The de Haan scratching is much more concerning and puzzling than the Grabner one. Grabner has been bad this year and the injury bug with him didn't help things, so i can see dressing other guys over him (not Boulton, but whatever). But de Haan was a top-four d-man on this team and aside from a few bad games, he's been better overall than the guys dressing in his stead. You don't repeatedly scratch healthy top-four d-men. Cappy is just mind-boggling with some of these decisions.
- Jethro09

he has had more than a bad few games..he was bad for a solid 8 week stretch..however enough is enough and he should be back in

he has had more than a bad few games..he was bad for a solid 8 week stretch..however enough is enough and he should be back in
- Dan Petriw

He had some bad games. Hickey was far worse most games and strait was no better yet they get first pairing ice time? Makes no sense.

He had some bad games. Hickey was far worse most games and strait was no better yet they get first pairing ice time? Makes no sense.
- Cptmjl

THIS is what makes you scratch your head. The amount of ice time they get means he trusts them. From what we've all seen, HOW can you trust those two?!?!?

THIS is what makes you scratch your head. The amount of ice time they get means he trusts them. From what we've all seen, HOW can you trust those two?!?!?
- Mancalledsting

This is why nobody should ever question someone who says capuano is a poop coach. This is exactlt what makes him a terrible coach. Hes been doing this since he got the job. This is nothing new hes a terrible tactician and his personell decisions are mind bogglingly bad. Combine those two things and you have someone who shouldn't be coaching anyone let alone an nhl team.

i had no idea grabner had the flu...i don't think this was announced until today.. the last forward on this team doesn't bother me but what really grinds my gears is hickey or strait playing over cdh
- Dan Petriw

I think I saw Staple tweet something before the DET game that Grabner was sick and if he wasn't there was a good chance he would have been plugged in the lineup for that game.

I want to be clear that I'm not going to try to proclaim Hickey or Strait as quality defenseman, but I don't have as much of an issue with CDH sitting as everyone else seems to. He's generally had a pretty bad year, which is fine for a second year defenseman. Would I prefer him in the lineup? Yes. I don't like that he is scratched, but I also don't share the same outrage as you and some others do.

Hickey's ice time the last two games has been 17:21 (DET) and 15:01 (ANA). Strait played 21:02 (DET), but his four prior games his highest TOI was 17:37. At the end of the day, I think come playoff time that we will see the original defense from the first half of the year.

I think I saw Staple tweet something before the DET game that Grabner was sick and if he wasn't there was a good chance he would have been plugged in the lineup for that game.

I want to be clear that I'm not going to try to proclaim Hickey or Strait as quality defenseman, but I don't have as much of an issue with CDH sitting as everyone else seems to. He's generally had a pretty bad year, which is fine for a second year defenseman. Would I prefer him in the lineup? Yes. I don't like that he is scratched, but I also don't share the same outrage as you and some others do.

Hickey's ice time the last two games has been 17:21 (DET) and 15:01 (ANA). Strait played 21:02 (DET), but his four prior games his highest TOI was 17:37. At the end of the day, I think come playoff time that we will see the original defense from the first half of the year.
- eichiefs9

We can only hope. Maybe pair vis with hamonic and hickey with dehaan? Hickey and vis should not be on the ice at the same time. Also, neither of those guys should see that much ice time ever.

I think I saw Staple tweet something before the DET game that Grabner was sick and if he wasn't there was a good chance he would have been plugged in the lineup for that game.

I want to be clear that I'm not going to try to proclaim Hickey or Strait as quality defenseman, but I don't have as much of an issue with CDH sitting as everyone else seems to. He's generally had a pretty bad year, which is fine for a second year defenseman. Would I prefer him in the lineup? Yes. I don't like that he is scratched, but I also don't share the same outrage as you and some others do.

Hickey's ice time the last two games has been 17:21 (DET) and 15:01 (ANA). Strait played 21:02 (DET), but his four prior games his highest TOI was 17:37. At the end of the day, I think come playoff time that we will see the original defense from the first half of the year.
- eichiefs9

My problem here is that as a second year player, you have to allow de Haan to play through his struggles. I'm sorry but players don't get better in the press box. In fact they get worse. They should at least let him play out the stretch to see if he can ramp it up in time for the playoffs. It's silly to have a young kid who is arguably your second most talented dman collect this much rust approaching the playoffs

My problem here is that as a second year player, you have to allow de Haan to play through his struggles. I'm sorry but players don't get better in the press box. In fact they get worse. They should at least let him play out the stretch to see if he can ramp it up in time for the playoffs. It's silly to have a young kid who is arguably your second most talented dman collect this much rust approaching the playoffs
- keaner17

I usually agree with a lot of things that you say but this won't be one of them (which is fine). I don't think it's even remotely arguable to say that de Haan is our second most talented defenseman. I think he's actually pretty entrenched at the #4 spot in that pecking order.

I think he was allowed to play through his struggles, he's pretty much struggled for most of the season. Definitely for most of the second half. This will be his 3rd straight healthy scratch and only his 4th all season. I don't think that's unreasonable amount for a 2nd year player on a playoff team. Now that being said, I think this should be the last time they scratch him going forward. I don't believe Strait is an upgrade and I think they need to start icing the lineup that they were winning with in the first half of the year, save for Grabovski obviously.

