I certainly hope they are, but I don't see them as impact players, not yet. Good potential, but not sure how they're seen around the league.

this rumor is garbage. If the Isles were targetting a big time UFA dman, they won't be able to sign him until July 1st unless they trade something for his rights. To say they're also going to trade for another defenseman to flip to Edmonton is just silly. They don't have enough offense to give up unless it's a prospect they want to move. To give up a good prospect to get a 4-5 defenseman to then flip him to the Oilers...how would that be anywhere near enough for edmonton to trade out of the #1 spot?

Just makes no sense. If the Isles do trade someone off their roster to swap picks with the Oilers, how does this entice a UFA defenseman to sign there when a number of them already turned them down? They need to add something of substance to their roster, not deal established players for unproven young talent.

The Oilers aren't going to drop spots if they don't get blown away by an offer, they're not picking 5th, it's 1st overall. Those picks very very rarely ever get moved.

Remember the package for Lindros? Even if this year's first is worth half that value the Isles can't afford to pay it.
- Isles_since_6

Judging by the last time the 1st was traded (Florida, 2003):

Traded 1st overall(Fleury) and 73rd overall (carcillo) for 3rd overall (Horton) and 55th overall (Stefan Meyer) and Mikael Samuelsson.

And the fact that it's going down the 4th pick as opposed to the 3rd, an equal value package would be:

NYI Receives
1st
LA's 3rd

Edmonton Receives
4th
Andrew MacDonald
NYI 2nd (this year or next)

If I'm Tambs, I don't pull the trigger on that.

More likely the Isles will be trading some of those prospects and picks for an ALREADY signed top tier d-man from a team that has cash issues. After they get shot down by Suter and everyone else.
- niteislander

I think the Oil will be in the same boat. Looking around the league I think dmen are going to be over paid this off season.

My source tells me the Isles are targeting a UFA d-man to fill their void. A very big time UFA d-man.

Cory Sarich!?

Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Kabanov, DeHaan, Mayfield, Poulin, Nillson, Nino, Cizikas, ...none of these are high end prospects?
- niteislander

didnt nino get 1pt in 55 games?

Mr. Bettman, Goldwater on line two.

Why would St. Louis trade away a stud dman? Who would it be anyways? Pietrangelo(sp) isnt going anywhere and I cant see shatty getting moved either...
- Oilfan19

The blues can't be happy with their finish to a great end of the regular season. Dropping 4 straight to LA didn't show them glaring holes in their defense it showed them that they need to bring in a forward or two that can get on the score board. Their assets are dmen and an extra goalie as Jake Allen could probably back up Elliot next year. You only need 4 good dmen, you need 6 good forwards. The rest are role fillers.

Giroux....1 game suspension

didnt nino get 1pt in 55 games?
- dmarsden2988

If he didn't highlight Nino i don't think I would have brought it up.

didnt nino get 1pt in 55 games?
- dmarsden2988

He was an offensive juggernaut!

He was an offensive juggernaut!
- SCLI

If this 7-year restriction on movement for PHX is true, the I feel sorry for the poor rube being fleeced on this deal. The Cyotes can win the cup this year and the next and they still wouldn't be a financially viable franchise. Just move them to QC now, and avoid the embarrasment later.

Giroux....1 game suspension
- Symba007

Cue the Eklund blog about why the NHL isn't fair and they are out to get Philly since Holmgren, Giroux and Read didn't get nominated for any awards

isnt this the EXACT definition of what a prospect is???
- LetsGoIsles

they're not erik karlson outside of the NHL impact prospects. These are kids projected to play around the 2nd to 3rd line for the forwards, and maybe 3-4th defensemen. So no, I don't see these as elite prospects.

- niteislander

All you can do is or

If this 7-year restriction on movement for PHX is true, the I feel sorry for the poor rube being fleeced on this deal. The Cyotes can win the cup this year and the next and they still wouldn't be a financially viable franchise. Just move them to QC now, and avoid the embarrasment later.
- lacaprup

It would sure put my mind at ease.

