Kulemin & Grabovsky will produce roughly the same amount of goals they lost with Moulson/Vanek
They might be "deeper" but it's still a mediocre group besides Tavares
And they stunk all year with him in the lineup

But all that aside...
Their biggest problem will again be their horrible defense
Since that lockout season, they've continually lost their top defenders and not replaced them
- jdfitz77

They'll be fine without Andy Mac Donald.....they might have suffered a loss with Streit tho.

And they gave up Moulson with nothing to show for it.
- sippyd

Not to mention that other bad teams got better themselves
I think Florida actually makes a run at the playoffs with Luongo & Ekblad and the continued development of their young players

Yeah, but losing a trade doesn't mean they will lose more hockey games.
- Jeropotato

The point was losing a goal scorer.

Not to mention that other bad teams got better themselves
I think Florida actually makes a run at the playoffs with Luongo & Ekblad and the continued development of their young players
- jdfitz77

The biggest hit for the Isles is the division they play in. I see them finishing ahead of Buffalo, Carolina, Ottawa (sorry...I just think that team is gonna be a threat in the McDeichel race) and possibly even Washington. Florida has no chance. Saw Luongo lots last year, shell of his former self, and Ekblad won't make a positive impact yet (he's 18 FFS).

They'll be fine without Andy Mac Donald.....they might have suffered a loss with Streit tho.
- Jeropotato

And what is Edmonton going to do this year?

They'll be fine without Andy Mac Donald.....they might have suffered a loss with Streit tho.
- Jeropotato

I greatly disagree with you
I don't think Andy Mac is all that great... But his role and icetime with them just goes to show how bad their defense really is

So like I said,
Unless Halak stands on his head I don't see much improvement

And teams around them got legitimately better IMO as well

Idk...
Maybe I'm just being a homer here, but I really don't see what u do at all

And what is Edmonton going to do this year?
- sippyd

No idea. We finally have an average NHL defense rather than an AHL one, added some size to our top 9, have improved goaltending (Devan Dubnyk put in a terrible perfomance last year...by ECHL standards), but we are still Terribly weak at 2C and 3C.....at best I think drafting 10-12th, finishing ahead of Calgary, Nashville, Arizona and Vancouver.....at best. We could just as easily finish last again.

The biggest hit for the Isles is the division they play in. I see them finishing ahead of Buffalo, Carolina, Ottawa (sorry...I just think that team is gonna be a threat in the McDeichel race) and possibly even Washington. Florida has no chance. Saw Luongo lots last year, shell of his former self, and Ekblad won't make a positive impact yet (he's 18 FFS).
- Jeropotato

Everything went wrong for Ottawa last year and they were still 10th from the bottom
If they trade Ryan for prospects I could see a downward spiral though bc they'll have a tough time scoring
Carolina is another team that just couldn't catch a break
I think they bounce back
The Caps are tough to gage bc of the new coach, but it's hard for me to see them completely fall apart with all that talent

I'm curious as to why u like the NYI chances more than Carolina
I think the talent on the Canes far exceeds the Isles

I greatly disagree with you
I don't think Andy Mac is all that great... But his role and icetime with them just goes to show how bad their defense really is

So like I said,
Unless Halak stands on his head I don't see much improvement

And teams around them got legitimately better IMO as well

Idk...
Maybe I'm just being a homer here, but I really don't see what u do at all
- jdfitz77

I'm pretty high on Kulemin and Grabo, really wanted the Oilers to sign them. Very strong possession players...don't know enough about their defense to disagree with you. I like their depth at Center ice as well. I could be wrong, I felt last year might have been an anomaly, but I only see a small handful of Islanders games so I could be wrong. I just thought they looked really good in the lock out year.

Everything went wrong for Ottawa last year and they were still 10th from the bottom
If they trade Ryan for prospects I could see a downward spiral though bc they'll have a tough time scoring
Carolina is another team that just couldn't catch a break
I think they bounce back

I'm curious as to why u like the NYI chances more than Carolina
I think the talent on the Canes far exceeds the Isles
- jdfitz77

Aside from the Staal's and Skinner? That Defense is garbage, and Ward hasn't been a good NHL goalie for years now.

