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

Agreed....and Vanek is really a bad fit in Minnesota, which makes it worse. It's clear he went there because he wanted to live there, which is a dumb reason to do anything unless you don't give a sh*t, in my opinion. You can live there for the rest of your life when you retire; if the team's style isn't a fit for what you do, there's really no point in being there. He is not a two-way player- he can fake defense, but his heart isn't in it, and his scoring suffers when he's asked to do it game in and out. On this team, with JT, he'd have potted 40 last year, but we wouldn't have at least one of those defensemen, and we'd have been mediocre again. Better off without him...

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

Snow isn't afraid to make a move- some are going to be sh*t. As long as the ratio is significantly positive, you live with the occasional stinker. I'll take that any day after years of watching Milbury do one stupid thing after another.

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

You think Cappy is going to play a rookie in Pulock over Strait? Not sure I agree. Maybe for a little while, but at the very least I'd say they'll split time, with Strait drawing in when it really counts. Your top-six will likely be:

Leddy-Boychuk
Strait-Hamonic
Hickey-deHaan

I can see Cappy envisioning deHaan as the natural replacement for Vis on the bottom pair...a puck-mover to pair with Hickey. Pulock and Mayfield will be extras that will have to fight tooth and nail for every minute of ice time they get, and will not be afforded the same leniency as Strait and Hickey to make mistakes.

Snow isn't afraid to make a move- some are going to be sh*t. As long as the ratio is significantly positive, you live with the occasional stinker. I'll take that any day after years of watching Milbury do one stupid thing after another.
- dcb1

Yeah, I'd find it hard to really complain about a whole lot Snow has done lately.

/waits for comment about Cappy

Yeah, I'd find it hard to really complain about a whole lot Snow has done lately.

/waits for comment about Cappy


- eichiefs9

It's the elephant in the room, even if the HB Isles Mob casually dismisses it.

It's the elephant in the room, even if the HB Isles Mob casually dismisses it.
- UIF

Indeed. A huge elephant.

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.
- eichiefs9

Agreed.

You think Cappy is going to play a rookie in Pulock over Strait? Not sure I agree. Maybe for a little while, but at the very least I'd say they'll split time, with Strait drawing in when it really counts. Your top-six will likely be:

Leddy-Boychuk
Strait-Hamonic
Hickey-deHaan

I can see Cappy envisioning deHaan as the natural replacement for Vis on the bottom pair...a puck-mover to pair with Hickey. Pulock and Mayfield will be extras that will have to fight tooth and nail for every minute of ice time they get, and will not be afforded the same leniency as Strait and Hickey to make mistakes.
- UIF

Pulock and/or Mayfield are going to either be in the NHL or be in Bridgeport. Snow isn't going to a) destroy BPT's team by leaving Pulock and Mayfield to rot for 2/3 of the season in the Isles' press box and b) waste a year of letting those two develop by doing the same thing.

I'm not saying that Pulock will never sit a game here and there, but if he isn't a starting defenseman most of the time then he'll be back in BPT playing top pairing minutes. Same goes for Mayfield.

It's good to be back, Vukota.
- eichiefs9

(frank) off

Yeah, I'd find it hard to really complain about a whole lot Snow has done lately.

/waits for comment about Cappy


- eichiefs9

Not talking about the coaching this summer. I've made that decision and its given me a measure of peace.

Pulock and/or Mayfield are going to either be in the NHL or be in Bridgeport. Snow isn't going to a) destroy BPT's team by leaving Pulock and Mayfield to rot for 2/3 of the season in the Isles' press box and b) waste a year of letting those two develop by doing the same thing.

I'm not saying that Pulock will never sit a game here and there, but if he isn't a starting defenseman most of the time then he'll be back in BPT playing top pairing minutes. Same goes for Mayfield.
- eichiefs9

If Pulock isn't given significant pp time then they'd be losing a huge weapon. I don't see him sitting unless he's struggling defensively

If Pulock isn't given significant pp time then they'd be losing a huge weapon. I don't see him sitting unless he's struggling defensively
- Isles_since_6

What would you consider "significant"?

I don't think he's going to play first unit PP minutes. I think he'll probably get a spin with the 2nd unit.

It's the elephant in the room, even if the HB Isles Mob casually dismisses it.
- UIF

I just can't help dreading the idea that we're going to waste this coming season figuring out the emperor is naked.

I just can't help dreading the idea that we're going to waste this coming season figuring out the emperor is naked.
- dcb1

Hate to waste another great season from JT. Garth did a great job at the draft, but these players are at least 3 years away most likely. Really hope the current team is improved this offseason.

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.
- Jethro09

Hodgson is still on the team and grigorenko has no bearing on the outcome of their season though I agree theyre a better team the issue I have is at what cost and how beneficial is it for the future?

Hodgson is still on the team and grigorenko has no bearing on the outcome of their season though I agree theyre a better team the issue I have is at what cost and how beneficial is it for the future?
- Cptmjl

I could have sworn I read last night that they were buying out Hodgson

I could have sworn I read last night that they were buying out Hodgson
- eichiefs9

They are. Waived yesterday for that purpose.

It's good to be back, Vukota.
- eichiefs9

What would you consider "significant"?

I don't think he's going to play first unit PP minutes. I think he'll probably get a spin with the 2nd unit.
- eichiefs9

It all depends what they do tomorrow. If they get a veteran, and Hickey is here, the bottom rung is going to be him and Strait with Mayfield, and one of those three in the Donovan role. Unless Pulock comes in during his cup of coffee and tears sh*t up, he won't even be here most of the year....which would be better than Snow not doing anything before camp, and having Pulock here sitting in the seats every night. This is why I hope he brings in another vet who can play.

I could have sworn I read last night that they were buying out Hodgson
- eichiefs9

It was discussed dont think it happened yet? July first. What did u get banned for?

It was discussed dont think it happened yet? July first. What did u get banned for?
- Cptmjl

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 22h22 hours ago
Richards (LA), Parenteau (MTL), Fistric (ANA) all clear unconditional waivers. Cody Hodgson (BUF) and Viktor Stalberg (NSH) on unconditional

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

"We'll dip our toes in, but if nothing comes of it, we like our group," Snow said Friday during the draft.

And why not? Working with our brilliant coaches, this group managed a first round exit from the playoffs. Does it get any better?

"We'll dip our toes in, but if nothing comes of it, we like our group," Snow said Friday during the draft.

And why not? Working with our brilliant coaches, this group managed a first round exit from the playoffs. Does it get any better?
- JohnScammo

Tough to read those comments.

Yeah, I'd find it hard to really complain about a whole lot Snow has done lately.

/waits for comment about Cappy
- eichiefs9

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 22h22 hours ago
Richards (LA), Parenteau (MTL), Fistric (ANA) all clear unconditional waivers. Cody Hodgson (BUF) and Viktor Stalberg (NSH) on unconditional
- UIF

/in before all the PA/Chuck Norris posts