except for the whole slitting-his-wrist ordeal.
- LetsGoIsles

It was that moment he realized what team he was going to be playing for

My favorite was after Lindback stopped a shoot-in attempt. All of a sudden you see a Lightning defenseman come into the frame with Okposo hanging onto him for dear life to avoid falling down.
- UIF

Maybe they should give him a chair to lean on!

Brad Boyes has definitely emerged as a top player on this team. Poor Reasoner actually plays an intelligent game but can't score. Sending DP down may have been a turning point. The team still has some progress to be made but they are actually a more solid lineup than the Rangers who lean heavily on Lundquist.

Brad Boyes has definitely emerged as a top player on this team. Poor Reasoner actually plays an intelligent game but can't score. Sending DP down may have been a turning point. The team still has some progress to be made but they are actually a more solid lineup than the Rangers who lean heavily on Lundquist.
- Fan101

Uh oh he made a Boyes comment. People are goign to attack in 3...2...1.....

I don't think we can know that for sure until they actually see some game action at this point. Both have the skill level to compete. I don't think there'd be any harm in giving them a 2-3 game stretch up with the team to see just how their assignment has helped them grow. In addition, it's helpful to them to see what areas need to be improved on to ramp up for the NHL game.
Getting playing time with an AHL team that will be coasting to the finish probably won't help a lot.
- keaner17

Kab hasn't been back from his injury for long, he needs much more time in the A.

Nino has the skills, but he still hasn't grasped the D side of the game. That is worrisome.

XxNYIxX

You're assuming that a call-up automatically means exile to the fourth line for the rest of the season. Doesn't have to be that at all. Call Nino up for a two- or three-game look and put him in the top six. Somehow I think the Isles will live without the amazing goal production and fantastic displays of balance from Kyle Okposo for a couple of games. Then send him back down for his 15+ minutes in the AHL after those games. Doesn't hurt to see where his progress is at. He's not the same player as last season. How far along is he? Is he ready for the NHL? Only a look will give us some idea. I say this as someone who was dead set against keeping Nino up in the NHL last season. There's a big difference between giving a player a few quick looks in the NHL and leaving them there with no plan of action for how to handle them.
- UIF

I think he would have gotten those looks already had his "camp" kept their mouths closed earlier in the year.

XxNYIxX

Uh oh he made a Boyes comment. People are goign to attack in 3...2...1.....
- kasperrko

LOL...match...fuse...powder keg....RUN!

Brad Boyes has definitely emerged as a top player on this team. Poor Reasoner actually plays an intelligent game but can't score. Sending DP down may have been a turning point. The team still has some progress to be made but they are actually a more solid lineup than the Rangers who lean heavily on Lundquist.
- Fan101

What?

XxNYIxX

Uh oh he made a Boyes comment. People are goign to attack in 3...2...1.....
- kasperrko

happy?

XxNYIxX

Kab hasn't been back from his injury for long, he needs much more time in the A.

Nino has the skills, but he still hasn't grasped the D side of the game. That is worrisome.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Then he should fit in just fine with the rest of our forwards!
I don't need Nino to focuse that much on the defensive side. We wasted 55 games last year trying to force him to play with two defensive players when he should have been building his confidence offensively. Right now, he could get 2-3 games playing on the second line which would be huge for him.

Kab hasn't been back from his injury for long, he needs much more time in the A.

Nino has the skills, but he still hasn't grasped the D side of the game. That is worrisome.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Hasnt grasped the the D side of the game? he was the fifth overall freakin pick!!!!!! if he didnt know how to play defense he would be sittin next to me writing u rn bro....he just needs more time to adapt to the isles system, adapt to the speed of the game at a higher level, and learn how to be a role player (rather than his dominant performance in the WHL).

I think he would have gotten those looks already had his "camp" kept their mouths closed earlier in the year.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Yup. Agreed.

Brad Boyes has definitely emerged as a top player on this team. Poor Reasoner actually plays an intelligent game but can't score. Sending DP down may have been a turning point. The team still has some progress to be made but they are actually a more solid lineup than the Rangers who lean heavily on Lundquist.
- Fan101

Boyes a top player?? Well he has a bunch of points because of who he plays with, so that’s quite misleading.
However, you are kidding yourself if you think the Isles have a better lineup than the Rangers. Do they rely heavily on Lundqvist? Well perhaps they do sometimes because they are having problems putting the puck in the net lately. However, I believe that their team is much better than they are playing right now and could easily rip off a 4-5 game winning streak.
I would rather be in their position over ours, even if they aren’t playing that well right now. While they are not super deep, their top forwards are among some of the best in the league. Oh, and they have one of the best goalies in the NHL also...
Stop worrying abotu them, we have our own issues. A MUST win is in the cards tomorrow night in FLA.

happy?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Phew I was getting nervous for a moment

I don't know that the 'camp' comments lessened the chances of him being called up. In fact, I doubt they had any effect what-so-ever. The plan from the get-go this season was to allow Nino a full season in the "A" to develop his game. They're being ultra patient after the harsh lessons learned with Bailey.

