Honestly though, wtf is Barry supposed to do? They needed to kick the line up in the ass and shake it up. 3 injuries in the bottom 6 Ladd down in BP making 5 mil and Otto playing very well as of late, you gotta try something. With the results of the last 4 games you just can’t keep the same line up out there.

Now a trade would be great but honestly right now with what teams are asking for the top forwards is crazy.
- nyisles7

Barry can try Bellows and Otto in the same lineup. Using more young players would be doing something different.

Honestly though, wtf is Barry supposed to do? They needed to kick the line up in the ass and shake it up. 3 injuries in the bottom 6 Ladd down in BP making 5 mil and Otto playing very well as of late, you gotta try something. With the results of the last 4 games you just can’t keep the same line up out there.

Now a trade would be great but honestly right now with what teams are asking for the top forwards is crazy.
- nyisles7

I understand the roster is depleted, but shoe-horning Komarov into a top-six role makes no sense. He's not good at center, but the team can't score and now you're hampering one of the most productive lines with him. He'd do a lot less damage playing center on the third line. I don't understand that. Hell, Moonboggle has seen time on Barzal's line this year...why can't he play RW with 18/29?

And I don't really understand the Ladd call-up either, if I'm being honest.

Andrew Gross @AGrossNewsday
23s
Trotz says Brassard is day to day
- eichiefs9

So is Ladd

I understand the roster is depleted, but shoe-horning Komarov into a top-six role makes no sense. He's not good at center, but the team can't score and now you're hampering one of the most productive lines with him. He'd do a lot less damage playing center on the third line. I don't understand that. Hell, Moonboggle has seen time on Barzal's line this year...why can't he play RW with 18/29?

And I don't really understand the Ladd call-up either, if I'm being honest.
- eichiefs9

Meh, that line has been unproductive of late and has been bleeding goals against. Komarov can't score into an open net if he's standing in the crease, but at least he's one of the more defensively responsible forwards. Maybe he can at least stop the bleeding...

Meh, that line has been unproductive of late and has been bleeding goals against. Komarov can't score into an open net if he's standing in the crease, but at least he's one of the more defensively responsible forwards. Maybe he can at least stop the bleeding...
- JohnScammo

Kinda a worrisome approach for a team that's scored 2 goals in it's last 4 games

I understand the roster is depleted, but shoe-horning Komarov into a top-six role makes no sense. He's not good at center, but the team can't score and now you're hampering one of the most productive lines with him. He'd do a lot less damage playing center on the third line. I don't understand that. Hell, Moonboggle has seen time on Barzal's line this year...why can't he play RW with 18/29?

And I don't really understand the Ladd call-up either, if I'm being honest.
- eichiefs9

I think the Ladd call up is a shake up plan and simple. Otto the same thing. Gotta find something that works.

On the Leo complaint. Drop him to the 3rd line and you have 2 lines that are total question marks imho. You can’t play with two lines. Hell in the NHL today you need to roll out 4 lines so that move is just spreading out the wealth and or shat on the 4 lines. Honestly Leo has played very well and has been up on the forecheck and doing the right things not mention he pretty much has to be in there for the PK.
Now if Trots has him on the PP then you have a legitimate beef. That said Girls Club I’m ready for whatever you got.

Imagine the irony of a sell-off at the trade deadline

Kinda a worrisome approach for a team that's scored 2 goals in it's last 4 games
- keaner17

Anyone with any sort of offensive talent like Bellows needs to be playing right now.

Anyone with any sort of offensive talent like Bellows needs to be playing right now.
- ses111

Ho Sangs got talent, should he be up?

Ho Sangs got talent, should he be up?
- nyisles7

Maybe over someone like Ladd yes. At least he can skate.

https://twitter.com/haber...tatus/1230876639384539137

https://twitter.com/haber...tatus/1230876639384539137
- eichiefs9

Honestly though, wtf is Barry supposed to do? They needed to kick the line up in the ass and shake it up. 3 injuries in the bottom 6 Ladd down in BP making 5 mil and Otto playing very well as of late, you gotta try something. With the results of the last 4 games you just can’t keep the same line up out there.

Now a trade would be great but honestly right now with what teams are asking for the top forwards is crazy.
- nyisles7

I agree, however it's ALWAYS "crazy" for top forwards. Either you're invested to try and do some damage in the playoffs or not. That's why i still don't understand (if that's all Lou does) the Andy Greene deal. We've been saying they need help up front since they got swept out of the second round. I've seen other teams bring guys in, and while these aren't "top line" players, they would certainly be on THIS Isles group and help put the puck in the net. This refusal to part with assets because "the prices are insane", well other teams seem to have no problem importing talent. If the Isles miss the playoffs, it's squarely on (mis)management.

Ho Sangs got talent, should he be up?
- nyisles7

Not really a debate worth having, but Ho-Sang is toast and the isles share that blame for mind-(frank)ing him in the same way they were with Nino prior to dealing him.

