The islanders getting better.
- blacksheep1

now I'm curious. How about me getting lucky tonight?

You know what? Criticism is fine -- just make it be rational. People get it -- the term of the deal is too long. Nobody's even disputing that.

It's a message board. Nobody expects "fair and balanced."

But is Paul Holmgren really "the worst GM in the league?" Really? Seriously? Because his two conference finals appearances, one Stanley Cup final appearance and three 100-point seasons beg to differ -- and, for the record, that's one more Stanley Cup appearance than the St. Louis Blues have ever made!

But the Islanders offered three years, $15 million JUST TWO WEEKS AGO. Let's not act like, all of a sudden, Mark Streit's an NHL Pariah, a Leper who can't put on a pair of skates.

Let's not act like Islanders fans didn't cross over into Flyers threads when Streit got moved. The board doesn't lie, people!
- AllInForFlyers

Who exactly are you quoting as saying "the worst GM in the league"? If you are going to put things in quotes, at least accurately quote the people who have been arguing with. And the Blues have made the Stanley Cup Finals. If you are going to insult a teams history, you should at least know something about it. And about your own, for that matter. Of course, if you are constantly needing to bring up the past, it's a good sign your team isn't doing so well currently.

So the amount is good with you?
- Cptmjl

He wasn't going to get less because of what Sergei Gonchar got paid, and you know it -- he already turned down the $5 million per season the Islanders offered him!

Am I good with it? If I had to pay it, no, I wouldn't be. But I'm not going to sit here and pretend like a) the Islanders didn't offer him $5 million, and b) that Mark Streit wasn't getting it somewhere else...because he was.

If 38-year-old Sergei Gonchar got two years at $5 million per, then Mark Streit was getting what he got.

I'm just honest enough to admit it.

Giving up the 15th & Nino says we have zero faith in the 4 goalies we have in the system & we are going to move into the future with Bernier. The kid may turn out being good, but we aren't a good goaltender away from being great.. we have time to let our own goalie prospects develop... Nino & our first is just too much for a goalie that could come to the Isles and cr@p the bed as a starter.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I guess my point is only this...

Are they ever going to be sold on the kids in the system? Poulin hasn't done himself any favors and I don't know anything about the others.

Bernier is ready now and will be good for a long time imo. I believe it's worth parting with Nino, only because I don't think he'll be as good as many of you are hoping.

It's just one mans opinion.

agreed...id do 1st rounder + lesser prospect for bernier

only way nino gets included in a deal is if more than bernier is coming back...
- LetsGoIsles

Define "lesser prospect"

now I'm curious. How about me getting lucky tonight?
- Cptmjl

Anything can be had for a price.

Define "lesser prospect"
- Jethro09

Ullstrom or Kabanov.

I can name players and the teams that should buy them out.

Buffalo: Leino
Minnesota: Heatley
Rangers: Richards
Flyers: Bryz and Briere
Pittsburgh: MartinTampa: Lecailvier
Toronto: Komisarek

So your statemet about the flyers is pretty much false.
- blacksheep1

Are you on crack? The Pens are going to buy out their best all round dman who's making less than Streit? Fleury is a better example.

Who exactly are you quoting as saying "the worst GM in the league"? If you are going to put things in quotes, at least accurately quote the people who have been arguing with. And the Blues have made the Stanley Cup Finals. If you are going to insult a teams history, you should at least know something about it. And about your own, for that matter. Of course, if you are constantly needing to bring up the past, it's a good sign your team isn't doing so well currently.
- Antilles

My mistake on the Blues history -- I can admit it.

Just as I can admit that the Flyers' current history is certainly no worse than the Blues'.

I forgot Dipietro and Redden. Teams may not use them but that's when the recapture penalty kicks in. Detroit has to worry about that with Zetterberg and Franzen. Chicago has to worry about that with Hossa. Buffalo has to worry about that with Ehrhoff. New Jesery has to worry about it Kovalchuk. Vancouver has to worry about it with Luongo and Washington has to worry about it with Ovechkin.

So again you theory is way off base. The majority of teams have contracts they have to wrry about.
- blacksheep1

Having contracts they are concerned about does not equal needing compliance buyouts to be under the cap. Redden was Rangers, one of the 8 teams already listed. Islanders might buy out Dipietro, but they certainly don't NEED to use the buyout.

Most teams don't need buyouts. I stand by my point.

Please list your favorite team before I can take anything you say seriously. Thanks
- Vukota

Are you on crack? The Pens are going to buy out their best all round dman who's making less than Streit? Fleury is a better example.
- canadianpenfan

Didn't Shero publicly state that Fluery is his guy? With Maatta, Pouliout and Harrington, gotta think one of them takes his spot.

He wasn't going to get less because of what Sergei Gonchar got paid, and you know it -- he already turned down the $5 million per season the Islanders offered him!

Am I good with it? If I had to pay it, no, I wouldn't be. But I'm not going to sit here and pretend like a) the Islanders didn't offer him $5 million, and b) that Mark Streit wasn't getting it somewhere else...because he was.

If 38-year-old Sergei Gonchar got two years at $5 million per, then Mark Streit was getting what he got.

