Islanders Roundtable, Part I: 1st Half Surprises, Disappointments, Trade Deadline
by Dominik on Jan 27, 2012 12:41 PM EST
in New York Islanders Report Cards
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By the numbers, the New York Islanders special teams are responsible for the team's relative improvement now (19-22-7) over last year (16-27-7) at the All-Star Break. The 19.5% powerplay ranks 6th overall and the 84.9% penalty kill ranks eighth in the NHL. At 5-on-5 their goals for/against ratio of 0.73 is bottom of the league.
A league-high 10 empty net goals allowed skews the picture slightly, and one possible bright spot is that their shot differential has improved both overall (30.1 shots per game vs. 29.9 allowed) and at 5-on-5 shots per 60 minutes (29.8 for, 29.1 against). Their Fenwick (shots fired +/-) with the score tied or close has them in the middle of the league with a 49.54 percent of possession, though as mentioned last week that's driven by John Tavares line.
As covered in the first-half report card for each player there are signs of improvement, but any season carries a mix of unsustainable or surprise factors that influence the result. A positive sign may be that the areas needing improvement are clear and the roster openings to address them are so apparent they will have to be addressed both from outside and from below.
We'll get to that in the second part of our mid-season roundtable, but here is Part 1, in which our authors share their surprises, disappointments and trade deadline expectations. As always, weigh in with your own.
What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest pleasant surprise?
Chris McNally: My most pleasant surprise has to be Matt Martin. Last year I think we got a Steve Webb plus type performance out of him, skate around and lay people out, and mix it up with the other team. This year he has shown that he not only has offensive upside to him, but he's shown that he's an integral part of this team. I don't think there's been anyone this side of John Tavares who has consistently played as well as Martin has this year.
Keith Quinn: Individually, P.A. Parenteau's increased and consistent production, game evolution and versatility switching lines. Team-wide, vastly improved special teams performance...if not for that, the team would probably be in worse shape than last year.
Mark D.: I think I've said this before, but the continuing excellent play of Travis Hamonic. Obviously he played the full amount of time in juniors, but you still expect someone who had all of 19 pro games before his 2010 recall to struggle in the big league. He continues to impress on a nightly basis, and seems like he is going to be a major part of the defense for at least the next decade. Plus his play has helped Andrew MacDonald who struggled to return to form from his injury at the end of last season.
Mike B.: I think it's the cohesiveness of the team. Grabbing up a bunch of veteran stopgaps and having the sort of success Florida has had in the first half is quite rare - usually you add only one or two people, judiciously, not four or more like Pandolfo, Staios, Reasoner, and Rolston. Looking back, I think a lot of the early struggles were possibly a side effect of just having too many new faces in key roles. The team's stabilizing now and playing generally better, getting better luck. And through it all, the young core held up better than could be expected, and even raised their games. Nobody turned on each other. Watching Matty Mo, Grabs, KO, and Martin rag each other on Twitter is hilarious and really a sign of a close-knit group. Add in PAP and Tavs and Hamonic (based on their post-game comments and such) and this is an exceptionally tight group.
Dominik: I'd have to go with Martin and Parenteau. Martin because I did not expect him to adapt his game so diligently to the Shanaban environment -- you can really see him thinking on each of his hits and pulling up as needed -- and I've been pleasantly impressed with his even strength and PK play. The classic Ben Eager Incident stands out, but he'd exhibited more judgment in 40+ games this year than Zenon Konopka did in 82 last season. ... I was already a defender of Parenteau's first-line performance coming into the season, but paradoxically I'm glad they have switched his linemates because that's important to gauge how all-around useful he can be on other lines as they go into extension talks. They need to have Parenteau as a signed asset who can help the powerplay and any variety of lines.
* * *
2) What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest disappointment?
Chris McNally: My biggest disappointment has to be everything surrounding Blake Comeau. From his complete lack of production to the way he was used and ending with the way he was shown the door, the whole situation was a mess. I not only expected another 20 goal season from Blake but I expected him to be the main part of a winning season this year for the Isles, and both he and the coaching staff's use of him was a big let down. Top it off with a Thanksgiving stomachache, not from too much turkey, but from letting Comeau leave without any sort of return, and you've got a situation that pretty much summed up the first quarter of the season for the Isles.
Keith Quinn: I don't have any particular grievances with any players individually, as they've performed about to what I expected of them...or at least with understandable excuses. Biggest team-wide disappointment has been the roster movement and the excessive ice time given to the veterans in light of their performances. In the second half, I would like to see more David Ullstrom, Nino Niederreiter and some of the Bridgeport defense get a shot.
Mark D.: Rick DiPietro. I mean at this point we aren't even asking him to be a good goaltender, we just want him to stay healthy. For the last 4 seasons he's been at a .900 SV% or worse, which really isn't cutting it for an NHL level goaltender. Add in that he failed to get to double digit games for the 3rd time in the last 4 seasons too. It's why most Islander fans weren't worried when the pundits were yelling about the Isles having a 3 headed goalie, and for the most part the health of all 3 goalies has worked out to an almost perfect 2 goalie rotation.
Mike B.: The complete inability of one-half of the defense. I was hoping one of those guys would play over his head and fill out the second pairing. Staios takes too many penalties, Jurcina forgets that he's 6'5", Eaton is oft-injured, and Mottau is Mottau. You could maybe build one effective defender out of their best skills.
