Hey, if Flyers fans are jumping for joy over the deal, then good for them. I know we're glad that Snow didn't do it, so everyone's happy.

((UIF))
- UIF

I think some are failing to see that with the unexpected loss of Pronger, and the impending retirement of Timonen next year, we needed to acquire a puck mover/pp QB. These players don't grow on trees. We'll see how he does, but some are expecting him on the top pairing with Schenn. Don't see it. If we slot him lower on the depth chart at like #4 or 5, he should be fine. We used to have Meszaros play the 5 spot on the 3rd pairing and he was making 4 mil.

Michael Grabner's averaged what now since coming to the Islanders? Because unless there's some new math taking place in Long Island, it ain't 30 goals:
2010-11 New York Islanders NHL 76 34 18 52
2011-12 New York Islanders NHL 78 20 12 32
2012-13 New York Islanders NHL 45 16 5 21

And just last year, the "overrated" Wayne Simmonds had...15 goals. That's one fewer than Mr. 30-Goal Averager Michael Grabner and the same amount as Matt Moulson.

Simmonds had fewer points than Matt Moulson, true. He had more points than Grabner.

Of course, Moulson had fewer goals and points than Jakub Voracek, so it's all good.

Should I keep going?
- AllInForFlyers

So Grabner had a 34 goal season, a 20 and and was on pace for 30 again. So his average is closer to 25. Moulson has scored 30, 31, 36 and was on pace for close to 30 this year. Stome is considered one of the best prospects in the league. Nino is a top five pick who had a big year in the AHL and the Worlds and will likely be a 25-30 goal scorer. Yet the contention by you and your fellow fans is that Giroux would laught he Islers out of the offer table because your wingers are so much better than ours?

Is this the WIP spin zone here?
Xxkeaner17xX

Per Staple:

Sources: Islanders in the mix for Kings' Jonathan Bernier


I don't have access to Newsday so someone will have to copy and paste the article...

I hear you. I just think it's crazy he got that kind of money, thank God he didn't accept our offer. When I heard Snow offered him what he did I was shocked along with everyone on here. I hope youguys get a good year out of him at least. He was plain bad at times last season in his contract year. The guy does have some offensive skills but he is defensively terrible to a point that you forget about the assist he just got. I cringed quite a few times last year.
- Cptmjl

Maybe if he's slotted lower on the depth chart and plays less time then this doesn't present such a problem? I'd like him to play in the 4 slot, and anchor our 2nd PP unit/be a puck mover that we desperately need on the 2nd pairing. Our forwards were stuck in quick sand this year without being able to get the puck on the fly.

I think some are failing to see that with the unexpected loss of Pronger, and the impending retirement of Timonen next year, we needed to acquire a puck mover/pp QB. These players don't grow on trees. We'll see how he does, but some are expecting him on the top pairing with Schenn. Don't see it. If we slot him lower on the depth chart at like #4 or 5, he should be fine. We used to have Meszaros play the 5 spot on the 3rd pairing and he was making 4 mil.
- Hextall271

Exactly -- Streit will play fewer minutes, and protected minutes, in PHI.

Everybody knows the contract's awful. But the Islanders were offering him three years, $5 million per. Maybe they would've jumped off a bridge if he had taken it, but the fact is they offered it.

They're glad he's gone. Fine. But it baffles me how all of a sudden, Ryan Strome and Nino Neiderreiter became better NHL players overnight because of Mark Streit's departure.

Huh. Well, if the Flyers were broke and couldn't afford to use their two compliance buyouts, then maybe, just maybe, I'd be breaking a sweat about financial impact.

But when they are about to clear $12 million off the cap with the stroke of a pen, I'm just not that worried. Why would you be?
- AllInForFlyers

I'd agree if you didn't make the signing of Streit and that's my point. If you go back prior to the signing of Streit, I'd say the flyers need a true top pairing dman who can do a little bit of everything. He doesn't have to be great on the powerplay, it already ranks in the top five of the league. Yet your team is AWFUL in their own zone and has been ever since Pronger got shelved. Despite $12 million coming off, you just cancelled out half of that by signign a 35 year old dman who can't play defense worth a lick. So your weakness and key need, remains the same. It's not just Streit's presence in a top 4 pairing role that will hurt you, and it will. It's what it will also keep you from doing that will be a problem.

