Ongoing NHL thread - Part III

[Bloody Brian Burke]

What they need is more speed at forward. Another mobile defenseman to go with Leddy would be nice to. The goaltending will be fine.

I would not have any faith going into a make-or-break season with Jaro Halak and Thomas Griess. They need all those other things as well but compared to the goalers in the east that will be battling for pts and position and playoff rounds with the Isles that just doesn't leave me with much comfort.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I would not have any faith going into a make-or-break season with Jaro Halak and Thomas Griess. They need all those other things as well but compared to the goalers in the east that will be battling for pts and position and playoff rounds with the Isles that just doesn't leave me with much comfort.

Griess outdueled Luongo in the 1st round. I won't be surprised if the Islanders trade Halak & give the starting job to Griess. I'm not saying it's a perfect situation, but it's a lot better than many teams. It's not like Garth is going to call Pittsburgh & acquire Fleury.

 

[Puck082]

They're going nowhere with Halak and Griess and prospects are prospects. If they want to contend next year, they need better goaltending.

I really don't think the goaltending was an issue last year. Halak and Greiss had very solid numbers. Greiss even during the playoffs was very good. The problem is their lack of offense. There were games where either JT carried them or they had no other contributions. This team will only go as far as their offense depth gets them.

 

[Puck082]

I would not have any faith going into a make-or-break season with Jaro Halak and Thomas Griess. They need all those other things as well but compared to the goalers in the east that will be battling for pts and position and playoff rounds with the Isles that just doesn't leave me with much comfort.

I would think its safe to say Halak will be traded.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I would not have any faith going into a make-or-break season with Jaro Halak and Thomas Griess. They need all those other things as well but compared to the goalers in the east that will be battling for pts and position and playoff rounds with the Isles that just doesn't leave me with much comfort.

Besides I don't think this is a make or break season.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Griess outdueled Luongo in the 1st round. I won't be surprised if the Islanders trade Halak & give the starting job to Griess. I'm not saying it's a perfect situation, but it's a lot better than many teams. It's not like Garth is going to call Pittsburgh & acquire Fleury.

Griess struggled to outduel Luongo in the first round. He also put up an .890 sv% vs. TB in the next round.

You aren't going any farther with Griess than you are with Halak. It's a good time to be shopping for an upgrade in the crease, Garth should be doing exactly that.

 

[Puck082]

I wouldn't trade Strome. Of the three Bailey is the guy that makes the most sense to trade. Cap hit of 3.5M.

I really don't think Garth will ever trade Bailey. It's his first ever draft pick as Isles GM and now they consider him a 'veteran'. What you say makes perfect sense. But this is the Isles we're talking about.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Griess struggled to outduel Luongo in the first round. He also put up an .890 sv% vs. TB in the next round.

You aren't going any farther with Griess than you are with Halak. It's a good time to be shopping for an upgrade in the crease, Garth should be doing exactly that.

The Islanders have more pressing needs. They need a few wingers who can fly. If they can trade Halak, acquiring somebody else becomes a possibility. If not I think they're stuck with what they have in goal.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Besides I don't think this is a make or break season.

JT can negotiate an extension after this season. If there's no growth, or worse there's regression, what the hell is Garth Snow going to sell him on? "Oh we've got all these prospects in the pipeline just like we did two years into your career and those all panned out great, right Johnny?"

If the Isles don't contend this year I would put the chances of the Isles dealing him next summer extremely high because there would be a better chance than not that they lose him for nothing the following summer.

 

[Puck082]

Griess struggled to outduel Luongo in the first round. He also put up an .890 sv% vs. TB in the next round.

You aren't going any farther with Griess than you are with Halak. It's a good time to be shopping for an upgrade in the crease, Garth should be doing exactly that.

He should always be looking for an upgrade anywhere an upgrade can be made. But let's be honest, they need two top 6 wingers right now. I think an upgrade at goalie is secondary to some of the other needs.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I really don't think Garth will ever trade Bailey. It's his first ever draft pick as Isles GM and now they consider him a 'veteran'. What you say makes perfect sense. But this is the Isles we're talking about.

I don't think that matters. I'm just not sure how much value Bailey has.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Greiss even during the playoffs was very good.

He was good in round 1, against old man Jagr and some kids.

TB had his head spinning. He isn't the answer.

 

[DragonfromTO]

I would not have any faith going into a make-or-break season with Jaro Halak and Thomas Griess. They need all those other things as well but compared to the goalers in the east that will be battling for pts and position and playoff rounds with the Isles that just doesn't leave me with much comfort.

I have more confidence in either of that pair than I had in Matt Murray at this time last year.

Don't need a superstar goalie to win a Cup these days. If you look at the goalies who have won it all over the last 10 years or so it's pretty close to a random walk.

 

[Puck082]

He was good in round 1, against old man Jagr and some kids.

TB had his head spinning. He isn't the answer.

I just wish Ilya Sorokin would come over from Russia and solve all their problems in the crease......

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

He should always be looking for an upgrade anywhere an upgrade can be made. But let's be honest, they need two top 6 wingers right now. I think an upgrade at goalie is secondary to some of the other needs.

For sure, I just think given the assets the Isles have and the cap space they have and can create by moving a few contracts they can fix all problems and contend.

I guess I just find the belief you guys have in two so-so goalies very strange.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I have more confidence in either of that pair than I had in Matt Murray at this time last year.

Don't need a superstar goalie to win a Cup these days. If you look at the goalies who have won it all over the last 10 years or so it's pretty close to a random walk.

Not talking winning a Cup, just contending for one.

Without a superstar goalie, there's a pretty good chance the Isles will be the longest shot to even make it out of their own division. Murray, Holtby, Lundqvist, Schneider, Bobrovsky...you would put either of Halak or Griess above those 5? If Neuvirth puts in a repeat performance in Philly that could be another. I just think they're doomed going with what they have.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I just wish Ilya Sorokin would come over from Russia and solve all their problems in the crease......

It's hard to know just how good Sorokin is. He was playing for the best team in the KHL last season.

 

[Puck082]

For sure, I just think given the assets the Isles have and the cap space they have and can create by moving a few contracts they can fix all problems and contend.

I guess I just find the belief you guys have in two so-so goalies very strange.

Greiss was 3rd overall in save percentage last year. I'm not arguing he's an all star or even a better than good goalie. But the guy had a pretty good year.

 

[DragonfromTO]

He was good in round 1, against old man Jagr and some kids.

TB had his head spinning. He isn't the answer.

"Old man Jagr and some kids" managed to score more goals than 24 teams last season.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Greiss was 3rd overall in save percentage last year. I'm not arguing he's an all star or even a better than good goalie. But the guy had a pretty good year.

Limited starts, blew up in the second round against a TB team that was sans one of the game's best snipers.

I wouldn't waste another year of a superstar's prime on the hope he can do it again full-time in the regular season then come correct in the playoffs.