Dominik: I expected the defense to be troubling and Brian Rolston to be slightly better as a stopgap, so I'll turn to the COZO: Not so much that Comeau is gone, but rather what that timeline of decision-making represents. I feared for his future after he reached 24 goals because I figured that was an outlier that would make his arbitration-eligible asking price higher than his value. So I was prepared for his departure, and for all I know there was never a trade to be made last spring or this summer. Still, it seems if they knew they might sour on him so quickly as to waive him during a period when no Islanders were scoring, then they could have sold him earlier and gotten something back. His usage earlier this season (virtually no PK time) makes me think Capuano was not a fan, in which case maybe this is a case of a GM getting his coach to try one more time before cutting bait, then cutting bait when no fish would bite. The whole sequence feels like a missed opportunity, however, and I am not as optimistic about Ullstrom and others being able to upgrade the overall depth this season.
* * *
What moves do you see being made at the trade deadline? What moves should be made by the trade deadline?
Chris McNally: As the trade deadline approaches I think it's still up in the air what the Isles will do. It depends on how delusional Snow is about this team making a serious playoff run. If he seriously thinks they can win, then expect the Island of Past-Their Prime Toys to continue on. The fact that Capuano has run Nabokov out their so much even after Montoya was back makes me wonder if Snow will deal him. No matter what any other site says, the only person on this team that should be traded that will get any kind of return is Nabokov, and I think the Islanders need to trade him by the deadline. If someone is foolish enough to pony up anything for Rolston, Reasoner, Staios, or Jurcina, the Isles should jump on it in a heartbeat.
Keith Quinn: I'm starting to think that there won't be very much in the way of player movement at the trade deadline...and I'm relatively certain the Isles won't be "buyers." It looks like the moveable assets really do not have much value right now. DiPietro's season ender makes a Nabokov move unlikely unless the Islanders want to be stuck in the same situation as last year when they traded Dwayne Roloson. If anything, I expect low level deals for late round picks. The moves that should be made involve waivers and promotions to see how the youth at Bridgeport are coming along.
Mark D: The Nabokov trade is the most obvious one. Although I'm not against him sticking around if the Islanders are making something of a push. People have this weird belief that you can always get 1st/2nd round picks or highly rated prospects. Sorry, it doesn't work that way for the most part anymore (except for inexplicably Andy Sutton and Chris Campoli). Ty Wishart was probably the highest return for Rollie, so anything anywhere near Wishart's level would be a nice get for Snow. If he can get anything for the expiring contracts of the elderly, that would be nice too.
Mike B.: It might be too soon to swing for the fences, a la Ryan Smyth in '07, so Garth's likeliest moves are finding a good playoff home for Nabokov (he could net a meh prospec and a pick, maybe even a second), and possibly suitors for a couple of the Cap Mules. I would be shocked if he parted with prospects to bring in a frontline player, unless it was someone under contract for next season.
Dominik: Should? Sign Nielsen and Parenteau, full stop. But provided the apocalypse does not arrive and extensions are indeed reached with Frans Nielsen and Parenteau, I don't expect much trade action at all. Perhaps a Milan Jurcina, Mark Eaton or Evgeni Nabokov low-cost rental if someone comes asking. But Comeau is already gone and everyone else is either undesirable or part of TEH CORE. Of course some fans still believe Garth Snow should be able to parlay an average prospect, an expiring free agent and a goalie into a young, rising top four defenseman, so I eagerly await that visit from the Trade Fairy.
We covered more questions, but this 1800-word post was getting long so we'll post Part 2 after this one percolates for a while. Meanwhile, have at these themes and our silly answers in comments.
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My turn
What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest pleasant surprise? For me its Tavares, only because its amazing how he has stepped up his game. You can just see how this guy is turning into a bonafide superstar with his play, which this year comes with plenty of grit and uber-creativity with the puck. Many nights I’m watching with jaw agape.
What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest disappointment?
The team as a whole with respect to where they are in the standings. For whatever reason, lines 2-4 can’t get it going. The lack of goal scoring by Grabner is frustrating, considering his number of breakaways during the season, he should be close to 20 goals. The thing that many people worried about with Moulson is happening to Grabs. He needs to step it up if were gonna make any sort of playoff push.
What moves do you see being made at the trade deadline? What moves should be made by the trade deadline? I honestly can’t see any move other than Nabakov, and even then, only if were out of the playoff hunt. I’ve said here before that unless we get a commitment past the current season, its makes no sense to pull off a trade even if were in the playoff hunt. We have to many good players down in B-port and I would not want to see them given away for a 2 month rental.
Isles rule, rangers suck... that's just how it is.
Tavares
It’s a good point on JT — I certainly didn’t expect this level of elevation at this stage. I guess the stickhandling and vision impresses but does not shock me, it’s how much his skating has opened up new avenues that really has me in awe.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
personified by that rush vs the leafs
it was something no one has seen or expected from him, and it worked (except for shooting wide)
These comments crawl up from the depths of the deepest Chasm of Saar
That was sweet
A little, “Oh by the way: I can do this now too.”
This is going to be fun.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
JT
I spent the majority of the first half of the season reading LHH wrap-ups and checking the highlights. I was impressed by what I saw.
Then I started watching the games.
Oh.
My.
Lord.
He is the complete package. His presence on the ice is something that you truly cannot get a feel for until you see him in every situation.
I cannot wait to see him live and see what the camera’s don’t catch.
