Dee Karl: Keeping the 5th, Unofficially Isles have a few more days to officially tell the NHL

Just wait till the Canes buy him out and just sign him as a free agent. That is if Ward is the man?? Garth can wait till free agency and snag any number of decent goalies potentially anyway. Miller, Hiller, Halak, Elliot, maybe Ward if bought out.

It is tempting to keep the pick this year but if he does the team better make big strides next year because it would be a shame to lose out on two franchise players available next year.

Dee Karl: Keeping the 5th, Unofficially
Isles have a few more days to officially tell the NHL
- Dee Karl

Hey Dee, like your avatar, pretty hot lookin,

Just wait till the Canes buy him out and just sign him as a free agent. That is if Ward is the man?? Garth can wait till free agency and snag any number of decent goalies potentially anyway. Miller, Hiller, Halak, Elliot, maybe Ward if bought out.

It is tempting to keep the pick this year but if he does the team better make big strides next year because it would be a shame to lose out on two franchise players available next year.
- flyerdude17

Miller won't go to the islanders don't get your hopes up.

I hope they sign Hiller and Ward. Plus draft the best goalie in this years class.

Miller won't go to the islanders don't get your hopes up.
- jaumiller

I don't think Miller is a good choice....he's getting old. He looked below average in the playoffs for St Louis. He's probably looking for 7-8 million for like 6 years. I'd rather go after Halak or Reimer. I think Reimer would be a good fit. At least you're not stuck with a huge contract if it doesn't work.

I don't think Miller is a good choice....he's getting old. He looked below average in the playoffs for St Louis. He's probably looking for 7-8 million for like 6 years. I'd rather go after Halak or Reimer. I think Reimer would be a good fit. At least you're not stuck with a huge contract if it doesn't work.
- dack1972

Miller's going to Anaheim next year, and he'll most likely take a salary cut to play there for his wife. Also, good for Snow for showing a little faith in the club...personally, I thought the team just underachieved this year and can easily be back in playoff contention next year. Whoever they pick up this year at #5 will more than likely be better than who they'd have a shot at next year.

Miller's going to Anaheim next year, and he'll most likely take a salary cut to play there for his wife. Also, good for Snow for showing a little faith in the club...personally, I thought the team just underachieved this year and can easily be back in playoff contention next year. Whoever they pick up this year at #5 will more than likely be better than who they'd have a shot at next year.
- sudburyboy

Why would they want Miller? They have 3 goalies!!!

Miller would be a bad fit for them.

Miller won't go to the islanders don't get your hopes up.
- jaumiller

Good... don't want him.

Why would they want Miller? They have 3 goalies!!!

Miller would be a bad fit for them.
- jimmc7722

#1- Hiller's a UFA, so re-siging him is going to cost you at least 5-6 million a year with the demand for goalies around the league right now.

#2- Andersen just proved that he's not ready to be a #1 goalie yet

#3- Why rush Gibson into the NHL as a #1? He's still just a kid, and as great as he looked the last few games of the season, I would want to count on him this early in his career

#4- Could you think of a better mentor for the up and coming American All-Star goalie, than one of the best American goalies of all time who still has a few good years left in him?

Miller may have driven down his value with the playoff run. The rumor is LA area because his wife is an actress but New York City is now the actors capital of the country and you have the Hamptons crowd so don't dismiss the Island yet.

Got a feeling Vanek may still be considering the Island so don't count him out.

If the top 5 picks are outstanding they may keep it but the farm system is full so they may surrender it to BUFand delay a year for the 2015 pick.

I am a sabres fan so I am hoping he uses his pick this year year. Can you imagine that they finish in the bottom five next season and they somehow win the draft lottery and we get the holy grail in next years stacked draft. No complaints. Use this years pick.

I am a sabres fan so I am hoping he uses his pick this year year. Can you imagine that they finish in the bottom five next season and they somehow win the draft lottery and we get the holy grail in next years stacked draft. No complaints. Use this years pick.
- ewrjcc

If I were a Sabres fan I would prefer next years pick as well, why not go for the homerun instead of a single. I like what the Isles are doing here, take the pick and hope for a playoff season. By taking the pick next year the Isles would be basically sending a message to their fans that they are planning on sucking again, lol. Right move to take a Da Colle or Bennett with the pick and get out of the basement.

#1- Hiller's a UFA, so re-siging him is going to cost you at least 5-6 million a year with the demand for goalies around the league right now.

#2- Andersen just proved that he's not ready to be a #1 goalie yet

#3- Why rush Gibson into the NHL as a #1? He's still just a kid, and as great as he looked the last few games of the season, I would want to count on him this early in his career

#4- Could you think of a better mentor for the up and coming American All-Star goalie, than one of the best American goalies of all time who still has a few good years left in him?
- sudburyboy

I predict Miller to Anaheim, Halak and Hiller to either Vancouver or the Isles. That is where the top three are going.

