def not horrible...was very solid before he got injured last year and hes still young.
- LetsGoIsles

Eh, if we're waiting on Strait to ride in on a white horse and sort out the D issues, it's gonna be a looong season!

Why would I explain that? I DON'T necessarily think Vanek is a better scorer than Moulson and I don't think the trade makes sense for the Isles.

And yes, I took it at face value as I'm not an Isles fan and I openly said that. Try having constructive conversations like Isles316 had.

Oh, wait, you added clever emoticons. You win.
- charlieb83

-who did vanek play with and who did moulson play with?
-its prob safe to assume the isles werent going to resign moulson instead of letting him walk
-theyd clearly rather spend the money on vanek than moulson, correct?
-you cant come to an isles blog (well i guess you can) and talk so superficially and expect not to be questioned...even if you admit to knowing next to nothing

Eh, if we're waiting on Strait to ride in on a white horse and sort out the D issues, it's gonna be a looong season!
- UIF

thats a bit extreme but i think everyone would agree that the player hed be replacing would be a nice upgrade, valid?

In the last six seasons, Lucic has only posted more points than Semin twice. Does that make Semin a better player for a team's first line? The score sheet doesn't lie, after all. Or are they different players that bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table, irrespective of the goal and assist totals? My guess is more teams would opt for Lucic given the choice between the two. Keep in mind, I'm not comparing Moulson, Semin, Lucic and Vanek, I'm just showing how comparing two players based only on stats is foolish, and it doesn't tell the whole story. Anyone who's watched these guys play can tell you that.
- UIF

I don't completely disagree but the cost for the amount of time is what makes this deal a dud in my eyes. If Vanek had another year on his deal, no problem. But a few months of a guy who doesn't score more but might be a better overall player at the cost of your 1st and 2nd is - in my ignorant eyes - a bad deal. Especially when, as Isels316 pointed out, there are some glaring holes that need to be fixed other than scoring.

In the last six seasons, Lucic has only posted more points than Semin twice. Does that make Semin a better player for a team's first line? The score sheet doesn't lie, after all. Or are they different players that bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table, irrespective of the goal and assist totals? My guess is more teams would opt for Lucic given the choice between the two. Keep in mind, I'm not comparing Moulson, Semin, Lucic and Vanek, I'm just showing how comparing two players based only on stats is foolish, and it doesn't tell the whole story. Anyone who's watched these guys play can tell you that.
- UIF

And, by the way, I think Vanek and Moulson are a lot more comparable as players than Lucic and Semin.

thats a bit extreme but i think everyone would agree that the player hed be replacing would be a nice upgrade, valid?
- LetsGoIsles

Yeah, I agree there...but I just don't think Strait...or even Vis for that matter...will have the impact some folks think it will. I think the Isles were successful at the end of last season because their forecheck was incredible. They never really gave other teams a chance to get extended zone time. Until they get back to that, they're going to lose with the D as constructed...they just don't have the horses back there, even healthy, to allow teams any kind of zone time. In the playoffs last year, the only two games where the Isles couldn't get their forecheck going consistently, they got destroyed by Pitt.

And, by the way, I think Vanek and Moulson are a lot more comparable as players than Lucic and Semin.
- charlieb83

Yeah, I'll grant you that. I was just trying to find two extreme examples to make my point.

-who did vanek play with and who did moulson play with?
-its prob safe to assume the isles werent going to resign moulson instead of letting him walk
-theyd clearly rather spend the money on vanek than moulson, correct?
-you cant come to an isles blog (well i guess you can) and talk so superficially and expect not to be questioned...even if you admit to knowing next to nothing
- LetsGoIsles

You clearly don't read.

I stated my opinion and had a normal conversation with someone who has more knowledge on the subject. I offered complete disclosure as to my knowledge on the subject.

You, on the other hand, came in with the usual stupidities that guys of your ilk come in with. By all means, ask questions. Please - I insist. But when you start with little barbs and an abundance of emoticons, it's you who can't be taken seriously.

PS - the second part of your comment is you saying the same thing in two ways. But hey, who's noticing.

But you do deserve some answers:

You are correct in pointing out that Moulson played with more talent than Vanek - although Vanek played with Pominville prior to the Wild trade. Not that Pominville is close to being as good as JT.

They could be letting Moulson walk but why not get something of value for the long-term then? All are assuming Vanek signs in Minny and even if he doesn't it's a lot to give up on the hope that he enjoys his time and wants to stay. Others have, yes, but no one who is as high profile and good as Vanek is.

def not horrible...was very solid before he got injured last year and hes still young.
- LetsGoIsles

Not my favorite Islander

Yeah, I agree there...but I just don't think Strait...or even Vis for that matter...will have the impact some folks think it will. I think the Isles were successful at the end of last season because their forecheck was incredible. They never really gave other teams a chance to get extended zone time. Until they get back to that, they're going to lose with the D as constructed...they just don't have the horses back there, even healthy, to allow teams any kind of zone time. In the playoffs last year, the only two games where the Isles couldn't get their forecheck going consistently, they got destroyed by Pitt.
- UIF

getting lubo back means getting the PP QB back on the ice, which in turn gets amac off the top line, thats 2 pluses in my eyes...getting lubo/strait back means less ice time for guys that are undeserving of ice time but are getting it by default...

do they become instant stanley cup contenders? hell no....do they get much better? i think to some extent, yes.

You clearly don't read.

I stated my opinion and had a normal conversation with someone who has more knowledge on the subject. I offered complete disclosure as to my knowledge on the subject.

