The Islanders' Three Goalie Monte
by Chris McNally on Feb 6, 2012 11:45 AM EST
in Big Picture Musings
Email
PrintThe New York Islanders returned from the All-Star break, and their message to the NHL is clear. They mean business. But it's still the Islanders, and in gaining 5 out of 6 points this past week, they did it in unconventional, Islanders fashion.
Three games. Three starting goalies. Not a normal move in the NHL, especially coming off a half of a week off and having a goalie on your roster who went into the break on a 5-2 run with a GAA under 2. But again this is the Islanders, and it also leads to speculation that there may be a move on the horizon.
What once seemed to be a no-brainer as to who would be moved before the deadline (hint: he's Russian), now has turned into a whole handful of scenarios, all of which I'll attempt to break down for your reading pleasure.
Evgeni Nabokov
Should he stay or should he go? A couple of weeks and a roundtable ago, I thought moving him was absolutely the best move for the team. He's a 5th-grade student older than the other two, but interestingly the cheapest out of the three by the difference of a public school teacher's starting salary.
Nabokov seemed the logical pawn to move because of his age in reference to the Islanders youth movement, and the experience that would be attractive to playoff-bound suitors. But is it possible that Nabokov's run since mid-January has changed the minds of the Islanders' brass?
Possible future with the Islanders: Play out the rest of 2011-12 and help lead an Islanders charge toward a playoff spot, falling just short. Form a bond and a taste in his mouth to continue with the team, signing a deal in the summer and being part of a Nabokov/Poulin next two seasons.
Probable future with the Islanders: Still likely to be the one dealt before the deadline.
Al Montoya
It's not 2011 anymore, and Al Montoya (partly because of injury) has lost his "number 1 in the fans' hearts" status. What were once cries of "We should be riding Montoya til he breaks down" have now turned into "Why is Montoya starting? We should be riding Nabokov til he breaks down" chants.
Montoya hasn't been terrible since his return from injury, and he has played sparingly. But even with his 3rd Star of the Game accolades against the Sabers, he hasn't been the Al Montoya of 2011. It's possible it's rust. It's possible it's because of the injury. But either way, his play in 2012, and Nabokov's for that matter, makes you wonder if maybe, just maybe, it will be Al who is shown the door at the deadline.
Montoya contract-wise is in the same boat as Nabokov. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season and he is making next to nothing by NHL standards. Nabokov has the experience factor over Montoya, but Al could bring interest from a team looking for an insurance policy or even a team out of contention looking for an answer in goal.
Possible future with the Islanders: Trade bait. In order to give Poulin an extended taste of the NHL, someone has to go, and as long as the Islanders can even smell the tail of the 8th place team, they're planning on holding on to Nabokov. That makes Montoya expendable, even if the return is less than stellar.
Probable future with the Islanders: Playing the rest of the season for a roster spot in 12-13. Montoya has gotten questionable playing time, even when he was playing great, which makes you wonder if someone in the hierarchy isn't that much of a fan. Even so, what the Islanders could get for Nabokov may be too enticing to pass up, and Montoya should get a chance to shake off the rust and prove to the Islanders that he should be part of the team in 12-13. Even if it's only in the backup role.
Kevin Poulin
He's the youngest, most talented, and least likely to be going anywhere. But his sudden call up from Bridgeport to start Tuesday's game had a lot of people questioning the motives behind the move.
It's possible he was being called up for the Islanders to see if he was ready to step into the NHL in a full-time role. It's possible he was called up for another team to see the same exact thing. It's even possible that the Islanders' reason for the call-up was the truth, even though that excuse was lamer than one of Ricky D's limbs. Either way, you would hope if Poulin was going to be part of a deal, it would be part of something big.
Possible future with the Islanders: You saw it on Tuesday and now it's over. Poulin gets packaged with another piece or two and is off the some (other) sad sack organization who sends us a player we'll be talking about for years.
Probable future with the Islanders: Your starting goalie for the New York Islanders for years to come. The call-up was beyond bizarre, but like I said earlier, it's the Islanders we're talking about. It's pretty safe to say Kevin Poulin will be an Islander as long as Mike Milbury remains NOT employed by the Islanders.
