Dee Karl: Nabokov vs. The Media Long Island isn't Toronto, but it can be just as daunting in the press room.

Dee Karl: Nabokov vs. The Media
Long Island isn't Toronto, but it can be just as daunting in the press room.
- Dee Karl

They don't make the playoffs without him. Shows you what having a good goalie can do. A better one gets them past the pens. A great one makes the Isles a serious contender.

I miss having Nabby on the Sharks. He was fun to watch.

I miss having Nabby on the Sharks. He was fun to watch.
- Ryman

I'm sure Niemi is easing that pain for you this year.




Isles would be a very dangerous team if they can get a good goalie.

Dee Karl: Nabokov vs. The Media
Long Island isn't Toronto, but it can be just as daunting in the press room.
- Dee "God, I F'in Suck" Karl

Another pointless blog...

XxNYIxX

They don't make the playoffs without him. Shows you what having a good goalie can do. A better one gets them past the pens. A great one makes the Isles a serious contender.
- therealagent

yes we dont make the playoffs without him...

Better then him and we are in the second round... Pens were prime for an upset.

XxNYIxX

I'm sure Niemi is easing that pain for you this year.




Isles would be a very dangerous team if they can get a good goalie.
- Nucker101

Know anyone available?

XxNYIxX

Know anyone available?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I've got a gold medal winning goalie, just came one game away from winning a cup and only slightly used and in good condition. Mileage a little high, but can handle a heavy workload and comes with a nice long-term warranty. On sale now for a limited time only.

I've got a gold medal winning goalie, just came one game away from winning a cup and only slightly used and in good condition. Mileage a little high, but can handle a heavy workload and comes with a nice long-term warranty. On sale now for a limited time only.




- Nucker101

Another pointless blog...

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Totally. First one I read in a long, long time...the headline drew me in. Nabby had a really rough go in the playoffs and I was curious to see what he had to say about that, and if he had to handle any direct questions about it. Instead I get thoughts on how Nabokov may or may not feel about microphones, how soft his voice is, and complaints about an "inquisition" because all of the other people with press access were actually asking questions instead of daydreaming.

I try not to complain about the blogs...I know writing to an audience isn't an easy thing to do...I'm more mad at myself...should have followed my own advice:

They don't make the playoffs without him. Shows you what having a good goalie can do. A better one gets them past the pens. A great one makes the Isles a serious contender.
- therealagent

Fair statement if we're saying our goaltending duo would have been DP and Poulin, though who knows how Poulin would have looked after 30 games or so.

That said, while Nabby stole several games for us early on, I don't think he was anything spectacular or even that good during our big April run and was certainly a dissapointment in the playoff series. I think the better question is, could they have made the playoffs with another 'worthy' starting goaltender. I'd say if you put someone like Henrik, Rinne or even a player like Jonas Hiller (a UFA), this team would have done just as well and possibly be up 1-o in the second round right now.

I'm grateful for what Nabby brought to us in the way of experience but I don't think he was elite by any means this season. Ultimately it's his off ice presence that was probably more valuable.

I've got a gold medal winning goalie, just came one game away from winning a cup and only slightly used and in good condition. Mileage a little high, but can handle a heavy workload and comes with a nice long-term warranty. On sale now for a limited time only.




- Nucker101

despite the rumors of Vancouver working on a trade for Luongo, I really think the only way they get rid of him is via buyout. I can't imagine anyone wanting to take a $5 million cap hit when he's 43! Hell, I can't imagine a butterfly goalie playing that long anyway.

Totally. First one I read in a long, long time...the headline drew me in. Nabby had a really rough go in the playoffs and I was curious to see what he had to say about that, and if he had to handle any direct questions about it. Instead I get thoughts on how Nabokov may or may not feel about microphones, how soft his voice is, and complaints about an "inquisition" because all of the other people with press access were actually asking questions instead of daydreaming.

I try not to complain about the blogs...I know writing to an audience isn't an easy thing to do...I'm more mad at myself...should have followed my own advice:


- UIF

wait...there's a blog here?

wait...there's a blog here?
- keaner17

That's the spirit!

That's the spirit!
- UIF

I know we have Dee's 'Journal of a Novice' entries....

Is Bernier still unhappy in LA? Could he fit in here? Or Hiller?

I feel NAbby will sing here next year and be the starting goalie. Maybe we sign a decent back up and have Poulin and Nillson down on the farm to get the work in. After a couple of years those guys should be ready for the big time

Is Bernier still unhappy in LA? Could he fit in here? Or Hiller?
- xmenhockey77

I don't think Hiller would be a terrible addition if they aren't going to resign Nabby. It sounds to me as though Nabby does want to come back, and I do think that Snow ultimately wants to stick with the plan of developing from within. Afterall, he has three goalies in the developmental fold that HE picked, so I'd venture a guess he wants them to at least get a chance to succeed.

I feel NAbby will sing here next year and be the starting goalie. Maybe we sign a decent back up and have Poulin and Nillson down on the farm to get the work in. After a couple of years those guys should be ready for the big time
- kasperrko

Personally, I think Poulin's time is now. I'd resign Nabby, have him split the first half of the season with Poulin and then gradually work it more into a 60/40 share for Poulin. At that stage Nabby is fresh and not worn out by the end of the season and you can determine by the trade deadline what you think of Poulin. Were it not for Nilsson's health issues this year, I'd venture a guess that we'd have a three way dance for the starting goaltender next year. Instead, he's been set back by a year, which works out just fine.

Another pointless blog...

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Haha, good... I stuck to my guns on this one.
Right to the comments.

What did you guys think of Nelson's brief stint? There were a couple of times where I just wanted him to shoot, but that was a tough spot to be thrown into, and maybe it's not a bad thing that he opted for the ultra-safe plays in his first game (putting the puck to the corner or passing to a more-experienced player instead of taking it to the net himself). The big positive to me was when he had the puck on the boards and players came in to hit him. There was one play in particular behind the Pens' net where a defenseman had him lined up and dead to rights, and I thought he was going to be crushed...but he held his ground and the defenseman ended up going down. Since he still looks kind of wiry, I wasn't sure if his strength would translate yet to the NHL, but he seems like a tough kid.

Know anyone available?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

John Gibson from Anaheim...

Another pointless blog...

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Try reading Cloutier today...

What did you guys think of Nelson's brief stint? There were a couple of times where I just wanted him to shoot, but that was a tough spot to be thrown into, and maybe it's not a bad thing that he opted for the ultra-safe plays in his first game (putting the puck to the corner or passing to a more-experienced player instead of taking it to the net himself). The big positive to me was when he had the puck on the boards and players came in to hit him. There was one play in particular behind the Pens' net where a defenseman had him lined up and dead to rights, and I thought he was going to be crushed...but he held his ground and the defenseman ended up going down. Since he still looks kind of wiry, I wasn't sure if his strength would translate yet to the NHL, but he seems like a tough kid.
- UIF

I thought he threw a couple of big hits in his first game and looked strong on the puck. Given the role he was filling, it's tough to get a real good idea of how his overall skills will translate to the NHL, but I think he was good from a physicality and defensive standpoint, which is a real good sign. The play you're referring to where a dman hit him and went down (I think) was Orpik.

I thought he threw a couple of big hits in his first game and looked strong on the puck. Given the role he was filling, it's tough to get a real good idea of how his overall skills will translate to the NHL, but I think he was good from a physicality and defensive standpoint, which is a real good sign. The play you're referring to where a dman hit him and went down (I think) was Orpik.
- keaner17

I thought it might have been either Orpik or Murray...I remember it being someone I definitely didn't expect Nelson to shrug off.