I would. (a) He wasn't that good...I didn't even notice him until you guys wrote something here. But I guess "not noticing" would be an improvement. (b) Where was this "decent" play when it mattered?
- UIF

haha- agreed.

why is it that when the islanders win all of a sudden everyone loves everyone on the team. i guess winning cures all

rolston didnt play a good game, he just didnt play a bad game....

come back down to earth, lets not talk about playoffs yet. its 1 win. 2 points. let them build a little bit off this win and once it ACTUALLY gets close to the playoffs then well discuss.

we all know if they lose tomorrow night, everyone in here thats talking about playoffs will be jumping off the ledge and trading every player away. 1 win at a time.

We should trade him now while his value is high!! Maybe get a 3-4 D-men & a later round pick!!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Nah....we can use him to trade up to number one overall next year and grab ourselves a GOALIE! I hear there's this freshman goaltender who can take FACEOFFS!

Nah....we can use him to trade up to number one overall next year and grab ourselves a GOALIE! I hear there's this freshman goaltender who can take FACEOFFS!
- keaner17

Not bad!!!

XxNYIxX

I'm thinking he'll finish with between 84-88 points this year, which is pretty damn impressive for a kid playing on a team with no depth who is a target every shift.

If they would just add some scoring depth to this team so JT wasn't the focal point of every opponent he could do some serious damage. Although he won't get any consideration for it due to the team's standings and the lack of media attention, IMO he's making a case for MVP. This team would be worse than columbus without him.
- Isles_since_6

I am thinking the same. Tavares is a streaky player (well was) I hope he broke out of that mold. He skates so hard and is strong with the puck he has matured right before our eyes. I am hoping with this emergence of TAvares that others in the league will take notice and might want to take a chance with this team. We are truning that corner and I hope we dont look back

MY previous quote highlights why playing with Tavares has saved Okposo as a player. The kid might now become the nasty power forward due to the physical confidence he'll gain from altercations like this. It's an edge he lost with his injury last year.
- keaner17

i agree with this comment but to just need to add that Okposo has CLEARLY raised Tavareses game as well....no one can dispute that.

all 3 players on the top line have grown from each other since KO took over for PAP

i agree with this comment but to just need to add that Okposo has CLEARLY raised Tavareses game as well....no one can dispute that.

all 3 players on the top line have grown from each other since KO took over for PAP
- LetsGoIsles

PAP with another two points last night. I think the top two lines are doing pretty good. I feel the second line will get it going and whatever you get from the third fine.

Really good post about DP by BD

http://newyork.cbslocal.c...er/#.TxmMvSCvqLM.facebook

XxNYIxX

I am thinking the same. Tavares is a streaky player (well was) I hope he broke out of that mold. He skates so hard and is strong with the puck he has matured right before our eyes. I am hoping with this emergence of TAvares that others in the league will take notice and might want to take a chance with this team. We are truning that corner and I hope we dont look back
- kasperrko

I don't think he's a streaky PLAYER but I'll go along with a streaky scorer. Even when he goes through his goal droughts, he's still constantly creating opportunities. This is why I'll also slightly disagree with the next point that was made to say that Okposo has elevated Tavares game. I think Tavares game has always been there and remains the same but we now see the result of having someone who's a better finisher than PA.

PAP with another two points last night. I think the top two lines are doing pretty good. I feel the second line will get it going and whatever you get from the third fine.
- kasperrko

Call me crazy, but id like to see the second & third lines like this

Nino -Bailey- PaP
Gremlin -Franz- Martin

XxNYIxX

Really good post about DP by BD

http://newyork.cbslocal.c...er/#.TxmMvSCvqLM.facebook

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I posted something here about 3 weeks ago on the potential for DP being let go under a contract amnesty clause. There was actually another outlet who mentioned it a while back. The team would still have to eat the money but it would no longer count against the cap.

I don't think he's a streaky PLAYER but I'll go along with a streaky scorer. Even when he goes through his goal droughts, he's still constantly creating opportunities. This is why I'll also slightly disagree with the next point that was made to say that Okposo has elevated Tavares game. I think Tavares game has always been there and remains the same but we now see the result of having someone who's a better finisher than PA.
- keaner17

I can agree with that... PAP is a playmaker much more so then finisher.

XxNYIxX

I posted something here about 3 weeks ago on the potential for DP being let go under a contract amnesty clause. There was actually another outlet who mentioned it a while back. The team would still have to eat the money but it would no longer count against the cap.
- keaner17

You would think a hitman would cost a whole hell of alot less & his hit would come completely off the books.

XxNYIxX

You would think a hitman would cost a whole hell of alot less & his hit would come completely off the books.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Like this guy?

Like this guy?

- keaner17

We can hire him but he's been on the shelf due to injury in his career more then DP.

