I'm still waiting for names.. Niño getting traded was as much his own fault as it was management
- Dan Petriw

I'm done with the Poulin talk. He cannot even play in these meaningless games and will be gone anyway.

Boulton has done a nice job this year. McDonald should be the odd man out.
- ses111

I can live with C-Mac going, but he should be followed out the door very closely by Bailey and Clutterbuck. They're garbage too.

Do the 100 some off starts in bport count for my opinion?
- Dan Petriw

Of course, but would 2 seasons of Bridgeport play allow anyone to write the book on a gialies career? Seems a bit silly. They knew Poulin was unpolished when they drafted him. He was a project goaltender so the natural progression would be to allow him to play a few years in the AHL, then allow him a couple of years in the NHL to see what you've gotten. We had people here killing him after less than 10 starts this year.
Should folks have been concerned that Roy had a career QJMHL gaa in the 5.00 range? How about the fact that his first NHL season with more than 20 starts saw him with an .875 save percentage?

The learning curve for goaltenders can be quite amazing to watch as it tends to depend on so many different things. The only true virtue that should remain is patience.

Depends on the roster and the goaltender. Lets not confuse a good goalie with an elite one.

Tim Thomas is an example of a goaltender who didn't become a starter until he was in his 30's.

Dwayne Roloson was another. There are plenty of goalies who make that progression well into their careers.
- keaner17

Well I don't want him here next year. Last season the staff obviously had no confidence in him so nabby literally played every game the 2nd half of the year until they clinched a playoff spot. And this year I believe he's the biggest reason the isles record is where it is. I know the defense stinks but even with a good defense and his gaa is 2.85 and save percentage is .900 would you want him? That's well below average too

Depends on the roster and the goaltender. Lets not confuse a good goalie with an elite one.

Tim Thomas is an example of a goaltender who didn't become a starter until he was in his 30's.

Dwayne Roloson was another. There are plenty of goalies who make that progression well into their careers.
- keaner17

And second, the fact that you now think less of my opinions based on my statement about poulin is ridiculous. You aren't the only one here that passionately watches and or attends the vast majority of all their games the last 20 years. We aren't idiots.

I'm still thinking that Vanek will get us a good return...every list you look at he is at #1....if he was a Leaf TSN and company would be saying they will get a ton for him..nobody likes the Isles and they want Garth to fail (don't blame them). I say Vanek gets us our top pick and a decent d-man. Its what we need...As far as Amac I'd sit him til Wed...he will grab us something...we should also consider that we have some prospects of our own that may get us a vet player up front or goalie from a team in the same mode as ourselves. most will say i'm way off, and I could be, but you never know !!! Garth has to be due for a good trade eventually...

Well I don't want him here next year. Last season the staff obviously had no confidence in him so nabby literally played every game the 2nd half of the year until they clinched a playoff spot. And this year I believe he's the biggest reason the isles record is where it is. I know the defense stinks but even with a good defense and his gaa is 2.85 and save percentage is .900 would you want him? That's well below average too
- Isles316

I couldn't disagree more with the idea that he is the biggest reason why we're where we are. While an elite goaltender can bail out a bad team, in certain games over a steady period there are some defenses/systems that a goalie, no matter how good, just falls apart.
Coming into this season, Poulin's career NHL sv pctg was in the .912 range. This season has been awful, but if you think Nabby would have had us in position to challenge for the playoffs had he played those games and Poulin not, I think you're simply not being rational.

I couldn't disagree more with the idea that he is the biggest reason why we're where we are. While an elite goaltender can bail out a bad team, in certain games over a steady period there are some defenses/systems that a goalie, no matter how good, just falls apart.
Coming into this season, Poulin's career NHL sv pctg was in the .912 range. This season has been awful, but if you think Nabby would have had us in position to challenge for the playoffs had he played those games and Poulin not, I think you're simply not being rational.
- keaner17

Poulin hasn't been the same since his knee injury in warmups a couple years ago. Not saying it has anything to do with it but that's a fact. His .912 was in 16 games. His numbers last year are indentical this year just about.