If this 7-year restriction on movement for PHX is true, the I feel sorry for the poor rube being fleeced on this deal. The Cyotes can win the cup this year and the next and they still wouldn't be a financially viable franchise. Just move them to QC now, and avoid the embarrasment later.
- lacaprup

I agree, even with the tax breaks the city is offering I would be surprised if the deal is announced with anything larger than a 2 year restriction. That was the number they gave out last year. Unless someone is cool with losing money just to get invited to the owner meetings.

Eklund: Coyotes Deal Will Keep Them in Phoenix..Fro Now... More On Isles/Oilers
- Eklund

no giroux suspension blog?

Cue the Eklund blog about why the NHL isn't fair and they are out to get Philly since Holmgren, Giroux and Read didn't get nominated for any awards
- Alcatraz

i was surprised he was suspended, star player and weber didnt get suspended for something worse and well there were worst cases in the pens-flyers series that didnt get called or werent given the length they should have (neal, malkin)

it was a late hit and to the head which is a suspendable act, but there have been worse let go

either way devils still need to finish off the series

i was surprised he was suspended, star player and weber didnt get suspended for something worse and well there were worst cases in the pens-flyers series that didnt get called or werent given the length they should have (neal, malkin)

it was a late hit and to the head which is a suspendable act, but there have been worse let go

either way devils still need to finish off the series
- dmarsden2988

He just yelled at the ref right before he made the hit too. It was extremely obvious it was in retaliation for what just happened. I am not saying I agree with the suspension but b/c he screamed at ref and then made the hit it was VERY hard to argue it was unintentional.

i was surprised he was suspended, star player and weber didnt get suspended for something worse and well there were worst cases in the pens-flyers series that didnt get called or werent given the length they should have (neal, malkin)

it was a late hit and to the head which is a suspendable act, but there have been worse let go

either way devils still need to finish off the series
- dmarsden2988

It's because he was skating around pissed off chirping at the refs, playing chippy on the shift before the hit. He was obviously incensed about whatever it was he felt the refs missed (I can't remember what it was), and then he goes and hits Zubrus late and in the head.

It's because he was skating around pissed off chirping at the refs, playing chippy on the shift before the hit. He was obviously incensed about whatever it was he felt the refs missed (I can't remember what it was), and then he goes and hits Zubrus late and in the head.
- eichiefs9

Everyone seems to think he was mad at the fact he got hit but that wasnt it at all. Just after that brodure fumbled the puck which left the trapezoid. Brodure then played the puck which should have eneded up in a call that never came. It wasnt a good hit but much worse has been let go. There were 3 or 4 shots to the head in the flyers pens series one or 2 knocking grossman out for a few game and another the other night with alex ovi jumping and hitting the head first with no calls.

Hockey is working in the desert.

It's amazing what winning will do for a team
- bruinsbeer69

remember when minnesota lost their team

big time UFA D-Man in your future, enjoy
- watsonnostaw

We'll enjoy it in our dreams.
Garth will not break the rebuild mold. Eks comments do not make any sense
why would the isles engage with a third team because they are Targeting a "big time UFA" ....they could make an offer themselves and throw a boatload like they attempted to do last year for Ernhoff.

Go after Oduya, maybe Carle and see what happens

Brock Nelson, Anders Lee, Kabanov, DeHaan, Mayfield, Poulin, Nillson, Nino, Cizikas, ...none of these are high end prospects?
- niteislander

No, not really considered high end prospects by anywhere that I read. Nelson has gotten some decent press. Nino you cannot consider a high end prospect after last year even though that was Capuano's and Snow's fault as far as I'm concerned. I like Cizikas but high end prospect at this point is not an accurate description. Anders Lee is not anhigh end prospect. Kabanov, I think you know enoguh I don't have to tell you he isn't. DeHaan is NOT a high end prospect, what has he done to say any differently. Poulin, OK, Maybe but debatable ? Mayfield, no. I like some of our prospects but I wouldn't consider any of them high end. When you say high end I'm thinking first line, maybe second line or first pairing MAYBE second pairing. Do you look at third line or third pairing Dmen and consider them High end? Not being sarcastic, serious question.