What was his fault? Trading that 2nd rd pick for Boychuk? Yeah he gambled on the vanek trade and lost the 1st but stealing Boychuk & Leddy more then made up for it
- Vukota

That second round pick was also part of the vanek trade. 21, 51, and moulson for Vanek. Clear loss in that trade for the islanders. Ever since that Vanek trade he's done a great job tho.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/garth-snow-working-on-deals-for-islanders-thomas-hickey-anders-lee-sources-confirm-1.10593235?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Some of you might want to skip over the part where he says the deal for Hickey is 3 years for a little over 6 million
- Vukota

This is almost what could've been if aMac signed that contract. The loyalty management has for some players is dumb.

That second round pick was also part of the vanek trade. 21, 51, and moulson for Vanek. Clear loss in that trade for the islanders. Ever since that Vanek trade he's done a great job tho.
- Djtyczy

looks kinda rough when you lay it out this way:

Brendan Lemieux
Joel Armia
Drew Stafford
Tyler Myers
2015 1st round pick
Mikhail Grigorenko
31st overall
Nikita Zadorov
JT Compher
21st pick

to buffalo

o'reilly
mcginn
lehner
legwand
Jason Kasdorf
Zach Bogosian
Evander Kane

looks kinda rough when you lay it out this way:

Brendan Lemieux
Joel Armia
Drew Stafford
Tyler Myers
2015 1st round pick
Mikhail Grigorenko
31st overall
Nikita Zadorov
JT Compher
21st pick

to buffalo

o'reilly
mcginn
lehner
legwand
Jason Kasdorf
Zach Bogosian
Evander Kane
- Isles_since_6

Thats some unusual rebuild. Their fans seem to love it but Murray could fart and all of them would talk about how sweet that fart smells. Ive never seen a fan base more unjustifiably loyal to someone. What exactly has Murray done thats been so wonderful? His moves have been questionable at best and on paper it doesnt look good. Who knows hockey is a funny sport and chemistry could make any prediction wrong but I have a hard time seeing whats so wonderful about that team all of a sudden and what exactly Murray did thats so earth shattering? They all talk about Kane and O'reilly like they're a couple of elite super stars and Bogosian is a first pairing defenseman. A lot of them have used that exact description on their thread.

Thats some unusual rebuild. Their fans seem to love it but Murray could fart and all of them would talk about how sweet that fart smells. Ive never seen a fan base more unjustifiably loyal to someone. What exactly has Murray done thats been so wonderful? His moves have been questionable at best and on paper it doesnt look good. Who knows hockey is a funny sport and chemistry could make any prediction wrong but I have a hard time seeing whats so wonderful about that team all of a sudden and what exactly Murray did thats so earth shattering? They all talk about Kane and O'reilly like they're a couple of elite super stars and Bogosian is a first pairing defenseman. A lot of them have used that exact description on their thread.
- Cptmjl

Homerism, that's the problem with most fanbases. Don't get me wrong, the team has changed its players but they still have to perform. I like Kane & ROR but the reality is that there best player could be Eichel.

Homerism, that's the problem with most fanbases. Don't get me wrong, the team has changed its players but they still have to perform. I like Kane & ROR but the reality is that there best player could be Eichel.
- Ur Not Me

Eichel alone PROBABLY makes them a better team. Dont get me wrong theyve improved but Lehner? Thats a very big maybe there for a first rd pick and slary dump. Also I like Kane but the guy cant stay healthy at 23 and hes no super star. Theyre all set to sign ROR to a seven yr 60 million dollar contract. I like ror but in what world is that a good idea and why would anyone be happy about it?

