You didnt hear that Wang bought the Jets?
I feel bad for anyone who is a Isles AND Jets fan. Wow....
- NewYawkIslandez

...don't forget about the Mets too

I just think that if we go into next year with a top-six of:

Moulson-Tavares-PA
Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo

then we are simply asking for the same result, and anyone who would be shocked at being a lottery team again would probably keep reaching for the electrified piece of cheese as well. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed in one or two of those players, but have nothing against them. I like them all, but it's not a good mix for winning big games that matter. That much has been proven, I think. I believe at least three and possibly four players from the top-six should be replaced...either moved down to bottom-six roles, traded, or not re-signed.
- UIF

yup yup and yup.

all 6 have talent, they just dont mesh, id trade any of those guys, outside of JT, for the right price. ideally a 2 for 1 swap, that way isles got an all-star (or close to it) and have another spot to fill IE Strome?

interesting list. i agree for the most part obviously but you kind of contradict yourself when you say "we'd be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to sign here to replace his point totals" and then 2 paragraphs prior to that comment you say, sign parise.

having said that i obviously agree with 1,2 and 4, its just a matter of if 1 and 2 want to sign here and 4 should be a shoo-in.

as for 3, id swap PAP for a bigger body that will stick up for his teammates while putting up solid points and doing the intangibles.
- LetsGoIsles

I would be shocked if PA re signs here........or should i say if the isles match the money he is going to get. I def agree that the isles need more size up front.

yup yup and yup.

all 6 have talent, they just dont mesh, id trade any of those guys, outside of JT, for the right price. ideally a 2 for 1 swap, that way isles got an all-star (or close to it) and have another spot to fill IE Strome?
- LetsGoIsles

If Strome isn't ready to step into the 2nd center spot, or shift to a top-6 wing, he should go back to Niagara. We won't know that until training camp, but no reason at all to dump him into the bottom 6, that kind of role isn't his skill-set so if he's not ready, which is fine by me, send him back to the Ice Dogs.

I would be shocked if PA re signs here........or should i say if the isles match the money he is going to get. I def agree that the isles need more size up front.
- kindlyrick

I'd rather them sign PA and trade Okposo or Grabner for a defensemen. PA brings more grit and passion to his team consistently.

I would be shocked if PA re signs here........or should i say if the isles match the money he is going to get. I def agree that the isles need more size up front.
- kindlyrick

Unfortunately there isn't a ton of size at forward available in free agency. There are actually a handful of defenseman that I'd like to see them make a run at. If we could get one or two of them it would vastly improve our issues on the blueline.

I'd rather them sign PA and trade Okposo or Grabner for a defensemen. PA brings more grit and passion to his team consistently.
- Isles316

What grit does PA bring. This team cannot go into this next season with the same top 6. They need more grit period. If Snow says he believes in this group one more time, im gonna lose it. It aint workin.

To me, this next draft will speak volumes. Im still mystified as to how this team feels winning at this point will help this team. Im not saying throw the games, but with 9 games to go, why not try different lines, or players. See what works, and then make decisions for next year. The way I see it, a top 3 pick has more value than a 5th or 6th overall...............spare me the playing hard till the end line, cause the fat lady is singing!!!

I'd rather them sign PA and trade Okposo or Grabner for a defensemen. PA brings more grit and passion to his team consistently.
- Isles316

Trying to sign PA is realistic priority #1 in my book. I'm sure calls/offers will be made on Parise/Suter, but neither are going to sign here. I think anyone with a realistic grasp on hockey knows that. The fact that Zach's dad played a whopping 4 seasons with the Islanders gets so unbelievably overplayed.

Unfortunately there isn't a ton of size at forward available in free agency. There are actually a handful of defenseman that I'd like to see them make a run at. If we could get one or two of them it would vastly improve our issues on the blueline.
- eichiefs9

We all see the trend here dont we???? The isles cannot land UFA's. Who cares what the reason is, they cant get the top end talent, period. The only avenue for this franchise right now to better this team is via trade. Its time Garth grows a pair and starts making moves at the draft. Enough is enough

What grit does PA bring. This team cannot go into this next season with the same top 6. They need more grit period. If Snow says he believes in this group one more time, im gonna lose it. It aint workin.

To me, this next draft will speak volumes. Im still mystified as to how this team feels winning at this point will help this team. Im not saying throw the games, but with 9 games to go, why not try different lines, or players. See what works, and then make decisions for next year. The way I see it, a top 3 pick has more value than a 5th or 6th overall...............spare me the playing hard till the end line, cause the fat lady is singing!!!
- kindlyrick

Not trolling, just curious as to what exactly about the draft will speak volumes to you?

