If he continues to play as our top defenseman and we finish as a top 3 in our division I would think this would be a situation he'd be comfortable resigning. It's a great opportunity for him to play a starring role and if we show that kind of improvement I believe we will sign him. Long season though, so we'll see what happens.
- Isles_since_6

Its great to see Boychuk get a chance at assuming more responsibility and playing time and thrive with it as opposed to fold under the pressure, provided he keeps this up (which I think he will). It says a lot about his character. very impressed with Boychuk's play in all situations and at both ends of the ice.

Every hockey team needs that one guy to play defense for it. This one is just coming into his real prime. It will be worth every dime to have him teach the game to the likes of Reinhart and Pulock. I just hope they realize that- a player like him is far more important to a hockey team then pretty much anything else, save replacing a goaltender who is absolute crap. A guy who can quarterback your power play AND be the minutes eater who clears the front of your net doesn't come along very often, regardless of where you pick in the draft. I'd literally pay him $8M+ per for 8 years to stay here without hesitation- I know the term is ridiculous, but the Flyers are still in the league, and I don't want to lose him. As for the money, sh*t defensemen get paid $5M a year, so I don't know how much less you'd expect to pay. This player, unlike the dopey goaltender from years gone by, is actually worth that money, and will probably last that long. It's one thing taken care of, for a long time, in my opinion.
- dcb1

$8M+ per year may be a bit over-priced (slightly sarcastic). But I get what you're saying. I think Boychuk is going to command in the $6M-$6.5M range per year, should his play continue along these lines. At 30 going onto 31, I don't have a problem with a five year $33.75M contract or something in that neighborhood, provided he continues to be the leader of that defense.

- Vukota

Definitely a memorable night. I'm glad I decided to spring for tix at the last minute.

Its great to see Boychuk get a chance at assuming more responsibility and playing time and thrive with it as opposed to fold under the pressure, provided he keeps this up (which I think he will). It says a lot about his character. very impressed with Boychuk's play in all situations and at both ends of the ice.
- Jethro09

He does so many things well. I almost think his ridiculous shot takes center stage to the rest of his abilities. I can't wait to have Viz and DeHaan back. This D is only going to get better.

It's almost laughable to compare Hickey to Strait...by no means do I believe Hickey is a great, nor even a top 4 defenseman, but he is at the very least he is a serviceable 5-7 defenseman who relies upon his good positioning and high hockey IQ to be effective. Strait on the other hand looks to be a fringe AHL defenseman let alone an NHL one. We all have seen how lost he looks out their, but his angles are the most concerning...it seems to be that doesn't what angle to take to cut off players from gaining the zone. When Viz or De Haan come back, I would waive Strait over Donovan in a heartbeat. At this point in Strait's career a traffic cone would be a more suitable comparison.

Ever since XX comments I want Reinhardt off the team.. .is that wrong? fck him! He is as slow as Carkner.

Hickey has played well...Like almost everyone said he is a good 6/7 dman. (He is too small and when the Isles were in playoffs the Pens made it a point to hit him...every shift.. it had an effect on him.).

Clutterbuck was excellent on the PK and if Casey C had of scored on that one play through their whole team it would have been best play of the night. Annoyingly MM looked like crap to me (I hate u all for making me look for deficiancies).

Ever since XX comments I want Reinhardt off the team.. .is that wrong? fck him! He is as slow as Carkner.

Hickey has played well...Like almost everyone said he is a good 6/7 dman. (He is too small and when the Isles were in playoffs the Pens made it a point to hit him...every shift.. it had an effect on him.).

Clutterbuck was excellent on the PK and if Casey C had of scored on that one play through their whole team it would have been best play of the night. Annoyingly MM looked like crap to me (I hate u all for making me look for deficiancies).
- niteislander

I don't want him off the team but I'm tired of first rounders league wide being above the AHL. If he can't see what is being built here, then that's on him and getting awful advice from his father. The islanders are in a position to win now and not baby sit prospects if they aren't ready they play in the Ahl until they are and if Reinhart cant handle a little adversity and doesn't see the benefit of half a season in the Ahl then that's on him too

I think they'll waive Donovan and keep Strait around as an extra. He's not the worst option to plug for a couple of games when someone goes down.
- UIF

agreed. while strait has been bad; im not gonna make a knee jerk reaction and waive him based on 2 games.

also chad johnson cannot puck handle very well, but it was nice to see what NHL level goalies can to a teams confidence.

I don't want him off the team but I'm tired of first rounders league wide being above the AHL. If he can't see what is being built here, then that's on him and getting awful advice from his father. The islanders are in a position to win now and not baby sit prospects if they aren't ready they play in the Ahl until they are and if Reinhart cant handle a little adversity and doesn't see the benefit of half a season in the Ahl then that's on him too
- Dan Petriw

What did Reinhardt say? Did I miss something?

I don't want him off the team but I'm tired of first rounders league wide being above the AHL. If he can't see what is being built here, then that's on him and getting awful advice from his father. The islanders are in a position to win now and not baby sit prospects if they aren't ready they play in the Ahl until they are and if Reinhart cant handle a little adversity and doesn't see the benefit of half a season in the Ahl then that's on him too
- Dan Petriw

nicely said!