Thats some unusual rebuild. Their fans seem to love it but Murray could fart and all of them would talk about how sweet that fart smells. Ive never seen a fan base more unjustifiably loyal to someone. What exactly has Murray done thats been so wonderful? His moves have been questionable at best and on paper it doesnt look good. Who knows hockey is a funny sport and chemistry could make any prediction wrong but I have a hard time seeing whats so wonderful about that team all of a sudden and what exactly Murray did thats so earth shattering. They all talk about Kane and O'reilly like they're a couple of elite super stars and Bogosian is a first pairing defenseman. A lot of them have used that exact description on their thread.
- Cptmjl

Eh, I'd be excited too going from last overall to the current lineup. I agree they've taken some big risks...and it better pay off because it's either going to be the fastest retooling in the NHL or a spectacular failure...but the risks are mostly with young NHLers they can build around. It's not like they dumped their prospects for a bunch of 30 year olds. I think it looks better when you lay it out something like this instead:

Moulson-O'Reilly-Girgensons
Kane-Eichel-Ennis
Legwand-Reinhart-Gionta
Foligno-Larsson-McGinn

D is a bit more rough...not sure who's in there beyond Bogosian, Gorges , Ristolainen, Pysyk and Maybe Weber.

And they still have a couple of decent/good prospects beyond the ones in the lineup above...Bailey, McCabe, a couple of goalies...probably others.

I don't like all of the deals they've made, but they've been a damn entertaining offseason team so far.

Eh, I'd be excited too going from last overall to the current lineup. I agree they've taken some big risks...and it better pay off because it's either going to be the fastest retooling in the NHL or a spectacular failure...but the risks are mostly with young NHLers they can build around. It's not like they dumped their prospects for a bunch of 30 year olds. I think it looks better when you lay it out something like this instead:

Moulson-O'Reilly-Girgensons
Kane-Eichel-Ennis
Legwand-Reinhart-Gionta
Foligno-Larsson-McGinn

D is a bit more rough...not sure who's in there beyond Bogosian, Gorges , Ristolainen, Pysyk and Maybe Weber.

And they still have a couple of decent/good prospects beyond the ones in the lineup above...Bailey, McCabe, a couple of goalies...probably others.

I don't like all of the deals they've made, but they've been a damn entertaining offseason team so far.
- UIF

not sure Sam C that 3rd line or even makes the team this upcoming year. Legwand is/will be the 3C for 1 more year

Eh, I'd be excited too going from last overall to the current lineup. I agree they've taken some big risks...and it better pay off because it's either going to be the fastest retooling in the NHL or a spectacular failure...but the risks are mostly with young NHLers they can build around. It's not like they dumped their prospects for a bunch of 30 year olds. I think it looks better when you lay it out something like this instead:

Moulson-O'Reilly-Girgensons
Kane-Eichel-Ennis
Legwand-Reinhart-Gionta
Foligno-Larsson-McGinn

D is a bit more rough...not sure who's in there beyond Bogosian, Gorges , Ristolainen, Pysyk and Maybe Weber.

And they still have a couple of decent/good prospects beyond the ones in the lineup above...Bailey, McCabe, a couple of goalies...probably others.

I don't like all of the deals they've made, but they've been a damn entertaining offseason team so far.
- UIF

Agreed. Up front they look MUCH better but their back end is scary bad imo. Zadarov was imo one of their better players on the back end imo and young and developing on top of it. Though ive always been a fan of Bogosian the guy was a healthy scratch in Winnipeg a bunch of times hes not a first pairing defenseman on any team. Guy looks for the big hit and historically takes himself out of the play which in turn makes him a turnstile at times. He did it in winnipeg and when he got to the sabres we saw the same thing. I get most of these guys are young but down the road youre going to have these over paid guys with zero entry level contracts to fall back on which is not the most favorable thing for a rebuilding team. It screams impatience and that very well may bite Murray in the arse.

High risk high reward like you said but I cant see how big the reward will be with this present line up? Like I said earlier you never know these guys can find chemistry and who knows but if I were a fan of the Sabres I wouldnt exactly be rejoicing id be just a little nervous about what we gave up to try and speed things up.

Eichel alone PROBABLY makes them a better team. Dont get me wrong theyve improved but Lehner? Thats a very big maybe there for a first rd pick and slary dump. Also I like Kane but the guy cant stay healthy at 23 and hes no super star. Theyre all set to sign ROR to a seven yr 60 million dollar contract. I like ror but in what world is that a good idea and why would anyone be happy about it?
- Cptmjl

From last season, BUF definitely improved greatly. Eichel, Kane and ROR alone make that team much better. From reading some of the pieces on them, moving Grigorenko and Hodgson is addition by subtraction. They'll be markedly better in the standing this season as opposed to last, although that isn't saying much. But its better to improve than to regress.

