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First time i read this I didn't read it all the way through hence thecomment that i made. Long day in the back yard with beer
- Cptmjl

I figured u missed the end..lol

Blake
Yashin
Smyth
- Mr.Black

Blake loved long island.. but he was getting 5.5 mill for 5 years somewhere else.. and he was 37 when he got that insane contract.

Yashin was bought out to try and entice Smyth to stay and take the captaincy.. failure, but he loved long island and still has a home here.. he was one of the people who reached out to Nabby to tell him how great it was living here... There are huge Russian communities close by (it's new york.. there are huge every nationalities near by.. ).. etc.

Smyth wanted to win a cup and thought joining Avs was the easiest path... Joe Sakic and other called to talk him into it.. of course everyone in Canada said that "Captain Canada" would not sign in US... all were wrong.

Grabner I think was a flash in the pan. He is too predictable on his breakaways. The guy telegraphs what he's going to do. Nielsen is a 3rd line center, nothing more, nothing less. Having him as the 2nd line center was asking too much from him. Bailey is a bust. Okposo is overrated, and is a big wussy. Geese are more aggressive then him.
- The Iceman

I wouldn't say he is a bust yet. This is a make or break season for him. Okposo is what he is. A decent second line winger, nothing more nothing less.

The notion of Snow wanting Nino on the first line next season grows bigger and bigger in my mins every day PAP doesn't re-sign.
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

If Snow is not signing Pap.. that means he is asking for much more than Snow has him worth. All GM's should be leary... b/c everytime this has happened in the past... Snow was right... He will spend the money elsewhere.. He has to .. remember.

I wouldn't say he is a bust yet. Okposo is what he is. A decent second line winger, nothing more nothing less.
- Cptmjl

To say this is a big year for both of those guys would be a tremendous understatement.

To say this is a big year for both of those guys would be a tremendous understatement.
- niteislander

Agreed. Okposo is what he is as far as I'm concerned and it's fine. I have faith in Bailey. Don't know why but I do?

If Snow is not signing Pap.. that means he is asking for much more than Snow has him worth. All GM's should be leary... b/c everytime this has happened in the past... Snow was right... He will spend the money elsewhere.. He has to .. remember.
- niteislander

I believe that PAP is overvaluing himself, however, one of the 29 other teams will give him his money. It will be Ville Leino: 2012 Edition.

If Snow is not signing Pap.. that means he is asking for much more than Snow has him worth. All GM's should be leary... b/c everytime this has happened in the past... Snow was right... He will spend the money elsewhere.. He has to .. remember.
- niteislander

My guess the Snow offered PAP what Moulson is making...it will be imteresting what he winds up getting...

Blake loved long island.. but he was getting 5.5 mill for 5 years somewhere else.. and he was 37 when he got that insane contract.

Yashin was bought out to try and entice Smyth to stay and take the captaincy.. failure, but he loved long island and still has a home here.. he was one of the people who reached out to Nabby to tell him how great it was living here... There are huge Russian communities close by (it's new york.. there are huge every nationalities near by.. ).. etc.

Smyth wanted to win a cup and thought joining Avs was the easiest path... Joe Sakic and other called to talk him into it.. of course everyone in Canada said that "Captain Canada" would not sign in US... all were wrong.
- niteislander

So you're saying Smyth preferred being in NYI over Colorado? The place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to LA, the place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to (frank)ing EDMONTON?????

So you're saying Smyth preferred being in NYI over Colorado? The place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to LA, the place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to (frank)ing EDMONTON?????
- muffin_man

Lets be honest here:
1) Long island is a phenomenal place to live and raise a family ASSUMING you don't want a big city life
2) Wang/Snow/Lighthouse project make the NYI a cluster(frank) which detracts UFAs.

That was the first thing that came to mind. You are gonna depend on a guy like niederreiter who scored just 1 goal last year replace parenteau's 67 points? You are out of your (frank)ing mind. They don't bring in a top 6 forward to fill parent eau's spot then they are headed for the draft lottery again. Cause Tavares and Moulson are your best players, and we got no secondary scoring.
- The Iceman

I don't see how you made that jump in thinking.
We can't say Garth won't sign PA. I'm sure he wont beat the best offer but there's no guarantee PA plays on the top line somewhere else. He knows he's playing with JT & MM on the island and will produce. I would go test the market even if my first choice was to stay. It's a business and PA's not exactly a rookie. I say PA is 65% wanting/likely to return and play for equal or slightly lesser money. He looks to really enjoy playing with those guys but if it gets him another $500k+/yr he'd be stupid to just take what Garth offers.

Also, Nino is not gonna start this year on the Island. They had no choice in keeping him, they COULDN'T send him to B'port because he's too young AND they needed his cap hit of $3Mil. He'll go to BP and hopefully Strome is ready to make the team. Bailey is starting on the wing(quote from Garth) so there's options and spaces open for rooks to earn or to be filled with a FA forward.

