Great question. Just not sure if they'll pay what Streit wants. I guess if he doesn't come back, it'll leave Vis, Hamonic, AMac, Strait, Carkner as the definites signed for next year. Gotta believe they'll retain Hickey. Finley's signed for next year too...not sure what the plan would be with him. And Donovan absolutely deserves a legit chance to crack the lineup...really can't say enough about how good he's looked in BPort even since early in the season.

So maybe something like:

Vis-Hickey
AMac-Hamonic
Strait-Donovan
Carkner

Carkner in for Donovan in games against teams with bigger, stronger forwards.

Wonder what the plan is for Finley. Sure, he's not mobile like the higher-end big guys in the league, but neither was Sutton, and he filled a decent role while here (intimidation, shot-blocking). If Finley can grow into the same role, then it'd be worth keeping him around next season at the 1/2 mil he's signed for.

Also wouldn't mind if they took a look at the trade and FA markets for a bigger d-man that's more mobile than Carkner and Finley.
- UIF

i think a lot of us are in for a big surprise when garth trades a few of our prospects for established dmen/forwards.

i think a lot of us are in for a big surprise when garth trades a few of our prospects for established dmen/forwards.
- LetsGoIsles

I hope so!

XxNYIxX

Streit is the best UFA D available. We need to give him the 5.5 for 3 like he asked for and be done with it.
- kencan98

good one!!!!


....wait....youre serious?!?!?!

here's what i'm thinking

nino/strome JT MM
KO Strome/Nelson Bailey
Grabs Nielsen Mcdonald
Lee Cizikas Martin

Amack/Hammer
Hickey/Viz
third pairing is wide open

totally not sure about the third pairing...but i think this is where the battles are

I hate to bring this back up but this annoys the living crap out of me because they are going to try and do exactly what you are saying. Don't make the same PA mistake as last year.
- kencan98

"mistake"??

last year the islanders didnt make the playoffs with PA...this year they look like they will make the playoffs without PA...how can anyone be serious and say that the islanders NEED pa and that not signing him was a "mistake"

It was 3 years $5.5m total.
- eichiefs9

i dont think thats true....

EDIT: or the 3 for $10MM either...

what do u guys think of Lucic?

I think Boston could trade him for the right price...

Obviously Bruins would want something significant
- Ur Not Me

love him!!! would be willing to part with major pieces if he was available.

here's what i'm thinking

nino/strome JT MM
KO Strome/Nelson Bailey
Grabs Nielsen Mcdonald
Lee Cizikas Martin

Amack/Hammer
Hickey/Viz
third pairing is wide open

totally not sure about the third pairing...but i think this is where the battles are
- NYI78

I think Nino is going to be the prospect who is traded...Strome will be the 2nd line center

Frans yes, but the way Bailey and KO are playing right now i highly doubt it
- Danformo

why?!!?

ANYONE can be traded...and selling high on a bailey or KO might not be the worst thing... im not saying they MUST trade him but i would be FAR from shocked if either were traded. only 1 player is untouchable as far as im concerned.

why?!!?

ANYONE can be traded...and selling high on a bailey or KO might not be the worst thing... im not saying they MUST trade him but i would be FAR from shocked if either were traded. only 1 player is untouchable as far as im concerned.
- LetsGoIsles

100 percent correct... Jt is untouchable thats about it

it all depends on what you get though

If Mark Streit doesn't return, that leaves a gaping hole on the Isles blueline, and with all the good very young forwards the Isles have waiting for their chance, they may be able to fill that hole on defense with a trade involving Grabner.

I think he's awesome though. Love Grabner.
- jimbro83

exactly!!!!

no one can say trading a player is "crazy" until you see what the return is!!!

I thought the same thing.. Ive never done anything but support Bailey. My only issue with Bailey since day one was that he showed he was a much better wing then center & I always pushed for him to be a wing... going all the way back to when Schremp was here. Josh played REALLY well on his wing. Every time he was put back at center his game declined.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

just to boil the pot a little bit (cause thats what i do)

you LOVED schremp...

because if we held onto him we wouldn't be trying to find a wing to play with JT.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

we also might not be in a playoff race....