Xxkeaner17xX

when the Rangers signed Redden to that crazy contract, 99% of Ranger fans despised the deal immediately and all called for Sather's head on a platter.

The Flyers making Mark Streit the highest paid player on the team on a deal that will take him to 40 years old is nothing to defend. It's a disgrace. We'd be freaking out in Ranger land if the Rangers signed Streit to that deal.
- jimbro83

Not the highest paid player on the team.

Sources: Islanders in the mix for Kings' Jonathan Bernier
By Arthur Staple

The Islanders have not locked up Evgeni Nabokov to return as at least one of their goaltenders for next season, despite both sides being relatively close on a contract.

There may be younger, more attractive goaltending options available when free agency begins on July 5, but perhaps the most intriguing goaltender available will be sought after around the day of the June 30 NHL draft.

And the Islanders are in the mix for Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier, according to several sources.

Bernier, 24, is a restricted free agent who is sure to be dealt by the time the NHL wraps up its one-day draft in Newark next weekend, with Kings GM Dean Lombardi needing to sign a slew of restricted free agents and get some return for his backup goaltender.

The Kings are only seeking prospects or young players in return, not looking for current costly regulars.

It is believed that Islanders GM Garth Snow has had preliminary conversations with Lombardi. The Kings GM called around the league to gauge the market for Bernier last week, according to TSN's Pierre Lebrun.

In 14 games as a backup to Jonathan Quick, Bernier was 9-3-1 and had a 1.87 goals-against average.

But there are only a handful of teams who have a glaring need for a step-right-in starter, and the Islanders are obviously one. Count the Panthers, Leafs and Flyers in too, and perhaps the Wild and Coyotes.

The Flames and Oilers have glaring needs in goal, but would Lombardi deal such a promising asset within his new division? That seems unlikely, given what he could get elsewhere.

The Flyers might have the most attractive centerpiece for a deal in young center Sean Couturier, but the Flyers also have the most complicated situation. Even buying out Ilya Bryzgalov to make a deal for Bernier leaves them in a precarious spot for next season and beyond -- adding Mark Streit on a proposed four-year, $21 million deal, as reported on Monday, hasn’t changed the fact that the Flyers are aging and expensive in a lot of spots.

If there is an opportunity to get into a bidding war, Snow may be disinclined to go much above an offer of Nino Niederreiter for Bernier. The disgruntled Niederreiter is likely Snow’s top trade chip, but would he throw in the No. 15 pick in next Sunday’s draft? That may be what it takes to get into serious talks.

Beyond Bernier, who signed up with CAA’s Pat Brisson on Monday -- same agent as John Tavares, if that’s worth anything -- the free-agent goaltending market is likely too rich for Snow.

He would seem to prefer one more year of Nabokov at roughly $3 million and either Kevin Poulin or Anders Nilsson than a long-term bet on Niklas Backstrom, who is only three years younger than Nabokov, or riskier goaltenders such as Mike Smith or Ray Emery.

The Islanders are in the hunt for Bernier, though. So their goaltending picture will become much clearer by the time the draft floor empties out next weekend.

I'd agree if you didn't make the signing of Streit and that's my point. If you go back prior to the signing of Streit, I'd say the flyers need a true top pairing dman who can do a little bit of everything. He doesn't have to be great on the powerplay, it already ranks in the top five of the league. Yet your team is AWFUL in their own zone and has been ever since Pronger got shelved. Despite $12 million coming off, you just cancelled out half of that by signign a 35 year old dman who can't play defense worth a lick. So your weakness and key need, remains the same. It's not just Streit's presence in a top 4 pairing role that will hurt you, and it will. It's what it will also keep you from doing that will be a problem.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

The Flyers are awful in their own zone...yet gave up just two more goals than the Islanders last season. So what are the Islanders, then?

Per Staple:

Sources: Islanders in the mix for Kings' Jonathan Bernier


I don't have access to Newsday so someone will have to copy and paste the article...
- kear20

I'd like to read this article too if someone can link it

for bernier: ness/dehaan/poulin + 1st rounder this year plus a 2nd. May not be enough if there's a bidding war though, but I'd hate to give up more than that for a goalie playing in a defensive system that's largely unproven and has never been a starter. Would much rather take a chance on him than hand Nabby the keys to the #1 position again this year.

