Dan Petriw: The Bridgeport Report with Phil Giubileo

Yes it does... with last years lack of consistency the team will lose 10, then win 5 or whatever the team does in stretches.... Towards the end of the shortened season the team was faltering and barely got in, even tho the Isles were in a commanding position being a higher seed but fell to the 8th seed.

So with this team history, you can almost gage an idea of possibilities or perception of what might have happened in a full season.
- Ur Not Me

We 'faltered' towards the end? I think that may be a bit exaggerative based on the sour taste of the last 3 games, which Cappy benched a couple of players to 'rest up' for the playoffs.
Our monthly results looked like this...
January 4-2-1
February 4-9-1
March 8-5-1
April 8-1-4
We lost our last three games, two by shootout. Our biggest losing streak was 5 games which occured at the beginning of February. If anything, the trend suggested the team was getting better and better. We played our best hockey during the final month and a half and a very strong performance in the playoffs. As I say, there's no basis to say this team wouldn't have made the playoffs. If anything, the trend suggested otherwise.

Who exactly has Detroit been letting soak in the AHL, recently, that's came in a made a big impact in the NHL?

Dan Petriw: The Bridgeport Report with Phil Giubileo
- Dan Petriw

Nice job Dan

"It was reported by Damian Cox earlier this week that the Leafs have been scouting defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers for years and that he may finally be available. While I do not personally pay close attention to rumors like these, the Leafs are no doubt seeking some defensive upgrades who fit the Carlyle mold."


From the Leafs blog. I know this is only a rumor but I'd like to think Snow is doing his due dilligence on this one?

"It was reported by Damian Cox earlier this week that the Leafs have been scouting defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Florida Panthers for years and that he may finally be available. While I do not personally pay close attention to rumors like these, the Leafs are no doubt seeking some defensive upgrades who fit the Carlyle mold."


From the Leafs blog. I know this is only a rumor but I'd like to think Snow is doing his due dilligence on this one?
- Cptmjl

i'd move a lot for him

Dan,
This is a very informative article. We look forward to reading these very month as our updates on the Sound Tiger players and who might make an impact on LI soon. Thanks for the real reporting on Isles.

Dan Petriw: The Bridgeport Report with Phil Giubileo
- Dan Petriw

Great article Dan....
Can't express enough how awesome it is having a new and improved HB blog!

From the last thread:

Poulin is not that answer. that guy flops all over the place. If he stayed put and relaxed a little he might be what we are looking for. Plus with our defense in front of him he will get eaten for breakfast. We needed a back up goalie this year even if it was for one year. Hedberg is out there. Yeah he is old but if he split the time with NAbby we should be fine. I personally think Nabby has not been atrocious and that the defense who dive in front of him all the time and stand right in front him should get the brunt of everything
- kasperrko

Think of it this way..if you call a kid up from double A baseball and ask him to pinch hit against a Major league closer..his swing is going to look erratic and desperate. If he only see's one at bat every two weeks, he'll likely continue to look that way. Let him see severa at bats per week, he'll adjust to the speed, look more controlled and give you hope.
It's the same with Poulin or any kid goaltender. Goalies who 'flop' do it for one of two reasons. A. Their defense sucks and they're being exposed by a team dominating down low. B. They're giving up rebounds due to poor puck control.
The latter can be cured by more in game action.
I'm not saying Poulin IS the guy or isn't. I'm simply saying that no one really has any real data to form a conclusion. It's all fragmented and distorted due to the erratic treatment he's received.

We 'faltered' towards the end? I think that may be a bit exaggerative based on the sour taste of the last 3 games, which Cappy benched a couple of players to 'rest up' for the playoffs.
Our monthly results looked like this...
January 4-2-1
February 4-9-1
March 8-5-1
April 8-1-4
We lost our last three games, two by shootout. Our biggest losing streak was 5 games which occured at the beginning of February. If anything, the trend suggested the team was getting better and better. We played our best hockey during the final month and a half and a very strong performance in the playoffs. As I say, there's no basis to say this team wouldn't have made the playoffs. If anything, the trend suggested otherwise.
- keaner17

Its possible that your trend could suggest that the Isles would have made the PO's in a regular season based on what/how they played. But I'll go on the basis that history with this team has not always panned out what expectations are.