Trying to sign PA is realistic priority #1 in my book. I'm sure calls/offers will be made on Parise/Suter, but neither are going to sign here. I think anyone with a realistic grasp on hockey knows that. The fact that Zach's dad played a whopping 4 seasons with the Islanders gets so unbelievably overplayed.
- eichiefs9

Other than Tavares, and Hamonic..........to me, NOONE is untradable. The isles have finished in the bottom 5 for 4 years in a row (or is it 5.......i cant remember). Why is everyone so big on bringing back similar rostered players? PA should have been traded. He is not the answer. I dont care how many goals he scored, cause they obviously werent enough.

We all see the trend here dont we???? The isles cannot land UFA's. Who cares what the reason is, they cant get the top end talent, period. The only avenue for this franchise right now to better this team is via trade. Its time Garth grows a pair and starts making moves at the draft. Enough is enough
- kindlyrick

I guess you answered my question already

The only thing I really can see Snow trading at the draft for a real-live NHL player, is the first pick. There are certainly guys on our team I would move, but we can't really afford to start packaging 3-4 roster players when we don't have all that much NHL ready talent in our system. We have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league, but it's stocked with a lot of raw talent right now. It would be crazy to start having 4-5-6 1st or 2nd year players on our team.

Not trolling, just curious as to what exactly about the draft will speak volumes to you?
- eichiefs9

Not sure what trolling means...........but Garth needs to man up and trade this years pick. Not for more draft picks, but a legit NHL player. He needs to add size both up front and to the backline. There is WAY too much dead weight on this team. Its time he stops stroking his draft picks, and decides who should be here for the long haul, and who is not helping this team move forward. You cannot keep this same group together...........i dont care how much they get along, they arent winning.

I guess you answered my question already

The only thing I really can see Snow trading at the draft for a real-live NHL player, is the first pick. There are certainly guys on our team I would move, but we can't really afford to start packaging 3-4 roster players when we don't have all that much NHL ready talent in our system. We have one of the deepest prospect pools in the league, but it's stocked with a lot of raw talent right now. It would be crazy to start having 4-5-6 1st or 2nd year players on our team.
- eichiefs9

Would it be that crazy??? The isles woulda been better off starting the year with Cizikas, Ulstrom, Haley, and Donovan, and or Katic (albeit he got injured) then the "Vets" who were "tryout" players.

He MUST trade this years first pick, preferably for a top tier dman. Then I would package say Grabner, and a either a prospect or a pick for a top 6 forward who has size.

Looking at Nino's stats. Boy oh boy. You all should be pissed at management keeping him on the team rather than sending him back to junior.


They potentially ruined a prospect.

Trying to sign PA is realistic priority #1 in my book. I'm sure calls/offers will be made on Parise/Suter, but neither are going to sign here. I think anyone with a realistic grasp on hockey knows that. The fact that Zach's dad played a whopping 4 seasons with the Islanders gets so unbelievably overplayed.
- eichiefs9

WIth PA on this roster for two years in a row, (both bottom 5 finishes) why do you find re singing PA a priority???

Looking at Nino's stats. Boy oh boy. You all should be pissed at management keeping him on the team rather than sending him back to junior.


They potentially ruined a prospect.
- jbold

The kid isnt ruined..........he has the body of an 18 year old. You can see it clear as day. His first few steps are behind, because he's not developed yet physically. His skating and strength overall will improve. Dont sell Nino yet.......he's gonna be what they drafted, a power forward.

Not sure what trolling means...........but Garth needs to man up and trade this years pick. Not for more draft picks, but a legit NHL player. He needs to add size both up front and to the backline. There is WAY too much dead weight on this team. Its time he stops stroking his draft picks, and decides who should be here for the long haul, and who is not helping this team move forward. You cannot keep this same group together...........i dont care how much they get along, they arent winning.
- kindlyrick

how does our first and one of KO, Grabner, Bailey, or Neilson for Milan Lucic sound?

how does our first and one of KO, Grabner, Bailey, or Neilson for Milan Lucic sound?
- LetsGoIsles

I think the isles main focus should be on a top pair dman. Thats what they should use the first overall and one of the players you mentioned to attain. I dont ever see Boston trading Lucic as he is the quintessential power forward. But I would trade a pick, and either a prospect or another one of the players you mentioned for a forward with size who can play top 6 minutes.

great post.. my thoughts.

I would be ok with PA for 2 years at 4.5 ish.. it is the 5 mill he is going to ask for that anoys me. He is a very good player and deserves the raise. He did well last year too...