Can we agree that sure while I think it's possible for him to become a better goalie, right now he's garbage. And the isles can't afford to have him on their roster next year.

I think if nabby hadn't gone down the isles would have more wins and still be alive in the playoff race. Having said that, nabby isn't the answer either. He's a decent backup at this point in his career and I hope that he agrees to take that role here next year. He seems like a great voice in that locker room

Looks like Strome and Lee are locks for next season up front.

** JT KO
** Nielsen Grabs
Nelson Strome Lee
Martin Cizikas C-Mac
Boulton

They need to add two more forwards who can score goals to that group. They need to move on from Bailey and Clutterbuck. They both suck. Keeping those two pieces of garbage will clog the top six with two forwards that can't score and don't belong on those lines.

** **
Hammer Vis
Donovan de Haan
Hickey (or Strait)

Assuming A-Mac is traded, the isles need two more "D" to fill out the top four. Time to move on from Carkner, Martinek, Strait or Hickey. Maybe Reinhart gets one spot and a true top pair or at least top four guy is signed.

***
Nabokov

I like Nabby...as a back up. They need a legit #1 goaltender. Badly.

Make these changes and I think this team is competitive next year. Discuss.
- Jethro09

I think Clutterbuck serves more of a purpose than McDonald. That's my only disagreement there.
Defensively, they should give Reinhart a chance but it may be one of of the guys already in the A, like Mayfield. I don't think they can put too many of that fresh meat back on D because they'll be too much of a learning curve going on every game. I think Strait stays.

I still say put whatever package they can for a young goalie now. See if Anaheim would at least answer the phone with a Vanek, Nilsson and Pelech for Vatanen, Gibson and a pick.

And second, the fact that you now think less of my opinions based on my statement about poulin is ridiculous. You aren't the only one here that passionately watches and or attends the vast majority of all their games the last 20 years. We aren't idiots.
- Isles316

Less of your opinions? no...I was referring to 'credibility' on this particular subject. I think people tend to be a bit predisposed when it comes to judging some players. If someone is going to say a goalie will never be a good goaltender when having fewer than 50 starts, I'm instantly going to wonder just how fair their judgement is in that case. This happens more with goaltenders than any other position in sports.

As for 'we aren't idiots'. Is this a rallying of the troops? Since you're feeling like a victim based on this, yet you're so sure you're right...perhaps you should just leave it at 'we'll agree to disagree'.

Less of your opinions? no...I was referring to 'credibility' on this particular subject. I think people tend to be a bit predisposed when it comes to judging some players. If someone is going to say a goalie will never be a good goaltender when having fewer than 50 starts, I'm instantly going to wonder just how fair their judgement is in that case. This happens more with goaltenders than any other position in sports.

As for 'we aren't idiots'. Is this a rallying of the troops? Since you're feeling like a victim based on this, yet you're so sure you're right...perhaps you should just leave it at 'we'll agree to disagree'.
- keaner17

I don't feel like a victim. It's hockey buzz for gods sake. But you are very judgemental sometimes when people make comments or opinions. He hasn't shown me anything to make me want him part of the orginization anymore. And I wonder if he goes unsigned by the isles and becomes a UFA, who takes him on an NHL deal ?

Poulin hasn't been the same since his knee injury in warmups a couple years ago. Not saying it has anything to do with it but that's a fact. His .912 was in 16 games. His numbers last year are indentical this year just about.

Can we agree that sure while I think it's possible for him to become a better goalie, right now he's garbage. And the isles can't afford to have him on their roster next year.

