It all depends on which team you think the Isles were closer to: the one that piled up points from Oct. - Dec., or the one that used up most of that cushion and went sub-.500 from Jan. to April. I don't have the answer, but I'd still be hunting for an improvement or two beyond a minor tweak. I think the mistake after the Pitt series was buying too much into the good and dismissing too much of the not-so-good.
- UIF

True but you have to expect Lee, Strome, Nelson,Hamonic,Dehaan, Leddy will be even better then the year before or at least some of them improve. I'm sure Snow is looking to improve but at the same time he is not going to give away valuable young players and prospects for a short term fix.

I hope the Isles take a look at John Moore

Who said waiting on top prospects? Who do you wanna trade for? What stud sniper do you think you are going to get without giving up Nelson, Strome or Lee? Not only that you'll have to give up probably at least two of them and more. Nobody in UFA to fill that role so let's hear what you got?
- Vukota

Go out and sign Justin Williams. Sign a UFA Dman like Oduya to pair with Pulock instead of bringing back Hickey. Include a guy like Ho-Sang in deal now that you added two more top forward prospects. Find a way to improve the current team and not just bring back guys like Hickey and Frans because they are nice guys and do not rock the boat.

I hope the Isles take a look at John Moore
- Vukota

If I'm Snow, I am calling Don Sweeney every 5 minutes and offering Grabner and/or Bailey for our 2nd round pick back next year. That way we can toss a $6.5M offer sheet at Brandon Saad.

I figure if Snow just badgers Sweeney enough he'll do it.

- eichiefs9

Go out and sign Justin Williams. Sign a UFA Dman like Oduya to pair with Pulock instead of bringing back Hickey. Include a guy like Ho-Sang in deal now that you added two more top forward prospects. Find a way to improve the current team and not just bring back guys like Hickey and Frans because they are nice guys and do not rock the boat.
- ses111

Justin Williams???? So you want to sign a 34 yr old winger on the decline for at least 4-5 million a year for multiple years and lose Okposo because you can't pay them both? Plus if they are going to lose Okposo its going to be for somebody a hell of a lot better then Justin Williams. Oduya is another guy who is going to get overpaid and the Isles are not going to sign a guy for 4 million to be a bottom pairing guy that's how you lose other players that you don't want to down the road because of bad contracts. It's easy to just sit here and say sign this guy and sign that guy without taking the cap and other players needing to get paid down the road into consideration

Justin Williams???? So you want to sign a 34 yr old winger on the decline for at least 4-5 million a year for multiple years and lose Okposo because you can't pay them both. Plus if they are going to lose Okposo its going to be for somebody a hell of a lot better then Justin Williams. Oduya is another guy who is going to get overpaid and the Isles are not going to sign a guy for 4 million to be a bottom pairing guy that's how you lose other players that you don't want to down the road because of bad contracts. It's easy to just sit here and say sign this guy and sign that guy without taking the cap and other players needing to get paid down the road into consideration
- Vukota

Why don't you just stick to worrying/asking Staple about the important things, like Eric Boulton.

After the Isles sign Nelson,Lee a backup goalie and a depth D guy if they do they will only have about 5 million left on the cap and they are not going to spend all the way up to the top.

Why don't you just stick to worrying/asking Staple about the important things, like Eric Boulton.
- eichiefs9

Justin Williams???? So you want to sign a 34 yr old winger on the decline for at least 4-5 million a year for multiple years and lose Okposo because you can't pay them both. Plus if they are going to lose Okposo its going to be for somebody a hell of a lot better then Justin Williams. Oduya is another guy who is going to get overpaid and the Isles are not going to sign a guy for 4 million to be a bottom pairing guy that's how you lose other players that you don't want to down the road because of bad contracts. It's easy to just sit here and say sign this guy and sign that guy without taking the cap and other players needing to get paid down the road into consideration
- Vukota

Ok so let's hear your solution to getting this team past the 1st round and beyond. You sure seemed pissed with another 1st round exit. I cannot figure this board out. We are allowed to get pissed when another 1st round exit happens then we have to forget everything and be all positive.

Tough to read those comments.
- ses111

What do you want him to say?? He isn't tipping his hand... He leaks what he wants.. Tells staple to have fun at Olive Garden then for a nuts at the draft... Whenever he says nothing is going on. Things usually happen

True but you have to expect Lee, Strome, Nelson,Hamonic,Dehaan, Leddy will be even better then the year before or at least some of them improve. I'm sure Snow is looking to improve but at the same time he is not going to give away valuable young players and prospects for a short term fix.
- Vukota

Yep, I don't think anyone wants to see dal Colle and Pulock shipped out for a 30-year old on an expiring contract. But I'm not sure if you have to give up a king's ransom anymore for a pretty good player on a cap-strapped team. We've seen a few trades over the last couple of seasons that suggest otherwise. We'll see. Like I said the other day, I wouldn't mind moving some of the center depth with maybe a pick or two for someone who shoots the puck, if that kind of deal is out there.