Personally my biggest surprise is Hamonic. Mostly due to the fact that I was a lazy discouraged Islander fan last year when he broke the line up. Hard to believe how consistent he is back there at his age.
by Bleuchz on Jan 28, 2012 1:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's fun, isn't it?
I mean even during JT’s lower-scoring stretches this season, he’s basically filled each night with moments of brilliance. This year is the first year where he’s looked to me vs. his peers like he looked vs. his peers in juniors. It’s altered where his ceiling might be in my eyes.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 28, 2012 1:37 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A good read!
Mike B.: The complete inability of one-half of the defense. I was hoping one of those guys would play over his head and fill out the second pairing. Staios takes too many penalties, Jurcina forgets that he’s 6’5", Eaton is oft-injured, and Mottau is Mottau. You could maybe build one effective defender out of their best skills.
With Jurcina’s size and hard slapper, Staios’s aggressiveness, Eaton’s smarts, and Mottau’s stick-handling, the build-a-D-man would have everything except skating ability. (Staios and Eaton probably used to be able to skate pretty well.) Still, that would be a very useful 5th/6th defenseman, if not 3rd/4th.
Chris McNally:…No matter what any other site says, the only person on this team that should be traded that will get any kind of return is Nabokov, and I think the Islanders need to trade him by the deadline. If someone is foolish enough to pony up anything for Rolston, Reasoner, Staios, or Jurcina, the Isles should jump on it in a heartbeat.
I agree, as long as we can still come up with wacky trade proposals to pass the time. Seriously, it is not as if the Isles are going to make one magical trade at the deadline and become Cup-contenders. Even if they were to somehow acquire two solid defensemen, a top-6 and a bottom-6 forward, I’m still not sure Isles would be ready to contend. (And they would still risk missing the playoffs.)
Dom is right that the two biggest deals would be re-signing Parenteau and Nielsen. In essence, Isles “acquire” two proven top-9 forwards without giving up young assets. They both seem emotionally invested in the Isles so hopefully neither wants to test the UFA market. If they’ll each take $3.5 million a year to remain Isles instead of $4-$5 million on the open marker, it seems to be a no-brainer for Snow. (Moulson/Grabner/Okposo may be slightly more valuable to Isles, but PAP and Frans have UFA leverage— that should bump their salaries just above Moulson/Grabner/Okposo.)
They also need to re-sign Nabokov or Montoya before the deadline, if they can, since both are UFAs this summer. They would be in a tough spot if Rick was the most proven NHL goalie and Poulin the most promising, going into the summer. I also think Jurcina is important since he’s the only sizable defenseman besides Hamonic. (But if Isles sign PAP, Nielsen, and Montoya, they can make acquiring a good, physical defenseman the main focus over the summer, and even overpay for one, whether it be a UFA, RFA, or trade.)
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 1:23 PM EST reply actions
motteau smarts? really?
by Lakewood Islander on Jan 27, 2012 2:11 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
No, Eaton's smarts. Mottau's stickhandling.
Mottau is pretty good with the stick. But I would contend that Mottau makes good decisions with the puck, overall. (He’s had 2 or 3 horrendous ones this season, but so have Hamonic and Streit.) What makes Mottau unusable is his awful skating ability, I think.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
"Emotional Investment"
I often wonder if this is something we as fans fabricate. I think I see it too when I watch the pre/post games and read quotes from them. I hear the same tune from pretty much every on this team. They can’t be that dedicated, happy, passionate, and optimistic about a sub-.500 team though…
Can they?
RE: Blake
“I feared for his future after he reached 24 goals because I figured that was an outlier that would make his arbitration-eligible asking price higher than his value.”
Great point. He’s a RFA again after this year and correct me if I’m wrong, don’t usually all RFA’s get some sort of a bump up in pay regardless of how a players’ season turns out? BC will make $2.5M in salary and Cap Hit. He’s on pace for a 4G-9A—21+/- line. Will he have another 2nd Half turn around? Maybe. But as that line stands now, he’d probably ask for a $250,000 raise at least. I don’t think the Isles could afford that in a player who just maybe be….you know, ‘meh’. Was it handled poorly? I say yes. Do I miss him? Nope. If it comes down to waiving Blake to keep PAP and/or The Frans, then I say it was a good move.
by barry_hal_oliver_24 on Jan 27, 2012 1:26 PM EST reply actions
There's no way anyone offers him a raise
Expect his current team to either let him walk or take him to arbitration. I can’t see him taking the team to arbitration because he’d lose, and I believe you’re correct, he is due a 5-10% raise without the arbitration.
NY Islanders, just one irrational free agent signing away from contention!
Website:Lighthouse HockeyTwitter: @KeithLHHockey
by Keith Quinn on Jan 27, 2012 1:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Then again, it's the Flames
which means he’ll probably get a new contract with a No Trade clause. ba-dum-bump
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
by PGI on Jan 27, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
No question PAP over Comeau
But the funny thing is that there were pretty big arguments over the summer over which of the two was playing better hockey. What a difference the first 20 games of the season made!
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
At a certain salary a 5 or 10% raise is required to qualify them and retain their rights
But Comeau is above that level now, so a raise is not necessary but the same salary is. They could try to work out a longer-term deal at a lower rate, but if they want to guarantee retaining his rights via qualifier then they’d have to offer him the same.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
My question re: Nabokov
is if the Soundtigers continue to play well and have a shot to make some noise in the AHL playoffs, does Garth still trade Nabokov knowing he’s then got to call up either Poulin or Nilsson? Or does he try to get a stopgap/UFA goalie back? Or does Garth put the pads back on himself? I know we’re obviously more focused on the big club, but a long run towards the Calder Cup would be a great thing for the whole franchise.