I think if nabby hadn't gone down the isles would have more wins and still be alive in the playoff race. Having said that, nabby isn't the answer either. He's a decent backup at this point in his career and I hope that he agrees to take that role here next year. He seems like a great voice in that locker room
- Isles316

I wish we had a chart graph of the Poulin approval v. disapproval as there was a 10 game stretch where things had turned very positive in his favor. I believe he was 8-2 during that stretch and everything went fine. Suddenly the wheels came off and he looked terrible. What this tells me is that he's capable of playing confidently during a decent stretch. It's not confidence. He has often given up 1-2 goals early and then gone the rest of the way playing solid.
So in my eyes, it's another DPitis....he see's things falling apart around him and tries to do too much to save the day. That's all mental and can be fixed with experience and improved play around him. Unfortunately this is a terrible team to develop a goaltende with.

I don't feel like a victim. It's hockey buzz for gods sake. But you are very judgemental sometimes when people make comments or opinions. He hasn't shown me anything to make me want him part of the orginization anymore. And I wonder if he goes unsigned by the isles and becomes a UFA, who takes him on an NHL deal ?
- Isles316

Not really. Certainly not anymore than anyone else here.

I will maintain though that I think people go way over the top on judging goaltenders too fast and therefore I question the validity of their argument when they go so extreme as to predict an entire career over a miniscule sample size.
Perhaps it's knitpicking but if someone says "I don't think he'll ever be anything" I treat that differently then when someone is so absolute as to say "He'll NEVER be anything in this league".

Not really. Certainly not anymore than anyone else here.

I will maintain though that I think people go way over the top on judging goaltenders too fast and therefore I question the validity of their argument when they go so extreme as to predict an entire career over a miniscule sample size.
Perhaps it's knitpicking but if someone says "I don't think he'll ever be anything" I treat that differently then when someone is so absolute as to say "He'll NEVER be anything in this league".
- keaner17

The only difference with those statements, especially in typed form is the choice of words. Personally my opinion is based on what I see. He doesn't look like a sound goaltender thus far in his career. Also, hearing from people that are avid watchers of Bridgeport, they can tell you the same thing. So while it certainly is possible he could end up being a useful player on a team one day, the isles aren't in position to find that out anymore. They don't have a starter that can play 70 games. So as people have said, nabby as our backup next year with a legit NHL starter makes this team measurably better.

I don't feel like a victim. It's hockey buzz for gods sake. But you are very judgemental sometimes when people make comments or opinions. He hasn't shown me anything to make me want him part of the orginization anymore. And I wonder if he goes unsigned by the isles and becomes a UFA, who takes him on an NHL deal ?
- Isles316

I think it's an interesting thing to call Keaner judgemental when his replies are not that Poulin will be good, but that he's been given very little time behind a garbage defense and we don't know what he'll be, when your comments are: He's garbage and shouldn't be here anymore.

The fact remains that Poulin's had a bad game more often than not, and has allowed some soft goals, but Nilsson did as well and no one's writing him off. Nabby's been sh!t for most of the year and he's our number 1, our defense is terrible, our system sucks, our forwards don't know how to backcheck properly and we regularly allow opposing shooters glorious scoring chances.

Has he been good? Most often no. Would I let him walk at the end of the year? Not yet. I'd sign or trade for a stable NHL vet late 20's or very early 30's, and if I did keep Nabby as a backup I'd sign Poulin to one more year to play with Nilsson in the AHL. I'm not convinced Nilsson is going to be any better, he's a large kid but he doesn't play his angles well.

I think it's an interesting thing to call Keaner judgemental when his replies are not that Poulin will be good, but that he's been given very little time behind a garbage defense and we don't know what he'll be, when your comments are: He's garbage and shouldn't be here anymore.

The fact remains that Poulin's had a bad game more often than not, and has allowed some soft goals, but Nilsson did as well and no one's writing him off. Nabby's been sh!t for most of the year and he's our number 1, our defense is terrible, our system sucks, our forwards don't know how to backcheck properly and we regularly allow opposing shooters glorious scoring chances.

