IF Isles can get Ilya Kovalchuk... and thanks to Lou, they do have a shot *(and had NO shot with Garth)... then they could because...

1. Great goal scorer, but they can't afford to sign him when he comes due

2. There are some items in his game that aren't great.

3. Have key needs that are costly that even two 1st round picks won't fill. Especially via getting a top 4 dman
- B.D. Gallof

The question wasn’t if they “could”, because of course they can. I want your opinion on whether they “should”.

From the day they let former NYR Cup Winning GM Neil Smith go to hiring NJD Cup Winning GM Lou, Isles fans have had a decade plus Frustration Sandwich. McPhee was here for shorter than a beer and no one minds in the desert. You could say Snow did everything but win while Charles dreamt of building the Lighthouse Pyramid like the pharaos of old. Like the biblical old Joshua he sang and probably went. Goalies come and goalies go, but sometimes they stay and form pairs of three or Snowmath. Where the horses now run, the Tavares Thouroughbred may stay and get a lot of bread or become the Toast of Toronto and leave Snow melting like the summer ice at Barclay's.
- Fan101

If Smith is so great, howcome he's not GMing another team?

If Smith is so great, howcome he's not GMing another team?
- bgainesDM

Where did he say Smith is so great?

I once did an interview with Neil Smith... and the content was so out of control and whack... I had to deep-six it.

If you think Isles fans don't like Garth... well, they have NOTHING on the vitriol of Mr. Smith.

If Smith is so great, howcome he's not GMing another team?
- bgainesDM

don't think anyone is arguing about why Smith is out of a job. Just a lot of what-if due to Snow's rocky tenure... which has been long and in last few years... with many bumps

The question wasn’t if they “could”, because of course they can. I want your opinion on whether they “should”.
- Wildschwein

Without a replacement: no.

You don't deal Lee unless you have someone who is capable in playing top line.

So, I can't support it unless they have someone that is not a reach.

This said, in two years, he's gone bc won't be able to afford, and a kid should be replacement by then . (Bellows, JHS?)

Well... Well... Well... So this was the big announcement...

Maybe I will spent more time on here now.

Good Times!!!!

Well... Well... Well... So this was the big announcement...

Maybe I will spent more time on here now.

Good Times!!!!


- jimmc7722

......

Without a replacement: no.

You don't deal Lee unless you have someone who is capable in playing top line.

So, I can't support it unless they have someone that is not a reach.

This said, in two years, he's gone bc won't be able to afford, and a kid should be replacement by then . (Bellows, JHS?)
- B.D. Gallof

Very good. You may stay.

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.
- Vukota

100% agree.
Basically it’s all in a Bloggers mind.

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.
- Vukota

If he wanted to walk, he would've requested a trade at the deadline. Business-wise it wouldn't make sense for him to not do that cause he'd be only given 7 years should he hit the open market.

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.
- Vukota

Btw, Snow, I have no problem letting go. Weight, I'd like to see how he'd do with better assistants.

If he wanted to walk, he would've requested a trade at the deadline. Business-wise it wouldn't make sense for him to not do that cause he'd be only given 7 years should he hit the open market.
- bgainesDM

You're out of your mind if you don't think JT is close to walking. If it was just about money he would have signed the 8 yr deal already. It's not just about money with this guy and its not just about being buddies with Snow & Weight. The guy wants to win. I don't think he wants to leave he just looking for them to do something to help him win and up until getting Lou in here they haven't done shat

Btw, Snow, I have no problem letting go. Weight, I'd like to see how he'd do with better assistants.
- bgainesDM

Weight is more of a problem then Snow and that is saying a lot. Sorry but if you want to see what your head coach can do with better assistants then the HC sucks to begin with because he hired those guys

You're out of your mind if you don't think JT is close to walking. If it was just about money he would have signed the 8 yr deal already. It's not just about money with this guy and its not just about being buddies with Snow & Weight. The guy wants to win. I don't think he wants to leave he just looking for them to do something to help him win and up until getting Lou in here they haven't done shat
- Vukota

I think personally with or without Lou, he was going to sign. It's his only time where he'd go through this process and wants to just get an experience of what it's like.

I think personally with or without Lou, he was going to sign. It's his only time where he'd go through this process and wants to just get an experience of what it's like.
- bgainesDM

Keep telling yourself that

Keep telling yourself that
- Vukota

Sorry if I'm not as paranoid as you. Sure, winning helps, but then again Stamkos waited until 2 days before free agency to re-sign with Tampa despite winning 90+ games from 2014-2016.

Sorry if I'm not as paranoid as you. Sure, winning helps, but then again Stamkos waited until 2 days before free agency to re-sign with Tampa despite winning 90+ games from 2014-2016.
- bgainesDM

Paranoid?

you really think kovalchuk can still play in this league? over / under 65 pts? 50 pts? for me he i don't want him on the isls

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.
- Vukota

Malkin loves Garth so much he never told him about Lou. Garth is done and it’s Lou’s show now and I love it. Should be a great offseason instead of the snooze fest Gartn gave us for years.

Someone explain to me how removing Snow & Weight from the equation hurts the chances of retaining JT? You hear about how JT is really close with both of those guys and he likes playing for them. If that was the case wouldn't he have signed by now? He hasn't signed because he is sick of playing for a team going nowhere. Malkin finally realizes JT might walk because of this so he brings in Lou. JT wants to win more then wanting Snow & Weight to stay and that's why he has one foot out the door and rightfully so. Lou then goes and meets with JT while Snow and Weight are left in the dark. From all accounts JT was happy with the move and even talked with Lou.

So again tell me why its important to keep these two to help JT stay? I know at the end of the day Snow might stay on because all you hear is how close he and Lou are but its business and obviously Lou knows how to separate the two because meeting with JT behind the back of Snow is cold blooded and not something so called good friends would do to each other, but from a business stand point it was the right move and that's why Lou is Lou.
- Vukota

Exactly. Staple was the first to say how close Snow and Lou were. Never heard it before the rumors of him coming over started. Honestly believe there's a good chance that they're not really best buds.

you really think kovalchuk can still play in this league? over / under 65 pts? 50 pts? for me he i don't want him on the isls
- nyislsbossy

Exactly. Staple was the first to say how close Snow and Lou were. Never heard it before the rumors of him coming over started. Honestly believe there's a good chance that they're not really best buds.
- Cptmjl

Did you read your PM?

Malkin loves Garth so much he never told him about Lou. Garth is done and it’s Lou’s show now and I love it. Should be a great offseason instead of the snooze fest Gartn gave us for years.
- ses111

Hope so