Of course, he could get blown away by a panicked rival GM, in which case I’d pat Evgeni on the back and say thanks for the memories.
Surprises are easy: Martin, Tavare’s skating, Parenteau and Montoya (injury excluded) being the real deals are all candidates. I’d say the slow start (again) by Bailey, Okposo and the now-departed Comeau is my biggest disappointment. Two-or-three more wins in November and things would be even more interesting than they are now. Also, I wasn’t expecting 30-goal Minnesota Wild Brian Rolston, but he’s been either invisible or a real hindrance in most of his games. And he may be holding Bailey back.
I wouldn’t underestimate any of the The Stop Gap Gang being moved at the deadline. They’re cheap and they’ve been around the block before. And Garth will probably take whatever he can get for them.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
I think Rolston is absolutely holding Bailey back...
…the same way that Comeau was.
Since the Comeau trade, Bailey’s looked good whenever he was with Ullstrom and okay (as a 2nd/3rd line center) when he hasn’t been with Ullstrom. And as much as I like Ullstrom, he is not THE main reason Bailey looked good. Put him on a line with Ullstrom and another good winger (Grabner? PAP?) and I think Bailey becomes a better 2nd line center than Nielsen’s been this season as a 2nd line center.
And yes, I think Garth should make a big effort to keep BPT’s most valuable players down there for a playoff run, for the most part. That would be really good experience for the young guys down there, and I think it would pay bigger dividends than having extended call-ups the rest of the year.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
Grooming the kids
And yes, I think Garth should make a big effort to keep BPT’s most valuable players down there for a playoff run, for the most part.
I’d like to see how this goes as well. Of course if they make the playoffs, any promoted prospects could potentially be returned to the AHL for that playoff experience after the Isles season is done.
But this point is one reason I don’t call quite for mass dumping of the veteran stopgaps. A few here and there, but otherwise I want as many prospects as possible to get their reps in the AHL the way I wish Nino could.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
No need to call up Poulin/Nilsson
Isles could just sign someone to a pro-rated contract as backup for the remainder of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Nabokov was traded and Valiquette was signed as backup
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
I liked Valiquette!
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
Snow
Used him as an Emergency backup for one game in BP
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Jan 27, 2012 8:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Two things..
1)
If someone is foolish enough to pony up anything for Rolston, Reasoner, Staios, or Jurcina, the Isles should jump on it in a heartbeat.
Never have I read a truer statement on this site… I doubt that there’s anyone in the AHL that can’t do what those guys are doing… and even if they do it slightly less, I think it can only help their development (It’s not like those guys get a ton of minutes… and even for the ones whose minutes are up there, I doubt an AHL call-up would get all their minutes)
2) I don’t agree with unloading Nabby anymore UNLESS a team comes up with a ridiculously foolish offer on their behalf and it becomes too tough to pass up. Not so much leaning on PGI’s point about the AHL playoffs.. but more for developmental purposes, I’m just not ready to see Poulin or Nilsson up with the big club left… and now with DP out.. we actually need Nabokov to keep 2 goalies up with the big squad.
by BaltimoreIslander on Jan 27, 2012 1:49 PM EST reply actions
Nabakov trade
What I would like to see if have Snow trade Nabakov for a 2nd/3rd rounder, or a decent D prospect (ala Roloston trade from last year) and trade a lower round pick for Yann Dani or Joey Mcdonald. Let them back up Motonya. That way he can get the majority of the starts for the rest of the year, and if he can’t produce or stay healthy (which is a skill unto itself) then we are in a better position to decide what to do with goaltending next year and we have added another prospect to the pool.
That is certainly possible.
I do think they should re-sign Montoya before trading Nabokov (or the other way around. I’d prefer Montoya over Nabokov because Montoya has a chance to still be here when Isles are contending for the Cup, whereas Nabokov probably does not.)
There are a lot of Dani/MacDonald types. Perhaps Isles could even acquire some team’s 3rd/4th goalie who has SOME chance of becoming a quality NHL backup. I like Poulin, Nilsson, and Koskinen, but adding another goalie prospect wouldn’t hurt.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 3:28 PM EST up reply actions
juice has value,imho
he has used his size mucg better ever since they he extended him last year.he is slow and mistake prone,but still a valuable #4 d-man.i think a 3rd rd.pick.nabby could fetch a 2nd ,but my gut says they dont move him unless they are blown out of the water.i think with the growth of the young guys,snow will feel it necessary to boost their confidence by showing them how competitive they can be with solid goaltending. in terms of actually vieing for a playoff spot,it aint happening til they improve the scoring from the other 3 lines,which would require a real scorer a la patrick marleau.(fat chance). the checklist is very long for contention. at least 2 top pair defensemen,2 forwards,and reliable goaltending.nabby is gone after the season,and i think the jury is still out on montoya-health and consistency. frans must be re-signed ,though this season does not compare to last.p.a. has his deficiencies,but has become irreplaceable to this roster simply because of his pp skills and his entry.good luck,garth!
by Lakewood Islander on Jan 27, 2012 2:21 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Biggest Surprise:
1) Nabokov. I don’t think anybody imagined he’d be this steady at his age after 2(?) poor years in KHL.