What was his fault? Trading that 2nd rd pick for Boychuk? Yeah he gambled on the vanek trade and lost the 1st but stealing Boychuk & Leddy more then made up for it
- Vukota

Snow's track record over the years for making deals is pretty solid. Vanek is the only deal I think he'd like a do-over on. Seeing some of the other trades that have gone down, I'm more than happy with what Snow has done. Granted, it took a while for him to start making deals, but patience is a virtue, I guess.

What was his fault? Trading that 2nd rd pick for Boychuk? Yeah he gambled on the vanek trade and lost the 1st but stealing Boychuk & Leddy more then made up for it
- Vukota

Snow's track record over the years for making deals is pretty solid. Vanek is the only deal I think he'd like a do-over on (although Vanek rejecting Snow's contract extension offer turned out to be a God-send, as was A-Mac's contract rejection). Seeing some of the other trades that have gone down, I'm more than happy with what Snow has done. Granted, it took a while for him to start making deals, but patience is a virtue, I guess.

Snow's track record over the years for making deals is pretty solid. Vanek is the only deal I think he'd like a do-over on (although Vanek rejecting Snow's contract extension offer turned out to be a God-send, as was A-Mac's contract rejection). Seeing some of the other trades that have gone down, I'm more than happy with what Snow has done. Granted, it took a while for him to start making deals, but patience is a virtue, I guess.
- Jethro09

A lot of Buffalo fans seem unnaturally obsessed with the Vanek deal. It seems that almost anyone that comes in here feels the need to remind us that Snow botched that one, as if we spend 3hrs a day here justifying why that was a good move.

Agreed. Up front they look MUCH better but their back end is scary bad imo. Zadarov was imo one of their better players on the back end imo and young and developing on top of it. Though ive always been a fan of Bogosian the guy was a healthy scratch in Winnipeg a bunch of times hes not a first pairing defenseman on any team. Guy looks for the big hit and historically takes himself out of the play which in turn makes him a turnstile at times. He did it in winnipeg and when he got to the sabres we saw the same thing. I get most of these guys are young but down the road youre going to have these over paid guys with zero entry level contracts to fall back on which is not the most favorable thing for a rebuilding team. It screams impatience and that very well may bite Murray in the arse.

High risk high reward like you said but I cant see how big the reward will be with this present line up? Like I said earlier you never know these guys can find chemistry and who knows but if I were a fan of the Sabres I wouldnt exactly be rejoicing id be just a little nervous about what we gave up to try and speed things up.
- Cptmjl

The thing I'd be most concerned about is the mental make-up of the team. Kane's had drama and issues, Bogosian, as you said, hasn't always been the most consistent, and ROR...it seems like he's always holding out for more money, although he at least appears to be a solid team guy and really hard worker once the puck drops. And that's your most talented vet leadership for the kids. Maybe that's a reason why you move Zadorov and Grigorenko, who have both had some issues of their own. The young players they have left seem to approach the game the right way.

And yeah, I'd be really nervous as a Sabres fan that this all doesn't work out. But I'd also be enjoying the hell out of the ride right now. Much more so than if I was a Boston fan!

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/garth-snow-working-on-deals-for-islanders-thomas-hickey-anders-lee-sources-confirm-1.10593235?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Some of you might want to skip over the part where he says the deal for Hickey is 3 years for a little over 6 million
- Vukota

Interesting re Viz...I was under impression they were just parting ways....but seems Garth made him an offer he clearly turned down. I liked Viz but I think its time for the change and bring in another veteran D-man. Wonder how Brian Campbell would look on our PP......haven't seen him play in awhile.

Interesting re Viz...I was under impression they were just parting ways....but seems Garth made him an offer he clearly turned down. I liked Viz but I think its time for the change and bring in another veteran D-man. Wonder how Brian Campbell would look on our PP......haven't seen him play in awhile.
- Nolanders

I'd rather have Pulock on the roster than Vis. At least with Pulock, a kid who doesn't have a significant concussion history, you get someone who is going to bring some heat from the back end on the PP, learn and develop. Vis is what he is at this point, only getting slower and more injury-prone.