Ok so let's hear your solution to getting this team past the 1st round and beyond. You sure seemed pissed with another 1st round exit. I cannot figure this board out. We are allowed to get pissed when another 1st round exit happens then we have to forget everything and be all positive.
- ses111

Saying we are going to lose next year in the first round before we see a roster in October is just silly. You are getting upset about something that is hypothetical right now

Saying we are going to lose next year in the first round before we see a roster in October is just silly. You are getting upset about something that is hypothetical right now
- Dan Petriw

I'm not saying they will lose, but I sure want to avoid it at all costs. Do we really want to take a chance and go through another 1st round exit again next year?

Ok so let's hear your solution to getting this team past the 1st round and beyond. You sure seemed pissed with another 1st round exit. I cannot figure this board out. We are allowed to get pissed when another 1st round exit happens then we have to forget everything and be all positive.
- ses111

Lets not go overboard yet. Right now its still the current roster. We need to see what changes are made or done before even analyzing how next year will be.

Ok so let's hear your solution to getting this team past the 1st round and beyond. You sure seemed pissed with another 1st round exit. I cannot figure this board out. We are allowed to get pissed when another 1st round exit happens then we have to forget everything and be all positive.
- ses111

Who says everything is positive? I'm all for making the team better but I'm not going to get rid of guys just for sake of getting rid of guys. Just because I don't like Justin Williams and the price its going to take to sign him I think everything is positive? All I said was I'm not going to over react if big changes aren't made in the offseason. This is a young team with a very bright future that had a great season last year. Yes they lost in the 1st rd but this isn't like teams in the past. This is a young team being built for the long haul and Snow isn't going to unload half of them for a quick fix whether you like it or not. Losing Hamonic was huge last year and there is no doubt in mind they win that series if he is healthy. Snow has all summer if he wants to change things up and if he doesn't I still think its a good team, some of you are acting like they had 60 points last year. Yes in a perfect world I want a top line winger for JT but I also realize the chances of that happening for this year aren't great so If accept that does that mean everything is positve? No I also realize what Snow's plan is and how much they have cap wise with other young guys to sign down the road.

Yep, I don't think anyone wants to see dal Colle and Pulock shipped out for a 30-year old on an expiring contract. But I'm not sure if you have to give up a king's ransom anymore for a pretty good player on a cap-strapped team. We've seen a few trades over the last couple of seasons that suggest otherwise. We'll see. Like I said the other day, I wouldn't mind moving some of the center depth with maybe a pick or two for someone who shoots the puck, if that kind of deal is out there.
- UIF

Can you imagine what the other GM''s are asking for? I can assure you its not Bailey, Nielsen or Grabovski for that top line winger. Besides Sharp is there any other cash trapped teams dangling a top liner that is not making 7-8 million like Kessel?

What do you want him to say?? He isn't tipping his hand... He leaks what he wants.. Tells staple to have fun at Olive Garden then for a nuts at the draft... Whenever he says nothing is going on. Things usually happen
- Dan Petriw

that was me, im solely responsible for that comment...i cant hide from the truth anymore

Snow will make the necessary changes to the team. He's not going to stand still with the same current roster. If more salary can be shed, then there's more of a chance a better player could be obtained. Garth's 1st priority is locking up the kids......

Ok so let's hear your solution to getting this team past the 1st round and beyond. You sure seemed pissed with another 1st round exit. I cannot figure this board out. We are allowed to get pissed when another 1st round exit happens then we have to forget everything and be all positive.
- ses111

pulock in, lubo out
nelson, lee, strome 1 year older, stronger, smarter

Free agency still 1 day away.

why are you getting so hot and bothered when not much has been done for most teams up until this point?

that was me, im solely responsible for that comment...i cant hide from the truth anymore
- LetsGoIsles

at least you have a good sense of humor

pulock in, lubo out
nelson, lee, strome 1 year older, stronger, smarter

Free agency still 1 day away.

why are you getting so hot and bothered when not much has been done for most teams up until this point?
- LetsGoIsles

Snow will make the necessary changes to the team. He's not going to stand still with the same current roster. If more salary can be shed, then there's more of a chance a better player could be obtained. Garth's 1st priority is locking up the kids......
- Ur Not Me

Snow isn't going to add another vet salary until (unless) he can shed Grabner and/or Nielsen's salaries. If he finds takers for those guys, Snow will have the maneuverability to add vets. Without moving those contracts, Snow can't add too much by way of UFA's. Good news is that both Nielsen and Grabs are off the books next year regardless of trades. they may not have value to trade until around the deadline.

pulock in, lubo out
nelson, lee, strome 1 year older, stronger, smarter

Free agency still 1 day away.

why are you getting so hot and bothered when not much has been done for most teams up until this point?
- LetsGoIsles

I cannot argue the points you and Vukota are making. I will chalk it up to too many 1st round loses and having Cappy back adds to the negative feelings. I know it's a different team. Hopefully everything works out in the end.