"mistake"??

last year the islanders didnt make the playoffs with PA...this year they look like they will make the playoffs without PA...how can anyone be serious and say that the islanders NEED pa and that not signing him was a "mistake"
- LetsGoIsles

Because he was a much better fit with JT & MM then his replacement is.

XxNYIxX

we also might not be in a playoff race....
- LetsGoIsles

Boyes is the reason we are in the playoffs?

XxNYIxX

I know your thoughts on Boyes, but respectfully I disagree. They have to look to improve on the first line right wing. Someone who brings more to the table than the ability to put some points up by feeding off of JT...they already have one of those in Moulson. I just think Snow has to make a serious effort to bring someone in who can stand on his own and bring something valuable to the table...either a player that can be a force along the boards, or a really good two-way player to offset the defensive shortcomings of Tavares and Moulson. The first line as is...if they're not filling the net with pucks...is an absolute liability out there when the play goes the other way.
- UIF

Actually we agree on everything you said. Snow needs to do exactly what you said.

The difference I think between our arguments is that you actually think Snow will do it. I don't because he never has.

My idea is simple - keep Boyes in place until a better replacement is found. And a better replacement is NOT a brand new AHL player with no NHL experience. That's nothing more than a gamble.

Because he was a much better fit with JT & MM then his replacement is.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

You're right. And history repeats itself. I heard the same thing last year about PA from a lot of Isles fans as I hear this year about Boyes. I don't think we need to roll the dice again.

just to boil the pot a little bit (cause thats what i do)

you LOVED schremp...
- LetsGoIsles

Not loved, he was the best option we had & he and Bailey were very good together.

we STILL don't have a second line center (not that he was the answer, but he was an option that let Frans play third line)

XxNYIxX

It's nice to finally have the fan's on this board come around and start praising this team.

3 months ago... there wasn't much love out there.

Some guys have come a complete 180!!! .... (They know who they are)

I think Kasper is the last of the Negative Nellies... but he is a Penguins fan first!!!

It feels good not to have to come on here and defend the rebuild!!!
- jimmc7722

*biting my tongue*

( )

why?!!?

ANYONE can be traded...and selling high on a bailey or KO might not be the worst thing... im not saying they MUST trade him but i would be FAR from shocked if either were traded. only 1 player is untouchable as far as im concerned.
- LetsGoIsles

DiPietro!

XxNYIxX

You're talking to a guy that stated he would take Okposo over any player on the Jets.
- canadianpenfan

oh god...glad i missed that comment.

First line right wing (FA or trade), goaltender (FA or trade), and/or a top-4 d-man (be it Streit or a more well-rounded option). Taking care of two of those three needs should put a healthy dent in the Isles' spending needs.
- UIF

100%

i can see at least 1 of those 3 positions being filled via trade.

"mistake"??

last year the islanders didnt make the playoffs with PA...this year they look like they will make the playoffs without PA...how can anyone be serious and say that the islanders NEED pa and that not signing him was a "mistake"
- LetsGoIsles

Because he's better than Boyes. Much better. What's going to happen is Boyes will be gone in the summer and next year we will be having the same conversion with a different name.

I'm sick of the Islanders making moves that only the Islanders make. Just do what every other GM in the league would do FOR ONCE! Sign Streit, sign Nabby for 2 years and sign Boyes for 1 more.

Put Boyes with Grabner and have fun with your little AHL tryouts on the first line for a few games. If they work, great. If they don't, your back up plan is sitting on the third line.

Boyes is the reason we are in the playoffs?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

its an answer no one will have a definite answer to...

what i do know, are FACTS.

and the FACTS are last year islanders werent in the playoffs; this year they (knock on wood) will be in the playoffs....draw your own conclusions.

Actually we agree on everything you said. Snow needs to do exactly what you said.

The difference I think between our arguments is that you actually think Snow will do it. I don't because he never has.

My idea is simple - keep Boyes in place until a better replacement is found. And a better replacement is NOT a brand new AHL player with no NHL experience. That's nothing more than a gamble.
- kencan98

everyone knocks snow for not making any trades "because he never has" but seem to gloss over the fact that he is responsible for the team thats on the ice today... maybe staying the course and not trading for the sake of trading was the right move!!