thanks guys! my dad was wondering what had happened to him.
- BoltsFan4Life

So were we haha

Grabner on the 3rd line is good, he's been much better lately, he's just having a rough season
- Danformo

Problem is spot for Grabner is first/second line right wing. Can't play on first line, because he's a left handed shot, and isn't worth anything behind the net (JT plays on the right, and Okposo plays behind the net, most of the time). However, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo would be a far better alternative, and much as we'd like to see Bailey go, Bailey doesn't bring back feces in a trade, so Grabner is the odd man out- just my opinion, but if we can use him and MacDonald to get a right handed, right wing who is as good as he is to play on JT's line, that guy will probably be a lot more productive, because of Tavares.

I think most of us would like to sign him before the trade deadline. If he doesn't sign by then, he'll be traded and I doubt he will come back. We have major management issues that scare away FA, imho.
- David_Volek

Actually, we have had major suck issues that scared away free agents, and a dump to play in. I still think both of those issues are going to be gone shortly (well, we know one is, for sure)- the question is whether or not that's going to be soon enough for this year's group, including Vanek.

Football. Why do people like it?
- Cptmjl

I understand that. I would rather watch sh*t and hypodermic needles wash up on the beach than watch NASCAR, baseball or basketball, just for three examples. Of course, there is a difference.....for NASCAR and baseball, I simply can't spend six hours in front of the TV (especially in the summer), I'll hang myself (unless, of course, it's sudden death, playoff hockey, then I can watch the TV for a day and a half )....basketball is just a sh*tty excuse for entertainment.

I took the basketball challenge again the other night, to prove it to my girlfriend- I said watch this game, for 10 minutes....the ball will go in the basket like once, and it won't be because of defensive strategy, tactics, or prowess, it'll be because most of the players on a NBA team can't shoot a basketball worth a d*mn. Sure enough....not one basket. 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back. It's just boring as f**k. At least the court keeps bird sh*t off the ice....

I feel bailey would excel elsewhere.
Kid is lost right now. Bench him during the game and tell him if you don't drive to net and shoot you may sit out next game. Cappy had not made anyone he has coached a better hockey player.


Other teams have late rounders that turn into something. But for us other than Tavares. Who has really suprised us.

Also I agree on Nilsson. He is a way better option than Poulin. He might have worst stats in NHL.

Actually, we have had major suck issues that scared away free agents, and a dump to play in. I still think both of those issues are going to be gone shortly (well, we know one is, for sure)- the question is whether or not that's going to be soon enough for this year's group, including Vanek.
- dcb1

I include the coaching staff in the "management" issues. I feel coaching is a big turnoff for FA, IMHO.

On Point Blank there's a great video dissection of the problems with the Islander PK and why it's last in the league. Another reason why this coaching staff needs to be replaced.

I feel bailey would excel elsewhere.
Kid is lost right now. Bench him during the game and tell him if you don't drive to net and shoot you may sit out next game. Cappy had not made anyone he has coached a better hockey player.


Other teams have late rounders that turn into something. But for us other than Tavares. Who has really suprised us.

Also I agree on Nilsson. He is a way better option than Poulin. He might have worst stats in NHL.
- Spartiarti

im certainly not sticking up for cappy but...

hamonic, moulson, grabner, matt martin, cizikas, hickey, strait,

im certainly not sticking up for cappy but...

hamonic, moulson, grabner, matt martin, cizikas, hickey, strait,
- LetsGoIsles

I'll give you Moulson, absolutely. Everyone else you listed has either met expectations (Hamonic, Martin, Cizikas), been very inconsistent (Grabner), or has been nothing special in any way other than not completely embarrassing themselves on every shift (Strait, Hickey).

Edit -- actually even Moulson emerged as a high-scoring winger for Tavares before Cappy even became coach...certainly he didn't add any dimensions to his game as a result of Cappy.

Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday
Sources say Thomas Vanek has turned down a substantial offer from the #Isles, who will likely move him by Mar. 5 deadline. Story to come.

Later, TV.

Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday
Sources say Thomas Vanek has turned down a substantial offer from the #Isles, who will likely move him by Mar. 5 deadline. Story to come.

Later, TV.
- eichiefs9

What a shock.

Tweet by Staple has Vanek turning down a substantial offer from the isles. Kiss him good bye come March 5. Hell be hitting the bricks with A-Mac.

Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday
Sources say Thomas Vanek has turned down a substantial offer from the #Isles, who will likely move him by Mar. 5 deadline. Story to come.

Later, TV.
- eichiefs9

More sweet news during a memorably disappointing season...

More sweet news during a memorably disappointing season...
- Jethro09

This is what happens when you let the season fall apart and you expect to sign someone like Vanek.

I'll give you Moulson, absolutely. Everyone else you listed has either met expectations (Hamonic, Martin, Cizikas), been very inconsistent (Grabner), or has been nothing special in any way other than not completely embarrassing themselves on every shift (Strait, Hickey).

Edit -- actually even Moulson emerged as a high-scoring winger for Tavares before Cappy even became coach...certainly he didn't add any dimensions to his game as a result of Cappy.
- UIF

my bad... i bolded the wrong part-- i meant to bold "Cappy had not made anyone he has coached a better hockey player. "

i would say all those players i listed have exceeded expectations...

Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday
Sources say Thomas Vanek has turned down a substantial offer from the #Isles, who will likely move him by Mar. 5 deadline. Story to come.

Later, TV.
- eichiefs9

Yay. Can't wait for that blog. Ill start pm'ing all the trolls now.

This is what happens when you let the season fall apart and you expect to sign someone like Vanek.
- ses111

Yep. Good job Snow

my bad... i bolded the wrong part-- i meant to bold "Cappy had not made anyone he has coached a better hockey player. "

i would say all those players i listed have exceeded expectations...
- LetsGoIsles

Really? Not sure I agree.

Moulson already had a 30-goal season under his belt with the Isles before Cappy became coach, and pretty much remained a 30-goal player with limited skating and defensive abilities ever since.

Hamonic...folks were looking forward to having him as a shutdown defenseman with a nasty streak since he was in juniors...and that's essentially what he's become. If he ever did develop that offensive game he talks about a lot, then I'd agree Cappy and the staff helped him add a dimension.

Martin's been Martin since he played his first game for the Isles...a hitting machine that will drop the gloves from time to time with limited offense. He's an effective fourth liner, as he was expected to be, but the pie-in-the-sky hopes of him becoming a front-of-the-net presence that could put pucks in the net and play on a higher line to protect star players never really happened.

Cizikas is exactly what we all thought he'd be ever since he had that folk-hero shift in the WJC...a defensive/pk specialist with leadership skills and some offensive upside that anyone would want to have on their team.

For the four players above, I'm not at all saying they're disappointments. Far from it...they have filled exactly the role we all hoped they would when they turned pro based on their junior careers/time in the AHL after turning pro/opinions we had of them after playing in their first few NHL games. I don't consider that exceeding expectations under Cappy. If Cizikas put up more points and became a borderline top-six forward...that'd be exceeding expectations, for example. I think we all knew, or at least were hoping, that he'd be a quality defensive forward before he stepped on NHL ice.

Grabner I think really did flourish under Cappy initially but has been up and down since...to the point where a player with his offensive abilities can't nail down a top-six spot on this team.

Hickey's a top-five draft pick that is a borderline bottom-pair d-man...I wouldn't call that exceeding expectations.

Strait is exactly what Pitt developed him into...a serviceable defensive d-man. His game hasn't really grown under Cappy.