So you're saying Smyth preferred being in NYI over Colorado? The place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to LA, the place he couldn't wait to get out of to go to (frank)ing EDMONTON?????
- muffin_man

How did you get that from what he wrote??

XxNYIxX

I believe that PAP is overvaluing himself, however, one of the 29 other teams will give him his money. It will be Ville Leino: 2012 Edition.
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

I've been saying this for months.
The UFA market sucks this year. Worse than last.

How did you get that from what he wrote??

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

apparently smyth wasn't happy about leaving and only did so in the hopes of winnign a cup...

I've been saying this for months.
The UFA market sucks this year. Worse than last.
- potvin05

One of the worst in recent history minus PArise.

Suter, I don't get. He's an absolutely SOLID Dman but does nothing spectacularly yet will somehow get a $7M contract when he should be a $4-5M player...

I don't see how you made that jump in thinking.
We can't say Garth won't sign PA. I'm sure he wont beat the best offer but there's no guarantee PA plays on the top line somewhere else. He knows he's playing with JT & MM on the island and will produce. I would go test the market even if my first choice was to stay. It's a business and PA's not exactly a rookie. I say PA is 65% wanting/likely to return and play for equal or slightly lesser money. He looks to really enjoy playing with those guys but if it gets him another $500k+/yr he'd be stupid to just take what Garth offers.

Also, Nino is not gonna start this year on the Island. They had no choice in keeping him, they COULDN'T send him to B'port because he's too young AND they needed his cap hit of $3Mil. He'll go to BP and hopefully Strome is ready to make the team. Bailey is starting on the wing(quote from Garth) so there's options and spaces open for rooks to earn or to be filled with a FA forward.
- jmo16

If PA goes elsewhere
Isles will go after Lee stempniak or similar player...they should go after Garrison or wideman to continue to revamp the defense

apparently smyth wasn't happy about leaving and only did so in the hopes of winnign a cup...
- muffin_man

fair enough.. we know that wasn't the case. I dont think he even unpacked his bags after that trade.

XxNYIxX

I don't see how you made that jump in thinking.
We can't say Garth won't sign PA. I'm sure he wont beat the best offer but there's no guarantee PA plays on the top line somewhere else. He knows he's playing with JT & MM on the island and will produce. I would go test the market even if my first choice was to stay. It's a business and PA's not exactly a rookie. I say PA is 65% wanting/likely to return and play for equal or slightly lesser money. He looks to really enjoy playing with those guys but if it gets him another $500k+/yr he'd be stupid to just take what Garth offers.

Also, Nino is not gonna start this year on the Island. They had no choice in keeping him, they COULDN'T send him to B'port because he's too young AND they needed his cap hit of $3Mil. He'll go to BP and hopefully Strome is ready to make the team. Bailey is starting on the wing(quote from Garth) so there's options and spaces open for rooks to earn or to be filled with a FA forward.
- jmo16

Without PAP.. i would love to see Josh on JT's wing, leaving KO on the second line.

XxNYIxX

If PA goes elsewhere
Isles will go after Lee stempniak or similar player...they should go after Garrison or wideman to continue to revamp the defense
- Mike C

What;s the actual thoughts on PA? In Montreal, the french media have obviously splooged repeatedly. I don't get it. a) ok numbers, not great in a UFA year with a thin market. b) We don't have a JT for him to play with. c) He'd be getting 2nd PP time at best.

If he comes to montreal on his $20M contract, I predict he never breaks 50 points....

What;s the actual thoughts on PA? In Montreal, the french media have obviously splooged repeatedly. I don't get it. a) ok numbers, not great in a UFA year with a thin market. b) We don't have a JT for him to play with. c) He'd be getting 2nd PP time at best.

If he comes to montreal on his $20M contract, I predict he never breaks 50 points....
- muffin_man

He won't. He's a younger Gomez, who plays wing. He's not a finisher. People will yell at me, but...when did he score a big goal in the last 2 years? A memorable one?

fair enough.. we know that wasn't the case. I dont think he even unpacked his bags after that trade.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

He never wanted a part of being here. He didn't play that bad, but it seemed his head wasn't here.

He won't. He's a younger Gomez, who plays wing. He's not a finisher. People will yell at me, but...when did he score a big goal in the last 2 years? A memorable one?
- potvin05

You cant hear me, but im Yelling at you!

XxNYIxX

He never wanted a part of being here. He didn't play that bad, but it seemed his head wasn't here.
- potvin05

helped get you into the playoffs his trade year though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!sigh

You cant hear me, but im Yelling at you!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I'm not saying he's a bad player, or that I wouldn't want him back. Quite the contrary, actually. He's gonna make big bucks, and not live up to the contract.

I think the Leino comparison is spot on....I've said it in the past on this board myself.

helped get you into the playoffs his trade year though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!sigh
- muffin_man

I personally think we would have made it with or without him.

XxNYIxX