Tavares is great, but he's nowhere in Trottier's league. Not even the same sport. Trottier is arguably the best two-way center in NHL history.
- isles10289

yeah, they all played Hockey...it was the same sport. Differnt,,,,,but the same sport.

He probably will never be on an NHL team for a full season... which would make it a terrible trade.
- niteislander

no-- it would still be a great trade!!! you cant evaluate a trade based on results. that part is easy!!! its working with the facts AT THE TIME of the trade. even if wishart never touches coliseum ice, i stand by my comment that AT THE TIME (and given the fact roli was leaving anyway-- and there were presumably no better offers) it was a great trade....because of the potential

With all of the JT rants, and don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

Would you trade him.....

Many greats have been traded and the teams have done very well. The Boston / Thorton deal comes to mind....

Anyone.
- bixll

I cannot see a possible scenario that would make sense. i can't see another team trading enough assets to make it worth while for the Isles and I cannot see another team trading enough assets that doesn't essentially cripple themselves. He's young and outstanding and if a conversation were to occur that started with the question "if you could start a franchise off from scratch and could have only one player, who would it be?" he'd be one of the main suggestions.

Gotcha. I think in regards to Duchene and Hedman, the sports media likes to make a story some times. To me, there wasn't ever a question, but it kept the drama alive.

Plus, people always want to hate the new kid that is being talked about. Every new top pick that comes along, at some point, some genius wants to talk about how he'll be a bust and no doubt, the old Alexandre Daigle reference pops out. You know, the can't miss superstar? But the thing is, and the thing I always point out is that the Alexandre Daigle reference is still Alexandre Daigle reference because he was the last bust of that magnitude and we're like 20 years removed. Scouting is different, they evaluate these kids on not only talent and all things hockey, but also on the mental makeup of kids... something Daigle had none of and Tavares is probably second only to Crosby. He's all business, all the time.

A fun Tavares related story for you. The New Years eve game at the WJC (the final game of the round robin) Canada comes from behind to beat the US after being down 3-0. After the game, everyone is excited, smiling and happy. Tavares wasn't. Our seats were right by the tunnel. Waiting to be interviewed, someone said to him something to the effect of "come on JT, smile. You guys won" and he calmly replied "we haven't won anything."

All busniess, all the time.

You build successful teams around guys like that, guys who don't settle. He's special, anyone who watched him with an unbiased eye or without an agenda would have told anyone the same.
- Lohaus

That makes sense. And down here the press is about all we have to go by.

Thats why I enjoy hearing 1st hand stories from guys like you and Bixll who live in Canada.


My daughter (who was at the game last nite) said JT never looks happy on or off the ice. Unless we SCORE! Or WIN! She see's it in him to.

Thanks LO, Go Sens

With all of the JT rants, and don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

Would you trade him..... Many greats have been traded and the teams have done very well. The Boston / Thorton deal comes to mind....

Anyone.
- bixll

Never. You can argue that there's no sigle player in the league that means more to the franchise than JT means to the Islanders. His superstardom might be what generates enough interest in this team to keep them here. There's no player in the league I would trade him for...none. Yes, I'm aware of how great Malkin and Stamkos are, but I wouldn't trade JT for either of them.

Never. You can argue that there's no sigle player in the league that means more to the franchise than JT means to the Islanders. His superstardom might be what generates enough interest in this team to keep them here. There's no player in the league I would trade him for...none. Yes, I'm aware of how great Malkin and Stamkos are, but I wouldn't trade JT for either of them.
- Charlie21

Yes! JT is just starting to come into his own right now. No one can put a price tag on him at this point. It's to early to assess his value on the market because at this time he's invaluable to the NY Islanders. He's getting better, game by game.

yeah, they all played Hockey...it was the same sport. Differnt,,,,,but the same sport.
- bixll

You're the one who is friends with Jon Sim right? If so next time you see him, tell him he still sucks

That makes sense. And down here the press is about all we have to go by.

Thats why I enjoy hearing 1st hand stories from guys like you and Bixll who live in Canada.


My daughter (who was at the game last nite) said JT never looks happy on or off the ice. Unless we SCORE! Or WIN! She see's it in him to.

Thanks LO, Go Sens

- SCLI

It is just because we have the oppurtunity to be around the players more because they live here. The kids are very focused, even at a young age.

