Because Josh Bailey was the first pick (first round) of the rebuild.
- kindlyrick

right...and therefore?

Nielson was given that spot based on his experience and age vs Bailey. So regardless how it happened, i will say again, Bailey was NEVER given a "shot at the title". He was rushed, like Nino, and then based on a poor rookie year you're gonna punish him with bottom six minutes? Thats horrendous.
- kindlyrick

I'm no insider, so I don't know what the thought process was, but I bet that Nielsen was not given the second line center spot only because he was older and played pro hockey longer than Bailey. By that rationale, Nielsen should also have been playing over JT, since he was older and more experienced than JT when JT first arrived. That did not happen. My guess is that Nielsen's production and output bumped him up ahead of Bailey to center a traditional scoring line.

I do agree with you on the rushing thing. Bailey was clearly rushed. He had no business being in the NHL in 2008-09. So was Nino. But Bailey has had top six minutes since his rookie year and he hasn't produced with the notable exception of some spurts during garbage time, when the team was out of the playoff hunt (which usually is around January with this team).

Im pretty sure the salary of an NHL player in the 70's and 80's was prob what the equipment manager now makes........not literally but you know what im sayin.
- kindlyrick

Agreed, but I'm sure you could live pretty comfortably then on what the equipment guy makes now.

Agreed, but I'm sure you could live pretty comfortably then on what the equipment guy makes now.
- PeteM

keep your hands in your own pockets. dont be such an expert in other peoples business.

keep your hands in your own pockets. dont be such an expert in other peoples business.
- LetsGoIsles

Are you facking kidding me with that response??

Agreed, but I'm sure you could live pretty comfortably then on what the equipment guy makes now.
- PeteM

Clark Gillies can do no wrong in my eyes. I'm sure the lack of a kickback was a mere oversight.

Are you facking kidding me with that response??
- Vukota

excellent point you raise with your well thought out response.

NHLPA Statement from Don Fehr re: NHL Game Cancellations

TORONTO (October 4, 2012) – Don Fehr, National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director, released the following statement regarding today’s decision by the NHL to cancel games through October 24, 2012:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions. Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner.”

2 Weeks gone.... many more to come



XxNYIxX

excellent point you raise with your well thought out response.
- LetsGoIsles

You're a joke. Your response to Pete M's post was absurd. He has an opinion on something and you have the nerve to tell him don't be an expert on other peoples business?? You have an opinion on everything like most of us but yet you're gonna tell him that. Half the shat you type is comical and way off base, yet nobody tries to tell you what to say or tells you why don't you mind your own business. Such douchebag!!

NHLPA Statement from Don Fehr re: NHL Game Cancellations

TORONTO (October 4, 2012) – Don Fehr, National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director, released the following statement regarding today’s decision by the NHL to cancel games through October 24, 2012:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions. Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner.”

2 Weeks gone.... many more to come



XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Gonna get much uglier before it gets better

You're a joke. Your response to Pete M's post was absurd. He has an opinion on something and you have the nerve to tell him don't be an expert on other peoples business?? You have an opinion on everything like most of us but yet you're gonna tell him that. Half the shat you type is comical and way off base, yet nobody tries to tell you what to say or tells you why don't you mind your own business. Such douchebag!!
- Vukota

Clark Gillies can do no wrong in my eyes. I'm sure the lack of a kickback was a mere oversight.
- Jethro09

Love that guy!! When I was a stage manager for fox sports about 12 years ago we grabbed him for an interview while he was attending a game and he was rocked it was awesome. Really down to earth good guy. Looked he could still drop some guys

Are you facking kidding me with that response??
- Vukota

NHLPA Statement from Don Fehr re: NHL Game Cancellations

TORONTO (October 4, 2012) – Don Fehr, National Hockey League Players’ Association Executive Director, released the following statement regarding today’s decision by the NHL to cancel games through October 24, 2012:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue. A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions. Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner.”

