this is a question for the contract experts here.
please educate me if Casey Cizikas at 3.3mm a year was expensive, what is Andrew Shaw at 3.9MM a year for Montreal?

let me guess, he is a lot better than casey?
- Spartiarti

I think Shaw was overpaid, imho. Casey is kind of a unique situation. If he's only going to be our 4th line center, then paying him above 3 million is way too much. But if he's gonna center the 3rd line, go on the PK, and shut down opposing teams top players while chipping in 15 goals, this could turn out to be a good contract. Honestly, I think the contract will seem better as time goes on. I think it seems high to start.

I dont know if there are "NHL Standards" for the equipment, beyond the requirement that the "equipment" is capable of making & maintaining ice at a certain temp.
But if that is the real reason, then that's great news. Chillers & compressors & engines are fairly easy to replace and cost couldn't be much more than $1M, or so. (So long as there are pipes to circulate the chilled water solution, already buried in the cement floor).

What's more likely are a combination of two things: Operator error & the arena AC/Climate Control's ability to counter the humidity & heat levels in the arena when all the lights are on and the fans are in the seats. If the whole HVAC system isn't able to exhaust the heat or cool the space well enough for hockey, that's a bigger problem, however still fixable but way more expensive.
- jmo16

Agree there are no standards for Equiptment but you need to have a system in place that keeps the ice at a certain temperature.
You seem to know a lot about this I dont know the definite reason the system isn't cutting it but I did hear that on top of the smaller insufficient Equiptment there may be an issue with the piping material used in the floor. Do you know what different materials can be used in the piping itself? Are there different types of piping that can be used, like a cheaper plastic versus an expensive copper which can be efficient or work for a temporary occasional sheet of ice but won't cut it for an NHL sheet?
I would imagine this is fixable as well but it would require the BC to be closed for the time it would take to correct the issue and I would think that wouldn't be an option.

this is a question for the contract experts here.
please educate me if Casey Cizikas at 3.3mm a year was expensive, what is Andrew Shaw at 3.9MM a year for Montreal?

let me guess, he is a lot better than casey?
- Spartiarti

Do you even know who Shaw is or what he has done in his career?

I think Shaw was overpaid, imho. Casey is kind of a unique situation. If he's only going to be our 4th line center, then paying him above 3 million is way too much. But if he's gonna center the 3rd line, go on the PK, and shut down opposing teams top players while chipping in 15 goals, this could turn out to be a good contract. Honestly, I think the contract will seem better as time goes on. I think it seems high to start.
- Dedshark

For the love of everything holy can we please stop calling casey cizikas a "4th line" player??????

For the love of everything holy can we please stop calling casey cizikas a "4th line" player??????
- kindlyrick

agree however he was ''on the 4th line'' and in all seriousness it was our most consistent and dependable line all season.

For the love of everything holy can we please stop calling casey cizikas a "4th line" player??????
- kindlyrick

What is he then...??? Bc he still might C a 4th line, or maybe call him the new 3C which hasn't happened yet..... ???

What is he then...??? Bc he still might C a 4th line, or maybe call him the new 3C which hasn't happened yet..... ???
- Ur Not Me

I dont care where Cizikas plays,.......he's worth every penny they paid him and he's most certainly NOT a "4th liner"

He's a tenacious center who starts every game, plays PK1, goes out after after goal against, and prob led the team in offensive zone time for centers. Call him whatever you want......3rd line C, 2nd line C i dont care. But, lets not paint him as the bottom Centerman on the isles......cause after JT he's the 2nd best centermen.

I dont care where Cizikas plays,.......he's worth every penny they paid him and he's most certainly NOT a "4th liner"

He's a tenacious center who starts every game, plays PK1, goes out after after goal against, and prob led the team in offensive zone time for centers. Call him whatever you want......3rd line C, 2nd line C i dont care. But, lets not paint him as the bottom Centerman on the isles......cause after JT he's the 2nd best centermen.
- kindlyrick

bold - if you think that & team thinks that, guess what, the team is in worst shape than u think... FYI he's a bottom 6 player nothing more, hate to break it to u....