I was in the Team Canada World Jr. dressing room when they played in Halifax. The team had their training camp in Antigonish, only 35 miles away. A client of my was placed in charge of taking care of the team, while they were in Antigonish.

The kids are very calm, confident and smaller than I expected. I had a chance to met guys like Flurey, Lupul, Richards, etc... the guys are great, giving their sticks to kids in teh stands. Wonderful to see. I spoke to the trainer and Danny Flynn about these kids while the practice was going on and they said the same thing. These kids were the kids in teh stands asking for sticks a couple of years ago. So, they give back......Small town kids.

You're the one who is friends with Jon Sim right? If so next time you see him, tell him he still sucks
- Vukota

Will do, he sends his best your way.

no-- it would still be a great trade!!! you cant evaluate a trade based on results. that part is easy!!! its working with the facts AT THE TIME of the trade. even if wishart never touches coliseum ice, i stand by my comment that AT THE TIME (and given the fact roli was leaving anyway-- and there were presumably no better offers) it was a great trade....because of the potential
- LetsGoIsles

If you say so.

Will do, he sends his best your way.
- bixll

With all of the JT rants, and don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

Would you trade him.....

Many greats have been traded and the teams have done very well. The Boston / Thorton deal comes to mind....

Anyone.
- bixll

You know how I feel about calling players untouchable. There is no such animal IMO.

In JT's case. If.... Hypothetically mind you. there was any thought to trade him. It would be foolish at this point in his career. He hasnt even gotten close to his potential yet. He's still learning the Pro Game and improving game by game. He's still growing. Maturing. Striving to be the best he can be. We dont know where that will be.

So whats a fair asking price? Whats a fair offer? Who knows at this point! I would venture to guess that we'll see JT's game well rounded out in another 2 - yrs or so.

Was thornton's game established when he was traded? Or did he continue to build on it?

You know how I feel about calling players untouchable. There is no such animal IMO.

In JT's case. If.... Hypothetically mind you. there was any thought to trade him. It would be foolish at this point in his career. He hasnt even gotten close to his potential yet. He's still learning the Pro Game and improving game by game. He's still growing. Maturing. Striving to be the best he can be. We dont know where that will be.

So whats a fair asking price? Whats a fair offer? Who knows at this point! I would venture to guess that we'll see JT's game well rounded out in another 2 - yrs or so.

Was thornton's game established when he was traded? Or did he continue to build on it?
- SCLI

Didn't Boston get hosed in that deal?

Didn't Boston get hosed in that deal?
- Vukota

November 30, 2005: Traded to San Jose by Boston for Brad Stuart, Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau


ya think? LOL

November 30, 2005: Traded to San Jose by Boston for Brad Stuart, Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau


ya think? LOL
- BringBackBalky

That's what I thought

It is just because we have the oppurtunity to be around the players more because they live here. The kids are very focused, even at a young age.

I was in the Team Canada World Jr. dressing room when they played in Halifax. The team had their training camp in Antigonish, only 35 miles away. A client of my was placed in charge of taking care of the team, while they were in Antigonish.

The kids are very calm, confident and smaller than I expected. I had a chance to met guys like Flurey, Lupul, Richards, etc... the guys are great, giving their sticks to kids in teh stands. Wonderful to see. I spoke to the trainer and Danny Flynn about these kids while the practice was going on and they said the same thing. These kids were the kids in teh stands asking for sticks a couple of years ago. So, they give back......Small town kids.
- bixll

Another story that I'll file into the Archives.

North American Hockey players are a breed unto themselves. They remember their roots. They are for the most part from close families. They seem to give back. They dont have a entitlement attitude like many Baseball, Basketball and Football players seem to have.

When I was at the local rink down here. Neil Smith was standing next to me talking to the folks and families. Relaxed, informal, a regular guy. I wouldnt even have noticed him had it not been for my buddy who told me to turn and look.

Whens the last time ARod or Albert P was seen rubbing elbows with the peasant folks?

Didn't Boston get hosed in that deal?
- Vukota

My point exactly.

How can you trade a guy when you dont know his ceiling.

But my question on Thornton was literal. I'm not sure where his game was when Boston trade him. Had he peaked???

Regardless. Boston did get raked over the coals.

Another story that I'll file into the Archives.

North American Hockey players are a breed unto themselves. They remember their roots. They are for the most part from close families. They seem to give back. They dont have a entitlement attitude like many Baseball, Basketball and Football players seem to have.