2) JT- we knew he was beast material, but skating and strength on puck has improved at Grabner speed
3) MM
Disappointments:
Throw a rock at any of our FA signings from last year.
Deadline Deals:
Nabokov and Nielsen. Will be sad to see Franzie go, but we have depth at C down at the farm. Hope this gets us a big, phyisical D man.
If we trade Nabby it is likely to Detroit, right?
They make the most sense to me. I think an interesting trade might be for Ray Ferraro’s son Landon. He was the 32nd overall pick in 2009. He’s gotten off to a relatively slow start in the AHL which could help make him trade bait. He’s listed as a center but I’m sure we can move him to RW. He was the fastest skater in the 09 draft so if he can adjust he could be a decent middle six winger.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
What's his MPI?
Moustache Production Index?
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Nabby might not fit in Detroit anymore
They wanted him last year because Howard’s health was an issue. Also, I’d want to get one of their defensemen if there was a deal to be made.
We may be in the box, but you get the penalty.
Lighthouse Hockey - a beacon of greatness on the rocky coast of sports blog mediocrity
Non-hockey scribblings at nightflyblog
Anyone worth having is probably not getting traded
I’m sure they would love a strong backup. Ty Conklin has been horrible.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
by Anarcurt on Jan 27, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe Ryan Sproul
Brendon Smith is too valuable for them to give up on a loaner but Sproul fits a need and he isn’t so valuable that the deal would fall through.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Some of the other top teams have a quality backup.
Vancouver and Boston come to mind. I’m sure Wings would like to have a Plan B in goal, and I don’t believe there will be a lesser expensive (500k cap hit, and trade value) and more proven goalie than Nabokov, if Isles make him available.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
Wow
how do you post an .886 SV% WITH DETROIT!!!
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
by Mark D on Jan 27, 2012 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I was curious
Since 99-00 a Red Wings goalie has finished the year under .900 7 times, 3 of those being Osgood (2 of them being when he was over 35) 2 of them played just one game in the season (McCollum, Howard) another one played less then 10 games in the season (MacDonald).
"Mark D: the internet's foremost chronicler of Milburian insanity" - Pretty Good Idiot
Contributor to Lighthouse Hockey not sure if I'm the Sniper or the Enforcer.
Nabby for Datsyuk. Straight up.
Get it done, Garth! A REAL GM would get that shit done.
by Les Beaver on Jan 27, 2012 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I'm thinking Chicago
And probably for a 2d and a 4th or 5th.
I think Jurcina would maybe get a 4th. A third-rounder would be great.
And then Staios, Eaton, Mattau and Rolston for a 43d rounder in 2209.
I had mentioned that
It was left on the cutting room floor, but I mentioned I thought the most likely place for Nabokov was either Chicago or Dallas. They really could not only use a steady backup for a playoff run, but maybe a steady 1a goalie. With the way Nabokov has been playing, the closer the deadline gets, I think someone will be desperate enough to pony up a decent ransom for him.
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 27, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
A 2nd and a 5th for Nabokov would be great!
Heck, if this is a deep draft (I hear it is), I wouldn’t mind seeing Isles trade their (high) 4th and Nabokov for someone’s low 2nd round pick, assuming Isles can re-sign Montoya and pick up a usable goalie so that Poulin and Nilsson can finish this season in BPT.
But some of this depends on how Isles play until the deadline. If there is even a reasonable sliver of a chance at playoffs (if they are within 5 pts or so of 8th), I think Snow holds onto Nabokov unless there is a ridiculous offer. (1st rounder or good defenseman prospect, for instance.)
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
That 43rd pick belongs to the Martian Whalers
Giving up that pick would make their GM “very angry, very angry indeed.”
A 2nd?
When did Nabokov get all this value?
by afrosupreme on Jan 27, 2012 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
about 2 weeks ago when he gave up no goals
in about 200 minutes.
...for the lowly Islanders, nonetheless.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
Hope your right
That would be a coup in my opinion for a guy who’s old and been injured twice this year already. I’d still be ecstatic if he netted even a fourth.
You gotta Be Kidding?
Cut Dipeitro, Get Montoya ready for next year and ride with Nabby. If Garth would pull his head out of his As$. Go back to what they did the 2nd half last season. Play the youth and get rid of the contracts with Rolston, Staios,. Keep Jurcina, he has picked up his game. If they trade Nabby, get something useful. This getting players on their way down is not working out and will not work out! If the Isle’s play like they did the 2nd half last year, they will make the playoffs. This year their only 3 under 500, not 18 games. Plus they are healthy! It’s time to get nasty like the Penguin game next time we meet Toronto. Start taking whacks at their stars. Bring back Gilles! He is missed as well as Webb!
by Madswede-Turtledove on Jan 27, 2012 4:01 PM EST reply actions
For MarkD
Since you brought up DP as your biggest disappointment…
I see that he is recuperating.
I cannot even imagine him being reintroduced to this team’s lineup right now. With the effort they seem to bring forth each night, I can’t see that any player would be happy watching as DP tries to recover his health and form during games.
This is a time-bomb waiting to go off.