#1- Hiller's a UFA, so re-siging him is going to cost you at least 5-6 million a year with the demand for goalies around the league right now.

#2- Andersen just proved that he's not ready to be a #1 goalie yet

#3- Why rush Gibson into the NHL as a #1? He's still just a kid, and as great as he looked the last few games of the season, I would want to count on him this early in his career

#4- Could you think of a better mentor for the up and coming American All-Star goalie, than one of the best American goalies of all time who still has a few good years left in him?
- sudburyboy

I totally agree with your train of thought

It just makes so much sense, however Miller is over rated in my opinion.

Miller may have driven down his value with the playoff run. The rumor is LA area because his wife is an actress but New York City is now the actors capital of the country and you have the Hamptons crowd so don't dismiss the Island yet.

Got a feeling Vanek may still be considering the Island so don't count him out.

If the top 5 picks are outstanding they may keep it but the farm system is full so they may surrender it to BUFand delay a year for the 2015 pick.
- Fan101

Do we really want Vanek for 7 years 50 million?? I don't think he's worth it, floats around 75% of the time

Islanders #5 pick/Okposo to the panthers for #1 pick

Miller may have driven down his value with the playoff run. The rumor is LA area because his wife is an actress but New York City is now the actors capital of the country and you have the Hamptons crowd so don't dismiss the Island yet.

Got a feeling Vanek may still be considering the Island so don't count him out.

If the top 5 picks are outstanding they may keep it but the farm system is full so they may surrender it to BUFand delay a year for the 2015 pick.
- Fan101

If vanek wanted to stay with the islanders he would of signed already.

If vanek wanted to stay with the islanders he would of signed already.
- jaumiller

Not necesarily, he may have wanted a playoff run and never know what type of deal MTL worked out. Seemed fishy that they traded him late at the deadline; though probably was due to Snow's and Wang's bumbling tactics and not something smart.

IMO isles should give buffalo this years pick.
1- By all accounts this year is a weak draft and the 5th overall pick is not a guarantee to be an impact player.
2- The isles need a major upgrade between the pipes. That upgrade will not be Ryan miller. Can Ward isn't a great option either considering his injury history, recent struggles, high salary and likely expensive price to acquire him. If the isles go into next season with the same goaltending as 13-14 they're almost certain to finish in the bottom 5 of the league again. More viable options would be Hiller or Halak via UFA or reimer via trade. Hiller didn't even play all that well with a very good team in front of him.
3- The defense is in need of an upgrade as well.
4- The farm system is not full as other might suggest. Some of our prospects on defense are promising but beyond Strome and Lee there aren't any forwards with top 6 potential.

Plain and simple, the team needs to make a decision on how serious they want to be in obtaining a franchise goaltender. The team took a huge step the previous season in making the playoffs and putting up a good fight against the Pens. Management followed that up with a disaster of an off-season. They let two great opportunities pass them by between Schneider and Bernier. They then let their stubbornness and frugality lead them to signing Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Peter Regin. Yeah, that happened. Then even still they decided three valuable assets to the Sabres to obtain a goal scorer when their problem was keeping the puck out of their own net. The woes of this past season fall solely at the feet of Garth Snow. It really was a case of one step forward, two steps back.

Not necesarily, he may have wanted a playoff run and never know what type of deal MTL worked out. Seemed fishy that they traded him late at the deadline; though probably was due to Snow's and Wang's bumbling tactics and not something smart.
- Fan101

Only way Vanek comes back to the island is if no one else is willing to pay him anywhere near the same amount as the isles offer.

Miller's going to Anaheim next year, and he'll most likely take a salary cut to play there for his wife. Also, good for Snow for showing a little faith in the club...personally, I thought the team just underachieved this year and can easily be back in playoff contention next year. Whoever they pick up this year at #5 will more than likely be better than who they'd have a shot at next year.
- sudburyboy

hahahahahahahaha....either:
1) you are clueless
2) Anaheim is clueless

Islanders #5 pick/Okposo to the panthers for #1 pick
- harveykline

#1- Hiller's a UFA, so re-siging him is going to cost you at least 5-6 million a year with the demand for goalies around the league right now.

#2- Andersen just proved that he's not ready to be a #1 goalie yet

#3- Why rush Gibson into the NHL as a #1? He's still just a kid, and as great as he looked the last few games of the season, I would want to count on him this early in his career

#4- Could you think of a better mentor for the up and coming American All-Star goalie, than one of the best American goalies of all time who still has a few good years left in him?
- sudburyboy

#4... You guys are going to sign Rick DiPietro????

XxNYIxX

Do we really want Vanek for 7 years 50 million?? I don't think he's worth it, floats around 75% of the time
- PeterMcCor

That other 25% he puts up a sh!t load of points.... So yes I'd sign him to that contract.

XxNYIxX