When I was at the local rink down here. Neil Smith was standing next to me talking to the folks and families. Relaxed, informal, a regular guy. I wouldnt even have noticed him had it not been for my buddy who told me to turn and look.

Whens the last time ARod or Albert P was seen rubbing elbows with the peasant folks?
- SCLI

are you really comparing Neil Smith to Arod or Albert Pujols???

I would not argue with that... but that doesn't mean he is a total bust if he continues to play in the NHL. I like to bring up guys like Manny Malholtra to people. He was supposed to be a top 6 forward and it never panned out. He is however a very solid bottom 6 guy. when people stopped expecting him to score a ton of goals he fit. I think much to our dismay.. this is where Bailey will end up. Personally I would like him on this team.. (The guy everyone wanted us to draft is not even in the NHL Filitov..fyi)
- niteislander

True, myself included. But if they didn't take Filatov, they could have taken Schenn, who is a far better d-man than Bailey is a forward. They also could have had Bailey in the middle of the first round. Bottom line is that Bailey was a reach pick at #9 overall. He was projected to go middle of the round. Forwards taken in the top ten of a draft should pan out to become top six forwards. Bailey is not on track to become a top six forward. I think that's why people label him a "bust". Bailey will be a third-line player in the NHL. Not what you want a player to become who was picked in the top ten of his draft.

My point exactly.

How can you trade a guy when you dont know his ceiling.

But my question on Thornton was literal. I'm not sure where his game was when Boston trade him. Had he peaked???

Regardless. Boston did get raked over the coals.
- SCLI

1997-98 18 BOS NHL 55 3 4 7
1998-99 19 BOS NHL 81 16 25 41
1999-00 20 BOS NHL 81 23 37 60
2000-01 21 BOS NHL 72 37 34 71
2001-02 22 BOS NHL 66 22 46 68
2002-03 23 BOS NHL 77 36 65 101
2003-04 24 BOS NHL 77 23 50 73
2005-06 26 BOS NHL 23 9 24 33
2005-06 26 SJS NHL 58 20 72 92

A) never said HE was going to be great

-- let me clarify then, the potential and intangiblesthat wishart has (as opposed to what roloson was going to do for us IE finish out the season and than walk away) is what made that trade great.

Great IE a lot more upside than what roloson was going to provide the organization
- LetsGoIsles

I don't think trading away a #1 goaltender, which is what Roloson was on the Isles, for a tall, lanky, non-physical d-man who can't make the NHL is a "great" trade just because Roloson was going to walk at the end of the year. Getting Wishart for Roli is certainly better than getting nothing at all, but that doesn't mean the deal was "great".

My point exactly.

How can you trade a guy when you dont know his ceiling.

But my question on Thornton was literal. I'm not sure where his game was when Boston trade him. Had he peaked???

Regardless. Boston did get raked over the coals.
- SCLI

He was entering his prime. I think he was like 25 or 26 at the time.

With all of the JT rants, and don't get me wrong, I am a fan.

Would you trade him.....

Many greats have been traded and the teams have done very well. The Boston / Thorton deal comes to mind....

Anyone.
- bixll

I wouldn't trade JT for anyone right now, and not because JT is the best player in the league. He isn't. But he's the best thing for the Isles right now. He's excited a dormant fan base. He's 21 years old and getting exponentially better every year. And, contrary to the geniouses who post here and the Canadian and hockey media, JT actually appears to like it on Long Island, or at least be willing to give the organization time and a legitimate chance to build a contender around him before thinking about moving on to another team. Those intangibles make him the perfect fit for the Isles. So, while there are better players around the league than JT, I wouldn't want any of them on this team right now over JT.

My point exactly.

How can you trade a guy when you dont know his ceiling.

But my question on Thornton was literal. I'm not sure where his game was when Boston trade him. Had he peaked???

Regardless. Boston did get raked over the coals.
- SCLI

I'll also say that at the time, the marriage was clearly over. He had another sub par playoff (this time he was actually injured and played through it) and he got thrown under the bus by the organization.

no-- it would still be a great trade!!! you cant evaluate a trade based on results. that part is easy!!! its working with the facts AT THE TIME of the trade. even if wishart never touches coliseum ice, i stand by my comment that AT THE TIME (and given the fact roli was leaving anyway-- and there were presumably no better offers) it was a great trade....because of the potential
- LetsGoIsles

I respectfully disagree.