Eklund: Potential Game-Changer Goalies Available..Backstrom, Smith, BOB?

Stop making such drama in Columbus. Columbus has no decision in this to make ... you resign Bob. Who gives a rats ass if Leighton is unsigned. He isn't even a good back-up.

Stop making such drama in Columbus. Columbus has no decision in this to make ... you resign Bob. Who gives a rats ass if Leighton is unsigned. He isn't even a good back-up.
- Oneonta Penguin

That's IF bob wants to resign there..

BoB's gonna play in Russia next year...Book it!

That's IF bob wants to resign there..
- IrishRage

As an RFA, Bob doesn't have much choice. But he's a good team guy. If Columbus shows they want him, he will probably want to stay. With Luongo and Smith and Backstrom availible and the lack of real need by any one team beyond the goalies they already have, the market is pretty dead. I can't think of a team that could swing and RFA sheet that Columbus would not match, nor one that could justify signing Bob to such a contract when there are more proven commodities out there. I think they'll work it out and I doubt it'll be that crazy.

Eklund: Potential Game-Changer Goalies Available..Backstrom, Smith, BOB?
- Eklund

The Flyers will make him an offer sheet

Eklund: Potential Game-Changer Goalies Available..Backstrom, Smith, BOB?
- Eklund

Miller is available via trade

Smith is intriguing, albeit weird. He's been wildly up/down the past few years. You can kind of chalk this year up as an albatross of sorts with injuries and what-not, and even then he posted .910, .924 at ev-str. Wonder where he ends up.

Backstrom and Nabokov are questionable as starting goaltenders at this point. Old, both < .917 at even-strength -- behind guys like Brodeur, Ellis, LaBarbera...

In Nabokov's case, I think you can argue that he really set the team back. The Islanders may not have had a better choice this year, but that doesn't make him a *good* choice.

Stop making such drama in Columbus. Columbus has no decision in this to make ... you resign Bob. Who gives a rats ass if Leighton is unsigned. He isn't even a good back-up.
- Oneonta Penguin

He's not making drama, he's just stating the facts, maybe your Pittsburgh writers should try it sometime!!

I feel like it is worth mentioning that Bob is only 24 years old. Were my team in a slightly closer situation to being a contender (see: Edmonton) I back that (frank)ing truck up and make an offer. Being 24, he fits right in with the budding (if they can figure their poop out) dynasty team. Make the offer just below the next phase of compensation at ~5/season and look for a longer term of 4-5 years. This is a manageable contract and well worth the risk if the young kid keeps his steam. The compensation becomes a 1st and 3rd going to Columbus, picks they would covet. Obviously Columbus will match if they truly feel Bob can carry them to the playoffs, but if that contract is just a little big, it's win-win for both teams. Columbus gets further picks to build on an already potential laden young squad and Edmonton stops loading up their overstocked cupboards and makes a push to become a real contender.

In Nabokov's case, I think you can argue that he really set the team back. The Islanders may not have had a better choice this year, but that doesn't make him a *good* choice.
- Travis Yost

I will be stunned if Evgeni Nabokov starts for the Islanders next year. There are simply too many options out there, and the Islanders have too many assets and enough cap space where you simply do not have to do that.

I will be stunned if Evgeni Nabokov starts for the Islanders next year. There are simply too many options out there, and the Islanders have too many assets and enough cap space where you simply do not have to do that.
- AllInForFlyers

Yep. He's not good. And the Islanders are a pretty good team. Odd man out ..

Just a matter of getting someone who is available, I guess.

Eklund: Potential Game-Changer Goalies Available..Backstrom, Smith, BOB?
- Eklund

Columbus has a real situation brewing here. They have two unsigned goalies in Bobrovsky and Michael Leighton, and they have almost no options. Bob is in let's just say, "A position of power" here. The Blue Jackets need to sell this team and they have the perfect player with which to do so....but signing a goalie to a monster contract based on one shortened season of greatness...well that rarely works out well at all...

A position of power? Goalie Bob may indeed be a better goaltender than the flash-in-the-pan that Goalie Mason showed before his departure for your city of brotherly love. However, there is NO position of power for a RFA in the NHL - the team offers a reasonable amount ... 15 to 25% more than his $1.75M of 2012-13 and a 4 to 5 year deal is done. Book it... there is NO situation brewing between a rising star and a perennial backup. EK - this is a stretch even for you.

I feel like it is worth mentioning that Bob is only 24 years old. Were my team in a slightly closer situation to being a contender (see: Edmonton) I back that (frank)ing truck up and make an offer. Being 24, he fits right in with the budding (if they can figure their poop out) dynasty team. Make the offer just below the next phase of compensation at ~5/season and look for a longer term of 4-5 years. This is a manageable contract and well worth the risk if the young kid keeps his steam. The compensation becomes a 1st and 3rd going to Columbus, picks they would covet. Obviously Columbus will match if they truly feel Bob can carry them to the playoffs, but if that contract is just a little big, it's win-win for both teams. Columbus gets further picks to build on an already potential laden young squad and Edmonton stops loading up their overstocked cupboards and makes a push to become a real contender.
- IggyOnly

How is it a win win for us we are left with no serviceable goaltender and given that it's no secret the cbj are not a cap team , they will not enter a bidding war to overpay for some tier two goalie who is entering the downhill phase of his carreer.