I would rather see someone who will destroy people taking runs at JT an top line than Bailey.. just tough to find a guy like that who can produce. (I am thinking a Guerin type player.. I guess Shane Doan would fit that mold). Unless they add some toughness on the D-line. I just want someone other than Matt Martin able to stand up for these players.

Okposo, Bailey and Grabner will benefit from better players around them... even the kids we have up right now are showing it helps. If they don't do anything stupid like sign 4 washed up has beens at the end of camp. ...They need to be more consistent though without question.
- niteislander

I hear ya on PA. and the only reason I say Bailey to the top line is mainly just to see how he does and to see if they get him going, after all he's a playmaker just as PA is. I'd kinda like it to see if they could also get the kid scoring a bit too. If it works then Snow knows if PA asks for too much he might have his replacement already.

My main point is this team has enough pieces, now lets start seeing what works where and seeing if sparks could happen while playing real hockey. I'd take this as a better verson of a preseason, since it means nothing but you can tinker around to see if magic can happen or give a player a taste of something they might not wanna lose all while other teams are playing hard. and they'll have the tapes to look over all summer. Give some guys a shot at things, can't get any worse. also in my eyes its the best way to find out who should stay and who should go

I just think that if we go into next year with a top-six of:

Moulson-Tavares-PA
Grabner-Nielsen-Okposo

then we are simply asking for the same result, and anyone who would be shocked at being a lottery team again would probably keep reaching for the electrified piece of cheese as well. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed in one or two of those players, but have nothing against them. I like them all, but it's not a good mix for winning big games that matter. That much has been proven, I think. I believe at least three and possibly four players from the top-six should be replaced...either moved down to bottom-six roles, traded, or not re-signed.
- UIF

Agreed

all I'm saying is for mostly if not all this season its been like that. which is why all I'm saying give Josh a shot at top line with the 2 good guys, also it'll be more in a role they haven't tried with him yet. move KO down until he gets it that he should be using his body much more, give Martin a shot at second line and first... move PA down to see if he really means that much to the first line and to see if he's playmaking could be used on 2nd or 3rd lines to spark other players. If JT & MM keep scoring (like i think they would) without PA then why give him a big money deal?

how does our first and one of KO, Grabner, Bailey, or Neilson for Milan Lucic sound?
- LetsGoIsles

And Boston does this why ???

WIth PA on this roster for two years in a row, (both bottom 5 finishes) why do you find re singing PA a priority???
- kindlyrick

Because by that logic, Tavares is part of the problem too. PA isn't the reason that we're finishing bottom 5 again, by a long shot. The shoddy defense is the most glaring issue, with inconsistent goaltending not far behind. You could point to Okposo and Grabner as part of the problem, as well as Nielsen being forced to play 2nd line center, and I'd totally agree. Saying we should let a player with the 2nd most points on our team go because we finished bottom 5 again is crazy to me. Now if he demands some ridiculous contract, that's another story.

Other than Tavares, and Hamonic..........to me, NOONE is untradable. The isles have finished in the bottom 5 for 4 years in a row (or is it 5.......i cant remember). Why is everyone so big on bringing back similar rostered players? PA should have been traded. He is not the answer. I dont care how many goals he scored, cause they obviously werent enough.
- kindlyrick

I'd put Moulson in here as well, guys proved himself and for the amount of goals at his position you can't beat at his cap price. I also wouldn't like to move Martin, but pretty much everyone else... open season

Because by that logic, Tavares is part of the problem too. PA isn't the reason that we're finishing bottom 5 again, by a long shot. The shoddy defense is the most glaring issue, with inconsistent goaltending not far behind. You could point to Okposo and Grabner as part of the problem, as well as Nielsen being forced to play 2nd line center, and I'd totally agree. Saying we should let a player with the 2nd most points on our team go because we finished bottom 5 again is crazy to me. Now if he demands some ridiculous contract, that's another story.
- eichiefs9

Dont be ridiculous...........nowhere in what i said is Tavares on the same level as PA. Heck, one could even make the argument that PA has his pts from playing with Tavares. JT as im sure we all agree is the center piece..........Moulson contrary to what some may think is a perfect linemate for him. PA can score yes, but the line is missing that physical presence. For the money PA is going to get (and he will get 4+ shmill year) they cant pay him top money to not play top minutes. That top line needs a player to bang the boards, and play physical.

There are many problems with this team, but to make it a top priority to bring back a player who is one dimensional for top money, i say no thanks. To win in this league you need a certain mix. The isles are all finesse. PA is a finesse player, and with Grabner, Okposo, and whoever else signed for the next few years, you dont need another finesse player. The isles need to add grit, period. Grit is what wins in this league. Look at who is consistantly in cup contention...........all of those teams have those gritty power forwards.