Nice Job Guys
Pleasant Surprise: I’d like to say it’s Martin, but anybody who has read anything I’ve written about him knows this is what I saw for him. My biggest surprise is the step that Tavares has made. Maybe it’s just because I really don’t watch other teams nearly as much as I do the Islanders… but HOLY CRAP, he’s been incredible this year. The scoring is one thing, that will come and go (unless he really is better than his “generational” peers. It’s his speed, strength and ability to win one on one battles in close. That doesn’t go away and excites me more every day. I really liked Trottier, but this kid is going to be way more “exciting” than Trottier was… and that has come into focus in the first half of this year.
Disappoinment: Has to be Snow. The handling of Comeau was horrible. I don’t know what was going on with Comeau, but he was a 26 year old forward who had progressed every year and then they tried to jam him into an OZOC when he was very comfortable with his COZO. That’s all well and good, but if they let him COZO for a few months, help the team progress, they definitely could have gotten more than STUGOTS for him. But it was more important to have a $5M cap hit on the LW, and a confused roller coaster at center. It’s probably better that Comeau is no longer an Islander… but the handling of the situation was horrible. The other problems stem from another goalie go-round and the lack of defensive depth. These three situations are all things that Snow needed to address in the off season. He may have had limited options, but he just didn’t get it done… and he put HIMSELF in a spot where he needed Dipietro and Rolston to get to the cap floor…and signing Staios as a starting second pair defenseman… really?… this is not what you deliver when you promise playoff contention. That’s on him.
Moves: THis is a time to scour lineups of middling teams with cap/budget issues and find a quality defenseman or two. I don’t want to see a 25 game rental, but there has got to be the opportunity to find an over-priced defenseman with a year or two left on his contract that just doesn’t fit in his team’s plans. The Isles have cap space, and if they’re serious they have budget room as well. They need to be around $55M next year not to be dealing with cap mules. But the number one priority has got to be signing or trading Frans and/or Parentau. I’d prefer signing both, but you can’t let either of them walk for STUGOTS. Even if you get second rounders in a deep draft you can negotiate with both of them on July 1. But the best action for islander fans would be to have them signed for 3 more years by MAR 01.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
JP
Agree with you about Snow, but disagree about overpaying for a D with a lot of mileage. I get your drift, but would rather trade say a Bailey and a pik or prospect for the D we both agree we need.
I don't think I said "a lot of mileage"
We have a clear gap of defenseman in the 25-30 range. That needs to be the target, and somewhere a little more talented than Reese. They need to increase their crease clearing ability, and the creativity in the offensive zone from the back line. Hopefully Wishart gets a chance in the second half, but somebody who has done it and is doing it is a better choice.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
Sorry
miss read your thread – I agree with that age requirement, but of course you don’t mean a “mule”, the problem is that that GMs often have difficulty with equating the value of a D with trading a goal scoring F who is easier to appreciate by all including the media and fans.
Biggest All-Star Game Surprise
Tavares selected by Alfredsson for the All-State Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge. This is not JT’s strong suit. He really should be in the Challenge Relay thingamajig.
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
He should really be
in the Pass Backwards Between The Legs From The Boards Through The Eye Of A Needle.
Silly Alfie.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 27, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
He should really be
in the Pass Backwards Between The Legs From The Boards Through The Eye Of A Needle.
Silly Alfie.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 27, 2012 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs
And I thought I deleted the dupe!
Strange SBN gremlins today.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
SBN gremlins
I’m pretty sure as per his tweet, Grabs is at home with the wife and child
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 28, 2012 3:02 AM EST up reply actions
Ha
Shouldn’t have half-assed my CTRL-F “Tavares”
Success was survival and, kid, it still is
by IslesFanInNJ on Jan 27, 2012 4:46 PM EST up reply actions
It would surprise me...
…if JT didn’t surprise us Isles fans somehow in the skill competition. All he’s been doing the past couple years (most noticeably this season) is surprising us.
My guess: he is going to bank the puck off the sideboards to himself and then swat the puck out of mid air off the crossbar and in.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
This seems like fun:
Biggest Surprise: John Tavares speed skating into beast mode, Matt Martin being a good all around hockey player, Hamonic even more solid. Dylan Reese 2.0.
Biggest Disappointment: Lack of secondary scoring. DP – I was hoping he’d be well.
Moves: By the trade deadline: Anything for Nabby if there’s no way to resign him. Sign Frans and PAP. Post trade deadline: Drop the non-core fellas starting with Rolston.
no trades necessary
why not see if they can sign Nabokov? that would be worth much more than a 6th round pick
no other trade seems likely – and yeah, drop the old guard & bring up the kids already
would you make this trade?
(Ullstrom, Donovan, Ness, Dibenedetto, Rakhshani) for (Rolston, Staios, Reasoner, Eaton, Pandolfo)
in a heartbeat
Deadline Deals
I believe the Islanders should be buyers, but only in deals that make sense for the future. If we can trade an established good player, a prospect and a high pick for a top pair D-man you have to do it. I also agree with Dom, please please please get PAP and Frans signed which means you have 9 solid forwards heading into next year. If you cannot sign them you have to trade them. This organization cannot take the chance of losing 2 top 9 (arguably top 6 by league wide standards) and getting nothing in return. I would like Garth to sit down with Nabby and try to extend him and Toyota as well. It seems Nabby enjoys the team and may buy into to being a part of the next t years. If not trade him for as much as you can get.
The old man brigade should never play another game in an Islanders uniform again, regardless of any moves!!!!
by Best Thing Going on Jan 27, 2012 6:02 PM EST reply actions
wouldn't it be cool if...
