X, what is on the menu for tonight's feast?
- bixll

Tonight is a quick meal... nap.. then 9hr drive up to LI


once i get back to NY... the meals will be worth mentioning

How you doing?

XxNYIxX

Come playoff time, Matt Martin might be one of those type of players the Isles need to upgrade. I'd rather have a guy like Chris Neal who can bang and score. Don't get me wrong, I like Matt and think he has potential to improve as a player, but at this stage he's one-dimensional and isn't likely to see a big increase in ice time.

Matt's okay, but leading the league in hits isn't a huge stat in my book. A guy could have more hits in a game than anyone else but he may also be taking himself out of the play by following through at the wrong times. In addition, teams that are constantly chasing the play tend to have more hits.
- keaner17

Do you think Martin was guilty of this more often than not? I don't. The fact that he became a decent penalty killer with Bailey leads me to believe there's plenty of confidence in his defensive smarts and abilities.

Regarding his contract, I don't know where the negotiations stand, but I will say he was the one player I was a bit concerned about from the start just because his ELC didn't go all that smoothly, if you all remember. Hopefully everything's done in good faith by both sides, because while the Isles have all the leverage now, that may not be the case the next time he's up for a contract.

disagree. It's more of the result of the players role on the team than the player himself. In other words, there are lots of bangers that would have put up the same numbers if they were put in his spot. His role is just about the most 'replaceable' one on the team.

Again, I like Matt, but I don't see him as a giant irreplaceable piece. He will be signed and it will be a nice extension.
- keaner17

I couldnt disagree more with your first paragraph. But, we're all entitled....

If this were Europe, sure i would agree with you. But in the NHL, finishing your check and being physical is a big part of the game . But hey, the isles only have one forward who did it last year...........and the season was a huge success.

Being that the isles have had such success with 11 of the 12 forwards being finesse guys..........maybe more grit needs to be brought in??? Just a thought....

Come playoff time, Matt Martin might be one of those type of players the Isles need to upgrade. I'd rather have a guy like Chris Neal who can bang and score. Don't get me wrong, I like Matt and think he has potential to improve as a player, but at this stage he's one-dimensional and isn't likely to see a big increase in ice time.

Matt's okay, but leading the league in hits isn't a huge stat in my book. A guy could have more hits in a game than anyone else but he may also be taking himself out of the play by following through at the wrong times. In addition, teams that are constantly chasing the play tend to have more hits.
- keaner17

Matt Martin was traded?

Do you think Martin was guilty of this more often than not? I don't. The fact that he became a decent penalty killer with Bailey leads me to believe there's plenty of confidence in his defensive smarts and abilities.

Regarding his contract, I don't know where the negotiations stand, but I will say he was the one player I was a bit concerned about from the start just because his ELC didn't go all that smoothly, if you all remember. Hopefully everything's done in good faith by both sides, because while the Isles have all the leverage now, that may not be the case the next time he's up for a contract.
- UIF

I do remember.........it was something like the isles wanted to sign him at the rate of a 5th round draft pick, and Martin wanted a first rounder ELC. Pretty sure that was how it went down.....

Tonight is a quick meal... nap.. then 9hr drive up to LI


once i get back to NY... the meals will be worth mentioning

How you doing?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Good man, enjoying the summer. Lots of queing. The gym is going very well, she finished the year way in the black, so . That makes a guy happy. When your wife ain't happy, no-bodies happy..

How is the new pad and the kids?

Good man, enjoying the summer. Lots of queing. The gym is going very well, she finished the year way in the black, so . That makes a guy happy. When your wife ain't happy, no-bodies happy..

How is the new pad and the kids?
- bixll

Oh I know full well. Very happy to hear about the Gym, good for you guys!! Wife & Kids are doing awesome.. Im taking the kids upto NY for the week, while the wife stays in NC & gets this house set for moving day & the new house ready to be moved into.

XxNYIxX

Come playoff time, Matt Martin might be one of those type of players the Isles need to upgrade. I'd rather have a guy like Chris Neal who can bang and score. Don't get me wrong, I like Matt and think he has potential to improve as a player, but at this stage he's one-dimensional and isn't likely to see a big increase in ice time.

Matt's okay, but leading the league in hits isn't a huge stat in my book. A guy could have more hits in a game than anyone else but he may also be taking himself out of the play by following through at the wrong times. In addition, teams that are constantly chasing the play tend to have more hits.
- keaner17

From the archives :

The New York Islanders announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with forward, Matt Martin to a three-year entry level contract.

Martin was originally selected by the Islanders at the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft in the fifth round (148th overall). Having spent the last three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s, Sarnia Sting, Martin had a career year in scoring last season ranking third on the team with 65 points (35 goals, 30 assists) and amassed a team leading 142 penalty minutes.

“We are excited to have Matt in our organization,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “He brings that special combination of size and ability that provide him a bright future as a professional.”



Apparently Garth felt Matt Martin has both the size and the ability.......much like Neil

Oh I know full well. Very happy to hear about the Gym, good for you guys!! Wife & Kids are doing awesome.. Im taking the kids upto NY for the week, while the wife stays in NC & gets this house set for moving day & the new house ready to be moved into.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Very nice.. Still hot as hell there? The kids must travel well, Movies, games, how do you keep 4 happy for 9 hours?

Do you think Martin was guilty of this more often than not? I don't. The fact that he became a decent penalty killer with Bailey leads me to believe there's plenty of confidence in his defensive smarts and abilities.

