Well it may not be kovy so much as just something's being done to show progress. We will know soon
- Upstate_isles

This I agree with.

This I agree with.
- Cptmjl

- nyisles7

This could be me at the moment

A couple questions for you hockey whiz's: 1. Can teams make trades now or is there still a freeze until July 1 when free agency begins? 2. What are the odds of John Carlson hitting free agency? (I realize he's a righty, but man is he good).

A couple questions for you hockey whiz's: 1. Can teams make trades now or is there still a freeze until July 1 when free agency begins? 2. What are the odds of John Carlson hitting free agency? (I realize he's a righty, but man is he good).
- streaks

Like it was meant to be
https://twitter.com/TSNHo.../1002649595888001025?s=19

Like it was meant to be
https://twitter.com/TSNHo.../1002649595888001025?s=19
- Upstate_isles

Thanks fellow upstater. Not sure why Vegas would want him, they've got a good thing going with their grinders and their d is playing at a very high level. Nonetheless, I'd take him at $7MM, although he'll prob command more...

I think the mods are taking off all offensive posts towards said new blogger
- Upstate_isles

U mean geeks with website prowess ....

I’m pretty sure Kovulchuk’s agent is the same as Tavares. So there’s that.
- kindlyrick

Same agency don't think it's the same agent

This is from tyler dellow of the athletic,
Twelve teams had a line that went at least 15 goal difference worse than league average for that line.

4. New York Islanders, Line 1 (-21.0 goal difference). Key members: John Tavares, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey

Somehow, one of the biggest free agents of the decade played on one of the worst lines of the season. The Islanders first line went minus-10 (admittedly, minus-8 of that was in the 78 first line minutes that Tavares didn’t play). Unlike a lot of lines that made this list, New York’s first line had no problem scoring goals: the Islanders shot 9.1 per cent with Tavares on the ice. The save percentage was lousy, which probably had little to do with him.

From my perspective, the strange thing is that the possession numbers were so bad. The Islanders’ first line was 29th in the NHL by Corsi%. Strangely, their second line of, generally, Matthew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd or Anthony Beauvillier was one of the league’s better second lines from a possession perspective and went plus-15 to boot. My working theory here is pretty simple: Barzal is a freak when it comes generating shot attempts, with some other added factors like Tavares being used in a bit of a FOGO (Faceoff, Get Off) role on occasion.

If you look at the Islanders’ Corsi% by line, it went 48.3 per cent, 52.5 per cent, 45.3 per cent and then 41.0 per cent. As a rule, you expect to see things sort of step down as you go from line to line, so there’s something strange on the Island. A closer look at Barzal’s shifts reveals that he had the eighth best Corsi% amongst NHL forwards (minimum 100 shifts) on shifts starting with a defensive zone (minimum 100 shifts), with nobody posting a higher number of shot attempts per shift. His defensive zone loss numbers were even more sparkling, as his Corsi% was tied with Eberle for best in the NHL and his shot attempt per shift rate led the NHL. (Colleague Bourne had this sussed out with his eyeballs during the season and wrote about it, with some video.)

So, my suspicion is that what the Islanders probably really need to do is get their defence in order (or, alternatively, get some structure, something that Colleague Bourne raised throughout the year) but that Barzal is able to overcome it. That would provide some explanation for why Barzal’s line isn’t a disaster like the rest of the Islanders.

Should they do anything? I’ve laid out the groundwork for an investigation into Tavares’ possession numbers here. Assuming that they are, in fact, on the defence or structure or something outside Tavares’ control, re-signing Tavares and overhauling their defence/fixing their structure seems wise. Oh, and find a way to get some saves.

This is from tyler dellow of the athletic,
Twelve teams had a line that went at least 15 goal difference worse than league average for that line.