I dont care where Cizikas plays,.......he's worth every penny they paid him and he's most certainly NOT a "4th liner"

He's a tenacious center who starts every game, plays PK1, goes out after after goal against, and prob led the team in offensive zone time for centers. Call him whatever you want......3rd line C, 2nd line C i dont care. But, lets not paint him as the bottom Centerman on the isles......cause after JT he's the 2nd best centermen.
- kindlyrick

I really like Casey and can easily see him as a 3C shutdown checking center.

bold - if you think that & team thinks that, guess what, the team is in worst shape than u think... FYI he's a bottom 6 player nothing more, hate to break it to u....
- Ur Not Me

Why because thats what he's labeled? After JT, tell me, who takes more important faceoffs, or see's more important minutes as a center?

I dont care what you wanna call him, but he's not a 4th liner, and as I said, after JT, who's a more important center on this team?

I really like Casey and can easily see him as a 3C shutdown checking center.
- ses111

See above

I think in the "new NHL" its not about line 1 vs line 2 etc. The 4th line used to be goons. So call it what you will, but like I said, i look at it like this.....after JT, who is a more important center?

Garth is really going to have to get creative to field a decent team if he can't get Nielsen to come back down to earth.

Lee-JT-Xx
Nelson-Strome-XX (Backes?)
Grabbo-Barzal-Xx
Prince-CC-Cluts
- Danformo

If Nielsen doesn't come back, the Isles are going to have a serious top six issue. Losing KO and Nielsen means the Isles really need to add THREE top six forwards either through trade or FA to have a chance to improve the top six from last year. And that means three REAL top six forwards, with track records of producing as top six forwards, not force-fed top six guys like when the Isles shove guys like Prince, Bailey or Kuli on top lines.

The more you look at it, the more you realize Nielsen really needs to be re-signed. He is the most versatile player on the roster, doing everything pretty well, albeit not great. He wins faceoffs, scores, plays wing, the point on the PP, plays center, kills penalties and doesn't have an injury riddled history. Losing that would set this team back big time.

Pie in the sky, but I'd like to see Nielsen re-signed, along with strong pushes for Erickson and Lucic, I have no idea who is available on the trade front or what the cost would be, but if the Isles want to improve, they really need to bring back Nielsen AND add two more legit top six forwards.

See above

I think in the "new NHL" its not about line 1 vs line 2 etc. The 4th line used to be goons. So call it what you will, but like I said, i look at it like this.....after JT, who is a more important center?
- kindlyrick

I would not mind seeing a line of Casey with Cal and Chimera.

If Nielsen doesn't come back, the Isles are going to have a serious top six issue. Losing KO and Nielsen means the Isles really need to add THREE top six forwards either through trade or FA to have a chance to improve the top six from last year. And that means three REAL top six forwards, with track records of producing as top six forwards, not force-fed top six guys like when the Isles shove guys like Prince, Bailey or Kuli on top lines.

The more you look at it, the more you realize Nielsen really needs to be re-signed. He is the most versatile player on the roster, doing everything pretty well, albeit not great. He wins faceoffs, scores, plays wing, the point on the PP, plays center, kills penalties and doesn't have an injury riddled history. Losing that would set this team back big time.

Pie in the sky, but I'd like to see Nielsen re-signed, along with strong pushes for Erickson and Lucic, I have no idea who is available on the trade front or what the cost would be, but if the Isles want to improve, they really need to bring back Nielsen AND add two more legit top six forwards.
- Jethro09

I agree with you, but the isles apparently wont budge. 5.5 offered and he's looking for 6...

I would not mind seeing a line of Casey with Cal and Chimera.
- ses111

Im not sure how much chimmer has left in the tank......but he's definitely the type of player the isles should go after.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/arthur-staple/on-islanders-free-agency-minicamp-and-prospects-1.11973318
- NYI44

One positive from this article is the Plan B players Staple mentioned. This is a much different group from his previous articles. I would be ok with Ladd, Backes, or Boedeker. in an Isles uni.

