The core on the Rangers is fairly young if your counting the right guys (Stepan, Beassard, zucc, Miller, Kreider, McDonagh, Skjei and Klein). Girardi (buyout) and Nash (trade) are the ones likely gone next season. Staal is the question mark, he has regressed and not sure what to do with him. Hank is the oldest guy on the team in that regard. Wether this core is good enough to win it is another story
- Slimtj100

Love Zuc, Stephan and McDonagh are good players, Skjei showed some promise for sure the rest you mention nothing special especially Kreider as far as I'm concerned. Gerardi and Staal are on their downturn with big contracts.
Who in the frank is going to trade for N(C)ash. I think you hit Gomez type luck once I don't think it will happen again.
I love Hank But he has carried your team in the past and he has shown some age I believe this year. Me thinks you guys are on a downturn. You've had a great run and come up short, however I think going forward the party's over and a bit of a rebuild is on the horizon IMHO.
That said the picks and prospect pool are a bit depleted.

Love Zuc and Stephan and McDonagh are good players, Skjei showed some promise for sure the rest you mention nothing special especially Kreider as far as I'm concerned.
Who in the frank is going to trade for N(C)ash. I think you hit Gomez luck once I don't think it will happen again.
I love Hank But he has carried your team in the past and he has shown some age I believe this year. Me thinks you guys are on a downturn. You've had a great run and come up short, however I think going forward the party's over and a bit of a rebuild is on the horizon IMHO.
- nyisles7

Nash was hurt a lot this year, but he's still a goal scorer (regular season only lol). A bubble team would look at him for sure. Some of us peg Toronto. He's still a valuable player, but in our case it's time for a change. To me just getting the cap space is good enough, I wouldn't even care about the return. Certainly wouldn't expect a McDonagh get

Kreider sounds a lot like Okposo is for you guys. You love him one game hate him the next. He just oozes potential that hasn't peaked yet, maybe it never will. Great shot great speed

The rest of the core, like Miller, are solid. Hayes was great last year but has a sophomore slump. He's gonna be key next year. Brassard is underrated imo

A good debate will be who's better Pulock or Skjei the next bunch of years...both will be real good

Nash was hurt a lot this year, but he's still a goal scorer (regular season only lol). A bubble team would look at him for sure. Some of us peg Toronto. He's still a valuable player, but in our case it's time for a change. To me just getting the cap space is good enough, I wouldn't even care about the return. Certainly wouldn't expect a McDonagh get

Kreider sounds a lot like Okposo is for you guys. You love him one game hate him the next. He just oozes potential that hasn't peaked yet, maybe it never will. Great shot great speed

The rest of the core, like Miller, are solid. Hayes was great last year but has a sophomore slump. He's gonna be key next year. Brassard is underrated imo

A good debate will be who's better Pulock or Skjei the next bunch of years...both will be real good
- Slimtj100

Like both of the young d you mentioned. Both will be important for their teams in the near future. I'm not trading for Nash period way too much money IMHO.
It's going to be interesting to see what both teams do Moving forward. The islanders with the new owners do they fire Snow and or Crappy and who do they sign and trade. The Rangers have their cap issues and aging core to deal with and not much in the prospect or draft pick pool to rebuild with, so do they trade some of their players for picks and prospects or move forward with what they have and see where it takes them? Do they try to sign Yandle or trade his rights? Interesting on both fronts for sure.

I'm sure this doesn't make the loss any easier to swallow, but the Islanders got beat by a very good, deep Lightning team -- a team that was just two wins shy of winning the Cup last year. And if it's any consolation, at least one of your guys was not caught sporting a Bieber t-shirt. https://www.nhl.com/news/...ieber-concert/c-280572886

Now that you guys are out of the playoffs give us Hamonic for Eberle.

I have no idea who this guy is and whether or not he is reliable, but just came across this on twitter:

@TSNSimmer
Isles season is done. Okposo gone. Hamonic trade? New owner. Hearing McPhee comes in. Will be interesting.
- NYI44

Would love to see a new coach added to that list...

Is Cappy fired yet? His Okposo + JT line at the end of 3rd in Game 3 lost the series...
- ziggy_skalica

Very true what could of happen if we would have been up 2 games to 1.

