When does yours open?
- BINGO!

Haven’t a clue. The Islanders (and where they stand Metro wise) are a complete mystery to me.

Haven’t a clue. The Islanders (and where they stand Metro wise) are a complete mystery to me.
- Wildschwein

Lou has the answer but he's keeping it in the drawer until the time is right.

Lou has the answer but he's keeping it in the drawer until the time is right.
- BINGO!

As a non Islander fan, what’s your honest take on the franchise as of right now? Are they a playoff team, or was last season a sign of things to come?

As a non Islander fan, what’s your honest take on the franchise as of right now? Are they a playoff team, or was last season a sign of things to come?
- Wildschwein

They're toast.

Too much money tied up in too many old guys. Trotz's stifling defensive system caused the team to overperform in the standings compared to the talent they actually had on the ice and, as good as Barzal is, he isn't the guy that's going to carry them offensively.

Just a really expensive team that's just "Okay" and a lot older than they at first appear to be.

Even the "young" guys like Bellows are 24 already.

They're toast.

Too much money tied up in too many old guys. Trotz's stifling defensive system caused the team to overperform in the standings compared to the talent they actually had on the ice and, as good as Barzal is, he isn't the guy that's going to carry them offensively.

Just a really expensive team that's just "Okay" and a lot older than they at first appear to be.

Even the "young" guys like Bellows are 24 already.
- BINGO!

Well that’s a bleak take.

Though you're hardly alone in this view. Thank you for the honest appraisal.

Well that’s a bleak take.

Though you're hardly alone in this view. Thanks for the honest appraisal.
- Wildschwein

Sorry. There are some nice pieces there! But the time to start building for the future around them was two years ago. Lou keeps behaving like the team just needs to be tinkered with when really it needed wholesale changes and he's just treading water.

To me they look a lot like the Canes did in 2013, 2014, etc. A team that is good enough to be in games but not good enough to win them consistently and not in a position to get much better.

Sorry. There are some nice pieces there! But the time to start building for the future around them was two years ago. Lou keeps behaving like the team just needs to be tinkered with when really it needed wholesale changes and he's just treading water.

To me they look a lot like the Canes did in 2013, 2014, etc. A team that is good enough to be in games but not good enough to win them consistently and not in a position to get much better.
- BINGO!

This is true.

A young core of Sorokin, Barzal, Dobson, Wahlstrom and Romanov could allow the Isles to retool rather quickly once the older contracts expire (and Lou as well one would assume). All the quicker if Räty is legit.

One thing is for certain, it’s time to stop trading 1st round picks.

Well that’s a bleak take.

Though you're hardly alone in this view. Thank you for the honest appraisal.
- Wildschwein

- Reveen

He might be right.

Or the Isles could make the ECF again.

Who the (frank) knows.

He might be right.

Or the Isles could make the ECF again.

Who the (frank) knows.
- Wildschwein

Goaltending is the great equalizer and you guys do have a great one.

Goaltending is the great equalizer and you guys do have a great one.
- BINGO!

This is true.

Thankfully he’s still young.

On another note, what’s your take on Kotkaniemi taking over as 2C? Think he’ll be able to handle it? Excel even?

This is true.

Thankfully he’s still young.

On another note, what’s your take on Kotkaniemi taking over as 2C? Think he’ll be able to handle it? Excel even?
- Wildschwein

Yep!

his points per 60 were the 5th highest of any forward on the team last year while playing on the 4th line.

He'd going to get two of Svechnikov, Teravainen, Jarvis, Stastny, Necas or (eventually) Pacioretty on his wing. If it doesn't work for him, he's not going to have any excuses.

Yep!

his points per 60 were the 5th highest of any forward on the team last year while playing on the 4th line.

He's going to get two of Svechnikov, Teravainen, Jarvis, Stastny, Necas or (eventually) Pacioretty on his wing. If it doesn't work for him, he's not going to have any excuses.
- BINGO!

Which two would you prefer?

Personally, I’m leaning Svechnikov and Necas.

Which two would you prefer?

Personally, I’m leaning Svechnikov and Necas.
- Wildschwein

i think they go

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Necas
Stastny - Drury - Kase
Martinook - Staal - Fast

Then when Pacioretty is back:

Pacioretty - Aho - Teravainen
Svech - KK - Jarvis
Necas - Stastny - Kase
Drury - Staal - Fast

i think they go

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Necas
Stastny - Drury - Kase
Martinook - Staal - Fast

Then when Pacioretty is back:

Pacioretty - Aho - Teravainen
Svech - KK - Jarvis
Necas - Stastny - Kase
Drury - Staal - Fast
- BINGO!

Are Staal’s minutes reflecting his place in the lineup, or are you implying that lines 3 and 4 are interchangeable?

Don’t hate line 2. A bit too much finesse for my tastes, but Teravainen can be the goal scorer if need be.

Are Staal’s minutes reflecting his place in the lineup, or are you implying that lines 3 and 4 are interchangeable?

Don’t hate line 2. A bit too much finesse for my tastes, but Teravainen can be the goal scorer if need be.
- Wildschwein

3 and 4 interchangeable. Staal eats most of the PK minutes, but there's no point in putting Stastny with him on the 3rd line.

KK does better work in front of the net where he's forced to react rather than think about what he's doing. Necas is fast as hell. KK is not. Turbo can kind of bridge the two of them

3 and 4 interchangeable. Staal eats most of the PK minutes, but there's no point in putting Stastny with him on the 3rd line.

KK does better work in front of the net where he's forced to react rather than think about what he's doing. Necas is fast as hell. KK is not. Turbo can kind of bridge the two of them
- BINGO!

As long as Goaltending remains healthy, I expect a deep playoff run for the canes.

i think they go

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Necas
Stastny - Drury - Kase
Martinook - Staal - Fast

Then when Pacioretty is back:

Pacioretty - Aho - Teravainen
Svech - KK - Jarvis
Necas - Stastny - Kase
Drury - Staal - Fast
- BINGO!

The Canes depth is unreal... Aho is my fantasy hockey cornerstone

The Canes depth is unreal... Aho is my fantasy hockey cornerstone
- Reveen

For now…

The Canes depth is unreal... Aho is my fantasy hockey cornerstone
- Reveen

If you had told me three years ago that the hurricanes would add Max Pacioretty, Brent Burns, Paul Stastny and Ondrej Kase in one offseason I'd have told you you were nuts.

If you had told me three years ago that the hurricanes would add Max Pacioretty, Brent Burns, Paul Stastny and Ondrej Kase in one offseason I'd have told you you were nuts.
- BINGO!

Now what would you have said if I told you they added Max Pacioretty, Brent Burns, Paul Stastny, and Ondrej Kase for next-to-nothing in one offseason?

i think they go

Svech - Aho - Jarvis
Teravainen - Kotkaniemi - Necas
Stastny - Drury - Kase
Martinook - Staal - Fast
- BINGO!

Literally exactly what I sent to Schwein a week ago when we discussed it elsewhere. Both great and addled minds think alike

Literally exactly what I sent to Schwein a week ago when we discussed it elsewhere. Both great and addled minds think alike
- MaximumBone

Get a room.

Get a room.


- TurdFergeson

Maybe we WILL.

Maybe we WILL.
- BINGO!

I hope you washed your toes.