Why because thats what he's labeled? After JT, tell me, who takes more important faceoffs, or see's more important minutes as a center?

I dont care what you wanna call him, but he's not a 4th liner, and as I said, after JT, who's a more important center on this team?
- kindlyrick

Even tho I hate to say this, but Franz is better, now don't twist my post and go on ur little rant but CC is a nice bottom 6 player, you do know the team lacks major talent for you to consider that a bottom 6 player is extremely important to team.
If the isles chose not to resign him (lets just say) they're other players that could fill his roster spot, or maybe you don't think that...??

Im not sure how much chimmer has left in the tank......but he's definitely the type of player the isles should go after.
- kindlyrick

For a one year deal it would be worth it and it should be a very good checking line.

I agree with you, but the isles apparently wont budge. 5.5 offered and he's looking for 6...
- kindlyrick

They should be able to get creative, like an extra year to take the overall value up or a buyout year, etc. I think they need to make that happen somehow. The Isles are in a tough spot. They want to build up to being a legit contender. Their time to do so is now. They have a piece that almost any team in the league would value at $5.5M-$6M per that is necessary to continue the upward trend, since there really isn't anything much better on the market (Stamkos aside).

The worst part is that even if the bring Nielsen back, its not enough they still need a lot more.

I agree with you, but the isles apparently wont budge. 5.5 offered and he's looking for 6...
- kindlyrick

I really cannot blame them. 5.5 for Frans is more than fair. He is not my favorite, but he would been nice to bring back and would be one less guy to replace. I'll give Loui 6 before Frans though. Isles will have to overpay someone though especially if they lose Frans and cannot sign Stamkos.

Even tho I hate to say this, but Franz is better, now don't twist my post and go on ur little rant but CC is a nice bottom 6 player, you do know the team lacks major talent for you to consider that a bottom 6 player is extremely important to team.
If the isles chose not to resign him (lets just say) they're other players that could fill his roster spot, or maybe you don't think that...??
- Ur Not Me

I think that Cizikas hasnt even tapped his full potential. When you mix, tenacity, with speed and talent, who knows how good he can really be. I think that after JT, he's the next best center on this team. I cannot even entertain the Frans discussion as he's not signed and looks to be heading out.

One positive from this article is the Plan B players Staple mentioned. This is a much different group from his previous articles. I would be ok with Ladd, Backes, or Boedeker. in an Isles uni.
- niteislander

Boedker will disappoint you. He works some magic on the PP but otherwise seems at a complete loss a lot of the time. As an Oiler fan I ENJOYED having him in the Pacific from a matchup standpoint.
If he is all that's available then that's fine. But I certainly wouldn't pick him over the likes of say Hudler or even Stempniak.

I think that Cizikas hasnt even tapped his full potential. When you mix, tenacity, with speed and talent, who knows how good he can really be. I think that after JT, he's the next best center on this team. I cannot even entertain the Frans discussion as he's not signed and looks to be heading out.
- kindlyrick

I agree with you that Casey hasn't hit his ceiling, but I think his ceiling is a 3rd line center and excellent penalty killer

Boedker will disappoint you. He works some magic on the PP but otherwise seems at a complete loss a lot of the time. As an Oiler fan I ENJOYED having him in the Pacific from a matchup standpoint.
If he is all that's available then that's fine. But I certainly wouldn't pick him over the likes of say Hudler or even Stempniak.
- Wildschwein

Boedker sounds more like a plan C. Loui, Ladd, and Lucic should all be ahead of him.

I think that Cizikas hasnt even tapped his full potential. When you mix, tenacity, with speed and talent, who knows how good he can really be. I think that after JT, he's the next best center on this team. I cannot even entertain the Frans discussion as he's not signed and looks to be heading out.
- kindlyrick

He may have more to give if handed sweeter minutes and more skilled line mates, but be careful expecting too much. Bottom 6 players are easy to root for.