I personally don't think hickey or strait are "on the level". Is hickey serviceable, yeah, but I don't think "serviceable" should be in the top 6. I don't have a problem with not being 6ft4, I have a problem with not being strong on the puck. Also, if you are a small dman, you can't get beat in a foot race, which I saw at the home opener. If Reinhardt was ready, and deHaan and viz were healthy, hickey is not in the top 6.


This team so far has looked really good......it's very encouraging.
- kindlyrick

i give you credit for sticking with your disliking of hickey; seems like EVERYONE has "always" been a big hickey fan...

agreed. while strait has been bad; im not gonna make a knee jerk reaction and waive him based on 2 games.

also chad johnson cannot puck handle very well, but it was nice to see what NHL level goalies can to a teams confidence.
- LetsGoIsles

Why would they waive Donovan and not Strait? Donovan still has significantly more upside than Strait and is younger and they're comparably priced.

Ever since XX comments I want Reinhardt off the team.. .is that wrong? fck him! He is as slow as Carkner.

Hickey has played well...Like almost everyone said he is a good 6/7 dman. (He is too small and when the Isles were in playoffs the Pens made it a point to hit him...every shift.. it had an effect on him.).

Clutterbuck was excellent on the PK and if Casey C had of scored on that one play through their whole team it would have been best play of the night. Annoyingly MM looked like crap to me (I hate u all for making me look for deficiancies).
- niteislander

You actually believed that?

You actually believed that?
- Vukota

Yeah that was, uh...nope.

Why would they waive Donovan and not Strait? Donovan still has significantly more upside than Strait and is younger and they're comparably priced.
- eichiefs9

i wouldnt necessarily waive donovan, id waiver carkner first.

having said that i wouldnt be upset if donovan was waived, his upside is based on what exactly? age? at least strait has shown in the past IE before he broke his leg, that can he can play and be serviceable

fwiw, i wouldnt be heart broken if any of the 3 of them were waived. no big loss.

I don't get the Hickey bashing. He's played well here for 2+ seasons.
- Snowblind

Allow me to re-word that second sentence:

I dont get the Hickey bashing.

Well, he's played here for 2+ seasons.

Allow me to re-word that second sentence:

I dont get the Hickey bashing.

Well, he's played here for 2+ seasons.
- jmo16

well said.......he hasn't been nearly as bad as strait. Strait is just not an NHLer......its obvious.

The team overall looks great........very exciting. Tuesday should be fun...

well said.......he hasn't been nearly as bad as strait. Strait is just not an NHLer......its obvious.

The team overall looks great........very exciting. Tuesday should be fun...
- kindlyrick

tickets on stubhub are going for $100 a pop. crazy!!

tickets on stubhub are going for $100 a pop. crazy!!
- LetsGoIsles

i bought 200s level.......we paid $100 per. I thought it was a great deal

I don't want him off the team but I'm tired of first rounders league wide being above the AHL. If he can't see what is being built here, then that's on him and getting awful advice from his father. The islanders are in a position to win now and not baby sit prospects if they aren't ready they play in the Ahl until they are and if Reinhart cant handle a little adversity and doesn't see the benefit of half a season in the Ahl then that's on him too
- Dan Petriw

I agree 100%, BUT.. i know always a but... the Family seems to be more upset with the front office saying one thing, promising another thing and then doing something completely different. Yes they feel he belongs on the Island, but they seemed the most bothered by the front office saying the same stuff (last year & this year) and then the kid being the odd man out and not on the Island.

I dont feel like the kid feels he is owed any more then what was already told to him.

XxNYIxX

You actually believed that?
- Vukota

Not really sure what I said that was so outlandish or unbelievable

XxNYIxX

I agree 100%, BUT.. i know always a but... the Family seems to be more upset with the front office saying one thing, promising another thing and then doing something completely different. Yes they feel he belongs on the Island, but they seemed the most bothered by the front office saying the same stuff (last year & this year) and then the kid being the odd man out and not on the Island.

I dont feel like the kid feels he is owed any more then what was already told to him.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Plans change six months ago Leddy and Boychuk weren't available. I'm surprised a nhl family doesn't realize this

Plans change six months ago Leddy and Boychuk weren't available. I'm surprised a nhl family doesn't realize this
- Dan Petriw

He needs more time in the AHL. I expect him to get sent down when Viz & Dehaan return.

Building an ideal team means getting the ideal pieces but of course this is real life and not every player on LA is a speedster. To build a real team you need players who complement each others' strengths and weaknesses. Hickey and Strait fit now because they have experience playing with other D and forwards like JT and KO, however with new goal and others their weaknesses may show until they relearn. Right now Reinhart sounds like he is in similar to Lee.

Building an ideal team means getting the ideal pieces but of course this is real life and not every player on LA is a speedster. To build a real team you need players who complement each others' strengths and weaknesses. Hickey and Strait fit now because they have experience playing with other D and forwards like JT and KO, however with new goal and others their weaknesses may show until they relearn. Right now Reinhart sounds like he is in similar to Lee.
- Fan101

I disagree. Lee is more then ready. Reinhart needs a full year in the minors. Could he stick and play sheltered minutes as a 6th D-man? Yeah probably but I think in the long haul playing big minutes in the AHL would be more helpful to him. Nothing wrong with that either. Not many D-man come right from juniors and produce right away. There is the exception but he is not one of them