Not only that, they facking robbed the Blue Jackets
- Vukota

Yeah, the deal is an absolute steal for the Rangers. Dubinsky is garbage. Anisimov is a nice player, that's about it. Erixson may become a good player. That first rounder is going to be a late round pick. Not much of a return to CBJ for Nash.

All these friggin' stars have to come to the Atlantic...

Let's hope Ty Wishart is doing some serious training this summer!

Certainly in the field of dealing with the media, you will not hear me defend the organization. Their failure to address matters through the media unfortunately plays into any predisposed personality disorders the dissatisfied portion of fans want to label them with. I don't believe for one second that the Isles decided less than a week into free agency that they were satisfied to wait and see what cap casualties would come about, so in that regard, no I don't totally buy in to what Staple was saying. Still, the Isles are spending $5 million this year on Lub and $5 million last year on Rolston becasue these are the type of $5 million players that they can get. Either guys over the hill with little left or traded players. There are lots of guys we'd rather they spend $5 million on but it's becoming more and more apparent that they were never options in the first place. This problem will only be cured by building a successful program from within.
- keaner17

All the more reason to get the best possible coach for the young players. You cannot get the top players at least get the best possible coach you can get. There has to be decent coaches that are out of work who will take a shot with the Isles.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Tough day for Blue Jackets and Islanders in many ways.
- ses111

Why is it a tough day for the Islanders... just because the Rangers got Nash...

All these friggin' stars have to come to the Atlantic...

Let's hope Ty Wishart is doing some serious training this summer!
- UIF

Why is it a tough day for the Islanders... just because the Rangers got Nash...
- jimmc7722

He was talking about vis not wanting to play here either.

He was talking about vis not wanting to play here either.
- Vukota

Thank you Vukota and even if he did want to play for the Isles Nash to the Rangers is not good for the Isles.

If he does have to play for us next year, I will buy tickets to opening night just to boo him when he's introduced.
- NYIDRIVE4FIVE

seriously, can anyone blame him for not wanting to play here though?

He also only played 68 games though. If you look at the numbers to see how many points he'd have hit in a full 82 game season it would come out to 32-33 points, which is better than his two years on Edmonton. Over his 8 year career his average point total just just a shade over 42/year.

So if you go by the literal definition of sub-par, technically yes he did have a slightly below average year. But there's not enough regression from the mean for me to think that he doesn't have something left in the tank. Only two seasons ago he hit 68 points, and (if he actually plays here) he's going to have a vastly increased role.
- eichiefs9

I think we're getting off track here.

I was bustin LGI over his wanting a definition of SUBPAR.

And comparing Viz's production to that useless group of cast offs we called a Defensive Corp last season.

I did check out Viz's stats for last season. Off a bit compared to previous yrs but I didnt say he has nothing in the tank.

I'm just fed up with players that dis the Isles and dont want to come and play for them. In his case. Screw em. Let him go somewhere else. I dont want him.

I dont see us measurably better or worse regardless of whether he reports to Isles camp and since he doesnt want to be here anyway. Screw him.

Be happy we don't have Howson as a GM. He had his hand forced, but that is an atrocious trade. Two average players, a great D prospect that the Rags don't need and gave up peanuts for and a late first rounder.

He was talking about vis not wanting to play here either.
- Vukota

We don't know the whole story behind it... maybe he was hoping to get bought out by Anaheim and playing over in Europe.

Can't say I blame him.

If the trade does get reversed... Isles will get back their pick, and hopefully be given the Ducks 2nd rounder.

He was talking about vis not wanting to play here either.
- Vukota

I'm starting to think the people of Long Island just don't want a hockey team anymore!!!

Too many casual fans, and not enough support from the community!!!

Be happy we don't have Howson as a GM. He had his hand forced, but that is an atrocious trade. Two average players, a great D prospect that the Rags don't need and gave up peanuts for and a late first rounder.
- eichiefs9

It's unreal he is still the GM. Have to wonder what some owners are thinking?

Why is it a tough day for the Islanders... just because the Rangers got Nash...
- jimmc7722

In the NY world of Sports PR. Another for the Rangers and another strike against the Isles.

Thats just the way it is in NY. Same with the Mets and Yanks, Knicks and Nets, Jets and Giants.

He who gets the positive Headlines is king for a day. And in the case of the Rangers vs Isles. A heck of a lot longer.

I think we're getting off track here.

I was bustin LGI over his wanting a definition of SUBPAR.

And comparing Viz's production to that useless group of cast offs we called a Defensive Corp last season.

I did check out Viz's stats for last season. Off a bit compared to previous yrs but I didnt say he has nothing in the tank.

I'm just fed up with players that dis the Isles and dont want to come and play for them. In his case. Screw em. Let him go somewhere else. I dont want him.

I dont see us measurably better or worse regardless of whether he reports to Isles camp and since he doesnt want to be here anyway. Screw him.
- SCLI

I wasn't really trying to nitpick or get on your case. Just saying that he didn't play a complete season and his stats, while a step down from the all-star season the year before, weren't actually that far off his average production.