4. New York Islanders, Line 1 (-21.0 goal difference). Key members: John Tavares, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey

Somehow, one of the biggest free agents of the decade played on one of the worst lines of the season. The Islanders first line went minus-10 (admittedly, minus-8 of that was in the 78 first line minutes that Tavares didn’t play). Unlike a lot of lines that made this list, New York’s first line had no problem scoring goals: the Islanders shot 9.1 per cent with Tavares on the ice. The save percentage was lousy, which probably had little to do with him.

From my perspective, the strange thing is that the possession numbers were so bad. The Islanders’ first line was 29th in the NHL by Corsi%. Strangely, their second line of, generally, Matthew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd or Anthony Beauvillier was one of the league’s better second lines from a possession perspective and went plus-15 to boot. My working theory here is pretty simple: Barzal is a freak when it comes generating shot attempts, with some other added factors like Tavares being used in a bit of a FOGO (Faceoff, Get Off) role on occasion.

If you look at the Islanders’ Corsi% by line, it went 48.3 per cent, 52.5 per cent, 45.3 per cent and then 41.0 per cent. As a rule, you expect to see things sort of step down as you go from line to line, so there’s something strange on the Island. A closer look at Barzal’s shifts reveals that he had the eighth best Corsi% amongst NHL forwards (minimum 100 shifts) on shifts starting with a defensive zone (minimum 100 shifts), with nobody posting a higher number of shot attempts per shift. His defensive zone loss numbers were even more sparkling, as his Corsi% was tied with Eberle for best in the NHL and his shot attempt per shift rate led the NHL. (Colleague Bourne had this sussed out with his eyeballs during the season and wrote about it, with some video.)

So, my suspicion is that what the Islanders probably really need to do is get their defence in order (or, alternatively, get some structure, something that Colleague Bourne raised throughout the year) but that Barzal is able to overcome it. That would provide some explanation for why Barzal’s line isn’t a disaster like the rest of the Islanders.

Should they do anything? I’ve laid out the groundwork for an investigation into Tavares’ possession numbers here. Assuming that they are, in fact, on the defence or structure or something outside Tavares’ control, re-signing Tavares and overhauling their defence/fixing their structure seems wise. Oh, and find a way to get some saves.
- Upstate_isles

I'm shocked with two defensive specialist like Tavares and Bailey on that line.

They are not great defensively and they are not great skaters either. How many times did any of them go end to end like Barzal does so often?

I'm shocked with two defensive specialist like Tavares and Bailey on that line.
- Cptmjl

Isles may have a lousy system, but many of the players just do not work hard enough on defense.

Meh. That's irrelevant to me. If he has any plans on staying he has to know that delaying the inevitable is handcuffing the team he may or may not be playing with when all is said and done. If Lou in fact does know his intentions and if they are to sign with the team then sign and allow the team to make the neccesary moves to improve.
- Cptmjl

Just spit-balling, but I heard an interesting thought on NHL radio, that July 1 could be one seriously slow day if JT and Carlson decide to hold off on a decision, that could freeze some teams who are making offers and waiting, ok so lets go with that for just a second, Lou knows that JT is staying, maybe they even have a deal signed in Lou's new desk drawer, but JT lets wait to announce, while I set up my finances and make my moves while others wait. I don't think this is beyond the thinking of the man some have called the "Godfather of Hockey". Well at least I hope so. I will keep the glass half full.

Just spit-balling, but I heard an interesting thought on NHL radio, that July 1 could be one seriously slow day if JT and Carlson decide to hold off on a decision, that could freeze some teams who are making offers and waiting, ok so lets go with that for just a second, Lou knows that JT is staying, maybe they even have a deal signed in Lou's new desk drawer, but JT lets wait to announce, while I set up my finances and make my moves while others wait. I don't think this is beyond the thinking of the man some have called the "Godfather of Hockey". Well at least I hope so. I will keep the glass half full.
- Sec111

Wouldn’t put anything past any of the top hockey personalities in the league to get an advantage over their competition.