2 Weeks gone.... many more to come



XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

This is definitely a sign of this being a long lock out. Donald Fehr airing it out like this is not good. As soon as Fehr became part of the NHLPA I knew we were in trouble.

This is definitely a sign of this being a long lock out. Donald Fehr airing it out like this is not good. As soon as Fehr became part of the NHLPA I knew we were in trouble.
- Cptmjl

Yup

I'm no insider, so I don't know what the thought process was, but I bet that Nielsen was not given the second line center spot only because he was older and played pro hockey longer than Bailey. By that rationale, Nielsen should also have been playing over JT, since he was older and more experienced than JT when JT first arrived. That did not happen. My guess is that Nielsen's production and output bumped him up ahead of Bailey to center a traditional scoring line.

I do agree with you on the rushing thing. Bailey was clearly rushed. He had no business being in the NHL in 2008-09. So was Nino. But Bailey has had top six minutes since his rookie year and he hasn't produced with the notable exception of some spurts during garbage time, when the team was out of the playoff hunt (which usually is around January with this team).
- Jethro09

Theres a big difference between a player like Tavares who might i add broke 99s record in juniors, and Bailey so thats not a good example. What im referring to was Frans' ability to play both sides of the puck, which is what they thought Bailey was lacking.......and Nino for that matter. Thats why Frans was automatically slotting for the second line center.


From my memory, which could be wrong, but I do not remember Josh Bailey playing second line minutes for any extending period of time. The second line was always Frans centering Okposo and Grabner for the last two years. The year before that Bailey was on the third line, and the year before that he was a rookie. I do not remember him ever being penciled in as a top 6 forward.

Love that guy!! When I was a stage manager for fox sports about 12 years ago we grabbed him for an interview while he was attending a game and he was rocked it was awesome. Really down to earth good guy. Looked he could still drop some guys
- Vukota

I shook his hand at a bar maybe 4 years ago, and his mitts engulfed mine. Cheap or not, he was a great teamate...

This is definitely a sign of this being a long lock out. Donald Fehr airing it out like this is not good. As soon as Fehr became part of the NHLPA I knew we were in trouble.
- Cptmjl

Me personally i like that........he called the owners out. I bet noone knew that the season could still be played until a deal was reached. I know i didnt know that. The owners used the lockage (i.e stoppage of paychecks) as a bargaining tool, and quite frankly thats dirty business....

thanks eichiefs9
- LetsGoIsles

In all fairness I said Kia.

Love that guy!! When I was a stage manager for fox sports about 12 years ago we grabbed him for an interview while he was attending a game and he was rocked it was awesome. Really down to earth good guy. Looked he could still drop some guys
- Vukota

His hands are massive. They're like grizzly bear paws. I ran into him in a bar with my friends. I was wasted and probably very annoying. Gillies was nothing but cool. Took a picture with me any by buddies.

Theres a big difference between a player like Tavares who might i add broke 99s record in juniors, and Bailey so thats not a good example. What im referring to was Frans' ability to play both sides of the puck, which is what they thought Bailey was lacking.......and Nino for that matter. Thats why Frans was automatically slotting for the second line center.


From my memory, which could be wrong, but I do not remember Josh Bailey playing second line minutes for any extending period of time. The second line was always Frans centering Okposo and Grabner for the last two years. The year before that Bailey was on the third line, and the year before that he was a rookie. I do not remember him ever being penciled in as a top 6 forward.
- kindlyrick

Obviously Bailey and JT are not comparable. My point was, I think that even in the dysfunctional world of the NYI, the coaches play the guys who give them the best chance to win, the guys who produce. They don't play guys based on "experience" or "age", but on production.

During his first two seasons Bailey played top six minutes, basically because there was nobody else better than him to slot ahead of him. Hence, the last place overall finish Bailey's rookie year. I think there comes a point in time where you can't say "well, if he was on the first line, he'd be great". The player has to earn those minute and responsibility. PAP did that. MM has done that. Obviously Nielsen and JT have done that. Bailey hasn't proven he's top six talent. Its not an entitlement to get top six and PP minutes. Those minutes are earned.