You, on the other hand, came in with the usual stupidities that guys of your ilk come in with. By all means, ask questions. Please - I insist. But when you start with little barbs and an abundance of emoticons, it's you who can't be taken seriously.

PS - the second part of your comment is you saying the same thing in two ways. But hey, who's noticing.

But you do deserve some answers:

You are correct in pointing out that Moulson played with more talent than Vanek - although Vanek played with Pominville prior to the Wild trade. Not that Pominville is close to being as good as JT.

They could be letting Moulson walk but why not get something of value for the long-term then? All are assuming Vanek signs in Minny and even if he doesn't it's a lot to give up on the hope that he enjoys his time and wants to stay. Others have, yes, but no one who is as high profile and good as Vanek is.
- charlieb83

i CLEARLY do read otherwise i wouldnt be able to partake in this forum...in fact if i couldnt read and was just sitting here banging on my keyboard which in turn threw together random letters that happened to not only spell out complete words but also those random words made complete sentences AND those complete sentences happened to, by chance, even approach the topic in discussion, id say luck would be on my side...

...if only!!

I see half of the comments to this blog that were pure gold have been deleted!
- latorrem1

All the Leafer comments I regards to spelling got deleted. Not sure how that is offensive.

i CLEARLY do read otherwise i wouldnt be able to partake in this forum...in fact if i couldnt read and was just sitting here banging on my keyboard which in turn threw together random letters that happened to not only spell out complete words but also those random words made complete sentences AND those complete sentences happened to, by chance, even approach the topic in discussion, id say luck would be on my side...

...if only!!
- LetsGoIsles

My advice - start playing the lottery.

I said you don't, not that you can't. Very basic, yet important, difference.

i CLEARLY do read otherwise i wouldnt be able to partake in this forum...in fact if i couldnt read and was just sitting here banging on my keyboard which in turn threw together random letters that happened to not only spell out complete words but also those random words made complete sentences AND those complete sentences happened to, by chance, even approach the topic in discussion, id say luck would be on my side...

...if only!!
- LetsGoIsles

It's really my fault for getting drawn into this crap. I come to this site because I enjoy reading the articles (some of them) and enjoy having progressive discussion with other fans of the Leafs and other teams.

I usually stay away from this crap but you did succeed in drawing me in.

Like I said, my fault.

Some words of wisdom for you - not everyone who is a fan of a different team is a troll.

Really? Didn't know that - makes a huge difference. Isles luck will see them with the 11th pick, keep it and fare worse the following year.

I know Leaf luck would dictate that sequence of events.
- charlieb83

I meant that if the pick is 1-10, they don't have to give it to Buffalo this year

It's really my fault for getting drawn into this crap. I come to this site because I enjoy reading the articles (some of them) and enjoy having progressive discussion with other fans of the Leafs and other teams.

I usually stay away from this crap but you did succeed in drawing me in.

Like I said, my fault.

Some words of wisdom for you - not everyone who is a fan of a different team is a troll.
- charlieb83

I meant that if the pick is 1-10, they don't have to give it to Buffalo this year
- Isles316

Haha, of course. I mean the 9th....

If you're calling Vanek an elite winger than so is Moulson. I think the Isles looked at that trade as a huge letdown. Taking a guy who they can build around who had great chemistry with their franchise cornerstone and giving him away for a lesser scorer plus two picks. Stupid, stupid trade.
- charlieb83

No way Moulson can be considered on the same talent level as Vanek.

With that said... I understand the trade... It wasn't needed.

One thing that was working was the first line and PP... Moving Moulson screwed up both and we still haven't addressed the problem with the D

XxNYIxX

No way Moulson can be considered on the same talent level as Vanek.

With that said... I understand the trade... It wasn't needed.

One thing that was working was the first line and PP... Moving Moulson screwed up both and we still haven't addressed the problem with the D
XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Disagree. The PP was documented as working well at home but poorly on the road. That suggests more than just the effect of one player. In addition, we all know Moulson sucks on 5x5. This move was made just as much with last seasons playoff series in mind as the present state of the team.

I meant that if the pick is 1-10, they don't have to give it to Buffalo this year
- Isles316

Unless the Isles are in top 3, and because of all the talk that this years draft is very weak, I would definitely give this years pick away....

Hockey analysts continue to say the following year draft is completely loaded in the entire 1st rd. Rather take my chances on a loaded draft then a weak one, no matter where the pick will be.

you guys can have the human turnover factory, can't shoot streit back.

he is beyond terrible

seriously when snow traded moulson this team started sucking again & going backwards, they need skill that wants to stay, (like taveras)
- puckhead17

It's easy to say that but this team was sucking before the Moulson trade. Losing Moulson didn't hurt our defense in fact it helped it if anything. Our need is defense and goaltending. Moulson being traded had zero affect.

I'm sad at the write up. Pretty much everything I've seen from Dee has been well written, researched and executed. This was poorly done, with grammatical errors, player's names misspelled, and sentences left half finished. Such a shame from a normally very sharp writer.
I hope that you're right about the Leafs making the SCF
- lumlums

I seriously hope this was said toungue in cheek? I've never read a blog by her that was researched, well written, or any of the above.

If you're calling Vanek an elite winger than so is Moulson. I think the Isles looked at that trade as a huge letdown. Taking a guy who they can build around who had great chemistry with their franchise cornerstone and giving him away for a lesser scorer plus two picks. Stupid, stupid trade.
- charlieb83

Eh, if we're waiting on Strait to ride in on a white horse and sort out the D issues, it's gonna be a looong season!
- UIF

Exactly