Rick DiPietro
Ha! It was called Three Goalie Monte. I'm keeping it that way.
Conspiracy theories, as always, are welcome below.
58 comments
|
Add comment
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
DiPietro's future
is arena security.
He’ll be posted by the front doors, tasked with keeping those without tickets out of the arena. Naturally, he’ll wander away from the door from time to time as he tries to intercept a ticketless fan, which means that some fat, old guy in a diaper on a scooter with no ticket will be able to breeze right through the empty doorway. 3 or 4 other ticketless people will also get through each game.
At some point early in the season, a sneezing fit will cause him to pull several muscles and cause swelling in his knee. When he returns from IR 3 months later, being that he is under contract until 2099, they’ll get him a wheelchair and put him right back in front of the door, where he’ll continue to roll away occasionally and still let in 3 or 4 fans a game. This will continue until only his animatronic corpse is no longer under warrant when the contract finally expires.
Amateurs practice til they get it right. Professionals practice til they can't get it wrong.
by Torgo on Feb 6, 2012 11:58 AM EST reply actions 9 recs
I was right with you until you went with 'animatronic corpse'
Then I just lost it. Well done… That’s how I’m going to refer to DP exclusively now.
Det/Chi
If Crawford continues to struggle in Chicago and the Blackhawks don’t fully trust Emery they might make a play for Nabby.
If McDonald and Conklin can’t hold the fort while Howard is down in Detroit then they might make a play for Nabby as well.
I have to think Nabby will waive his NTC to get one more chance to play for a Cup. Pair Nabby and the extra 2012 5th Rounder and see what you can get.
by barry_hal_oliver_24 on Feb 6, 2012 12:17 PM EST reply actions
Ty Conklin has been horrible
Even without Howard’s injury I would think they would be looking for good insurance in net. If Detroit wanted Nabby coming off his horrible KHL stint then they will certainly still want Nabby now that he is back to (or at least near) old form. And there is no reason for him not to waive the NTC for Detroit because he was willing to play there in the first place. I’m kinda surprised a deal hasn’t been worked out already.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Ty Conklin makes Rick DiPietro look like a slightly worse Ty Conklin.
Official choice of Lighthouse Dog #1.
by Fabtraption on Feb 7, 2012 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Nabby > Montoya
when it comes to trade value, so I think moving Montoya would be a horrible idea. I think Montoya just needs to play through it. It seems like a bigger problem is his rebound control, something that can be worked on.
"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.
Today, that eqation is true...next year???
Montoya didn’t help himself with Saturday’s shootout lose against Buffalo. He was terrible during the shootout. He just sat there and didn’t challenge the shooters and didn’t block any net. Nonetheless, Montoya has basically 1 full year of NHL experience.
by 4PeatSake on Feb 6, 2012 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Should shootout play come into the equation at all when evaluating a goalie?
I know it’s part of the game now whether we like it or not, but it doesn’t seem like something teams should make decisions on.
It should be a very small piece of the pie
I mean, it may be the difference between Isles making the playoffs next season or missing it. And that could be very important.
On the other hand, there are no shootouts in the playoffs. (And most likely a team that misses the playoffs by a point or two doesn’t have a legitimate shot at the Cup.)
The more worrisome part is that Al’s performance in last game’s shootout may be an indication that his concussion is still affecting his play.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Gotta disagree
Lets assume a team finishes the season with 12 OT/SO losses. Assuming 8 of those 12 are SO losses, and that a good SO goalie might win half of those 8, that could easily be the difference between 8th place and 10th. Though it sounds strange now, teams could start employing backup goalies based partly on their SO performance. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen, just pointing out that there are some #1’s who dont perform well in SO’s. There are definetly teams that are considering this when signing/drafting.
When I go out on the ice I am at peace. This is my best element. No one can talk to me. No one can bother me. I just go play. That is why I love it so much - Chris Osgood
Could be
though I’m not sure for starters that goalies really are “good” at shootouts. I’ve never looked close, but I’d guess the top performers vary year to year.