Me personally i like that........he called the owners out. I bet noone knew that the season could still be played until a deal was reached. I know i didnt know that. The owners used the lockage (i.e stoppage of paychecks) as a bargaining tool, and quite frankly thats dirty business....
- kindlyrick

Unfortunately, its done in every major sporting league in North America now. Its here to stay. Truth is, nobody could have legitimately expected this season to start on time once Fehr was hired by the PA. The players fired the first warning shot in this negotiation by hiring Fehr, and rightfully so. They got steam-rolled in the last CBA and the players are not going to let that happen again.

The owners need to get on the same page amongst themselves and get the revenue sharing issue resolved first before they can legitimately negotiate any CBA with the players. I don't see how the owners can negotiate with the PA if they are not on the same page themselves. Usually I don't side with the players, especially when they are insistent on getting over half of the HRR, but I hope the players don't agree to a reduction in salaries again. That's going to set a bad precedent that the league will use against them every negotiation from here on out. The players have to dig their heels in on that issue.

Unfortunately, its done in every major sporting league in North America now. Its here to stay. Truth is, nobody could have legitimately expected this season to start on time once Fehr was hired by the PA. The players fired the first warning shot in this negotiation by hiring Fehr, and rightfully so. They got steam-rolled in the last CBA and the players are not going to let that happen again.

The owners need to get on the same page amongst themselves and get the revenue sharing issue resolved first before they can legitimately negotiate any CBA with the players. I don't see how the owners can negotiate with the PA if they are not on the same page themselves. Usually I don't side with the players, especially when they are insistent on getting over half of the HRR, but I hope the players don't agree to a reduction in salaries again. That's going to set a bad precedent that the league will use against them every negotiation from here on out. The players have to dig their heels in on that issue.
- Jethro09

Seems to me they should just split it 50/50 to not lose the season and go from there. Is that not fair???

Obviously Bailey and JT are not comparable. My point was, I think that even in the dysfunctional world of the NYI, the coaches play the guys who give them the best chance to win, the guys who produce. They don't play guys based on "experience" or "age", but on production.

During his first two seasons Bailey played top six minutes, basically because there was nobody else better than him to slot ahead of him. Hence, the last place overall finish Bailey's rookie year. I think there comes a point in time where you can't say "well, if he was on the first line, he'd be great". The player has to earn those minute and responsibility. PAP did that. MM has done that. Obviously Nielsen and JT have done that. Bailey hasn't proven he's top six talent. Its not an entitlement to get top six and PP minutes. Those minutes are earned.
- Jethro09

I gotta tell ya, usually i agree with you but i dont on this..........first off, PAP didnt earn a thing. He was put on JT's line and flourished as you said anyone would. Secondly I do not count Baileys first year in the show because we both agree he was rushed. SO, I ask you, the last two years when the isles went on the 20 game losing streaks, dont you think changes should have been made? Dont you think Josh Bailey possibly should have been given some burn on the top two lines? Im not saying Bailey would be the difference between playoffs and no playoffs, but the kid can play. We've seen flashes of it. Naturally you're gonna say well he needs to be consistent, and i'd agree with that. But consistency comes from consistent linemates.......of which he's never had. The truth is, Bailey was never given that top 6 slot......wether you wanna believe it or not. And, the isles lack that vet leadership that is needed for young players to develope into legit NHLers. Learning on the job in the NHL is def not the best way to develope your young talent.

Seems to me they should just split it 50/50 to not lose the season and go from there. Is that not fair???
- kindlyrick

50/50 is where is should be and where it will wind up, after all of this nonsense and 2 months have been wasted. The real question is will there be changes in revenue sharing? With the big market owners like Jacobs and Snider leading the charge, I doubt there will be much change in that department. And that will lead to the small market teams to continue to struggle, despite the league keeping a bigger piece of the pie.