Has he been good? Most often no. Would I let him walk at the end of the year? Not yet. I'd sign or trade for a stable NHL vet late 20's or very early 30's, and if I did keep Nabby as a backup I'd sign Poulin to one more year to play with Nilsson in the AHL. I'm not convinced Nilsson is going to be any better, he's a large kid but he doesn't play his angles well.
- Isles_since_6

Nilsson has played much less but I do agree. I'm not high on him either but he was out all of last season pretty much and I haven't seen him play that much.

I think it's an interesting thing to call Keaner judgemental when his replies are not that Poulin will be good, but that he's been given very little time behind a garbage defense and we don't know what he'll be, when your comments are: He's garbage and shouldn't be here anymore.

The fact remains that Poulin's had a bad game more often than not, and has allowed some soft goals, but Nilsson did as well and no one's writing him off. Nabby's been sh!t for most of the year and he's our number 1, our defense is terrible, our system sucks, our forwards don't know how to backcheck properly and we regularly allow opposing shooters glorious scoring chances.

Has he been good? Most often no. Would I let him walk at the end of the year? Not yet. I'd sign or trade for a stable NHL vet late 20's or very early 30's, and if I did keep Nabby as a backup I'd sign Poulin to one more year to play with Nilsson in the AHL. I'm not convinced Nilsson is going to be any better, he's a large kid but he doesn't play his angles well.
- Isles_since_6

Nilsson is a lot better than Poulin. He does not flop like a fish on a dump in. Poulin is constantly on the ice when he should be up. Either he is not a great goalie or someone is not teaching him how to play the sport.

Being a former a goalie my coach always wanted me up on my skates and not down. Once you go down and flop around you can not gain position and leaves for an easy goal. He needs to learn how to be a stand up goalie

Nilsson is a lot better than Poulin. He does not flop like a fish on a dump in. Poulin is constantly on the ice when he should be up. Either he is not a great goalie or someone is not teaching him how to play the sport.

Being a former a goalie my coach always wanted me up on my skates and not down. Once you go down and flop around you can not gain position and leaves for an easy goal. He needs to learn how to be a stand up goalie
- kasperrko

Nilsson may not flop but he doesn't cover his angles well, doesn't control rebounds well and looks small in the net when he does go down. I don't know if you could say he's better. I dont see it right now.

Why Colin McDonald is useless

Isles are 10-4-3 when strome plays. Why? Not that strome is a wonder boy. (Well not yet). It's because you don't have c-Mac eating valuable scoring mins.
Colin at best is a 4th liner. He actually should be a healthy scratch as I agree Boulton has outplayed him big time.

C-Mac has no biz on 2nd and 3rd line as cappy had tried him.
He is terrible.

Nilsson is a far better option in goal. He has t done anything wrong to deserve cappy not using him.

Poulin is flip flops like a fish on a dock.
He over plays routine saves and is why he makes Highlight reels.

Nilsson is a far better option in goal. He has t done anything wrong to deserve cappy not using him.

Poulin is flip flops like a fish on a dock.
He over plays routine saves and is why he makes Highlight reels.
- Spartiarti

Nilsson hasn't looked good either. We need a vet with proven talent that's not almost 40.

Well one less FA dman to sign with Girardi locked up. Was not really expecting the Isles to have a shot.

Well one less FA dman to sign with Girardi locked up. Was not really expecting the Isles to have a shot.
- ses111

Watch almost every UFA goalie resign or get traded and signed by the draft. I have a bad feeling Garth is going to wait til July 1st and find nothing left.

Watch almost every UFA goalie resign or get traded and signed by the draft. I have a bad feeling Garth is going to wait til July 1st and find nothing left.
- Isles_since_6

I also have a bad feeling. I just love how the big markets can continue to sign 5 or 6 guys for big money. Thanks lockout for nothing Seems like Miller and Ott are going to St. Louis.

I also have a bad feeling. I just love how the big markets can continue to sign 5 or 6 guys for big money. Thanks lockout for nothing Seems like Miller and Ott are going to St. Louis.
- ses111

The Cap shouldn't be going up, it's sickening.