This article from Arctic Ice Hockey does indicate that over a season a good SO goalie really doesn’t add up to much. Not even 1 full point in the standings. So I’d think how they play in the rest of the game has to completely overshadow how they play in the shootout.
It can be more than a point...
...if the goalie just stands there while shots go whizzing past him.
(I’m going for half-sarcasm here.)
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
A quick look
I’m not so convinced about that article. The guy kind of mailed it in imo.
Heres what I found using data from the last 3 seasons, considering goalies who were used often in shootouts.
MAF leads with a 21-5 record and .813 S%.
86 shots over 3 seasons
Opposite end of spectrum is Niklas Backstrom with a 6-15 record and a .558 S%.
77 shots over 3 seasons.
Some of the other best: Rinne (15-8 with .782 S%), Howard (13-9 with .758 S%) and Varlamov (10-8 with .766 S%)
Some of the other worst: Luongo (8-13 with .562 S%) and Theodore (6-6 with a .583)
While the wins/loss record shouldnt really matter, I included it when it was clear that the goalies S% was responsible for it, as oppossed to the performance of the shooters on his team.
When I go out on the ice I am at peace. This is my best element. No one can talk to me. No one can bother me. I just go play. That is why I love it so much - Chris Osgood
F**KING A!
Monty is rusty and needs to get his gears going it is only a matter of time. His story is bitter sweet and it would be a slap in the face to his former team (NYR) who drafted him 1st overall when we start climbing the playoff ladder in the near future. To all the people who doubted him ETC. As far as Nabby goes I think he is our best bet to get us to the playoffs “THIS YEAR”. There is no doubt that we are going to make a trade at the deadline that will rock all of Islanders country but the trade will be one that will benefit us to get into this years playoffs..maybe Al or Nabby? idk! What I do know is, judging from the 2nd half of last year and forward WE ARE GOING TO ROCK THE NHL AND HOCKEY FANS ACROSS THE BOARD AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN REALLLLLLLL SOON. Despite Garth and Wang’s controversy and poor decision making in the past, I feel in my heart, Garth has built a foundation and is now patching it up. This era of NYI is a sleeping giant and it is going to awake really soon friends..the eternal question is when?
The will is inside.
Maybe Ive been jaded too long
but i wish i had this kind of enthusiasm. Maybe I should smoke some of that crystal meth too and id feel as awesome as this guy
hahaha agreed
he lost me at right about “trade at deadline that will rock isles country”
The sleeper must awaken.
Move Nabby if the return warrants it
Personally I would like to keep Nabby and try and resign him on a 2 year deal. That being said I, believe that two things can impact this:
1 – Does he want to be here? After last year’s waiver fiasco this question has to be asked. I do not believe the conspiracy theorists that he and Snow have a handshake deal to trade him to a contender. If he doesn’t want to be here then trade him, plain and simple. Better to get something than nothing.
2 – Does he fetch the price Snow wants? People always get hung up on who wins a trade. My team needs to get something more valuable than what they are giving up. Wrong. My team needs to be a better team tomorrow than they are today, period. Who cares if the other team is better or worse. My concern is my team. Snow should set a price for Nabby and if he gets it, trade him.
Wish Montoya had some value but can’t imagine we could get much more than what we gave up (6th or 7th). However, he is more than serviceable and if nothing else would make a solid backup next year if all else fails.
does he want to be here?
Every reporter and blogger says/claims this but Nabby has never publicly suggested he wants out from what I’ve read. There was a rocky start last January. Tensions seemed to ease over the summer. Since September, he’s been a team player – never bashing team or management or hinting so. If he and his family enjoy Long Island/NYC and want to stay, I’m in favor of him returning on a 1or 2-year deal over Montoya. If he wants a trade, I’d give it to him. With Hamonic out, the last flicker on this season could be snuffed out soon enough.
Montoya: After suffering 2 concussions/injuries within 6 weeks (Avs in Nov then Jets in Dec), I would be cautious with any extensions. Nothing over 1 year.
Poulin: hopefully the future, but not necessarily next year.
DP: someone has to close the door on the yearly comeback nonsense. Can’t start another season trying to wedge this guy into the lineup. Figure a respectable way out this contract. Time to move on already.