I'm just honest enough to admit it.
- AllInForFlyers

Isles offered him 4.7 never offered him 5 million. They offered him 3 yrs at 4.75. You'll find most fans are very happy he turned it down

Having contracts they are concerned about does not equal needing compliance buyouts to be under the cap. Redden was Rangers, one of the 8 teams already listed. Islanders might buy out Dipietro, but they certainly don't NEED to use the buyout.

Most teams don't need buyouts. I stand by my point.
- Antilles

And if they don't use the buyout on one of those lifetime contracts and they player retires, they get hit with the recapture penalty.

now I'm curious. How about me getting lucky tonight?
- Cptmjl

Nobody who knows you needs a crystal ball to answer that.

Do you think the Isles have a shot at Bernier? Giving up the #15 and Nino sounds like a lot to me what do you think?
- Vukota

I just don't see it happening..i don't see nino or the 15th pick getting moved for anything other than a first line winger or a top pairing dman. honestly I really want to keep the 15th pick

I just don't see it happening..i don't see nino or the 15th pick getting moved for anything other than a first line winger or a top pairing dman. honestly I really want to keep the 15th pick
- NYI78

Yeah I'm on the fence myself. I want to see what Nilsson can do when healthy

Didn't Shero publicly state that Fluery is his guy? With Maatta, Pouliout and Harrington, gotta think one of them takes his spot.
- blacksheep1

He did, but he's still a better example than Martin.

Just my way of saying there is no way they even consider buying out Martin. His contract looks better everyday, especially after yesterday.

I guess my point is only this...

Are they ever going to be sold on the kids in the system? Poulin hasn't done himself any favors and I don't know anything about the others.

Bernier is ready now and will be good for a long time imo. I believe it's worth parting with Nino, only because I don't think he'll be as good as many of you are hoping.

It's just one mans opinion.
- canadianpenfan

Anders Nilsson will be the real deal & he only needs a season or 2 in bridgeport. We dont need to trade 2 ultra valuable trade chips for a 2 years stop gap, we can jjust sign Nabby for that and cost us nothing in picks or prospects. Yes Nino might not turn into what we all hope, but Burnier might just as well cr@p the bed on the Island as a starter too.

XxNYIxX

Anders Nilsson will be the real deal & he only needs a season or 2 in bridgeport. We dont need to trade 2 ultra valuable trade chips for a 2 years stop gap, we can jjust sign Nabby for that and cost us nothing in picks or prospects. Yes Nino might not turn into what we all hope, but Burnier might just as well cr@p the bed on the Island as a starter too.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

No doubt.

Nobody who knows you needs a crystal ball to answer that.
- canadianpenfan

Ouch!

XxNYIxX

I guess my point is only this...

Are they ever going to be sold on the kids in the system? Poulin hasn't done himself any favors and I don't know anything about the others.

Bernier is ready now and will be good for a long time imo. I believe it's worth parting with Nino, only because I don't think he'll be as good as many of you are hoping.

It's just one mans opinion.
- canadianpenfan

I don't think there's any reason to believe that Poulin can't be an effective NHL goaltender. It's tough to judge him based on his 5 or so appearances through last year and when he did fill in for Nabby for what amounted to about 1 full game in the playoffs, he was very sharp. I think if anything, this has to be the year they allow Poulin to show what he's got. Meanwhile, the consensus is that Nilsson is our goaltender of the future. We just had a nice link here yesterday that quoted Lundqvists former coach as saying that Nilsson has the potential to even be better than Henrik.

So if we've got a guy like that in our system who should be ready to play very soon, what sense does it make to deal a decent commodity for another goalie of the same age? I'd rather we deal Nino (if at all)and our 1st pick for a top pairing dman that a team needs to unload for cap issues.

xxkeaner17xx

He wasn't going to get less because of what Sergei Gonchar got paid, and you know it -- he already turned down the $5 million per season the Islanders offered him!

Am I good with it? If I had to pay it, no, I wouldn't be. But I'm not going to sit here and pretend like a) the Islanders didn't offer him $5 million, and b) that Mark Streit wasn't getting it somewhere else...because he was.

If 38-year-old Sergei Gonchar got two years at $5 million per, then Mark Streit was getting what he got.

I'm just honest enough to admit it.
- AllInForFlyers

yes, gonchar got the insane deal and set the standard but why do you make it sound like mark streit is the only remaining free agent going into this offseason? there are PLENTY of better options for that kind of money...not to mention dmen via trade/buyouts

Ouch!

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Capt knows i'm kidding.

As a sign of good faith here's a t-shirt idea.

I don't think there's any reason to believe that Poulin can't be an effective NHL goaltender. It's tough to judge him based on his 5 or so appearances through last year and when he did fill in for Nabby for what amounted to about 1 full game in the playoffs, he was very sharp. I think if anything, this has to be the year they allow Poulin to show what he's got. Meanwhile, the consensus is that Nilsson is our goaltender of the future. We just had a nice link here yesterday that quoted Lundqvists former coach as saying that Nilsson has the potential to even be better than Henrik.

So if we've got a guy like that in our system who should be ready to play very soon, what sense does it make to deal a decent commodity for another goalie of the same age? I'd rather we deal Nino (if at all)and our 1st pick for a top pairing dman that a team needs to unload for cap issues.

xxkeaner17xx
- keaner17

Good lord. I already told you to sit on it, don't make me tell you twice.