Nabby asked to stick around. After him snubbing us last year, if he asked to stick around it might show other FA’s that he was wrong and the Island isn’t such a bad place.
by 54_Fighting on Jan 27, 2012 6:05 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Biggest disappointment.........
Lack of Arena progress, actually there was real hope for the bond deal,- which went down in flames due to politics and the bad economic times.
Lighthouse Hockey Almost a Top 25 New York Islanders fan site.
Who is ranking this? CBJ writers, LHH is TOP 3 TOPS in my book.
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
Our CPI is low because our better posts are usually during the third period of a blow out loss
But our Corsi and Fenwick are through the roof, but mostly because we tend to post against weaker competition
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Jan 28, 2012 3:07 AM EST up reply actions
CORSI, NABBY, COZO, FIG, FANGO, CAP MULE, CAPPY.................
I need a thesausus to be able to understand this site!LOL
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Jan 28, 2012 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Seriously though!
Took me half a season of reading it before I could work up the courage to post!
I still don’t know who Fenwick is. I just assume he played during the late 90s ;)
by Bleuchz on Jan 29, 2012 5:13 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ok my turn now...
1) What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest pleasant surprise?
Id have to say the play of Nabokov….mostly in part to his demeanor. This guy went from refusing to play for us to our #1 goalie….when you see him talk about this team, you can tell he is a good locker room guy and he is sincere about enjoying his time here. If we can somehow re-sign him, I would do it in a heartbeat.
2) What (individually or team-wide) has been your biggest disappointment?
Biggest disappointment has to be the play of the vets…mainly guys like Mottau, Eaton, Staois and Rolston. I am on the fence about Reasoner. I think Pandolfo has been the best of all of them so far and to me Jurcina has stepped up his game lately enough that I want him as a 5/6 dman on this team. I am not going to say Streit because I can’t imagine how hard it has to be to get back to playing hockey when you miss an entire season. Overall I think this team is much better off with guys like Ullstrom, Haley, Wishart and De Haan in the lineup than with the vets we have now.
3) What moves do you see being made at the trade deadline? What moves should be made by the trade deadline?
Right now it is hard to say since we have a few weeks before the deadline, this team could swing either way in terms of how close they are to 8th. If we can get within 5 points of 8th by the deadline, who knows, maybe snow becomes a buyer thinking that it could get us into the playoffs. If we fall further back than maybe we trade a vet or someone with value. I hope and pray that they sign PAP and Neilsen to contracts.
James T Paulson
by Jtpdolphins2009 on Jan 27, 2012 7:03 PM EST reply actions
2)
That’s funny, because Staios at least met my expectations. He had some very bad games, but he had some good ones as well— not bad for a last minute FA signing.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 11:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Staios was the last 1 I added to that list lol
James T Paulson
by Jtpdolphins2009 on Jan 28, 2012 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
And mine...
(written much earlier tonight but was unable to post for some reason)
Biggest surprise: Nabokov, for actually showing up, keeping his mouth shut, turning around his career in the right direction, and keeping the Isles in games, night after night. Honorable mention to Dylan Reese. His play is vastly improved this year, to the point where I’m actually hoping he’s in the line-up over some of the vets.
Biggest disappointment: Mark Streit, actually. Not that he’s been the worst player by any means. And I’m keeping in mind that he was out all last year. But still… Man, he’s made some head-scratching decisions this year, hasn’t he? The one part of his game that i wasn’t concerned about on his return was his decision making. But that, too, seems to have lost a step. One final caveat, though, is that I hold our captain to a very high standard.
Moves: i just don’t see the Islanders getting to the playoffs this year. Nabokov is the most obvious trade bait, but many have already discussed him here. And my prediction is a second round pick (likely near the end of that round). If i had to be a bit more original, i’d go with Reasoner, but it’d be a very minor deal.
Contributor for Lighthouse Hockey. Definitely neither the Sniper nor the Enforcer.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 27, 2012 10:12 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, Streit's a good pick there
I think (hope?) he’s turning it around lately though.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 28, 2012 1:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Me too.
But i don’t remember him ever making a bone-headed decision in prior years.
Contributor for Lighthouse Hockey. Definitely neither the Sniper nor the Enforcer.
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on Jan 28, 2012 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
I really believe a lot of it has been him trying to do too much
Its from the best of intentions- but the more he realizes that he cant compensate for everyone and just neeeds to do his own job, the better.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 28, 2012 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Even with limited viewing time of your team, I agree with you on Streit as the biggest disappointment. He seems lost at sea out there at times.
by ToddMclellan'shair on Jan 28, 2012 6:34 AM EST up reply actions
Fun Article....
Biggest Surprise: John Tavares. JP pretty much wrote it all out for me so i dont have to. Agree with him on Martin as well.
Biggest Disappointment: Kyle Okposo. I put Kyle here because of my personal extremely high expectations for him. I thought this would be the season he would truly breakout. He’s playing much better of late playing with Tavares, but he appears to have lost a little edge and was incapable of being a catalyst on his line before he was moved to the 1st. I had Okposo’s potential somewhere right behind a Zach Parise and Jarome Iginla. Doesnt appear he’s going to reach that now and he’s kind of put a ceiling on himself in my eyes.
Trade Deadline: I predict nothing of importance. Snow isnt ready to move any young players or prospects and the veterans will not yield much of anything. Expect Snow to be active around the draft.