Would love to see a new coach added to that list...
- roadworker

If Snow is fired (please I beg you) believe me they're not keeping his buddy and fellow clown Capuano on.

The UFA's (and eventually JT) will re-sign if they see this as a team which is still taking steps to improve.

Boychuk never returned to form after his injury and Leddy is younger than Hedman who outplayed both.

Greiss did an admirable job, but once he shook of the rust from the layoff, Bishop was in playoff form.

The Isles forwards and offense were thin and the simple attack was easy to defend by Tampa.

Between FLA, NYR and NYI, one was destined to make it out of the first round and face Tampa.

In spite of all of the OT heroics, had it stayed 3-0 FLA in game 3, who knows?

Overall, not too difficult to figure out.

You guys played a good series and should be proud of what's happened with your guys. Chalk this up to experience, because that's what gets you through tough spots. Good luck in the off season.

I have a feeling the Rangers make a run at Frans, Okposo or Martin. One of them will be a Ranger

I think you guys should be more prouder of the Isles. They've made a lot of strides over the last couple years, I know it's baby steps..but just think back to DP days and how bad it was. I'm a glass half full guy in general tho haha. Pulock is gonna be great and Leddy is phenomenal. JT is just fantastic, he needs one more superstar to take the pressure off a bit. I really like players like Prince an Quine as good depth guys. Like the Rangers you have to get rid of some deadweight. But keep your heads up, team is on the rise

TB is still underated with that Triplets line, that trio are insane in the playoffs. Hedman too. They killed us last year aswell
- Slimtj100

Martin will be re-signed. He doesn't cost a lot and is a real good fit with Clutter and Zeeker. His effectiveness is maximized being on the isles. The other two? Frans may be re-signed. KO won't be re-signed, I think.

Would have to be Hamonic+ for PC to even entertain that idea and if say you guys put together something like that for Hall you shouldnt pair him up with JT at all...the guy is a driver and if anything it would give you two big threats on two different lines
- RatedR80

Isles fans know its a Hamonic + situation for Hall. the question becomes what is the "+"?

Truth is, I never wanted any part of the team trading Hamonic and I'm even less inclined to want to move him now. He was great this past season and in the playoffs. The guy's stock is through the roof now. His level of play, coupled with his age and contract situation make him one of the most desirable trade commodities in the league right now. But, if he still wants out, I don't think the Isles have a choice but to move him.

Is Grabovski done as an Islander?

Is Grabovski done as an Islander?
- Popcorn Kid

Nobody knows. Is Grabovski done as a player is the real question.

I can't even remember when he last played and he's still not skating. Hard to believe they'll buy him out. Hard to believe he'd retire and leave $10M on the table. My guess is he goes the Pronger/Savard route and just stays on LTIR for the next two years. Isles benefit by saving $5M/yr in cap space, Grabovski still gets his paycheck. Everybody wins.

Just my guess, that's not really founded in any facts.

McPhee taking over would not be a shock. KO gone and Hamonic traded sure seems right.
- ses111

I'm not a McPhee fan. I can't get past that idiotic Forsberg for Erat deal he made. That was a horrendous deal. I don't want a GM trading guys like Barzal for guys like Jason Chimera or the equivalent.

Nobody knows. Is Grabovski done as a player is the real question.

I can't even remember when he last played and he's still not skating. Hard to believe they'll buy him out. Hard to believe he'd retire and leave $10M on the table. My guess is he goes the Pronger/Savard route and just stays on LTIR for the next two years. Isles benefit by saving $5M/yr in cap space, Grabovski still gets his paycheck. Everybody wins.

Just my guess, that's not really founded in any facts.
- eichiefs9

Grabo is done from a practical standpoint. He can't be counted on. The wind blows and he gets a concussion. The Isles have to move forward under the premise that Grabo is not going to be a contributor going forward and work from there.

I'm not a McPhee fan. I can't get past that idiotic Forsberg for Erat deal he made. That was a horrendous deal. I don't want a GM trading guys like Barzal for guys like Jason Chimera or the equivalent.
- Jethro09

Grass isn't always greener. I'm a bit weary of McPhee myself.

