Im 100% in agreement with you on this........seems like we are in the minority. I love this "not a penny more" thing. Sounds great with all the arm chair GMs on here. But the reality is for a team thats as soft as the isles, to completely disregard what a player like MM brings to the table is laughable.
- kindlyrick

Nobody is disregarding it, what everyone is saying is that there is a limit to its benefits and you can get a very similar player for a hell of a lot cheaper than $3M/yr.

How should he be there over Callahan?? Callahans tenacity alone wins that spot, let alone the fact that he'd take a puck to the face just to stop a shot going wide.
- kindlyrick

Because plays die when he is on the ice? I commend his willingness to give it his all blocking shots and such but scoring goals would be nice too.

Which in turn take the other player out of the play. Its not a useless stat. For a team with zero physicality (with the exception of the 4th line), having a guy who runs into everything is not meaningless.
- kindlyrick

Before my post gets taken out of context, my point was in the recent Stanley cup champs (besides LA Kings) how many had the league leader in hits?
The isles need the physical play but it can also be obtain....

Nobody is disregarding it, what everyone is saying is that there is a limit to its benefits and you can get a very similar player for a hell of a lot cheaper than $3M/yr.
- eichiefs9

I think the thing you're missing here is that those types of players you are referring to have a few screws loose. Having a lockeroom where everyone plays for each and gets along is half the battle. Like anything else in life you get what you pay for. For me, losing a player like MM is not as easily replaced as some think. This game is not just about googling stats. There are personalities......and again, for a team that lacks toughness, I would much prefer dropping some dead weight and keeping guys who are willing to battle.

Nobody is disregarding it, what everyone is saying is that there is a limit to its benefits and you can get a very similar player for a hell of a lot cheaper than $3M/yr.
- eichiefs9

It's amazing something like this has to be posted every single facking day. It's like half the people on here wake up the next morning with no recollection of what was said the day before or the day before that etc etc

Before my post gets taken out of context, my point was in the recent Stanley cup champs (besides LA Kings) how many had the league leader in hits?
The isles need the physical play but it can also be obtain....
- Ur Not Me

All teams who compete for the cup have team toughness.....the isles do not.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/12-players-that-the-islanders-could-potentially-trade-for-in-offseason-1.11859464

Garth Snow’s team will look different next season for sure, even if the Isles general manager doesn’t add a single player from outside. Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin are headed for free agency on July 1 and contracts elsewhere. Sources indicate that there have been no talks between either player’s agent and the Isles since the season ended.
- eichiefs9

The Isles grabbed Mathew Barzal with that 16th pick and Barzal may be the best forward addition Snow can make for next season.

If that's true this team is in big trouble

Before my post gets taken out of context, my point was in the recent Stanley cup champs (besides LA Kings) how many had the league leader in hits?
The isles need the physical play but it can also be obtain....
- Ur Not Me

It's pretty obvious that total team hits really has zero correlation to success.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...e=2&sort=hits&aggregate=0

50% of teams in the top-10 in hits missed the playoffs. The Flyers barely squeaked in and were embarrassed by the Caps. The team that finished dead last in total hits has won 3 Cups in the last 6 seasons.

Because plays die when he is on the ice? I commend his willingness to give it his all blocking shots and such but scoring goals would be nice too.
- Wildschwein

Bottom line, you can't teach heart. Obviously the people picking team USA most likely know more about the game than say you and I. They choose Callahan over Okposo. Im sure theres a reason for it. Perhaps if you watched Okposo trip over the blue line as many times as me, you might agree....

All teams who compete for the cup have team toughness.....the isles do not.
- kindlyrick

Really..?? Blackhawks didn't, and Penguins dont

All teams who compete for the cup have team toughness.....the isles do not.
- kindlyrick

See above. Blackhawks were literally dead-last in the league in total hits.

All teams who compete for the cup have team toughness.....the isles do not.
- kindlyrick

Yeah the Penguins are a nasty bunch. Don't want to get that Ian Cole or Patric Hornqvist all riled up.

It's amazing something like this has to be posted every single facking day. It's like half the people on here wake up the next morning with no recollection of what was said the day before or the day before that etc etc
- Vukota

I believe they call that a discussion.......its what makes this what it is. Not everyone will agree with everyone. There is no right or wrong answer.....

