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Trapped in a hotel room in Columbus before even the Islanders arrived there, Newsday's Arthur Staple took some time to answer Islanders fan questions on Twitter about why the hell [Guy X] isn't playing anymore.
Main topics of conversation included the future of recent Michael Grabner and Calvin deHaan, the progress of various prospects and Staple's prognostications for the post-season. Here are a few choice cuts for the Twitter uninclined.
On the D minus deHaan (eHaan?)
@brettborz 2-55, 44-3, 14-11.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@NYIFansForLife Strait gives you what he has -- he's a 7th D on this team. De Haan, as far as the staff goes, can give more and needs to.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@JaredMF10 Coaches want better decision-making from him. Not that crazy for a second-year D-man to sit. He'll be back.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On the still missing Mikhail Grabovski (concussion)
@ccarleo91 Not really, no. He's around, not close to a return.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On the injury that forced Frans Nielsen from practice today
@jshumer I think he's still hampered by the same injury that kept him from practicing a couple weeks ago. Maintenance.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@NHLInjury Because they need him and people play hurt. Especially him. Guy is as tough as they come.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On what if they traded Josh Bailey for...
@MichaelKirk94 Today, I guess. It won't happen. Try to fixate on something else.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On Grabner, whose absence is notable and extremely irritating
@TartamellaNYI Grabner is the odd man out until further notice. He just hasn't been effective this season. The surgery really set him back.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@palffynyi16 I think Grabner lost his spot due to injury twice and now he's No. 13 in the rotation. Nothing personal.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
So, how are the kids?
@dlawless9 In progress. Don't think they're unhappy at all.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@NickLeddyIsGod Quite well on their OHL teams.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On the playoffs (pending a clinching)
@RTFischlerHKY Inability to keep the puck out of its net.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@islesfan28 Not that I've heard. Players like him quite a bit. Have to see how it all goes down.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On ghosts and Ghostbusting
@ClarkNewby_ Living on LI, think he's doing some coaching with the Jr. Islanders. And just generally being one of the better people around.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
On off-season moves, likely and unlikely
@ChrisDeVito18 Probably Lubo and the two deadline acquisitions.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
@acwells723 Gotta see who's out there. And I don't think Neuvirth takes a huge pay cut to be a backup.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
tl;dr
@cultureoflosing They're cruel, cruel people.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 1, 2015
As always, we thank Arthur for answering and hope he enjoyed his Big Salad.