Regarding his contract, I don't know where the negotiations stand, but I will say he was the one player I was a bit concerned about from the start just because his ELC didn't go all that smoothly, if you all remember. Hopefully everything's done in good faith by both sides, because while the Isles have all the leverage now, that may not be the case the next time he's up for a contract.
- UIF

I don't know if it happened more ofthen than not but I'm sure it happened. It happens to everyone. My point is that player A may tend to follow through for hits more often than player B but that could be the result of him not being as fast to pull back defensively. As for him being put on the pk, he plays for the Islanders...enough said. On top of that, his role and frame of mind on throwing hits should be much different when playing on the pk than even strength. What I mean by that is, yes, they may have been confident in his ability to play the pk, but the change in role would have made him less liable to get caught out of position as well.

The islanders are not in the same situation as other teams. The isles who struggle to have guys come here, should be locking up anyone who they see in their future. ESPECIALLY if its home grown....

Im well aware of the business side of this game. This was not the point of this discussion.
- kindlyrick

And he will absolutely be locked up.

And business is the exact point of this discussion. This is standard procedure for a good amount of negotiations in the NHL. I don't care if the Islanders are the same or different than any other NHL team. It's not personal, it's not about insulting Martin, it's not about any of that. This is par for the course for a good number of role players.

Matt Martin was traded?
- Vukota

*sigh*...meaning that they may need to upgrade his slot.

No one was low balled... jesus!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Some people will never get it

It comes to this with every team across the league with players like Martin. This isn't pinching pennies or the Islanders being incompetent. It's you not understanding how the business of this game works.
- eichiefs9

It's not so much about Martin as it is about his obvious hatred for Wang and Snow and having a 'reason' to express it.

I don't know if it happened more ofthen than not but I'm sure it happened. It happens to everyone. My point is that player A may tend to follow through for hits more often than player B but that could be the result of him not being as fast to pull back defensively. As for him being put on the pk, he plays for the Islanders...enough said. On top of that, his role and frame of mind on throwing hits should be much different when playing on the pk than even strength. What I mean by that is, yes, they may have been confident in his ability to play the pk, but the change in role would have made him less liable to get caught out of position as well.
- keaner17

You're making on like he led the league in hits cause he's out of position. How about the kid just battles every single night with 10 min of ice.

From the archives :

The New York Islanders announced Friday that they have agreed to terms with forward, Matt Martin to a three-year entry level contract.

Martin was originally selected by the Islanders at the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft in the fifth round (148th overall). Having spent the last three seasons with the Ontario Hockey League’s, Sarnia Sting, Martin had a career year in scoring last season ranking third on the team with 65 points (35 goals, 30 assists) and amassed a team leading 142 penalty minutes.

“We are excited to have Matt in our organization,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “He brings that special combination of size and ability that provide him a bright future as a professional.”



Apparently Garth felt Matt Martin has both the size and the ability.......much like Neil
- kindlyrick

Strange, I didn't see Neil mentioned in that quote. There are lots of big guys with ability in the NHL. This is actually a pretty bland statement by Garth

And he will absolutely be locked up.

And business is the exact point of this discussion. This is standard procedure for a good amount of negotiations in the NHL. I don't care if the Islanders are the same or different than any other NHL team. It's not personal, it's not about insulting Martin, it's not about any of that. This is par for the course for a good number of role players.
- eichiefs9

Nothing is absolute my friend.

The islanders are not in the same situation as other teams. The isles who struggle to have guys come here, should be locking up anyone who they see in their future. ESPECIALLY if its home grown....

Im well aware of the business side of this game. This was not the point of this discussion.
- kindlyrick

They may struggle getting guys to come here but lately they've had no trouble getting guys to stay here.

Some people will never get it
- Mike C

i get it.......more so than most.

They may struggle getting guys to come here but lately they've had no trouble getting guys to stay here.
- PeteM

Its because they've extended them......

As for UFA's well we can all ask Ryan Smyth, Andy Sutton, and PA about this one.

You're making on like he led the league in hits cause he's out of position. How about the kid just battles every single night with 10 min of ice.
- kindlyrick

No...I'm not. You stated that leading the league in hits is a "HUGE DEAL" and I'm telling you it's not. I'm simply telling you that if player A has 300 hits and player B has 275 hits, player A may have more because he has a habit to follow through more often on plays that he should be backchecking on. I'm not speaking specifically about Matt but simply saying that players different habits (bad or good) can make a stat such as hits inflate. While having a guy that constantly throws the body is a good thing, I don't think it's going to be a big deal at the negotiation table.

*sigh*...meaning that they may need to upgrade his slot.
- keaner17

It was a joke but I forgot to highlight the sentence I was referring to. Not sure if it came from your post

Strange, I didn't see Neil mentioned in that quote. There are lots of big guys with ability in the NHL. This is actually a pretty bland statement by Garth
- keaner17

You said id rather have a guy who can bang and score...........im saying Matt Martin can do that. He's not just a banger........as Garth said.

Nothing is absolute my friend.
- kindlyrick

Ok let me rephrase.

All signs point to not a single shred of evidence that the Islanders and Martin will not come to terms on a contract that is fair for both player and team.

It was a joke but I forgot to highlight the sentence I was referring to. Not sure if it came from your post
- Vukota

I know it was a joke...I just realized that the way I worded the line left it open to mocking.