Honorable mention: Nobody. Hamonic has continued his steady play from last season. Moulson & PA have put up nice numbers but havent had any eye opening changes to their game. I always knew what Martin was capable of. I had my limits on Grabner and Nielsen’s production and didnt expect anythign more from them this year than they did last year. I had hoped Bailey would be more productive, but that can be a whole story in itself. I really havent been surprised by much this season. Capuano could be my biggest disappointment, but i never expected anything of him.
Okposo's another fun one
Especially because expectations for him vary so much. But I’m sure none of us expected anything warranting a week of healthy scratches. What a strange year.
Really glad so many are chiming in with their own answers. There will be a new slate of questions tomorrow.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
I don't care if they want to keep bringing DP back!
I really don’t. I love the guy, and am rooting for him unlike most. But for the love of all that is Blue and Orange, not at the NHL level. I think his comeback would benefit from a level of play less than “the greatest in the world.” This is the fourth full season of this fiasco, it’s time to change the approach
by themass on Jan 27, 2012 11:19 PM EST via mobile reply actions
A couple more to add to the list:
Biggest Positive Suprise: deHaan’s first NHL game. He played that one game somewhere between as well as Hamonic/Streit have played for Isles this season. (Even though he didn’t have as much responsibility as Hamonic typically does.) His passing was about as good as Streit’s. And he didn’t seem overmatched physically, as he was in preseason. (Was it Olli Jokinen whose solid, but common, check leveled deHaan?)
Biggest Disappointment: Katic’s injury. We will never know for sure, but a healthy Katic may have helped to stabilize the defense early in the season (perhaps putting him with Jurcina or Staios as the 3rd pair). Indirectly, it may have taken some defensive responsibility away from Streit and AMac.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 27, 2012 11:21 PM EST reply actions
Man, I really dismissed Katic at the time
But in retrospect his injury might have been a key domino. It just hurts so much to have so many old stopgaps who lack his mobility.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
by Dominik on Jan 28, 2012 1:34 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Moves at the trade deadline they should make
From all the trade rumors out there, it looks like Toronto, with a surplus of defensemen, is looking for a big forward who can score some goals. And, they are not opposed to moving Luke Schenn, who has been underachieving for them. How about some kind of a deal involving Okposo going to TO for Schenn? Okposo has been an enigma for the Isles in my eyes, and I wouldn’t mind moving him for a young, tough defender. Schenn and Okposo are comparable in age and potential, and would fill a need for both teams. But, Toronto might find a better option out there, if they are going to move Schenn. Maybe Snow can sweeten the deal by throwing in a signed poster or stick of JT…..
Pancakes dont worry you?
Its not like there havent been pancake problems this season…
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on Jan 28, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
I think the trade Okposo ship may have sailed
but the Leafs do have a surplus of D and a few holes up front, which gives a team trading with them a little leverage. Depends on how much Burke wants to go for it this year. My question about the Leafs is, even if they make the playoffs, what are they looking at? A sweep or 5-game loss to the Bruins? If I’m Burke I hold out for the right deal.
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
this would fill one hole and open up another.....
i wouldnt make that trade regardless
by LaFontaine16 on Jan 28, 2012 2:45 PM EST up reply actions
Some repsonses to what's already been said:
Not sure if the ‘adjustment’ of our FA elders (Eaton, Rolston, Staios, Mottau, Reasoner, etc) is any reason for our improvement. I think we can thank the hockey gods for their injuries, and Snow’s evential realization that they’re as bad as this site’s been saying for a long time. Let’s hope Garth gives more kids a shot going forward.
Do we really want DP to get healthy? I’d rather him just disappear.
Trade deadline: I’d trade Nabby in a heartbeat and go with whomever. If Bridge is playing well and contending, then we could leave both Nilsson and Poulin there for the run, but not sure if they’d need 2 goalies. Get something for Nabby while we can.
Would anyone do PAP for Luke Schenn?
I do think Reese has made a difference...
…and not solely because of who he replaced: Eaton/Staios/Mottau, who are awful at times. Reese has been a GOOD 5th/6th defenseman (and at times a little better) for Isles the past couple months. I really do want to see the Isles bring Reese back next season, even if it is a one-way deal as a 6a/6b defenseman. In my eyes, he seems to be the Jack Hillen of this offseason for the Isles. (Not as stylish an attacker, but also doesn’t get plastered to the boards once a period.) If Isles don’t offer Reese a reasonable deal, I think they may very well regret it, even if they can sign one or two good FA defensemen.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Jan 28, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Very Late to This Party, But . . .
Disappointment means failing to meet expectations. The Devil Dogs and their ilk aren’t disappointments because I didn’t expect much from them.
My top “disappointment” has been Grabner. Yes, his speed is a big threat on the PK to cause shorthanded opportunities. But his finishing remains horrible with no discernible progression from last year. I might be OK with this, but he’s a poor stickhandler who often overskates the puck or has a hard time accepting passes. Finally, I know it’s not his main role to bring physicality, but I see way too many “drive-by’s” on the forecheck — he will approach a puck-carrier and instead on laying a hit (even if soft) he veers off at the last minute, as if thinking that this pressure will cause the puck carrier to pass the puck under duress. More often, the puck carrier just keeps the puck and Grabner is out of position. Overall, I think he’s underperformed at even-strength this year, given that the goals aren’t coming.
Streit is a close 2nd.
Matt Martin’s progression has been the biggest pleasant surprise to me.
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1979-80
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May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
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May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
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May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
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May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