It's pretty obvious that total team hits really has zero correlation to success.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...e=2&sort=hits&aggregate=0

50% of teams in the top-10 in hits missed the playoffs. The Flyers barely squeaked in and were embarrassed by the Caps. The team that finished dead last in total hits has won 3 Cups in the last 6 seasons.
- eichiefs9

Its obvious that some can take a post and run with it on a different meaning...

It's amazing something like this has to be posted every single facking day. It's like half the people on here wake up the next morning with no recollection of what was said the day before or the day before that etc etc
- Vukota

Exactly How I feel about the other side of the argument. I can read what you are typing..... but I could not disagree more. The same people who constantly complain about what Snow doesn't do.... are allowing him to let MM walk for "not a penny more than 1.8 mill".

He leads league in hits, He can and will fight ANYONE in the league.. He is not just a good who can't skate and never scores. He is a HUGE presence in the locker room. To allow him to go to another team on our division is beyond stupid.

you don't just easily replace a guy like that.. His Line turned many games around single handedly.

See above. Blackhawks were literally dead-last in the league in total hits.
- eichiefs9

TB doesn't, Rangers really don't, etc.....

Exactly How I feel about the other side of the argument. I can read what you are typing..... but I could not disagree more. The same people who constantly complain about what Snow doesn't do.... are allowing him to let MM walk for "not a penny more than 1.8 mill".

He leads league in hits, He can and will fight ANYONE in the league.. He is not just a good who can't skate and never scores. He is a HUGE presence in the locker room. To allow him to go to another team on our division is beyond stupid.

you don't just easily replace a guy like that.. His Line turned many games around single handedly.
- niteislander

Serious question: would you rather have Stamkos or Matt Martin?

Exactly How I feel about the other side of the argument. I can read what you are typing..... but I could not disagree more. The same people who constantly complain about what Snow doesn't do.... are allowing him to let MM walk for "not a penny more than 1.8 mill".

He leads league in hits, He can and will fight ANYONE in the league.. He is not just a good who can't skate and never scores. He is a HUGE presence in the locker room. To allow him to go to another team on our division is beyond stupid.

you don't just easily replace a guy like that.. His Line turned many games around single handedly.
- niteislander

I'm just asking, what type of guy is he?? Is Martin the best player on that line? If not then how would u rank the 3? To me its Cal, Casey, Martin

See above. Blackhawks were literally dead-last in the league in total hits.
- eichiefs9

When the islanders have a roster with names like Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Hossa, and Keith we can have this discussion. Until then, I want a MM on this team.

Really..?? Blackhawks didn't, and Penguins dont
- Ur Not Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8PxoTv7v2c

When the islanders have a roster with names like Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Hossa, and Keith we can have this discussion. Until then, I want a MM on this team.
- kindlyrick

And that will insure you never have the skilled guys you need to score the goals and win games....

Yeah the Penguins are a nasty bunch. Don't want to get that Ian Cole or Patric Hornqvist all riled up.
- Vukota

Its funny you and Chief reference both the Pens and the Blackhawks and compare them to the isles. Both those teams have the best 1-2 punch in the league. Their teams are cup contending teams.....the isles are not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8PxoTv7v2c
- niteislander

Nice hit by Seabrook.... And he doesn't even lead the NHL in hits...

Serious question: would you rather have Stamkos or Matt Martin?
- eichiefs9

Good luck today buddy

When the islanders have a roster with names like Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Hossa, and Keith we can have this discussion. Until then, I want a MM on this team.
- kindlyrick

Oh come on. You can't say that "no team that competes for the Cup doesn't play a big, physical game" and then start cherry picking which teams are allowed to play softer because they have star players.

How about the Sharks? They're playing for the Cup right now and they finished 23rd in the league in total hits. Or the Lightning, who played for it last year and made it to game 7 of the ECF this year? They finished 24th this year in total hits.

The truth is that there is really zero correlation between how much you hit and how good your team is. I like Martin, I really do. But he's a marginally talented 4th liner that is going to want way more than he's worth. He's entirely replaceable. I'd rather have the cap space to swing for the fences with Stamkos.