I do, however, think that we will be measurably worse without him on the blueline. Part (to anyone reading, please remember I said part) of the reason for the lack of offense last year was a shortage of defenseman that could move the puck. Streit and Hamonic could do it well, Mac decently. Jurcina, Staios, Eaton, and Mottau were all completely inept in that category. Offense starts with a strong first pass and/or the ability to have a defenseman carry the puck over the defending blueline. When half or more of your defenseman are below average in that area, it puts far too much pressure on the forwards to try and do it themselves. Lubo can do that at a good level and would add a huge dynamic to this team.

I think we're getting off track here.

I was bustin LGI over his wanting a definition of SUBPAR.

And comparing Viz's production to that useless group of cast offs we called a Defensive Corp last season.

I did check out Viz's stats for last season. Off a bit compared to previous yrs but I didnt say he has nothing in the tank.

I'm just fed up with players that dis the Isles and dont want to come and play for them. In his case. Screw em. Let him go somewhere else. I dont want him.

I dont see us measurably better or worse regardless of whether he reports to Isles camp and since he doesnt want to be here anyway. Screw him.
- SCLI

i responded:

"but what does that have to do with anything??? why are we comparing what he was to what he is now??? comparing apples and oranges.

all i care about is what is he VS. what do we have??? and quite frankly what he is now is ALOT better than most of what he have. so did he have a personal "subpar" season? compared to the 2010 season yes. did he have a subpar season compared to what WE should interested in?? hell no!!! and in fact, id take 5 players with lubomir visnovsky subpar 2011 seasons stats for 2012 season in a heartbeat"

It's unreal he is still the GM. Have to wonder what some owners are thinking?
- ses111

I knew he wouldn't get what he was asking for and don't blame him for setting the bar high and waiting. But that's really a terrible trade. Dubi and Anisimov are average-to-below-average 2nd liners or above-average 3rd liners. Erixon, by all predictions, could be a top pairing defenseman but the Rags a) gave up next to nothing for him and b) have one of the best bluelines in the league and don't really need him. Not to mention their first round pick will, in all likelihood, be not very many picks before our second round pick.

All the more reason to get the best possible coach for the young players. You cannot get the top players at least get the best possible coach you can get. There has to be decent coaches that are out of work who will take a shot with the Isles.
- ses111

I'd definitely like to see a coach with an actual track record. Not a flake like Nolan either, someone who's been around.

Come home from work to see the Isles are losing Visnovsky and the Rangers stole Nash from Colombus? Somebody up there hates the Isles.

I'd definitely like to see a coach with an actual track record. Not a flake like Nolan either, someone who's been around.
- keaner17

Andy Murray or Guy Charboneau. Again if this is a rebuild and the Isles will be using a ton of propsects you cannot trust them to any coach. It's one thing not to be able to get star players it's even worse hiring a minor league coach who was not even a success in the minors. Isles need to do better than this.

I knew he wouldn't get what he was asking for and don't blame him for setting the bar high and waiting. But that's really a terrible trade. Dubi and Anisimov are average-to-below-average 2nd liners or above-average 3rd liners. Erixon, by all predictions, could be a top pairing defenseman but the Rags a) gave up next to nothing for him and b) have one of the best bluelines in the league and don't really need him. Not to mention their first round pick will, in all likelihood, be not very many picks before our second round pick.
- eichiefs9

We need David Stern to block this deal. I thought the hole idea of the cap was to stop a couple of teams from loading up on stars? Something went seriously wrong.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Tough day for Blue Jackets and Islanders in many ways.
- ses111

Wrong, this has more to do with teams like the Islanders/Blue Jackers operating as a woe is me franchise while teams like the Rangers/Flyers make moves to get better. The Islanders a complete embarassment and they make it harder and harder every year to root for them.

Andy Murray or Guy Charboneau. Again if this is a rebuild and the Isles will be using a ton of propsects you cannot trust them to any coach. It's one thing not to be able to get star players it's even worse hiring a minor league coach who was not even a success in the minors. Isles need to do better than this.
- ses111

agreed 100%

capuano is a terrible, undisciplined, way in over his head coach

Wrong, this has more to do with teams like the Islanders/Blue Jackers operating as a woe is me franchise while teams like the Rangers/Flyers make moves to get better. The Islanders a complete embarassment and they make it harder and harder every year to root for them.
- latorrem1

No way I can argue with anything you said. I can understand teams not having the most money to spend but it's hard to defend some of the bad decisions some of these teams make.

Andy Murray or Guy Charboneau. Again if this is a rebuild and the Isles will be using a ton of propsects you cannot trust them to any coach. It's one thing not to be able to get star players it's even worse hiring a minor league coach who was not even a success in the minors. Isles need to do better than this.
- ses111

I pretty much said the same thing a few threads ago. I also would have liked Weight to head to Bridgeport and try his hand at coaching there. His NHL experience would have been a great tool to teach the kids down there what it would take to make it at the NHL level all the while giving him the experience for the job we know he's eventually going to have. Meanwhile, Murray, Guy, even Bill Barber would be decent.