I think there is a ton of tinkering to be done in the offseason. If the Isles aren't getting a comparable defenseman back for Hamonic, which I don't think they are, then they need to add a quality forward and then go find another one in free agency or via another trade. The book is out on the Isles...shut down Tavares and you can be reasonably sure that there won't be anyone else to pick up the slack.

It's really going to be an interesting offseason. I don't have nearly as much of a problem with Snow as a lot here do, but if he fails to significantly invest in this team in the offseason I can't defend the guy anymore.

I'm not a McPhee fan. I can't get past that idiotic Forsberg for Erat deal he made. That was a horrendous deal. I don't want a GM trading guys like Barzal for guys like Jason Chimera or the equivalent.
- Jethro09

I'd like to hear why McPhee made that deal. Did he think Forsberg could not skate? While McPhee would not be my choice, I take him over Garth and it's hard to hold that one bad deal against him. Most GM's have made bad deals.

Grabo is done from a practical standpoint. He can't be counted on. The wind blows and he gets a concussion. The Isles have to move forward under the premise that Grabo is not going to be a contributor going forward and work from there.
- Jethro09

I don't disagree, but they still have to pay the guy and if he's healthy they're probably going to be trying to get him playing time if they're spending that kind of money on him. He's not a particularly functional NHL player any longer, but I'm afraid that if he gets healthy enough to play they're going to let him do it.

I'd like to hear why McPhee made that deal. Did he think Forsberg could not skate? While McPhee would not be my choice, I take him over Garth and it's hard to hold that one bad deal against him. Most GM's have made bad deals.
- ses111

Something had to have happened with the kid...he dropped like a stone in the draft, too.

I don't know about a splash vs just putting their people in place. Real GM and real NHL coach would go a long way IMHO.
- nyisles7

A proven NHL GM and coach would be just the splash I'm looking for.

I'm sure this doesn't make the loss any easier to swallow, but the Islanders got beat by a very good, deep Lightning team -- a team that was just two wins shy of winning the Cup last year. And if it's any consolation, at least one of your guys was not caught sporting a Bieber t-shirt. https://www.nhl.com/news/...ieber-concert/c-280572886
- etchtech

Its very telling that the GMs for both the lightening and the isles (Yzerman and Snow) came in around the same time. The Lightening went to the cup finals last year, and beat the isles in 5 games, without their top player, and 2nd best dman.

I think its time the isles took a real hard look at their management and coaching staff. The same problem has occurred and re occurred for the last 5 years under this coach. The inability to close out games is not a problem that winning teams have.

The Lightening did a great job at shutting down JT, and the fact that they never brought in a winger of that top line caliber is inexcusable. Okposo on any other team isnt a first line guy, and Frans is a third line center.......yet on the isles those were the choices to flank #91? When you shut down 91 the entire team is done.....

I'm not a McPhee fan. I can't get past that idiotic Forsberg for Erat deal he made. That was a horrendous deal. I don't want a GM trading guys like Barzal for guys like Jason Chimera or the equivalent.
- Jethro09

Im with you, George McPhee is not the answer.

Something had to have happened with the kid...he dropped like a stone in the draft, too.
- eichiefs9

I agree and they traded him very quickly.

Grass isn't always greener. I'm a bit weary of McPhee myself.

I think there is a ton of tinkering to be done in the offseason. If the Isles aren't getting a comparable defenseman back for Hamonic, which I don't think they are, then they need to add a quality forward and then go find another one in free agency or via another trade. The book is out on the Isles...shut down Tavares and you can be reasonably sure that there won't be anyone else to pick up the slack.

It's really going to be an interesting offseason. I don't have nearly as much of a problem with Snow as a lot here do, but if he fails to significantly invest in this team in the offseason I can't defend the guy anymore.
- eichiefs9

Im gonna disagree with the keeping of Snow. He's had more than enough time to field a cup team, and they fell flat. Trading for Vanek was admission that this team needed a top tier winger to play for JT, and yet it was never addressed after he failed to sign Vanek. Thats inexcusable. I dont wanna play the who's out there game, as he's rife with prospects and not all of them will pan out. I think that under an experienced, battle tested GM, you'd see the islanders farther along in this "rebuild".

In response to the bold...........that was something that should have been said last summer when he stood pat. He didnt do much to improve the team that lost in game 7 to the caps without scoring on the PP.