We can only hope. Maybe pair vis with hamonic and hickey with dehaan? Hickey and vis should not be on the ice at the same time. Also, neither of those guys should see that much ice time ever.
- Cptmjl

It's a tough call. I think the upside is that (assuming CDH gets his act together) you're spreading the talent wealth among all 3 pairings. The downside is that you can't limit Hickey and Lubo's minutes, because they're paired with guys that should be playing (again, assuming CDH can get his act together).

Grabner, Its about freaking time.

Awww shucks.. I was missed!

Thank ya, missed most of you guys too.

Been doing a bunch of renovations on the house, re did 2 bathrooms, blew out the formal dining room and extended the kitchen, put in a giant playground for the kids.. just getting the house ready for summer.

With all that it leads to less and less time at the keyboard.. and since im not cutting back my internet porn time.. Hockeybuzz gets put on the back burner.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I am not going to lie. I thought something might have happened to you... good to see you back on the boards.

We can only hope. Maybe pair vis with hamonic and hickey with dehaan? Hickey and vis should not be on the ice at the same time. Also, neither of those guys should see that much ice time ever.
- Cptmjl

Teams just love seeing Hickey and Vish on the ice together.

I was going to log on and gloat when it was reported how Nassau is already looking to up the seating capacity of the new NVMC.. something I think i mentioned the second Ratner won the bid to build the place.





XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

I think I was only one who agreed with that point.

Bailey will never sit. He's a CORSI and analytics darling who Cappy and Snow are in love with. As long as he's healthy, he's dressing. Grabner only plays again if someone gets injured.
- Jethro09


Of course he's an advanced stats darling. Advanced stats ignores hits and praises holding the puck too long. Also doesn't separate offensive giveaways from defensive. It's a Baikey gold mine!
- keaner17

Chicago Blackhawk is full of Advance stats and corsi guys and none of the them hit. Montreal Canadiens and Detroit don't hit at all either.

Its not always about Checking everything in site.

I think I was only one who agreed with that point.
- niteislander

Youre nuts

I usually agree with a lot of things that you say but this won't be one of them (which is fine). I don't think it's even remotely arguable to say that de Haan is our second most talented defenseman. I think he's actually pretty entrenched at the #4 spot in that pecking order.

I think he was allowed to play through his struggles, he's pretty much struggled for most of the season. Definitely for most of the second half. This will be his 3rd straight healthy scratch and only his 4th all season. I don't think that's unreasonable amount for a 2nd year player on a playoff team. Now that being said, I think this should be the last time they scratch him going forward. I don't believe Strait is an upgrade and I think they need to start icing the lineup that they were winning with in the first half of the year, save for Grabovski obviously.
- eichiefs9

In terms of sheer talent, I'd say:
1. Leddy
2.Boychuck/deHaan
4 Hamonic

That doesn't mean he's a better dman but simply a better combo of skater, passer, shooter than allbut Leddy. de Haan has top pairing talent. All problems this year have been between the ears

It's a tough call. I think the upside is that (assuming CDH gets his act together) you're spreading the talent wealth among all 3 pairings. The downside is that you can't limit Hickey and Lubo's minutes, because they're paired with guys that should be playing (again, assuming CDH can get his act together).
- eichiefs9

Thats true but it could make both pairings more effective? Kind of a long shot but hamonic and viswere at one time our most effective pairing. Given it was a crap team but they werent a bad tandem.

Chicago Blackhawk is full of Advance stats and corsi guys and none of the them hit. Montreal Canadiens and Detroit don't hit at all either.

Its not always about Checking everything in site.
- Spartiarti

None of them? Not true...
but your new found appreciation of Bailey is duly noted

Chicago Blackhawk is full of Advance stats and corsi guys and none of the them hit. Montreal Canadiens and Detroit don't hit at all either.

Its not always about Checking everything in site.
- Spartiarti

The problem with applying advanced stats to some players and using it for a barometer of how useful they are is Bailey. In fact hes the perfect example of why sometimes advanced stats dont tell the whole or should I say an accurate story.

Quite honestly at this point I'd bet de Haan and Grabner will be components of an offseason trade. Clearly Cappy isn't a fan of either

With all of the line up crap aside im pumped for this game tonight hope the team is as well. These long breaks though great to give some guys rest is not good for my psych and fulfilling my need for hockey. I watch other teams when I can but I think its pretty awesome my gf lets me get away with watching every islander game and not missing any. Can only push my luck so much.

Quite honestly at this point I'd bet de Haan and Grabner will be components of an offseason trade. Clearly Cappy isn't a fan of either
- keaner17

Id say grabner definitely Dehaan I doubt.

My problem here is that as a second year player, you have to allow de Haan to play through his struggles. I'm sorry but players don't get better in the press box. In fact they get worse. They should at least let him play out the stretch to see if he can ramp it up in time for the playoffs. It's silly to have a young kid who is arguably your second most talented dman collect this much rust approaching the playoffs
- keaner17

this. this is why I'm pissed off that he's sitting. It's not like he'd be playing over boychuk, it's goddamn brian strait.

Quite honestly at this point I'd bet de Haan and Grabner will be components of an offseason trade. Clearly Cappy isn't a fan of either
- keaner17

if they move dehaan in the off season I'm going to be extremely pissed off. They won't get back what they'd be giving up.

and, just to make sure I was clear, I'm pissed off.