Dee Karl: July 5th: Sleeping In? Big day or bust for the NHL?

Grabs and looks like we have to trade for a goalie.... or go with Nabby again.

I wish my team had 32M on the cap. Hope you guys spend a little of it today. Good luck guys!

I wish my team had 32M on the cap. Hope you guys spend a little of it today. Good luck guys!
- elcabong

Wish they would use half of it... instead Wang will spend 2 million over the Cap floor!!!

I wish my team had 32M on the cap. Hope you guys spend a little of it today. Good luck guys!
- elcabong

Me too. None of this waiting for August. Isles better be ready at high noon to strike.

Me too. None of this waiting for August. Isles better be ready at high noon to strike.
- ses111

I expect the Isles to be busy today and the days ahead. As much as it pains me to say this, this club is only a few pieces away from being a very strong team.

I expect the Isles to be busy today and the days ahead. As much as it pains me to say this, this club is only a few pieces away from being a very strong team.
- MidnightMarauder

U know that Snow is our GM and Wang owns the team.....

U know that Snow is our GM and Wang owns the team.....



- Ur Not Me

I am aware but they are on the verge of being a force in the East. They have the trade chips to acquire a goalie via trade and they definitely have the money to go out and get a good complimentary top six forward.

They might not do any of these things but if they do, say acquire Halak and sign Ribeiro perhaps, this team would look extremely dangerous next season.

Can't afford to wait that long for a goalie....
this will be how it goes......
9am.... we banter back and forth, excited , scared
10am....we squash suggestions from other fans and stress that WE WILL get the players we need
11am.....cautious nervousness, impatience and at times anger towards trolls and eventually turn on each other
1115 am ...MacKenzie/ LeBrun / Dreger make claims Isles in a one or two players ...there is hope on the Island
1159am.....start our count down, could this be the year!!!!!!
12 noon.....crickets
1pm.....several teams stock up on talent...players sign ridiculous contracts and many bought out next season
5pm....nobody is safe....pictures of Garth drunk in a bar with skanks all around him.... Dee resorts to recipes, gets a quote from Gervais, DP still upset with buy out.....
Sunday 2pm.....Hamonic clarifies it is his step dad and mom that are splitting
Aug 2 waiver wire pick up and a signing of a beer league player from Cole Harbour (something in the water there Garth believes).

I am aware but they are on the verge of being a force in the East. They have the trade chips to acquire a goalie via trade and they definitely have the money to go out and get a good complimentary top six forward.

They might not do any of these things but if they do, say acquire Halak and sign Ribeiro perhaps, this team would look extremely dangerous next season.
- MidnightMarauder

Snow wont trade viable chips, plus we have 1st tier prospects, not many 2nd tier
Money will be spent to get to cap floor, if they go over I will be shocked
Ribiero would be nice addition & Halak, but with the track record of Isles, expect lesser names...

Snow wont trade viable chips, plus we have 1st tier prospects, not many 2nd tier
Money will be spent to get to cap floor, if they go over I will be shocked
Ribiero would be nice addition & Halak, but with the track record of Isles, expect lesser names...
- Ur Not Me

Fair enough and if you are right, shame on Snow. What I saw from them, in the playoffs especially, they look like a team that is not too far off from being thrown in the discussion of the better teams in the conference.

Fair enough and if you are right, shame on Snow. What I saw form them, in the playoffs especially, they look like a team that is not too far off from being thrown in the discussion of the better teams in the conference.
- MidnightMarauder

couldn't agree more, but its not Snow, its Wang....bc of losing so much money w/current lease deal, will only spend to cap floor, which hurts team & fanbase

I expect the Isles to be busy today and the days ahead. As much as it pains me to say this, this club is only a few pieces away from being a very strong team.
- MidnightMarauder

I hope you are right. I would love to add Scuderi to this team. That would be a huge piece. DP was bought out so I hope that means the Isles are ready to do some business. They do not have to bring in stars and break the bank.

Can't afford to wait that long for a goalie....
this will be how it goes......
9am.... we banter back and forth, excited , scared
10am....we squash suggestions from other fans and stress that WE WILL get the players we need
11am.....cautious nervousness, impatience and at times anger towards trolls and eventually turn on each other
1115 am ...MacKenzie/ LeBrun / Dreger make claims Isles in a one or two players ...there is hope on the Island
1159am.....start our count down, could this be the year!!!!!!
12 noon.....crickets
1pm.....several teams stock up on talent...players sign ridiculous contracts and many bought out next season
5pm....nobody is safe....pictures of Garth drunk in a bar with skanks all around him.... Dee resorts to recipes, gets a quote from Gervais, DP still upset with buy out.....
Sunday 2pm.....Hamonic clarifies it is his step dad and mom that are splitting
Aug 2 waiver wire pick up and a signing of a beer league player from Cole Harbour (something in the water there Garth believes).

- Nolanders

I think you have been down this road before. Hopefully it's a different road this year. We will soon find out.

couldn't agree more, but its not Snow, its Wang....bc of losing so much money w/current lease deal, will only spend to cap floor, which hurts team & fanbase
- Ur Not Me

I don't necessarily believe that is the case right now. He made a very good hockey business decision to buyout DP. That is $24 million to have someone NOT play for you. If he was worried about getting to the floor he would have just kept DP in the Bridge.
He did that to either clear space for new players (and yes the young guys who need new contracts) or to make the team attractive for a sale.

I hope you are right. I would love to add Scuderi to this team. That would be a huge piece. DP was bought out so I hope that means the Isles are ready to do some business. They do not have to bring in stars and break the bank.
- ses111

There are no stars on this free agent list but there a few B-grade players that could help any team. The only issue there, albeit a rather large issue, is that a lot of these second tier players are going to get paid like first line all stars.

