It will be fun to watch. I haven't see a player with his skill set in decades
- Dan Petriw

true but its only his 1st year, lets see some consistency w/him, plus i think Laine is better except he plays W

true but its only his 1st year, lets see some consistency w/him, plus i think Laine is better except he plays W
- Ur Not Me

Laine will be a better goal scorer. I won't argue that. Matthews will be the better hockey player. Wait till he is not playing with Brown and Hyman..

It will be fun to watch. I haven't see a player with his skill set in decades
- Dan Petriw

Skill is crazy obv. but the skill, speed and size all together is scary and he's still has some time to grow into his frame. JT sin't close to being the skater nor possess the foot speed AM has imho.

sorry disagree ..... Mathews is great but wont be 2nd in league
- Ur Not Me

Agreed

Laine will be a better goal scorer. I won't argue that. Matthews will be the better hockey player. Wait till he is not playing with Brown and Hyman..
- Dan Petriw

He plays with Nylander and earlier into season was with Marner

Its still Crosby's league w/McDavid easily becoming 2nd, with Mathews, u can make a case that Eichel is very similar

*if we dont go by pts bc C's seem to have an advantage but to me, Teransenko & Kucherov are better players imho

Its still Crosby's league w/McDavid easily becoming 2nd, with Mathews, u can make a case that Eichel is very similar
- Ur Not Me

No one can debate that.

Just read the last thread and there was a lot of bashing of the Islanders defensemen.Quite honestly ou can't pin the Islanders defensive woes on the defensemen only. If you watched the Preds last night in their own zone they were excellent. Worked as a unit of five keeping the Islanders to the outside and limiting their rebound opportunities and basically every zone for that matter. When someone was beat or out of position there was someone there backing them up. Also I have to say the forwards were busting their ass on the back check as well.
This isn't going to change unless the whole defensive structure and culture is changed.
The Islanders were out classed last night and their best player again was Greiss.

The Islanders have scored the most or close to the most goals in the eastern conference 5v5 as a unit of five, but in the same breath have also given up the 4th most 5v5 goals as well and it too is as a unit of 5. Basically PO teams are not in the red when it comes to goal differential.

Its great to score goals but you have to take care of your own zone and pay attention to keeping the puck out of your net to be successful and the Islanders will not be successful or play to their full potential playing the way they are.
I'm sorry but a culture change is needed and it starts at the top.
- nyisles7

4th in 5 on 5 goals for and 27th in power play goals

Skill is crazy obv. but the skill, speed and size all together is scary and he's still has some time to grow into his frame. JT sin't close to being the skater nor possess the foot speed AM has imho.
- nyisles7

These were my points. The size and speed are a huge edge over JT. No way around it.

They've given up the most goals in the Eastern Conference 5v5.

They've scored the 3rd most in the EC at 5v5 also.

The last line is why Dougie shouldn't be the coach next year. They need to change the entire system, it doesn't work. Weight has done an extremely admirable job and I love the guy, but he just took Capuano's system and deployed it with a different mindset. It's lipstick on a pig.

They need a defensive-minded coach to instill some defensive accountability across the board. If they can pry Stevens away from LAK that would be awesome. Hitchcock is another guy that would bring what we need.
- eichiefs9

weight doesn't want to coach and you cannot change a system mid season it doesn't really work. it may have here or there as in the case of pittsburgh but they also have 10x more talent

4th in 5 on 5 goals for and 27th in power play goals
- Upstate_isles

At the end of the day 5th on this 1st on that, 24th here the negative goal differential is not a recipe for success. That after all my BS on the last point is the point.

Frans Nielson was staying to.

Jt is saying exactly what he should be saying.
- nyisles7

I think Frans was unhappy he was plan B to stamkos and they waited so long, sucks for him he actually went to a worse team

The fact that DD says he will make his decision in June, gives me an uneasy feeling.
I thought he made his mind up and is finishing what he started?

Again the money is the easy part.
- nyisles7

He wants to be the guy that brings a cup back and I firmly believe he resign Id be willing to bet on him staying. P.s I hope Ladd scores 5 more so bad

I think Frans was unhappy he was plan B to stamkos and they waited so long, sucks for him he actually went to a worse team
- Upstate_isles

He's very happy in Detroit, actually loves it

At least thats what he tells people

He wants to be the guy that brings a cup back and I firmly believe he resign Id be willing to bet on him staying. P.s I hope Ladd scores 5 more so bad
- Upstate_isles

To Toronto

ON Ladd of course you do me too, because I need to be wrong

I would be very surprised if Matthews is not top 2.
- ses111

dont forget Laine hes pretty good too

Laine will be a better goal scorer. I won't argue that. Matthews will be the better hockey player. Wait till he is not playing with Brown and Hyman..
- Dan Petriw

Laine = Ovie Matthews = crosby as far as the two of them are concerned, I'm not saying this is what they will be just who I think they compare too

dont forget Laine hes pretty good too
- Upstate_isles

Laine is very good. We better stop talking about these players. It's getting depressing.

Laine is very good. We better stop talking about these players. It's getting depressing.
- ses111

ok barzal looks like he could be a perennial 60+ point guy and so does ho-sang. each can drive a line as can jt and it will give the isles some much needed depth up front. add in someone via free agent and the isles arent that far away. new coach and system can also do wonders

ok barzal looks like he could be a perennial 60+ point guy and so does ho-sang. each can drive a line as can jt and it will give the isles some much needed depth up front. add in someone via free agent and the isles arent that far away. new coach and system can also do wonders
- Upstate_isles

There is some good hope in Ho Sang and Barzal. I'll hopefully feel better once we get the POHO hired. Wish we had some more names to go by. It's gotten very quite. Hope it picks up again soon. Would be good to have something else to discuss.

ok barzal looks like he could be a perennial 60+ point guy and so does ho-sang. each can drive a line as can jt and it will give the isles some much needed depth up front. add in someone via free agent and the isles arent that far away. new coach and system can also do wonders
- Upstate_isles

Thats it and nothing else

Laine = Ovie McDavid = crosby as far as the two of them are concerned, I'm not saying this is what they will be just who I think they compare too
- Upstate_isles

fixed correctly

fixed correctly
- Ur Not Me

well the debate was on those two i mean mcdavid is better

i wasn't making an excuse for boychuk. I agree with you. We should be winning more regardless. Im even sick of the Isles being tired excuse as if they only team playing hard every night.

Islanders, Devils and Rangers have to do the least traveling in the league compared to other teams. even Philly is only 1 hr from NYC

Totally unrelated, my buddy saw Ladd and Snow together today and snapped a picture. They don't look to chummy.