GDT: GDT #34 New York Islanders @ Toronto Maple Leafs | December 21st | 7:00 PM | F/6-3 W

[BrockLobster]

That was a good hockey team i just watched.. or is it the whiskey talking

 

[SI90]

New Blood Connection! Duke to King George…

Actually kinda love this.

 

[SI90]

Feels good to be the one inflicting this. I think we’re a stronger team having Barzal back at center. Balances the line up. We could roll 3 scoring lines.

 

[IslesNorway]

Best game in ages. Really good to watch.

 

[Big L]

Feels good to be the one inflicting this. I think we’re a stronger team having Barzal back at center. Balances the line up. We could roll 3 scoring lines.

I lol’d, quickly thought you wrote ‘We could roll 3 second lines.’

 

[doublechili]

NYI is a different look with Barzal/CizikasHorvat/Nelson down the middle.

It just makes sense to do that. If they don't have elite talent at the top, then spread it out and roll 3 scoring lines. I've been saying this pretty much since they got Horvat. If you can't out-talent teams, then try to out-depth them.

BTW, it wouldn't be a shock to see them go on a little bit of a run. Team is mediocre with players out. Players come back but need a game or three to get their legs back. Team goes on a run. That's kind of a thing.

 

[Sparksrus3]

That was a good hockey team i just watched.. or is it the whiskey talking

Just good enough in fact that with the 10th pick in the 2025 nhl draft the NYI are proud to select -

We are so in the unsweet spot ..LGI


IMO that TR91TOR guy was so good that he kept our absolute team of losers from getting another top 1 or 2 pick to help him
And now Sorokin will steal enough games to keep us in that10-15 range .. I am not comparing the team from 15 years ago with today as we have much more talent today .

 

[attilatheislander]

For as dismal as this season has been, another Leaf ass-whopping brings a smile to my face. The tank can have a night off.

 

[attilatheislander]

It just makes sense to do that. If they don't have elite talent at the top, then spread it out and roll 3 scoring lines. I've been saying this pretty much since they got Horvat. If you can't out-talent teams, then try to out-depth them.

BTW, it wouldn't be a shock to see them go on a little bit of a run. Team is mediocre with players out. Players come back but need a game or three to get their legs back. Team goes on a run. That's kind of a thing.

Reading HF boards is like digging for gold. You sift through a lot of dirt, but then you find a nugget of intelligence like this.

 

[Steve55]

I think this was the first Isles game that I watched on an encore, as I went to a light festival that a friend was going to work at, but told me he had to cancel only after I bought a ticket. Great effort by the Isles in the last 40 minutes, especially the 3 goal outburst in the third, albeit against the Leafs who played the night before.

 

[doublechili]

Reading HF boards is like digging for gold. You sift through a lot of dirt, but then you find a nugget of intelligence like this.

Hey, thanks. It could also just be a broken clock situation though.

 

[BelovedIsles]

It was one game, I wouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

It was one game, I wouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves.

But it does feel nice

 

[saintunspecified]

Not only was it a nice win, but can see the path forward a bit. Isles need to increase their athleticism. George and Tsyplakov, in particular, look light on their feet out there. Romanov showed off that powerful stride of his. Horvat, Barzal, and Duclair have got a lot of that too, but Horvat's obviously a bit banged up, and Barzal is not quite 100%. But NYI need more of that.

One thing I notice about George is that he's decisive. Even his mistakes are quick, decisive, and firm. He doesn't take 3 beats to deliver the puck directly to opponent's stick like Mayfield. If he does it, it almost surprises them. It's almost amazing that a 30 point OHL defender needed so little adjustment to the speed of the NHL. I don't think he's ever going to put up big numbers, but he's got the kind of feet to make forecheckers back off, and he's not shy to use them.

 

[MJF]

Not only was it a nice win, but can see the path forward a bit. Isles need to increase their athleticism. George and Tsyplakov, in particular, look light on their feet out there. Romanov showed off that powerful stride of his. Horvat, Barzal, and Duclair have got a lot of that too, but Horvat's obviously a bit banged up, and Barzal is not quite 100%. But NYI need more of that.

Anders Lee got this message. The 2024-25 Lee fits your description.

 

[leeroggy]

One thing I notice about George is that he's decisive. Even his mistakes are quick, decisive, and firm. He doesn't take 3 beats to deliver the puck directly to opponent's stick like Mayfield. If he does it, it almost surprises them. It's almost amazing that a 30 point OHL defender needed so little adjustment to the speed of the NHL. I don't think he's ever going to put up big numbers, but he's got the kind of feet to make forecheckers back off, and he's not shy to use them.

30-point 3rd pairing D's are pretty rare, if he plays defense well and chips in 20, that's a huge contribution for 3rd pair, since he will not be QB-ing the PP.

 

[Throttle]

Not only was it a nice win, but can see the path forward a bit. Isles need to increase their athleticism. George and Tsyplakov, in particular, look light on their feet out there. Romanov showed off that powerful stride of his. Horvat, Barzal, and Duclair have got a lot of that too, but Horvat's obviously a bit banged up, and Barzal is not quite 100%. But NYI need more of that.

One thing I notice about George is that he's decisive. Even his mistakes are quick, decisive, and firm. He doesn't take 3 beats to deliver the puck directly to opponent's stick like Mayfield. If he does it, it almost surprises them. It's almost amazing that a 30 point OHL defender needed so little adjustment to the speed of the NHL. I don't think he's ever going to put up big numbers, but he's got the kind of feet to make forecheckers back off, and he's not shy to use them.

The good thing about George stepping up and having growing pains, is that he can make a Pelech expendable. Isles can backfill a 10-15 minute night defenseman for $3-4M tops, giving better use of cap space too.

The issue with Pelech is that he’s Mr. Glass requiring the team to always have a 7th guy ready to go fully knowing he’s going to miss time vs the unexpected injury that can happen. Pelech actually costs MORE than his cap hit bc of adding the costs of his injury replacement, making him a very expensive player for his services.