Ridiculous trade of the day
Flyers trade Bryzgalov to Islanders, we give them Nabby AND DiPietro.
"This season is a serious misallocation of valuable hockey resources"- Saving Private Tavares
Bryzy's contract isn't bad enough for that to work.
Isles would need to add in Poulin too, I think. That may tempt Philly, who wouldn’t be afraid to bury Rick in the minors and suck the life out of him the next couple seasons, until he decides to retire.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
I can't decide if that would be a great trade or a terrible trade
It’s one or the other, no in-between.
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
That actually might work out
rid of DP for a serviceable goalie and have Monty/Nielsen as insurance if Bryz struggles. Might be able to capture the magic he had in phoenix on a team whose fanbase doesnt consist of obnoxious drunks like Philly does
Dat trade wood be
HUMANGUS BEEG. Lika univerze BEEG.
"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 Feb 6, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think Snow is waiting until close to the trade deadline...
…unless a proposal blows him away. He’s not in a hurry. The pressure is on Chicago and Detriot, with their goaltending problems.
And a bunch of other teams are just one injury away from needing a goalie.
I think that outweighs the top two reasons for Garth to rush a trade:
(1) trade before Nabokov goes down with an injury (Possible.)
(2) trade before Nabokov’s current performance rate drops under .900 save %. (I don’t see this happening.)
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 1:32 PM EST reply actions
last year goalie prices dropped
gm’s got better return moving them earlier… but, every year is different…
These comments crawl up from the depths of the deepest Chasm of Saar
Part of the wait and see is the chances of another team loosing a goalie to injury
We have 3 weeks left to deal. Maybe you wait and hope a team loses a starter. Right now there aren’t many teams that absolutely NEED a goalie (though many could use an upgrade or insurance policy). If someone get’s a goalie emergency the return could go up considerably for Nabby.
It’s not much of a sellers market yet so it could pay to wait a little bit longer.
No Sleep 'til....We Find Some Secondary Scoring
Timing is Evgini-thing
The scenarios that probably fill war rooms all over the NHL are where contracts fall in respect to timing.
Nilsson(ELC) first year of ELC, will have 6 years under Islander control if they so chose.
Poulin(ELC) second year of ELC, Most likely finishes his ELC in the NHL and if he earns #1 spot the Isles sign him for ~$800K one way for the remainder of his RFA (Like Frans and Amac). That will leave one goaltender position avaiable for the next four years. If he fails to do so there is more flexibility in the organization.
Koskinen(ELC): last year of ELC, He will probably be tendered an RFA qualifier, and asked to come back to the AHL next year. He is Islander property for potentially 3 years after that.
Montoya (UFA) : this is tough because the Isles will most likely be forced to make a multi-year one way decision on him. As mediocre as the full picture looks, the part where he actually starts games for the Islanders is EXCELLENT. This is all going to depend on the free market. I don’t think the Isles will spend more than a million on him for any period longer than 2 years. They just have too much tied up in their prospects and situation39.
Nabokov (UFA): The perfect fit. He has been an adequate #1 for them. His age and inconsistent three year window will limit his UFA market value and the Isles can very possibly get him to sign for ~$1.5M for 2YRS… Even better would be <$2M for 1YR.
Right now the timing in respect to organizational prospects weighs heavy in Nabby’s favor.
Nice breakdown Chris.
I believe in ELI! Go Blue!
@JPinVA
I was going to point out
that Nillson actually has slightly better numbers than Poulin at the Bridge this season.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 6, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions
I think Poulis numbers
are skewed a little by his early season ‘getting back to form’ period
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Feb 6, 2012 7:36 PM EST up reply actions
No doubt
but Nillson shouldn’t be completely discounted.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 6, 2012 8:15 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
This post was only about the three goalies the Islanders used this week to start. Nilsson wasn’t omitted as disrespect. But I think it does say something that the Isles could’ve called either him or Poulin up and chose to start Poulin.
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Feb 6, 2012 8:29 PM EST up reply actions
My comment wasn't intended
to suggest that Nillson is ahead of KP on the chart, but that he should be kept in mind before going off half cocked on big extensions for Nabby and/or Montoya.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 7, 2012 8:35 AM EST up reply actions
Nabokov should be traded after Montoya signs a deal to stay.