Exactly -- Streit will play fewer minutes, and protected minutes, in PHI.

Everybody knows the contract's awful. But the Islanders were offering him three years, $5 million per. Maybe they would've jumped off a bridge if he had taken it, but the fact is they offered it.

They're glad he's gone. Fine. But it baffles me how all of a sudden, Ryan Strome and Nino Neiderreiter became better NHL players overnight because of Mark Streit's departure.
- AllInForFlyers

what?

Not sure where you're getting that. My response about them being potential 30 goal guys was a response to whichever one of you stated that Giroux would laugh at the Isles because our wingers are terrible. So my response was, our wingers will be every bit as good, if not better, than yours

Xxkeaner17xX

The Flyers are awful in their own zone...yet gave up just two more goals than the Islanders last season. So what are the Islanders, then?
- AllInForFlyers

Just a little better and a playoff team.

But...but...how do you need two Top 6 forwards when you just said the Islanders have as good as wingers as the Flyers do???

Look. I like watching the Islanders. It was great that they made the playoffs and fans like yourself deserve to have a good team.

But let's be straight-up honest here. Totally, straight-up honest. No fan hype. No crazy talk.

All the Flyers need Mark Streit to do is play on their 2nd PP and be better 5v5 than Kurtis Foster and Bruno Gervais. Come on, now. You know he's going to do that.

You can laugh at the contract. That's fine. But you're just straight-up deluding yourselves, as fans, if you think this contract makes the Flyers weaker.

That's just a case of people wanting to chase shadows that aren't there.
- AllInForFlyers

You're "deluding" yourself if you think paying 5.25 a yr for a 2nd pp dman is a sound decision. If you don't think that makes you weaker with the cap dropping you're delusional. Let's be realistic here.

I'd like to read this article too if someone can link it

for bernier: ness/dehaan/poulin + 1st rounder this year plus a 2nd. May not be enough if there's a bidding war though, but I'd hate to give up more than that for a goalie playing in a defensive system that's largely unproven and has never been a starter. Would much rather take a chance on him than hand Nabby the keys to the #1 position again this year.
- Isles_since_6

Looks like the Kings want Nino...

Just a little better and a playoff team.
- bixll

Not buying it...

The Flyers are awful in their own zone...yet gave up just two more goals than the Islanders last season. So what are the Islanders, then?
- AllInForFlyers

better, because we just got rid of one of the guys who was truly AWFUL in his own zone. We've said it all along, our weakness is the lack of a true number one dman. A shutdown guy who can create depth by moving others down the chart a bit. We tried playing Streit in a top pairing role and saw that his game has deteriorated so badly that by the end of the season he was playing bottom pairing minutes for 5v5. We have several very good prospects on defense that will join the team over the next couple of years and boatload of available cap space. Our defense will improve pretty damn fast.

Xxkeaner17xX

Exactly -- Streit will play fewer minutes, and protected minutes, in PHI.

Everybody knows the contract's awful. But the Islanders were offering him three years, $5 million per. Maybe they would've jumped off a bridge if he had taken it, but the fact is they offered it.

They're glad he's gone. Fine. But it baffles me how all of a sudden, Ryan Strome and Nino Neiderreiter became better NHL players overnight because of Mark Streit's departure.
- AllInForFlyers

What does this even mean?

Not buying it...
- Flyfreaky

Its not for sale anyway

Its not for sale anyway
- bixll

It's in the discount bin...

Not buying it...
- Flyfreaky

I give 'em credit for consistency of message...they really do think they're better than the Flyers now AND going forward.

I can't wait for this season. This is going to be AWESOME.

The Flyers are awful in their own zone...yet gave up just two more goals than the Islanders last season. So what are the Islanders, then?
- AllInForFlyers

Better defensively without streit.

It's in the discount bin...
- Flyfreaky

Will Pronger be back, ever?

Will Pronger be back, ever?
- bixll

He goes on sale next week, buy one get one free...

He goes on sale next week, buy one get one free...
- Flyfreaky

It was a serious question. I am not up on his status.

It was a serious question. I am not up on his status.
- bixll

He's done...