Ben Shelley: Devon Toews deserves an increased role

Nice write up Ben.

I believe Toews will make the next step this year and be in the top 4. If Leddy is still here, Toews may leapfrog Pelech.

Nice write up Ben.

I believe Toews will make the next step this year and be in the top 4. If Leddy is still here, Toews may leapfrog Pelech.
- David_Volek

Thank you!

I agree the natural step would be for Toews to take over a larger role from Pelech, just going to have to be earned based on how reliable Pelech has become.

Ben, I always read and enjoy your blogs. I've been a LONGTIME Isles fan, and this is a great problem to have ! It's been...forever since we've had this issue lol. Weather or not Toews gets his ice time, it won't be an issue...unless Hickey is getting more

Good problems to have. All this talk about Leddy (kiddy up) but Boychuck is something like 35 and prone to injury so that will provide playing time. Hopefully Lou does not look to a Sbisa type again,and if pressed they can go to Tigers for support. Dobson should go to Europe (he spent a year in Switzerland) pre QHL so that might be his best option to play against men. Thanks Ben.

Good problems to have. All this talk about Leddy (kiddy up) but Boychuck is something like 35 and prone to injury so that will provide playing time. Hopefully Lou does not look to a Sbisa type again,and if pressed they can go to Tigers for support. Dobson should go to Europe (he spent a year in Switzerland) pre QHL so that might be his best option to play against men. Thanks Ben.
- Leo_Union

Play a year in Switzerland??? If by Switzerland you mean Uniondale then yeah.

Ben, I always read and enjoy your blogs. I've been a LONGTIME Isles fan, and this is a great problem to have ! It's been...forever since we've had this issue lol. Weather or not Toews gets his ice time, it won't be an issue...unless Hickey is getting more
- cdn_Isles_fan

I appreciate that, thank you! No doubt it's certainly a good problem to have.

Good problems to have. All this talk about Leddy (kiddy up) but Boychuck is something like 35 and prone to injury so that will provide playing time. Hopefully Lou does not look to a Sbisa type again,and if pressed they can go to Tigers for support. Dobson should go to Europe (he spent a year in Switzerland) pre QHL so that might be his best option to play against men. Thanks Ben.
- Leo_Union

Yeah the Boychuk injuries will be a factor too for sure. I assume that's when Hickey will get into games though.

Thanks for reading!

Yeah the Boychuk injuries will be a factor too for sure. I assume that's when Hickey will get into games though.

Thanks for reading!
- Ben.Shelley

Most likely considering he has nine years left on his contract.

Nice write up ben confound this on barzal too very interesting

There was some definite buzz about Barzal at the Belfry/Kane camp, as our Craig Custance noted in his piece on the week. A friend of Belfry’s said Barzal looked to be the most improved of Belfry’s regular clients from last summer to this one, yet another sign that the chip on Barzal’s shoulder isn’t going away.

I do think boychuk is taken in the expansion draft (may need a pick to encourage seattle to take him) as his no trade shifts to an 8 team list (I believe) which means they don't have to protect him. trade Leddy as well and that opens up 11 mil and room for dobson/aho on d

I do think boychuk is taken in the expansion draft (may need a pick to encourage seattle to take him) as his no trade shifts to an 8 team list (I believe) which means they don't have to protect him. trade Leddy as well and that opens up 11 mil and room for dobson/aho on d
- Isles_since_6

Have to do whatever it takes to get rid of Ladd. Boychuk by all accounts is still a contributing player.

I do think boychuk is taken in the expansion draft (may need a pick to encourage seattle to take him) as his no trade shifts to an 8 team list (I believe) which means they don't have to protect him. trade Leddy as well and that opens up 11 mil and room for dobson/aho on d
- Isles_since_6

You are correct, Boychuk’s contract has rolled from a full NMC to a modified 8 team NMC.

Now forgive my ignorance, as I am quite uninformed when it comes to the expansion process, but a modified NTC doesn’t offer Boychuk any expansion protection at all?

Have to do whatever it takes to get rid of Ladd. Boychuk by all accounts is still a contributing player.
- Cptmjl

Ideally I’d like to move both.

Does leave the right side weak though, unless a person is comfortable running Pulock, Mayfield and Dobson as the RH trio.

Ideally I’d like to move both.

Does leave the right side weak though, unless a person is comfortable running Pulock, Mayfield and Dobson as the RH trio.
- Wildschwein

Which is why I'm not in any hurry to move Boychuk. Injuries and all, I like the veteran leadership he brings to the team. For once, I agree with cpt....

You are correct, Boychuk’s contract has rolled from a full NMC to a modified 8 team NMC.

Now forgive my ignorance, as I am quite uninformed when it comes to the expansion process, but a modified NTC doesn’t offer Boychuk any expansion protection at all?
- Wildschwein

The only thing that forces teams to protect players is a NMC. A full NTC offers no protection, same goes for a partial-NTC

Nice write up Ben.
Toews came up last year played well and never looked back. I was able to watch his growth at QU and some at BP and the one thing that stood out was his Hockey Sense. He's a very cerebral player and he seems to get better and grow every year. Skill is great but as we have seen with many prospects you can't change stupid. I think with Trotz behind the bench Toews development could be unlimited imho.

As far as Boychuck, and or Ladd, I thinks its very possible one goes to Seattle. I think a lot of this depends on where the Islanders are at the end of this season as far as contending.
Both are Western Canada Guys and probably wouldn't be opposed to close out their careers closer to their home towns.

Which is why I'm not in any hurry to move Boychuk. Injuries and all, I like the veteran leadership he brings to the team. For once, I agree with cpt....
- JohnScammo

Welcome to the sensible side of things👍

Which is why I'm not in any hurry to move Boychuk. Injuries and all, I like the veteran leadership he brings to the team. For once, I agree with cpt....
- JohnScammo

- nyisles7

🤣

I like toews a lot as well as pulock, leddy would be the guy I move to open up space and allow Dobson to step in. Toews was better on the pp than leddy as well

I like toews a lot as well as pulock, leddy would be the guy I move to open up space and allow Dobson to step in. Toews was better on the pp than leddy as well
- Upstate_isles

Leddy was used for zone entry but once he was there he seemed pretty ineffective. Not sure what his pp numbers were?

Leddy was used for zone entry but once he was there he seemed pretty ineffective. Not sure what his pp numbers were?
- Cptmjl

It seemed to me that once toews was put there as the QB the pp looked much sharper and the puck moved quicker. Not sure on the percentages with each out there though

It seemed to me that once toews was put there as the QB the pp looked much sharper and the puck moved quicker. Not sure on the percentages with each out there though
- Upstate_isles

Agreed. Leddy’s decision making sucked. Way to apprehensive with the puck. Every player on the ice and fan in the seats knew where the puck was going when he had it. Great at getting it into the zone but that’s where his usefulness stopped on the pp imo.

Agreed. Leddy’s decision making sucked. Way to apprehensive with the puck. Every player on the ice and fan in the seats knew where the puck was going when he had it. Great at getting it into the zone but that’s where his usefulness stopped on the pp imo.
- Cptmjl

And toews can skate it in as well if it's not barzal