I'm pretty high on Kulemin and Grabo, really wanted the Oilers to sign them. Very strong possession players...don't know enough about their defense to disagree with you. I like their depth at Center ice as well. I could be wrong, I felt last year might have been an anomaly, but I only see a small handful of Islanders games so I could be wrong. I just thought they looked really good in the lock out year.
- Jeropotato

Fair enough
I guess we will see

Do u see the Oilers FINALLY starting to improve?
The west is so tough,
But I think u guys will start to take some strides up the standings

Fair enough
I guess we will see

Do u see the Oilers FINALLY starting to improve?
The west is so tough,
But I think u guys will start to take some strides up the standings
- jdfitz77

I hope so. Still hard to say. We still don't have an NHL roster so I don't expect much. I would be thrilled to draft 10th to 12th .

Aside from the Staal's and Skinner? That Defense is garbage, and Ward hasn't been a good NHL goalie for years now.
- Jeropotato

+ Semin, Tlusty & Lindholm (who I like a lot)
Check out the NYI defense...
Is take what the Canes have any day over them
Ward has been mediocre though,
That's certainly true

+ Semin, Tlusty & Lindholm (who I like a lot)
Check out the NYI defense...
Is take what the Canes have any day over them
Ward has been mediocre though,
That's certainly true
- jdfitz77

Yeah Faulk, Hainsey and Sekeras are probably better than Hamonic, DeHaan and Visnovsky...but not by much...the rest of those D are either hurt or just...poopty

Semin sucks and Lindholm hasnt done squat for them yet.

Great blog. I wish you had the same access as Garth does to the team. You're way better and you have a spell checker.
- cnalderson

We should figure out how to get him access. Seriously one of my favorite bloggers.

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP..


All I have after a weekend of drinking at the cabin.... Sorry to disappoint.

They actually are pretty deep now at forward. You might not like them but Kulemin and Grabo make them a better team, plus the goaltending upgrade...I think they carry on where the left off the lockout year, a full year of healthy JT goes a long long way for them.
- Jeropotato

You do realize those two combined for 22 goals and 55 points a year ago right?

This was an excellent post...except the last part. I think the Isles will be the surprise of the East.
- Jeropotato

At best they are a 6th seed and that's only if Halak

a. Stands on his head

and

b. doesn't have a season of nagging injuries(something that is his MO).


They really are a 9th-12th place team in the East.

You do realize those two combined for 22 goals a year ago right?
- dadeadhead

Goal scoring wasn't there issue though. It was defense.

They overpaid for them no doubt, but they got 2 guys that will play 200ft and battle.

Personally id be shocked if the Isles pick ended up top 5

Risto should start the season in Rochester until he can score better, nothing worse then drafting an offensive D man who can't run a pp...cough cough Myers.

Goal scoring wasn't there issue though. It was defense.

They overpaid for them no doubt, but they got 2 guys that will play 200ft and battle.

Personally id be shocked if the Isles pick ended up top 5
- sbroads24

They don't pick outside the top 10 next year.


Halak can't stay healthy.

Kulemin and Grabovski aren't that good.


They are banking on the opposite.

Goal scoring wasn't there issue though. It was defense.

They overpaid for them no doubt, but they got 2 guys that will play 200ft and battle.

Personally id be shocked if the Isles pick ended up top 5
- sbroads24

22 goals doesn't make up for Vanek/Moulson which someone stated.

Risto should start the season in Rochester until he can score better, nothing worse then drafting an offensive D man who can't run a pp...cough cough Myers.
- MrSquirrel

Run out of nuts to hide?

They don't pick outside the top 10 next year.


Halak can't stay healthy.

Kulemin and Grabovski aren't that good.


They are banking on the opposite.
- dadeadhead

This.

As they have proven, they are one injury away from disaster. They're just not deep enough.

Yeah Faulk, Hainsey and Sekeras are probably better than Hamonic, DeHaan and Visnovsky...but not by much...the rest of those D are either hurt or just...poopty

Semin sucks and Lindholm hasnt done squat for them yet.
- Jeropotato

Sekera was better than anyone on the Islanders blueline last year.


Very underrated defenseman.