Isles aren't in need of a first line center because they already have a top five league-wide centerman. Their defense, while not claiming a legitmate top defenseman in the league, certainly has nice depth and a good mixture of skill and toughness.

The Isles two focuses, in my eyes, should be trying to add one more top six forward and obviously address the situation in net. They do those, with aplomb today or shortly thereafter, this team will be ready to battle for home ice in the first round of the playoffs, at the very least.

Because of the longer season veteran goaltending will be critical, however the longer season will allow more time for one of the young goalies to develop.

Good sign from last season was development of Cizikas and play of Bailey and Okposo down the stretch. Clutterbuck is one more starter at forward along with one more good year from Aucoin. Thinking should be to add one more quality FA at forward but also look for young players to step in.

Defense is full of wild cards but it is a new season and need to put last year behind. Just hope team does not get into any prolonged bad play.

Fair enough and if you are right, shame on Snow. What I saw form them, in the playoffs especially, they look like a team that is not too far off from being thrown in the discussion of the better teams in the conference.
- MidnightMarauder

Unfortunately, I do not think the Isles will be spending big bucks until they are in Brooklyn. With the Coliseum lease putting a stranglehold on the money that this franchise could be taking in, Wang just wont open his wallet until his revenue streams are no longer being eaten by SMG/Nassau.
I agree with you about the fact that this team is only a couple of pieces away from being a force. The only positive about not getting the big money free agents is that all of these other highly touted prospects that the Isles have are going to get a shot at making the big club. Strome/Nelson/Lee/Donovan...these are all top tier prospects and they are going to get a shot. I might be in the minority here, but I would prefer to see a couple of those guys playing for the Isles next season than pay absurd money for a guy like Horton or Clarkson, etc... Free agent class sucks this year big time. Next year is a different story, however.

I don't necessarily believe that is the case right now. He made a very good hockey business decision to buyout DP. That is $24 million to have someone NOT play for you. If he was worried about getting to the floor he would have just kept DP in the Bridge.
He did that to either clear space for new players (and yes the young guys who need new contracts) or to make the team attractive for a sale.
- MikeyBiggs

On the DP buyout, you could not take the chance of him being hurt next year, then not be able to buy him out......which I think is the reason for buyout this year..

couldn't agree more, but its not Snow, its Wang....bc of losing so much money w/current lease deal, will only spend to cap floor, which hurts team & fanbase
- Ur Not Me

I understand finances have a lot to do with why the Isles never really go out and get the so-called upper echelon free agent players but look at what Jersey is doing.

Their current owner is behind on the rent and they just acquired a four million dollar goalie, re-signed their other franchise player to 16.5 million dollars and re-upped a third line utility player for 3.5 million.

Business and sports go hand in hand for sure but the Isles need tbuck some trends today and go for it this summer. A lot of their imminent future success will ride on what management does this summer.

There are no stars on this free agent list but there a few B-grade players that could help any team. The only issue there, albeit a rather large issue, is that a lot of these second tier players are going to get paid like first line all stars.

Isles aren't in need of a first line center because they already have a top five league-wide centerman. Their defense, while not claiming a legitmate top defenseman in the league, certainly has nice depth and a good mixture of skill and toughness.

The Isles two focuses, in my eyes, should be trying to add one more top six forward and obviously address the situation in net. They do those, with aplomb today or shortly thereafter, this team will be ready to battle for home ice in the first round of the playoffs, at the very least.
- MidnightMarauder

I see Ek has Scuderi to Pitt as E4. How are they going to fit him under the Cap? Good point about no stars on this list. Getting a goalie is a must. I know the Isles want to give Donovan a shot on D. I still think adding D is more important than adding forwards. Isles have guys like Strome and Nelson who could make the team this year. This may need to wait another year for Reinhart and Mayfield on D. Isles in a tough spot in a way. They do not want medicore FA's blocking the good propsects.

From a purely business standpoint it make so much sense to put a very competitive team on the ice this season, right before the move to Brooklyn. The fanbase can grow with the move if they are a playoff team.

I hope they make some kind of moves. But like someone else said there really aren't any top flight FAs anyway. It just sucks sitting around and watching all these names go by with the Isles not being attached.

I understand finances have a lot to do with why the Isles never really go out and get the so-called upper echelon free agent players but look at what Jersey is doing.

Their current owner is behind on the rent and they just acquired a four million dollar goalie, re-signed their other franchise player to 16.5 million dollars and re-upped a third line utlity player for 3.5 million.

Business and sports go hand in hand for sure but the Isles need tbuck some trends today and go for it this summer. A lot of their imminent future success will ride on what management does this summer.
- MidnightMarauder

Another good point. If the Devils can manage so should the Isles. Isles need to move forward and cannot just be happy making the playoffs last year.

I see Ek has Scuderi to Pitt as E4. How are they going to fit him under the Cap? Good point about no stars on this list. Getting a goalie is a must. I know the Isles want to give Donovan a shot on D. I still think adding D is more important than adding forwards. Isles have guys like Strome and Nelson who could make the team this year. This may need to wait another year for Reinhart and Mayfield on D. Isles in a tough spot in a way. They do not want medicore FA's blocking the good propsects.
- ses111

One signing won't kill the progress of prospects. This list of free agents is atrocious but there are some good players out there, as long as the asking price isn't Tyler Bozak insanity.

On the DP buyout, you could not take the chance of him being hurt next year, then not be able to buy him out......which I think is the reason for buyout this year..
- Ur Not Me

It's only a compliance buyout. Which means it won't count against the cap. If they were still playing the get to the floor game they could bury him in the minors and then buy him out in a couple years when he was healthy. The buyout would then hit the cap also. Which would play into their hands if they are still playing with the cap floor. Just my opinion.