Just spit-balling, but I heard an interesting thought on NHL radio, that July 1 could be one seriously slow day if JT and Carlson decide to hold off on a decision, that could freeze some teams who are making offers and waiting, ok so lets go with that for just a second, Lou knows that JT is staying, maybe they even have a deal signed in Lou's new desk drawer, but JT lets wait to announce, while I set up my finances and make my moves while others wait. I don't think this is beyond the thinking of the man some have called the "Godfather of Hockey". Well at least I hope so. I will keep the glass half full.
- Sec111

I feel that's wishful thinking. I believe JT would have already signed if he was going to stay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM6ibXV20Dk

This is from tyler dellow of the athletic,
Twelve teams had a line that went at least 15 goal difference worse than league average for that line.

4. New York Islanders, Line 1 (-21.0 goal difference). Key members: John Tavares, Anders Lee, Josh Bailey

Somehow, one of the biggest free agents of the decade played on one of the worst lines of the season. The Islanders first line went minus-10 (admittedly, minus-8 of that was in the 78 first line minutes that Tavares didn’t play). Unlike a lot of lines that made this list, New York’s first line had no problem scoring goals: the Islanders shot 9.1 per cent with Tavares on the ice. The save percentage was lousy, which probably had little to do with him.

From my perspective, the strange thing is that the possession numbers were so bad. The Islanders’ first line was 29th in the NHL by Corsi%. Strangely, their second line of, generally, Matthew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd or Anthony Beauvillier was one of the league’s better second lines from a possession perspective and went plus-15 to boot. My working theory here is pretty simple: Barzal is a freak when it comes generating shot attempts, with some other added factors like Tavares being used in a bit of a FOGO (Faceoff, Get Off) role on occasion.

If you look at the Islanders’ Corsi% by line, it went 48.3 per cent, 52.5 per cent, 45.3 per cent and then 41.0 per cent. As a rule, you expect to see things sort of step down as you go from line to line, so there’s something strange on the Island. A closer look at Barzal’s shifts reveals that he had the eighth best Corsi% amongst NHL forwards (minimum 100 shifts) on shifts starting with a defensive zone (minimum 100 shifts), with nobody posting a higher number of shot attempts per shift. His defensive zone loss numbers were even more sparkling, as his Corsi% was tied with Eberle for best in the NHL and his shot attempt per shift rate led the NHL. (Colleague Bourne had this sussed out with his eyeballs during the season and wrote about it, with some video.)

So, my suspicion is that what the Islanders probably really need to do is get their defence in order (or, alternatively, get some structure, something that Colleague Bourne raised throughout the year) but that Barzal is able to overcome it. That would provide some explanation for why Barzal’s line isn’t a disaster like the rest of the Islanders.

Should they do anything? I’ve laid out the groundwork for an investigation into Tavares’ possession numbers here. Assuming that they are, in fact, on the defence or structure or something outside Tavares’ control, re-signing Tavares and overhauling their defence/fixing their structure seems wise. Oh, and find a way to get some saves.
- Upstate_isles

IMO, this sums up why JT is not worth $100 million.

I'm shocked with two defensive specialist like Tavares and Bailey on that line.
- Cptmjl

IMO, this sums up why JT is not worth $100 million.
- JohnScammo

That’s why he will only get 80 to 88 Million

That’s why he will only get 80 to 88 Million
- nyisles7

Geez, if that's all he gets, he may want to give up hockey in order to become an Uber driver.

IMO, this sums up why JT is not worth $100 million.
- JohnScammo

The guy starts with how that line isnt good and goes right into barzal

Geez, if that's all he gets, he may want to give up hockey in order to become an Uber driver.
- JohnScammo

I'm shocked with two defensive specialist like Tavares and Bailey on that line.
- Cptmjl

Dont forget 1-demensional Lee ...

- nyisles7

- nyisles7

Letting all these criminals drive Uber's, even the really bad ones