From the last thread:



Think of it this way..if you call a kid up from double A baseball and ask him to pinch hit against a Major league closer..his swing is going to look erratic and desperate. If he only see's one at bat every two weeks, he'll likely continue to look that way. Let him see severa at bats per week, he'll adjust to the speed, look more controlled and give you hope.
It's the same with Poulin or any kid goaltender. Goalies who 'flop' do it for one of two reasons. A. Their defense sucks and they're being exposed by a team dominating down low. B. They're giving up rebounds due to poor puck control.
The latter can be cured by more in game action.
I'm not saying Poulin IS the guy or isn't. I'm simply saying that no one really has any real data to form a conclusion. It's all fragmented and distorted due to the erratic treatment he's received.
- keaner17

That's a fair asessment not even mentioning that he should be playing irregardless.

i'd move a lot for him
- Dan Petriw

FYI Dan,


Snow doesn't trade for young promising players...

What & who would you move for him and why?

I agree regarding Nabokov playing too many games- it's ridiculous. That said, if you were in the seats last night, you'd have seen a much smaller team get outmuscled by a lot bigger team repeatedly, in front of its own net. Repeatedly lost EVERY physical battle in front of its own net. Every one....that has to end dcb1
From the last thread. Very true. The Canucks played a very physical game. We looked tepid against them at times and couldn't match up to them physically.

FYI Dan,


Snow doesn't trade for young promising players...

What & who would you move for him and why?
- Ur Not Me

Bouchard and AMAC because they suck

I agree regarding Nabokov playing too many games- it's ridiculous. That said, if you were in the seats last night, you'd have seen a much smaller team get outmuscled by a lot bigger team repeatedly, in front of its own net. Repeatedly lost EVERY physical battle in front of its own net. Every one....that has to end dcb1
From the last thread. Very true. The Canucks played a very physical game. We looked tepid against them at times and couldn't match up to them physically.
- Cptmjl

Maybe bring up Finley....

Bouchard and AMAC because they suck
- Cptmjl

That might work..... Can you get in contact GM of Florida

FYI Dan,


Snow doesn't trade for young promising players...

What & who would you move for him and why?
- Ur Not Me

I would move a first round pick and a b level prospect. This kid can be a top pairing dman

That might work..... Can you get in contact GM of Florida
- Ur Not Me

Tallon won't pick up the phone after hearing that proposal? I'll try blocking my number.

Maybe bring up Finley....


- Ur Not Me

How much worse can the backend get?

I would move a first round pick and a b level prospect. This kid can be a top pairing dman
- Dan Petriw

If all it would take is a 1st rd pick, then yes Snow should pull the trigger cause the Isles had enough picks & prospects, so really do not care about anymore picks, and also don't mind moving a fringe prospect...

But I think it will take more for Kulikov

If all it would take is a 1st rd pick, then yes Snow should pull the trigger cause the Isles had enough picks & prospects, so really do not care about anymore picks, and also don't mind moving a fringe prospect...

But I think it will take more for Kulikov
- Ur Not Me

He definitely should because we all know that pick is going to be in the high twenties this year.

It appears that we are who we expected to be as far as our defense. I have hopes that it will get better as the season goes on and perhaps it will work itself out in the end. But we are just getting out muscled on our own zone too much for comfort.

How much worse can the backend get?
- Cptmjl

alot worse but stronger & bigger

He definitely should because we all know that pick is going to be in the high twenties this year.
- Cptmjl

Really?? I'm thinking late teens....

How much worse can the backend get?
- Cptmjl

We have seen much worse... I still don't get all the hate for A Mack.. He isn't AS good as Isles think.. but he isn't as bad as u think either. Good Goaltending can solve a lot of problems. Nabby has been horrendous.

Our backline is desperate for some guys who can clear the crease AND skate.. the only one who comes close to that is hamonic. The rest of our guys are good players but need to be paired with a big Bodied solid D-man. We don't have that.. We have teams crashing the net every game. It has to be addressed... (sorry about last thread.. didn't realize u always like Neilsen.. ).

What is lost in all of this is just how well our fowards are playing. Most of the guys on here complaining about Moulson ... while I agree he needs to back check better and be MUCH better in his own end (Again these are problems that would be less obvious with a decent goalie and some crease clearing D-men)... u are not giving him enough credit for his ability to put the puck in the net. He goes to the net.. not around it or behind it.. and has good enough and quick enough hands to score. This is not an easy thing to find. We have had TONS of talented guys that could not do this extrememly important task. I could list 20 of them off the top of my head. I would be very upset to see Matt Moulson on another team. This isn't a Jason Blake that will neve score 30 again... he will score with another team..just as much.