Althought Nabokov is playing well, Montoya is young, has shown great flashes of his 1st round pick title, and has played well through long stretches.
I would really like to see Poulin stay in Bridgeport for 2012-13 season. Give him 1 more full year of AHL play and hope that Brdigeport makes the playoffs, so he gets AHL playoff experience. That would be huge for his development.
Nilsson is a long term project – I don’t see him being a true factor for another 2-3 years. He has size but he needs to work on his positional play and be quicker to establish himself in the NHL.
To sum it up:
-Montoya signed to a deal around 4 years
-Trade Nabokov or sign him to a 1-2 year deal
-Keep Poulin in the AHL from 2012-13
-If Poulin does stay in the AHL next year and Nabokov is traded instead of signed for 2012-13, then sign a cheap FA goalie to back up Montoya.
Signed,
Yeah, long-term is seems Montoya is a better option to re-sign than Nabokov.
Even with two good, young prospects in Poulin and Nilsson, Isles aren’t assured that either will develop into a good starting goalie. (Although I think chances are pretty high that one will.)
By signing Nabokov (either to one year or two), Isles could be without a good starting goalie 2-3 years from now.
By signing Montoya, Isles have a much better chance of at least having one good starting goalie 2-3 years from now.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Isles sign both Montoya and Nabokov, but I don’t see that happening— not with DiPietro in the picture.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
For whatever reason
Montoya hasn’t done anything to warrant more than a one year deal, imo. I realize he was hot for a while last year, and he hasn’t been given full rein this season, but you don’t give multi year deals to a minor league journeyman goalie with 45 NHL games under his belt.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 6, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
I fear Hamonic's injury might impact this
With the continued rotation of goalie injuries and low market value, I’m not expecting a trade — especially not with the Isles playing ostensibly playoff-chasing {cough} hockey.
But if Hamonic’s injury helps initiate a two-wing swoon and the right offer comes along … well maybe.
Lighthouse Hockey: A flute with no holes is not a flute. A Dane with no holes is Frans Nielsen.
At this point we have to shit or get off the pot.
If we belive that we are chasing a legitamate 8th seed, than Nabby stays and plays just about every game except for back to back game. IF we belive that we have a chance of making the 8th seed then there is no more goalie carousel, ride the Nabby-wagon until the wheels fall off.
If this changes in the next couple of weeks and the Isles find themselves out of the 8th seed race then get wat you can get for Nabby and keep EL CUBANO GRANDE. IMO, that’s an easy call: keep the old guy who is on his last legs or keep the younger guy who has future potential.
We are all Islanders, even if we’re from Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on Feb 6, 2012 6:36 PM EST up reply actions
I've been saying this for a long time........
Next season if the Isle’s have any hopes of a post season, then they will need a #1 Goalie. Right now and next season with the three guys you are discussing, they have potential with those three but also question marks – all different for all three. Nabby does he want to stay?, Montoya history of injury, small playing history, and present struggles. and Poulin, potential but severe injury history, and certainly not a #1 on a play-off team off his limited NHL play. Look to Snow to pick up a Vet. He knows the position and good , even #1 Goalies are around and when compared to skaters are bargins.
Tough call
A reasonable potential, but he’s already 26 or 27. Seems like he’s been on the verge forever. I’d go ahead and say no, the Isles hardly need another enigma, except that he could replace Rolston and provide a different dimension to the team, and he could hardly be worse. Besides this, the only time he got decent minutes he was productive (see here). So… well, who knows?
As per Cap Geek, he costs $900K, and is also under contract next season. He will then be UFA.
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
good points, but i like the sound of.....
Stewaet-Bailey-Martin
No to Stewart, but no reason not to take a look Zach Hamill.
8th pick of the 2007 draft, not cutting it with the Bruins. Low cap hit, young guy – but no too young – around 23 I figure. Why not.
Andy Murray was waived too. If Martin wasn’t doing so well, Murray might be worth a shot as a checker.
Alright. 'Fess up!