I'd rather have Pulock on the roster than Vis. At least with Pulock a kid who doesn't have a significant concussion history is going to bring some heat from the back end on the PP, learn and develop. Vis is what he is at this point, only getting slower and more injury-prone.
- Jethro09

Staple did mention last night on twitter that, so far, it doesn't appear that Visnovsky will be with the team next year.

Strait will be the 7th defenseman and, at least to start the year, Mayfield seems to be the logical #8 guy that will have to bus-in from BPT if there is more than one defenseman injured.

A lot of Buffalo fans seem unnaturally obsessed with the Vanek deal. It seems that almost anyone that comes in here feels the need to remind us that Snow botched that one, as if we spend 3hrs a day here justifying why that was a good move.
- eichiefs9

The Vanek deal was Darcy Regier's parting salvo to BUF. The last good thing he did for them before being canned. Hey, BUF fleeced the Isles in that deal. They got #21 overall this year and Moulson for a guy they weren't going to keep and who's game appears to be sliding anyway. It was a good deal for BUF. But I'm glad that Vanek said "no" to the Isles. I actually think the deal would have turned out even worse for the Isles if they kept Vanek and he signed that stupid 7 yr, $49M offer, which I admit I wanted to happen at the time. Divine intervention must have kicked in. Without Vanek saying "no", I don't know if one or both of Boychuk and Leddy would be Isles and one or both of Grabo & Kuli most certanly wouldn't be.

The Vanek deal was Darcy Regier's parting salvo to BUF. The last good thing he did for them before being canned. Hey, BUF fleeced the Isles in that deal. They got #21 overall this year and Moulson for a guy they weren't going to keep and who's game appears to be sliding anyway. It was a good deal for BUF. But I'm glad that Vanek said "no" to the Isles. I actually think the deal would have turned out even worse for the Isles if they kept Vanek and he signed that stupid 7 yr, $49M offer, which I admit I wanted to happen at the time. Divine intervention must have kicked in. Without Vanek saying "no", I don't know if one or both of Boychuk and Leddy would be Isles and one or both of Grabo & Kuli most certanly wouldn't be.
- Jethro09

Vanek and Boyle spurning our contract offers turned out to be two of the most significantly positive things that ever happened to the Islanders, in recent history.

I'd rather have Pulock on the roster than Vis. At least with Pulock, a kid who doesn't have a significant concussion history, you get someone who is going to bring some heat from the back end on the PP, learn and develop. Vis is what he is at this point, only getting slower and more injury-prone.
- Jethro09

For sure want Pulock with the club.....just knowing Garth offered up to Viz tells me a vet may still be brought in.....

A lot of Buffalo fans seem unnaturally obsessed with the Vanek deal. It seems that almost anyone that comes in here feels the need to remind us that Snow botched that one, as if we spend 3hrs a day here justifying why that was a good move.
- eichiefs9

Maybe its because its the only thing they have won since they came into the league? Just thinking out loud

Staple did mention last night on twitter that, so far, it doesn't appear that Visnovsky will be with the team next year.

Strait will be the 7th defenseman and, at least to start the year, Mayfield seems to be the logical #8 guy that will have to bus-in from BPT if there is more than one defenseman injured.
- eichiefs9

And unless we sign or trade for a clear upgrade to the starting six, I don't see a point to signing another bottom pairing healthy scratch defenseman.

Maybe its because its the only thing they have won since they came into the league? Just thinking out loud
- Vukota

It's good to be back, Vukota.

And unless we sign or trade for a clear upgrade to the starting six, I don't see a point to signing another bottom pairing healthy scratch defenseman.
- Isles_since_6

At this point I don't even know if I want to sign a defenseman. (I also don't think we will)

Pulock is the one that's going to get shafted if we sign someone, and I'd really like to see what he's got.

All I know is a can't wait to see the box scores with
'' Ho Sang- Tavares- A Song''