XxNYIxX

I don't think he's a streaky PLAYER but I'll go along with a streaky scorer. Even when he goes through his goal droughts, he's still constantly creating opportunities. This is why I'll also slightly disagree with the next point that was made to say that Okposo has elevated Tavares game. I think Tavares game has always been there and remains the same but we now see the result of having someone who's a better finisher than PA.
- keaner17

i didnt say okposo has made tavares more talented-- i said hes helped tavares elevate his game....JT has always been talented but PA wasnt getting the most out of JTs talent.....

same thing with nino-- if he has new linemates, they wont make him more talented- theyll help him utilize all his talent that his currently linemates are unable to get out of him

Nabby has performed extremely well over period of time. Should we trade him or ride him throughout the season? Should we resign him for a year or two? Trade Poulin for a defense player? What do you guys think?
- ISLES1119

Noone needs a goalie right now in NHL. SO holding on the Nabby is best option. Trading Poulin would be dumb unless you getting a guy Jack Johnson, Doughty type which is not happening.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. Isles playign some of there best hockey right now. If we can avoid letdown game and put up wins against Toronto and Carolina then suddenly we are getting somewhere.

Lets just hope we keep the momentum going. LETS GO ISLES

i didnt say okposo has made tavares more talented-- i said hes helped tavares elevate his game....JT has always been talented but PA wasnt getting the most out of JTs talent.....

same thing with nino-- if he has new linemates, they wont make him more talented- theyll help him utilize all his talent that his currently linemates are unable to get out of him
- LetsGoIsles

and I wasn't saying you were saying that. What I'm saying is that Tavares' game has been elevated, he merely has someone now who's cashing in on the opportunities he's been creating all along. I'm seperating effort from results here meaning, statistically, yes, Okposo's presence has helped, but has it made Tavares' game better? Nah...he's been throwing pucks in those high percentage areas all along, but he now has guys cashing in. Either way, it's definitely a major positive for all three to be together, I'm just spliting hairs

and I wasn't saying you were saying that. What I'm saying is that Tavares' game has been elevated, he merely has someone now who's cashing in on the opportunities he's been creating all along. I'm seperating effort from results here meaning, statistically, yes, Okposo's presence has helped, but has it made Tavares' game better? Nah...he's been throwing pucks in those high percentage areas all along, but he now has guys cashing in. Either way, it's definitely a major positive for all three to be together, I'm just spliting hairs
- keaner17

youre splitting hairs but youre wrong.

If youre at a bar dressed to the nines, making jokes left and right, coming up with some of the greatest pick up lines and picking up the tab for everyone, thats all well an good....unless of course there are no women around. you got nothign to show for it.


if tavares is making his passes, getting to the corners, getting in front of the goalie, and setting up his linemates, thats all weel and good....unless of course his linemates are always a step behind him. he has nothing to show for it

the key to isles making playoffs is not about exact wins and losses. Its simple, Beat the 11 teams above us as much as possible to gain the most ground in the standings. While wins against Detroit and other western teams are nice, Unless the Top 8 teams lose as well, you dont go anywhere.

Beaten philly and washington on road was huge. Beating Toronto more important than beat Carolina.
We have plenty of games vs Pitt, Rags, Devils, Flyers, etc to go. Thats only way we have a shot.

Next year we need to focus on being ready from start, and not donate 10-20 game to horrific losing streaks.

Addition by Subtraction. If there is something isles mgt should have learned last year and this year is Vets on the decline dont help a team of young hungry hockey players.

Isles have looked there best lately and that is without DP, Mottau, Reasoner and Staios.

As for Tavares, I agree with correction that he streaky scorer not player. as a players this guy is getting better and better with every shift and has the XFACTOR and true desire to be the best.

Right now, no opposing dman has answer for him except to take a penalty on him. He completely undressed Meszaros and Timonen had to jump on his back to avoid john tavares going in all alone on Bobrosky for 3rd time.

John Tavares on his way to being top2-3 players in NHL.

I did some number crunching.. i looked at the games we have left, the games we have in hand, i figured out what needs to happen when the teams in front of us play eachother, i looked up the history these teams have in the months of feb, march & april... i figured in the rate of points our first line has been putting up as well as the play of nabby. After all this i figure if we can get more points then the 9th place team... we WILL make the playoffs!

XxNYIxX

why is reasoner being scratched?? the guy has a broken wrist. put him onto IR and bring up haley

and I wasn't saying you were saying that. What I'm saying is that Tavares' game has been elevated, he merely has someone now who's cashing in on the opportunities he's been creating all along. I'm seperating effort from results here meaning, statistically, yes, Okposo's presence has helped, but has it made Tavares' game better? Nah...he's been throwing pucks in those high percentage areas all along, but he now has guys cashing in. Either way, it's definitely a major positive for all three to be together, I'm just spliting hairs
- keaner17

I think KO has helped Tavares play his game better. I remember before thinking that Tavares had to spend far too much time along the boards since his linemates would not, and he wasn't able to utilize his talents in front of the net from the circles down as much because of it. With Okposo there, I feel like we're seeing a lot more of Tavares by the net.

I did some number crunching.. i looked at the games we have left, the games we have in hand, i figured out what needs to happen when the teams in front of us play eachother, i looked up the history these teams have in the months of feb, march & april... i figured in the rate of points our first line has been putting up as well as the play of nabby. After all this i figure if we can get more points then the 9th place team... we WILL make the playoffs!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Don't forget to carry the 1.

Don't forget to carry the 1.
- UIF

NOTED!

XxNYIxX