details on the upcoming expansion draft, but stockpiling depth could turn out to be a waste if you can only protect a limited number of players.
- JohnScammo

The numbers on who you can protect are likely to be each team's choice of one of the following:

7F, 3D, 1G

OR

8 total skaters of any position, 1G

They're likely going to be forced to protect players with NMC's. So essentially, we'd have to protect Boychuk, regardless of if they actually wanted to or not.

Teams can only lose one player.

The numbers on who you can protect are likely to be each team's choice of one of the following:

7F, 3D, 1G

OR

8 total skaters of any position, 1G

They're likely going to be forced to protect players with NMC's. So essentially, we'd have to protect Boychuk, regardless of if they actually wanted to or not.

Teams can only lose one player.
- eichiefs9

That's key. So based on that, I take back my comment.

They are going to protect Strait, Bailey, Zidlicky, Okposo. Also the best conditioned guy in hockey, Boulton. You guys are ok.
- mdw7413

As long as we keep Strait, Bailey and Boulton, our future is secure.

That's key. So based on that, I take back my comment.
- JohnScammo

Fact is, they'll lose someone good. Everyone probably will.

This is just my own observation, but it's looking like it'll be in 2017, so it's hard to say what our roster will look like after next season before this year's draft/free agency even starts.

You almost have to think that they'll need to go the 8 skater route, because they have to protect Boychuk and they'll want to protect more than 2 other defensemen. At the very least, I'd want to protect Boychuk (mandatory), Leddy, Hamonic, Pulock. Which leaves 3 spots for forwards (really 4, but it's not like anyone doubts we'd be using one spot for Tavares)

Fact is, they'll lose someone good. Everyone probably will.

This is just my own observation, but it's looking like it'll be in 2017, so it's hard to say what our roster will look like after next season before this year's draft/free agency even starts.

You almost have to think that they'll need to go the 8 skater route, because they have to protect Boychuk and they'll want to protect more than 2 other defensemen. At the very least, I'd want to protect Boychuk (mandatory), Leddy, Hamonic, Pulock. Which leaves 3 spots for forwards (really 4, but it's not like anyone doubts we'd be using one spot for Tavares)
- eichiefs9

I'm going to be pissed if we don't protect Glass and he gets picked.

I'm going to be pissed if we don't protect Glass and he gets picked.
- mdw7413

Tanner Glass, the NHL's D-student

The numbers on who you can protect are likely to be each team's choice of one of the following:

7F, 3D, 1G

OR

8 total skaters of any position, 1G

They're likely going to be forced to protect players with NMC's. So essentially, we'd have to protect Boychuk, regardless of if they actually wanted to or not.

Teams can only lose one player.
- eichiefs9

That wont be possible if they add 2 teams. each team would need a minimum of 20 players for their active roster.