Kinda a worrisome approach for a team that's scored 2 goals in it's last 4 games
- keaner17

Yeah, I'm not excited to see Leo in the top 6 role, but I'm not gonna lose sleep over it either. Nelson's line has been really bad of late and needs a shake up.

Not really a debate worth having, but Ho-Sang is toast and the isles share that blame for mind-(frank)ing him in the same way they were with Nino prior to dealing him.
- keaner17

I'm not a big fan of Ho-Sang but why did Lou allow him to come back if the Isles have no interest in giving him a look at the NHL level again? This Ho-Sang saga needs to end already.

http://www.tankathon.com/nhl
- JohnScammo

Devils have 3 1st rd picks? How did they get Vancouver's?

Devils have 3 1st rd picks? How did they get Vancouver's?
- Vukota

From Tampa, for Coleman. Was the pick from the JT Miller trade. It's conditional, too. It could end up falling to next year if VAN misses the playoffs, I think. Or something like that.

From Tampa, for Coleman. Was the pick from the JT Miller trade. It's conditional, too. It could end up falling to next year if VAN misses the playoffs, I think. Or something like that.
- eichiefs9

Gotcha

Devils have 3 1st rd picks? How did they get Vancouver's?
- Vukota

This division is tough enough.

Yeah, I'm not excited to see Leo in the top 6 role, but I'm not gonna lose sleep over it either. Nelson's line has been really bad of late and needs a shake up.
- JohnScammo

I said several games ago, if I were Barry, I would scramble every line and defensive pairing on the team. They haven't played good defensive system hockey in weeks and are overthinking the offensive play. Best way to counter that is take away their intuition/telegraphed play by putting them in combos where system play becomes first and foremost again.
Unfortunately, while these guys have proven they can play very good hockey when healthy, they've also proved they are far too shallow in terms of quality players. One to two injuries completely burries them. A guy Like Leo should have been a one-year plug-in play last year. He has no business seeing anything more than fourth-line minutes Yet here we are so shallow and helpless that we're sticking them on a second line.
Honestly at this point I'm not sure I want them to make an impactful trade. What's the point? There's nothing about this team's offensive play and goaltending that is suggested to me they'll survive more than a round in the playoffs.

I said several games ago, if I were Barry, I would scramble every line and defensive pairing in the team. They haven't played good defensive system hockey in weeks and are overthinking the offensive play. Best way to counter that is take away their intuition/telegraphed play by putting them in combos where system play becomes first and foremost again.
Unfortunately, while these guys have proven they can play very good hockey when healthy, they've also proved they are far to shallow in terms of quality players. One to two injuries completely burries them. A guy Like Leo should have been a one-year plug-in play last year. He has no business seeing anything more than fourth-line minutes Yet here we are so shallow and helpless that were sticking them on a second line.
Honestly at this point I'm not sure I want them to make an impactful trade. What's the point? There's nothing about this team's offensive play and goaltending that is suggested to me they'll survive more than a round in the playoffs.
- keaner17

I'd like to see them take a stab at swapping Lee and Beauvillier and see how that works out. Barzal and Beau have worked some magic together in the past.

I agree, however it's ALWAYS "crazy" for top forwards. Either you're invested to try and do some damage in the playoffs or not. That's why i still don't understand (if that's all Lou does) the Andy Greene deal. We've been saying they need help up front since they got swept out of the second round. I've seen other teams bring guys in, and while these aren't "top line" players, they would certainly be on THIS Isles group and help put the puck in the net. This refusal to part with assets because "the prices are insane", well other teams seem to have no problem importing talent. If the Isles miss the playoffs, it's squarely on (mis)management.
- Mancalledsting

So management should have known Brassard gets a puck in the mug

I said several games ago, if I were Barry, I would scramble every line and defensive pairing on the team. They haven't played good defensive system hockey in weeks and are overthinking the offensive play. Best way to counter that is take away their intuition/telegraphed play by putting them in combos where system play becomes first and foremost again.
Unfortunately, while these guys have proven they can play very good hockey when healthy, they've also proved they are far to shallow in terms of quality players. One to two injuries completely burries them. A guy Like Leo should have been a one-year plug-in play last year. He has no business seeing anything more than fourth-line minutes Yet here we are so shallow and helpless that were sticking them on a second line.
Honestly at this point I'm not sure I want them to make an impactful trade. What's the point? There's nothing about this team's offensive play and goaltending that is suggested to me they'll survive more than a round in the playoffs.
- keaner17

Hard to argue this keaner especially Leo being one year plug in play.

I'd like to see them take a stab at swapping Lee and Beauvillier and see how that works out. Barzal and Beau have worked some magic together in the past.
- eichiefs9

Barzal Beau and Bellows would have been nice to see.