That said, keeping him down just to develop his defensive game is a bit foolish IMO. We could have easily made that excuse for Tavares too in his first season since his defensive game was pretty damn ugly that year. We didn't because ultimately he's an talented player who was ready to contribute offensively at the NHL level.

Matching Nino up with someone like Frans and Grabner (two guys who play decent defensively) would likely teach him more about playing both ends in the NHL then he'd ever learn in the A. I'm not saying I oppose his being in the AHL, but I think it would be extremely valuable to his development to get a peak at the level he'll be expected to reach. He didn't get that with Pand-awful and Reasoner last year.

LOL...match...fuse...powder keg....RUN!
- keaner17

I dont know you anymore once you changed your pic. By the way how does one fit a pic in here? I dont remember how I did it

I don't know that the 'camp' comments lessened the chances of him being called up. In fact, I doubt they had any effect what-so-ever. The plan from the get-go this season was to allow Nino as full season in the "A" to develop his game. They're being ultra patient after the harsh lessons learned with Bailey.

That said, keeping him down just to develop his defensive game is a bit foolish IMO. We could have easily made that excuse for Tavares too in his first season since his defensive game was pretty damn ugly that year. We didn't because ultimately he's an talented player who was ready to contribute offensively at the NHL level.

Matching Nino up with someone like Frans and Grabner (two guys who play decent defensively) would likely teach him more about playing both ends in the NHL then he'd ever learn in the A. I'm not saying I oppose his being in the AHL, but I think it would be extremely valuable to his development to get a peak at the level he'll be expected to reach. He didn't get that with Pand-awful and Reasoner last year.

- keaner17

definately a good point, but looking at what the blues did with tarasenko...it may be a good idea for nino to at least finish the year down there....if we need roster help at the moment make a trade

Kab hasn't been back from his injury for long, he needs much more time in the A.

Nino has the skills, but he still hasn't grasped the D side of the game. That is worrisome.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

where are you getting he can't play defense..what games are you watching?

I dont know you anymore once you changed your pic. By the way how does one fit a pic in here? I dont remember how I did it
- kasperrko

I had to take the bag pic off since we're actually near a playoff spot.
I'm at work so I had to go through an online site to resize it. I may do something a bit more imaginative when I'm home with my Adobe Lightroom.

where are you getting he can't play defense..what games are you watching?
- NYI78

exactly my point from before..thank u

I had to take the bag pic off since we're actually near a playoff spot.
I'm at work so I had to go through an online site to resize it. I may do something a bit more imaginative when I'm home with my Adobe Lightroom.
- keaner17

Ok that did not help me at all

definately a good point, but looking at what the blues did with tarasenko...it may be a good idea for nino to at least finish the year down there....if we need roster help at the moment make a trade
- hockeyman92

We're not talking about calling him up for an extended period here. Only a fill in during Grab's absence. I don't see BPT making the playoffs, but I do think he could possibly contribute in a positive manner towards our playoff drive. If he can do that, the intensity of the chase could ultimately be better for his development than anything he'll see with the Sound Tigers.

As for the trade scenario..... Don't hold your breath or you'll look like this (I couldn't find one with the guy passed out)

Ok that did not help me at all
- kasperrko

try www.picresize.com
You can just enter the pic file in there and do the resizing online.

Depth and secondary scoring is a glaring issue for this team. Baily/Okposo/Neilsen, these guys need to start scoring some fackin goals. Relying on JT's line for all of the offense is a ticket to nowhere. No team can be successful with only one solid line. Even if we were to somehow make it into the playoffs, one line of offense wont get the job done no matter who they play. We are just not a deep team. Cold hard reality.
- NewYawkIslandez

They won't score goals. They haven't all year. They won't start now (at least they won't start until/if the Isles fall out of playoff contention). This team won't get secondary scoring until they import new players to make up their second line. Bailey and KO will not be those scorers.

Hasnt grasped the the D side of the game? he was the fifth overall freakin pick!!!!!! if he didnt know how to play defense he would be sittin next to me writing u rn bro....he just needs more time to adapt to the isles system, adapt to the speed of the game at a higher level, and learn how to be a role player (rather than his dominant performance in the WHL).
- hockeyman92

Wait.. so because he was the 5th overall pick, he doesn't need to learn to back check or be responsible in his own end?????

XxNYIxX