Who here lives in Westchester, near the Rangers’ practice facility?
Henrik Lundqvist @HLundqvist30
Great, got a flat tire leaving practice… Thats 2 in 2 weeks..
"He's depriving some small village of a pretty good idiot" - Mike Milbury on Ziggy Palffy's agent. On Twitter: @Dan_of_Science
Now he knows how Luongo feels.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 9:25 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Cubano
My take is that Monty needs back to back starts despite how good Nabby is. I totally agree that Nabby’s name brings the team the best trade value and teams like Chicago and Detroit are definitely in the market for a #2 G. Detroit has some serious prospects that are buried in the AHL, as does Chicago. I’d throw in Wishart or Reese to sweeten the pot if needed. Finally, some of the best tenders in the business had the circuitous route to the NHL that Monty is current on (Thomas, Kiprusoff) so I’m not ready to part ways unless you could definitively say how high the ceiling is on the guy.
Maybe Montreal
Poulin, Parenteau, Kirill Kabanov for P.K. Subban.
Thats what Id call WAY too much
for Subban
The New York Islanders: saving their best for the wrong conference since '05
by Chris McNally on Feb 6, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions
Again
don’t want Subban’s issues on this team. A brain deadedness in his Dzone play and a nasty tendency to do things that will eventually bring him repeatedly to the Shannaba’s attention (I think he’s perfected his slewfoot technique). I love his enthusiasm, but I’m not trading even two of thse guys for PK, let alone three.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 7, 2012 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Maybe Montreal
Poulin and Parenteau was what I had at first. I thought that would be seen as WAY too little.
They actually would probably rather take Kabanov than Poulin
Price is well-ensconced. I don’t see them too eager to re-run the 1A and 1B thing they had with Halak and Price; not that Poulin is that calibre yet, but two or three years down the road they would have a problem.
Though I suppose they could sell high on Price in a couple of years… but is Gauthier looking that far ahead?
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
They'd have to sign PAP too.
They don’t appear to be making the playoffs. If PAP or Nielsen go, it will probably be to a playoff team.
"The reader of this sentence exists only while reading me."
by North Dakota Red Eagle on Feb 6, 2012 9:37 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe Montreal
Two French speaking players was the appeal with them showcasing Poulin.
Was just on ESPN NHL rumors...
and they said the Isles were “probably going to trade Neilson and PAP”. Where the hell are they coming up with that?
I don't know
is it the same ESPN that doesn’t think JT is top 25 under 25?
The same ESPN that lavishes praises for Duchene yet is down on JT?
ESPN should not be your source for Hockey news. Right now I think Cappy would kill Snow if he Traded PAP, he’s the one consistent threat no matter what line he’s on. And if Nielsen went. we’d riot.
"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.
Bob MacKenzie on TSN
doesn’t think the Isles are going to do much.
"The truly good man does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. A foolish man is always doing, yet much remains to be done."
by Nova Scotia Isles Fan on Feb 7, 2012 8:39 AM EST up reply actions
Getting rid of Montoya would be a mistake
He hasn’t been true to form this season because of his injuries and lack of consecutive starts. Give him a chance and I think he can earn the #1 back and return to form going to into next season until Poulin is ready to take over.
Nabokov is likely gone before the deadline. I think as well as he has played another team will get desperate and offer a marginally talented skater in exchange. He’s 37. He wants a cup, and his heart isn’t here. Get something for him, Garth. Maybe Snow will surprise everyone and actually make a good trade, but until that something actually happens that will change this team I have little faith in Sith Master Darth Snow and Emperor Wang.
Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in.
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Who are the Non-Smythe candidates for the Devils, Kings?
- End is near for Rick Nash, Blue Jackets as trade discussions set to resume
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- Shawinigan wins Memorial Cup in OT
- Cataractes forward Chaput wins Memorial Cup MVP award after putting up 12 points
- Knights' impressive run comes up just short in Memorial Cup final
- Zlobin's overtime goal lifts Cataractes over Knights in Memorial Cup final
- Zlobin's overtime goal lifts Cataractes over Knights in Memorial Cup final
SBNation.com Recent Stories
1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
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.