I think if Keka couldnt get him signed to a deal he likes he will ship him for a lesser starting goaltender and a blue chip prospect.

Did he really just imply that not having Michael Leighton signed was a problem? He probably won't even be in the NHL again. Still can't even say that guys name without getting angry at the cup he cost the flyers.

several teams this year found themselves in the post season and deep in the playoffs because they either had the goalie or they did not

several teams found themselves deep in the playoffs because they did not have a good goalie?

I will be stunned if Evgeni Nabokov starts for the Islanders next year. There are simply too many options out there, and the Islanders have too many assets and enough cap space where you simply do not have to do that.
- AllInForFlyers

Does Poulin or Nillson have enough good stuff to be an NHL starter?

Yep. He's not good. And the Islanders are a pretty good team. Odd man out ..

Just a matter of getting someone who is available, I guess.
- Travis Yost

Plus hes a d!ck who didnt want to report after he was claimed from the wings..not really the type of guy I want in my net, more so on this young team on the rise

A position of power? Goalie Bob may indeed be a better goaltender than the flash-in-the-pan that Goalie Mason showed before his departure for your city of brotherly love. However, there is NO position of power for a RFA in the NHL - the team offers a reasonable amount ... 15 to 25% more than his $1.75M of 2012-13 and a 4 to 5 year deal is done. Book it... there is NO situation brewing between a rising star and a perennial backup. EK - this is a stretch even for you.
- deanofnucks

Ryan O'Reilly

How is it a win win for us we are left with no serviceable goaltender and given that it's no secret the cbj are not a cap team , they will not enter a bidding war to overpay for some tier two goalie who is entering the downhill phase of his carreer.

I think if Keka couldnt get him signed to a deal he likes he will ship him for a lesser starting goaltender and a blue chip prospect.
- Alexzanki

Really? A 24 year old who just had the best season of any goaltender is a tier two goalie entering the downhill phase of his career? Or are you referring to the other goalies mentioned in the article and simply forgot to add that?

Either way, the win is the 1st and 3rd picks. If you think Columbus is primed for a cup in the next 2 years, you are in for a rude awakening. This team could use the 1st and 3rd to either improve prospects or as bait to grab a goalie on the cheap with long term potential (see: Bernier). Obviously LA won't give the guy away but he is also an RFA and should command a lower contract than Bob leaving room for UFA signings on a team that, as you said, is not a cap team.

A position of power? Goalie Bob may indeed be a better goaltender than the flash-in-the-pan that Goalie Mason showed before his departure for your city of brotherly love. However, there is NO position of power for a RFA in the NHL - the team offers a reasonable amount ... 15 to 25% more than his $1.75M of 2012-13 and a 4 to 5 year deal is done. Book it... there is NO situation brewing between a rising star and a perennial backup. EK - this is a stretch even for you.
- deanofnucks

So do you just huck out random percentages to sound well researched? 20% on $1.75M is only $2.1M... You really think that gets it done? Give your head a shake.

Tim Thomas? Is he coming back?

Really? A 24 year old who just had the best season of any goaltender is a tier two goalie entering the downhill phase of his career? Or are you referring to the other goalies mentioned in the article and simply forgot to add that?

Either way, the win is the 1st and 3rd picks. If you think Columbus is primed for a cup in the next 2 years, you are in for a rude awakening. This team could use the 1st and 3rd to either improve prospects or as bait to grab a goalie on the cheap with long term potential (see: Bernier). Obviously LA won't give the guy away but he is also an RFA and should command a lower contract than Bob leaving room for UFA signings on a team that, as you said, is not a cap team.
- IggyOnly

Well if they ever want to win a cup someday they better get started and sign Bob to a reasonable contract ......based on the fact this is his only GREAT preformance in a 48 game season.

Does Poulin or Nillson have enough good stuff to be an NHL starter?
- MrBeanTown

Good question -- I don't follow the Islanders closely enough to be able to answer that honestly. I'd just be speculating just for the opportunity to sound smart.

But what I do think is this: If the Islanders aren't willing to roll the dice on those younger goalies, there are a ridiculous number of options out there who aren't Evgeni Nabokov who, as Travis Yost correctly noted, really wasn't good this year.

He was adequate, and the odds are significant that the Islanders could actually land a better goaltender than Nabokov with even a modicum of effort.

If I was them, for example, I'd offer Nino Neiderreiter for Jonathan Bernier, straight up. That should get that done, for both sides, and helps both teams.

Tim Thomas? Is he coming back?
- stanley99

I hope the Flyers cut Bryz and promote Mason to starter and sign T.Thomas as a backup...